Private pension is 55 today moving to 58 in 2028. Go to gov.com and they will confirm.

I must work out how to reply with that copy thing.

Not sluggish as long as you aren’t expecting it to be a Roadbike. I put it on 2.25 fast rubber also.

Re the Frontier. I went to buy a Signal but don’t like the bit of pipe welded to the top tube to seat so got the Frontier. Really great bike but just fancied something TI. Ride quality I.e compliance is miles better on the BR.

Bought trailcross and freerider when on special a few months back. Been wearing freerider for ages and always a size 11. These all came up small so went 12. Slightly too big so 11.5. So maybe go up a half size.

Had one for a few years. Also run it rigid with a Travers Prong. Hunt wheels added but pointless as shaved about a nano gram in weight. I ride everything on it from full reds, xc, and long 240 mile one hit gravel and road routes. It will take just about anything. I also bike pack on it.

Only annoyance, the early ones seat tube is oversize so needs a double clamp.

I also have a Frontier MK1 which I call my wrecking ball. Snap it and throw it away basically but just can’t snap it.

I swear by the exo rail from Alpkit. You can also use it on any seat bag with done imagination. Stops all sway which without it drives you nuts.

I always pack with a 3 quarter bag (room for a bottle on the bike still) which weighs nothing and holds what you require.

I bought a Mark 1 rigid Frontier. The alloy fork is very rigid though. I then bought a Broken road TI and put the 100mm front fork in the Frontier and use thar as my wrecking ball. Cost next to nothing and does what it does.
I then bought a Travers XC Prong and put that in the Brokenroad. It’s my go to bike, take it everywhere and ride everything on it.
If cost is prohibitive then I have run the Prong in the Frontier which makes it 100% better but doesn’t ride as plush as the Brokenroad. Fork is brilliant in my opinion and will easily take a 2.6.
Someone mentioned the bad look of the Frontier. The MK 2 which has bolt through axles looks horrible. Backend is a dog in my opinion.

Blew out number 4 about 15 years ago. I also had sever ba k pain and constant slipping disk 25 years back. If I knew now and had the option I would have had surgery 25 years ago.
Work on pain. So if you have lost the use of your left leg and crying in pain so bad you had to call an ambulance then take the surgery option. It won’t get better.
Really common in manual workers which I have been for all my working life.
Age. They don’t lime operating over 40 years old for some reason.
Weight. If you are carrying any lumber then lose it.
Physio. The best advise I ever had was hang from your hands. It separates the disk and works instantly.
You can also hang from a table from your hips. Very similar to traction.
Repair after surgery. I walked out the following day after being fused.
Was back at work in a week.
Suffered lower back numbness for 6 months then one day it disappeared.
Good as new now but just always be aware it’s had surgery.

5lab. Good info and thanks for that. I haven’t been able to find anything rhat low so it does put it back as an option. Thanks also for rhe ribble info. Its kne of the rands I hadn’t looked at. Needs to be mtb though but will look at rhe options later.

Hi Johnny. No now finished but this one is 2nd hand. Still on Ebay and at 2.2k it’s lumpy for sure.
I did think that Scot on the cranks. If it was £1500 for example then I wouldn’t have too much issue. Doesn’t help rhe bike is 200 miles away either so trying to do some leg work 1st.
My guess is the same Del. Makes it 110 mm at the crank tip which is low.
I’m really stuck on this one.
I don’t have an issue on the cost of it but I will if rhe Mrs doesn’t like it as I would imagine I’m the only person in the UK at the moment looking to buy it so it will never resell.
This search has been dragging on for a year now, I should have just ordered a Scott or Cube who both do a descent XS but won’t see any stock until March 2023 due to new model release.

Agree on rhe positive comments on the BR. Had one a while now and ride everything on it. Loaded unloaded bike park, xc etc. Just did a lap of Norfolk 240 miles 26 hours.
I have also purchased a Travers xc prong for it which takes a kilo off the front end.

From Hull you will land above Zandvoort if correct not the Hook. From Zandvoort do Harlem, great little place as is Zandvoort especially if warm.
Depending on what way you travel then either down to the Hague.
Hague across the flood defences down to Middelburg which is a great ride.
Alternatively not to the Hague and a circle the other way to Arnhem via Woerden and Ultrect.
Then home via Eindhoven, Antwerp, middleburg, Hook, Hague, Zandvoort.
Jobs a goodun.

I ride a TI sonder brokenroad. If ever buying again I would buy a frame and build up. Heavy to start but down to 11kg roughly now in size xl. Can hit 10 kg with the travers carbon fork in it.

Alpkit exorail with a bungee fits ant bag or just make one.

Salsa anything cradle. Expensive but the best front carrier on the market in my opinion.

Forget the panniers and use a frame bag

I would really suggest you just ride the TI model 1st. After riding the steel 2nd you will buy the TI.
Weight will be your main hate but also the TI is so comfortable.

Hardest part is the mileage. You can easily do it on a cx bike. Anyone who does it on a bouncer or fat bike must just enjoy the challenge.
30 odd miles of Thames path, some other odds and sods and then the big climb up top of Brighton called torrettes (when you see it you go **** **** ****) as its steep as hell then 3 miles into Brighton and jobs a goodun.
Get back on the train but it’s also a nightmare. I send the mrs in the car and we stay over and come back following day.

