Thanks for the heads up Trout. The order's gone in so it may be too late.

Looking at the specs though, the viewing angle for the XPE is 115deg to 130deg, the XPG is 125deg, both are 2mm high etc, where does the change in beam angle come from?

The XPGs shouldn't run any hotter than XPEs in a like for like setup (but will put out more light) so the heatsinking requirements should be the same.

Trout – why do say no way to the Lumi can? Is it the heat build up in the LEDs rather than the driver? As I understand it, if you use a bFlex driver they don't need heatsinking?

I'll post some pics when I get it built.

Yes, it's the Ledil Cute 3 narrow spot. In fact I only ordered the stuff today, inspired by your post using the Lumi can.
Using the Lumi can was my original intention but I got side tracked with a 7up XPG R5 Maglite conversion which I still haven't built yet. This should put out about 2450 lumens (that's a lot). However machining the Mag head was too much of a faff so I'm having a custom housing made by a local machine shop. Should be picking it up this week.

Oh and just a point on Chucky's comment on XPG stock at Cutter. As I understand it, it is only the R5s that are on back order. I've just ordered a triple board with XPG R4s and it went though ok. Last order took approx 9 days to be delivered.

woody2000 – you can use a different LED driver like the MaxFlex5 from Cutter. That actually needs the input voltage to be less than the total Vf of the LEDs, although this can lead to increased heat sinking requirements. Although if the nominal voltage from the battery is 13.2V I suspect it will be higher than 14V fresh of the charger. This will put the driver out of regulation meaning you can't dim the LEDs. Check out TaskLEDs website for all sorts of different driver options and info.

Not sure you're right DWH. It's either taxable or not.

I can't imagine it's the case that, if you don't fill a return in you're okay, but if you do you get taxed.

If it is liable for tax they would process it through PAYE before you get it.

Only if it is in leiu of notice. If you're on 3 months notice and leave straight away, the three months pay is taxable. Any enhancements or statutory is tax free.

Just checked the Cree datasheet for the MCE, you are quiet right Trailseeker, I stand corrected.

I'm not sure TJ has got this right.

As I understand it, using the given example:

A 30W halogen bulb with a 12V battery would indeed draw 2.5A, however to run an LED like the MCE you need a driver such as the Maxflex. This works in a completely different way.

Power consumed by an single MCE LED is 3.5V*0.7A=2.54W
(3.5V is the forward voltage when drawing the max forward current of 700mA, not 1A as stated)
If you assume an average efficiency of 88%, input power is 2.54/0.88=2.88W

At 12V that gives a supply current of 0.24A.

Therefore the run time will be approx 10.5 times that of a halogen not double!

I can't comment on the specifics of halogen vs LED brightness comparisons but I would expect a quad XP-G to be WAY brighter than 50W halogen.

Incidently, the quad XP-G at full tilt (1A) would be WAY WAY brighter than the single MCE, but as TJ says wouldn't last as long, in fact if I've worked it out right only a 5th of the time.

IIRC the aluminium needs to be specially prepared prior to anodising to make sure the surface is free from any imperfections, which may result in an uneven or blotchy colour. I frame that was originaly powder coated probably won't have been through this process.

I can recommend Bob Jackson's in Leeds for resprays, they stove enamel rather than powder coat so it's a rock hard finish. They have plenty of colour options too.

I'd reccommend Bob Jacksons in Leeds. I had my Turner resprayed in 'burnt copper' which is a dark metallic orange. Stove enamelling is just as tough as powder coating and won't fade (some epoxy polyester powder fades over time in sunlight). Check out Bobs website for all the colours you can think of.

If you want prebuilt wheels in stock you're going to need a decent sized shop. 3 that spring to mind in striking distance from Harrogate are:

All Terrain at Saltaire, Bradford
Stif in Headingly, Leeds
and Chevin Cycles in Otley.

I've used them all before and can heartily reccommend them.

Just checked CC's website again and it definitely lists 190×50 as a std option. Thinking about it, it also says somewhere that it is entering OEM partnership with, amongst others, Turner, whose 5 Spot is a 190×50.

If you have a friend in the States who'll forward post you one, it should be pretty easy (and cheaper) to get one.

