It’s gondola fed, and drops around 500m in height. Do you want a great big sign telling you it’s a DH?.

We’ve argued gradings to death over the years, I’m not gonna keep that you going, if you don’t like it, fair enough, of it’s too much, don’t go, I’m just happy we have more options.

It’s not as DH as you might think, and it’s absolutely not what most people would consider a DH track. Sure it descends, but so does Berm Baby Berm. There’s even pedally points, you definitely don’t want a DH bike for it.
But it’s also a rubbish trail and feels completely unfinished, so it’s unsafe for totally different reasons.

have you ridden it redrook?

Yessir. I’ve also ridden Whistler and the Alps, where they know how to build blue graded flow trails which are awesome for all levels.

LOL – no, it’s the conservation/environmental/rambler lobby. There are serious suggestions that the whole area should be returned to “wilderness”, including removal of the ski road, thereby restoring the principle of the long walk in. It’s an elitist and selfish attitude with which I have no truck.

Both CG and Aonach Mor are SSSIs, and were before the ski developments. It’s not a lobby, it’s a very important part of how we manage places like this for everyone’s interests. CG in particular is an extremely rare place in terms of biodiversity, there are very good reasons why they won’t get a bike track (aside from the fact that it’s been so badly run that HIE have taken it over).
However, very few people care about the bike tracks on AM, it’s actually a pretty good spot for them since its all on the lower mountain (unlike at CG).

“downhill cross country”

Uh-huh. There’s your problem. This track is utter garbage. Anyone who has ridden in the Alps or Canada will immediately be appalled.

I have pulled as hard as I am able to, whether that says more about me or the fork I don’t know, but either way it’s not a solution.

Will try the brute force methods suggested above!

Ah ok, I am clamping the steerer on a not amazing stand so that’s probably not helping. Will do it that way and try to find something more robust to hold in the allen bolt.

I’m using L shaped allens and have given it an absolute beating with a rubber mallet to no avail. Don’t really want to hit or push on the arch any more than I have. It feels so solidly on that I think I must be missing something.

“Why? If I were the seller I’d think you were just nitpicking about damage to a sticker. If it’s the bike you want at a good price I’d buy it.”

Are you successful at selling anything ever? Because if that’s your response to what appears to be damage to goods you are selling and you don’t even reassure a prospective buyer that it’s not a problem, I very much doubt it.
And what’s their comms going to be like if there’s an issue after purchase?
No thanks mate, plenty of people selling bikes out there who are happy to talk about what they’re selling.

Why are you showing them then if the OP is asking specifically for Spray.Bike results?

Very confusing, had me thinking they were done with Spray.Bike and looked great which clearly isn’t the case.

Honestly the cable actuated Brand X Ascend just works so well, I’ve had two (one was a little short so I gave it to a mate and bought another) and both are running perfectly. A doddle to fit and service, and no bleeding of hydraulics.
Plus they are always on sale on CRC, think I paid £80 for the last one!

I’ve asked the seller about it and given him several days to reply, but not heard anything. I’ll be staying away anyway now.

Thanks guys, it’s a Bronson and the seller is asking £1700, good price I thought. Unfortunately I only have this pic to go on. Might get in touch and see if they can send me a closeup. It’s quite far away from me so bit of a commitment to go see in person.
From the sounds of it I might be better off leaving it be.

Thank you sir, but that’s an XD hub

Lol you would think, but not much around. Nobody seems to put anything on ebay these days and not sure where else to look.

I’m about 82kg and I leave the ground on a regular basis. Like the sound of the E1900 DTs, will take a look at those, but reviews are indicating that their engagement is a big sluggish.

Ha thought that might happen. The NP Horizons are enduro specific so possibly going to hold up better. Just fancied something different with the Mavics and the prices are much the same currently, although the NPs are on sale. I expect both would be fine for me but interested to hear others’ experiences.

Superstar Componenets Nano, awesome pedals and loads of colours

Unfortunately Magnafibre don’t do resprays anymore, only repairs apparently.

I might get a price from Henderson’s and see. I would quite like someone who can apply decals before doing a clearcoat.

Can confirm that Shand don’t do other people’s bikes as they are too busy with their own orders. And yes, they wet paint rather than powdercoat.

Cool, will contact Henderson’s too. I’ll probably not be doing it until the end of the summer now..

I believe Argos and bike-specific companies do essentially wet painting. Powder coating is much thicker and I’ve read that it’s more difficult to put logos etc. on it under a clearcoat. I could be wrong of course but that’s my understanding.

Any link to Fiveland? Couldn’t seem to find them, unless they are also a vets 😛

Thanks for the Shand suggestion, they’re just down the road from me. Looks like they do their own frames on bespoke terms so maybe they’ll do a one-ff. Will give them a shout.

@warns74 – definitely, that’s a lot of extra room.

@jamj1974 – thanks, I think I’m definitely erring towards the A6, especially since the price difference isn’t actually as big as I thought it would be for the same model year. Depreciation hit A6 owners a bit harder it seems.

The A6 boot is 65 liters bigger than the A4, and about 16cm longer. Not enormously different really, but possibly enough to make a difference.

I’m looking to comfortably fit an L size Nukeproof Mega TR (27.5) and a Trek Skye S (also 27.5), front wheels off and seats out is all the mucking about I’m willing to do. I figure both will probably manage, but I’ve heard the A4 boot isn’t huge, but if it would do it could save me moolah (although, the A6 looks a lot plusher inside!).

@warns74 – Amazing! Just what I was looking for. Many thanks

Awesome thanks @warns74, I’m precious about my current car so I’m used to the parking space hunting 😉 I don’t suppose you have any pics of your 29er in this cavernous boot do you?

@srshaw – yeah I’ve heard of these updates totally screwing up people’s cars. Basically anything from the VW group could be risky if it’s had it done so I’ll be looking for one which hasn’t done the recall.

Thanks for the replies guys, I was wondering if you take the front wheels off a full susser, could you stand it up in the car (seats down), would you have to lie it down. In the new 5 series touring I’ve seen pics of people standing their bikes up like this with the forks near the boot entrance, which would be pretty cool.

@swdan – nice one! Very helpful. I’m surprised that the A4 boot isn’t bigger actually, but looks like you’d get two in there stacked no problem.

@jamj1974 – good to know! If anyone has any pics of bikes in an A6 avant it would be great for comparison with the A4.

@rugbydick – Thanks for the reply, would really appreciate your photos if you have the time. Yes I do like that the A6 is huuuge, but that does have it’s everyday downsides too so still keen to check out the A4.

@escrs – thanks that’s good to know, and for the link, I’ll have a good read.