One set of SLX’s ordered complete with new bigger discs 203/180 and mounts

Thanks for the feedback.

I’ve survived this long without a dropper so will cope for 5 days in Spain, and the excuse of ‘dropping my post’ is always a good way getting a breather after a climb when you’re as slow and unfit as me.

Dithering on the myriad of options available for brakes…and thats just the Merlin page; XT’s, SLX’s, Deore’s and the Formula Mega’s look like a bargain. Any pointers on actual discs? Currently have 180/160 but at over 15st kitted up bigger wouldn’t go a miss.

Looks like a panic purchase from the hotel bar tomorrow to get them delivered for when I get home on Friday, fit and test ride Saturday, box bike on Sunday, fly Tuesday.

Really looking forward to the trip, a few days riding in the sun with mates is hard to top.

Well the dropper is going to have to wait for another day.

I’ve spent far to much of this weekend fighting with a set of brakes…the brakes have won 🙁

A ‘what brakes’ thread will appear shortly 🙂

Thanks for the responses…not the overwhelming “you can’t ride without one” response I thought I might get, but that’s good 🙂

Would appear that I don”t need a dropper for Spain and I don’t need a dropper for my normal riding, so it would appear to be getting one for getting one’s sake. 😕

And it’s just something else to be neglected by my poor maintenance regime.

Will have to think of a better way of treating myself…if I can’t convince myself then I won’t be able to convince the family!

Whinlatter blue would be good, but check its open. Almost all of the blue was shut up until Easter due to tree felling, and only the first 2 sections were open a week after when we visited.

Initially we weren’t happy, but it did mean we spent a enjoyable few hours ‘sessioning’ the first 2 sections which was actually great for building the confidence of my little riding buddies (9 & 11 yr olds) and probably more fun that just riding the whole circuit.

Good luck, have fun!

Another vote for couch to 5K, seemed like slow going in the early weeks but I never suffered much after a run and it got me running a non-stop 5K which seemed unlikely based on my previous experience of running. Really enjoyed the discipline of running 3 times a week to achieve a goal and found it very relaxing experience compared to riding as it doesn’t required as much thought.

Really need to start running again a couple of times a week to compensate a desk based job and a lack of riding time.

SSS given netball team are always there the week before we should have planned trips for consecutive weeks…it would be a certainty then!

The standard of my riding means we might struggle to be the best group of the week

Are the thorns not likely to puncture the dual ply? That’s my main concern phncture wise, I haven’t manage to pinch flat them despite a few trips to the Alps so know they are strong.

I already have knee pads, are there any separate shin protectors?

Unless anyone suggests a bargaintastic set of alternatives, I’m going to use the dual ply tyres I have. The climbs will be a pain but they’re not a race.

Will try converting to tubeless with some Superstar tape and sealant.

I’m expecting the riding to be very challenging, don’t get much technical riding in the Chilterns, but looking forward to improving over the trip.

Given how many groups just miss the Swedish netball team I think the odds of them being there when I am must be pretty good, fingers crossed!

Thanks for the relies so far.

Any recommendations on tyres…the more bargaintastic the better!

I think my skills might be found to be lacking, but I’m sure I’ll have a blast!

Cheers RB, trust you had a good time? Are you seasoned veterans or fist timers to the area?

I tempted to try tubeless even though neither tyres or rims are tubeless specific…what’s the worst that can happen?

Steep and rocky, two things that aren’t common to riding in the Chilterns…could be a learning experience that might involve more falling off than I’m comfortable with. 😐

Thanks for the replies and offers of help, have managed to get everything sorted.

Threw the wheel in the car when we went out this afternoon and stopped in at Cyclewise and lucked out, they fitted my new bearings for a £10. Happy days!

Hi Mike, haven’t started venturing further out than Keswick for shop so not tried Cockermouth, will give them a call tomorrow…today’s now not going to be an option until this evening. First call was to Cyclewise, Keswick Bikes was next.

@TheTallman

Like the look of that solution, have been thinking about something similar as I need to get 7 bikes across an 8 foot wall.

The wall is really only accessible from the middle 4 feet, think of the space as T shaped with access only possible from the vertical part of the T.