Funnily enough I've been talking to Stif in Leeds about exactly this setup just this week. They said the same as matthew_h about there being only 2 shocks in the world that'll fit.
BTW a shock plus Ti coil is nearer £800 from them so it's a serious investment.
If you check out the Cane Creek site in the States it lists the 190 x 50 as an option on their order form so it is possible to get one. Much cheaper in the States too, but they don't ship direct to the UK, you have to use their importer.
I also called Stendec (CC's listed UK importer)and they are selling them for £625 for a longer 203 x 57 version. Didn't ask about the 190 x 50 cos I've moved on to thinking about a SC Heckler with the DB instead.

Unfortunately a couple of the components are showing a bit of wear and tear (eg rear wheel and crank arms), perfectly functionable but aesthetically challenged.

High School Musical (with the kids obviously ;o))

Second the mountainbikerides.co.uk shout.

Rode it last year and booked on again for this year.

As said before, the trails were pretty easy, it’s your fitness that counts more than technical ability.

I wore arm and knee pads but a normal helmet, the climbs to the start gates can go on a bit and you wouldn’t want to do them in a full face.

One word of advice is on tyres. Some sections are pretty rocky and I pinch punctured on the first timed section, f***ing my whole race. (Probably cost me over 100 places in the overall standings). Going for a dual ply wall this time though. Also, some of the sections are brand new this year and won’t have been ridden in properly yet so I’m expecting sharp rocks to be more of a problem than last year.

I’ve used Juicy 5’s in the Alps before w/o any issues and I’m a bit of a brake-dragger (especially the rear)

I have fitted 203 Hope floating rotors though which will obviously help.

I have also used Hope Enduro 4’s with no end of trouble, despite frequent bleeding (every day I was there). Juicy’s were much better.

The missus played an April fool on me, saying my car windscreen had been smashed. Later that day she got a text from a friend of hers, saying someone had smashed her windscreen! Spooky.

Some fashionistas will tell you it is wrong, but I used bar ends on risers for a long time and found them comfortable and convenient. In fact I quite liked the anti-fashion statement it made and getting up peoples noses. A bit like wearing baggy shorts over leggings.

However, since my riding has got more ‘extreme’ (tongue in cheek) I have felt less need for them and have taken them off, but I do miss them on long climbs.

I’ve used quite a few SS pads in Avids and Hope. As with most pads the key is proper bedding in.

I’ve had pairs that have disappeared from new in one muddy ride, while others have lasted as long as ‘proper’ Avid pads.

Not fantastic performers as they feel a bit wooden but at the price you can’t complain.

I have a vague recollection that there is some guidance from the HSE about the amount of space provided for office workers. However it’s in cubic meters rather than relating to the size of your desk.

IIRC, the minimum working volume per person in any room is 11m3 although other guidelines exist for large meeting rooms and lectures halls etc.

As someone who has recruited a number of times in the past, a CV with no dates would be a complete turn off and would more than likely not make the first cut.
My advise would be to keep honest and complete, a simple statement like ‘travelling’ would be better than nothing. Obviously if you did something specific it would help (eg ‘helping starving children’ in Africa, but not ‘getting sh1tfaced in Ibiza’) and can actually make you sound more interesting.

I think there is a difference between trail centers with purpose built trails where you would quite rightly expect everyone to be going the same way and existing trails which have simply been adopted into a signed route.
I would be proper pi55ed off if I came across someone riding Coed y Brenin the wrong way, as brakeswithface says it would be dangerous for both.

Kevonakona – you must see the best in people, I hadn’t thought of that.

T_Ridg – LOL

Sinlgetrack means it’s only wide enough to ride one behind the other, as in ‘single file’, not single as in one direction.

sofa – I didn’t say I was local.

uplink – in this instance there are very few places you could be going that fast without being able to see ahead.

james – there are some red arrow sign posts up already

The guy with the Santa Cruz walked away without a scratch, unlike the tree he hit.

As for the broken person, it took more than an elastoplast to disguise it from the missus.

And I can’t spell. Doh!

oops didn’t get the linky thing quiet right, thicko.

Broken person

Broken bikes

Plus a few more here:

I’ve got the same setup as anotherdeadhero, 140mm Pikes up front and Pushed rockers giving just short of 6″ at the back using a Romic coil (with nice Ti spring).
Use it mainly for DH stuff like Cwm Carn and trips to the Alps etc. Pikes are air at the minute, coil would maybe have been better though.