I bought this – Biking MAX 2000LM Bike Light 2 XML-T6 LED Headlight Built-in 6000mAh Rechargeable Battery + 2 Handlebar Mount Bicycle Light from here – https://gb.lightmalls.com/led-bicycle-lights?p=1 (sorry, the link function wasn’t working for me)
for less than £20. Took about 10 days to arrive and has been brilliant for this winter. They’ve got hundreds to choose from right down to like £5 and then you add the battery pack (also available from them). Have a browse.

How long do you intend to ride for with this setup? I ride for 2 hours and use water bottle (in cage, but appreciate not always possible) and bum bag only. This is around FoD, so jacket is either on or left at home.

Bum bag is quite small and was eBay special for about £4 and holds CO2, tube, multitool, tyre levers and still space for battery when nightriding (helmet light with long lead). I found strapping stuff to the bike was less than ideal as it got covered in crap and would come loose eventually.

I’d love a Specialized SWAT box though and then you don’t need to carry anything on you, just bottle in a cage.

But getting buttons sewn onto his current trews doesn’t give Houns the excuse he needs for some new fashion/action slacks. C’mon people, since when did N+1 just apply to bikes? Especially when it’s fashionwear and Houns. ;-)

I can see how one would make a noticeable difference at the critical point. Assuming my shock has none in to begin with, I think I’m gonna go with 4 or 5 and see how that feels. I think I’d rather go over the top to begin with just to be sure what it feels like on the other side of the sweet spot.

Thanks for replies so far.

On the bigger hits it does feel quite linear at the moment. Does adding just one make quite a difference?

Any Factory Murmurs out there in STW land yet?

https://m.pinkbike.com/news/finding-your-sweet-spot-handlebar-width.html

Might shed some light for you. Don’t necessarily go wide just because everyone else is.

Edit – why won’t my links show?
Anyway, go to Pinkbike and search on Lee McCormack and handlebar width.

My Bizango (older black version) had a step inside the head tube that meant I couldn’t get anything with an insert depth more than (I can’t remember – 12mm?). I ended up getting an Uberbike headset as it was the only one with a small enough insert.

Does yours have the step?

Tardy reply alert…

Bit OTT there Rickos.

If it’s tight enough to need that it’ll bind like ****.

If you pop them in the freezer you can just push them in with your thumb.  None of this clamp/hand vice malarkey.

Top tip – put the mount hardware in the freezer overnight before pushing them into the shock.

Do you strap battery pack to helmet or trail the lead down to back pack/bum bag/pocket?

Luke, got me one of these a week ago –

https://gb.lightmalls.com/biking-max-2000lm-bike-light-2-xml-t6-led-headlight-built-in-6000mah-rechargeable-battery-2-handlebar-mount-bicycle-light

Only used it once so far, but it seems good. Less than £22 delivered and arrived in about 10 days. The mount is the slide clip type, but there’s also an extra screw hole that looks very GoPro mountable. Drop me a pm if you want to know more…

That’s a huge reach!  And water bottle bosses too.

I got one for £3.99 off eBay as an experiment, but it’s absolutely fine, so no point buying another.  Fits multitool, 29er tube, co2 and minipump and phone in a separate pocket.  Still has a bit of space for a battery pack for my helmet light too.

It’s about 2 litres of capacity all told, so 10 litres (as linked above) would be way over the top for a bum bag and why you’d choose to use it.

Something like this would probably be enough –

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Multi-Pockets-Runing-Jogging-Cycling-Waist-Bum-Bag-Fanny-Pack-With-Bottle-Holder/172796236810?hash=item283b75540a:m:mlOMiFii6o2_rjgzf2tSE9Q&var=471580762044

Chain Reaction do C2W, so I’d imagine Wiggle will too.  Vitus Sentiers always score well in the MBR hardtail tests, but not sure if they do one that’s gnarr enough for your purposes.  Same for Evans and Norco bikes, etc.

I’ve just been looking at that Norco again and it’s got good geo, good spec, but it just looks a bit meh.  A steal at that price though.

I have a similar list always evolving.  The only bike I have on my list that’s not on yours is the Norco Range.  But it doesn’t get my heart racing in the same way as some others.

Very bargaintastic at the moment though with £650 off.  Down to £1,950.

https://www.evanscycles.com/norco-range-a2-29-2018-mountain-bike-EV306544

I’ve got the Clas Ohlsen one too.  Great bit of kit.  Stick the timer on 3 hours and job done.

