Of course if you really want some proper singletrack / technical challenge then strike through the Lairig an Laoigh and on to Linn of Dee via Glen Derry

Or over Macdui and Lochnagar 8)

I tried specing a bike like this for my wife, but she tried a few bikes in shops and the only one she found comfy was a Trek Skye which has a very short top tube… so that is what she bought.

What I’m trying to say is the usual… get her to sling a leg ever a few rather than just buying from a spreadsheet… if you want her to ride it then fit is far more important than component vfm and weight.

Hi ntsnow, I can’t help you with the West coast stuff but East coast is my playground. Once at Braemar/Ballater rather than heading over Mt Keen I would suggest going up to Loch Muick and over the Capel Mounth to Glen Doll. Stay at the Clova Hotel which have a bothy and a vey snug climbers bar, or take a big day and head on over to Loch Lee. I suggest heading up to Loch Brandy and over Skuilie to Loch Lee. For staying here somewhere there are a few places; http://www.angusglens.co.uk/Big_Idea/big_idea_page.php

Next day will be a fun but long one – go to Millden Lodge and head up Mt Battock via Burn of Turret and White Burn (last bit is a walk but there is a path/road all the way). From Battock head to Clochnaben along the tops which is a treat. Brilliant techy descent to Glendye – then a round-about route through Durris forest to Stonehaven and a well earned beer in the Marine Hotel at the very picturesque harbour.

If you can see past the pyjamas this is good… love Cedric’s style 8)

http://www.pinkbike.com/news/Cedric-Gracia-blasting-on-a-29er-2012.html

I think it looks good. 29er HT with full face helmet

First reviews from the Kingdom folks themselves up online…

Trails – http://www.kingdombike.com/TheKingdom/?p=1458

Mountains – http://www.kingdombike.com/TheKingdom/?p=1466

Interesting.

If he’s got enough speed he’ll be able to clear the ice, pull a one-handed-devil-gnar-hand-gesture and land perfectly in the soft snow beyond… go big man!

You want a flip/flop hub with freewheel on one side and fixie on the other. Makes running disc brakes a challenge but no-one, ever, can diss your commitment to the cause!

I’m thinking one way to do this is to have a front fork built so that you can run a fixie on the front and a free on the back – and swap the wheels over when you want… but what we really need is a hub builder to build a hub which has a fixed/free mechanism inside, or a fixed sprocket next to the free sprocket, so all you have to do is loosen the rear wheel and pop the chain across to go fixie/free – I can’t see the chainline being a few mm off being a big issue?

For me… I like to keep my stuff compatable with my other bikes, but for a custom build I probably wouldn’t… I would probably buy something like the Hope SS hub so I can change the sprocket size easier and cheaper than changing a WI freewheel.

I don’t find my carbon fibre soled disco slippers prevent me getting into the back of beyond or down the gnar.

I ride BMX on flats and I’m happy to DH or MTB on either. A few years ago I spent 6 months on flatties as an experiment, but I was happy to come back to SPD’s for the extra efficiency and control. Plus… even my disco-slippers grip better when walking in the mud and on rocks than fashion skate shoes 🙄

I’m half tempted to repeat the experiment with some 5:10’s… but I’m loath to buy new shoes and pedals as I’m not not sure the outcome would be any different to last time. My mate who broke his ankle last year and is on flatties now is looking forward to getting his SPD’s back, and he is a very good Mega/DH-Enduro type rider. I do see the flatties thing as a bit of an MTB fashion thing at the moment – but so what? The only things that do make me laugh are when people people fall over when trying SPD’s for the first time… or when skate shoe wearers complain of cold wet feet while us winter booted SPD riders have warm toasty toes… ooooh it makes my sides ache to think about these things 😆

Perhaps not that similar a colour after all?

Best item of clothing I’ve bought this year. Very versatile and surprisingly waterproof and warm.

I’ve got an 03 silent guide and an 05 frame. I’ve got a bb to 03 adapter so I can give that a whirl and see if it takes off. I’ll post up the results when I get a chance to try it…

I think my Landcrab was a similar colour, oh how I miss those vinyl seats.

Decals applied, headset fitted, flags removed 🙄

I can’t see it ever winning a beauty contest, but if it rides like the Mmmbop but with a bit more GRRRRRRRR! I’ll be happy.

There are two flags, I’ll try to explain to my two wee boys what’s wrong with them but I suspect they won’t be interested.

I’ve also got some 150mm Rev forks and some 36 Floats to try on it. Loads to play with…

Nah, still long… I run 45’s

Linux gf1 user. With the pancake lens it’s little bigger than a compact but so much better. In my case the limitations are with the user…

Mahoosive grrrt ski gloves FTW.

