117cm to top of the saddle on my 23″ Spesh 29er. They don’t come much bigger to be fair. :-)

6’7″ with around 38″-39″ inside leg

Meant to be very good up front in the 29er version but don’t know about 26″. Bonesetter off here has used one and a chap off Bikemagic also but again, both using the 29er version.

It’s not the lightness that attracted me, it’s the fact they look good and have vbrake bosses when most competition is disc only.
I don’t even commute anymore (i did when living in london) but as my Hardrock is the bike that got me into cycling i like to treat it from time to time. :-)
The seller came back saying that he does not know of any weight restrictions and he knows people of my weight who ride them with no problems.
Nostoc, is it wiser to have a carbon stem for a carbon steerer tube or does it not matter? Cheers

I’m with Willard, at 6’7″ air travel is an absolute nightmare for anything other than very short flights.
99.9% of Fat people are overweight due to over eating and not enough exercise so they suffer due to problems they have caused themselves. Tall people are a result of their genetics, i can’t lose height by changing my diet or exercise regime but am going to weigh far more than a similarly built chap who is a foot shorter. I’d be enraged to have to pay more through no fault of my own.
It’s bad enough having to always get to the airports dead early to try and beg for an exit seat so my knees aren’t wedged in and even worse when i don’t get them and see tiny people sat in them when i walk by. It also means on longer flights the person in front of me is unable to recline their seat which has lead to a few arguments as this obviously angers them (i get the stewardesses to explain it to them now before takeoff).
Can’t see extra charges happening anytime soon though as fatties are now a pretty strong vocal group out there which is forever growing.

Pike U-turns will go up to 140mm so just set them at 130mm and away you go….

2nd the Sunline Logo’s in the thick version. Better than both Big Earl and ODI Rogue Lockons in my opinion. Slightly larger and definately more comfortable/softer.

Got mine at UK Bikestore for £12 + £1 postage.

2nd the small block 8’s (2.35). Mine were great at the weekend on the dusty trails.

I bought a Decathlon one which was pretty good until the base of the pole sheared off leaving it unable to stand in the base.

Then i bought a Minoura one which has been faultless.

Buy cheap, buy twice………. (like i did!!!)

Opt for an extra £30 or so outlay and you’ll not regret it.

I’ve got an Avid Arch Rival on my hack bike and XT/XTR V’s on my old commuter bike (discs on everything else).
Never really had a problem with either to be fair so i just replace like for like. XTR pads and Rim Wranglers.
If i really had to choose i’d say the Avid Rim Wrangler pads are marginally better. I don’t know if XTR pads fit into avid cartridges though?

I once changed a new chain onto an older cassette which then started to skip as soon as any power was put through it. It was annoying at first but i persevered and eventually it stopped as i assume the new chain eventually meshed in nicely with the old cassette.

This was on my commute bike though where it’s easier to put up with chain skipping than when riding offroad.

Very funny.

I’d almost want to buy the car just to meet him and have a pint.

The Cult. Sonic Temple Tour. 1987 at the NEC.

Couldn’t hear properly for the next 2 days. Awesome. :-)

Took my nephew put for his first ever spin yesterday and he loved it. Only went 3 or 4 miles but i had his mothers blessing and it was all good.

It’s down to personal choice isn’t it, i don’t like the idea of wrapping kids in cotton wool and think they should experience all sorts of things.

People take their kids out in cars when there is a chance of an accident (although i realise the risk is far less)?

People wax lyrical on here about the joy of taking their kids for a first bicycle ride which will almost always result in their first crash at some time but that is deemed acceptable. A child could be killed or seriously injured when losing control on a bicycle and hitting a tree or even just the ground?

I think people take far more care when they have a child on the bike and wouldn’t take the risks they might if they were on their own.

Tap the top of the steerer tube with a rubber mallet. Should then pop out.

This is making me regret the fact that i’ve sold my uturn revs today when i could have put them onto my Trance and sold the Fox 100mm ones it came with! Doh! Never thought about longer forks making the bottom bracket higher as that is about the only issue i have with the bike.

