Nah, the chain is fine, and I’ve just checked.

You try 80km where 75% of it is through constant claggy muddy sludge and water…

Just looked at yesterdays post, will carbon fibre ones last any better or will they get ground down just like the plastic ones?

They won’t know, but technically its not your bike to sell. If for any reason you had to give the bike back, you’d have to give them something back equivalent.

Putting better bits on the frame could well be interpretted as just maintainance so would be a safer bet.

I think the Cove G-Spot has big bearings round the bb shell?

Why flog the frame? It’ll ride pretty much like any other horst link framed bike. Ah, I see, flog it for something more fashionable ;-)

I’ve got mates who’ve done the Peaks, Rivington, Whinlatter, North Wales, the Lakes on ss. You can do pretty much anywhere.

The Yukon looks similar to the Trance but its not the same maestro suspension, its a linkage operated single pivot.

Try http://www.cyclescheme.co.uk, so far as a I know they finance it for the company by taking 10% of the bike price from the shop. Loads of shops are already signed up.

New shock bushings should only be £15 so why get rid of it? Or you might get more if you fix this problem even before you sell it?

All it does is preload the bearings, pushing the crank arm on to the bearing before you clamp it up with the pinch bolt. If your cranks are already on and not wobbling then potentially you don’t need it – they wouldn’t make it out of plastic if it was holding the cranks on…..

Nice clean unfussy lines!

What handlebars and stem? If they’re relatively ‘stock ‘ items then they might not be that light? You can save a pound in weight on tyres quite easily unless they’re already light (500 – 600g)? ‘Daft’ things like foam grips will save 50 – 100g on a pair of lock on ones.

Manufacturer bike weights are normally quoted without pedals too.
Stans wheels and Magura Menjas save a good amount of weight over the more popular Mavic and Fox/RS competition. Attention to detail saves weight, it doesn’t have to necessarily mean buying fragile kit that doesn’t last.

Don’t know if it was the Epicon but the 15mm axle version got a good review in What Mtb

Thought the viper was available before the Pace? Whether they saw the prototype Pace and got to market first, thats another matter…

Glad I bought my 130mm ones when they were £270 on CRC rather than £400 :-)

Nice one DezB, the only positive comment I’ve had about my apparently crap idea ;-)

I’ll try it and if it looks super naff then no doubt the boss will tell me, and it’ll be back to coating/varnish/paint/whatever….

Well, ok, not using bike tyres, then is there any kind of coating I can buy to make them less slippy in the wet?

Its not meant to look pristine…

Well, if your dad were to cycle to work ;-) then he’d be saving on the top rate tax band and would save more. It essentially works like a salary sacrifice so he’d be earning less above the top tax earnings level.

You’re applauding other companies little developments, but make little acknowledgement Kona have made little developments like the Magic Link, that braking arm thingy, used different shaped tubes albeit not as radical as everyone else.

Like it or not, Kona’s always get good write ups in the magazines for how they ride. Rarely good value, but they always ride well. If they ride well or should I say people enjoy riding them, old technology or not then I don’t see the problem.

Kona are a business. If they are selling bikes and people are going back for more, then business is fine. R&D costs a lot and can easily be money down the pan, licensing another design costs too.

But, at the end of the day, you don’t have to buy something you don’t like. Even if you do buy something you do like, there will always be someone faster and more skilful.

Teeto, does the £40 include shot blasting or getting the frame back to bare metal or do I need to do that?

What colour you having? I’m tempted to take up your offer of taking it over but I’m still very undecided on colour – its a small steel frame…

It seems Kona are getting slated, cos people don’t like the current look. The suspension design is essentially the same as Cove Hustler, older Trek Fuel EX’s and numerous other faux bar designs no doubt.

Orange haven’t changed their single pivot design for 10 years. Sure its evolved over the years but its not exactly radical new technology is it? Doesn’t seem to bother so many people does it? And those that pay the price for a frame that could buy a full bike from another brand.

Cotic have taken a horst link design. Cutting edge again eh, another 10 year or so old design? My god, all those people who paid all that money for a frame using such an old design ;-)

Rocky Mountain don’t look so good value either.

