The dealer suggested that I may not go back to my 26 FS after riding the Sherpa! I do love my FS despite thinking I’d never ride or enjoy a FS.

Who knows if I sold my FS I could really pimp the Sherpa but not gonna gamble just in case!

Cheers…good to know it climbs well with 120mm, the whole point of me getting a Sherpa over Slack line (which would be far cheaper and easier for me!) is to get a bike that climbs really well and can get the miles in easier than the Five which is great for Trail Centres etc but not so much for local ridding.

Just hope I like the whole 29 thing…I like a bike to be playful and the Sherpa is the only 29 that’s ever appealed to me!

There is a lovely set of Reba’s on Probikeshop for under £200 but only 80mm…if it was possible/cheap/easy to extend them to 100/120 I’d be all over them!

Hi all thanks for the replays…sorry for the delay.

Considering a few options at the moment including a few on here in the classified although I would prefer new.

Happybiker I will drop you an email.

Jimplops I’ve seen the Trace on CRC and would seriously consider a pair if this was not a case of n+1 as I’m build a fun XC toy to compliment my Five.

Nick thanks for the heads up I was really keen on the 140 Revs but sounds like it’ll be uneconomical to adjust them.

Reggie thanks but I think the green of the forks might clash with the frame!

Fudge good call…I really fancy the Revs on there dropped but if Nick is correct it’s to much £££! Those Reba’s are 100mm to, show I got 100 or 120??

Please ignore…I remember asking for a 22mm the shop owner said 22.2 would be fine!!

Obviously not!

Superstar.

Many thanks.

Brilliant!! Cheers.

Haha…that easy? Hence why there is no videos I guess…I will try now.

All very interesting…I went to my LBS today (an Orange dealer) who reckons that the Monarch Plus Debinair tuned is the way forward. They can get it from Orane or Sram tuned for a Five. Shop Assistant claimed that he rides one on his Alpine over a Bos Kirk or CCDB Air. I wondered if he was just telling me that because they aren’t CC stockist but they are and his owned/ridden both, he said he could sell me either (Monach £345, CCDB £500) I am assuming he’s being stright!?

That would save some £££’s to put towards a set of Pikes which I really fancy.

Do we think that the tune for the Five would be as good as getting it custom tune from TF?

Well the CCDB Coil has gone an now I’m mega confused! Some say that the Air is enough, others Air CS is the way forward…then there is lots of contradiction! Which one?? Arhhhh!

Cheers for all the responses…I’ve now agreed a sale on my CCDB coil, as soon as I have the cash in my hand I’ll be placing order looks like I can get the CS version from the Euro zone for circa £400.

I like the idea of being able to gain efficiency on climbs and tame trails without compromise of the small bump compliance or descending capabilities of the shock…hope it’s worth it!

Any other views?

andylc – I don’t know that’s why I’m asking…I think so but wanted other opinions…tell me about your Air CS?

Genuinely can you qualify your reasoning or is it just a flippant comment?

For what reason? The weight is irrelevant? CS switch doesn’t add any benefit?

Al of the Monkey closed? I went the weekend was only Lower Cliff that was closed…has this changed? There was also a couple of big chunks of FTD but still enjoyed it I’d have said plenty for a newbie/11 year old!

I don’t want to change my bike(s) as long as they make rims and tyres I reckon I’ll be good for years…if needs be I can fit a 27.5 fork onto my 26er if they’re no longer avalible if/when my forks pack in.

Wow pretty much like a dropper post then…every decent it goes down…every decent you CS is tuned off.

So how’s the climb switch on flat trails and shot decents where it’s not worth turning it off?

How oftern do you use the CS? How do you feel you’d get on without it. I love the idea of it and would love to get one but best price on CCDB Air is about £330 it’s close to £400…reckon I’ll get about £200 for the coil can’t justify a £200 upgrade…just over £100 however is much more appealing!

Thanks for all the replies.

“The CC DB Air CS is easier to tune than an inline Ive found, but once set up, there’s not alot to choose between them.”

This is an interesting comment would anyone else concur?

Due to pricing I’m leaning towards the CCDB Air.

I’ve always run 34t but just purchased a 30t NW as an experiment. Not the fittest on the block so thought I’d give the smaller ring a try…don’t fancy the faff of an expander.

I’m not questioning it but would love to see a pic…got a link?

dandasbike…would love to see a pic, change of forks, shock & tyres could save me 4 lb not to mention my Saint Pedals. Not interested in a whippet but would complain at bringing it in at under 30 lb!

wl…waiting for Pike to be at that sort of price again think they’re about £380 ATM (unless some one can point me in the right direction). I found my Fox blew straight through the travel CCDB is much better but not sure I need such a heavy duty shock given the ridding I mainly do.

Cheers…looking at the usual euro shops (Pro bike Shop/HiBikes/Bike.DE) I can get the inline for £285, Air £320, Air CS £395.

I kind of feel like I don’t want to lose the performance and still like a hard hitting ride but would like to lose some weight so Air is probably best but do I go CS or not? Is it required on a Five.

Interesting that the air should work better…I wasn’t aware, I’m not that technically minded in all honesty.

Surely if you sell the voucer at a discount you lose out on more or less original saving made by the scheme!? Unless you pay the higher band of tax in which case why worry about a £100 saving or so!?

PS I searched on here and Pinkbike to find out how to do it so thought I’d share the love!

