I have just got 2 Trek Crockett 7’s. Lovely red colour and come through fantastically well speced with CX1. The ride quality is fantastic, light, fast and nimble.

The money you save over the Boone will leave some of your budget for quality CX Tubs which you WILL need for effective racing in the UK once the slop begins.

I am over the moon with my bikse and couldn’t recommend enough.

This may or may not help but I will be looking to sell my girlfriends 2016 race bike in a month or so.

Cannondale FSI Team in Small 650b. Hollie (my girlfriend) is 5ft and it fits here spot on.

Full carbon frame, XX1/X01 groupset, Enve M50 wheels and carbon finishing kit. Weights 18lbs and takes 2 x bottle cages (but only 610ml ones)

If your interested then drop me a line richardpj1991@gmail.com.

Or go take a look at the Cannondale FSI range, fantastic bikes!!

FSI owner here, had a “team” last year and a “black Inc” this year. Brilliant bikes. Extremely light and great to ride.

The made difference between the older F29 and the FSI is the geometry, The FSI has a slacker head angle and is a little shorter. This means the bikes climbs like a race bike but its when you start descending it really comes into its own! Its very nimble and deals with steep stuff very well with out leaving you feeling like your going to go over the bars.

The FSI is also has Cannondale’s newest lefty fork, its a fantastic fork and when working feels like the best fork I have ever had the opportunity to use. However does take some regular maintenance with bearing re-sets here and there.

Over all if your after a light XC bike that’s fast yet still a hoot to ride on the rough stuff then the FSI is the machine!

Monksie, you on strava? If so do you have a link to your profile so I can steal some routes please.

Sure is!!

Gary – You are correct, Not considered doing that and probably should, I will put it on the “to do list”.

Sazter – The top cupboard has been brilliant, its actually massive in there too. Slight mistake as I can barely reach the back of the cupboard but it swallows up 4 large “very useful boxes”. If your thinking of doing the same make sure you make it very strong. the weight of all that stuff being elevated and then being bounced about whilst driving can cause some strain. Also ensure you line the base with a non slip surface and fit some thought of light. I have a little LED wired up so it turns on when I open the cupboard door. Else finding things can be challenging!

Steve – There is no windows in the back so it wouldn’t be very nice, the chairs and seat belts are all legal however at the back of my head I have that niggle about the extent of their crash testing. I am sure it would be fine, but rather not find out.

Yes I do need to look at fitting a lower shelf to the rear boot however have hesitated as currently my road bik fits in with both wheels fitted. This is pretty handy. Also with a shelf I think my longer travel 29 full subs might be tight to get in. I am going to look into it this winter none the less.

Insurance have been happy so far, few questions about the heater but as there is no gas or cookers it’s just a posh day van.

Sorry and it is the 1.6 engine. Not quick but I’m not after quick…I brought a van after all. Sits at 70 mph at 3000 revs quite happily. Could lose that with a chip too but that could be more hassle than it’s worth.

It’s good to hear all your ideas!

Jaylittle- Well yes its my only vehicle however i prefer to cycle or walk so where possible i leave the van at home. Not because its hard work to drive just because i prefer the ride!! Only thing to remember with this van is that it won’t fit in hight restricted car parks.

Nothing against the VW crowd (many good friends have them). however have found “some” owners to be a little narrow minded in the alternative vans on the market.

Yes I have a 08 plate H2 l2, so the long wheelbase high top versions and its bloody brilliant.

Currently have a separate boot space for the bikes whitch easily takes 2 bikes, spare wheels, dirt worker, tool box and lots of other bits. Then inside I have it fully insulated and carpeted. 3/4 rock and roll bed and a large cupboard that takes up a quarter of the roof space that we stash all the camping gear in. There is then the usual leisure battery, LED lights and sockets and a diesel night heater under the passenger chairs.

We have friends who all have the usual Transporters and despite them not liking to admit it the Citroen really is perfect size. My self and my girlfriend have had over 28 nights away so far this summer with more to come and we love it.

Lets ask a simple question njee20. When you fall in a crash or just simply drop your bike what are the first two contact points to connect to the floor… pedal and bars on a road bike.

I have had one bike crash so far with my Vectors which was sprinting on the road and hitting ice. Snapped the pedal in half and Garmin said they where concerned by the possible effects on the internal strain gauges.

I have a set of the Vectors from when they where first released back in October last year. From October through to December I hade 3 sets replaced all due to the bearings wearing rapidly. Garmin where good about it but it was a right pain. The set sent to me in March have lasted through till now, however I do know have a very wobbly left hand pedal again. I do also have to change the batteries every 45 hours or so.

Other than this the power reading have been generally good. However since getting them I have realised that PM based pedals aren’t a great idea. Any kind of substantial crash and you can say good bye to them.

