did that, not sure where to measure from? piccy attached. Also the bottom cup seems incomplete compared to the picture in on the on one site (and compared to the one fitted to the frame). Sorry to sound all blond, just don’t really fit headsets that much.. (just make cake lol)

Maybe the pics will help!

THX

Thanks for that, will have to invest in one of these then.

And yes, stem arrived (very quickly too, thanks), sorry for not letting you know, busy week! It is perfect and will sort out my bike nicely :o)

Cheers
Simone

Thanks, Now have a used 300 spring on the way, little better than the 450. Did phone tf tuned bout the 225 spring, but they want about £50, which is quite a bit (we only paid 270 for the bike, 2007 hardly used). Now got some floats to go on, I think these are 140, should I have the travel reduced?

Good idea to put the dj on the hardrock (his little brother rides one), but they do weigh about 3kg! ….So does that work?

I am building him a 26″ wheel 14″ frame ht now for my 10 year old, he is ok on 26″ wheels for xc (he is 137cm), but just not dh on a full susser… He has got his eye on my cove hustler and stiffee though!

thanks
Simone

I say Drive! We drive to champery (summer and winter) with the two uf us and 2 kids no problem. Ferry is only about £45-£85 ish depending on day/time. We are in Norwich and 3 hours to calais. Then a brake and the french toll roads are great (but boring). We drive without a overnight stay no problem, just have stops and swap drivers. Bout 16 ish hours in total i seem to remember…… We went with 5 uf us in winter and had 3 drivers which was fab, not really stopped, just keep rotating. We have done both night time and day time drives……

Toll roads do cost mone though, but not too bad. You can take LOTS of stuff in the car though :o)

Simone

thanks very much, will get the LBS to have a look at it tomorrow!
Simone

NICKF……..

just phoned tf tuned and they say only a fox spring will fit this shock? My bike is a 2007 b line with original fox vanilla r shock and 450×2.39 spring… Is yours the same? They said the other springs have a bigger diameter? So how did this work out with your manitou spring?

Thaks again, and sorry bout all the questions!

have emailed you toys19, and will try and ring tf tuned tomorrow when I get a chance. the LBS had a 300×2.25 spring, would this fit (it’s not a fox)…

Just reading this and wondering, if you put 24″ wheels on a 26″ frame, wont the bb be too low?!? I am considering doing this to for my son, but thought this may be a sticking point! I am just a girl mind you…

Simone

Nickf, that sounds perfect, where did you find this spring?

I have looked, but no luck so far…. Aslo I did measure the i2i and stroke at 19cm and 5cm, but I am new to this, so is that correct? (presume you must know as you bought a replacement spring for yours). So what spring size would I need?

Also presume the above offers are no good (wrong size)?

Thanks
Simone

Thanks guys, was afraid you may say that, will ring them tomorrow.

And yes, even with kit he won’t weigh over 35 kg max, I know I need to feed him more!!

Just haven’t really got the funds for a new chock, but I suppose I could sell the old one. Still looking for decent priced air fork for the front, although did get suggestion of taking one spring out of the dirt jumpers? Not sure bout this…….

Travel is listed as 125-144mm travel on the norco site. The stroke is a little hard to measure with the spring in place, but i’d say about 2 inches?

Does this make any sense at all? Also was wondering if this would fit as an upgrade?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Fox-Racing-Shox-Float-RP3-190mm-rear-shock-bargain-/370505300890?pt=UK_sportsleisure_cycling_bikeparts_SR&hash=item5643d63b9a

Sorry bout all the questions!

Cheers
Simone

had a look, still not quite clear really…..

so can i run a 9 speed road cassette on a 8 speed mtb hub??

Simone

Cheers, what info do I need for these spoke calcs?

just noticed the 350 is not a disc hub, presume they part i need is the same on both? …

thanks! Will go down there now!

don’t get the dualit, unless get it from JL with a LONG warrenty. We are on our 3rd one in 2 years! (heavy use though lol! hence why i am still up!). Also had a gaggia cubica with lots of trouble (and rubbish support for spare parts). How bout a good old KRUPS, german so should be good. We got one from a boot sale and that was the longest lasting machine yet!