So I’m curious:

– How easy are the hooks to slide with bikes on, can you push and pull them?
– Where did you get the hooks? I’m thinking of different lengths to allow close hanging.

Anything you’d do differently?

Hopefully get this sorted at the weekend so I can use the rest of the space.

Cheers

Woohoo! Found the missing pad…

Have replaced the Velcro sticky pads with some new ones but not confident they will stay put.

DIY solutions will have to wait for another day.

I purchased one shortly after they came out, previously I had been through a couple of Giro Hex’s.

It’s an alright helmet, fitted well enough although depends on your head shape. The straps and adjustment were fine, and mounting a light was easy due to the vent layout.

Ventilation was really good, the only helmet I’ve ever used that caused me to get head freeze on cold rides!

One thing that let it down was the quality of the pads, they had quite sharp edges where they were sealed which rubbed my forehead when I didn’t wear a buff.

I don’t have it any longer as I tested it’s effectiveness by not ducking under a low hanging branch on a night ride. This resulted in me seeing stars before it was completely dark, some scars on my arms from the subsequent semi conscious stubble into the undergrowth, and a rather impressive crack in the helmet.

I was going to replce it with another, but went with a 661 Recon that On-One had on offer for the same price (£39.99) at the time. Whilst the 661 is a better finished helmet the pads are awful and if I was deciding again I’d go for the On-One…at £24.99 I’m seriously tempted anyway.

Hope that helps!

Any questions ask away.

Edit: This helmet also looks like a copy of an O’Neal Orbiter helmet, so the pads for those might be a replacement option, like these http://www.bike24.com/p261503.html

Can’t recommend anywhere near the lifts, but Chalet Montana in Montriond might fit the bill price wise, for another £10 you could probably get dinner, bed and breakfast.

Lovely location, basic, clean friendly accomodation with an excellent view, local bar with excellent outdoor seating…but it is a 10 minute uphill ride to the lifts.

Thanks wrightyson, good to have another vote for the zinc, appeals to my thrifty side.

Hoping to avoid shin, scooter problems by having one I can ride instead of carry.

Thanks for the replies.

Cheviots, how tall is your 8yr old?

I’m sure either of the above options are cooler than the ”Zu Zu Hamster’ one that it’s replacing.

Fadda, it’s handy that the weight limit is 100kg on those, means I can just about get away with having a go…could be fun on holiday this summer as they have a skatepark where we’re going. 🙂

I’ve got one vote each way so has anyone got anything to add to help me decide?

Cheers

Another vote for a Superstar 10mm axle.

Had a problem with the rear wheel of my Marin rubbing the chainstays and was told by two LBS’s that there was nothing wrong with the wheel and that it was typical of Marin’s and because of the evolution of how people ride!?

A new wheel and a 10mm axle saw a week of riding in Morzine/Chatel/Les Gets pass without any wheel rubbing, could have been the wheel, could have been the axle, who knows.

Loxy, thanks for posting up the details but I’ll pass, good luck selling them…or riding them! 🙂

Have a set of the Rev RL’s on order, hope to get everything built and ridden this weekend.

Thanks for all the replies.

😀 a murdered out Marin…do I have to black out its lights to complete the look?

Thanks for all the replies, I think so far I’ve learnt that coil is better than air expect when air is better than coil.

I think ultimately I’m going to now base my decision on the stanchion colour, so which is best; black or gold? 😉

Thanks for the offer Northwind, the Sektors are Dual Position 150’s so not sure the spring will work, but thanks anyway.

Similarly, interesting offer Loxy and even more to confuse me!

Lol, yet more conclusive evidence of why I should buy one over the other 😉

If the Sektors didn’t need a spring upgrade then this would be an easy decision. But as I weigh at least 14st10/94kg without any riding gear I reasonable sure I’m not going to get away with the standard spring which I assume will be a medium?

With a spring upgrade the price difference between the Sektors and Revs is only £15 which makes it seem sensible to go with them….doesn’t it?

