Another vote for the Scapin – my Nope frame weighs 3.5 lb and is just that, a no compromise steel XC frame. I can't think of anyone else who does this.

Well maybe an extreme comparison but made to illustrate the fact that (IME) there is a world of difference between 4130 and upscale steel tubesets. BTW – my Nope is 2004 and is steel throughout.

I like steel but I also like a light bike with a nice responsive ride. Particularly with a 29er I'd be concerned about weight and so aim for a better tubeset. Obviously there is a real difference in steel tubesets, the frame on my Scapin Nope in Columbus Spirit weighs a couple of pounds less and rides massively better than my 4130 LavaDome.

Actually I'm not that impressed with 853 (I'd prefer 631 or 725 throughout) but I'd buy a Swift today if it was £200 more but made from Spirit throughout (in fact Scapin's 29er is just that but I'm guessing its into 4 figures).

Yes that's pretty much what I was thinking – a Niner fits the bill but looks like very very poor value for money to me. Custom build price and from what I've picked up on this forum custom build wait time but for a far eastern off the peg frame not that different from some 26ers at half the price.

I tend to avoid second hand now – gone for years without any problems but been caught out more than once recently with used stuff from apparently respected members of the MTB community- there's just so much that can go wrong with a hardtail (let alone FS)that I'd rather buy new with warranty now. Lets face it most stuff you can but second hand you can probably find new as last years model at a sale price if you look hard enough.

wonderful! At least it wasn't a 29er..

Sorry to say it but from what you say, you only have 3 realistic choices:

1 leave

2 just put up with it

3 devise a clever strategy to undermine confidence in your boss

In a private sector company with 50 employees all the unions and tribuanals and policies in the world aren't going to stiop your card being fatally marked if you complain.

how about being the only "major" western European nation that didn't have a fascist government at some point in the 20th century and the only major European country that didn't ever succumb to totalitarianism of any hue in the 20th century?

If you want 26" wheels and discs on a touring bike and have relatively deep pockets, the obvious answer is a Tout Terrain Silkroad (see Bikefix)

Build + DT comp spokes usually works out at around £30 a wheel at various LBS I use (last build was about 9 months ago £100 for Mavic 317, DT comp and build for a pair of wheeels on my hubs.

try Spa Cycles

What about a Scapin? My Nope is Columbus Spirit and rides beautifuly – you may need deep pockets though and not sure if Veloce bikes are still importing.

where was it made?

couldn't agree more Brant – one is built from Reynolds 631 in the UK and one isn't…

By no means identical frames I know, but this is one of the interesting comparisons that started me wondering if a UK build is viable:

£380

£540

yes and before anyone says it I'd probably have the Singular too, but I'm talking economics, not personal taste.

haven't ridden there recently but always suspicious about the number of trees/ branches that "just happened to fall" across the bridleways in Winterfold wood

Thanks to the STW forum for all the comments/advice –

I agree that British built + Reynolds 725 probably isn't enough.British built, Reynolds 725 and available off the peg immediately for £500 is beginning to look more attractive. However, noting how long it took Merlin to sell out of RM Blizzards at a bargain £399, upmarket steel hardtails per se can't be in that much demand, so it's got to be something a bit special combined with British and off the peg.

One of the reasons I've been thinking about this is because I was looking around for a steel s/s frame and there really didn't seem to be much between the one-one/Genesis/voodoo frames at the sub £300 mark and the £1000+ US boutique brands, particularly if you are looking for a light XC type frame

So my thinking so far, two slidy dropout models built as light and zingy as possible:

1.an ultra flexible 29er with rigid forks, loads of mud room and disc friendly guard and rack mounts, useable as a mainsteam MTB or for light touring with different wheels, bars etc

2. a light mainstream 26er designed for a 120mm fork

Thanks again, so leaving VAT to one side a 725 tube UK built hardtail retailing at £499 with a decent profit is not impossible?

Thanks Brant

so could you produce the same frame in 725 tube set or nearest Reynolds combination for £250?

thanks for the encouragement!

I was wondering if you could make a reasonable margin aiming at a sub £500 price (noting that Bob Jackson for example are still selling new off the peg UK built reynolds road frames for sub £400).