Simone

5’5″ girly here, and I ride a small (15.5) hustler. Really lovely bike. My husband had a Medium one and he is around 5’10”. He never ‘got’ the hustler though and now rides a cotic soul. 2 friends around your height both had a medium hustler too (although one of them also happily had a small for years). Sorry this does not make it any easier. I rode my hubbies M hustler as well, but that really did feel too big.

I’d say try both if you can.

Simone

We have a custom built wooden shed made by a local company. It has no windows, we upgraded the hinges and fitted a 5 lever security lock. Also the door only faces into the garden, wich is secure with locked gate. Also make sure you up the cover on the contents insurance.

Hi, received the pics, thanks! Will have a look and make up my mind asap. Where abouts are you located?

Mmmm, that sounds tempting, may have to save my pennies for a new one then. Sadly it does not come in pink :o(. Had to get my stiffee frame re-powdercoated about 18 months ago as it was army green! It is now mat purple :o), not much beats a purple stiffee! Cove have now seen sense and are doing a purple one, copy cats!

If I pick up an old g-spot frame I think I may have to keep the hustler, judging by all the comments so far. . .

Dave, got any more info of the frame you have for sale? My e-mail is in profile.

Thanks Simone

LOL, yep in my experience you do!

We bought an o4 zafira (old shape) a year ago and paid 3700. Low miles and 1 owner etc etc. Top of the range diesel with full leather seats (v comfy). We managed the alps a few weeks ago fully loaded with 4 bikes on the roof, 4 people (2 smaller ones) and v full boot incl snowboards. Great car, and it managed all the mountain roads ok. Also comfy during 16 hour drive!

I did find I had to react on the day to ads on autotrader to get the car, otherwise dealers get in there first.

Simone

my boys both ride in skate shoes. Our local Soccer world (or is it called sports world?!?!) has airwalks at around £12 a pair. My sons have been riding with these for about 1.5 yrs now. Great with some v8 or other flat pedals. . .
Simone

My husband jsut got a K2 parkstar. We both went for a Rocker board instead of camber, very confidence inspiring (we are both beginners). The Parkstar rides like a boeard around 5cm longer (something to do with the type of rocker it is), so this may well be good if you are taller.

Simone

Cheers, I think my husband has now confiscated the shock pump anyway LOL!

Not sure, could be the shock pump and me re-attaching it. The pressure it looses when putting the pump straight back on seems to vary every time. . .

I think I'll just wait and see, hopefully it was just operator error!

Will bring my pikes to the alps as a spare I think. . .

thanks for all your help guys!

Simone

Cheers jammy111, will the 2010 manual also be ok for my 2009 forks?

Have just done what bikewhisperer suggested and set the pressure and re-attached the pump straight away. Seems to loose about 10psi on doing that. . . was losing bit more during the ride I think. Would it be ok to just ride them as we are going to the alps on Saturday, and worry bout the service afterwards? Don't want to wreck them and need expensive repairs afterwards. . .

Sorry, but been having lots of bad luck recently buying used forks (can't really afford new), so now quite (!) weary and want to be sure this set is ok. . .

Thanks again for all the suggestions so far. . .
Simone

I have been filling the + 1st, does this also go for topping it up? So do I need to empty the – chamber before even just adding a little to the + ? Cos I did not do that. I did top up the + ive first though.

Will try the filling and re-attching thing to get a reading on pressure loss when re-attaching and hopefully find out for sure weather it's leaking air. . .

If it does turn out to be loosing pressure from the -ive chamber, what do I do about that? Willing to learn and I have got a brother in law who is a car/motorbike mechanic with a garage full of tools to help :o) . . . If i'm nice to him that is. . . Or do I need to get them to a pro.

Cheers again,
Simone

. . . mmm so this may wel be normal? Not sure its me connecting the pump as I use the same pump for the + ive and that's ok. Just thought it was strange that the forks arrived with 130 in + and only 50 in -, and now seem to be losing pressure.

