Thanks Crazy-Legs, I was wondering how busy it’s going to be compared to then mens, will there still be Dutch corner, will it be chaos?  Road closures don’t seem to be in place for very long, only from about 4pm to 9pm all the way from Allemond and then up the climb.

Will see what advice the Office de Tourisme has to offer and to make sure I’ve understood the road closures properly.

Am down near Alpe d’Huez next weekend with the family and am really hoping to see the final stage.

Any top tips on the best way to enjoy it?

Thanks for the replies. 👍🏻

Will dig out some sandpaper in the coming weeks and strip the paint back, etch prime, and paint.

Hopefully the corrosion isn’t too bad. 🤞🏻

Not very precious TJ 🙂  More worried about the frame failing and causing injury or ruining a riding holiday which is all it’s really used for…although not much since 2018.

Will see about colour matching or just making statement colour choice once I’ve seen how bad the corrosion is, some of what I’ve read online suggests it could be corroding without breaking the paint or looking to bad which is a worry.

Thanks for the reply Yak.

Thought that might be the case. 🙁

Assume that stripping the paint around the cable guides and bubbling on the down tube is all that’s required and not the full frame?

Good luck with the new jockey wheels. 👍🏻

I’m trying to achieve the opposite, have found the SRAM GX jockey wheels to regularly seize in wet conditions, and the Nukeproof ones have seized very quickly and have destroyed their seals in the process. Had hoped to fit the NX bushing version but the fitting on the top wheel is slightly different and doesn’t fit.

I’m trying to workout which fails more often the SRAM jockey wheels or the DUB bottom bracket. 😃

Did ~10 years of trips with 5 bikes on a C4GP including holidays all over France.  I put the 3 biggest on a Thule towbar carrier that tilted out the way so the boot could still be accessed and 2 smallest on the roof.

The ones on the roof really hit the fuel consumption when your sitting at 130kph on the peage, especially once they were adult sized bikes.  Adult bikes also meant the car became to tall for some height restrictions that the smaller child size bikes previously fitted under.

Sadly, or luckily, some my children no longer ride so bike transportation is slightly easier.

I was loathed to spend the money on a towbar and carrier at the time, but 10+ years later the carrier is still in use on a Berlingo that replaced the C4GP.

Can the Yari RC 160mm be adjusted to 130mm?  Looks like it can by changing the changing the airspring.

Would it be a worthwhile upgrade to Gold 35 RL on a Scandal.  Needs a service kit anyway so seems like a cheap upgrade.

Just taken delivery of a GX chain from Hopkinson and it turned up in a clear polythene bag.  The description does say “Please note:  this chain can come boxed or loose depending on the stock we get form our SRAM suppliers.” but l either hadn’t noticed or it hadn’t rung any alarm bells.

Have used Hopkinson for a few bit and bobs now and they’ve had good prices and availability and the delivery has been quick.

How to spot a fake chain without packaging? 🤷🏻‍♂️

The bars on my bike are modern and reasonably wide. 😀

However, even the standard bars on an 2010 XC bike were right next to the rear window and would have hit when bouncing along or stopping. 🙁

Just needed to loosen and turn the bars, not annoying when it was for a drive across France, would be annoying if I was something I had to do every time I ride.

Update on the above.  After much procrastination I finally had a detachable Brink towbar fitted to the Berlingo and was very relieved that when I attached the Thule bike carrier the boot could still be opened when the tilt was adjusted to it’s maximum 70 degree angle.

With the tilt set at 50 degrees the boot didn’t quite clear the bike carrier but did allow the rear window to be opened.

The downside of the 70 degree tilt is that the bike bars and pedals can it the floor so need to be careful, also need to rotate the bars for the bike nearest the car as otherwise they hot the rear window.

Thanks again, gives me hope that we might be able to tilt and use the boot as the Thule tilts a long way back from the car.

Thanks for the reply DickBarton, out of interest what stops the boot opening, does it hit the bike carrier/towbar or the bikes when they are tilted?

If I used the bike carrier regularly then fitting it and removing the towbar would be annoying.  It is slightly annoying and we only use the bike carrier a few times a year, but it’s less annoying than whacking my shins on a fixed towbar the rest of time. 🙂  It’s really annoying when someone helpful packs the boot before a holiday and just leaves me to put on the bikes…and have left the towbar under everything in the boot. 😀

I guess if I can’t open the boot with any kind of towbar I can fit what ever I like, which makes the choice easier.