Friend of mine bought one the week before they dropped to 25% off.  He’s not happy!  :-D

I’ve got the Adidas Terrex shoes.  Very good and compare well with my old Freeride 5:10s.  Easier to get on and dry far quicker.  Comfy, grippy, lace bungee – good riding shoes for my area (FoD).

I use a chainsaw quite a lot. Bought a Titan from Screwfix for £50 to use in the barn chopping wood to length ready for splitting. Out in the woods I’ve got an Ego 56v battery job. Lovely saw and so much nicer to use than the Titan, but limited by the 2Ah battery – but it came as part of the package, so that was that. A 4Ah battery or even another 2Ah would be nice to allow me to keep working. A sharp saw chain makes a huge difference to how long the battery lasts too, something I don’t appreciate as much with the mains Titan saw because it’s just plugged in and keeps going.

If if I was to do it again I’d get a bigger battery for the woods saw (14 inch bar is good enough) and I’d spend more on a nicer mains powered saw for the barn. The Ego battery saw really is a nice piece of kit, but really depends how often you’ll be using it as to whether the extra initial cost is worth it over a petrol saw.  Electric plug in saw defo worth looking at if all your trees are within a power reel of a socket.

Monmouth U10s have had some good pre-season training and are looking forward to the year.  No easy games any more though and this year they’re allowed to ruck (only 1 on 1 for now though).  :-D

Any other young rugby dads/coaches?

You saw this, right?

https://singletrackworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/review-wee-cog-slider-saddle-bag/

The lever on the bars is the clutch.  So probably only a back brake from the foot pedal.  Still looks awesome fun for wazzing around town.

On eBay at the moment…

I’m in a similar place and have been hovering over a set of Troy Lee 5450 pads (knee + shin) pads on Wiggle for £55.  The 5400 (knee only) are £50.

Propain Hugene.  The Start model is well specced, although from memory it may be a little steep in the HA for your preference.

https://enduro-mtb.com/en/first-ride-review-propain-hugene/

Commencal Meta TR 29 – https://www.commencal-store.co.uk/meta-tr-29-c102x3550729

I use a wheelbarrow. Hay run every day while walking the dog – 1 bale a day. About 200 metres from barn to field, uphill all the way.

Strict at £400?  Close, but for an extra £26.80 using the likes of Quidco (3% cashback at Halfords) you could get this –

https://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/mountain-bikes/voodoo-hoodoo-mens-mountain-bike-16-18-20-22-frames

Voodoo Hoodoo with Deore disc brakes, Deore 10 speed, etc.

Yes, special tools needed that average bike shop probably don’t have.  It’s off to TF, Sprung, etc. for those to be fixed.

If only they’d do a 29er version…  Soon, I expect.

I got some BMX cruiser rims (Alienation Deviant) which are 25mm internal and a great weight, but most BMX rims are 36 hole, so you’d have to do a complete new wheelset.

Well known problem.  Easy enough to fix – I plan on trying it this weekend with mine.  Good how to do it video here (among loads on YouTube).

https://youtu.be/eStqmCu7NOI

If you’re worried about brand image, just buy the Carnac one.  Also £13 and looks identical, even down to the POC Trabec-esque patches on the back.

Stif Morf – https://www.stif.co.uk/morf

Nukeproof Scout in 27.5 or 29

Thanks for the suggestions.  I’ll have a trawl through when I have spare few hours.

I did have Dakota on my list originally, but it doesn’t quite do it in the LOUD stakes.

https://enduro-mtb.com/en/the-best-mtb-knee-pads-you-can-buy/

Good test of lots of heavy duty and more lightweight pads.  The Leatts score well, but no so good in the protection stakes.

Manitou Mattoc Pro gets good reviews and should come in at your budget.  Available in 120mm travel (adjustable up to 140mm) and 29 inch.

https://www.manitoumtb.com/products/forks/mattoc/

http://www.mbr.co.uk/reviews/forks/manitou-mattoc-pro-160mm-fork-review

Try Sospel. They print route guides so you can go off on your own.

Ridesospel.com

It’s Ash that does trans Provence so good trails. Use Coolbus for transfers.

Saddle rails should be able to cope with that 1cm difference, so slam it forward and you’ve got the de rigeur steeper seat angle at the same time. BOSH!  Job done.

https://www.sheffield.gov.uk/content/sheffield/home/planning-development/search-view-comment.html