Im a BOB member and ride very Regularly with them week in week out . We rode last night around Swinley and surrounding trails , great fun . We have rides in the week and weekends for different Abilities! I normally ride and lead the Saturday am ride and head over to the army land trails if that’s your thing . We also do chilterns in the summer . We are a great bunch of bikers who enjoy cycling . You could PM me if your interested. I’ll ask what’s going on with the emails .

Thanks guys for info . I was wondering if it was the motion of the post that causes the lumbar pain . Another thing to consider is I might have the seat too low so causing me to cramp up when peddling ?

I’ve owned loads of cotic and can say from my experience is that they are very long and low . I’m on a flare max (small) 5ft 8 and to stop any neck pain or back pain is to run much shorter bars to bring you up more . I’m running 720mm which is crazy unfashionable but once I got over it and used to it , it was spot on . Never going back to wide bars again when most of my riding I’m in the saddle more . You could buy some cheap narrow bars with a big rise to try out . Also my bars are 38mm high

I have same bike and one thing I will say it’s very good and one of the best bikes I’ve owned . I was told the shock tune is very progessive for pedal efficiency . I’m 15st 9 and have about as much as 35/ 40 percent sag to achieve full travel . The bike with this setting still pedals well and you have lock out for climbs . Also for the fork I found 5 volume spacers in and took 3 out .

R.I.P . Great guy 🙂

Just bought a checkpoint sl5 ( week old ) and upgraded the tyres to bontrager cr1 40mm and I’m loving it . I had a trek Boone 5 before and I do like treks coupler system , it takes the sting out of the trail . I feel in the short time I’ve had it I could really start to enjoy longer distances on the comfort side of things . In the Chilterns, where it will be ridden most I feel it’s the perfect bike 🙂

You’ll be fine . Trails arnt that rough

Thanks guys , good valued points . I was just seeing what other people’s thoughts were 🙂

Not whinging just pointing something out 🙂 I always go for medium bikes in the past . Did a carpark test and seemed ok when buying , it’s not till you do a few hours in the saddle to see how things are .

I found the length too long with an Ett of 605mm and 60mm stem . I was wondering if I should of bought a small ? I know bikes are longer now . Quick road test and 10mm shorter stem seems good but the seat on the rails rammed right forward . I could go 40mm and put saddle in the middle of rails but 67 Deg head angle and 40mm stem , hmmm twitchey ? .

I have a trail bike and live local , I find swinley great . Yes you pedal alot but I find folks these days are getting lazy . Keeps you fit 🙂

New stumpy gets good reviews . I like my stumpy for a trail bike so gonna keep it . A longer slacker reach wouldn’t suit my average height and I only do trail riding at best .

@tomhoward . The review was for 2018 , bike hasn’t changed since my 2016 .

Maybe I’m not RAD enough lol . Been in the sport too a very long time and starting to pick up on some bullshite . 🙂

I’m lucky enough to own a couple of bikes so can kind of tell but the way they described it was if it was for the bin lol . Glad I’m thinking of keeping it as the old me would sell, bike shop and out comes credit card 🙂

I bought gx eagle and ride in swinley grime paste . Chain snapped in a few months max and when i went to remove the rear mech it fell to bits 🙁 riding my hardtail at the moment with shimano 11 speed xt and see how it goes

No dont bother ! Mine broke after only after a few months and had to be sent back to EXTRA for repair . The main cartridge failed . It wouldnt return to full extension , I got a refund .

I had problems with my 11 speed xtr rear mech . I found that it was so stiff to shift and it was better with clutch off . I swapped for a xt 11 rear mech and solved the problem . The clutch on the m9000 had issues and has gone back for warranty . Im not impressed with 11 speed xtr and found xt much better .

Thanks for getting back and yes they are tk recons . How much did you pay for the upgrades ?

My are 120mm with bolt throu

Aww thanks . I was looking for lighter wheels to save some weight as the bike is abit on the heavy side

It’s was on the black runs at the bottom , just felt everything and quite slow , then again it is a hardtail

Yes I did think they might have better damping 🙂

I have a bigwig and it’s great for xc 🙂 with 120mm forks it has a 68deg head angle and wide bars dropper post it’s fun to ride 🙂 pedals well for the weight . Under 28lbs 1x 11 set up and hope hoops

my ragley 🙂

Nice bike 🙂 ^^^^^^

What forks you guys running then ?

What forks are you running ? Was thinking of some sektors

tried a 27.2 with a shim but the seatpost slips. whats the best ti post ?

Hardtail for real bikers imo 😉

Great loads of guys sticking with hardtails , keep it up 🙂

I love the look on people’s faces when I turn up on a hardtail on a Welsh away day 😉

I’ve ridden my hardtail in the peaks and wondered if it’s the same as there might be a club ride up there this year ?

dont want to start a wheel debate but since 29er has come along it has made life easier for a hardtail 🙂

Just bought a solaris and its long and low even with 120mm forks , it’s a great bike 🙂

Feel for them but they make great hardtails and my solaris is a great bike 🙂

Could be anything like you say . Looks like a trip to the garage 🙁

Think I will run tubeless too 🙂

Ok cheers for advise . Might go for a set of Hylix forks , what’s the best way of cutting carbon , junior hacksaw ? And whats best for a star but 🙂

Cheers