Thanks Trail_rat, have got the opening window on the tailgate which is useful, but being able to open the boot is so much better when that extra bag needs packing or when something needs rescuing once the bikes are on! 🙂

I’ve got a Thule Euroclassic G6 929 bike carrier which does tilt but given the detachable towbar cannot be used with a trailer I assume the tailgate is going to hit the ball clamp?  Even a normal flange style towbar needs to be mounted in a low setting to allow the tailgate to open.

Never considered that fitting a towbar would be so complicated on a vehicle that people buy for its practicality. 🙁

Even more confusing and frustrating when the Thule website shows a tilting bike carrier on the back of a Citroen van with a tailgate opening using what looks like a Brink towbar (Brink being part of the Thule group).

Some 36 Metric R’s at 160mm that were great for a couple of weeks of XC and then stopped working somewhere in Chatel bike park.

Repaired under warranty by Upgrade but months later when I finally used them again they were awful.  Bounce like a pogo stick being particularly awful on rough climbs and the rebound adjustment barely seems to make a difference and they have quite a top out clunk.

This thread reminds me I really need to get them off to Upgrade to be looked at… unfortunately now well out of warranty so £100+.  Might upgrade to the roughcut in an attempt to make them rideable again.

If they have a good amount of equity in the existing property then it would be worth talking to a good independent mortgage advisor.  I know of someone who needed to do something similar and I don’t think they had a bridging loan but some kind of let-to-buy mortgage on the house they were selling.

You have my upmost sympathy.  Had a near stationary off two weeks ago and landed on a tree stump with my ribs.

It hurt…it hurt a lot!

A few beers and some painkillers allowed me to ride the hour to home…the next morning was excruciating.

I got lucky, I think they’re just bruised and after the first ten days things started to slightly improve.  Sneezing now just really hurts as opposed to feeling like I’m going to pass out.

I’ve been very deliberate about trying to take controlled deep breaths every hour and to not sleep on the opposite side to the pain as that can also apparently lead to lung problems.  However sleeping on my back is still not something I’m used to.

Fingers crossed that I’ll be back close to 100% in another 3-4 weeks.

Hope you heal OK, keep an eye out for symptoms that you’ve punctured a lung or ruptured your spleen which I think are the two main risks.

The reach adjustment on one of my M3s moved whilst riding at Super Besse.  Very scary when the lever pulls to the bar and nothing happens!

Clarkes sent a full replacement set under warranty (2 levers, calipers and discs) but I haven’t used the original or warranty brakes since.  I was going to try some thread lock on the reach adjuster to see if it stopped the problem.

They were also a massive pain to bleed, only managed a good bleed with the pistons slightly pushed out.

Just remortgaging to the Coventry offset.  Rate had moved up and down a bit in the past few weeks, currently they are doing 2 year fixed at 1.79 with no product fee.  It was 1.65 the day before we applied.  What’s on offer does depend on your LTV.

Sad to see our tracker finished as its currently less than 1%.

The spreadsheet on the MSE link above allows you to compare options side by side which is really useful.

Had an original Piccaso 1.6 diesel 110bhp from new which gave the family 10+ years and ~170k miles of largely trouble free motoring, the only big expense being a replacement clutch and dual mass flywheel at ~80k but it had done a lot of those on the M25 during rush<span style=”font-size: 0.8rem;”> hour traffic.</span>

Replaced it with a pre-reg/new C4GP 2.0 diesel 150bhp (no air suspension) which has been great for the last 8 years.  The ride is a bit crashy in the C4GP compared to the original pic but it is bigger, faster, has 7 seats and a glass roof.

Both cars have been great family cars, cheap to run, takes 2 week’s worth of holiday packing and 5 bikes on the towbar/roof.

Would happily buy another Citroen.

Recently purchased a selection of batteries and a charger from Vapextech via their eBay shop.

https://www.vapextech.co.uk/

Have some of the same batteries that must be 8+ years old and seem to be working fine.

Interesting, have what sounds like the same problem on some Metric R forks (160mm).  Have been like it since new and it’s really annoying, clunks everytime you lift the front wheel, jump etc.  And the forks wobble and quietly knock if you rock the bars backward and forward.