So even losing upto 20 psi in one ride is normal? Should I check and adjust the – chamber before every ride then?

Sorry bout all the q's, I only have one other air fork and that is a fox float 140 and I never have to touch that!

Cheers guys! I think its all sorted now (hopefully). You sure are more usefull than my husband, he is in bed!

Thanks again, much appreciated!
Simone

cheers guys, now gonna give that a try! Hopefully won't be back on here later!

Simone

Got my husband to order some from TFT when they were still on the site (as out of stock mind you), but we never got confirmation of the order (or the decals). Will ring them 2moz and also check if money has been taken, was just hoping someone knew how to get hold of some easily. . . I can find most decals, just not for the newer revs. . .
Simone

Not on your list, but get a Zafira! There is a good reason why you see so many on every school run. We changed our old Omega for one a year ago and LOVE it, honest. Two more seats in the boot, but even the middle row wil fit 3 child seats. lots of possibilities on seating arrangemets, which is great when I just take it with some friends and we put the bikes in the car. No too high to put bikes on the roof either, we have al 4 on the roof as our 5 year old model did not have a tow bar.

We have the older shape and paid £3700 @ 5 years old 68000m, dielsel top of the range and leather seats from 1st owners. They tend to go on the day on motortrader, so be quick or the dealers get it. You should be able to get a new shape one for your money, even more interior space I think. . .

Good luck with the crowded bump!
Simone

Another +1 for the miele. Pay the extra IMO. I had a bosch and it was rubbish. All sorts of trouble with it (buttons, front panel, door fell off!). I have been told some bosch are made in Spain and these are not as good?!?! Not sure, but friends had trouble with them too (and mine was not cheap).

We were either going to get a really cheap one and throw when broken, or invest in a good one (miele). We are glad we did, 6 years on and 10-15 very full loads a week and still not missed a turn :o).

My son is 9 and also plays the drums. We now got him a lovely Premier Genista kit from ebay. Before that we had a mapex (both used). I'd say please remember the cymbals. My kit came with a huge case full and some of these would have been around £300 new on their own! Even my son can really hear the difference and is fussy which cymbals he plays. The cheap ones really do sound rubbish. Also a new set of skins can really bring a old kit back to life.

Simone

We have 2 boys (now 7 and 9) and LOVE our ZAFIRA. We only had a very modest budget and bought a 54 reg diesel (top spec + leather seats) for 3700 a year ago. Best buy ever. Very flexible seating and higher driver position but still low enough for bikes on the roof (all 4 in our case).

Also great size shape boot for smaller kids bikes and like I said, flexible seating allows for maximum amount of people/bikes inside the car too.

We don't have a dog though…

I'd say BUY ONE :o)

Simone

We do drive in France (and some other countries on the continent) a lot, but I am not sure on the rules in France.

I do know that the child seat categories all overlap by a few kilos so you have a period to change your child over. Most baby rearward facing seats go upto 13 kg, most forward facing child seats cover 9-18 kg and most boosters/high back boosters are from 15 kg, altough they recommend you do not use a booster without a back for childeren under 6.

I believe however that you should always use the best/safest car seat for your child. My children are 7 and 9 and both still in high backed boosters (Maxi Cosi). We all survived a (for the other party fatal) car crash and the childrens child seats saved their lives. My 3 year old at the time was in a high backed booster. Eventhough just a booster would have been legal, he probably would not have survived (according to the police at the scene). Better safe than sorry me thinks!

Simone

Have you tried the roval wheels? I run a set of traverse wheels on my hustler and have not had any problems (I am about 9 stone though). They are a great set, my friend has had his sets for years and taken them averywhere (and he is not that light!). I think the current set is about 1550g, which is great for a freeride/all mountain set. Or you can go for the roval controle xc set which is even lighter. My husband runs this on his cotic and has not had any problems, be is a wuss though. . . Both sets will run tubeless I think.

Simone