Solaris Max LS here. Perfect trail bike for me. Can do a bit of everything on it. I’ve got it set up with a 120 fork but can change internally up to 140. Haven’t felt the need to yet. Razzed it round the woods, rode xc, done 5 hr rides and a bit of bike packing on it. I’ve also got a Carbon Spearfish and I haven’t got it out of shed since the Cotic came along.
Awesome bike.

👍 Gotcha. Thx Nixie

^^^^^STW

How do you affiliate yourself with STE on Zwift? Do I need an invite?

So…….have kept my head down since first foray into Zwift. Am in week 8 of 12 on the Build Me Up training plan. Have just done another FTP test (rest day) as I was feeling the sessions were getting a bit easier. Gone from FTP of 217 to 255. 17.5% increase. Well chuffed. Know it’s not gonna be beating records but good to know focused training actually works! Down from 89kg to 83.5kg too which is a bonus!

Yep. Done Left and right ACJ. Only level 2&3 tho. No surgery needed. Long steady road back. Also fractured both Scapula’s and ruptured both rotator cuffs. All post ACJ separation. Sure it was down to the joints weakening after the dislocations. The rc’s were a bitch and still give me grief in bed now, 5 years on.
Listen to your physio. Do your exercises no matter how boring and then do some more. I’m lucky. Full mobility back albeit with pain.
Get some coaching when you’re fit! 😂😉

20 Stoats can bring down a Cow!

Defo +1 for wipes and sandwich bags (don’t ask!). Also spare socks for sleeping in, can’t stress importance of having dry/warm feet after a day in the rain. Lightweight leggings (ron hill et al) and a lightweight hat/skullcap. You may not need either but I’d rather be with them and not use than without them wishing I was warmer.

AM9 owner here. Agree with all comments above about riding characteristics. It just works. From an aesthetics point of view, make sure you wrap frame early on as the paint chips really easy. My 2014 Banshee looks newer than my 1yr old AM9.

Apologies……it’s 30 pairs! 😳

Was also there today. Utter Shambles. Travelled from IoW, so 0430 start for us. Got there at 0910. They opened at 0930. Already a queue of 30-40. All bikes were out by time we got to end of queue. Can’t register your details (ID and cc) until bike is available. They don’t issue time slots. Bikes are on a one hour demo. This meant we had to wait until 1130 to get a ride on a bike in the wrong size. If you wanna ride a XL or XXL……good luck!
This has no reflection on bike itself. It was frikkin’ awesome! (Decoy)

Yep, happens quite a lot here on Isle of Wight. They nest quite low for a bird of prey and will protect their young with vigour. I was attacked about 7 years ago where the nest was in a large hedgerow. Always keep an eye out now in that area.
They’ve just announced the release of 2 pairs of White Tailed Eagles but in a ‘secret’ location. It’s certainly gonna make riding round here a bit more exciting! 😂

Shortlisted the 3020i’s and a pair of Dali Zensor 3’s. I demo’d both at Richer Sounds. Was fully expecting to walk away with the Q Acoustics but the Dali’s were far better. I’ve got a system set up for vinyl and it does depend what type of music you prefer listening to. I like a warmer sound. Found the Q Acoustics really analytical. May be different depending what amp you’re running.

Just picked up an Elite Direto OTS 2 from Halfords for £495.00 (with 10% discount), so happy days. Feedback soon……….hopefully!

👍 Thanks Weeksy, much appreciated. Funnily enough it’s the Snap I was looking at.

Weeksy – you prob already covered this in this massive thread but what set up you using? I’m looking to start zwift shortly using my hardtail as training for an endurance event later this year. Just wondered what gearing you are using and whether you’re on a smart trainer? Apologies for newbie questions but any assistance would be much appreciated.

Hope this counts. This photo shows it with a 650b+ rear. Did a solo North to South Wales coast to coast with this set up. Now sold on to a friend but it’s the only bike I ever regret moving on.

As JB above, 2 herniated disc at 31 years old, now 43. Just been diagnosed with arthritis in right hip. Pain in morning is crap but manageable. The Bridge pose is excellent as is lunge followed by stretching arms directly above (hold for at least 7 full breaths). I’ve also had relief from various pigeon poses and the ‘couch’ stretch (YouTube/google).
Recently I have changed my bike. Was on Salsa Spearfish (85mm rear travel) to a Cotic Solaris Max (HT). The Cotic is far more stretched out. It has a reach of 500mm and I’ve stuck with 29 wheels. I would definitely advocate the geometry of newer bikes. The more stretched out riding position enables me to ride longer and not feel as beat up afterwards. If your riding an old Gary Fisher (great bikes in their day) I would definitely consider something a bit more up to date. All the changes mentioned by others will help but you will get better value by buying a new bike if you have the budget.
Alpkit have got a sale on Sonder at the mo, Calibre as mentioned previously and Vitus are all great options.

