I think the Salsa Spearfish is gonna be worth a few months wait.. on paper looks to be a fantastic bike at an unbelievable price.. sub $1000 frame.

Awesome… I love the idea of cross racing.. maybe I should give it another go :)

Facts on the US market came from ATB Sales..

The Marin range as with many others in the US contains a good range of 29ers.

It is a strange situation that the 29er market in the UK is stuck due to shops playing it safe and not ordering any in.

gothandy, I agree that I rarely see any 29ers at events but then I look at the US events and there are not many choosing 26 over 29 to race endurance… everyone that tries my bike is impressed at how well they ride..

They definately are not for everyone but there should be fair opportunity to choose when shopping for a bike in a shop… although On One have been campaigning with an affordable 29er for years.. the UK may never get involved.

No idea why we are having to pay a premium for 29ers… the bulk of the US market of bikes above $800 is now apparently 29ers so the bikes are being produced.

Distributors in the UK however aren’t shipping them as bike shops aren’t ordering them.

These bikes aren’t niche.. in fact the whole ‘niche’ thing is banded about way too often.. there is no real norm in this industry as its so progressive.

Maybe 29ers aren’t for the UK market.. I’m sticking with mine though as its suits my riding and racing.

I remembered sections from the Wldboar 24 …. climbs were fairly steady but always rewarded with decent technical singletrack..

I’ll be back next year for sure.

He was very brave.. a truly miserable day weather wise but a fantastic course.

http://www.project321.com/products_bike.php

Only 29ers but alot here…

http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=594584

Best thing I ever did using a coach… lucky to have a friend that is a coach so I can't comment on costs.

Takes the hard work out of figuring what you should be doing so you can concentrate on doing it.

Would recommend rather than just use a training plan that you make most of having a coach and have a decent level of contact… your workouts may need to be tailored when life gets in the way of training or your health isn't 100%.

Pretty sure BCF have a list of coaches and its just finding one that works the best for you… location is irrevelant I think in this day and age of good communication links.

Check out the Hilly Billy Roubaix in America.. UK needs a few big gravel road/farm track events..

I started with the moose mitt ATV ones but they just dont fit right and ride around the bars too much..

For Arrowhead I went all out and got Dogwood Designs ones… $180 i think i paid but at -30 my hands were roasting hot and joan at Dogwood added some extra detail like pockets inside them and alse made them to fit my titec jones copy bars.

If you are anywhere near Newcastle feel free to come look at the moose mitts but I sold my Dogwood ones and am having some new Dogwoods made to match bike colour.

We are going to try and make the Thursday nigth ride before the event.

Which event will that be then ?

Assume this one

How long are you on the Isle of Man? There are organised rides on Tuesday and Thursday nights. Details here:
http://www.manxmtb.com/forum/index.php

AyupRhino really doesn't need to be any faster !!

Lets not encourage him to find extra speed.

Think they have literally just landed in the UK so doubt anyone will have built one yet..

This guys is seriously light..

http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=645917

So Salsa do a 170mm Qr ???.. thats awesome.. Sandman has been modding some XT hubs to 165mm but producing Qr's was a pain in the arse.. looks like an off the shelf solution :)

Only issue with non offset rear is the limited availability of reasonably priced hubs…. well there isn't any… Hadley, Chris King etc

Noticed Salsa is a 170mm but also available is a 135mm offset adaptor … interested to see this.

Not sure how good a fat bike will be in mud.. in fact I think it'll be hideous.. they 'float' and don't really grip.

Pricing you are better to contact him direct… I know he can be a little slow getting back to people but its worth the wait… I mailed him and have told him to get involved with this forum so hopefully he will be along soon :)

Unfortunately no track ends.. i'm gonna run a tensioner.

Pretty sure you could get a new axle and spacers made for an Alfine as they are solid axle anyway… don't see major stresses being involved with fat bikes so extra width axle should be fine.

Keep trying Conrad at Sandman and i will point him towards this forum as there seems to be alot of interest in Fat Bikes at moment.

A Sandman Gobi would be a fair bit cheaper than an alu fatback and quicker to receive as made in Belgium… just another option really…

no offset rear end just straight up 165mm wide :)

You should have them drilled before building up to shave some weight..

Yeah as first post said its only for US market I think…

There was a trailer on the site and dvd available to buy.

Not my cup of tea riding wise as i prefer a view when i ride :)

http://www.pbs.org/pov/salt/photo_gallery_watch.php

will take a proper look later

you building a sandman paul?, fine looking machines!

Yup…

Home

Email for prices… Mine will be built in a few weeks

March.. after all snow races are done and dusted :(

I think the frames/forks are pretty reasonable priced and availablity is good .. its the rims and specialist parts that are the killer..

non offset frames need 150-165mm rear hubs, try buying a cheap one of those and rims aren't too cheap either.

No niche for me just the best solution to racing on snow.. tried the 2.5" tyre on a normal frame way and its just not the same.

Had a Larry and an Endomorph complete with 100mm rims sitting in my garage for near 3 months… frame is on the horizon and should be with me within a few weeks.. give or take a few weeks for paint and build i'll be fully fat in a month :P

Clee Cycles..

Got mine this week and a nice set of Kcnc Bolts :)

40/28 in stock and they look awesome.

.. oh and when i have spacers is it inner ring writing facing out or in as the ring is offset too??

Excellent thanks :)

Got Chainrings and bolts…

Does inner need spacing at all as with both rings mounted with writing out it looks awfully close… even turning the inner ring the other way around the gap between the 2 rings looks like.

Rings mounted on XTR 970 cranks.. look great.

excellent :D

twinklydave , will a Ragley make me as fast as you?? :D

Awesome

Evolution say about £995 and very late august to september on availablity…

Little more than i thought and opens up other options too if i was gonna start looking to spend that money

Awesome.. i'll get some ordered .. thanks :)

What size is that tyre?? looks alot bigger than anything i would ever run…

Hoping its available now.. seen some US prices.

Its really an endurance racing set up so 28/40 would be perfect on my 29er…

Never thought of clearance.. very good point

Entered today :)