2nd generation has improved software, yes. You can upgrade the first gen, but would have to pay for the software upgrade (£14 or so if I remember correctly). I think the 2nd gen also has minor hardware improvements, although can't recall specifics off the top of my head.

I use godaddy.com.

If you can get past the cheesy website, the deals are pretty good and they have been reliable for me. Worth checking around for discount codes first as they always have deals on.

pop – I know what you mean about always needing another project. I seem to suffer from a similar affliction!

Oops – topic header was supposed to read "Alpine Bikes Winter Downhill Series". Not sure what happened there!

I'm currently going for a singlespeed inbred and a Scandal for racing. I think the ideal 3 MTB setup would also include a full-susser for playing on slightly rougher stuff at the weekend.

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Great weather in the Pentlands this morning.

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And then great weather for photo taking at the (cancelled!) Alpine Bikes Winter Downhill Series.

Thanks Max – needs to be QR though.

Cheers

I'm about to head out into what is about to be a sunny Pentland hills, then off to take some downhill photos at sunny Innerleithen this afternoon. Sorry!

Nice one, thanks very much.

Great, thanks. Might just order one from there if I can't find something in the UK first.

Anyone spotted anything else closer to home before I hit order?

If you have a tensioner, a QR and vertical dropouts, it is no more difficult to remove the rear wheel than if you had a derailleur. Had no problems in the time I had a tensioner for a cheap commuter singlespeed.

Thanks to you both – pretty much as I thought. Think I'll go with an 8 speed chain, a couple of surly tuggnuts (if I can find em cheap enough, failig which some on-one chaintugs) and a good ol' qr skewer. Simples.

Not fussed about beer opening, but the suryls do seem to get a good rep, and I can run a 10mm axel through them should I ever choose too.

Haven't been out myself, but from what I've read, Mabie is now fine. I suspect Innerleithen may now be fine, although was a bit iffy the last time I read something. Look on the 7stanes blog – it is more up to date than the trail conditions page sometimes. Was pics of Glentress a couple of days ago to give you an idea.

Worth politely asking the windfarm developer for some support? They may be interested to contribute to help their image in the area, and often have to contribute to an area anyway.

Definitely A and B. Top bunny hopping practice

That Pipedream Sirius does look pretty smart. Sliding dropouts which just move the brake mount along seem like a good idea, although a bit pricey.

+1 for Petit Paris. Not fancy decor, but great food, served by genuine French waiters. Snails and veal are both great there.

I too was a tad disappointed with the witchery. My seafood platter main wasn't the best tasting I have ever had, and the staff were keen to kick us out to get the table back.

If you like seafood, try Cafe Royal or Fishers, but near Princes Street.

Someone mentioned the Dogs – I'd definitely recommend going there for lunch the day after your meal (to the upstairs place). You can book or turn up if you are going early. (We went at 12 yesterday without a reservation, but normally it is pretty busy). There is a new restaurant downstairs called 'Dogs Amore'. Looks like a fancier more formal version of the Dogs, so might be good for dinner.

Thanks for the offer Steveo, but sounds a bit big for me.

Hmm, sounds like only limited extra faff with the inbred, so probably best to save my money then.

Will non-qr skewers be a good idea? I used to run a singlespeed to work with a chai tensioner, and kept bending skewers (partly because it was quite a big gear).

I don't ride to work at the moment, but used to ride a short 3 mile ride uphill in Edinburgh on my rigid with hybrid tyres on 36:12. My route involved a couple of short steep climbs between flat bits. Good for the leg muscles!

Thanks all. Matt- I'll pm you re the rim. Although a new set of wheels would be good, a bronze 420 would mean I have a matching pair for my other bike.

Benny- think I'll turn those thanks. Would rather put that money towards something shiny and new.

Hmm, NoTubes ZTR hubs with Olympic rims and DT Swiss Revolution spokes all in black sound good and light. Thoughts on the hubs? Not gone tubeless yet, but could be a good excuse to get some racing ralphs and a set of these. That should use all of the funds from my upcoming Spesh Epic frame sale (and then some).

Those ZTRs and American classics both look like decent options- thanks. Hadn't looked at either before.

Sofatester, that does sound like a good setup. Any idea of weight?