Forks went back under warranty for a different issue and still did it when returned, the warranty has since expired and it’ll be £100 + courier + parts to check it checked out.

Interested in knowing how hard they are to take apart and check/fix the negative spring?  Is there a guide anywhere?

There is a long thread over on mtbr about servicing x-fusion forks, answer might be in there.

Had high hopes for the x-fusion forks but they’ve been awful from the start, far worse than any of the Fox, Rockshox or Suntours I’ve owned.

Have ann awesome time!  Interested to hear what Loiran is like.

Was hoping to get a day at La Clusaz this year but have cancelled our holiday as we can’t risk quarantine.

What/where do you normally ride?

@smokey_jo I was there with the family on 26″ XC bikes and we only rode one of the blues a few times which I think was Chemin de ronde.

The first downhill section was one of the least fun bits of purpose built trail I have ever ridden.  It was series of tightly packed small berms which should have been great fun, but the breaking bumps were massive in August when we visited (far worse than anyhing I’ve seen in Morzine, Les Gets, Chatel) and it was barely rideable on my XC bike.

This braking bumps are probably caused by the soil being really loose (almost like volcanic ash) and everyone riding downhill bikes.  It is all the hire shops had available and we saw lots of hire bikes rideen by stormtroopers stop/starting their way down the berms.

We rode the fireroad down to the end of the first section after the first go.  The rest of the trail was an OK XC type trail which was fine for the family who aren’t regular riders.

Worth a day out if you are in the region.

Have a set of 160mm M3s on my lads bike.  Like the lever and the fact they use mineral oil and Shimano pads and they seem to work well enough.  However, I had to shorten the rear hose and it needed a bleed after which was a real pain to do. Could only get a good bleed by having the piston slightly exposed and ‘overfilling’ the system.  Also, the reach adjustment moved whilst riding the blues at Super Besse resulting in one of the levers pulling to the bar.

Will see how the warranty replacement holds up when it arrives.

I’d try selling it.

I’m half heartedly looking for a used large full sus bike or frame for my growing boy and there doesn’t seem to be much stuff around at what I consider a reasonable price.

I’d also not consider it obsolete, most of my bikes are still 26″ and the majority straight steerers. It’s only the serious bikers who understand such things,I don’t think the average bike buyer knows or cares about changing standards, head angles etc.

@damascus have messaged you a link to some photo of ours.

I’m 6′ 5″ and tried on loads when it was purchased as I couldn’t find any that fitted.  The Jack Wolfskin has an adjustable back length and adjustable height hip belt and was pretty comfortable from what I remember of carry the little ones around the Lakes etc.

Ours might not be for you as logistically things might be tricky given it’s size, shape and weight but I’d certainly recommend them for the taller gent.

I think we’ve still got a couple of Jack Wolfskin Watchtower Deluxe carriers in the loft.  Purchased at the time because they were the only kind that fitted my back for length.

Have a stand so you can put them down without them falling over which makes picking up/putting down easier, a detachable rucksack which is great as a changing bag, a raincover that stops rain hitting their head, and a big storage section for your coats, pack lunch etc.

I’ll pop into the loft and the weekend and take some photos of you’re interested.

@andreasrhoen thanks for that, interesting winter project 😀

Out of curiosity have you ever looked to see whether the forks on your Bossnut can be adjusted to 140mm on the airshaft?  In think both the Sektor on the V2 and the Recon RL on the Evo can be adjusted between 80mm and 140mm depending on spacers.

Be interesting to know how it changes handling and the capability of the Bossnut.

@matt_outandabout I think the Les Gets blue crosses the red dual track near the end and it is easy to end up riding that instead of the blue.  I remembering riding it on my first trip and wondering what I’d let myself in for! 😨

You soon get used to it, although I’ll continue to give the Pleney a miss.

Two years ago we took a Alps virgin and went to Chatel for the first day as the green Panoramique trail is a great, fun and easy introduction to the bike park…problem was it was shut so we ended up having to ride a red…was quite an introduction to the Alps! 😁

@matt_outandabout that looks great…the bike and the surroundings

@seosamh77 IMO the bike park trails are steeper and longer than in the UK and full of braking bumps which are hard on bike and rider.  The closest thing I’ve experienced in the UK is BPW.  Because of the lifts you spend huge parts of your day just riding flatout down hill which is great but far harder work than it sounds.

