Rode it on my hardtail 2 weeks ago. The new section is just after the tunnel and traverses across. Some rooty bits and a few twisty drops but all ok. Great fun and plenty of alternative lines available until you get comfortable.

(BTW I crashed in the afternoon and snapped my front brake clean off at the top jumps)

Some young ned at Cwmcarn, talking to his bird…

“when I’m older and have a kid, and it cries, I’m going to punch it”

just hope he didn’t mean it….

I like the mag a lot. Have an online sub which works well for me. Articles are just the right mix fpor me.

I borrow copies of Dirt from a mate, also a good mag.

Cool, thanks. Just had a look at the G2 and a Nikon D3100. I know the D3100 is “better” but not sure that it would make a difference to me

RJ….excellent!

Guess its just me then….and my mate….plenty of room to stretch out!

That looks really nice. I started 2 x 9 and now on 1 x 9 for my Bfe.

Saint brakes…..nice!

I kind of had a similar choice to you. I had a patriot LT and a Bfe and have ended up just with the Bfe. Mostly ride trail centres and local trails. The orange just squashed everything to the extent that I would have to act really stupid just to make it interesting. Some might prefer that, I don’t, so now I ride everything on the Cotic, planning to ride the DH runs at Cmwcarn next week…all day…my legs will give out before anything else.

I would be faster on the orange but just enjoy the Cotic more

I use my dad in laws Navara 6 months of the year and I find it too compromised really. Bikes don’t fit well in the load space so you need a towbar rack or roof bars. Not really nice to drive either, crap turning circle, not great off road.

I have also had an audi S2, S6 and a landrover and all were better for what I use them for.

As a suggestion, audi allroad? cheap and does all you want really

SPDs…really cheap shimano ones

I think the Soul is only rated to 140….

From what I have seen, pretty much everyone that has a Soul loves them. I run a Bfe with 160mm fox vans (same geo as a soul) and think its great, if a little slow to turn on tight stuff.

My Roberts Genesis. Sold one christmas as I was skint and needed to buy presents for the family

FML…..

I asked the same question as this….bought one…love it!

Bfe has the same Geo as a soul. its just that people tend to sun one size smaller than normal to get the extra standover etc…

My Bfe feels better than my inbred by miles. Same build so I can compare the 2. Not at all harsh and I am 40!

Parkhurst is alright, bit flat, lots of dogs walkers.
Brighstone is good, quite a few good tracks.
You could do the seven hills route which goes from Freshwater to Shanklin, about 26 miles (about 3 hrs)

Yes, read it daily & fat cyclist!

Thanks Jimc101, will have a look at that

Thanks wwaswas. I have hubs already so I hear what yr saying. will have plenty of other wheels to look at as we have 5 bikes already….

Thanks for the help. I want to build them myself, just for the hell of it (I do everything else myself) I will have a look at superstar as I had forgot them

AA, how could you leave Richard Hill off that list?

Over time I have too gone back and forward between hardtails and FS. Currently own a BFe and a couple of Commencal fs frames. I sold my orange patriot LT as it wasn’t getting used at all. I thought it was NBS but I enjoy riding the HT more on 95% of what I ride. I have also ridden stuff on the BFe that I wouldn’t on the orange just because I prefer the way it feels.

Started 2 months ago at 96kg, just checked weight this morning at 85kg so it works for me. It took a week or two to get into it but I don’t see it as a diet now, I have changed the way that I eat. I don’t need to eat all the crap that I used to have!

As others said, it sounds like you need a soul. I run my BFe with 160’s but it will be better on 140’s when funds allow. To me it feels like I really need to be hammering to get the best out of it but it will do commuting etc no problem. I also run a triple, at the moment but will go 1 x 9 or 10 when this stuff wears out

Brack, its 60 miles around if I’m right. Lighthouse is on the most southern tip so not doesn’t really matter where you start. Its a tough ask in 2 days I reckon

Assuming you start from Cowes and go anti clockwise you will get to St Catherines lighthouse at 30 miles. I would camp there and use the pub in the local village. Pretty sure it is the Bugle but could be wrong..

Reggie, it depends more on what type of riding you do or want to do more than anything (IMO) as you can pick up either frame, pre loved, for similar money.

I run a BFe with 160’s, but will be moving more to 140-150 when I can afford to.

I don’t ride with a lot of finesse and am a bit of a chubber so the whole “how much does it weigh” is irrelevent!

I know its not a soul but on my BFe I run 740, which is too wide for me so will be cutting them down to 730 ish

It says on the website that it is now free to ride but you pay for uplift – which sounds fair.
The kids are both pretty good once they have had a few runs to check places out. I know its a strange comparison but they have both done a lot of skiing & snowboarding down black runs so tend to start slow then build up once they know the lines and risks, they ride in a similar way…
I’m going to take them for a bit of drop off and jump practise this weekend to see how they go!

Thanks again ace, I am on the Isle of Wight, but go over to the “mainland” for work quite often. I will have a wander in and see how it looks.
I am pretty sure the kids would be ok, just don’t think they have the speed yet and don’t want them annoying folks. There used to be a route map on website but I guess if they are changing it there could be a new one soon!

5lab – wow, that is quite a stack off the tabletop!

I guess I am spending lunchtime looking for vids on youtube!

Thanks Ace. I might try and have a cheeky look around on a weekday without the kids to see what I think. I will make them get some practise on local trails first! The older one has ridden Cwmcarn and was fine….

Fair enough guys, thanks. Might be worth picking a quiet time to have a go then!

I have a Bfe, which is all the bike I need with 160 vans on. If I had to choose between the two options you gave it would be the Sov, just because I prefer the look of it…

Great info, thanks Martin

Nice!

Isle of Wight darnnnn saaarrrffffff

There was a rallye job, but I prefer the “extras” in the GTI. Can’t go much over 50 on the Island so any crash will be small…..

I have seen a few badly chaved examples but seems there are plenty around at good money.

Thanks

Thanks!

Thermocouple for sure. I changed mine myself and they cost £15 each. Worth learning as mine goes every few years…Its really very easy to do