I’ve got 819s and they’re superb (well, they should be as they’re the proper thing). However, I’ve also got a rim strip (Rhynolite) on a Mavic 521 with a Nobby Nic tubeless tyre. It has really proven itself in the months I’ve been riding it. Perhaps you just got unlucky?

I actually bought the 819s for my main bike because my wheels were pretty knackered anyhow – it worked out cheaper and less hassle than stripping the hubs and buying the rim strips and all the gear!

They’re right – it’s all about tubeless – I punctured with Continentals on an Alfine wheel every time I went out. Now I have Schwalbe Nobby Nics tubeless. Loving it. Just do the rear wheel if you wish. I have on that bike and it’s ideal.

I actually used my head and did that in the end, thanks z1ppy.

I am not against Superstar in any way. In fact, I buy all my brake pads from them and have had no problems so far (touch wood). If I listened to everything on STW without having my own opinion, I would never have bought them. Most of my friends use them too.

However, I bought a BB from them – think it was SKF one, and that’s sweet. However, their own was pretty funned after only a few rides so I wouldn’t get another. I also bought a headset, which lasted the same time.

You live and learn, I’m not against Superstar and for certain products, I really like them. It’s like everything else though – I use Shimano and generally rate it (apart from the inbuilt wear factor) but I prefer to buy SRAM or KMC chains.

Come to Stirling and get some real riding in? You wouldn’t need to travel more than around 3 miles before you’re offroad in some of the best riding around and you could camp at Witches Craig Caravan Park, beneath the Ochils and one of the best downhills in Central Scotland.

Sorry for the late reply here, been a bit busy (on the bike, honest!). Went for dmiller’s suggestion in the end. Thanks bud. All comments were appreciated, as always.

Don’t buy them, they’re rubbish. Me, my family and my friends ride them and we all want to get some real bikes soon. Please don’t buy one.

I am in the same boat – love my K18s and bought a bike so I could take them off! Cheapest route overall.

I was thinking of getting SLXs or XTs from Merlin. Would it be possible to interchange the wheels where necessary? I think the rotors are the same size so it should be all okay, shouldn’t it?

Pretty disgusting to be against the mini guys as you are. It’s no wonder “our” world is screwed.

Aviemore instead of the Wild Boar. Amazing, much better!

I use the USTs, as does my wife. We live in Central Scotland and ride mostly natural stuff. However, much of that can be rocky. I’m 15 stone and haven’t ripped my sidewalls out yet. I was actually really rating them so I hope they don’t.

Dick – try to find your house – it must be over 5 years old.

Oops.

Towbar mounted rack or I’ll just take it places? You can borrow a real car if you want?

Hayes stroker trail with rotors for £100? Where are these?!

Nip to a petrol station if you need a compressor? I blew mine up there as my car compressor wouldn’t work.

Thanks Rik, had a wee look and it looks like they’re £32 each so never went for them from bike24. Will certainly use them in the future if the Euro gets weaker though.

I am 5’11” and have a 19.5″ GF Big Sur as I like a long top tube (my torso’s similar to most guys of 6’2″). I doubted it at first but the 18″ 456 is ideal for me and I can still use more length with a layback post or slightly longer post if I needed to.

I got the Ti but I’m sure the difference is minimal, I love it and the (very slight) shorter length on the top tube is actually slightly helpful.

fsa pig pro or Chris King? I always scoffed at them but if my Chris King lasts only 2 years then I’ve got my money back.

Pig pro, brilliant. Used to go through Orbit XLIIs every six months before I saw the light. 100g really shouldn’t matter, surely that much mud accumulates in the back of your fork? It does for me anyhow!

Thanks everyone. Funny you said that MrK – I was using Edinburgh Bike Co-Op shorts last night and thought I would be female when I got home. Realised they were over ten years old so that’s why they’ve got holes!

I’ll keep looking for those above and see what I can get for my money. Thanks again.

I’ll get me one of those chain cleaners Dick, thanks.

squiff, I was in until I saw £10 delivery!!! Ouch!

