The one thing I have learnt above all with road bikes since buying my first one 2 years ago is that the fit is king. I’d rather have a Ali tiagra bike that fitted than carbon Dura-Ace bike that didnt. Because you spend a lot of time in the same position, unlike an MTB, any fit problems are magnified so much. If I change my stem angle on my Tricross between the 2 angles the Spesh stem gives you it is like night and day. With MTBs as long as a couple of basic measurement fit you then it’s ok.
I would therefore recommend that you go to a shop that knows a lot about bike fit and get their advice. I am a huge fan of buying online and getting a great deal but road bike help I’m staying loyal to a local shop who I bought a bike from as they are really helpful and have lent me saddles etc to try out.

Good luck with the purchase, and if you decide you want an excellent condition 2011 52cm Spesh Tricross frame and forks give me a shout…. 😉

“avoid aluminium”

Rubbish. It all depends on how it’s made. I had a Spesh Secteur which I loved (you can fit 28mm plus tyres on them) and it was beautifully smooth on the crappy Huddersfield roads. I sold it to a friend and he backed this up, saying it was a really smooth ride compared to his steel bike and his carbon Boardman but it didn’t flex unduly.

Carbon, Ali and steel can all be very stiff or very flexible, just depends on the design.

BTW I bought a Spesh Tricross to replace it, thinking I wanted to go off road occasionally. I never have done and I now am going to sell it as I don’t like the ponderous handling and the extra weight.

I have the opposite problem. Loads of eggs for me equal catastrophic squits, toots so toxic they peel paint off radiators and make your hair fall out.

I do like scrambled eggs though.

Before I went on a Jedi course I thought I was ok downhill and on singletrack but corners I always fluffed and I needed air.

Whenever I go out riding now I SERIOUSLY scare myself at how fast I can go. I used to break traction on the tyres because I wasn’t riding right but now I break traction because the tyres simply have no more to offer. Tony taught me about pumping (something I could already do but never used, oddly) and now I go faster and further for less effort – always a plus for me!! And I now confidently go off most drops and jumps fine – in fact I love them and search them out.

If you want to ride and have a decent amount of fun and pleasure on a bike you don’t need to see him. If you want to get to the end of every trail giggling like an idiot, do things that you could only dream of before and finally find what you and your expensive bike can REALLY do then give Tony a call. I guarantee you that no single purchase on bike kit, no matter what the price, will make as much difference to your riding.

TBH – MBUK is better than STW mag. I really do not want to sit down with a mag and read an article about some journos going on holiday to slovakia. At least with MBUK the articles are short and sharp, reviews a plenty, just don’t take it seriously!! BTW – good freebies with MBUK also!!
Only reason large number on here slate it is because its deemed to be cool to do so, in the same way that the “phat bike” bandwagon is and has been jumped upon by so many.

+50
I don’t normally buy any of the mags but after recently getting a telling off on here for slagging STW and feeling a bit guilty for not buying it for years I thought I’d buy a couple of issues. Still dire GCSE pictures and design, same waffling stories about visiting chums and drinking whisky.
I bought MBUK too. Well I read about all the different disciplines in MTB, saw a couple of articles that made me want to ride my bike, some reasonable product reviews and got a thick glossy professional magazine for my money.
Guess which one I’ll buy next time.
Well I’ve seen the MBUK lot ride too and they are pretty chuffin handy on a bike. Probably better than 99% of the XC “why do I need to get my wheels off the ground” cowardly mincing computer geeks that post on here. 😉

To answer the OP, no, never. But then I don’t want to drive an Audi/Passat/Octavia, ride an overpriced Cotic/Commencal, drink overpriced alcohol just because it’s sat around in jock land for 15 years, install a woefully inefficient woodburning stove or shave my head (but that’s because I have hair).
Most importantly, even after a couple of test purchases just to check, I don’t want to read an uninteresting, badly designed magazine. 🙂

Know a lot of people who are hypnotised by Brant Richards

I have no idea why.

Yeah the snow didn’t affect it too much I reckon.

Thanks for making me welcome again despite my glacier like speed uphill. 😀

Me and rich were discussing riding in the sun on the way back. Anyone remember what that is like?? 😉

Crikey

+1 same here

Huddersfield

Just got up to get stuff ready (yes, 6am) and found out there’s an inch of snow outside!! And it’s still falling….. crikey.

Tell me where this Ullswater beast of a trail is!! Grid ref maybe? Must go and ride it soon!!