@andreasrhoen thanks for your response, I’d seen some of your other positive post about the Bossnut 🙂  Not sure I recall seeing what 150/150 bike you have, do I recall seeing that you were going to build the frame up yourself?  What did you go for?  Happy doing my own maintenance and have better brakes and dropper post that I could move across from my old Marin.

@fotorat I’ve considered the hire option and have ridden with guys who have hired and they have never felt at home on bikes they aren’t familiar with, riding terrain that is very unlike our local riding.  I also, rather sadly, calculated the cost of hiring and even with the cost of flying with the bike I’d have spent twice as much over the last 6 years and that doesn’t count weekends away in Wales, Lakes and Peaks.  I do have a friend who did a day on a full DH bike and said it was a great laugh!  🙂

I see that they have released a full production big brother to the Bossnut today, the BBB.

Think the Pont Scethin route was featured in the magazine a while back.

@Matt_outandabout happy days indeed! 😀.

Can’t wait to be back out there in less than four weeks.

What long, low and slack option did you go for?  How do you find it for normal riding?

Waiting for the Weekend to go and look at a Bossnut and to ride the Marin, but CRC have confused me further by getting some of the Escarpe 29 VR bikes back in stock.

Intuitively it feels like at 6′ 5″ I should be the ideal candidate for a 29er and the Vitus seems like a great price for what it is…but it makes a mockery of my £1,200 budget.

Anyone on here ride a 29er version of the Escarpe?

@6079smithw thanks, interesting but unfortunately nothing close to my size 🙁

@ta11pau1 thanks for the clarification and the photos.  If that much seat tube showing is good enough for Sam Hill (and you!) then it must be OK.  🙂

@P-Jay I don’t think I need or want a full on DH bike, the group I’m riding with are all on 140mm to 160mm trail/all mountain/enduro type bikes and I’ve kept up with and ridden the same stuff with them before on the Marin….and the Marin was a cheap secondhand sell it when I get home purchase…that was 6 years ago and I’m not sure I’ve got space for another.  🙂

@Matt_outandabout I’ve survived 5 different trips to Morzine, Les Gets and Chatel on the Marin, and its forks, brakes and wheels are all better than on the first trip.  I’ve survived, in part, because I do slow down, attempt to pick my line and try and keep my wheels on the floor.  Like you part of the joy is just being there enjoying the riding with non-competitive friends, even with the most bling bike I’m not going to be catching huge air and challenging any KOMs.

Need to get out for ride on Marin and possibly sling my leg over a Bossnut just to see how this ‘new geometry’ feels.

There has been a guy taking photos at Chatel Bike Park in the past, might be an option.

Ninja edit…

3rd post down in here was the guy.

@Matt currently take a 2007 Marin Rock Springs and have a great time riding it since I purchased it used in 2012.

There is plenty more detail in the thread linked in my first post.

I’m still trying to rationalise whether I’d have more fun on a new bike, or whether I’m starting to believe the marketing 😀

And I’m sure you’d be faster than me whatever I was riding! 😉

@ta11pau1 thanks for posting, I hoped you would 😀

My maths isn’t great, but I’m calculating that you’ve probably got ~200mm of visible seatpost when extended.  I’ll be adding another 50mm or so and will end with ~250mm seatpost showing which sounds like a lot.  Does my maths sound about right?

Perhaps I need to start a ”how much seatpost is to much’ thread 😉

I’ll hold fire on making a decision in the hope that CRC have something more tempting in next week’s sale.

I was actually really interested in the 29er version but the ~£1,800 version has been out of stock for months and CRC don’t know when they’ll be getting anymore…I could have been tempted to spend more for a 29er…possibly 😉

Not very often, I started a thread the other day about my 2007 Marin and what more I could do to keep it “on trend” because the idea of spending ££££s on a replacement doesn’t make financial sense to me…but I’m tight!

Perhaps I don’t replace my bikes because I enjoy riding them…perhaps if I didn’t enjoy them I’d change them more often.

What do people think to this 2017 Vitus Escarpe Deore as an alternative to the Bossnut?