Here are my Saints, I brought them cheap to build up a play bike…

http://www.pinkbike.com/photo/11321170/ (sorry can’t get photos on here!)

Process…

Step one: Removing the Anodizing

You need to buy some Caustic Soda (used to clean drains), got mine from Wilkinsons for about £3-£4, your looking for the 100% stuff. You add it to water stir it up and submerge the parts, in this case crank arms. Leave them in until the anodizing has all dissolved off, took mine about 20-30 mins. Caustic Soda is a very strong Alkaline and VERY nasty stuff, make sure you wear rubber gloves and eye protection following all safety instructions on the bottle! Once the anodizing has come off you need to ensure the parts are rinsed thoroughly with cold water.

Step Two: Polish

For this you’ll need a couple of things, wet & dry sand paper and a tube of Autosol, I got both from Halfords. I got a mutipack of wet & dry with something like an 800 grit, 1200 grit 1500 grit 2000 grit. I started with the 800 grit, wet it and just polished away, once polished as much as possible move on to 1200 grit and repeat, then follow suit getting finer and finer. Once you’ve worked through all of the grades of wet & dry they will be quite clean/shiny but to get the mirror finish apply the Autosol with a rag (following instructions) then buff off and hey presto! I would add that some of the yanks on here just use finer and finer wet & dry, one guy mentioned 4000 grit, you can do this instead of using Autosol but I’d already go some and love the stuff!

It takes bit of effort and lots if elbow grease but makes a shitty knackered set of cranks look like new! Good luck and post some picks up if you do it and let me know how it goes!

This one…

http://www.pinkbike.com/buysell/1728395/

😉

Willing to know a few quid off, can run as full of top only with the added protection of the bash!

I work in the ‘welfare to work’ sector and have done so for five years…I’ve also been made redundant a couple of times and had a varied career including spending 5 years working in accountancy (I’m only AAT qualified). Add to that with promotions and applying to keeps job through various company changes/takeovers I’ve been through the process many times!

In today’s market it’s not easy to get a job but there are some key things you can do to ensure you get there…

CV – have someone experienced of knowledgeable take a look over it but be aware that each job she goes for amendments and adjustments will need to be made…a CV needs to quickly an clearly demonstrate she meets the essential criteria.

Volume – as stated it’s not easy get a job, a lot of effort needs to go into every application, but the more she applies for the greater her chances (stating the obvious but needs to be said).

Interview skills – just like biking practice make perfect, there is a lot to be gained in improving interview technique I’ve trained and coached many people to succeed at interview…yet when I have one I spend hours and hours preparing (failing to prepare is preparing to fail).

Perseverance – it sometimes looks and feels grim support her through out the whole process and never give up…she will get there!

I know the above is slightly vague but if she works on those areas it will help, there is a lot online that can support with the above…it’s all well and good going through the motions but she needs to be doing the right things in order to secure the job she deserves.

Good luck!

If he like the Alpine but thinks it’s too much bike take a look at the Fives, 2011 – 2013 last of the 26″ evolution, some folk still ask £1800-£2000 but I’ve seen some great examples for circa £1250…

I have a Five and absolutly love it, came from a playful HT and thought I’d lose the playfulness but not the case!

If buying a 2nd hand 26″ they are well and truly starting to fall in value…don’t get sucked it to paying £1800-£2000, I always keep an eye out and have seen some very fine examples very well kitted out (& I’m picky) sell for £1400-£1600.

PS the fall in value is not because they ain’t as ace as they’ve always been but the because industry has forced change the in market to a new standard of 27.5″…some say marginal gains.

Anyway here’s mine…

http://www.pinkbike.com/photo/11429269/

Surely the point of a sale is to shift stock that is not selling…I don’t think they have a problem…their bikes sell at 90% cost second hand!?

+1 on Monopoly Empire…still got the fun of the original with some twists but doesn’t take a whole day to play!!

I had an email to say they’re ready for collection at the store…despite going in today 20 minutes before the email on the off chance they were there. I’ll have to pick up tomorrow, hopefully the large will fit!

I blocked the card immediately, when speaking to the bank to block the card they informed me that amounts could still be credited to the card…

EDIT: In all fairness further research suggests that thy are a ‘legitimate’ counterfeit company…what looks like their sister company appear to have been trading for some time boasting that their counterfeit bags are the best hense why they have been in business sooo long whilst others come and go! This I feel is be backed up by the fact they’ve actually responded to my request to cancel the order (all be it they’re requesting 5% retainer)

UPDATE…I am hoping not to get to a stage where banks and chargebacks are needed, I emailed immediately asking to cancel the order and they have said that I need to pay 5% fees that they incurred, despite the fact I don’t believe them about said fees at less that £20 I’ll accept the losses and call that it a relative cheap lesson…providing I get the refund.

To be continued…

You know….I never even clocked the $500 thing, I saw it and read it as £500. You read what you think you see!

Didn’t read the about us page was so gone with the site and just assumed it was genuine, totally off guard.

(Yes I know Assume makes an Ass out of u and me!)

Mattrgee…it seemed so legit I didn’t even look for one, like I said over confidence is to blame, complacency…I thought I’d spot a dodgy website a mile off!

Teasel…thank you that is confirmation of what is already worked out (I’m genuinely not being sarcastic there)

CaptainFlashheart…I will be doing everything in my power to attempt to avoid the losses although I appreciate it may take time!!