Who was it that rode the Edale loop on the SS cross bike? Seriously dude you have lots of skill or bottle or both. I thought I was going ok on my Pitch when you passed me with a complete lack of respect for your own safety it certainly looked “on the edge”. 😉

How rocky though? It’s that my mtb is a 6 inch travel job, sounds a bit much for this ride.

You forgot to mention its also a shonky piece of tat that weighs as much as a small moon, looks like someone attacked it with a skip full on anvils and rattles like a granny full of spanners. 😉

I might put my new uppy downy seatpost on to make my bike completely unsuitable.

+1

I hate riding in mud. It’s rubbish

I may be seriously over biked for this ride as the Saracin will not be ready… 🙁

WOO HOO! I may be able to come!!

One question: if it’s a bit flatter and smoother than the dark peak shall I bring my new bike instead??

RR – yes I do wear baggy trousers and the photo doesn’t help but I DO have short legs – only a 29″ inside leg and I am 5’7″!!

Elf – NO! Ok?

You can ride my new one if you visit though… 🙂

Need some bits for it really, just put a wanted ad in – really would like an ok bike to lend out to people who don’t have their own bikes but would like to try it.

Posted on my bother’s log in by mistake…..

Locals around Hebden Bridge or Tod to show him (and me cos I’ve always been a bit let down with Calderdale but not ridden with locals) around would be good.

Wheels need replacing really if I can find some nice 7sp wheels somewhere. New grips cables, seat and pedals will make it 100%.

Pub bike? Don’t go to the pub – this is a spare bike for towpath rides and such.

Price? £15!!

I wish that bike was mine. I’d respray it, get disc mounts put on and turn it into a uber pimp butchers bike. How good would that be? Uppy downy seatpost? Alfine hub?

I was an operations manager (not store manager but one of the management team) in a medium sized DIY chain in Yorkshire and I earnt £16k, so I reckOn that’s about right.

The worst thing that will happen is that the footage will be wasted and you’ll have to go and ride it all again.

So it’s a win win situation!!!

just swap the m and n keys

That is pure genius. So subtle yet it will destroy his mind.

If I had been sick for 2 months in my first year I’d expect to be fired before the year was out!!!

I cannot stand it when all you folk talk about how amazingly tall your wives or partners are. 😉

Mrs Robdob is 4’11” – now that’s a challenge finding a bike to fit.

She has an xs Specialized vita (flat bar road bike) which she loves – fits perfectly. Wow it’s a small bike but still no toe overlap.
She also has a 12.5 GT Backwoods (1999 – they don’t make them that small now!!) which she finds too long!! 😎

Ton, I went for v brakes with some travel agents to make them work with my drop bars, they are ace and have loads of power.

And, in no way in a ‘pervy’ sense, but girls, these are perfect rides to get into the big group ride thing. It’s all very social and relaxed. Jane will tell you.

Chances are you’re better than most of us anyway, but please come along.

That is very true. I don’t stay at the back on the uphills because I’m caring and protective (I am those things anyway) its because I’m fat and unfit. 🙂
If I come along there is a guarantee you won’t be last on the ups….

Too much money really – even if I had the cash to get one I’d be afraid or wrecking £200+ of camera in one fall.
Thinking of some of the £50 ones on eBay.

Anyone??

A lot of northshore is pretty naff in my opinion. Remember it was originally conceived as a way of making or connecting a trail together and avoiding the unrideable or sensitive bits of ground. The mega high ultra technical stuff was an extension of this. Maybe the boardwalk across the boggy bits that TJ speaks of is more like the original NS than the twee foot high ladders and see saws you might see at a trail centre.
However done right it can be amazing – look at a video of Jedi riding Herts Shore and it’s impressive.
I like to try it but the height thing puts me off. I know it’s all in my head but it’s hard to get past. Can’t see why it’s so repellant to some, it’s no different to ride on than a mildly pebbly track. If you hate riding on the boardwalk stuff maybe some skills training on managing your grip levels may be in order! 😉

I went on a couple last year and they were ace despite me being really slow and unfit uphill.
The great thing is that you can do the same route again but chat to other people and have a completely different time.

I can’t wait to ride there again. Pity I’m on holiday on the next one.

2nd vid is Hagg farm, yes?

I think he was going pretty slow as it was his first time down The Beast, but it does flatten out quite a bit on the vid for some reason.

Plus he was cheating by riding on the bank at the side!!

Jedi – I was doing the cornering technique on the road bike on the way to work this morning!! No big drops though. 🙂