I must admit the greenness was the main attraction but I guess they should stop the bike without disintegrating too

I’m having much joy from these: http://www.xcracer.com/shop/viewproduct.php?productid=308

they look cool – what brakes are you running them with?

I’ve had one since they came out to replace my old Edge 605. It’s a lot more modern and a lot better value for money (cheaper with maps included and no hassle to set up), and has nice features like suggesting a circular route for the distance that you choose.
However I’ve found it useless for navigation. If you go even slightly off course, which you do if you’re watching the trail instead of the screen, the display goes completely blank while it recalculates so you have to stop and wait minutes for it to come back on, or carry on going further off course with no map visible – riding in a group, it’s always the latter. Eventually all the re-calculating runs the battery out prematurely and you end up not even recording the whole ride (admittedly an all-day ride).
Personally I’ve been so frustrated with it, I have stopped using it to navigate and just keep the map option for emergencies.

I bought last year’s Bianchi Zurigo on a deal at Xmas for around £1k. No disc brakes, but I think it is brilliant (looks & handling)

I’m a bit overwhelmed by the choice now (this is a new part of the world for me).

I have to admit to a bit of brand snobbery for this much money, so the Boardman and the Pinnacle are out really, but the ‘Dale and the Giant look promising. I love my Genesis too, but I’ve already got one if you see what I mean.

Although I don’t want to race, I don’t want it for commuting either so mudguards and rack mounts aren’t necessary.

Nobody has any love or hate for the Bianchi Zurigo? The main downside I see is no disc bakes at this price point, even on the 2013 model, and there is no way I’ll get a test ride, but it certainly appeals to my inner brand snob.

Anybody have a feel for a reasonable weight for this price? The 2013 Cube Cross Race Disc seemed competitive at 8.9Kg (although the 2014 one is 9.5Kg). Not that the rest of the manufacturers publish their weights…

Really? You took the same exam did you?

I’ve never considered myself rich, privileged or gifted, but I’ve worked hard for nearly 30 years and saved hard so I kind of think what I spend my money on is up to me, but my point is that this quality of education should be available from the state and it isn’t.

Most of you a being a bit binary about this; private school = rich / privileged, comp = poor? What a narrow view.

I wasn’t born with a silver spoon, went to an average comp, and didn’t make it to Uni. However, against all my political beliefs I have taken my own boys out of the state system which was failing them, and spent my whole life savings on sending them private. They have had great results, but they weren’t given them on a plate. They have had to work significantly harder and longer than they did before, with more discipline and much more pressure. Now I have to see their achievements downgraded to level the playing field with kids who are not as capable and / or did not work as hard?

The fact that some of you are missing is how hard the entrance exam to the school was – it’s not just about your cheque book. They take bright kids and teach them well and they achieve great exam results. That is not co-incidence, and to suggest that they only achieved because they had time and money is complete rubbish.

The real issue here is that this quality of education is not available in the comp system, and my view is that it should be. I can kind of understand why they did away with grammar schools, etc., but the comp system just seems to try to get everyone to the medium level of achievement whether you are academically gifted or challenged. Wouldn’t it be great if everyone in society was capable of the same level of academic achievement? How fair and equitable. But who would do the rocket science and who would do the plumbing once they were in the workplace? If you happen to be “medium” academically, lucky you, but you are a minority in society and everyone else needs educating too.

Teachers on here are not going to like this, but my experience of today’s comps is badly managed, inefficient, indisciplined, institutions held back from modernisation by political correctness and out-dated trade unions, that don’t properly prepare kids for uni or for work. It really wouldn’t be hard to get the system fit for purpose, and then there would be no place for the private sector. Instead it is booming in spite of a recession. Never wondered why that is?

Lights blue touch paper and retires.

rode my carbon one all winter which took it’s toll on the BB, headset, wheel bearings and gear cables, as well as the usual cassette and brake pad wear, but that’s kind of fair enough. Still love it though and would recommend them.

By contrast I’ve found Wiggle have become more competitive for price and availability than they were in recent years, but Evans often end up being the best option when you use their discount codes. May be a bit better than using CRC, but still feels a bit like like selling your soul though.

@Alb What’s the deal with the 2014 Day One Disc (what / when / how much and why)? Can’t get a 2013 one in 54cm for love nor money. It’s great that the CDFs are on special to clear the stock, but I wanted a single speed.

I only get over there once or twice a year and I have to say I’m really impressed with what they’ve done – I just see it as a better way to get over to what is now the “red” section and back again.

I think the blue route has been really well designed to accommodate fast and slow riders. I rode it on a hardtail (which I don’t normally do) and I think I took the right bike in the end.

They could definitely do with some signs to keep the walkers off though. What looks obvious to us must look like something else to them.

As well as being a mountainbiker, I ride with a club (sometimes road too!!), am a football fan, male, a car driver, and a Londoner. Despite all that, I’ve never behaved that way to anybody and never would, and I reckon there are thousands and thousands of people who would say the same thing as me.

There is a danger in generalising about these things and supporting the negative stereotypes that only apply to small numbers of individuals in reality. That sort of behavior just isn’t acceptable in society regardless of which section you belong to.

Just my opinion.

Finally I’ve seen a review by someone who’s actually ridden them. Apparently the bodies held up well, but the bearings got quite rough quite quickly. The thing that’s putting me off though, is that the external axle thing apparently puts your feet quite a bit further apart, feeling a bit awkward when you’re riding. I guess that will apply to the new Specialized pedals too, if they ever actually come to market.

