Double check your rim-tape though. Sounds okay, but mine is yellow.

Just set mine up – exact same wheels as you, only they came with the valves and Stan’s.

Mine went up very easily using 2 standard WTB tyres that I have been running with tubes for a while. Make sure you slosh the sealant around and they should seal up fine. I used a track pump and didn’t even bother soaping the bead for the rear as it went on so well!

edit – just to add the rimtape should be good to go if like mine!

I must admit, I’m always quite impressed when I see a biker lighting a fag. I like seeing someone just doing what the hell they want and not giving a toss what people think. Hey, if you like smoking and cycling, what’s wrong with combining the two? You’re only doing it for your own enjoyment at the end of the day.

Just fitted some – fab wheels. I can confirm the above. They click, but it is a lot quieter than my hopes.

Tubeless ready with sealant will be fine.

the seatpost was called a gravity hopper and he bought that and the forks for a grand off gumtree 6 months ago?

I just had a random thought. Having re-read this, is his missus trying to sell off his pride and joy? Something vaguely similar happened to one of my mates a few years ago!

I would think very carefully about it if I were you. Gloucester centre empties after 5 o clock. I work there and see it every day! If you don’t know the town why not see for yourself by spending an evening out mid-week and seeing how many punters are about. It’s a shame that Gloucester has become as it has, and I suppose if nobody is brave enough to invest in the place then it will never improve. I’m pretty convinced that the pedestrianisation was the beginning of the deterioration of the city centre. It sort of ripped the soul out of a place which should really have so much potential.

I’ve been looking at these and wondered if they would be an improvement over my ’07 Float R’s (140) which have very basic damping. Anybody care to comment or point me at some good online deals?!

I must say, doing a loop of the long trail (forget the name) of Nant Yr Arian after a heavy snowfall early in the year was absolute magic. Technically there was nothing particularly challenging, but the shear beauty of the place made it very memorable. I am scared to go back in case I shatter the lovely memories I have of the place.

Look, I could prob take a detour via Bristol. I’m thinking of heading down Sunday if family commitments allow. Am planning to meet my mate there but you would be welcome (so long as you aren’t insane). As mentioned, nothing set in stone yet, but even if this doesn’t come off would like to get down in the next few weeks.

I live near Glos so would be a bit of a long detour, but if you could sub the bridge I reckon I could manage it.

My wife and I had this when our litt’un was about 1 year old. Luckilly my wife was about 8 hrs advanced of myself and was able to care for the nipper whilst I was sat on the bog/ simultaneously vomming into the sink. It lasted about 12 hrs bad then just felt awful for a bit. For a short while a revolving door on the bathroom would have been useful. Speedy recovery to you!

Apologies for the above. I would hate to be in the position your mates were in.

Get orff moi land!

I leave work at 5 and find on days that I’m riding (sadly not every day) that a coffee about 3:30 ish helps to keep me feeling peppy for the ride home ( I finish at 5:00). Mind you, if you drink lots of coffee during the day you probably wouldn’t notice it.

Edit FYI: my commute home is 12 miles or so, and slightly uphill, but hardly tough.

That won’t work ^ The distance between the sprockets is smaller on a 10 speed block, so the distance the mech is moving for a shift is less than it would be on a 9 speed. You might get some gears but it would never work properly.

I’d be amazed if that broke. My mate’s got an ST4 (2011) and it is a cracking little bike and very solid feeling. Don’t take this the wrong way, but I can’t work out your logic re. the breaking thing. Anything can break or malfunction, but it doesn’t mean that there is an inherent fault with every other item of it’s type out there.

I strongly recommend riding it (but if you die riding it as a result of it folding in two then I won’t accept any of the blame!).

Thank you for this, OP. Reading that quotation is officially the first time I have sprayed drink from my mouth and onto my monitor with laughter. That second sentence did it for me :)

The Verderers trail is barely 7 miles long! You could add in the fodca trail (or whatever it’s called now) for a few more miles and then just go exploring the area. It’s pretty easy to pick up bits of the enduro course as well which offers better riding than either of the above, imo.

I don’t get down lots, but would be happy to show you around one Sunday morning if you like.

@ lostnfound, if you want to check out my SL I am in the fod fairly often.
EDIT: mind you I fancy an Anthem myself, so would deffo check them out.

@richieokeefe1 – I do use the propedal on (set at 3 – as it was when I got it back from TFT) as I find it jacks the rear end up a bit for climbs. I also quite like the firmer setting for general riding, but that’s just my taste.

http://www.parktool.com/product/bottom-bracket-tool-bbt-9

does that help? There is no plastic preload thingy on the Sram, otherwise installation of the cups should be the same.

