I thought it would be ok but thought I'd check. Will check the clearance issue but will go with it that aside. Thanks.

Don't think so. Rockshox models tend to be made with one length of stanchion, so Reba's can be changed between 80/100/120.

Don't think Fox do the same, you can space it down but not up.

There was another post on this issue recently.

Anyone know what its like now?

Is it easy to navigate round any sections that are closed off, or is it more faff than its worth?

Just let us know what you think when you've ridden it Willurd!

Another recommendation here for TrailAddiction. Or Rivierabike on the Italian side of the Alps.

Both have lots of singletrack, rides tailored to the group, excellent guiding, excellent food.

Thought Spain was more of a rock fest, but would recommend Freeridespain. The weather is more guaranteed in southern Spain

I actually turned the stem over to lower the bars before I rode it. I had the saddle set so my knee cap was above the pedal axle with the cranks horizontal which I thought was a fairly standard place to start. Going to check the length. It'd be a shame if the geometry is inherently iffy, cos it felt pretty nimble downhill and for an alu frame reasonably compliant out back.

Going to take some of the spacers out, and maybe a 10mm longer stem. I've never ridden such an upright bike as it is now. Bizarre. I hope the slow going up hill was the bike and not just too many pies ;-)

Well, I'd be interested in knowing what other people think of the way it rides….

Having just been out on it, it feels very short and upright compared to my Trek Fuel Ex. Upright to the point of feeling like I'm using odd muscles pedalling up hill. Hard work uphill. A bit of an enigma because its fairly light but I just couldn't get it going fast uphill.

Down hill it felt much better and fairly lively on singletrack.

Going to try and lengthen and lower the cockpit, but it felt like the pedals were in an odd position compared to the saddle, and I set it up so I was in a fairly standard position. The effective top tube is at a push somewhere between 22 – 22.5", don't know if this is exceptionally short for a 'medium'?

Oh and no comments on the untidy kitchen ;-)

Photos didn't seem to work…trying again

Right here it is, some photos:-

It's a medium. Weighs about 25.5lb without pedals on the digital bath scales. Headtube is pretty long and measuring from top of the crown to the top of the stem is 230mm, so steerer slightly less than that.

The front brake pulls straight to the bar and needs a bleed, the back isn't much better. The fork lock out needs fitting to the bars and the brake hose holder on the fork is missing. But none of that is a big deal, its supplied pretty much as it would be to a shop, and needs fettling.

Riding tomorrow morning but so far it looks like a real bargain. Get one and avoid all this b*llocks about rising material prices being the reason for poorly specced overpriced bikes!!?

Cor, its like being the popular kid at school this ;-)

Just got home, from a peek in the box it looks "just as it says on the tin" – will unpack and post photos later!

Mine has been delivered today but I'm not at home to have a look till tomorrow…

How bad can the frame be? Generic alloy frames are better than they've ever been and the kit level alone makes it worthwhile. I think there's way too much hype on popular branded frames anyhow! First ride will be Saturday morning!

Any photos anyone??

I got a Trek 1.5 last year and compared to the Specialized Allez at the same price, it was lighter and had better wheels but cheaper shifters and cranks. I'd always go for the lighter build with better wheels if there's a difference.

The guy in the shop took the time to let me try different sizes and whilst I'd had a 54cm Giant previously that felt uncomfortable horrible, I ended up with a 56cm and I'm 5ft 10. It fits really well.

This year's Trek frames aren't as good as last years though, so I'd probably look at a Giant Defy or the Specialized this year. Crud Race guards will fit any frame so long as the tyres aren't too wide.

2000 miles sounds like 2000 neglected miles ;-) Any bike of any price will self destruct well before it should if its not looked after. The kit at a given price point will be similar on any bike regardless of brand name.

I don't need the versatility, I want a light cheapish hardtail frame to plug in 100/120mm forks and gears.

The only other frame in the same sort of price range I can think of is the Kinesis XC120?

Any other suggestions?

The pictures show full bikes with normal vertical drop outs but if you go to the bike build section, the scandals offered there are slotted drop outs??

I've converted some 2010 Reba Race's from 100mm to 120mm. They're normal QR versions, not Maxle. The RS website says they're 80/100/120 travel and that the maxle is (just) an option. The travel info is the same for all versions, so they might be worth a shot?

Some people have said if they're OEM you can't change the travel to 120. Don't know if mine were OEM or not, I got them off ebay too. Unless the guy has had them apart to check, you wouldn't lose too much if you had to sell them on if they weren't right.

Have a look at open source mtb maps[/url]

This tells you how to get Mapsource from the Garmin website and provides opensource maps based on openstreetmap. The open source maps are far from perfect but they're free and you can upload and view them on Garmin units (I've just done this on my Dakota 10).

Put it on ebay and find out?

Probably £100 max? Scott's unfortunately aren't particularly niche and with the wear and tear, most people will see it as just another alloy frame, albeit it is probably light and racey.