Will have a look at the American classics and other suggestions too. Need something light for racing and not overbuilt as I'm only 70kg. Does 1550g or so not sound like a reasonable weight?

Sounds a bit heavy for racing though. A set under 1550g would be best. Unrealistic for the budget?

Pretty darned amusing if it wasn't for the fact that some poor sod is without a Marin. Anyone close fancy giving him a buzz? I'm mystified by this 6ft rider on a 16" 'medium' frame.

Thanks for all of the replies. Picked up a second hand 16" scandal and had my first ride last night. Top tube is slightly shorter than my Specialized Epic donor bike, so felt marginally more upright, but not much in it. Think I might add 10mm to the stem to space it out a tad more, and it should be fine. Got a 420mm seatpost just in case, although, I could probably get away with a 350mm post and still have enough in the frame.

Should really cut the steerer tube too, but I'm holding off for a few months until I have decided that I'm definitely not going back to the Epic.

Now to save up for a 16" inbred….

I got the train from Glasgow to Dumfries to ride Mabie a few years ago. Assuming the trains are still the some, they use the ones as shown in the link above where you bike hangs vertically on a rack at the end of the carriage. That means you don't sit right beside it, but you can sit reasonably close and just pop your head out into the aisle at stations.

Ti29er – can't really afford more than two tyres at the moment, so looking for a reasonably fast, reasonably good all rounder. My front Spesh tyre would give a bit of grip on the back on medium conditions, and I reckon would be fine on the front on really dry days. I guess it would be my own cheaper version of the Schwalbe three tyre setup.

Should also say that although tubeless sounds more reliable, if changing tyres for different conditions is better, changing tubeless tyres sounds like a right faff by the time you have put in sealant etc, and a spare set of wheels would be far too pricey for me at the moment.

Not ideal I accept, but thanks for the comments all. Still veering towards something around 2.1/2.25ish with decent puncture protection and inner tubes.

Thanks for the further comments. Currently I have some cheap Continentals which aren't particularly light or fast rolling for use in the damp conditions. Not too impressed so thinking of replacing those with the Nics and keeping my existing Specialized tyres (or a schwalbe/specialized combination) for dryer days.

Too much choice from Schwalbe by the sounds of it!

Thanks James, sounds like a good option (2.1 Nobby Nic or 2.25/2.1 in Rocket Ron / Racing Ralph. I see however that none of these is available the snakeskin protection. Are they fairly prone to punctures when run with inner tubes?

tracknicko, thanks for the offer, but there seems to be a reasonable weight difference, so think I'll try to get some snakeskin non-tubeless versions.

Thanks. Encouraging thoughts there. Maybe just go for the 2.25s at both ends then. I know there are lighter tyres around, but I can't afford a new pair every week, and can't be bothered with too many punctures, so NN snakeskins seem to be an okay compromise. I'll be running them with inner tubes if that makes a difference to anyone's opinion.

Think I'll still keep my Spesh tyres for dry days races. They are the 2Bliss versions that came with my Epic (although I still run them with inner tubes) and are pretty fast on firetracks etc. Ideally some RRs would be good, but will see if I can get a few more months from the Spesh tyres to save the pennies.

epicsteve, Dales in Glasgow serviced the brain/shock on my epic under warranty and got the parts in from Specialized. Have you tried there? The mechanic that did mine sounded like he knew what he was talking about.

My brain wasn't kicking in as the shock was leaking oil, so newer, better seals were fitted, and it has been fine since.

Mind you, if you can get a new shock for £100…

Struggling to get shots in on work days since it is dark and cold both before and after work. There are only so many items I can take snaps off around the flat at 10pm! Really encouraging me to get the camera out though. Could be a bumper year for photos!

This is my latest shot:

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And my set so far is here[/url].

Surely better to take something with knobblies? Might save a bit of wheel spinning, and give a bit more chance of staying upright in the corners.

I love the adding sweets thing. I never fail to grin when I open my boxes from wiggle to find a little bag of haribo. Looking forward to buying something from tails soon.

My current Epic, although as of today, it is to be taken apart so I can use the components for a hardtail frame this season. I do love it, but reckon a hardtail frame will by quicker for racing. If only I had the money for both!