Argh! 😕

These forks will going on an older style Marin Quad Tara 2006/7 that spends the majority of the year doing nothing, but gets dusted off for a trip to Morzine/Les Gets/Chatel for some XC and mild bike park riding. It might manage a trip or two to Wales or the Lakes as well.

I’m leaning towards the Revs as it appears to be a better fork which I can fit and run without having to buy any other parts.

Frosty, the Revs do (if 2014 as advertised) appear to have better damping.

Revs – DNA Motion Control with Dig valve and Rapid Recovery rebound
Sektors – Motion Control

Revs 2 vs Sektors 1 🙂

Thanks for the responses, not helping me make a decision so far with a vote each way 😉

tmb467, why Rev’s?

Nuke, I have the same thoughts and also think coils are likely to be more reliable. Not sure if I’d use the travel adjust, probably not as I’ve not got lockout on the forks they are replacing and rarely use lockout on my other bike.

Thanks for the heads up on the maxle, how do your tell the difference between old and new in both real life and on a website?

What are peoples thoughts on 15mm, maxle etc? Is one better or worse than the other?

A bump for the morning crowd.

Very tempted to get some new forks, but would be interested to hear from anyone who knows anything about these forks or knows of any good deals.

Cheers 🙂

Lol, I don’t think she is that worried about me surviving!

Things are turning a little weird…I’m being persuaded by the head of household finance to buy some new forks 😕

Apparently it would be a good investment as it will reduce the chances of me killing or seriously injuring myself through mechanical failure…there is little than can be done to compensate against my lack of skill! 😉

Will have to start a what forks thread.

I’m amazed! I was expecting a barrage of “you’ll die if you ride them” type comments 😉

I’ll put them back together and see how they hold up over the weekend.

A further close examination of the lowers reveals the bushing is quite worn were it has been rubbing on the stanchion.

Fingers crossed they’ll last 5 days in the Alps at the start of July.

Although I have been granted funds for a new set if required…tempting to buy some new ones while I can! 🙂

The head of household finance will be overjoyed at the lack of expense involved in the responses so far! 🙂

I assume the contamination is from stuff getting in past the seals? But am surprised given they don’t leak.

Or is it from the stanchion wearing on the bushing?

Thanks for the replies so far.

If new is an option and budget permits, then how about some new Rockshox XC32TK Solo Air’s with vbrakes mounts. I recently fitted some to a 2004 Trek that originally had 68mm travel forks.

Purchased from Alltricks for about ~£140 and then needed a spacer kit to space them down from 100mm to 80mm which was a 10 minute job.

They’ll come off the bike once it’s been outgrown and go on the next bike so should get a good return on the cost and can run them at 80/100/120mm.

Hope that helps.

Was staying not far from the tearoom at the end of Hermon a few weeks back.

First trip there and had the family in tow.

Really enjoyed the natural XC feel to the trails that I got to ride. Rode the blue Minotaur a couple of times with the family, the Slipway is fun if you like berms, and managed to sneak in a ride round the Adamms family, Pink Heiffier, Big Dug and Hermon on a couple of early morning solo rides.

Mark at the tearoom after Hermon is open at weekends and can give to you some route options…also provides dishwasher tablets for the poorly equipped self caterer.

Don’t know the answer, but would recommend you email Hayes in the US. They were great a few years back when I broke a part on my Strokers. They shipped me a replacement part from the US to the UK for free and included some new pads as well.

You’ll need to be certain what differences there are across the Stroker range, are they Rydes the same as the Trails, Carbons etc. They certainly used to take different pads and have different adjustments etc. could mean the internals are different as well.

Good luck.

Thanks for all the feedback.

Is the Euro Spar expensive in a Waitrose/Booths/M&S type way or just expensive for no obvious reason?

Need to check out some of the pub options as they will be useful for lunches and evening meals.

Forest Center is looking good for breakfast, might be able to start the week with a cheeky ride 🙂

Thanks for the tips so far, am favoring the center for breakfast if I can’t ditch the bikes. We’ll have a go at the Co-Op for shopping and see how it goes.

I’ll pick this up again in the morning to see what other top tips have been posted.

Cheers

WrightySon, was the pub The Rhiw Goch Inn?