Just seen your edit – the tool grips around the outside of the shell, not the inner! There are “teeth” that locate into the indentations on the outer edge (see pic)

That sounds strange. Are you 100% sure that the grooves aren’t equal? I don’t disbelive you, it’s just that I have the latest version of the SRAM cups fitted to one of my bikes, and they definitely are the same each side, as were the older ones (as mentioned, I’ve been through quite a few). I fitted them myself with a £10 tool.

If it’s external as above then it’s definitely the same as Shimano. I must be on about my 8th bb in 4 years on my Truvativ setup lol!
EDIT : that’s 3 years actually

My Superlight gives me endless fun and you should be able to pick up a used one well within your budget. It’s pretty steep up front with 100mm forks though, so depends what sort of bike you’re looking for. It picks up speed so easilly and I have yet to ride anything I prefer for fast, twisty trails. I also ride a Yeti 575, but am always amazed how capable the Superlight is in comparison. In fact it is probably more than enough bike for 99% of what I ride.

FWIW I had the RP23 PUSH tuned after a year of ownership and it turned a good bike into a great one for me.

Should add I also run Rebas, sometimes at 100mm but prefer them at 115mm as bottom bracket is low on this bike.

My mate has the 2011 model fwiw

…also, he hasn’t experienced any chainsuck issues thus far!

My mate just recently bought one of these, and still has his old Five. I have also had a Five (albeit a few years back now), and for what it’s worth we both prefer the ST4. I guess a lot of it will depend on how it fits you and where and what you like to ride. It is a tad heavy, but I would quite happily own one.

how much real world difference do you think a 9 to 10mm axle is going to make?

It’s not so much the diameter of the axle, more the spindly qr that binds it together.

Wish it was me, but it isn’t. Knackered achilles is my excuse. The course is fab though, IMO. Think the new section might be interesting with a lot of traffic on it though, especially if wet!

As above. Serviced mine recently and found a broken spring. Just got some replacements; very easy fix.

Good stuff! I need to replace my worn Crossmark USTs so might try something different.

Might you not need rim tape though, such as Stan’s? Only asking as I’m interested in this too.

Get one from Superstar – I upgraded my front hub with one and the 9 mm adaptors. It was worth the effort in my opinion. The QR isn’t amazing quality, but more than good enough.
http://superstar.tibolts.co.uk/product_info.php?cPath=32&products_id=286

Edit – just to make clear, this works with standard QR forks.

I should add that broken left clavicle caused by “over the bars” incident hasn’t helped with playing heavier instruments with a strap for long sets! Biking and bass playing don’t mix that well really, in my opinion. Have twonked my wrists and hands more times than I care to mention as well. Doesn’t help the old technique very much.

I actually feel embarrassed when I think about all the basses I have been through since I started playing (bloody hell, it was nearly 20 years ago…..!). I wish I could get back all the money I have thrown at basses and re-invest it into shiny bike things, but it’s all too late for that now. At least I do get a very modest income from my gear these days, and haven’t purchased any instruments or amplification for over 2 years now. I currently have about 7 basses, but only regularly play 3 of them to be honest. I have a Fodera Monarch and Wal Custom 5 String to do the coffee table thing, a lovely 1977 Fender Jazz Bass which sees the most use with the band, an 80`s Musicman Stingray, a Bravewood 60’s Fretless Jazz Bass replica, a Bacchus bass (Japanese thing)and a funny Westone Quantum stick bass thing which is the most 1980’s item I possess.

I’m still crap though.

Sorry for the hijack, but the end caps are completely stuck solid on my rear Pro 2. Tried clamping them in a vice and still can’t get them to budge! I really need to get into the freewheel to service it. The annoying thing is they’ve been off before,but not for some time. Any tips for getting them off?

There are so many good trail bikes around that I would get down to your nearest decent bike shop and ask for some advice and try and get a demo on something once you’ve narrowed it down. Human nature dictates that we will probably mostly recommend what we have ourselves (unless we’ve had a bad experience), but only you will really be able to tell what is right for you.

Ouch! Do you find the Go Pro and Garmin encourage you to go faster every time? My Garmin does that to me, and I can only imagine that if I had a camera strapped to me I would be even worse! Hope you’re okay, looks like you landed a bit hard on your elbows.

Where is that, by the way? Looks like a fun trail?

I can understand you wanting to restrict wear and tear on the hardtail if you are using it more as a racing bike. I would say go for a full sus if you fancy one. I would be tempted to go for something quite different in a full sus ie get a slacker trail bike rather than something racier. That way you will appreciate the differences between the 2 bikes even more and find each fulfills a particular role. Your hardtail could be your race bike and real mile muncher whereas your full sus might be more for just messing about on on group rides or for giving you more confidence when trying steeper stuff.