I’ve got a pair of Sram X9 jockey wheels you can have for £5. I killed the mech with a big rock, but the wheels are obviously OK. If you’ve not solved it all already…
Drop me a message if interested. I’ll be back in the UK from Wednesday.

Both yes and no Mr Scienceofficer, I’ve had 8 or 9 punctures this year, while tubeless. ALL have been big holes through the tyre (I ride somewhere pretty rocky), but compared to last year, where I was using tubes – I must have gone through 30-40 tubes last year!

What I now know I need is tyres with think carcasses. I LOVE not getting pinch punctures though, which used to happen all the time because I ride hard. But I had to use the tyres I had, not a lot of choice – all are Bontrager Team Issue tyres, XR2 and XR3 in a variety of sizes.

I’d be curious to know if anyone has done it to a Trek Stache, they’ve got quite steep head angle, for a modern bike!

I’m right handed/footed, but lead with my left foot. I snowboard/wakeboard ‘goofy’ (right foot forward) though, the opposite to most.

I was told a while ago that you want to be able to lead with both for berms, and you always want the outside foot forward. Consequently I’ve worked on this for the last year and a half, and am pretty comfortable both ways. Even after all that time, I automatically go left foot forward, and it still feels better, but the right isn’t bad.

Funnily enough, I’ve gone from Android to a Windows phone, and I suspect the only reason I might go back is because I can get an Android phone at a spec/price I want. Fortunately I can get a Windows phone type overlay. Really, honestly, they’re so easy and intuitive to use – annoyingly so!

As above, I’ve got a little head – I wear an XS in most motorbike helmets, my Bell Super2 in S is spot on.

Most things are pretty easy if you come from a mechanic background – motorbikes and cars are MUCH harder!

But, regarding what the OP said; I don’t replace pads till I hear a scrape (but I do CARRY spares), suspension will get serviced if I notice a problem – we have 15 y/o Marzocchi Bombers at home that have never been rebuilt and work great. The front shifter? No excuse there!

The guy admits to not being adventurous, he was not forced to ride the line twice, anyway lets see how it plays out.

That’s called ‘sessioning’ a section, it’s how you teach people and correct their mistakes when coaching a rider.

Terrible for the solicitor, hard to call for the instructor without knowing the guy or the descent they were doing, but it doesn’t seem likely he was in the wrong.

jeb – it’s not singlespeed, it’s got 8 gears. It’s got hub gears…

I’ve got the £2 one from On One on my bike, had a bottle in it every ride from May until now, approx 180km or so a week, never lost a bottle.

http://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/BOPXABC/planet-x-alloy-bottle-cage

I’m really glad you asked, and I’m glad there’s such a positive response!

I only ride for fun. If you’re not enjoying it, it’s a waste of time IMO. (I’m fully aware there’re different definitions of fun, e.g. Ferrals above, who finds racing fun, and myself who just finds riding cool trails at my own speed fun)

jam bo, surely owning a bike is at least partially (if not mostly) based around having fun, and most people don’t need to go KOM speeds to have fun.

I regularly have people ask if I compete, but I’ve no interest in that, I 100% ride for the enjoyment of it.

Honestly Trailrider Jim? That is one of your requirements for buying a bike? Wow, I’m sincerely glad I’m not that picky. Like the guy the other day who specifically wanted a certain head angle, 1 degree either way wasn’t going to cut it… Bikes feel so, so different, and that 1 thing doesn’t dictate how a bike rides/feels!

I’d mix and match a little. I dislike SRAM shifters, but I’d happily run a SRAM XD driver and cassette, they’re good kit. Especially with the option of a 10t smallest cog.

Look here:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/761960167199977/
and:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/mtbuk351/

Lighter, sure, but is it anywhere near as fun? Does it feel more XC-like now, faster, or just less grip?

Looks incredible, good work! I notice you’ve all got a penchant for Mavic shoes too…

Just because no one has mentioned it (and probably no one will, not being massive fans here); the On One Rango is basically a copy of the Trek Stache, but there’s no mention of whether it is boost or not.

Continually finding this thread annoying – still got just over a month till I’m home from Turkey and I’m riding my Superfly here, with a 650b+ Yari-forked Stache 5 sat at home in the UK, waiting for me to hop on! There’s not much I want to leave Turkey for, but that and some GOOD singletrack is enough of a reason!

Great to read about peoples choices/experiments too.

Not quite sure why you couldn’t google it yourself…
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/topeak-mountain-morph-pump/

OP, also check the Bontrager Mini Charger, some of the guys I work with (guide with) use them:
http://www.trekbikes.com/gb/en_GB/equipment/cycling-accessories/bike-pumps/bontrager-mini-charger/p/11667

Couldn’t tell you for definite, but the last bike I had designed around a certain fork length felt like an absolute pig with a fork 20mm too long fitted. Completely threw the geometry off, and wouldn’t steer properly. It’s not all about HA’s!

Metalheart – from memory these hardtail frames are boost and fit 650b+: (obviously all 2016 models, not earlier)
Specialized Fuse
Trek Stache

142×12:
DMR Trailstar
Ragley Bigwig

I can’t see why anyone wouldn’t get a Manitou 650b+ fork, if that’s the tyre size you want.

Coomber – they use exactly the same (29er) frame for the 27.5+ bike, hence the clearance.

How’s the fork? I just can’t imagine part of the ‘Silver’ range being that good… (good for the price, but overall?) Not a big fan of SRAM groupsets either.