Another vote for Bird AM9 here. Mine built up with MRP Ribbon and Fox X2. Great value frame and good service from Ben at Bird. Not that I want to change, but have you considered Cotic Rocket/Flare Maxx?

Pm’d you mate

I take that back……this is way better……

I was in similar situation as OP when updating my 2011 steel (tange) Charge Cooker. Replaced 2 weeks ago with the COTIC Solaris Max Longshot. Ridden nearly 150 miles on it in just under 2 weeks. Love it. It’s more forgiving than the Cooker so am enjoying long rides on it. Can’t decide whether it’s the Reynolds 853 tubing or the longer reach but I suspect it’s a mixture of both. Funnily enough I’ve got my 3rd fastest times down some cheeky local trails and I’m not even used to it properly yet! My other bike for reference is a Bird AM9. Can see the Bird only coming out for trips to Wales now.

Guide RE’s. Specced on a lot of e-bikes because they’re ace. Based on what a lot of riders were mixing, guide lever/code calliper. Nothing more powerful for the money.

My old Manitou Tower Pro (9mm QR) were by far plushest fork I’ve ever had. Mix of both coil and air. Currently on X-Fusion McQueen RC HLR on HT(Freeborn cycles currently cheapest) which I’m just bedding in now. Seems ok so far but only 2 rides old so am hoping will get even better. MRP Ribbon Coil on FS. That is an amazing fork, but it is a Coil and I use it mainly as an Enduro race/trail park bike. Majority of my riding is on the HT.

Charlie the Bikemonger would know. This is his particular area of excellence.

Big fan of Syntace combo. Vector high rise also have 12deg backsweep which feels great on wrists. Syntace Megaforce Stem 50mm. Both 31.8 but believe they do 35 now. Pricey but best bar/stem combo I’ve had.

Yeah, didn’t mean to rub it in!
Seriously, have a word with Neil cos he may recommend running the 2.6’s which means you can still use your forks.

Sorry slackboy, bought the last large Solaris Max last Friday (in dark metal). Turned up today. Tis a thing of beauty! I had narrowed down to this and Sonder Transmitter. Speak to Neil at Sonder as a lot of people are recommending running with the new 2.6 tyres rather than the 2.8/3.0 it is sold with.

Hahaha. Haven’t thought about school disco’s for quite a long time. Don’t know why but Frankie by Sister Sledge and Boys, Boys, Boys by Sabrina are springing to mind!

+1 for the qAcoustics 3020i’s. Also check out Fyne Audio F301’s. If you’re near a branch of Richer Sounds they’ll probably have these in store to demo. Neither will disappoint. Will just boil down to personal preference.

Nothing. I’m on my fourth bike with shopping basket and there’s no rhyme or reason as to which bike they’ll take. It’s just sport to the thieving scumbags.

A showroom quality house does not equate to a happy home. I can see the argument to ‘spruce’ (🙄 it is xmas eve) it up for special occasions but you gotta have some scars/marks to show the adventures you’ve had.

Track – Little Simz, Offense

Album – Kamasi Washington, Heaven & Earth

Gig – Kate Rusby at Bath Forum last week

Another Happy Bird owner here. Dan and Ben always answer e-mails and try to resolve any issues ASAP (not just prior to purchase). I guess that’s why they won the Singletrack award.
From a parts point of view my experiences with MRP have been just as favourable. For such a large company I’m amazed at the response times in answering e-mails and putting you on the right path. Make you feel like you’ve been a long-standing customer on first contact.

Tried POC and Smith Optics. Both still made me resemble Toad from Mariokart. Settled on an Urge (Endur-o-Matic 2) in the end. Lowest profile helmet I’ve found so far and very green credentials.

Thanks LM. Just pressed the button on those Singular forks. Been looking for a while now! 😬

Still as relevant to politics now as it was in the 80’s! Also a great listen!!

Have a look at Rapanui. Based on IoW. Even get money off when you send your old stuff back for recycling.

Isle of Wight here. If you don’t eat ‘nammet’ at lunchtime and live on the North Isle (that’s the mainland to most of you), you’re all Northerners. I’m originally from West Yorks so am keeping up the good work enriching the gene pool here! 😂