I fitted a large or XL Lizard Skin to my 2007 Wolf Ridge.

They’re readily available from the usual places!

From what i have read, the reasons behind making Brechfa the way it is was to attract people past Cwncarn and Afan. Putting in features these places had might make it hard for some people to justify the travelling.

Also, the height isn’t that great in those hills around Abergorlech so adding anything too steep would lose height too quickly. Besides, clearing doubles and tabletops is just as skilfull as get down steep stuff is. It’s just different thats all.

Rowans whole approach was to create something the natural riding in Wales couldn’t hope to match. I just wish i lived in Carmarthen not Bristol. :D

I have to say that the OP left me lost for words. It’s not matter of opinion either as the content just doesn’t seem to describe the trails i have ridden countless times before.

Looking over the majority of posts that followed, it would seem that the trail designers at Brechfa have got it absolutly right in every way.

It would appear that some people are just not that comfortable riding outside of their comfort zone?

[a great big bmx track]

That is exactly how Rowan Sorrell (Brechfa trail designer) described Brechfa in Dirt mag around a year ago. I think people have become accustomed to a certain type of trail at centres.

Places like Brechfa and Llandegla push you and test you. The great thing about these places is the way they don’t try to mimick anything else. They are not trying to be “natural”, anything but!!!

I can see how if you’re used to “natural” singletrack then Brechfa is going to freak you out. However, for me Brechfa is by far my favourite trail centre. If i want “natural” trails i go local, for pure fun and adrenaline i love Brechfa.

FWIW i went from a 2007 Wolf Ridge to a Orange 5 with the standard QR and the 5 swingarm is ALOT stiffer. Not just between the drop-outs but along its whole length especially around the pivots.

Rear tyre room is not as good as you would expect. A 2.4 Mountain King was very tight, even with a Nevegal 2.1 the paint has worn slightly but that depends on how muddy your local trails get i guess.

The Wolf Ridge was basically heavy and flexy but did climb better. The 5 is just so much fun, accelerates quickly and is very stable on descents.

You are clearly a very bad rider!!!!

Anyone outhere know if a headset is available which will take a 1 1/8″ to 1.5″?

I ask because the seller seems to think that it can be done!!!!

I think i upset him with my helpful advice :wink:

Ghetto.

Hope branded Sintered. I buy in joblots of 4 pairs for £40 from either CRC or Merlin cycles.

Adaptor available for Hope Pro 2, about £15 i think.

Otherwise it’s new hub and wheel build costs.

It’s possibly the funniest thing i have ever seen. Series one is available to watch back on 4 on demand too so need to miss any of it!

The Olive Shed is great. I took my mum there and she was very impressed, not easily done i can assure you!

Have gone with River Station as i have been for lunch there a few years ago and the above recommendations reminded me of that!

Didn’t have to pay a deposit either. Mud Dock must have a policy of putting people off that place. I like it for a coffee/beer or maybe lunch but to ask for a deposit and food pre-order is absurd.

Interestingly the chap i spoke to at River Station told me pre-orders are more hassle than its worth! I guess that Mud Docks chefs are easily snowed under????!

Thanks for the advice.

I used Schwalbe 20″ BMX with Removable core prestas and 50ml wheel milk in each tyre. Tyres were new Maxxis, they hardly leaked at all.

Just measured my Minion DHF and 2.35 is about right. I run mine ghetto tubeless and find it a great tyre. Hooks up well on rocks and roots.

I havn’t really had the chance to use it in really sloppy conditions as just as i fitted it my local trails dried out. But on hardpacked trails it still rolls really well. I have to do alot of road miles between singletrack and i think it rolls pretty well.

Bearing play or Worn Axle.

Had the same problem with mine a while back. Replaced two bearings but it was the axle that was worn, were one of the bearings sat.

Glad to see some replies are from people who have actually done what i intend to do!

Thanks to those concerned.

Yeah it’s tricky as i quess the shop involved in these cases has to try and get a credit note to compensate for the time used to rebuild the wheel.

Good luck.

My wife to be (in 4 weeks!) rides with me every weekend. The difference with us is that we both started mountian biking at the same time. I do ride more, as i do weekly night rides and several times a week right now thanks to redundancy!!

Our rides together are not as long as the ones i do on my own but that suits me fine. She’s never too far behind either.

I’m very lucky i guess.

Just send it to Hope. The XC hub on my 2007(although hub would have been alot older than that)Marin broke across the flange also. I didn’t bother going through my LBS.