Bargainous bike, I’ve got a brand new Parkwood frame to sell as soon as I get back from Turkey as I got a Stache instead – they seem pretty reasonable pieces of kit, light and a pretty good finish.

Not got the 2016, got a 14/15 model and it’s been great. I’ve done a LOT of miles on it, and it’s pretty brisk over most terrain! Not done a single trail centre on it, but I would if I had the chance. It’s taken all the abuse I’ve thrown at it, and carried on (until a rock smashed the rear mech – good opportunity to go to Shimano kit)

It’s not the most ‘engaging/fun’ bike to run, but it’s very proficient.

If you don’t like the humvee, I’ve got the Singletrack. I’ve been wearing them 6 days a week with over 10 hours cycling a week, since May and they’ve been great. Definitely more of a summery short though.

It depends on the shoes, not if they’re clipless or not. My Mavic Crossmax’s are fine for bike and hikes, as are the Mavic Alpines (if you don’t want worrying ratchets), and the Northwave Matrix’s I used to own.

There’re a couple of companies that produce what is basically a stiff trail shoe, with a cleat underneath that (for me) is a great idea.

njee20 – try riding in a hot, sunny country. My Bell Super2 has a fair sized peak on it and I’ve never got sun burn on my face, and it stops the sun dazzling me.

Think outside the bubble guys, not everyone lives in the dreary UK!

My Planet X Jack Flash – it’s worth jack to anyone but myself. Ironically, it’s a jump bike, but I’m rubbish (and always have been) at jump. I DID smash out Cannock’s Monkey trail on it a while ago, me on a 26″ wheeled, 14″ framed, 15 y/o jump bike faster up all of the climbs than my friends on £3k+’s worth of full susser, and barely slower on the descents. It also still has my 15 y/o Tioga DH Fat66 tyres fitted!

We’ve got a Mtn King here that’s done the same thing. I can’t stand them personally, much prefer the Bontrager XR2’s, Schwalbe Smart Sams and Maxxis Crossmax’s I have here instead (for those who tell me none of the above are good tyres for ‘X’ reason, we have slightly limited choices in Turkey)

Interesting read-up. I’m suffering the same thing, but I’m MTB’ing 160-180km per week, in 40 degree heat (I’m guiding in Turkey).

Unfortunately I have little control of my diet, but my normal day is along the lines of:
Breaskfast:
Cheese sandwich, pile of cucumber, 1x bowl sugar puffs/bread and honey
If I get 2nd breakfast, muesli, yoghurt and raisins
Lunch:
Whatever the hell I’m given. Normally potato or pasta with horrible aubergine, some tomato, a smidgen of meat and maybe some peppers. Yoghurt available.
Dinner:
The same, but in a different variation. We were lucky today, we got chicken!

OP – consider yourself lucky you can dictate your diet. I’m snacking on cashews in the evenings to help get the fat back in, but it’s hard work being here!

I’ll hunt down more protein though…

I ride in 40+ degree’s in Turkey in a Bell Super 2. They’re pretty well vented! Although, nothing like a ‘Catlike’ which appears to be more vent than helmet.

Btw, Robert Foerstemann lifts. And a LOT!

Pretty sure mine (and other peoples) get bigger from sprinting up hills. If I spend ALL my time sat down, twiddling through the gears, never exerting myself too hard my legs get bigger, but not significantly.

If I really wanted big, defined quads, I’d stand and sprint every uphill. It’s sort interval training, like what one of the other guys said.

Stick it up in the classifieds, plenty of people still riding 26’s! My 29er is in Turkey atm, and I took my old 26″ hard tail jump bike around Cannock Chase centre the other day, following some mates on full sus 650b bikes, and had an absolute laugh! Certainly not the best XC bike, but I still love owning it, and I’m fit enough to have left them for dead on the ups!

Like Mark_rich above, I’ve got the Camelback Volt. If you’re going to need upto 13l of storage space, it’s amazing. I guide, so I have to carry a LOT of crap around. If you don’t want that much space, the Skyline looks good.

Difference is, I paid £35 on Amazon (new), mark_rich paid £50, and the Skyline is £80 or so, for basically the same bag (3l reservoir at the lumbar, side pockets, sits on your hips etc, etc), with 3l less storage space.

I’ve got a Bell Super 2 – I really like it, and it fits me great. They’re NARROW though! Sometimes when I’m wearing sunglasses with it, the arms can be painful against the sides of my head (depends on the glasses).

If you don’t have a Bell (not literally, figuratively) shaped head, it won’t fit. They’re quite particular.

crashtestmonkey – I’m only down the road from Bicester! I used to work in the village too, it’s a terrible, terrible place! Potentially going for a ride over by Wendover next Thursday morn if you’re free…

I’ll be out the country again on the 28th, so couldn’t really give a rats arse.

I have some Giro Rumble VR’s, they tend to come out fairly narrow – seems likely all giro’s are this way. They’re very true to size though – I wear a 9 normally, and they fit spot on.

Northwave apparently come out large, and especially wide. It’ll make a big difference if you’re ordering online…

Saddle isn’t as far back as the stated ‘max’ on the rails, so I’m quite happy with it. ISM’s are nose-less, so it looks stumpier than a normal saddle would.

I always store my bike’s small ring, small ring. No cable stretch that way. The chain DOES need a link taken out though, I literally only ‘put it together’ yesterday. I only landed in the country yesterday too!