I watch them all on discovery and they are my favourite sporting events of the year. I have no issue paying for the privilege and think the set up they have is pretty decent. All the social media stuff pre and post race is a great addition to the event and enjoy all of it!

Thanks Dave thats good info.

On a related note, are the trails open as I know there is a fair bit of felling going on there (or has been this year). I’m up there this weekend and feels like an age since the full summit trail was open.

I have an Aether 7 and a transition patrol mullet. The Aether does feel a lot smaller and easier to shift round on the trails. However my Patrol is set up as a park bike so is heavier. They do feel a bit different though, but I dont really ride the two bikes on the same trails so maybe its a poor comparison.

I do have a Stanton Switch160 frame still. I replaced this with the Aether frame for trail riding and it feels better but I suppose the Aether is a much smaller lighter bike. Being a bit on the shorter side I am a fan of 27.5 frames.

I looked at the Marzocchi kit for my Z1s as have converted from air to coil. In the end I was feeling fancy so went with smashpot and a couple of springs to work out whats best as I am very much on the medium/firm boundary.

One slightly related but maybe not that related question – Marzocchi state that the 29″ Z1 can only go to 170mm. What would happen if you bumped that up to 180mm? The smashpot kit would go up to 180mm. Would the fork explode? The 27,5″ Z1 does go up to 180mm. I know different forks etc but……what would happen?*

*This is not considering frames or their suitability for 180mm forks.

I paid 5k last May for a full rewire of a 3 bed semi in east mids. This included relocating lights, new consumer unit, more sockets etc. We moved out for the week to allow easier access to stuff. I got a few quotes between 5-7k. I obviously went with the cheapest but the guy did seem most interested in the work and was by far the most helpful. It took about 5 days from start to finish.

I have used them 3 times. I have only ever done the Vallnord bike park package so cannot comment on guiding or anything like that. All 3 times have been good. Everything was organised as it should have been and have no complaints.

I’m 5″6ish and ride a medium transition patrol and a medium Stanton Switchback fs160. Both have a 150mm dropper, and probs could fit a 170mm. the patrol has 165mm cranks the Stanton 170mm.

Both fit well, but have got hold of an aether 7 in medium as I find the Stanton a bit short and wanted something with less travel. Stanton used to do some custom geometry where you could have a larger size reach but a smaller size standover. Not sure if this is a thing anymore though.

Nice one. I have replied

Mugboo – frame only would be ideal. Let me know what your plan is.

Thanks everyone,

I will try the 9 speed short cage with the 11-34t cassette. ITs going on my DHish bike so big ratio is not necessary.

The chainring is pretty new so should be fine!

I got a pair of primeblues recently and I have not noticed much difference in grip. Admittedly I used them for a very dry week in Andorra so cannot comment on what they are like in the wet.

I’ve done it. I used a regular road bike. To be honest you want to make the ride as easy as possible and save your legs for the run. That’s tough.

This is all exactly what I wanted to hear. Thanks all. At least this gives me a chance to work out what size I want….

I got an aqua marine vapour a little bit ago. Seems nice and was £380 all in. It was to share. Now I want one for myself as its a lot of fun.

I have been looking at the fanatic air pure ones a lot and they seem decent enough. I remember fanatic from my windsurf days so its a familiar name. Probably a tiny bit fancier than the vapour I have now but I doubt I would notice performance differences paddling around a lake. I really want one for this weekend but I think I have left it a bit late!

I have got andale, independent, bones and mini logo ones on various set ups and I rate the andale ones. They are the abec 5 pretty budget ones and are great. Mini logo come in second and are decent too.

I have never paid over £20 for bearings because I’m a cheapskate.

Yeah 3 sets of working headphones and none of them work. No icon, no sound through headphones.

I think it was June last year so well within warranty if there is a year warranty on it!

All options I suppose but I have lost the receipt so Argos will probs tell me no thanks.

It is a common problem with the phone, so I cannot work out if it is a phone hardware issue or the jack is broken.