The list goes on doesn’t it. Aside from Giant, Trek, Specialized looks like we’re all getting ripped off over the odds for our preferred ‘fix’ ;-)

So far as comments about “the average mountain biker”, thats probably 95% of the people on here. You might prefer one design or another but ‘pushing the design limits’ of a bike….I don’t pootle but I wouldn’t kid myself I was pushing the design limits of a bike (for its intended use)…

And not meaning to hijack the post but do you know where you’re getting it coated Teeto?

Or can anyone recommend a powder coater somewhere in the North West, its only a cheap frame so shelling out on postage makes it a bit silly.

Surely just needs a bike shop to chase the bb thread again?

No bikes on the Victoria line. Its ok outside peak hours on the circle/district line and on above ground stations on other lines I think.

Problem being I don’t have the old one any more either.

Yep, stayed with them in Les Arcs. The Goat Shed was catered so its probably a bit different for Spain but they tailored the riding to the group, offering advice on switchbacks etc if people wanted it. The groups were changed around a little after the first day so that the people in the group were reasonably evenly matched. They also did some sessions for the less confident riders.

Some might misinterpret their set up as laid back, as they don’t have a fixed itinery but I thought it was good and their knowledge of the trails was excellent.

Freeridespain – good riding, as per previous posters, more xc orientated as you have to climb more but the descents are still good (some the same as they use as Switchbacks). Food was basic but filling and free beer in the fridge.

If Trailaddiction’s set up in Les Arc is anything to go by and their knowledge of the trails and tailoring it to the group, then this is the one I’d choose. Staying close/in Granada would be superb too.

As per Dibbs or Dr Adams – Take it to bits or soak it in white spirit etc overnight, then soak in thick oil. Should make it last a bit longer.

Manchester. No one checking their mirrors before turning left in front of riders. And when I came off on the ice, my own error, the cars just drove round me until I’d crawled onto the pavement. Took two school kids to ask if I was alright.

Non-samaritan and dangerous. A double whammy.

Isn’t the clue in the ‘XC’ part of the XC120? I’d guess it won’t be suitable for ‘all mountain’ in the same way a Dialled or On One might be. Isn’t the Kinesis Phase or whatever it was called a more robust ‘all mountain’ style frame?

Based on that, they’d never charge any labour unless they were fitting something you hadn’t bought there or just wanted some adjustment?

“I’ll have 18 ball bearings for my front wheel please.”
“80p please”
“Will you charge me for fitting them?”

Oh, come on, if you’re too lazy to do a “two minute” job yourself why should someone else do if for you for free???

As per keyses, twist in a figure of 8 and fold, tape round them and then wrap in a bin bag with more tape.

Specialized Tricross single? Bit more versatile and offroadable for a laugh? I love mine

I paid £80 for some XTR pedals two weeks ago at CRC, this was supposedly the ‘discounted’ price – the WMB magazine review said £80 RRP a few months ago. Looking last night they were up to £104….

Don’t suppose you weighed the frame before you built it up? Or does anyone else know the weight of the latest 5?

Funny how people first look at the crank and go “looks a bit cheap”, when really its probably one of the areas that you’ll tell the least difference between the odd model up or down the range, aside from a bit of weight.

Bet its internal bottom bracket bearings too. Will last for ages. Longer than a HTII in any event ;-)

Pic would be good but you sure it hasn’t just worn through the paint?

Nice! Scott Sparks always look fast! Is it the alu version or carbon?

What are the ‘subtle’ upgrades??

And don’t put any more white on it ;-)

URT the bottom bracket is in the swing arm, so you’re stood on the swing arm. With Maverick you’re stood on an intermediate link between swing arm and main frame. Its inevitable it will stiffen up when stood up, but it depends how close the bottom bracket is to the swingarm as to how much it stiffens.

I had Teocali Comp, I think a 2006 with the coil shock. Didn’t notice a massive difference stood or sat. A very plush bike and for all the reports of quirky pedalling and being a bit heavy, they climb well with excellent traction if you don’t mash the pedals and stomp. Never tried the stock fork, I put a Marzocchi MX Comp 120 straight on the front and it was great.

No issues with bearings either but they look fairly easy to replace.

Humvee 3/4’s are horrible in wet weather, the fabric that is nice and soft and airy in the dry, just hangs and drags on the knees in the wet.

Normal length shorts I find are better regardless of weather