I was out in Iceland last week and I agree its an amazing place. We hired a car via Holiday Autos and it worked out at just over £100 for the 4 days so not too expensive. It was a small Chevrolette (however you spell it) Aveo and it was ace. I was a bit nervous about the roads as they can be pretty dodgy but I managed to get the car back in one piece minus any damage. Having the car really made a difference as we could go explore a bit.

We where based in Reyjkavik for 4 nights so did the Blue Lagoon, Golden Circle tour and wandered about the city for a few days. I loved it and want to go back and hire a 4×4 and explore more. Like was mentioned before eating out is not too bad, on par with the UK but drinks are very expensive. However the Icelanders love a good coffee and often shops give the stuff away for free! Its brilliant. Also in Reykjavik the bars seem to run happy hours and these are staggered over the city so you can normally find somewhere with cheapish dirnks at any point in time. Apparently the is a Happy hour app for your phone!

I cannot wait to go back. Like the OP we did touristy stuff as it was a first time visit and I am glad we did that. I don’t begrudge the expense of the Blue Lagoon as it was a nice way to kick the holiday off as its easy to go straight from the airport to the Blue Lagoon and then onto Reykjavik.What I was not ready for was how well everyone speaks english, and the amount of Americans out there!

I built up a really nice banshee paradox 29er and am struggling with it. I am thinking of going back to 26″. I prefer the saddle to be a bit higher than the bars and its not possible with my 29er. I’m 5’6″ with about 29″ inside leg so not tiny (but not massive either). My previous Blue Pig fitted much better, the front end is just too high on my 29er.

http://s1286.photobucket.com/user/Rhid14/library/Banshee%20Paradox?sort=3&page=1

Shame really as its a great bike, its just not for me.

I have 2 – A Trek Remedy and Ragley Blue Pig. Both are brilliant to ride and so very fast!. Sold the Blue Pig to fund a Banshee Paradox 29er which i am now selling to fund a new Blue Pig. It was an experiment I felt I had to try and am happy to go back. I still have the trek, at first I didn’t think I would like it as it was a from a big manufacturer and I was always into Santa Cruzes or Oranges but I am glad to be proved very wrong!

Have a look at the pinkbike classifieds, they have every shape and size of DH bike there, along with components, frames and pretty much anything else you would need.

I saw one in the flesh this week and liked it. It was a greeny colour with browny panels which wasn’t the best combo but the car itself look good.

I got an email from merlin yesterday with discounts on road wheels. I cannot remember exactly the price of the 11sp ones but they looked good value. Take a look at their website.

Don’t care if it’s all marketing, I still want one.

Actually my 29 is pretty good but I really like the look of these and cannot justify owning both.

Thanks for the replies. The reason I would get it is to replace my 29er which is a winter trail bike, I ride it to work, playing about on bike and maybe even do stuff like the Dyfi / CYB enduro in it if I am feeling brave and not riding them on my full suss.

I really liked how the 29er rolled over stuff and kept speed but it did feel heavy and less nimble. I assume a 27.5 would sit in between the 29-26 in terms of speed agility so would be ideal!

I’m in Llanberis now and it looks ok! A little bit of wind but to top lloked clear earlier. That will probably change in a moment! When are you intending to do it Jaffejoffer?

We have decided to hire a car based on the advice above and some other research. We want to do the Golden Circle tour one day. Can this be done with any car or does part of the route take you onto the gravel roads which you need a 4×4 for?

Like I mentioned we are going mid October so the weather “should” be ok. I was thinking of getting something like a VW Polo or Similar. That should be fine right??

Also any suggestions on the route would be very much appreicated!

Anything with shark in the title – Sharknado, Sharktopus, Dinoshark, Megashark vrs whatever it wants, the list is almost endless! Stand outs are Swampshark with Kirsty Swanson and 2 headed shark attack with Hulk Hogans daughter!

Troll Hunter is never a B movie, and its flippin brilliant.

Thanks for all the advice.

Lonely Planet Guide ordered.

In everyones expert opinion is there much point in hiring a car? We are landing at 10ish on the 12th and departing at 10ish on the 16th. that leaves pretty much 4 days in Reykjavik. Is there plenty to do in the the city and the surrounding area which is easily accessible via public transport for the 4 days? Or with a car we would be able to travel more easily to other places and see things which are unmissable?

If we do get a car I dont intent to travel the whole island, just the west and south bits I reckon. Our hotel in in Reykjavik so will be returning there every night! I don’t want to spend the holiday rushing from one place to another in a desperate attempt to see everything but definaltey want to see as much good stuff that is practical….if you see what I mean!

Also Anyone ever hired a car from SADcars? They seem cheap…

Saracan hack. I have one therefore i must recommend it!

I forgot to add the tandem has relatively modern shimano levers. SO what are my options? What brake calpier will work with mtb stlye levers?

I quickly must add I am not going brakeless on the road bike they calipers would be replaced with some nice 105 ones to match the rest of the kit!