All in all they have been ok, if I was buying again then I would defiantly want a crank based PM.

Course quickly dried and made for some good racing, as expected though it did get very cold!!

I was lucky enough to win the red bull section on a 29er Epic. I don’t think it was long enough or gnarrrrr enough for the big bikes to have an advantage. All in all a great weekend and I loved the course.

Click here for Extra UK Website, then order through LBS? [/url]

If its Zero Stack 44mm then you can run a tapered fork however you would change the lower to a external to accommodate the added size. By the headsets in separates. Links below. Upper assemberly. [/url]
Lower assemberly. [/url]

I’m late to the game, Sorry I did try!

Drop me an email on richardpj1991ATgmail.com and I will get one in the post. I have a spare

I suffer from serious handle bar to top tube interference. It shows your front end is slammed and this is Cool! slamthatstem.com.

I can highly recommend just renting a road bike or hybrid and taking the ride from capetown to cape point. We done this two year ago and bumped into christoph sauser and Bury Stander who where just out for a leisurely ride with friends. The ride its self is lovely with magnificent views.

Rears it gets a bit more confusing and little more vague. Newer models of the hubs have push on end caps. these are convertible, however depending on what axle you have you will either need end caps and a new axle or just end caps.

If you have the older wheels with screw on end caps then you are stuck with what it comes with. If you are stuck then message me with what colour your axle is and i can advise from there.

On M1 hubs you can go from QR – 15mm , you can go from 15-QR and 20mm – 15mm.

you cant convert a 15mm or QR to 20mm. the 20mm hubs are larger in dimeter to accommodate the axle.

Either http://www.extrauk.co.uk/product/detail/John_Boultbee/Jackets_and_Capes/2631/

or

http://www.extrauk.co.uk/product/detail/John_Boultbee/Jackets_and_Capes/2099/

Best of both worlds with the Hybrid pump series by Topeak. Love mine.

http://www.topeak.com/products/HybridRocket-Pumps

Frame up for sale now, But there will be another Intense build to come!

In all honestly your best bet is Brixworth country park. Lovey reservoir, Nice bike shop, good play park and a café that sells ok coffee and ice cream.

Bike shop is Pitsford Cycles.

Wallop – They look as if he are in creasing in price not coming down the later you leave it?

Unfortunately I have only got that week in September of work. Flexible a couple of day but not much.

Tundra 2 ‘s are lovely. It is a racier saddle compared to the Gobi but great if you like moving around on the saddle for climbing and such like.

I think there are still Fizik demo saddle centres. Might just be worth a phone around.

TOM B – No way, i work very closely in the cycle industry and have a keen interest in light weight bikes, Sub 20 full suspension is impressive, even more impressive if it was alli frame. The past picture i posted shows my new carbon hard tail. That frame ways 1150 grams and even with full XTR and EC90 kit it takes carbon wheel to get it close to 20 pounds.

However it dosent real matter as 23- 26 pounds anthem ride fantastically, Great bikes at great prices that can do near on anything, I have had several Anthems now and they have done Elite national races, South Africa trail holidays, Alpine weeks and 12 hour solos. Couldn’t off asked for more.

Here is last years race bike. Pictures with Stans wheels, in this set up it was 23.5. Later on in the year it had carbon EC90 wheels. This brought it to almost 23 pounds dead but never any less. It gets hard at that point to really start saving much more weights. Unless you where to start going down the routes of some lighter and less durable and practical parts.

Still haven’t got round to a proper photo of my new race bike. But here it is in action. Intense Hard Eddie, Full XTR, EC90 wheels and finishing kit. Tundra OO saddle. Time ATAC 12 TI pedals. Hope Race brakes, In full race mode its 20.13. Waiting on Scwalbe Rocket Rons to come into stock, That should just nudge it into the 19 zone. Photos to prove it if needs be.

I need the DTSwiss Tubs in my life…Want

Yup done that before in the same office as my colleague on a important works phone call. OOOps!

Linkey

This is a real light one.

By the end of today i would of just squeesed over the 1000miles mark. Rather lame compared to Decembers 1480 odd. However there has been a whole lot more threashold and above threashold rides this month. They hurt me alot more.

Thanks for all the help people. Spot on information. I am going to do that tour of the peak. Going to save that peaksepic for next time.

Thanks again!

I am also 21 and have just got a 58 plate Citroen Dispatch long wheel base high top van in silver. comes with in your budget and you would get a lot more van over a T5 as your not paying for the badge. Mine only had 25k on the clock and falls near the top end of your budget. Currently having the bumpers colour matched and some 17s fitted. I payed a good lump sum up front and the rest on a 2 year easy loan with my bank. Interest rate was low and very flexible. Great fun and looks smart.