Meanwhile my Nukeproof Neutrons are still going strong two years later.

http://www.pinkbike.com/news/Tioga-MT-ZERO-Pedal-Tested-2012.html

Are you guys running the snakeskin ones tubeless?

Has there been some fair weather?

Couldn’t help but think they would have stayed up with a tube in, but they fact is the same tyre tore three times in six rides and left a hole too bug for Stan’s to seal each time.

Sounds like Maxxis are missing a trick on their marketing. Also can’t understand why the big brands seem to want to keep the weight of their tyres a secret (including Specialized). Still at least we’ve managed to avoid talking about compounds and TPI 🙂

All good points well made.

I guess the plus side is the test has shown me what not to buy (for a carbon hard tail). Leaving aside the 950g Kenda which is obviously intended to be a burly old beast, nearly all of the others were not tubeless-ready, let alone UST. Ironically the light-weight Ralph was.

I like the idea of the Maxxis, but they still sound heavy for something that isn’t tubeless, and they seem relatively expensive too. I’d like a group test to be a comprehensive list of the best available, but it sounds like this was a report on what they each happened to have ridden recently.

I was being a bit flippant, but 880g sounds like a lot…

Don’t know if they are formally neoprene, but I’m using Altura Nightvision gloves on night rides (obviously). I don’t think they are MTB-specific, but they have been great for me.

after a bit more riding;
Still faster than anything else I’ve ridden off road
Bottom bracket had to be serviced, but chain still not broken
Nose of saddle wearing out now
Torn the Racing Ralph twice (too much for the Stan’s sealant!)
Have taken off the lock-out and the indicators on the shifters
Going to try Specialized 2bliss tyres instead

@JPothecary How did you get on with the Maxxis?

Anybody running tubeless without a Stan’s rim strip?

>40 miles this morning and still happy with the saddle.

Starting to think the front end is a bit more sketchy in the mud than I’m used to (first high-speed crash this morning – can’t have been my fault :oops:). Don’t know if that’s because of the 29″ forks or the long stem, or maybe I need to admit a mud tyre would be better.

Also the small cogs seem to get clogged up with mud a lot easier, but I guess that would be true of all 10-speed cassettes too.

Can’t say I’ve had any of those problems. Surprisingly happy with the (tubeless) tyres which sealed first time and stayed up. Not noticed any flex and have always liked Rockshox SIDs. Don’t dislike the saddle and don’t need the lockout so probably going to take it off. All round still grinning and still faster.

Can’t ever remember reading about this bike in ST, which is a bit disappointing for such a popular bike.

Still keeping my Stumpy though, for the more chunky type of riding.

never had a minute’s trouble with mine

still not managed to get hold of a pair yet, despite ordering months ago

That’s my LBS. I heard they caught him as well, but that’s not backed up by the Herts police web site

http://www.herts.police.uk/hertfordshire_constabulary/latest_news/news_articles/280212_-_1578.aspx?lang=en-gb

I’ve been very happy with the Nuke Proof ones, but had to go back to suspension forks after smashing up my collar bone (any rigid forks are too harsh now – it’s no slight on the carbon).

6-week service tomorrow

Still haven’t snapped my chain (even though I got the wheels jammed with mud) – looking forward to it!

@stevewhyte I’m still experimenting, but I’ve been running them at 35psi with no problems. Does the shorter stem make it feel a bit sharper?

I found the limits of the mud clearance in the Herts. clay this morning (not much).

I’m also starting to get picky; those Formula brake levers and XT shifters were obviously not designed to be on the same bar together. Waiting to get the blanking covers so that I can move the shifters out under the brakes.

I’ve got the Sealskinz MTB gloves and they work fine, but they are too hot for this time of year. Anyone tried their All Weather Cycle glove?

Still really pleased with mine – the difference in speed is noticable but my mates are saying it’s cheating!

No problems with tyres in the wet (or dry) and tubeless conversion went really well too.

just ordered mine from petracycles.co.uk – £3.68 each

I think the ones with the covers hidden inside the indicators are the previous model

Same problem, but I just used a 25g CO2 cartridge on each one (and remembered to coat the beads with diluted fairy liquid) and they went straight up.

Once it’s all sealed and done, replace the CO2 with regular air otherwise the sealant won’t work when you get a puncture.

Full kit. Sidewallls sealed straight away – no messing. I guess you could go ‘ghetto’ with a 24″ tube…

Stan’s conversion to tubeless was very straight forward. So far so good.

Couldn’t resist the temptation and took it out in the muddy woods on Monday. Absolutely no problems with the tyres or with the length of the size L frame / stem, and was noticeably faster than my 26″ bikes. Still going to convert to tubeless when I get a minute.

I also didn’t get a chain stay protector, jam nuts, or taped steerer tube, but I didn’t see any of that as an issue or really think of them as missing.

Cycle Surgery in Kings Cross did a great job of sourcing, building and delivering for me, when my LBS could not get stock.

anyone converted them to tubeless yet?

Just got mine from Cycle Surgery but decided not to take it out in the mud today. Those Schwalbes definitely look like Summer tyres.

At 5’9.5″ I still feel too tall for the 17″ and too short for the 19″ though.

Jake was really helpful getting me a free spoke for my Cobalt wheels, but I would have happily paid for them if 2Pure would just supply the UK dealers with the Crank Bros spare spoke set. Apparently they are “too busy”, and I know not being able to buy the spokes puts people off buying the wheels which is a shame because they are brilliant.

Has anyone in the 5’9″ – 5’10” height range got one yet? My LBS say the Cube 29ers are a little short so I need a 19″ whereas all my 26″ bikes are 17.5″. I’d hate to go to all this trouble and end up with the wrong size.