@ Woody: that video was class mate, wife and I were well amused, thanks.

I do get funny looks when I light a tab up then ride hell for leather past everyone, riders coming towards me almost always give me a nod then drop their eyebrows. 🙄

I’d draw the line at injecting smack on the trail-side though as kids may come past.

That was crap!

this is what to do… carry a micro towel (the good ones that really mop up and absorb properly – mine’s a Lifestyle). Also carry talc. Strip all wet clothes off and talc up. New base layers on – merino is good but even cheap thermal top and long john’s is fine. All of this weighs next to nowt and packs down small – only carry a small talc.

then stick whatever you have (spare dries) over the top. I like to have my Mountain Equipment belay jacket, expensive though…

Handwarmers are great too – well worth it.

Hope it never happens any of you – lastly Happy new Year!

Getting the right bike for me – after much searching. It has made a great difference in my ability to flow. That means that I’ve also ridden more and I’m of course fitter for it.

Wider bars did help.

Flat pedals did help.

Fuel EX did help.

Happy new year!

I would go with m4’s as I’ve got them and they’re grrrreat! 203 rotors though – I weigh 12 stones. They will do what you wish and you’ll be happy.

Oxnop: please explain, if you can, the difference between the evo levers and the race levers, I’d like to heave the best available so may try if I can understand…

Happy new year all!

Hi Burders, I’ve got a Trek Fuel EX8, a Scott Octane and my mate rides a Specialized…

Out of all these bikes the Trek is what I love, the suspension is the best I’ve ridden – don’t believe the little lie about unaffected rear braking and suspension though! The Trek will probably see you through most things, it does me.

The Scott is well built but I’ve had problems with the swing arm needing re-welded.

The Specialized Rockhopper is well built too, very light and a tight ride, no room for error, I’d say.

In the end I recommend the Trek all the way, I favour it out of my quiver and all past bikes.

the last linky that someone put up for a Dare jacket – I bought one. Lovely looking and dead cheap. The black one with white zips… anyway, quality is rubbish. Fit is good though (except the hood). breathable isn’t the word, it’s like a string vest and now after only 4 rides the velcro is destroying the fabric around the cuffs.

Think that I’ll stick with Mountain Equipment for proper gear! Tried just about all makes and these, for me, are clear winners!

Thanks for the posts though! I can’t complain too much though, I wasn’t expecting too much for £30?

My wife is off to bingo this afternoon so I’m with my son (8 years old)… We will be going to the BMX park near us so he can show me up then when the wife gets back it’s night riding at 4pm. Local loop, well, it’s 7 miles before I get to the loop but it’s like my own private trails centre, always empty and absolutely great lines… pretty sure that it was all made by motorcross bikes some times ago, now it’s not that rutted but it still has great roughness to it and the hills up and down are the best I’ve been on. I’ll be blasting the Trek Fuel around.

I can’t wait. Everyone else, enjoy what you’re doing on the last day – Happy new year!!!!!!!!!

I bought my 8 year old a BMX for Xmas. He loves it and we’ve been on 2 bike rides so far.

9AM on Christmas morning, his friend turns up, ‘can Taylor come out, I’ve got a new bike’!!!

Seems to me like half my street got bikes. I got cycling gear off the missus too! 😀

Run my EX8 with Talas 140mm & it’s fine. 70mm stem though… pays to go shorter than stock!

I have the MJ827 and see no reason to bother trying other lights… It is that good, battery is totally waterproof too.

The only down side to this system is the different colours that the head unit display, or rather their timing. Obviously it’s a good idea to have the back of the head unit (facing you) to go from green to blue to yellow then red – BUT – the green only lasts about 5 minutes. The colours swap rapidly and you really feel like the light is on it’s way out, not true though. They’re just set up to change too quickly. The light can last on full for over an hour (well over) and it can easily do 3 hours no problems. I can’t grumble at that.

I’ve got a really long post & my wife loves it… Nice bike mate!

@ time 0:42 – get off that F****in tree! 🙄

Good video though…

Northwind: I second that MJ872 is fab. I think it must be the best value light out there at the minute. As this is what I actually have – what helmet light would match in your opinion?

