we’ve looked at a few places listed as a 2 bed with a loft conversion. Legally they are not allowed to list as a 3 bed unless they have had planning permission, building regs, or have a fire escape etc.

Daffy – Member
How about a Jaguar XF:

Link to Jaguar XF on eBay

why on earth is that so cheap? Or am I missing something?

If there is nothing wrong with the zesty, then no need to actually replace, but it sounds like if you’re not riding, you have lost interest in it and will continue to not ride it.

if you get the stumpy, you may find that replacing the hardtail for most rides. It’s amazing how much new rides have come on recently, and the stumpy is a very good bike…

zilog6128 – Member
ok ta, will pop in to my local one & see if they can order one across for me!

The kit in notherntom’s link looks OK for a cheap DIY solution, although the quality hence longevity may be questionable.

That’s the thing…it’s not a cheap DIY solution, it’s actually better than a mobiwasher and most of the other ones. bearing in mind, they are likely using a similar water pump inside anyway…

I’ve been using mine all winter and it’s been pretty much faultless. Something I found out yesterday is the pipe to the water source has a filter on the end to keep crap out. If you remove this, it basically increases the flow through and makes it a turbo pressure washer, it’s amazing.

It’s lasted long enough for me to name it the blastmaster 3000.

I have one of these:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/Car-Motorbike-Care/Portable-Pressure-Washer-Cleaning-System-Gardening-Camping/B017EA7C8G/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1489407694&sr=8-2&keywords=12v+pressure+washer

But you can get the for £21 off ebay. Then bought a jerry can and just feed the water thing into the jerry can. I made mine slightly fancier by attaching to the jerry can and the water feed goes through the lid, so I just fill it up and it’s good to go.

Also, it’s more powerful (but not too powerful!) than a mobiwasher. Also allows you to select size of the water source, so I’ve got a decent sized jerry can on mine, so can do a good job cleaning two large full sus bikes with that, some soap and a brush.

Hi mate, welcome.

Firstly, we’ve got a Wednesday night ride that you’re welcome to join, quite a few of here as well as a few others. Drop me an email (email in profile) if you want to be added in. Also plenty of us are riding most weekends.

Mr Mrs works in Aztec West, we’re in Redland but just moving to St George. I would say Gloucester Road would be ideal for you, loads of food places, shops etc.

I had this a few years ago just before a race so saw a physio for a few days before who gave me some pretty vigorous massages which helped.

I would recommend doing light exercise, but don’t try to aggravate the muscle as you will just make it worse.

Apply either heat or ice (depending on what the professionals say), and keep mobile but also rest up.Also stay on the pills which will definitely help! When I had mine I think I was on Ibuprofen for a few days at max dosage but it did help.

If you increased the travel, but also put an angleset in there it may help more.

Also would suggest putting some spacers in the forks, it should allow you to run them softer but also keep them higher in the travel

Yeah, mine is extremely close to the tyre, to an extent that when the tyre gets a stone stuck in it you can hear it clipping the hugger when the wheel turns. I find this helps clear the tyre as well as keeping mud off.

Mine is so good I’ve given up with glasses and goggles pretty much.

I am in the process of buying a house at the moment, but it’s a terraced 2 bed so easier to get an understanding of value as everything around it is similar.

I would suggest going on rightmove and actually look at the properties in and around it.

If it needs that much spent on it (£15k+ and a lot more I imagine?) it doesn’t sound a great investment. even if you got £450k, after stamp duty etc, you’re not clearing a massive profit.

Hi Mark,

I’ve got a gpx file I can send over to you, showing a route from the car park, but should be able to tell where Dowies is from there. Theres a small village at the top you could park at if you just wanted to ride them. To be honest, there a few good trails from pedalabikeaway to dowies but not worth doing for the distance.

You’re on the Bristol STW email right? Email in profile and I can send over later.

this was a problem on 2014 RS Pikes, it happened to mine. Just horrendous creaking really. Perfectly fine to ride (which I did for quite a few months), as the steerer has a flange bit on the end meaning the crown can’t come out.

Make sure if you are doing this to head up the road to the DH runs rather than doing the official diversion. It’s basically just a steep fireroad with gates.

Deviant, are you Professor Denzil Dexter of Fast Show fame? He had an amazing ability to create numbers for whatever he needed.

Nice bike by the way. Have you considered a lighter frame and components?

But why are you making a bike very light when you are pretty heavy. You may be 96kg of pure muscle, but that’s still damn heavy, especially for a bike that light! Surely you will destroy light wheels etc very quickly?