Inbreds, Ragleys, Sandersons, Kinesis Maxlights etc start at £150 – £200 new.

Went with Freeridespain 6 years ago, and then Switchbacks a couple of years later. Thought Freeride was better to be honest. Mike tried to fob us off that taking out a group of 12 riders (with just one guide!) on a day trip would help us all get to know each other. Cue party getting spread out, the fast guys at the front fed up with waiting, the slow guys at the back fed up cos it was too technical. Mike seemed to want to scare us witless on the most exposed trails he could find rather than tailoring it to the group (or even, perhaps, split the group up,but that would mean two guides and be more costly for the business???)

I probably wouldn't go back with Switchbacks but would go again with Freeridespain. Both have a different sense of humour, didn't have an objection to the general hospitality and friendlyness of either companies really.

That's it, I'm wondering if its my nerve holding me back more than the travel!

Anyone got the 150mm Scott Genius, that looks like a good compromise…or is it too compromised?

Where is the best place to get Memory Map software then? Do I need 1:25000 scale or can I get away with 1:50000 for off road riding?

I think its an etrex I have myself but its a model when they used serial cables for connection. Not very user friendly.

I haven't used one of the newer units yet, but I'm guessing they still haven't got to the same level of user intuitiveness as PDAs or iPhones etc?

Like Ade says, I wonder how much tyre design is hype…There's only so much you can do with geometric shapes on a tubular carcass, the laws of physics and I doubt that the make up of mud has changed!

Yep, I've been running Small Block Eights in the snow and ice and suffered no more than anyone else I've ridden with.

Just ordered some Velociraptors to see if they were as good as I remember "back in the day"!

My mate has just got a 2010 Trek 4500 (I think thats the model) for £499. Shimano hydraulic discs and I think the fork has a lock out. Smart looking machine and he's very happy with it.

The Carrera Fury got a good write up in WMB magazine and seeing it in Halfords the other day, it looks fantastic – frame with smoothed welds, decent fork, Mavic rims, hydraulic disc.

I'd steer clear of second hand unless its nearly new/unwanted because you can gaurantee it'll need a new drivetrain, cables etc etc a lot sooner than £500 of new bike, even if it does appear to have slightly better components.

Any change since yesterday? Is it melting – still seems cold for it to be melting away that quickly?

Thought the Genius was still long travel xc rather than 'all mountain'? Its had some good reviews. Think the alu frame of the new version is also only about .5lb heavier.

Yeah, but this seems like every time I breathe on it it marks. Paint on metal seems much tougher thats all.

A nice lack of curves, got to agree it looks nice and simple…and pretty light compared to Marin's recent offerings

2010 Revs are lighter than the 09 Revs I think. Don't the '10s have different lowers too?

Some places run the scheme over 18 or 24 months (I think this is the limit time wise).

Its not necessarily an extra "13th monthly" payment at the end to own the bike. Its supposed to be a payment relating to the market value of the used bike. This is advised to be 3 to 5% of the bike's cost new. Some places do make it the value of an extra month's payment.

You don't have to make that payment and can carry on using the bike without owning it. It was suggested to me by the cyclescheme rep that if I used it for another 12months after I'd finished paying then the final payment for owership could be as little as nothing at all.

If you choose a discounted / sale bike then some bike shops won't give you the full discounted price, because cyclescheme take 10percent of the sale value. The full price covers this, with sale prices there is less margin for this to come out of.

Couple of hundred together?

Yep, it is Sellafield stuff – I might leave it a week or two for the bridges and rain to calm down a bit hopefully and then get in touch about joining you guys on a Tuesday night if that's alright Andy?

Thanks PK, but I'm hoping I'll be 'home' over Christmas

Though, I'd forgotten about Whinlatter…does anyone know what are the conditions like at the moment?

Near Whitehaven at the moment

Keswick might not be too far but maybe not while the weather is blasting down

Sorry, it was in the Cycle surgery catalogue

No, haven't tried it, but its probably not thick enough, tends to get absorbed rather tham protect the skin from abrasion.

Nappy rash cream would be better as its not so readily absorbed. I've heard sudocrem is used or there's also metanium but thats a manky brown colour!

When I first bought a pair of seal skinz, the guy in the shop was trying to persuade me to buy some socks maybe made of neoprene?

Fully waterproof but not breathable. They had a rubber gripper style ankle.

Anyone know what they are and can you still get them?

Mavic do a snug, almost jersey fitting, waterproof. I saw it in Edinburgh Bicycle Coop catalogue but can't remember what its called

Yep, I pushed out the air side and the spacer was a cotton reel shaped piece exactly the same as the two that came in the bag with the manual.

They're back together, I think as ginsterdrz says I've short cut a stage. I'll just refill with fresh oil and all should be well by the sounds of it.

I remember dismantling RS Judy's – much simpler!! (but with good reason, on reflection….;-)