Mick,

Ride was good. Pretty dry in most places and warm enough to wear summer gloves and shorts without feeling the cold at all.

Did about 18 miles and came back via the canal. You’ll have to come with us at some stage, can’t ever remember riding the Lickeys with you?

When are we next at the Wyre? My clown bike needs to experience the mud over there…..

Well if you want to join our mailing list let me have an email for you and i’ll forward it to the chap who organises everything so he can add it to the list.

Monday & Wednesday nights are the norm but depends on peoples commitments.

I have an 06 and it’s been fine. I’ve kept the 100mm travel but i’ve heard of people running more with no issues.
I’m 16st + and i’ve never had any issues with the bike not being able to cope with what i’ve thrown at it.

There’s a few of us based in Bromsgrove & Redditch. We’ve just been out tonight up the Lickey’s for 20 miles or so.

Other than that we have fairly regular rides over the Wyre Forest and the Clent hills.

Where are you looking to ride around Droitwich? I only pass through on the canal when i’m putting in some miles down to Worcester and back.

If you can stretch to a 25% deposit you’ll get a better choice of mortgages.
Although 20% is a great deposit for a FTB (and is double or 4 times what most people put down up until 12 months ago) the market has changed and most of the good deals start at 75% LTV (Loan To Value). The best deals are now generally asking for a 40% deposit(There will be a few exceptions).
Do your homework and if possible visit an Independent broker who at the very least can confirm what you have researched yourself, even if you then choose not to use them.

Righty. Thanks for your imput. It’s appreciated. :-)

Mike, if you let me have an email addy i’ll send you some pics this evening.

Righty, well that’s what i was starting to think as they’ve been brilliant wheels which i think look great. I’ve had to replace the odd freehub (which was cheap) but they’ve handled everything i’ve chucked at them with ease. I’d keep them but i haven’t got another bike that would do them justice and they obviously can’t go onto the 29er. Before i starting researching them i nearly put them up for £40-£50 which i think was maybe a tad low!
So you think £120 is reasonable then? Or more? On here or retrobike (if they are retro of course)?

Michael, it’s not a set of M4’s just the front one with a 180mm rotor. I have not looked into pricing it up yet as i’ve been selling things a few at a time. Don’t know the going price for these at the moment? Any ideas or are you after a pair only?

I have The Ayups and a Joystick Max.

The Ayups are better overall but the Joystick is lighter and easier to swap between bikes/helmets. Although the Ayups are hardly heavy or to fiddly.

I found i was getting a little outshone when riding with others so went for the Ayups and couldn’t be happier.

Burntimes are better as well. My Joystick just went back to Exposure to fiddle with as the burn time was down to 2hr 25mins with only occasional use within the first year. They seem to have fixed it though to be fair to them.

They just revamped my Joystick Max with no quibbles but it was within the guarantee period. Customer servce seems pretty good so i reckon they’ll look after you.

I spent 2 weeks there many moons ago. By far the hottest place i have ever been to.

Going in the sea was like getting into a hot bath. Not refreshing at all. The swimming pool at the British Club was refridgerated. Tried to sunbathe with my mates, we could never sit there for more than 2 minutes as it was so uncomfortable.

48 degrees i think at the time.

As for working, i sure the money is good and it’s a fairly liberal place (by middle eastern standards) but i wouldn’t go to the middle east again now for love nor money. Only takes one nutter and i wouldn’t like to always be looking over my shoulder.

Won’t matter soon as the clocks go forward an hour in only 13 days. YAY. Light until 8 o’clock ish then. :-)

Don’t own a dog and didn’t think it was a particularly good film but i’ve just got back with the gf and we were both in tears.

Can understand that people who have dogs would be very affected by it.