I just rang up Hope, explained what happened, they said send it in which i did and it was replaced like for like even though they no longer make that hub. It seems they keep a certain amount of obselete stock for warranty replacements etc.

My LBS then rebuilt my wheel for free too!!

Because the one time i ever tried non-genuine manufactures pad was with SSC and they ALL fell apart!

That was Juicy 5 and Hope Mini Mono. IME you get what you pay for. It’s the mixed reviews of SSC that amaze me. Some get on fine, others share my experiences.

Please be SSC!!!

Where’s the second piccy taken Sharki? Don’t recognise it. Looks almost man-made the way it cuts across the slope.

What Sharki says…Heckler and 5 are way to similar really. If you just fancy a change then fair enough but i’m not buying a brand new frame is worth doing unless you can afford of course.

I got my 2007 2nd hand frame/Seat post/XT front mech for £550 and sold my Marin Wolf Ridge/Seat post/Deore front mech for £350 so only £200 for the swap. That was last July. Frame was in good condition but could now do with a respray as the factory finish isn’t great.

Glad i did as the Orange is far superior to the Marin.

Surely not as impressive as the one armed/one legged guy who overtook me and my partner going up the Altura trail near Keswick!

barrykellett – Member
I seen some whacky german review that proved there was sod all difference in leg deflection between QR15 and QR on the new fox forks.

Thats bullpoo! I can tell you without a shadow of a doubt that there is a big difference. I’ve been riding converted forks for 6 months and they are a vast improvement over 9mm QR. I took my partners 9mm QR forked Yeti out for a 30 miler on tuesday and the difference was plain to see(feel).

In the 3 years i have been biking i have receieved great customer service. From Mojo when my 3 month old RP3 shock stuck down, when my brand new out the box Hope Vision one light wouldn’t turn on, when my 2 year old Hope XC hub flange snapped and Mojo again when i rebuilt my forks with the 15mm QR lowers.

I must have been lucky considering some experiences i read here.

Now….where did i put my piggy bank so i can buy a Cane Creek Double Barrel.

Actually, would it even work well on a Orange 5?

No i wouldn’t say they were.

Had a stuck down shock on my 2 month old 2006 Wolf Ridge, took it to Mojo on route to Cwmcarn, fine after that for a year. My 2007 Wolf Ridge one was fine for a year and my current Orange 5 shock had been fine for over a year.

Just bad luck. You may be able to get it sorted under warranty though.

They should be given the cost of DB! Not that the level of customer service should be equal to money spent.

It has to help. Doing something is better than nothing surely?

I commuted for 3 years an 8 mile round trip and made a big difference to my fitness. My route had 1 gradual ascent, 1 very steep out of saddle climb and another long gradual but steepish climb even though it was a short commute. I used to hammer it whenever i could and my legs are so much stronger now.

Thanks to redundancy i now do 2 or 3 30 miles off-road rides during the week as well as short sharp blasts on my old commute/hybrid thing.

I see. I obviously have not been using this forum long enough. Usually i would be at work but redundancy means i have too time on my hands!

Can’t wait to get another job!

Well excuse me for not understanding another english saying!

I shall assume that is what i have missed.

Thats alloy and it won’t bend back.

Steel frame usually have integrated hangers because you can bend them back alot before they snap.

you mean you don’t carry a spare :wink:

Sorry, whats it from? …..and get two!!

WTF

Racing Ralph – thats a ridiculous thing to say! Have you actually tried a ghetto conversion? So you’re saying a ‘real’ kit is better just because it comes in a neat little package and costs £50??!!! You beggar belief :roll:

I must be very lucky as i had no probs at all, so far.

I knew weight savings would be minimal as simple maths proved. I did so purely to stop thorn punctures, something i get alot of on my local trails around bristol. Tyres do feel like they have abit more grip though.

5′ 9″ and riding a 18″ with a 75mm stem. I could probably be comfortable on a 16″ too.

Oh well, lets hope for the best.

If you can do as good a job as you have on the other, most recently done section then that Weir Lane bit will be sooo much better.

Anyway, looking forward to another trash around there tonight with the Bikestyle (Clevedon) gang.

Shame they’re doing work in there….i’ve been riding out to Ashton Court and 50 Acre 2 or 3 times a week from Lulsgate for the last few weeks.

It’s riding great now too. Well done to the trail guys for the latest work. That section after the first entrance onto Weir Lane is appalling though. Feels like you need trials like skill to smoothly ride through that!

If it rains alot then the logging will turn it into a real mess again.

How sympathetic will they be towards the trails?

I’m loving the armchair science…. :wink: