I'm going to try putting the seals on the lowers first, the push the stanchions on.

Well, I've got some GC2s. They need to be properly aligned to feel nice, if not they feel awful. They take a lot of shock out of riding going into your wrists.

I'd suggest sticking around Afan way, White's, Y Wall and Skyline are all still in action – albeit a slighty diverted Skyline.

Bear in mind that Glyncorrwyg is gonna be busier now as Afan side is closed off (Penhydd). Also, bear in mind there is a road diversion, just follow the yellow signs when you get into Port Talbot and you'll be fine.

Cwmcarn is good fun, but i'd probably leave it til the last day if you had time to fit in a quick blast. It's good fun, but IMO Afan has more to offer.

If your fork is a post mount, you'll need a post-post 185mm front adapter.

And for the rear you'll need a post-IS 160mm rear adapter.

The easy way to think of it, is if the bolts go on the way the bike is facing, then it's post. If they screw in to the side, they are IS.

I'd suggest that 185 is a lot on the front though, as Elixirs are pretty powerful as they are, and 160 is more than enough 160/160 is my preferred setup.

Probably worth a look here….

It's http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/stans-joes-no-tubesflats-with-mavic-317s-anyone-tried-it

Hmm… I've got some ergon grips with mini barends, they tighten only on the outside. Reckon they'd be ok
To use?

Not bad at all. Unfortunetly I am on the thin side, so tight Italian road style tops are ideal. :)

Yep – mine have been fine too. Fairly quite, glazed over – but that happens when it gets a bit dusty. Sanded down after a couple of rides, and they're spot on.

For me, it will be that the alu freehub body has worn where the larger sprockets, attached to the spider have dug into the body. This allows the larger sprockets to move out of alignment from the smaller sprockets, casuing the lockring to come undone. I believe a bit of filing is in need of doing.

Seven – you're right.

I did have the same issue with the lockring coming loose, but the result was very different – a clunking when putting down a lot of torque.

I really should have checked the lockring way before thinking of posting on STW, but my thanks to Seven. :)

It's not the chain on the front mech, it's coming from
the cassette. It's more a cracking noise than a rubbing noise, my initial
thought is that the middle chain ring is slightly worn causing the chain the wear unevenly to the cassette. And as the smaller sprockets are steel they won't wear down as quick
as the larger sprockets to match the chain.

Is there logic to that? If so I'd need a new chainring cassette and chain….

Happens while pedalling, after shifting down. In the big and middle ring, I've not tried granny as I don't use extreme gears.

Cheers

ricks

half to a full size up…. depending how tight a 44 is for you. i'm a 42 in specialized, i can fit into a 42 bonti – but they're tight. 42 1/2 is spot on and a 43 is roomy.

Have you used rim tape? And a tubeless conversion kit like stans? Or a ghetto method? And… Are you using sealant?

Gt85 inside the pods, everywhere. Jobs a good un.

Beta brainwaves are possibly the best budget set of phones about, sound as good as anything around £100 for far less. Only issue is you have to get them from the states mp4 nation, paired with sole
foam tips that come with them give a great seal and loads of bass. Also, depends what player you've got, if it's apple… Forget bass it ain't happening, look at the sansa clip+. it's cheap as chips, light, and has quality
to match the cowon s9.

Right then… your carbon frame will be coated in lacquer, basically think of it as being made of plastic.

Mucoff is fine to use, just wash it off in the prescribed time. If you want to keep dirt and stuff off it cover it in Miracle Shine – it'll look blingtastic, and keep the frame a little bit more protected.

Generally carbon's easy to tke care of, just watch for scratches dents and cracks. If you get a crack, send it back :) doublecheck your warranty too, I've got an E-120, and Whyte were fantastic when the frame cracked due to general use, not abuse.

I'd recommend covering areas that are likely to wear with copter tape, from the biketart shop (google it). it's proper 3M stuff, easy to apply, leaves no marks and is tough as an Irish gypsy.

Are you really limited to Halfords, or is that just a location issue? I'd spend a couple of hours travelling and £20 fuel to get a decent spec bike on c2w.

Dont go for alloy spokes, you'll get to the end of the year and try to true them, and they'll just spin and you'll end up cutting all your spokes and rebuilding from scratch with brass nipples.

Go brass. They last. :)

My x0 shifters are dead easy to take apart, a shot of gt85 inside should do the trick. Though I'd have thought you've probably got a kink in the cable somewhere.

REAR SHOCKER………FOX

That would be a shocker.

….. Or is it a WIN?

+1 sockpuppet

is this a bad spelling competion?

FAIL

Hmmm… Gorlech… it's fireroad climbs, and a slightly technical descent that might be a bit scary if he's not used to technincal descending.

The Blue and the Green trails are excellent fun – I'd prersonally recommend them over the Gorlech… but that's me.

+1 rudedog

Myself, and the crowd I was with thought Ae was utter shite. Lots of fireroad climbing, then some bizarre staccato singletrack, then a massive diversion downhill on fireroad, to climb back up to fireroad, then the Omegaman descent… which frankly… i found awful.

I suppose it's all about what you like to ride, I like sweeping fast technical singletrack, rocky descents like at Kirroughtree, and long chutes. Ae just didn't tick any boxes for me.

Sounds pretty good plan to me, natural stuf is ace when you know the area… but if you're new trail centres are tip-top. I'd go for natural stuff on a second visit… for me anyway :)

Realman… I have a thing for Whytes. I also like fat birds.

Well, actually… No. I don't like fat birds. But I like Whytes.

Hmmm… i had a creak on my e120 in the similar fashion – turned out to be 3 cracks… Whyte replaced under warranty. I think the warranty is 5 years from purchase.

Cheers molgrips. Much appreciated :)

It feels the same as if they were vanillas with too heavy a spring…. they feel too reluctant to move if that makes sense.

If they're brand new they may need priming… trying cycling them through their travel a dozen times to get the compression damper working.

Ah i see, I had a wander onto CRC and seen Avid's own for £15… so actually not that bad really. Just remembered the last set were £25.

Although I'll be buying some A2Zs and some stock pads and see how they go.

Cheers Steve :)

Tandem – I knew i'd get flamed, but the sodding Google search is shocking – STW must be getting paid for the ads, but at the cost of a decent user experience. Not ideal.

+1 for me too.

They feel like Crank Brothers? Yep – they both have too much play in the bearings

nope, not on mine. Both sets are solid. Maybe i eat less pies? ;)

Me too, I've got two pairs – a set on the single speed and another on the full sus, they're amazing. No problems so far, and the SS has had heavy use.

For me they're far superior to Shimano SPDs.

They feel very similar to Crank Bros pedals.

If you do get some, spend a little time setting the correct height of the cleats with the shims provided – it really pays off.

I used the BBB ones on my X0….. work spot on. £13… jobs a good un.

Although I'd have gone KCNC if i had the money..

Lecht – in case you're interested we're selling a 15" Cube AMS Comp, WLS…

It's got a very low standover, and would be ideal for someone 5'3…. and best bit… we're looking for less than £700 for it :)

Plus… it's a bit bling.

The ad is HERE