Also, if you are making a bike for mainly DH stuff (assuming so because you don’t have a dropper), then why have you essentially overbuilt a light trail/xc bike? Why not just buy a Giant Reign which is meant for bigger DH stuff.

It’s a nice bike by the way, you just seem slightly hypocritical in the way you have responded.

Summary: I would prefer a fit for purpose 30lb+ bike rather than a very light compromised bike.

Further to what I said before, I left N.Wales 10 years ago, and never really experienced anti-english sentiment, although I am welsh, so never would have received it directly.

Around the Conwy area, a lot of people are of North west England heritage anyway, and the local accent around the area has a particularly unpleasant scouse twang now, which has developed more recently (my little sister has this)…. (before an irrelevant argument regarding accents ensues, nothing wrong with welsh or scouse, just the combo is not particularly pleasant).

All I would say is, if you can make it work, do it, having lived in London for 4 years, I’m so glad I moved to Bristol, and whilst I love it here, I can’t wait to move into the mountains!

@buenfoxa – Yeah always keen for a ride when I’m back home, will let you know.

I grew up near Llandudno but have since moved around the UK a lot, the rents still live there so I do go back a few times a year. In general, it’s a different place to what I left, riding there are almost infinite great opportunities, with a good scene from what I’ve noticed.

There is also just more acceptance that the ‘outdoor’ lifestyle is more acceptable, which has meant things such as Surf Snowdonia are there, unlike before where there was little.

Schools – I went to Eirias, also John Bright in Llandudno is English speaking, I believe Dyffryn Conwy is also English, one by Conwy marina is I think. None of them are too bad schools, Eirias was considered good, but has apparently gone downhill, but still decent.

Rough areas – avoid rhyl (obviously), Mochdre is a bit ming in places. Parents live in a little village called bryn Pydew, that would definetly work for you.

One piece of advice however is; there are very little opportunities in terms of well paid jobs, and your closest cities are around an hours drive. Sadly the traffic is still quite bad.

Drop me an email (in profile) if you need more info, as I know the area very well.

A few years ago whilst living in Manchester I did a few 5k events that he sponsored and ran in.

The bloke just wouldn’t stop running – from when we got there, to well over an hour after it finished, he just ran around everywhere. Just seemed to love running.

After having my bike invsiframed, i’ve noticed there is a big difference between this and helitape.

Invsiframe looks almost see through. Helitape no where near as much, loads of tiny air bubbles under the surface, that I can’t seem to get rid of.

Before writing this, I am not condoning this activity. However, if anyone does have a bat problem they would like to be rid of, but don’t want to commit any crimes, you could do as my old man did.

Put a radio in the loft, right near them, ,and play Radio 1 (or alternatives), very loudly 24/7 until they go. Pretty sure they left within a day or two.

I found yellow cycling the cheapest for me. When i say cheap, it wasn’t cheap, but need insurance for my main bike so wanted to make sure I was properly covered.

5.10 website has some closeout shoes on there

@Julzm, I have asked for a 150mm, not sure what I’m getting yet to be honest.

I would obviously prefer the bigger drop, but don’t mind having some seatpost stuck out, so doesn’t bother me too much.

Ah of course, you did say Greno and Wharny.

I bought mine having never sat on it. Which I’ve done for my last 3 bikes, hasn’t gone wrong yet.

@sharkattack I’m in Bristol if you want a sit on one.

@Julzm I’ve had the same issues with my dropper. The black anodising has worn off in various places and am getting it warrantied. Am looking to get the new 150mm Bontrager drop line to replace rather than the 125mm.

I got the 19.5″, and I’m about 5″11, so fits for me. It’s a big bike, but doesn’t feel massive when sat on it, a good thing for me at least.

In terms of weight, no I haven’t weighed it. I’ve put XTR pedals, bottle cage and a mudhugger on since I got it. I would probably put it at 31lbs, but that’s a guess. Certainly it’s lighter than my old Mega.

I’ve never been one to weigh bikes, more build a bike up how I see fit and then that’s how much it weighs.

So i’ve had a few rides on mine now, and love the bike, it’s a machine.

Genuinely feels so fast descending, and haven’t really noticed the wheelsize change. Regarding it feeling a ‘too big bike’, it’s got travel adjust to 140mm on the front, and then adding more compression on the rear, turn the bike into a very capable trail bike.

I’ll put it this way, it’s better at everything than my 650b 2014 Nukeproof mega. I would rather race DH, XC or Enduro on the Slash.

it’ll never be the best bike for everything, but certainly is the closest I’ve ridden. It surprises me that I’ve read a lot about this being too big a bike, but then comparisons to the Specialized Enduro, which is even longer travel, haven’t been anywhere near as critical.

