my converted ktm for commuting dutys

using a thule 591 on drive(i think halfords own brand oval bars with no isues had a big nukeproof pulse on with no issues

if its any use i have an edge 500 up for sale with out front mount,bar mount and data/charging cable £60

or go for the zefyros tdi which i use myself but they are £38 each but prefer the tread pattern

mitas charybdis td…. folding,tubless dual compound 520grams each(27.5×2.0) £33 each

if you can find one get a 2015 anthem 27.5 it was the last year before they changed the geo and linkage
stick a 120 cartridge in the fork to slaken it off(very steep h/a out the box) and its perfect or an anthem sx if you can find one
i found this setup as a spot on xc bike i could race on weekends and still keep up on the decents
rode the new ones and instantley dident like it its to close to the trance,
the 29er is fast and nimble but you have to man handle it when it gets rough and the fork dousent like it.
i found mine to be the happy medium

cannonball run

yay another sv owner i have one myself
curvy was a s but have done a n conversion and ditched the fairings for risers and twin spots i use it as my commuter,weekend toy and its great fun
some find the seat a little harsh on long runs but seems ok to me.

I built a charge grater 0 with drip bars for the same reason it rides really well and can take all the rack and gaurds you need and oooodles of clearance even with 38c tyres but unfortunatley have to sell it if singlespeed is any use to you

Madison for me aswell have been awsome on and off road

have found my anthem sx to be great as a race bike but can handle most trail center
i have lighter wheels 700mm flat bars and a 70mm 0deg stem it makes for aggressive when racing but fun when on the descents having the extra 20mm up front really transforms the bike as a do it all
my alloy one currently sits about 26lb
if you went carbon you would probably see sub 25lb easily.

most frames will be made by giant or merida with them being the 2 biggest manufacturers in the trade most wheel brands will have the alloy or carbon for there rims also supplied by them e.g giant supply dtswiss with materials and in some cases manufacture for them.

Commuted on my grater today and was fine with mini vs no judder at all and they use the same frame and fork

Same seller had a charge grater ss cx frame up for sale in my size so i jumped on that and swaped parts from my langster
The plug and grater are same geo i used a kona 700c p2 fork and it handles lovley chuck on some 38c gravel tyres and its a fun commuter that can play around the trails aswell

Use these myself have 2 pairs of the addict 3/4 and 2 pairs of the madison sportive range3/4 and normal sportive bib shorts aswell for nicer days i find madison clothing fit me really well and the build quality is great.

Or ride to parkway/patchway station and train it straight into temple meads.

Concord way for me if you jump on from bradley stoke you can get there in sub 30 without to much hassle follow the river path after the underpass go up behind oldmarket and over the silver bridge by the back of temple meads
or jump on the carridge way from underpass and around old market

Sorry to jump in on this but i have a 56cm langster frameset im looking to trade as i really should be on a 52/54cm
looking to sell but idealy swap for correct size.

ok sorry dident realise they had dropped that much call it 130 posted then :lol:

i have a brand new session 4 still in box i can let go for 150 posted if any good.

Should try some of my races sound the same being winter set one of he climbs saw even the top end running the bikes up and sliding back down was quite funny towards the end.

Started racing winter series last year that a local club runs its £5 entry and on some lovley singletrack and fire road climbs usualy has a mixed age range of around 30 riders its simple male femaile juniors and you land whare you land
if you want to get better you have to work harder as this is a non bc event so no grouped points

BUT its not a massivley advertised event apart from on there website and xc racer which leads to me saying allot of riders not using xc racer looking for races for certain areas.

We saw oktoberfest fall this year due to low pre entry numbers and the odds are it wont be back again.
bikefest nearly dident happen this year and WAS canceld for next year due to lowering numbers and riseing land costs but have managed to secure atleast another year on site using new sections of land
i hope we manage to keep things going and bc can pull another cat out there ass or as other posters have said its off putting getting your ass handed to you on the regular.

fifeandy – try the kratos 2.2/2.4(they come up abit small 2.2 is more of a 2.0/2.1) dual compound/tubless up front its like a minion exo 3c on grip but lower weight and xc sizeing

also found the puregrips dont like going up tubeless the sidewalls threw up allover the floor.

ran puregrip all last year over 2 bikes has the x king 2.2 seems to be a good all round tyres unless its slimy rock which i dont think anything will really do well on

compounds go
oem or non folding usualy about £12 avoid like an sti
puregrip – good overall cost/performance
racesport – uber light and fast same compound as above
protection – tubeless ready
apex – dh casing
black chili – gods gift to bikes…..

now moved over to mitas tyres running the dual compound tubeless
scylla rear and kratos front they are awwwsome and really cheap

has to be qr front and rear or is a 15mm up front ok?

Thats the same ones i mentioned it has to be these and not original race blades as the front will not clear the downtube

Squin i mentioned the giant guards to the rep and the rep and they have been removed from all b2b stock systems so definatley an issue thanks for the heads up
ALSO this years adv models all come with a threaded mudgaurd mount bridge for the rear stays to be able to fit a propper full wrap guard.

Raceblade pro xl are what we usualy fit in the shop to defy adv models,il be honest weve not had any returns or recalls reg the speedshield guards on carbon frames but will question it on wed when im back in.

Jackhammer they actualy use the wheel qr as a mount so no need for dedicated frame mounts 8)

Jackhammer- you want sks raceblade 2 longs i have them on my small defy which has zero clerance even the giant gaurds struggle and lasted abou a month the sks are 10x better and dont rattle.

I know you said hardtail but you can pick up a 2010 anthem up for that money and i have to say that is the 1 bike that converted me from a hardtail as a racey bike that pedals like a hardtail but has the comfort for longer races and handles trail days well
im now on my 3rd anthem and wont be looking back

I’m borderline 5’7 30inside leg I’m a really odd shape and ride a small defy 0 25 miles a day commute really is a great bike on spesh us be a 52\50 depending on your shape

worth a go iv yet to find the limits of the handling under fast singletrack i find it makes you line pick a bit better insted of just smashing rock gaurdens

to much it will throw the handeling way out and will void all warranty on the frame

the 120 change is sub £50 all well worth it.

we have a pipe cutter in the workshop it just saves so much hassle,mess and space for such a small job

giant switch sl is about 175 on a 125mm drop post

looking at about £300 repair at carbon solutions

if its a hub/rim combo that hope have sold in the past just call them and ask i did this with some pro2’s and xc717’s handed over the info no problem.

I have 2 pairs or madison knee warmers and a pair or madison arm warmerd all great kit

Mavic?
I love mine super comfy