I would go find some discount LX – they’re great and you could get them well cheap. £55 at Jenson.

Flow seems like a nice chap and a great rider – we could learn a lot!

can we ban bieber?

yes please!

ok all, a heads up – mine has arrived and it is a beauty but… I went for a ride and it’s very ‘breathable’ shall we say. It’s like a string vest to be fair, no need for pit zips as the wind comes straight through. I can’t comment on water-resistance yet though,

Rob

there’s definitely a 6 inch dropper out there somewhere. I saw it in a mag, tested. Uses neoprene on the slider. Can’t remember make though…

Lock em up I say – they deserve to have their property removed and sold on, send in the bailiffs.

Great result BTW!

I think my skills have improved somewhat but my balls have shrank at the same time… levels me out. I think it’s a combination of always riding alone and having responsibilities = my own family. I feel I HAVE to hold back a little and that certainly hinders progression.

That”s mine ordered too – 1 Black medium. Wish I had found a green one though… Oh well, for that price I can’t complain. +3 on pit zips.

I’ll shout STW massif when I someone else wearing one, you’s shout back!

looks great – thanks mate.

Strange that some say that Hope are under powered! Do you not mean well modulated? I run Evo M4’s and I think they’re really good.

Proper inspired to go out and get dirty now, would love to ride with those lads. Well done and keep em coming, ta!

Oh yeah, video fight!!!

I only use Hope so I shouldn’t be asked. I will say that I’ve heard about those cut steerers too though… be careful mate.

My last bike from an eBay seller went with Parcelfarce and ‘next day delivery’ (£40) happened 1 week later – well, I collected it myself in the end at further cost…

I’ve also worked in a mailing hub where all parcels go out of vans on to conveyors – gotta say stumpy, you’re dead right man – they try to &*(&^*( things on purpose.

Anyone got any ideas on a good courier?

Johnny Panic: That’s bad mate… how did it happen?

I’ve had 3 different £3k+ bikes nicked within 20 years of riding. I am addicted to hard drugs and spend over £1k per month on them. I work hard, earn lots of money and I’m probably too honest for my own good?

I’d never buy something I knew was nicked, ever.

I agree that free H would lessen crime, also – it’s easy to forget the crime that comes from the top. There’s more than you think most probably, I deal in finance and the amount of villainous people I have to speak with is unreal…

Im in! Love Jaffa! sse you’s on the Endo Leaderboard! 😉

why?

Edit: I thought you should know I own one of these and I’m interested, so no offence intended.

Hi all,

I’m interested in this – really need some riding pants. Does anyone know of something out there that IS waterproof and tough then? Clearly it’s neither of the above as mentioned by the OP…

ptrockymountain: what you said mate! the best I’ve seen for the cost, beat a lot of much more costly too. let them who want to spend more do it though, it helps drive the economy. 😉

I’ve got an 08 Fuel EX 8 and I wish i could help. I’m very interested though so I’ll save this thread. I did hear the old frames linkage was changed for a reason though… Good luck.

Critical… Get well soon.

Turner for that! That is all… Go buy.

You’ll feel the difference mate. Both ate ace brakes though… Stick with Hope, I’ve tried the rest and none of them compare if you like feel…

Good luck.

Charlie TBM: I just fitted this very thing from you and used it today – perfect.

Napalm, I had MK’s on for a while then I tried Maxxis HR’s. The difference was truly fantastic in mud, would never go back and now Maxxis are my favourite tyres. I do like Panaracer Fire XC Pro’s too though, equally as good but slimmer (2.1) – maybe even better as they cut through mud. I’d recommend you swap if possible.

My opinion is that you will probably want to swap the front ring quickly for a 34 or 36. Regarding a new mech, short is good, have a look at new XTR with the clutch – I’ve heard they are so good you don’t need a chain device!

My hardtail has a Renthal 36 on the front and XT 34 – 11 on the back using a Superstar XC single. Works a treat but I’m hoping to get a mech as above.

Have fun.