DezB, freddyg +1. Preferably on a Friday afternoon… and after sneeky pub lunch!! I’m defo faster after a pint 🙂

You get used to it pretty quick. Did bit riding USA and Mexico last year and was on borrowed bikes.

That said, in a panic moment instinct takes over… over-cooked a manual in a bad spot.. a big handfull of front brake did not help much 😳

Thanks for info so far. Will be staying about half way between Lagos and Faro, but will have a car. I’ve had quick google… looks like loads of potential. I will be biking on my own so prefer guide or marked trails to make the most of the time (and to ride I need something decent to hire). Mrs Pukeko will be at the beach 🙂

@fasthaggis; that is representitive of my Mon-Fri, Not just Fri! 🙂

Seeing the bigger picture is maturity.

andyrm sums it up well but missed step – sit back and watch others fight over fixing it, then fail, leaving you to sort it without stress… giving more time to procrastinate and annoy others…

Nice pic Pomona.

Eastern Solomons got a bit wet – Santa Cruz Island (keeping it bike related! :-))

Now the 6th in UK so Waitangi Day. Can I have a day off please?!

@andysredmini – where did you get the Pauls from?

You can easily get one there. not necessarily needed for coromandel as most tracks are passable without slashing growth back. I have found them to be a pain at times strapped to side of pack catching up on growth when you try and push through heavy scrub.

Whats your local route? .. ok, see your route :-)I do much of same route but kich south on Keelmans and down to TVly

DezB, interesting. Could be worth a punt for a tenner 8)

Yes, brakes from Rose are Euro/USA style – right hand is rear. not a hard job to swap over tho…

Kiwi in Northumberland. Feeling homesick now… 😕

Black Sheep in garage waiting…

+1 for the gloworm lights. There are plenty of options but I rate Gloworn highly and a good light will make a difference to night riding experience, even if it is only on ‘easy’ trails and road.

@toyrobot ; I’m very tempted with a Strive, nearly clicked the buy button last night. I would be very interested with your opinion of bike when it arrives.

Or, do it horizontal 8) put the lockring tool in a vice, sit cassette/wheel in the lockring tool, use chain whip with grrrr. be prepared to end up sitting on the ground when it goes though…

I have not used KMC but it looks like thay have own power link system http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=25439

I have not used KMC but it looks like thay have own power link system http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=25439

@bandito . Excuse to start shopping for new winter kit?

@JT . Got a Gloworm on helmet – works great.

😮 1 week too late for the discount…oh well.

X2 is great, very pleased so far. Quick delivery too! Another satisfied customer.

New bar mount is on shopping list.

Well, it does have MAXXIS tyres…

Thanks for the info. Bigyinn, you’re correct. Pleanty of life left in the cassette and rings, etc. I’ll probably just put new 9 speed back on as it is probably waste of £££ trashing a new system in the winter mud. I’ll wait for everything to wear a bit more.

I just liked the idea of new clutch thingee on + versions of 10 speed mech. It wont make me go faster… or will it?! 🙂

Thanks for the info so far. I have good(?) budget so looking at between £300 – £600 max. Old 24v Bosch got abused and coped ok – a life drilling 1/2in dia into concrete for days on end to having sockets attached to spin up motors. I have smaller 18V and 9V for ‘normal’ work and screwing jobs. Makita looks good, but it has been ages since using a Hilti – might see if I can get my hands on one to see how it feels.

Anyone experience much difference between 24V and 36V in terms of performance and battery life?

hmmmmm….

I would also be interested in how they size up and any opinions from owners. Did a rough estimate for size looking comparing the geometry to one of my current bikes with tape measure :?…

Little Pukeko likes using hex key to loosen brake adapters when your not looking…

Homebrew, magic!! I’m googling kits now… 🙂

+1 what Legend says; Given that Anthems only have one bush, I’d highly recommend replacing the top hat reducers with heavy duty ones from the likes of Tf tuned – it’s certainly help mine last longer

I use mine 12 months of the year and was replacing eyelet bushings regularly due to wearing until I changed to heavy duty from TF – mo probs with play since then. It is just a much better solution.

Trails are great, but don’t forget weather in NZ is like UK…(but slightly warmer)

Don’t go for two weeks and expect 14 days of sunshine!!

Looks like it needs a proper test in the mud.

Yeah, +1 what Neil says^^. Just changing from heavy wintery DH type tyres to light fast tyres made a HUGE difference. I’ll still carry your Mars bars tho……..

Lighten your back pack! Qty 2 std Mars bars = 120g ………

looks good in the light. I might be needing a test to see if belt holds up to my pie eating power!!

Noooooo!!

Next there will be digging up, road paint, bollards, or even traffic lights – just whats needed in Hexham, again!!

I can hear the health and safety beakers licking their lips now…. eeek!!

Teach littln’s same rules apply whether zebra x-ing, controlled by lights, or open road… good ole stop look listen.

Now, I’ll get back to cutting veveryone up on my MTB in the market square 👿

so hopefully back early the week after…

So you will be riding something else for the next month then…. 🙂

It’s a combo of bars and stem length and physical size…

Wider bars bring you forward over the forks using same stem length, etc, etc…

Whatever fits is the ticket!! Might actually measure mine tonight 🙂

Any chance you could post a pic of the unit fitted to your bars. Would like to see real life setup to get idea of physical size and neatness, etc. Cheers.

Rkk, It may just be crack in paint. Mine has got significant rock ding in same location and I thought the worst with similar creak problem. This may sound stupid; but change the whole rear wheel with known good one to confirm the rear hub is ok. My rear hub bearings seemed ok when I checked but I could not get rid of creak under load so swapped wheel to test with a mates and it solved it along with making sure the rear wheel QR was propper tight. I then changed rear hub bearings and put my wheel back in and it was sorted. I guess the bearing wear was being transferred thru the frame as creak… I was convinced it was BB… worth a try before putting you current frame out to pasture… 🙂

Ringo, very nice. I would be interested if you have any issues with belt slip on the rear sprocket when you really put the power in offroad (steep tech climb).

Did Dab, you forgot to mention that Bandito’s full suss belt drive is single speed config. New dropouts will probably (?) solve the slip problem that only occurs under very heavy loads that you get attempting to ride up very steep trails on SS. You probably would not get this with alfine hub gears or running on a HT. I am looking forward to a test on bandito’s to see if my 100kg of beer and pie power can cause slippage!! 🙂 However, I agree, chains will be around for a while – especially on my bike…

+1 what onewheel said. I have risers on mine but have no problems keeping up with 120-140mm travel bikes over pretty much anything(Dalby, Hamsterly, Kielder, NYM, Lakes) and when it gets to twisty ST and the climbs it is great!!

Sweat monster here too – Will be interested in review Mr J…

It better be All Blacks in final. If they choke again I am not sure I could survive the ribbing…