Mine:

I’ve had quite a few HT’s but comparable HT’s I’ve owned would be Genesis Alptitude, SC Chameleon and a 2009 P7.

I bought this bike to compliment my Alpine 160 as wanted a bike for the winter months and was ‘different’ to the Alpine (i.e. change the tyres add SPD’s if i was partaking in a XC race or enduro) but that would still handle the kind of riding I do.

Previously I owned the P7 and scoffed at Souls thinking they were mince machines, but so far it has held up to everything I have been able to throw at it, as the P7 did, the noticeable difference being the Soul has a ‘zip’ to it that the P7 didn’t (the 2010 onwards P7 is even less zippy due to CEN)

Current build with the Talas forks and DH tyre weighs in at 28lbs but when I change the tyres to Fat Albert Evo’s, change the forks to my Reba’s it’s 26lbs and absolutely flies.

Also, im 5 11″ and the frame is a medium – it fits perfectly.

Oh dear, another xc mincer fails to see what this bike is about.

Lol

Avoid Thomson unless you want a sore arse.

I’ve got a carbon post on mine which makes it fairly comfy for all day rides.

So it’s like a soul but 25% heavier, won’t climb as well due to shorter stays and with graphics from a Charge?

I live a 2 min drive from Haworth. I’d avoid the takeaways in Haworth.

Old Hall is ok but it’s just like any other cheap’ish pub.

If your driving, I’d drive 5 mins out of Haworth and eat at the Grouse Pub which is on the tops above Stanbury. You may need to book though as the food is lovely so always very busy.

I did the same yesterday on my 4 mth old v1. I’d just serviced 3 sets of forks and was fitting the last stem.

Defo not overtightened, was just nipping up (as I had done on the previous 2) never known this to haapen before.

Gwin on track

Split 1 – 1 second down!

Gwin off his bike!!!! Hart is world champ

Greg on track

Split 1 – 11th

Split 2 – 14seconds down

Finished 8th – 15 secs up

Gee finished 50th

2 maaaaasssssiiiiveeee crashes too

Gee split 1 – 2nd 10 seconds down

Split 2 – 19 seconds down (massive crash)

Gee on track

Danny absolutely smashed it – 11 seconds up – 1 st!!

Danny Hart on track

Split 1 – 4seconds up!!!

Split 2 – 9seconds up – om fire!!!!!!!

Mark Beaumont

Split 1 – 3 secs down

Split 2 – 4.5 secs down

Finishes 5th – 3 secs down (with a crash too!)

Peaty split 1 – 9 seconds down -14th

Peaty split 2 – 11 seconds down

Peaty finishes 12th

Blenkinsop in second place – with 2 crashes

Peaty on the track now!

The video feed is shocking! Hope T Mo is ok after her falls!

The race is so open in these conditions.

My 2011 alpine is the same. Doing my head in.

I’ve just stopped pedaling it and using it purely for going down…..

Front triangle / top shock mount looks very similar to Blur LTc – colour same as 2010 version too.

I’ve gone from uturn coil pikes (descended like a steamroller) to some 2010 120mm reba black box (excellent – but being fixed travel I think limited the Souls ability) and now running some Talas 140 RLC FIT.

I agree that the soul needs adjustable travel, feels pretty dead to ride everywhere at 140mm but great when on really steep stuff… 120mm is the sweetspot.

what’s the dog doing?

Just kicking back :)

I just bought an iPad 2 yesterday and my other half thought I was stupid as we have iPhones and a nice MBP.

Within 10 mins of me opening the box she was all over it! I’m literally having to fight her off.

Just bought VNC Remoter for 69p so I can log into my Mac at home from anywhere and use it as if I’m there. Just opened up the camera to watch the dog from the in-laws house via my iPad.

Thanks all for the replies.

I’m going to do what finishthat suggests and get hold of a full slr kit on the cheap and get an adaptor to fit.

Thanks for the heads up – Ive seen a 50mm 1.8 on ebay with the lumix adaptor so ill prob just get that. Im presuming that it would end up giving me 2x so 100mm in reality?

Someone must have gone down this road?

At least they’re doing something.

That did cross my mind :)

I take it you’ve been Stif’d ?

close (not geographically though).

We have previously been Stif’d, but they came up trumps and gave my mrs a new Blur LT2 with loads of bling on, they really sorted us out after the dreadful service we received (they have been excellent since).

The XTR BB on my HT (that gets used in all weathers) has been going for 2 years and has been swapped between frames. Still running smoothly.

I bought 2 of those Rose XTR BB’s and the pack was delivered within a few days, well worth it.

We have been twice. Fantastic, some of the best riding ever.

Been out to Les Arcs this year and I’d say the riding was as good but will defo go back with Marco and Jacky in the future!

Owned both and currently have the soul as my HT.

I’d say what’s missing is ‘ZING’ and ‘ZIP’.

Both are excellent DH with 140mm forks but the soul just accelerates so well. I’d say a P7 (pre CEN 2009) is directly between the two.

And yes, I’m selling a 2009 orange P7 frame in excellent condition!

I just buy a 5kg bag of unflavoured whey protein and some banana or vanilla flavdrops from MyProtein.com so for less than £50 ill get the equivalent of 200 FGS’s

Either mix with water for around 25g of protein. Or, after a long ride ill put a scoop in the blender with a banana and 350ml of milk which gives me c.40g or protein, which is more than adequate for a recovery drink.

Eh. I don’t get this…. All my bikes have flow rims on the rear and all have dents in (some are huuuuge) but I’ve never had any issues with loosing air.

I wouldnt bother bending it back, I’d remove the tyre, clean the bead and refit with fresh sealant. I’m 100% sure you’ll have no further issues.

The other halfs carbon Meta 5 in pre built mode, which is now in A&E after our recent Alps trip (blown shock and snapped bolt) can imagine the damage she will cause if she decides on doing the Mega next year.

My 160 – Also broken after this years trip (Failed DHX5 coil shock – But LoCo should hopefully be making it better!)

Bear in mind Yeti, Commencal and Lapierre are all single pivot

Lapierre’s aren’t linkge driven single pivots

Cant believe I wrote that :)

I’ve gone from a Maestro – modified VPP (Trance) to Floating pivot (Pace RC405) to single pivot (Five) to DW (Mojo SL) to VPP2 (Blur LTc) and now single pivot (Alpine 160).

The Pace prob felt the plushest, the Mojo climbed the best and the Alpine just feels ace on the descents.

The Trance went through bearings as did the Blur LTc, and when you need specialist tools to remove bearings/linkages then it can become expensive to keep replacing bits. People can slag off single pivot (and yes on really steep rocky alpine descents you can feel the backend become less plush under braking) but in the uk where we have rain/mud and lots of grit they just make sense.

Bear in mind Yeti, Commencal and Lapierre are all single pivot (albeit linkage driven) so suffer with the same issues mentioned, but with extra bearings :)

over the last few years I’ve built up a few bikes (6) including a PA for my GF. I’ve never had the head tube or BB shell faced and all have been fine. Touch wood.

Id defo be interested in the half spider eye!!!!

Plus I only live over the hill so I could extensively test one for you and wouldn’t charge :)

Here’s mine:

No need to go into a rant I’m fully aware. Hadn’t drove the car much recently.

Defo will be checked every time I fill up as a matter of course!!

Not related but……. I thought my tyres looked flatish on my Golf on Friday (first time checking the air pressures since buying :) ) the fronts had 11psi & 16psi in and the rears 20psi. All now have 35psi, so I’m expecting higher than the 44mpg I’ve averaged over the last 2.5k!!