Regardless, it’s fantastic, really is a step above anything else I’ve ridden.

I have this issue and have bent it slightly a few times. It is quite tough so will stand up to a bit of bending.

I usually put my under the forks next to the mudhugger, which props up the bike and means it doesn’t rest on it, should be the solution to your problems.

My advice would be make sure you’re eating enough! That’s a hell of a lot of exercise, more than manageable but would build up to it, unless you’re already doing some of it.

I tend to not bother doing arms that much, as they get a workout from everything, and I have no interest in having useless, massive biceps. Tri’s are like 70% of the arm muscle apparently anyway.

Certainly whack deadlifts in there. It’s difficult to tell exactly without knowing what specific exercises you’re doing, as well as weights and reps.

I was at CYB over Xmas, if the one halfway around the beast is what you’re talking about, it was closed when I went past. However, it still looked open for business, just closed that day.

Rode both loops yesterday and Twrch still has diversions, cuts out a fair bit of trail. Better to go up the road and head to one of the DH trails as a final descent.

Ride more, that’ll be the main reason, if you haven’t ridden since the summer then you probably did well to do what you managed. The should get you back to the level of performance you had previously.

Second option is gym exercises, deadlift, pull up, barbell row, tricep cable pull up/pull down. Anything that requires strong grip will improve the forearm strength.

Final option is too look at lever height, grip thickness, bar width, hand placement on bars etc.

I think outskirts of Bristol are your only choice if you don’t want to drive to mtb opportunities.

With the greatest respect, if the highest house price you can afford is £200k, why are you bothering with London? Doesn’t seem worth the hassle working there, and especially a requirement for a commute there, even just a few days a week, if your recompense only allows you to afford a house for up to £200k.

just take the money and don’t tell anyone – everyone wins as you get money, and business never know’s.

They would never have claimed for it anyway.

Whenever I think about this type of thing, I quickly remind myself that I work far more hours than I am contracted too, therefore any little recompense is always nice.

I love the longer stem on my CX bike. Quicker, more reactive steering.

Riing my CX bike reminds me why long, low, slack isn’t best for everything. Sometimes my AM bike deciding whether it’s going to turn a few minutes after a turn of the handlebars can be a bit frustrating.

I’m going to stick my neck out and say it’s nicked, and the new owner doesn’t realise it’s value.

Once on a night out in East London I came across some street urchin riding a lovely Santa Cruz Chameleon, with really nice spec. He had no idea on it’s worth, I offered him £120 which he accepted, then realised I was buying a stolen bike so didn’t bother.

The final three descents on the Marin are some of the best of any UK trail centre I’ve ridden. You could head there and just do a few laps of the climb and final descents.

Llandegla has got steadily worse, I ride there maybe once a year, and never understand why it’s so busy, it’s such an uninspiring place and ride. If you link in the end of the world route it improves it a bit, but this time of year won’t be possible probably, especially with all the rain.

Penmachno is probably the best of the three if you’re going out riding on your mountain bike.

Now I’m in Bristol and not London anymore, I finally don’t have to travel for hours to get to races anymore which is amazing. So I’m likely to stay more local, doing some of the mini downhill races this year and early next. Then hopefully:

Full welsh enduro series
Full mini enduro
Select Welsh Gravity enduro
South West Southern Enduro race

And then probably a few others in the south west, if anything interesting pops up in South Wales or the south west, especially at new or more natural venues (i.e Triscombe).

Seat angle is one thing, morseo if you are tall & inbetween sizes with a reasonably short reach in the slack setting.

I would say it’s going to feel like substantially more than you usual 160mm 650b enduro bike, based on experience of previous big wheels & long travel.

Very true, just looking at one element of the geometry will never give the full story. Measuring it up, it’s similar to my last bike, albeit slightly longer, which I am after anyway. At 5″11 on the 19.5, it should fit fine, and stem length offers slight adjustment. In reality, I’m just really looking forward to it, having sold my last full sus in May.

My previous experience of 29ers suggests this will feel more aggressive, but in terms of size, it only has 15mm extra rear travel than a hightower, with around 1.5 slacker head angle.

I’ve got one on order at the moment and cannot wait. Looking at the geometry, the only strange bit is the seat tube, I wish it was steeper, but then again, I expect Trek know a lot better than I do.

In terms of whether it’s too big a bike, I think it’s a great all rounder, 150mm back, 160mm front, still smaller than the new spec enduro. With the 29 wheels, probably the equivalent to a 160/170mm 650b bike, of which there are plenty around.

I’m planning on racing the fod mini dh series, as well as various enduros next year, fingers crossed it’ll be the right bike.