My 1997 Kona Manomano. My first FS and the best! Even did a summer in Les Gets in 2002. Sold it to a mate and the bastard sold it, for a profit, 2 weeks later.
Wish I’d never swapped my ’93 DiamondBack Topanga either but I was only 15 and a bit stoopid.

Funny how most folks seem to regret getting rid of their older bikes from the 90’s or early 00’s

I bought a Reverb from them. Amazing service and I won a holiday too! Shame it was a biking weekend in Austria…

superstar components – I have one and it’s boss for the dosh!

http://superstar.tibolts.co.uk/product_info.php?cPath=56&products_id=362

Thanks guys. Just spoke to Mike – what a breath of fresh air!

All in hand now although those sly dogs at Magura state that the 2yr warranty is only valid when you have a 12 month service done on the forks!

Therefore the lower leg service is going to be done regardless…

I’m dying to find the one someone took of me just as huge snot bubble appeared out of my left nostril due to the ‘extreme’ exertion I was putting my unfit body through!

Cheers for the feedback, I reckon a hardtail with the option to add gears sounds the best bet!

I did the same thing last year playing five-a-side, I was probably off footie for 4 weeks or so then took it really easy. 3-4 weeks off the bike.
I heard a snap when mine went, very painful and experienced the same sniper you did. The bastard.

Good luck with yours.

molgrips – I didn’t think logic was in question here, it was about dislike of certain phrases

I can’t say I’m a fan of…’years of age’, as in, “since Bob was 12 years of age”
That makes me wince each time I hear it.

Thanks and I do agree with some of the above comments, but this was worst non-review I’ve read for a while.
Fork tests normally give you a bit more opinion and tyre tests are pretty good in general too.
I probably just had high expectations of this particular test because I would actually like to splash some cash on one and this didn’t help me at all!
Specifically I was looking at the X-fusion Hilo because I can get it cheapish in Germany, but I’m none the wiser to how it would cope with the wet and sloppy Welsh riding conditions.
Ho hum.

I’ve just done exactly this…sold the hardtail and DH and now only have a 2009 Trek Remedy with u-turn Lyriks and two sets of wheels. I run it 1×9 because I rarely ride for more than 2.5hrs and my legs are OK for that.

Got some DH wheels and a 50mm stem for the Alps or w/e’s of downhill on the local South Wales DH tracks.

Can’t fault it as my one bike. Although being a bike obsessive it’s very difficult not coveting other bikes, bargains and new bits…but the sustained discipline is saving me serious wonga

DB, wrong country and end of the UK, I’m in Cardiff!

I only paid for the rotors today so they haven’t even arrived yet, it just dawned on me there might be an issue 20 seconds after I pressed pay!

I actually wanted two sets of rotors – one for my XC wheels at 183mm per end and then stick my 203mm floating rotors on the DH wheels.

If you have two 183mm floaters we could come to an arrangement?

Sorry, maybe I wasn’t clear…

I’ll be using the ‘ordinary’ 6 bolt 183mm non-floating design rotor so the additional depth of the V2 pad will use the steel ‘stalk’ coming out from the centre as the additional braking surface, so there are no rotor mounts to foul.

Therefore, I’m kinda inclined to think I’ll be OK.

mouth, go to http://www.actionsports.de/gb/Components/SeatpostsClamps/X-Fusion-Hilo-Remote-Seatpost::32988.html

I’ve used Actions Sports loads of times, they’re excellent, and postage is only 6EUR.

I’m seriously tempted myself, but I want somebody to do a proper test on one until I part with my cash!

Has anyone bought the X-Fusion Hilo yet?

hmm, I’d be concerned about the re-sale. You can’t get the Van R in the 200×50 size though

RR – it won’t fit on the FR setting though without sawing/filing.

Never mind which one! Where is this Yeti available at £780 please?!
Thanks

I bought a Mazda Bongo for exactly those reasons Nick_Christy. It’s ace, masses of room, very cheap, comfy and it shifts.

It’s enabled me to order my new Citroen DS3 instead of having an estate and going through the rigmarole of sorting the bikes out before and after each ride.

Scruff – yes I believe they are.

I had some Funn 25.4 diameter bars before and loved them.

Ruminant – I had some V1’s too (where on a bike that got stolen), those FSA’s are too narrow for my tastes, I prefer about 750mm.

Appreciate the feedback though

Thanks, I think I just love the name! I’ll check out Bongo Fury

When I was growing up in West Wales, my father (who’s completely blind) and his best mate (who’s only got one eye) used to get shitfaced down the local which was 2 miles away and then cycle home on a tandem.
Quality stuff. Not exactly relevant to the thread but thought I’d share and yes my father was the stoker!

I was stopped once as a nipper (well 14yrs old) cycling home from a party at about 2am. I was actually stoned and tripping but the rozzers thought I was drunk and took me and my bike home. I vaguely recall threats of never being allowed to drive etc. but it was 18 years ago so my memory is sketchy.
Fortunately, the accusation of being drunk in charge of bicycle was far better than real truth, so the thrashing I got should have been worse!

When I did it I raced the Qualy on my Trek Session DH bike and did the race on my Spesh Pitch with 160mm Marzocchi’s.
You’ll be fine on your AM I reckon for both, Trek was overkill but comfy, I also had a Joplin on the Pitch.