Both of my Reverbs have been for warranty work and both have been fine since. Even with this inconvenience I would gladly buy another… and was even concidering it with another frame purchase 😳

I don’t want the gubbins at the bottom of the shaft such as a GD as it means I won’t be able to drop the post even further for truly stupid gnar moves.

The Best Dropper Post has to be the hidden hose Reverb’s fitted to some Trek’s this year… it’s genius, and the future (assuming they never need warranty etc etc).

Not good 😕

The post order panic set in and I was thinking if the Troof did come with a 30.9″ seatpost I would be sending it back because I have two 31.6″ Reverbs :oops:… but the 17″ frame that landed here yesterday takes a 31.6″ seatpost so it’s a keeper.

The frame looks awesome in the chip shop curry colour
Looking forward to building this baby up 8)

The Specialized Rime shoe is tempting me… but the £130 price tag is hard to swallow 😕

I like my Rab Generator so much I bought a second one. One I keep with my bike kit and can be a bit smelly, the other I wear for the walk to work.

The biking one is ace and is one of my favourite bits of kit; it makes the difference between getting home from the forest in a shivering mess or being warm enough to enjoy the ride.

Someone on here was selling one a few days ago…

http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/rab-generator-vest-reduced

Freewheel not being free enough? Blooming things are very prone to this issue in freezing conditions. Make sure there is no free water in there. Replace any grease with oil.

Argh… I need a frame with 31.6!

Mmmbop with Revs and Flow Hoops which is 26lbs… But I’ve killed the forks and dinged the wheels so I fear for the frame with the way I ride. More burly Replacement has been ordered.

Button pushed… 😳

I’ve tried using the Pace grease and Manitou M-prep stuff but the hub got noisier over time. Oil sloshes around inside and hence works better… IMHO etc etc.

… now for something pleasant… getting to the top of the hill for sunrise is great…

I use oil in mine. Quieter and less drag… it’s a win-win

Thanks for sharing, I really like that 8)

I’m seriously considering one of these. I’ve reached the limitations of the “stop-gap” mmmbop I bought last year and I think one of these would be a fitting replacement.

My Mmmbop is an 18 and I’m thinking of dropping a size as I’m just shy of 6ft and the Mmmbop feels a bit big.

One question… is the seatpost size 31.6″ or 30.9″ as depending on where you look both dimensions are given?

Syncros cattleprod stem which came on my 1991 Rocky Mountain Blizzard is still in use on my Singlespeed.

I’ve only had a test ride so my thoughts may not be that relevant… but with the Wottan fork at 160mm the bike was dreadfull up and down. Far to much weight towards the back and a bottom bracket that was too high. At 140mm travel I could see the point when pointed downhill but the seat angle was too slack for the uphills and I think the bottom bracket was still too high. At 120mm travel it worked great on all the flater bits and climbed well enough… but downhill it felt like it needed a slacker headangle. I was left thinking it’s an 100-120mm forked frame with a big fork attached to it (funny that), I really don’t get why people rate them with 140-160mm forks? I guess they never ride techy climbs? All in IMHO etc…

If I had bought the Bfe this would be on my shopping list.

http://www.workscomponents.co.uk/works-components—10-degree-ec34—traditional-1-18-fitment-6-p.asp

http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/arizona-woohoo

http://Www.gnargnartours.com

And buy cosmic Rays Fat Tire trails and tails guide book.

Brilliant place, I posted some pics and stuff from a trip in Sept so do a search.

If Floats are in stock buy them, and in a few months if really want Talas you can downgrade to it 🙄

I was thinking about recycling my hair trimmings…

Look at works components, loads of option… and more to come.

Another 9t option in development

http://www.vitalmtb.com/photos/features/Interbike-2011-Day-3,2762/Canfield-Brothers-9-Tooth-Hub,26263/sspomer,2

For working out gearing options I like Ben at Kintetics K-Gear. Save it somewhere, open a couple of windows and have a play with the options.

http://www.kinetics.org.uk/html/k_gear.shtml

I’m about that size and my Medium is tight with one or two thin layers underneath. At first I was worried that the Med was too small and that I’d made a large mistake… but importantly for me the arms and back are the right length and because it’s “fitted” it doesn’t billow about.

Awesome jacket by the way 8)

31 from here – but you still might need to modify the crank.

http://www.homebrewedcomponents.com/store.php/products/aluminum-104bcd-4-bolt-chainrings