I’m sure Alpkit do one. It’s in the swimming section.

Norwich here.
LBS in general are real poor here.
Supported 1 with about 10 grands of bikes total and then they went bust.
Next one Pedal Addiction, great guy and great knowledge but unfortunately he has now closed and is working from home I think so can’t browse and no real stock to spot buy.
Went exclusively to Wiggle but refuse to use now as delivery is so poor.
Now using independents away from Norfolk via online.
Evans, Bike hut etc are just so bad service wise, lack of knowledge, too expensive, poor clothing stock etc. And just no atmosphere.

Freehub. I’ve had it. It’s only randomly not hookong up properly. Pull it open, check springs etc on the paws or look for damage.

@donslow yes totally understand that but if going for one of the newer cheaper models it was just to confirm the touch screens are much better now. Worth trying in a store when open.

I use a garmin 1030. Wet or not the touch screen is fine.
Battery does at least 10 hours. If you think you ride longer than that then you can buy a piggy back battery or just buy a standard battery pack for 20 quid and recharge when having a rest. You can get really long hours out of it by switching off the monitors, emails, bright screen view. Also recommend not viewing maps permanently as when a turn comes up it goes to maps option for you.
It’s faultless and has never let me down. Screen is also big enough to view without glasses on.
Map transfer is also wireless and it has map support for free for life.
Expensive yes but worth it to me.

Probably an Allan key in either side. Unwind and pop out. Circlip probably infront of the bearing. Take circlip out and punch bearings out.

Simply get her to sit on a ton of seats in a shop. Any descent shop should help and most should have a loan set that you rent and they credit when you buy one.
Make sure the seat fits the sit bones or she’s resting on the delicate part.
Seats with large cut outs work.
Tip the nose forward.
So many bad set ups out there but just buying seats with no idea how wide her sit bones are for example is just throwing money away.

Just read a load of reviews. Sounds interesting.

Bodge to fit a new Hope "press fit" BB

But I would just order the tool.

Anyone purchased a small? Wife is 5ft 1 Nd inside leg 27 inches. Interested in the stand over.

I packed on a light Forme Winscar. Biggest issue is BB sway when loaded. Its bloody horrible.

It’s all about long term rents and cost of staff. Rent is always long term. Even handing back after dilapidation charges will cost at least 50k and the rents and rates will be at least 80k py in any high street.
Expect all the shops to under one roof I.e house of Frazer ex premises. They then share staff to unload load etc.
Its hobbits gonna be for the future. Shops just cant justify the cost v profit.
Everyone is desperate to get out or rental if they can run online. Everyone then moves to trade counter industrial estates.

Marmite then.

The wheel part isnt totally correct. If the lovemud then they are only 300gms heavier than Hunts. Add some fast light rubber instead.
They do another wheel option now so simply ask Neil the weights.
I have a frontier and Brokenroad. Frontier is my wrecking machine basically. Does anything and everything. Also run it rigid with a travers XC prong.
In xl with the Prong in its mental light with the Hunts and skinny light rubber.

I prefer the hand winding type axle rather than the Allan key type. Slots in 1st time every time.

Absolutely no issue at all. Not once has it ever broken lose or needed nipping up. I share the fork in two bikes also so its literally used permanently.
I have the XC prong with triple mounts as pack with it but use it more for fast trail use as so light.
Big investment which is reduced over 2 bikes but possibly the best one item I have ever purchased over the years.
The ride quality also is plush.
Also the guy is a joy to deal with it.

Travers. Work of art. Super strong, super light.
Sonder. Heavy but cheap in aly.

Make all my own. Very easy the larger the task. Small bags and anything with a circle I suggest to leave till more confident.
As others have said, point north for everything.
Start with 1000 cordura for durability.
300 cordura for lighter small bags without much potential to rub.
XPac but its twice the price.
Ripstop for tops of feed bags etc.
You don’t need waterproof zips unless waterproofing or sealing the stitching. Make a storm flap if ness.
Hugely rewarding and incredibly cheap. Full size frame bag for about a tenner in cordura. Tons of ideas and really helpful people on instagram under #myog or #myobg

Use a coke can or beer can as a shim. It does work. Cut it as long as the can is. Don’t over lap it. Wrap it round the post and slip all in together. Try to keep about 1mm sticking out. Roll the top over and clamp as normal. Trust me, it works and will be permanent.

Aesthetics are probably more important than speed
Basically all the wheels actually are new.
You know what looks best. Go with that view.

TI brokenroad hear and also a frontier.
I also purchased a travers XC prong rigid fork.
Set of hunt wheels.
Hunts run 2.25 fast rolling.
Standard rims 2.4 rear 2.5 front.
With the hunts and 2.25 its 10kg, put the prong in its 9 ish kg. A proper whippet.
With the standard wheels plus fat rubber its heavy but will plough through everything.
In light weight mode so to speak it will hustle quickly through most but I’ve also done 60 odd plus miles in both builds.
I like both options and in both it will cover any ground quickly. The presumption is it’s a bike packing heavy slug. It honestly isnt.
Size xl does make it long, you do have to push the front end about if very twisty and slow.
Fast though it is glued to any line.
I considered Stanton but frankly to expensive.
Note it’s not pinion.

What bike.
What size tyre.
Your weight
What riding.

Thule all day long. Expensive but robust.