I had a big break between season 1 and 2, then watched season 2,3 and half of 4 in quick succession and am now struggling. I find Jax annoying, his Dr lady annoying, most of the stuff they do annoying but I still keep watching as sometimes it is really good!

I agree it does get a bit darker as the series progress. Does this continue to season 5+6? I do want to watch the rest of it but I am lacking motivation to do so since I found Parks and Recreation (which is the polar opposite of SOA)!

Three Kings and Zero Dark Thirty get the thumbs up for me. The latter had me gripped for the entire film. Iron Sky too….its kind of a war film but regardless its great!

I like the Ted Baker stuff, it looks good and there is nothing wrong with looking smart and riding to work. None of the models in the video had helmets though so if Ted pulls his finger out and designs a nice tweed number he would make a killing!

I was ready to go with the Rutland Defy when friend in work said he picked up a 1 year old Defy 1 on ebay lastnight for 500 and he would left me have it for that price! I think we have a winner.

After a bit of wistful staring outside a range of shops I am perfectly satisfied with my current footwear. Should this change i will be first in line for the Quoc Phams.

I will park my bike outside the local spar and stare wistfully into the middle distance right now. If I find it unsatisfying I will buy some Quoc Pham shoes and try again.

Am I missing something regarding the Quoc Pham shoes? Some of them are meant to be used with just toe straps while some are cleat compatable. How are the toe strap ones cycling specific, They are just like any other pair of shoes!

I am probably missing something crucial aren’t I?

Yeah I think the Defy could possible edge it! Rutland is where I would get it from I think. I really wanted the blue version but they sold out! The Felt is full 105 kit too regardless of what the pic shows. I would probably use Wiggle for that if I decided on that one.

Also there was an MTB race on Parys mountain recently, its probably worth finding info on that and seeing if the organisers have a club or something.

Pentrath forest has some singletrack in. There is a group on Facebook called Pentraeth Mountian biking or similar. The guy who organises it runs the pub in Pentraeth.

I have been round it once and it was good fun, I got a bit lost but it was all ok. I think a good way of finding bits is using Strava.

The Defy Medium is almost the same TT and my Hack TT. I get on fine with that so I don’t see why I would suffer to much on the Defy Either! I have an 80mm stem to go down to if I need to!

I ma nealry there! I’m 5″6 with long arms and having tried a few Medium Defy’s over the weekend am fairly happy that that is the size to go for. Tried means sat on and rolled about a bit. The Giant size chart says I should be in the small size but cannot find a Small to try out. The Small TT is 525, the Med is 545 (simlar to my Hack). I am fairly confident that I can get way with either size but its just niggling that I maybe should go smaller, but like I said the Medium felt fine….plus there are loads of amazing deals on all Defy sizes apart from the Small!

So anyone else who are shorter than average running a slightly larger size then the manufacturers recommend? I should state I have long monkey arms….Is there any benefit either way of going smaller or larger apart form its easier to make a smaller bike fit etc.

Thanks for the advice I am still undecided but really quite fancy carbon and the felt z6 looks fantastic, but so does the z85! I just need to sit on them to decide on the size!

Parks and recreation, its on netflix or amazon…cant remember which one.

House if cards is fantastic and I do enjoy sons of anarchy both of which are definately on netflix.

Buy black, don’t buy black Its a minefield!

One last think before I actually have to buy a bike as opposed to talk about it…

If you are inbewteen sizes bo you go smaller or larger? I cannot decide if I like the longer or shorter Top Tube. Everything I have read suggests that going smaller is the way to do it as its easier to make a small bike fit. What are your opinions on this?

The roads in north Wales are not the best!

I do agree about the training, but I still want any comfort I can possibly get to go along with all the training I will be (maybe) doing between now and the next one.

I have read a fair bit about the CF frames helping to minimise road buzz and over a long period of time that surely must add up to less fatigue. The bikes I have picked are the best one I have found for the most reasonable prices. I will look at the Saracen Arvo too.

but both the felt bikes are black!!

Your internet expertise is much apprecaited!

It was all built up from bits off my Blue pig and off the classifieds. Its got SLX groupset, Crossride wheels and a X-funsion Slant for. All seems to be working well.

I agree with julians, I much prefer the Llanberis path to the rangers. Don’t know why, just do.

Its a great bike, cannot recommend it enough. If you are anywhere near North Wales you are welcome to come and have a go.

I’m 5″6 and riding a M Banshee Paradox. You will be fine!

I agree with the 2-3 times per week. My commute is about 15km each way but with possible a bit more climbing and 3 times a week is plenty!
If its a fantastic week I may do 4 but honestly I’m tired out after 3. Its still saving you cash and does wonders for your riding.

I vary between road and MTB with different route to liven it up a bit but you know when you are tired and those are the days you don’t bother!

I am a standard 32″ but seem to have 34″ Fox shorts and they fit ok, a bit loose but they stay up so I reckon they are on the slightly smaller side.