Isla bikes are just right, our 3year old twins have no problem with braking in fact our girl finds it funny to pull both brakes as hard as possible. Still insists on stabilises though and she steers randomly!

Photo courtesy of Jon Brooke at Righttimerightplace. I nearly ran over the tripod with the flash!

Tyres are Ikons 2.2 EXO sideways, running tubeless. They were great on the rocks, just about enough traction on the muddy sections. I was careful with the front one, some drift, it was very wet though!

Paceman, thanks for the comment, It was only though trial and error that I found I was happier with a slightly ‘smaller’ 29er frame (relatively- still 25.1 inch top tube!)

No me too, I’m all legs and just under 6’4″so don’t need a v long top tube. (I changed from an XXL- too long for me in retrospect a whole inch longer than the XL). Lots of post and a 100mm stem, but suits for XC, and I like the shorter wheel base. I suspect someone at 6’2″ with a longer torso would need an XL too.

and Dyfi shot.

Someone discloses something traumatic to you in confidence, you worry about your own ‘bad luck’ in having to hear it and mention it in a public forum in the course of a thread you started criticising someone else at length, for holding you up on bike….someone you chose to ride with.

Oh and the point is that the carbon is stupidly light, not the Al heavy….

Not heavy at all, mine is xl, xt + xtr cranks, tubeless on stans crest. 26.5 lbs. great bike. Very capable up and down and mine only has 100mm fox32 forks. Not cheap!

I think I’d like to hear what an averaged sized rider had to say about flex in the frame (and wheels) before making a judgement (oh and actually riding one).

Expensive but very nice indeed, up there with Soulcraft etc.

I’ll going to recreate that right now- clearly collusion in play!

This:

“Only downer was from Cafe Seren with their samey music blaring out untill just before sunrise ok for Saturday night but bit much for a Sunday”

If they made one change for me it would be this, makes sense to make it lower key on the sunday night, bit too much. Try getting a 3 year old to sleep in a tent with blaring music at 3am.

But the best event out there- just great- thanks to all for their hard work- I loved it back next year.

Number 10 for me, still not getting better, still getting in the way:)

Maybe the friendly UCI will get a grip at some point and dictate some rules, wheel size, maybe a minimum weight for XC, that would be interesting!

No

Dom’t use spd’s they just don’t feel that secure compared to road pedals. So choose any road pedals. (Speedplay if you need lots of float for tricky knees).

Stato :)

225 and paid at 6:07pm! Super quick this year!

Thanks for taking the time to tell us about the race and event; you’ve done something that many of us can only aspire to! Good photos too.

Wait until you are old i.e., 40, then look at this post again from the archives and see if you still have the same opinion :)

I’ll miss Mr Ferrentino’s view on life and mountain biking; written well and often provoking an insight or take on a subject I hadn’t thought about before. It’s a shame that some of the comments on here are not composed with the same lucidity, balance and perspective.

Let’s try some constructive criticism- just a thought.

You are definately looking at riders with leg warmers under bib shorts! I notice that rapha do thermal bib shorts for use with the thicker leg warmers. I use leg warmers right into April, very versatile and comfortable once you are used to them gripping your legs.

Most of the items on your lists of ideal content already seem to be in the mag, to state the obvious a magazine can’t just comprise a tailored accumulation of an individuals personal interests and latest niche mtb obsessions.

I wonder if what is needed sometimes is change to keep long term subscribers interested. By the way there seems to be lot’s of recent Premier content, and let’s face it if you subscribe it’s ‘free.’ or at least no more that you paid before it all existed.

I think I’d go with Aidan’s advice on ratios and kit, he has have ridden his slightly further than the rest of us…..

Great video…thank you for posting it. Never a good idea to fight rudeness with rudeness, politely taking the moral high ground is a far better approach :)

Calderdale; that well know trail centre with it’s packhorse routes built in the 13th to 18th centuries specifically to disappoint 21st century mountain bikers. The foresight was truly remarkable :)

Apologies for the sarcasm, I was driven to it- must get get back to some ‘grubbing around on footpaths’

Why does everyone think that if you are tall you should choose a bike that doesn’t fit…

Any way the Orange Five 29er should be great for anyone who would fit a 22 inch bike. I’m 6″4 and I also found my 20 inch Five too short, it had a 120mm stem! Moved to XL 29ers.

Great bike- not really ‘short travel though’

Hi, feel free to buy my Tallboy frame, if you are 6’3 or 6’4 see the classifieds, (sorry for being cheeky)

Oh and I’ve owned both, the Jet is great, Tallboy is better, lighter stiffer quicker.

How can people possibly say it’s tall, short, long or short- unless you know the exact dimensions of Psychie???? and you attended the bike fit session- or maybe you did- :-) It’s sort of the whole point of custom, it’s exactly your size, not the nearest one to you. (I’d love one, but would need to sell the house first).

Tis a big bike- but ‘short’ wheel base for it’s size. The photo angle seems make it look bigger than it looks in reality. Oh and I’ll add you will want one :)

Well I really like mine, looks way heavier than it is, descends very well, climbs even better. Very stiff. Mines set up in all-day mode, with Forks at 120mm. Sizing is slightly strange to get sufficient reach I had to go to XXL, normally I’m XL, with a 90mm stem.

I suspect you might find a 20inch frame too small at 6’5″. I’m 6’4 and have an XL niner (21.5 and an XXL SantaCruz, and a 20inch Kona SS, and the kona has a 120mm stem and tons of seatpost. The others have 90mm stems to get the same reach. Having said that the Santacruz is a little large and I could go to an 80mm stem.

Another nothing in West Berks vote…

‘Looks like a teeny tiny tallboy’

:D

Yes it does, here’s one! (inXXL)

I’ve had both Team Rebas (100mm, non-bolt through) and FoxRLC bolt through and the Fox (120mm) and both very good but Fox are stiffer. On an XXL Tallboy.

I think you'll find that the Tallboy can be ridden with a 140mm fork without voiding the warrenty. Geometry would be v slack though.

PS the Tallboy is the 'best' bike ever :D

Thanks for that my legs are long for my height, I have mine about 1.5 cm lower, as I pedal 'heel down'. I think your right on the TT length, my current Niner is 25.25, so the TallboyXL is nearer at 25 inches (I have a 100mm stem).

I could probably ride both, the jump to a 26inch TT may be too much. Head tube length is another consideration, the TB ones look short. I also have wide bars at the mo , so increasing reach….too much thinking, I'll just give it a go

Looking forward to the test ride and to racing when I inevitably cave in and buy one!!

Hi Rob, Geeky question if you don't mind!! I'm also 6'4 but got a test ride on an XL TB coming up and I think I might need XL- What's your BB to top of saddle distance? It might help me make a decision as XXL demos are definitely not available! I'm currently on an XL Niner which size wise sits between SC XL and XXL.

Thanks

What you need is a full sus 29er :)

Float definitely isn't always better, that 's why I pointed out that you need to solve any other issues. But it worked for me in the end. Can get expensive finding the right set up. I was happy with spds for years until a knee injury.

I'd second Speedplay Zero's. I have a torn medial meniscus and in combination with cleat wedges the very free, but adjustable float, think foot on an ice cube, but with a stable platform helped a great deal to reduce the rotational forces on my knee. It took 3-4 rides to get used to them because the float is non-centred and low friction. Also reduced hip discomfort for me.

But I'd emphasise that I had to sort out the sideways movement caused by pronation with wedges as well otherwise my heel would have just moved around even more during the pedal stroke

Walking on them is a no-no, so the covers are needed and set up can be tricky. I also use spesh shoes.