I have bluetooth headphones but I don’t like them

Have DT Swiss got a 148 boost conversion kit? I am currently running a 350 rear hub converted to 142 with their end caps. If I change frame how easy is it to go to 148? I cannot see it in their conversation tables.

I managed to pick up a cheapo trisuit off amazon for the first one I did. If you are a size small then I may even have something for you if you want. I echo everything everyone else has said. Dont worry too much about loads of kit on your first one but if you enjoy them then you amass a fair few extra things!

They are a lot of fun and very inclusive, you really get all sorts doing them which is great!

If anyone else is interested I have a wtb judge BMX which I cannot see me using again. It’s got salt components, and oddeyssey back brake, I up wider higher rise bars on it and a new back wheel. It’s based in Nottingham. Would happily let it go for about £80. I only used it a few times but I prefer skateboarding!

I have got rid of some pretty worn out stuff and frankly nasty beds on gumtree recently. in the place I bought was a set of bunk beds and a double bed Inc mattresses. Put the bunk up for sale on gumtree as it seemed worth something. Someone contacted me saying they were desperate for stuff as they had to move house. Mentioned the horrible double bed and they said they would take it! Came to collect everything a few days later. Free or a bargain price on gumtree is irresistible or essential to some people! These things were not in a nice condition so could not accept any cash but tbh they did me a huge favour in removing them!

I also bought a sofa from a charity shop, they were going to deliver it so asked if they could take the other perfectly good but too small one I had. They would not remove it until they saw the fire safety labels.

7 bloodhound gang

I think 1 is Dru hill. Maybe.

4 is Alecia’s attic I think

I solved it in the end somehow. I removed the spacer and removed the cassette several times and it eventually just went together well and there is no play. I don’t know exactly what I did but it worked.

Urgh wrong forum

I have thought about this too, and since I had 2 bikes stolen on the 31/10 it makes me wonder even more. The past few bikes I have sold have all gone to eastern Europe so I was thinking maybe that is a good outlet for stolen bikes. Who knows though, people rarely seem to get them recovered so there is clearly a good market for these things.

I have been looking for a secure outside storage option too. Are ASgard sheds the best option? THe shed I have been looking at is about £1100 which is a lot, but if its a solid option then so be it.

The smaller bike bunkers are a lot cheaper but I need to fit in 4 bikes plus If I have a shed then I suppose other things can go it too.

Is there anything else I should be looking at?

I use 105 hydro shifters and SLX brake calipers and they work well, I had the same issue with flat mount and this was the best and most budget friendly option.

I got a shorty from DEcathlon recently and it was decent. Their wetsuit range is pretty good.

I have 2 of the Alpkit thick mats and they are the best thinks I have ever bought for camping.
https://www.alpkit.com/products/dozer the are girlfriend comfort approved too.

Also I have a Coleman Ridgeline Plus Four-Person Tent going spare which I no longer use. If you want more details drop me a message.

The first descent bit and the last descent of NYA were out of action this past weekend. Its still a good trail but its better with those bits in it.

I swapped my mechanical disc brakes on my diverge for a giant conduct set up which was much better than the mech brakes. Then when the 9 speed stuff wore out I went 11sp shimano 105 but use post mount SLX brake calipers as its not always easy to get the post mount road calipers. I got most of the expensive stuff 2nd hand so to be honest it was not that bad, maybe 300 all in.

I had 2 sets of the conduct system on 2 different bikes and they were both fantastic. It’s a good option for using standard levers and still getting hydro breaks. The pads were standard Shimano deore ones and for the 18 months I had them for they were faultless. I would recommend them. Currently have Shimano 105 hydros and can’t really tell that much difference to be honest.

Tarw du and the MBR is a good combo

Thanks nixie thats the info i wanted.

The wheel is coming from a 142 spaved frame and being converted to go on a boot frame so then it would require a new axle?

I have pmd you for more info mark