FWIW in the Giant dealers I worked in we just used to source them from an online bearings store. They kept a variety inc Enduro but it can be done for low cost as far as the parts involved. If you’re doing the work yourself you’ll know it’s easy enough to identify the bearings you need and just order a ‘kit’ in individual parts.

I can’t recall ever sourcing a bearing kit or individual bearing from Giant although I was always impressed that they could supply FS frame components (e.g. complete Trance rear sub frames) for older models right down to correct colour ways.

HTH

Might be worth trying a few brokers. Used a broker for my T5. They understood that the van would get modded (windows etc.) and allow any changes except engine work to take place without altering the premium. The comparison sites wouldn’t quote for that at all.

Might be one of those instances where internet isn’t always best.

The new Tiagra (4700 series) copies the Ultegra and 105 4 arm style. Looks 100% better than the old 4600 version which would be enough to be put me off any bike where the manufacturer had chosen mistakenly to spec it.

Sad to hear that.

If ever there was someone who really deserved a knighthood..

I’ve got a mk1 with 120mm forks. It’s been through one of two incarnations (2×10, 1×10 now 1×11) and I think it’s a great bike in comparison to the Giant XTC I had before. Loads of spring in the frame (unsurprisingly) compared to its alu predecessor. Great on the trails and not too bad going uphill either.

My only moan is the paint finish. The green metallic looks great but the lacquer wore off on the top tube way too quickly and the rest is pretty vulnerable if you’re travelling with a few bikes in the van. You can get the paint codes but good look working out what you need to ask for from China.

Sum up a fun ride with a few paint niggles

The rear one is a particular pain to bleed as the port is recessed (IIRC). Clark sell an adapter for that which should make life easier. Found them a bit hit and miss when they have been fitted as OE kit on bikes (see comments about the rear) but can’t argue with the price

Most Halfords stores don’t keep anything in stock above £1000 so that model sells less often as it relies on the customer doing some research online and / or the store staff being familiar enough with the range to offer it as an upgrade on the standard carbon model (currently £800 btw). You can check availability via Halfords website and if the bike is in stock centrally get it delivered to your local store.

Size availability (lack of) might be why people end up with the ‘wrong’ size rather than what a store has in stock as most stores (as described above) don’t stock this model anyway. Worth noting that Boardmans are typically a bit short in the top tube though.

Main issues with the carbon frame is poor fitting of the PF30 bottom bracket. Ask for it to be taken out and re assembled with carbon paste as that should deal with potential problems. Encountered the same issue with Felt frames so it’s not exclusively a Halfords issue.

HTH

Didn’t know that about Decathlon Jambo.. admittedly my info is about a year old.

I think it’s horses for courses with the connection. I had issues using ANT via my laptop (Tacx plus Stages power meter) but none so far with both connecting via Bluetooth on the Zwift app.

The Tacx trainer that Halfords sell is made for them exclusively by Tacx. The idea is to offer the features of a more expensive model at a lower price than you can get via LBS. Dunno if this links to potential issues with faults /longevity but I suppose it’s possible that the odd thing has been down graded parts wise.

Definitely worth considering a more expensive version (e.g. for the weight ‘issue’ I mentioned in my first reply)but also worth noting that the power on the Halfords model is 800w v 1500-2000w on other models (this is the mechanical bit that controls the resistance).

Don’t know if the Halfords model has Bluetooth but some models do and if you’re using the Zwift app it’s happier and less likely to lose the signal than ANT.

Once again HTH

You can get a Tacx trainer for around £200 that will be Zwift compatible*. The downside to the ‘cheaper’ smart trainers is that they don’t always offer a lot of resistance. The model I mention gives a maximum of 6% simulated incline. There are more expensive models (I have a Tacx Genius) that simulate up to 20%.

Depending on the courses you’re planning to ride on Zwift 6% max doesn’t have to be a problem but if you’re planning to do the Watopia mountain course it might be a little lacking.

The other thing to take into account is that the trainers can be a bit sensitive to rider weight so if you’re over say 85kg that can have an impact on how much resistance / incline you’ll get.

FYI, you can dial up the resistance via Zwift if you want to. Haven’t tried it beyond the default setting myself so can’t vouch for how much it works (or not)

HTH

* also works with Trainer Road and others

Can’t comment on the T6 DSG (or whatever they call the auto now) but was advised to avoid when I was searching for my T5 as they weren’t up to the job (VAG car design)

FWIW you’ll find T5 owners who are scathing / evangelical about the different engine choices in the T5 with some rating the 2.5 for the extra power and chain cam while others prefer the reliability of the 1.9.

Would imagine there’s going to be similar debates when the T6 starts turning up second hand.

Had my first off road ride in 3 years on Friday after being on the road on various other bikes since then.

I got back into road riding to keep my OH company as she does long course triathlon and Ironman and found I enjoyed it more. I was building a Sherpa up while all of this was going on and that project got put on the back burner and then stolen.

Fast forward to this year (the Sherpa was recovered as I think it was a bit too rare to offload for the thief) and I got around to finishing it and actually road the thing around the local trails this week and we’re off to the Forest of Dean next week.

My take for the OP.. a change is as good as a rest. Leave the MTB for a while and come back to it and rediscover what you’re missing maybe?

[/quote]Is the 2016 version an improvement on 2014. I am considering ordering the 2014 version.

@PMK2060

There are two 29ers for 2016. In 2014 there were two 27.5’s (now only one)

For £849 (that’s the RRP) you get a 1 x set up and Avid DB’s with a 120mm Recon fork

The pro (£1000) has the same reba as the 2014 model but ditches the old XT mech and FSA double chainset for a 1 x SRAM and Guide brakes.

Although the frames look the same as the 2014 they are new but follow the Boardman formula of triple butted main frame with (putty) smooth welds.

Both bikes are on mavic rims

Arguably the cheaper bike offers better value for money. Shame they don’t offer a 120mm fork on the pro too.

HTH

Thanks!

will check that out too!

Peter, Dan, Thanks!

Finally.. success with the photos!

As I said in the original post it’s a pretty distinctive bike so hopefully the thieving scumbags that took it can get pinched themselves..

Pics Hopefully!

thanks for the tip!

Saw that the link was broken so will try again using Imgur!

I’m building up a 19″ at the moment. By rights I should be on the next size up as i’m 6’3 but it measures longer than the Giant XTC I was riding before so i’m happy enough with how it fits me.

100mm stem with 6 degree rise and 720mm flat bars if that helps. Lovely looking bike in green (may even get around to posting a picture)

If you want to stick with Charge (?) Scoop or the Knife which is much more roadie (slimmer profile, ti rails). Used both and preferred the knife as it’s a bit stiffer.

This isn’t anything new. Most of the chains (DIY or otherwise) have had a no dogs except guide dogs policy for years (there used to notices on the doors of the shops I worked in back in the 80’s), long before the health & safety ‘culture’ took over.

Can’t remember what the reason was that dogs were banned for TBH, but based on the fact that we used to get customers using fitting rooms and aisles as a toilet at times I guess dogs might have been banned for the same reason.

Take your point tho’ OP; shouldn’t be that hard to provide somewhere for for you to tie up your pooch and if it’s hot and sunny maybe some water too.

Don’t know how close you are to London but you could consider an ex Addison Lee Galaxy. Dunno that much about the others but always found the Galaxy a great car to drive.

They sell off their cars after 2-3 years at prices between £8-10k. The cars are pretty basic (steel wheels, cloth seats, only come in black etc) but will have been serviced every 3000 miles (note that an Ad Lee car can do that in a month)and anything that fails is always replaced as part of the service routine. It does take some of the risk out of buying a higher mileage car.

They are all 2.0TDI with automatic box, air con, leccy windows etc. do decent MPG and will swallow up to 4 bikes without removing the wheels. Will take 5 adults with all seats used.

They have a car lot by Mornington Crescent station in Camden.

edit – re the servicing. Ad Lee fines drivers if they miss their service so the intervals are always followed to the letter (or in the case the mileage!)

@stoffel

Exactly.. glad I read that article!

Bit late to the thread, but just purchased a 4K TV.

Dunno about the science but the picture is much better than the existing HD that I was getting on the old TV (HD ready). I don’t think anything is as sharp as the demo’s they run in the store, but for what I paid i’m pretty pleased with it.

Using cheapo £5 HDMI 1.4 spec cable and a Sky HD box

The aera is pretty good value for money, but if you want more of the finished article spec wise look at the myroon as that’s the next model up from the aera.

Biggest issue we have had with KTM is getting hold of stock (ironically we sold a medium aera earlier this year)

If you want a cracking VFM carbon 29er (or 650b for that matter) take a look at Silverback bikes..