As above my only advice would be CV training given the thinish air and the fact you will push yourself harder than normal because it is a race. (I found that climb a bitch and like TheSwede I only got my breath back at the finish!)

Defo dual ply tyres and an ability/desire to bully/smash/skillfully pass those slower riders is a must too!

again for Superstar – in Gold, cheap, decent quality at a great price.

I suffer from Raynauds and Seal Skinz are shite for me, probably (as stated above) because they’re too tight with shoes and restrict your blood flow.

Best solution for me is decent merino wool socks, but sadly I’ll always suffer badly in the winter.

I’m off there this afternoon. I’m not too comfortable/good in the air so the changes to the bottom section scare the bejaysus out of me at speed. I tend to session the top stuff and then do one final full run.

I’m a huge fan of technical, steep, gnarly riding (and big drops) but not jumps/tables/hips/doubles so the bottom half changes are wasted on me.

Pains me to say it but it’s a thumbs down from me…well from the berm after the ‘under the bridge’ chute stuff anyway.

Digs days hey?

Loco, how do I find out about those? WDMBA.co.uk?

My old Morewood Izumi, that was a great bike, really light!

Scruff, yours is a beauty in blue I have to say! I used the Totems on my Bullit and SX trail and they were superb.
For my riding (basically cycling/pushing to the top of local DH tracks) the single crowns are perfect and I think think they compliment the frame aesthetically well enough!

I just hope it rides as well as it looks with the Totem on!
Hi Chakaping, yes it is, pretty excited about trying it with the FSR this afternoon.

I’m not too good at taking pictures, even stationary ones in my garden! Believe me, this looks a lot nicer in the flesh.

I finally finished fitting a new, longer brake hose last night so I am really looking forward to it’s virgin run this afternoon in Cwmcarn on my way home form work! Woohoo!

I’ve used euroqualitycoatings for chemically stripping some frames and they’ve been fine.
I then went to a powder coaters in Cwmbran down the road from where I work to get the frame powder coated.

Not a bad job, but not great either! It was only £20 or so though so you get what you pay for I suppose! I could try and dig out the name if you’re interested.

mboy – I know, I’m just trying to sell on my immaculate frame after buying a Big Hit!

Piffle! http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/new-avid-brakes-marzocchi-160mm-bombers-2010-santa-cruz-bullit-am-wheels is where it’s all at!!
I’ve got a -2deg Works Component headset to go on the frame, that reduces the HA nicely, and I spanked my mate on his Orange Alpine at Cwmcarn. On technical sections of trails it’s great.

Seriously, it’s all horses for courses really!

Buy my Santa Cruz Bullit in the classifieds!! :D

mmm mmm, just looking at campervans for my new two month tour of Europe! Gosh, this has chirped me up big time!!
Thanks to all

iDave – I know what you’re saying, IanMunro’s words struck a chord but like you, I’d rather enjoy my health now!

user-removed – your story gave me the shivers!

Gravitysucks – I’m going to do it but the boat offer starts next summer and the next 6 months would enable me to save more and plan my next steps in some detail. Fortunately work is completely bearable so 6 months is perfectly achievable and won’t hurt too much, I’m sure my apathy will stretch the distance.

Some of the negatives (and this may seem pathetic to some but not me) are that I’ll miss the simple things. Footie with my old school mates on Monday, visiting my folks easily, seeing close friends and family whenever I like, seeing my goddaughters. But, I’m talking about a year that’s all…unless I get a taste for it!

Some cracking feedback guys, I really appreciate it.

I think most responses here covered at least one of the many feelings, plans or reservations I have about doing this.

I’m going to do this:

Pressure my manager/employee into giving me a 3 month sabbatical so I can really scratch that itch. If that fails then I’ll quit and do the 3 month riding trip anyway – starting, as recommended above, with a month in Canada then 1 month in the Alps (Italy, France etc.) and finally Ireland and Scotland.
Then it’s working on my friends boat for a 1 year. I think that should sort my dilemma out, especially because the boat job actually pays quite well and it’s tax free so I won’t come back completely skint.

Nickf, very spooky your comment “- the bits you always promised to get to, but never actually do – ” because that is exactly what has happened!

Right, time to stop wasting my money and start saving. Once again, really appreciate the feedback and advice.

Good words Simon! I too travel a lot and have a very demanding customer and suffer the normal understaffed issue.
I’ve built up the financial buffer and certainly a 4 month sabbatical would most likely answer my prayers! Mmmm, Whistler and Europe…

Fortunately I feel no loyalty to my company, it’s just I live in Cardiff and if I left my best opportunity for employment would be the Midlands or the South East – both places I’ve lived and worked in before and have no wish to return.

I don’t like the idea of ‘threatening’ my boss with leaving unless they agree because he is a superb manager and we get on very well.

Still, that would be the best compromise

iDave – I think my old dear meant marriage = children, so it suddenly isn’t just about me. Then my ‘reasonably comfortable’ situation wouldn’t be so bad.

Sadly, freelance or contracting is not easy for my job/role.

Footflaps – they won’t do it, I’ve asked. We’re really busy and I’ve got a global role so someone has to be full time. I also asked for a month unpaid sabbatical…wouldn’t entertain the idea at all.

Yeti – I’m 32. So young enough to try and get it out of my system…I think!