I’ve had 3 packs since the first week of January and that was only because i felt the need to try these new funny Walkers flavours. Also gave up chocolate and biscuits at the same time. Missed them at first but now not at all. Have a feeling it was more habit than desire that made me eat so much of it all in the first place. Plus i still eat pretty much what i want, i don’t diet, i’ve just cut out the shite and replaced it with fruit instead (and the occasional full english breakfast).
Feel better for it but will still eat the odd choccy bar if i feel the need after a long ride.

Cateye EL610? Single shot 2W LED .

I have one and it’s been very good. Integrated battery and pretty good battery life. High beam, low beam and flash. Got good reviews from the mage too if i recall.

I’ve even used it offroad paired with a helmet mounted joystick and it was fine.

I bought a Rockhopper 29er which i think is an ace bike. It was a very inexpensive way to dip my toe into the 29er market at only £750 and i now don’t ride any of my other bikes which all cost a lot more. Best value 29er too as far as i’m concerned. Gary Fisher looked nice but only go up to a 21″ which wasn’t quite big enough for me, got the Spesh in a 23″. :-)

I have the MTB set (bars & helmet) and think they are excellent. Two riding buddies also have them and are equally impressed. More than enough light for pretty much any off road riding.

Bit annoyed to see they’ve shut down the UK operation but hopefully i won’t have any future problems with them as dealing with Oz could be a pain i guess.

Another vote for switching to a pushing up tensioner.
I had exactly the same problem until i got a surly singleator and no problems since, even with my 16st+ pushing through the pedals.
Some frames just don’t singlespeed that well though. My current Kona Hoss is far worse than the frame it replaced (for chain length) and i’ve ended up with a 34×20 to get everything working properly and not fouling the chainstay.

1/8th singlespeed specific Goldtech 34t for me on a HT11 XT crank. No problems at all (running a bash ring too).

Z1ppy

YGM

I’ve got one you can have for £5 posted? Same as in your piccies. Used it once outside my house just to try it.

Ordered it for a tesco torch but have never used it as i got Ayups instead.

Nickc – i’m a technical numpty and need the guide to work out how to access the bluetooth phone thingys and change what’s been programmed in. Im not so bad that i can’t play cd’s or programme the radio but i’d like to know what all the extra buttons do. I’ve learnt from experience that i should never play with electronic things i don’t understand.

Lodious – was there meant to be a link in your post as i don’t see anything? I got sent a audio guide for Ford mondeos but none of the pictures match what’s in my car. I’d assume that most if not all the buttons would be the same on the single cd unit (apart from the 1-6 buttons for the cd obviously).

That’d be easier than trying to find the guide on the internet!! I’ll send the bird if it’ll get me my guide….. ;-)

I had to testify against some knob who assaulted me on the Tube in London a few years back. Not a nice experience. I was left outside the courtroom sitting opposite him with no police presence.
His retarded lawyer then tried to say i started the trouble once i was in ‘the dock’. Police had not warned me this would happen at all and were pretty useless tbh.
I can see how most people would easily be put off (my then GF was too frightened to attend) but as the chap was smaller than me and actually came off worse from our ‘tussle’ i had no problems in pursuing him.
He got sent down for 5 months and it turned out he’d been on remand for armed carjacking when he assaulted me!!! Not a nice bloke – just another inner city wannabe gangster idiot. Still, if it hadn’t been for his pimped out ‘Fro he wouldn’t have been traced via DNA after a large clump of it got ripped out during the scuffle. :-)
I wouldn’t like to testify against a large group unless the police gave me written confirmation that my name and address would be withheld (if that’s possible?). Are you likely to bump into these people again? Ie was this central London or a small town where you’d be recognised?

Another shout for Pinlock, although mine (Shoei) is now starting to fog slightly at the bottom. 10 seconds with the visor 5mm open defogs it though. Used it for nearly 2 years now and it’s been great generally.

Rockhopper is cool, i might actually ride it again at some stage! Few injury niggles at the moment so i’m actually trying to rest properly for once to sort myself out. Definately sold on the whole 29er thing though(for us tall chaps anyway).

Let me know when you want to grab the stand.