Regarding grip, I know they’re a mess in the winter, even with winter tyres. There are much more capable cars for such things. My gearbox went in my real car in Aviemore and when the AA guy came, I said I would go home and get the BMW and drive over to the Lecht for some snowboarding. He said that he has been on that road many times dragging BMWs in particular out of ditches.

Electronic aids do help but nothing is better than mechanical grip.

I’ve got an X-reg 330d with 105k miles. I prefer Japanese but this has not missed a beat yet. The boot’s not so big but for what it is, it does everything incredibly well (apart from rain/snow, even with good tyres – then I use a real car such as a Mitsubishi Legnum VR4.

Over 40mpg flying with bikes on the towbar. I hate myself for this but I really enjoy it. I bought it for the engine primarily and find that it is much better than VAG attempts at diesels (or anything else).

However, if I could guarantee that the previous owners of a Honda Accord Tourer diesel had bothered to check the oil levels (they do not like oil levels much below maximum) then there’s no other choice – I would have definitely go for one of them.

Why not just buy some from Merlin and tailor spokes etc. to your own requirements?

Steep hills with big rocks? Cool, where’s that then?

I went tubeless on a 2.1 Nobby Nic on an Alfine wheel. I was pinching every ride previously. No problems since so I think it’s worth going tubeless on your rear wheel – you sound like the right candidate, as I am!

I would get a larger tyre than a 2.1″ if i was doing it all again though. I am amazed at my tubeless setup (rim strip on a 521 rim).

jambon – behave, did you call Merlin? I’ve been buying wheels from them since I was a kid. Every wheel has been amazing but there’s always going to be a percentage that gets through the net. Ring them up and see if they’ll go halfway with you for a new wheel or fix the existing wheel.

The latest I have had are XT on DT 4.1s and have lasted really well – 4 years and I use them at least twice a week on pretty brutal stuff (my bearings are gone now though but I think that’s pretty good). Friends have Hopes and have had a hellish time with cassettes digging into the Freehub body.

Funny, a friend has this problem on his NON U-Turn Rebas. Started straight after buying the bike so he’s taken it back for a warranty replacement. After one ride, oil started leaking out of the rebound adjuster at the bottom of the fork.

Perhaps it was carrying a coconut and was therefore knackered after the long journey?

I love the chat about cats – they truly belong in the ecosystem – killing birds for fun. Definitely something to enjoy and laugh at. Thanks for the insight Samuri.

Alfine.

Second KMC – got some from Merlin and they use the same attaching method as SRAM too.

Your car needs to be insured regardless of whether someone is driving it on a third party extension.

I’ve had Middleburn hardcoats and they’ve lasted fairly well (2 years compared to 2 months on the XTs). Just wondered if there was something equally/almost as good for cheaper. Feeling poor. Might get Deores, thanks!

I know a great locksmith in Stirling who can reprogram keys for much cheapness. I would always avoid dealers. Car clubs and Google could be your pal.

I love my Nobby Nics. Can’t believe how good they are in most conditions and appear to wear okay so far.

I’ve got one and adore it. Since my geared bikes are going through cassettes, chainrings etc. etc. all the time, it’s now my main bike. It’s set up with 32/20 so you have to spin like an idiot on fast flat/downhill sections, I see no other problems. Gearchanges are superior to an XT geared system and no maintenance so far. If it fails in a few months (which it’s showing no signs of) then I wouldn’t mind so much as it’s saved me a fortune on cassettes etc. over the winter. I’m in Scotland so it’s up and downhills and I don’t compromise my riding because it’s there in any way.

Yes, I love mine and am getting some more for another bike. In my experience, more modulation and power than Hayes Stroker Rydes (although I do like them too) and easy to bleed etc. Only got 160s and am 15 stone too.

Everyone’s arse is different but I really like this:

http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/?fn=product&productId=822&categoryId=43

Prefer it to my different Flites of old and Bontrager efforts anyhow. Mags liked it but say you could snag on it when you’re over the back. Haven’t done that myself yet and can’t see how…