Floats my boat, Raleigh RXS …

My Thomson Elite used to slip quite a bit on my Sherpa, using a Hope QR collar. A thorough clean of the post, seat tube, and especially the collar, and have not had any movement for ages. Worth a try before spending on a new dropper?

Beer, obviously?

http://www.musclefood.com/high-protein-beer.html

Excellent choice, welcome to the club. There is a Stanton Facebook group, for inspiration, if you do that sort of thing.

Nick

That Raleigh is only $1549 …

http://www.raleighusa.com/bikes-open-road-cyclocross-rxs

Anyone tried importing that (or any other bike) directly from the USA?

Nick

I keep looking at this …

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/verenti-isolation-cx12-singlespeed-2015/

… and wondering if it is worth a punt for a commuter. I’ve had SS before and love the simplicity of it all.

Nick

Love mine, very capable bike. As above, would love it with the switchback dropouts, so I could sometimes run it singlespeed. Running with 100mm forks, and now my only bike …

Nick

Love that! Well done sir, good work!

2.25 Racing Ralph on the rear. Plenty of space for a 2.35 I would think (running on Arch EX rims).

I would disagree. Stanton frames are lovely. I bought a Sherpa over a Cotic Solaris, due to slacker head angles, and a tighter rear, hopefully making it more playful. From a purely cosmetic point of view, I think the paint jobs on the Stanton’s are much better too.

There is a good Stanton Facebook group, and there is a huge amount of love for the Switchback. If I was buying another HT, I don’t know anything that would beat it for the fun factor.

I’m not knocking Cotic, they make great bikes too, in fact the new Solaris is close to the Sherpa, but just feel the Stanton frames are on the next level.

Nick

I though the tyres were a lot cheaper than that. Are these not them?

http://www.winstanleysbikes.co.uk/product/77470/WTB_Trail_Blazer_TCS_Light_Fast_Rolling_275_Inch_Folding_Tyre_466223?gclid=CK-7iMr_h8gCFSsKwwodbJYIkQ

Not cheap, but £80 rather than £120.

This thread also interests me. I’ve got a Stanton Sherpa, and fancy putting some Hope Enduro wheels with the Trailblazer tyres on (as Dan Stanton has done). Those Cotic wheels seem expensive, too expensive to try, and my thinking of getting the Hope wheels, is that they can be used with normal tyres as and when I buy a 650b bike.

Also regarding tire pressures. I run my 29er’s at about 20-25psi (2.25 Racing Ralfs on Arch EX rims), which feels pretty forgiving as it is, but with the ability to still go pretty fast – and wonder how 2.8 tyres at lower pressure would work for me – pity there is not the ability to rent a wheelset for the day!

Nick

It was the little climb after going under the M1 – just enough round the corner, not to have the motorway in the background.

I agree, you don’t get to see the tactical battle, watching by the road, but when it’s a mile or so from home, it would be rude not to!

A few photo’s from today’s stage. All taken about 10km from the finish (in Trowell, Nottingham).

Chasing pack …

Whooosssshhhh …

Obligatory Peter Kennaugh, man crush photo …

Cheers

Nick

Agree, it’s totally what feels right for you.

I’ve got Renthal bars cut to 760mm, 30mm rise, with a Hope 35mm stem. Originally got 10mm rise Renthal bars, but just didn’t feel right for me. Other people think I’ve got a weird set-up!

Nick

Yep, front wheel off, Stanton Sherpa fits fine.

Bit of a thread hijack, but OP, how do you rate the bike? I’m very tempted to get this as a commuter bike – I’ve had SS commuter bikes before, but like the idea of having discs too.

Cheers

Nick

I’d agree large would be best for you. I’m 5’9 and riding the 17″ version. Gratuitous picture:

Nick

Arch EX, would love to see how it rides with 650b+

Racing Ralph 2.25, plenty of space for 2.35. Dan has posted 650b+ on Facebook, running 2.8 on Hope Enduro wheels.

N/W chainring is all you need for a hardtail MTB, CX or road. Difficulty is finding the right size chainring!

I’m 5’9 with a 32″ inside leg and also ride a 17″ Sherpa. 35mm stem, 760mm bars. Have also ridden a medium 26 Soul, which felt fine.

I’d go for the larger size Sherpa. Oh, and good choice, it is a lovely frame!

Nick

I’d cycle to Barcelona (close to the coast as possible), then cross the Pyrenees taking in all the classic climbs. Then ferry from Santander to Portsmouth. Then Bristol, follow as closely as possible the Offa Dyke path towards Chester, then Lakes, Kilder forest (a lap of Innerleithen), then back home.

Never done it, but would love to traverse the Pyrenees one day.

Nick

Niner RLT? Lovely looking but expensive.

Horses only seem to get spooked, when there is a 15 stone lump on its back. I wizz past loads of horses grazing in fields, and none bat an eyelid.

The accompanying video is quite special!

Belated photo’s of mine. Looks similar to Scandal’s setup.

I did feel beat up on longer Peak District rides, hence changed for a Stanton Sherpa with 100mm forks. Definitely not as fast as the Niner, but overall a more fun bike.

Nick

I had one of the older ones. The frame is very light, and built onto Niner carbon forks, crest wheels, and 1×9 XTR gearing, made for a crazy lightweight bike – somewhere around the 8.5kg mark. I’ll dig a few photo’s out later.

Nick

I once had a steroid prescription, for an infection. I run most days of the week, and after about 3-4 days of taking the drugs, found my running to be about 10% quicker than my best ever times.

It wasn’t as though I felt I could run any quicker, just no sign of lactic acid build up in my legs. I could keep running at a fast rate, without the pain/tiredness that gradually builds up.

Checked the ingredients, and they were banned on the WADDA list.

Nick

I’m in the same boat. Looking for a lightweight, SS CX that takes discs. I’d love the Niner RLT, but expensive for frame and forks.

In terms of the Arkose, I thought that they had a BB30 bottom bracket, so that the singlespeed model could take an eccentric BB. Doesn’t look the case for the frame only model. Does anyone know if the SS version is a different frame?

Cheers

Nick

Have you seen the Mk1 Five for sale at £1900?

http://www.bikescene.co.uk/Orange-Five-S-Mk1-9006-122-0.html

I’m very tempted …

First steel framed bike, although have had a 29er before. Pretty fast, very comfy and great fun. Head angle seems spot on with 100mm forks. Looks ace in green too!

In purchased order …

1998/9 Marin Nail Trail
2004 Marin East Peak
2006 Giant XTC Comp
2010 Whyte 19
2011 Orange Five
2009 Felt Breed (secondhand)
2009 Niner EMD (secondhand)
2014 Stanton Sherpa

Only the Sherpa remains.

Nick

That’s the finest time-trial, touring, MTB I’ve ever seen! Needs front panniers.

I re-did mine, now full XT, Hope Arch EX, 100mm SID, Renthal carbon bars. Don’t know whether it’s worth trying a dropper post next?

Nick

Great vid, great looking trails! Agree the cables were a bit mesmorising.

Great mini review duckman. A few questions; what is the cable routing like on the downtube? I’ve always thought it looked a little “messy”. Any close-ups on that? Also the BB, is it a standard British threaded one?

Cheers

Nick

Same as fudge, love the green of the sherpa (and agree looks good offset with black components), here’s mine …

Nick

I’ve got 100mm SID’s, feels pretty slack …

120mm would be a lot of fun!

Nick

Yeah, LB rims would be nice. I’m only 10 stone and the Crests are taking a bit of a battering on the rear. I’ll get them straightened first and see how long they last.