Yes I have, I used to do some Ashtanga with Granville[/url] here in Manchester but haven’t done it for a while.

It’s incredibly physical and demanding and, yes, it is both spiritual and uplifting.

I’m not sure how old Granville is, he’s a man of mystery and will only ever say that he’s “eternally young” but I reckon he’s past 50 …he has a killer 6 pack!

You’ll enjoy that …I frikkin love mine!

If I can offer one piece of advice, if you like rattling downhill fit 120 forks. It’ll still climb very well but will descend very well.

Excuse brake hoses …I still haven’t got round trimming them after 4 months’ riding!

[/url]
My lovely bike – Cotic Solaris with 120 Marzocchis[/url] by photo moose[/url], on Flickr

A few of us had a ride around Macc forest and 3 Shire’s Head today. We didn’t see a drop of rain on the ride and the trails were in fab condition.

I guess we got lucky.

They are strong and stiff so really don’t flex much at all, and in comparison to the Revs I’d say they’ll feel much more beefy.

The coil spring travel is really smooth and the whole RS Mission Control damping is easy to setup and very nice too.

I have for sale a set of little used and mint condition coil U-Turns in black with a 1.125″ straight steerer cut to 215mm if you’re interested …I only ride 29″ wheels now. Mail me (see my profile) and I can send you some pics. I’m in Manchester.

They looked good, if a little overgrown, on Sunday*. I think it has been mainly dry since Sunday’s dousing so today’s a good day to ride.

*Edit : around Marple

Ex 950 Adventure owner here. I had a 2005 carb model.

I have to say that the KTM was probably the most complete and capable bike that I ever rode during 30 years of riding; I don’t ride any more.

They’re plenty quick enough, agile & stable, will reward you in spades if you can maintain a fast & smooth style, great for visibility, are practical, reliable, well made and come with top drawer damping from White Power. They’re stylish too, IMO, particularly in orange and black.

My only issue with it was the front brakes (Brembo) weren’t the most powerful and seemed to lose alot of power in wet conditions. The 21″ front wheel and skinny tyre was never an issue, the Pirelli rubber was very grippy and, as said above, if you can maintain a smooth style they are super quick point to point and will embarrass much more ‘capable’ road bikes.

Before settling on the Adventure I rode the Super Duke and found that to be too focussed and single purpose. The SM 950 was better than the Super Duke but I thought that front end grip was too easily overwhelmed by the radial Brembo brakes, especially on a wet or bumpy surface. As soon as I’d ridden the Adventure demo to the top of the street I knew I wanted one.

Dogville …do not be put off by the set, the film is utterly rewarding and a horrible reflection of civilsation.

Yep, 9mm isn’t going to be noticeable.

I’m now into computations for Surly rim/tyre combo based around a 100mm Pugsley fork on the front of a Fortitude Adventure.

I think Marge Lite & Nate would go together well. There’s no spec on the Surly site for the Nate tyre but quick Google says 3.8″ and so will fit OK on Marge Lite’s 65mm width, and again a quick Google confirms that.

I think I could quite fancy one of these but need to clear a few other things out first.

@letmetalktomark – cheers 😀

I asked this question on the other rigid thread …your bike looks nice, what fork/wheel/tyre combo do you have?

And won’t the Knard tyre be greater in diameter than the 26″ fat rubber that you currently have and so raise the front end up too much, or have you done the maths and worked it all out?

I really fancy this setup for an all purpose, low maintenance bike.

@letmetalktomark

Is that a Fortitude with fat frontage …if so what fork/wheel/tyre setup do you have and how does it ride?

Cheers.

If the Soul is anything like as good as a Solaris and you can’t fit on a medium Solaris, get a Soul, otherwise get a Solaris.

You bringing the missus?

No she’s away in Suffolk. I will bring your seatpost QR with me, unless I see you tomoz for night ride in which case you can have it back then.

Cheers.

Anybody riding clown wheels?

Or just me?

I’ll be clowning around too.

Devereux cycles in Ashton on Mersey is your nearest and always gets a good vibe but might not be the sort of place you need if it’s parts that you’re after, then probs Ken Foster in Chorlton, then Bike Doctor in Rusholme or Bike Shak in Altrincham as others have said.

Jeffus, I built up a Solaris a couple of months ago, it’s my first 29er.

After riding demos on Tallboy, Camber, Gyro (all FS) I went on a Rocket demo day and had a ride on a Solaris too; it felt right from the first turn of the cranks. I came away with a frame, bought some Marz 44 Micro Ti (120mm) and Arch Ex in white & haven’t looked back or ridden another bike since!

It’s very comfortable (I’m 6’2″ on a large), feels very supple and just seems to be very good at everything that I ride over in the Peak district.

It definitely has the ‘X’ factor. Buy one, you will not regret it.

Looks like fun so I’m going to make best efforts to show up for this.

Cheers,
Iain

ps. I’ll be on a bluey-green Cotic.

+gazillion on the Woodbine cafe in Hope. Worst cake ever.

On the other hand the place next to 18 Bikes (Courtyard Cafe?) is really very good, the homemade treacle slice is mega!

I had an inguinal hernia repaired with mesh at Trafford General about 13 years ago. I was out and about in days, really quite surprised at the short recovery time. If I recall I was down the gym within 4 weeks for light workout, stretching.

I do know it’s there though, I sometimes have a a little bit of a weird feeling (dysesthesia) in the general area even though I had the op long ago, but it’s never given me any real trouble and I’ve been very active over that time.

You’ve got nowt to worry about.

I’ve built mine with 120 forks (Marzocchi 44 Micro Ti) and have ridden it for the last 3 weeks now and have to say that I flippin love it!

Having not ridden hardtails much recently I don’t think the Solaris could have been more reassuring or flattering, it’s just a joy to ride.

Thanks Cy!

That’s an entertaining write-up Alisdair, well done you for the perseverance.

I had a genuine LOL at the article’s footer of ‘Note to the West End hotel – Nescafé in a pot is not a pot of coffee’.

I’m a bit lighter than you and have just had some Hope Pro II EVO (10mm RWS rear and 15mm axle front) in Stans Arch EX 29 (white) with black DT spokes and rim tape fitted built at Just Riding Along for my new Solaris, and I have to say they look fab, a much glossier and expensive-looking finish than the 26″ Flows Hope Hoops that I have.

They cost about £360 for the pair delivered.

I rode a Solaris in the Peak on Crest rims and they seemed OK but I wanted something a bit stiffer so went for Arch EX. The Ardent 2.25s I fitted went on a treat and inflated first time with a track pump.

I’ll ride them tomorrow for the first time.

Well, to the OP, I’ve never ridden a Soul but I have ridden a Solaris, it felt flippin great, and so I’m taking my newly built Solaris on its first outing tomorrow and can’t wait!

Have you considered 29er wheels?

I’m 6’2″ and I rode a large yesterday at the Cotic demo day; it felt good, really good.

I’d say a large will be right for you at 6′, pop a short stem on and fun times await.

I liked it so much I bought myself a frame straight after riding the demo.

BUMP

Nobody?

I haven’t read the whole thread, but I rode a Transition Bandit demo last weekend and thought it was a really nice & fun ride.

Munque-chick is correct, fully document all breaches and keep the pressure on the authorities where possible.

A truly horrible situation for the child, he’ll have issues for life if this isn’t dealt with properly.

Ed’s a great guy and a great tutor, I’d certainly recommend him.

EDIT: going fast on easy stuff will be something Ed will teach well as he’s a great advocate of pumping the terrain and keeping your chin up.

Nothing to add other than your two lads look very handy on their bikes, you must be very proud of them.

Whilst Lee Quarry is less than scenic* it’s good to play about in if you’re in the mood.

*grim

Depends what you want from your bike and how & where you like to ride.

Personally I’d buy a Transition Bandit for £1400.

What rear hub are you using? 😀

Woody, it’s all gone quiet over there 😉

If you need to borrow for refurb make sure that you borrow against the property by releasing equity and try to set your repayments to match the rental income, that way the rental income (profit) will not attract tax.

So, you borrow £nK for a term of x years that gives you a loan repayment of £450/month. The rental income of £450/month matches the loan repayment and cancels out any profit, therefore no tax to pay.

The cyclist would not have been any more visible to the car following the car if they had been further to the right. You might need to draw this on apiece of paper if you cannot visualise this.

Actually I’ve just watched it again and the car driver’s view was unimpeded so nothing to do with his ‘very narrow’ forward vision or the cyclist’s road position.

The car driver wasn’t paying attention and was driving badly. He’d overtaken a car, was undertaking the bus and bam! hit the cyclist. In this scenario he’d have possibly seen the cyclist sooner or even have missed the cyclist altogether if the cyclist had been further right.

TJ I’m not wanting cyclists to ride in a more dangerous way, that is a ridiculous point to try and make and just argumentative.

And don’t be so condescending.

People only take notice of what is in the centre of their vision

Since when, TJ?

I know that I don’t, but I assume from your assertion about ‘people’ that you do.

Maybe you should take some training to help with understanding how to scan and plan while using the road.

Arguably the car following the car would have seen the cyclist sooner if the cyclist had been further to the right.

I would have either used the pavement or have spent much of the time on that road section concentrating on what is approaching from behind and have ridden further towards the right. But the pavement would have been my preferred choice.

You’re not going to get it down to <30lbs without spending lots, if it’s at all possible.

Just enjoy that big-bike feel and continue to work on your strength & fitness.

I own neither but have ridden both carbon and alu as demos.

Lovely bike and although the head angle is 3 to 4 degrees steeper than I’m used to I found it to be fast where you’d least expect it, ie bazzing down rocky trails.

All in all a very playful bike that really motors up hill, along and down.

That new LTC version will be one hell of a bike.

18 Bikes in Hope have the alu to demo in large if you’re nearby.

Yep, I’ve ridden three 29ers back-to-back …Orange, Tallboy and Camber, and had a Tallboy for a day and really couldn’t believe just how able they all felt with ‘only’ 100-120 mm travel.

I thought that the Camber felt as good as the Tallboy although its heavy-feeling wheels held it back – it was the alu base model. The Orange was smooth but didn’t really want to manual, I guess it would make a good bike for long days but wasn’t fun like the others.

So the Transition Bandit 29er is my new favourite bike. Having ridden the 26″ wheeled version and really, really liked it, the 29er must be flippin brilliant!

A great result for you all, especially Michael.

I love the vid – big chuckles at Michael’s deadpan, comic delivery.

All the best.