I don't really understand why (with the exception of BJ) UK built frames have leapt in price so much recently assuming that raw tubing costs are a minority of the total costs and that labour costs should have remained relatively stable.

…and what you think an attractive retail price would be..?

In terms of who will win, I think its still possible that Labour can pull it together to get back with a tiny majority, they just need one or two headline policies that will really connect with ordinary people.

Opinion polls are one thing, but I don't think a majority of the actual electorate who turn out are going to be fooled into voting Tory.

Did a couple of hours at lunchtime -mostly OK after
Wills neck

Or alternatively you could get Flows on Shimano XT for less than £150 the pair at Merlin – very pleased with mine so far.

Try and listen to a DNM pre/power – new would be way out of the budget I guess but you can occasionally pick up some older s/h stuff.

I couldn't imagine using anything else now.

But if you had cancer (say) then I doubt you would be hanging around arguing the toss about whether chemo or radio therapy or homeopathy was the answer would you? Or asking whether it really was cancer? You'd be doing what the doctor, a member of a "community" who knows better than you told you.

Actually, I would at least question a diagnosis before starting treatment – are you saying doctors never misdiagnose?

near universal acceptance within the scientific community

That's exactly the kind of rather patronising thinking that worries me – you are asking me to accept something I have no personal evidence for just because of near!!! universal acaceptance by the members of a "community" who know better than me.

I'm not saying your view is necesasrily wrong, but I couldn't be made to believe in God just because the majority of the Christian community do so…

If there is such a thing as the "Scientific Community" then like all communities they will be bound by certain dominant conventions and beliefs – hence the current suppression and obstruction of evidence that gets in the way of those beliefs.

The Supernova looks impressive – what dynamo are you using with it?

I only use it on road and was quite impressed when I bought it – able to maintain near normal speed on unlit roads and I guess you could use it off road – they offer an upgrade to latest model but it's a fair chunk of the price of some of the units from B&M etc

Anyone?

I've see the video to Thriller but I don't believe in zombies.

Climate change industry has become the new religion – "Scientists" (clergy) trying to convince the general public that something exists to the contrary of the evidence of their own senses,increasingly aggressive when peoople don't see it their way, and quite happy to fake the data and compeletely undermine their own alleged professinal ethics when the evidence doesn't suit them.

Everything except frame and saddle…?

Had one on main bike since May – not sure what to say really, other than it works and seems to keep on working, comes in nice colours and is very loud. The domed allen bolts that come with it round off really easily. I'd save a few quid and go for DMR revolver if I was buying again – but note comments on disc fitting if you do.

Never had any problems re. size sending bikes via parcelforce in card bike boxes (sent 3 in last month alone) – usually pedals+ front wheel off, reverse forks and fit plastic packing piece in dropouts, pipe lagging on frame,then cover in bubblewrap, front wheel packed beside bike (with extra card etc in between making sure axle ends are no where near frame tubes), remove bar/stem asembly in one piece and lay lengthways on top of bubble wrapped bike.

I didn't even know parcelforrce had UK size restrictions -I suspect if you use home collection then they dont check – I set one bike last month in a Pinarello box which is absolutely huge

The short answer is Yes and seems to correlate with Audi drivers. From my owm empirical research (e.g. of each occasion I nearly get knocked off/desatched to the next world etc there seems to be an amazingingly reliable correlation between bad/inconsiderate/arrogant driving and Audis.

If you are going for a rescue dog then issues of what breed to choose etc are less relevent – with the exception of staffordshire bull terriers the vast majority of dogs you will seee for adoption in the mainstream centres (RSPCA, Battersea, Dog Trust) will be cross-breeds and, size aside, the temperament etc of the dog is probably more important than anything else.

Second what Inzane says – I’m not sure but I think my own knee probs have something to do with horizontal saddle vs. pedal position – basically the further back the saddle is relative to a vertical line through the pedal axle, the more likely to get knee pain

Funny as I’m sure it will be I doubt it is “blatant proganda for gay people” unless of course you think all gay people live in some sort of Jonn Inman-esque 70’s timewarp.