Can't recall the weight of the Mk1 but it's in the garage. I will weigh it some time and post back here.

As for the ride, I know the changes Mike has made but not sure I'm a good enough rider to actually notice the difference. suffice to say the Mk 1 has been a firm favourite since i bought it six years ago and it was still my regular ride up to last weekend.

I swapped all the gear over from the Mk1 to the 725 and it rides really well. Compliant in the way that you expect steel to be but difficult on the basis of one ride to judge whether one frame is better than the other. will need to ride it more over the coming weeks to really get to know it.

However I definitely had that 'new bike' feeling and it was good!

For the record the changes between the Mk1 and the 725 are:

– Reynolds 725 heat treated tubing (stronger than 520 resulting in a lighter frame)
– Smaller diameter top tube (more compliant ride)
– 1 degree steeper seat tube (improves climbing)
– 73mm BB shell (for slightly better tyre clearance)
– back end is same as previous Prince Albert but lighter than the MK1
– Plates to bridge stays instead of tubes (slightly lighter)
– CEN compliant

picked mine up yesterday, built it up and was out on the trails this morning:

frame only with one of my Mk1 frames

using the wife's kitchen scales to check the weight ;-)

finished the build in my garage last night around 11pm

in the woods this morning

and on the trails

well when you put it like that then well… I didn't actually bother reading it all after the first couple of lines :wink:

This topic is completely pointless. It's personal preference

s'true, altho the same could be said for virtually every thread on this forum.

I've ridden a week with an XC lid and two-weeks with a full-facer. I felt more comfortable/safer with the full-facer.

didn't come off but saw a mate go face down which convinced me to buy a full-facer. In fact three of us bought one that lunchtime.

cheers guys. I shot it in HD and watching it full screen at home makes me feel like I'm on the bike again.

However, vimeo only converts files into HD if they are shot in 16:9 aspect ration and I shot this in 4:3 to get the best vertical as well as horizontal view so you don't get the best clarity but it's good at my end!

It's a good job my computer chair has got wheels and rear suspension on it!

looks good, here's my chestcam vid shot on Leith Hill yesterday (url removed).

(sorry for the thread hijack but with this new pwemier/non-pwemier user thing I can't work out how to start a new thread myself :oops:)

Edit: spotted it now and started me own thread (double :oops:)

its not an investment and if you are buying it on that basis you are deluded

what is your budget? Considering that trail addiction costs include chalet, breakfast lunch n dinner and free guiding they are pretty good value for £469 for a week.

But if that doesnt suit you then i guess the cheapest way is to drive out there (unless you are lucky enough to get a bargain cheap flight in summer which inlcudes plus bike carriage) then self cater and eat/drink really frugally and then just look for the trails yourself.

Its not a huge area so you will find many of the trails.

I went there three years ago with trailaddiction and after 3 days of guided riding was able to navigate my way around on the guides day off on the wednesday. A simple map is available that helps. Depends on what your nav skills are like where you presently ride. I find mine are quite good in the uk and so transferred to france but if you havent a clue normally then you may struggle.

Brooess, give us a shout. You have ridden (MTB) with us beofre and we put together a good road ride last weekend, 55 miles and 1000metres of climbing taking in Leith Hill (45km on route profile), Ranmore Common (63km) and Box Hill (81km)

route profile

wet n muddy in Surrey

if you spend a bit more you can get £10 off a £50 order with code 'BONUS-10GBP'

although this one made me laugh and it's not posed like the others

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just another day in Surrey

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it's actually by a famous artist

not changed the travel myself (can't see the point really) but have had the fork apart and seen how easy it is to do. Full details on my favourite site Enduro fork seals

BTW you dont have to do all this to change the travel just refer to number 31/32 in the instructions

Hope XC on my main ride. Had them since 2002 and only ever required annual re-greasing

MrNutt – Premier Member

hang on, aren't you already arranging a grope ride in the SW?

You are thinking more about the dogging than the riding there Mr Nutt.

If you are in Cork then definitely Ballyhoura

Have you tried here for a full review and set up tips[/url]?

my first 'proper' MTB. Specialized FSR Enduro 2001. God, I loved that bike. Still in bits in the garage

my Spesh SX after a hard day in the Alps

and at Chicksands

Big Hit too

and with eldest son on board (proud moment)

link to itunes. Unless you are already a member you will have to join/register before purchasing.

good spot Scott. Downloading mine now…

July or August when the lifts are open.

Seven hours or so from Calais.

My employers stopped paying Christmas bonuses about 1992. I do get a performance related bonus but don't get that until March, well after the tax man has taken 40% of course…

true: I too have a DVD player, TV and CD player but it's still boring…

I use a turbo trainer. My view is that it's really boring and not worth spending a lot on as you will soon get bored. You may stick with it but don't splash out too much.

Tranz X turbo trainer. Brand new from eBay for £40 is good enough for me.

Watch my first time on rollers video before committing to buy any rollers

same happened to a rider i was with today. My diagnosis is frozen internals.

or this one: more of a collection of giant pencils

yup, started commuting on the bike again in March this year and covered 3,400 commuting miles since then. Fittest I've been in years :lol:

no messers!

an oldie but goldie

No mudguards

we rode with some bloke who's bike was shockingly maintained. He had to kick the rear wheel a number of times before we started to engage the freewheel.

Needless to say it gave up again half way round and we zip tied the spokes to the cassette to effect a 'direct drive' from chain to cassette to wheel.

that's right Tony, the wheels on davebus go round and round, round and round etc.

Oh BTW, on our second run down there yesterday i encountered a local walking two huskies UP the new section of BKB.

I just shouted 'two more behind' as I couldn't be bothered to stop but I'm sure if I had he would have claimed to have 'been walking this trail for years'

I put a small amount of fork oil on the stanchions before riding and cycle the forks thru a couple of times then wipe off any excess around the seals.

That's for an oil fork tho (Fox vanilla)…

CTC

agreed Glen, BKB and YP are both over used trails and needed maintenance. I rode both yesterday and it was great to have firm dry trails to ride in what has been the wettest November in a long time.

As someone famous once said you can't please all the people all the time.

a few more would have been hacked off if both those trails were just blocked off/closed as we have seen with others over the years.