With all of this talk of Five’s and Audi’s are we forgetting log burners?

Whole other subset of the STW stereotype there 😉

I spent 15 years in retail (area) management and HR.. gave it all up last year and now work PT in LBS.. poorer, but richer in many ways..

You will have transferable skills but it’s up to you to be able to tell a compelling ‘story’ that would make an employer in a n other sector (or a bank manager if you decide to do your own thing) decide to take a punt on you.

I was / am lucky in that mrs nano has seen her career take off while I have shifted gears down, so I get the financial bit. But, if the finances allow then it’s never too soon to make the change and sometimes even when they ( the ££’s) don’t.

At a practical level you need to think about what it is you really want to do and then look at who you have within your professional and personal network that could help you realise your plan.

HTH and good luck!

Had a new shape Galaxy as a work car for a while.. great alternative to a van (if you have kids for example)

loads of room for bikes without any need to remove wheels with all seats folded and nice to drive in 2.0TDI auto format. Basic zetec model has all of the toys you need (air con etc.)

recommended

Unior is worth a look, but think you can only by by size rather than a set.

The Clark ones I have at home are probably better at anything else than actually used for torx bolts

Just had our bathroom done..

Priced up what we needed on Victoria Plumb and it certainly is cheaper. Then spoke to a mate in the trade who said don’t bother (a fair proportion of his trade comes from replacing VP stuff that has proved to be ‘complete rubbish’ quote/unquote).

We got our stuff from Claygate and the furniture from Bauhaus with 30% off RRP by buying local (not from my mate as he lives to far from me to make it practical to deliver)

HTH

The 56cm length seems a bit short for a 58cm frame

I ride a 58 and i’m 6’4 (admittedly not as flexible as some). My road bike and cross bike both have 585mm virtual top tube lengths with 110mm stem fitted.

I wouldn’t suggest a 58 frame for a six footer unless extremely long in the leg (stands back and waits for the STW massive to disagree :wink:)

HTH

Why have you wrote word like that?

euphemism Jamie HTH

Only on STW could you get a thread where people line up to say how they’re so much better at ‘browsing’ than the next person 😉

Can’t believe people still leave their doors unlocked, but maybe that’s what 15 years of living in London does to you.

When I moved in with mrs nano she could never understand why I always used the chubb lock as well as the yale on the front door.

This guy was going to rob the OP far as I can see. I would be going round for a ‘word’ I reckon

Flandria +1 (or more it seems)

have an each way on Modolo, Viviani (what was I thinking) and Demare..

long odds, but poss podium and will pay down to 4th 🙂

Pz Steve +1

This kind of thread was never going to be balanced discussion tho’

I think that some professions are seen as unimpeachable (nursing for example) and some people within other public sector professions would like to be on the same pedestal (teaching included).

As a result and despite the apparent ‘obvious troll’ of the original post we end up with six pages (so far) of posts that range from criticism of teachers to “don’t criticise me i’m a teacher / know one / married to one etc.”

There’s good and bad and (probably) a majority of OK / doing enough to get the job done types of people in every profession.

For me anyway I don’t think someone who chooses to teach is should be lauded because of the hours they work or criticised for the amount of holiday they get. If a teacher can make a difference to a kids life by helping them to become a better adult then it’s worth putting the hours in and I don’t begrudge the holiday.

Not a 2 star but we always use the Soho.. Book direct for best rates.. last time we stayed was less than 100 euro for a decent room.

That’s true.. they go around the top tube but depending on the bike / frame can be clamped from above or below. Not had any damage to carbon frames and they have gone from Essex to SW France without any dramas. Wheels are fastened with straps as per 591 so other than the clamping points being different it’s still a 3 point fix.

I run another car now so thought the 561 would be ideal for my road bike and x’er with a 15mm adapter for my MTB but after the issue with the drop outs i’m going to switch to a 591.

Not sure if I would leave it on the car full time as I don’t want to advertise that I have bikes. FWIW the 561 can be fitted and removed very quickly if you have the roof bars with channels in them. Mine are Ford (but I think Thule make them).

Don’t have any issues using a Thule tow bar rack with carbon frames and I would imagine that the clamp is similar if that helps.

On the other hand using the 561 fork clamp rack on the roof has made a mess of mrs nano’s de rosa’s carbon drop outs. Given the choice I would go with the 591.