So it looks like a well used bike from the photos and was collected by someone who isn’t bike savvy? What evidence (photographic) do you have that it wasn’t already damaged?

If I was the bike shop I would be telling you to do one, they can’t accept blame for the the condition of a used bike they didn’t supply. Much like they cannot accept blame based on yours and a mates say so! With that in mind I think you need to suck it up yourself. Personally I would always drive to collect a used bike myself. It’s never worth it nowadays in a world of cheap crap couriers, pinched kit etc. If it’s too far to drive there will always be another one in the future

Promised myself one of these once I get the lost conversion booked in at the end of the year.

Ordered…I have no need for these either!

Thanks clockarockin, not sure a cake crafted by my hands would be worthy of anything other than a trip to the doctors! I wonder if I put the bike I buy up for raffle? Guess that depends on the value of the bike I buy… but something for me to think about for sure

So the event costs are being funded by work. I have to buy my gear. Bike etc. Obviously! ALL the sponsorship gathered goes directly to the charity. Which reminds me I need to sort (I’m a MTB rider and got rid of my last road bike a while ago) good point about the ramp up towards the event. I’m due to complete the ride in Sept. I’ll share in my local groups and communities. I don’t think STW forum would be the place to start sharing stuff like this as it would likely break a rule and start a torrent of charitable activities/posts. Hence why I haven’t shared the details, I didn’t intend this to be a stealth ad.

In all honesty, I really wanted to do a good job for the charity. Which is, in my opinion doing great things and is off the beaten track in terms of people’s awareness. Which makes things harder I guess. I really don’t want to be ‘that person’ who moans like hell. I just wanted to know, as someone who hasn’t done this sort of thing before if I’m treading the right path in terms of sponsorship.

I posted something similar last year as I had an anti competitor clause in my contract, specifically naming my new employer. It all got a bit messy in the end. Mainly because I was honest with my exhausting employers of 10 years. Basically they wouldn’t allow me to go on garden leave, expecting me not to work for 3 months once my notice period had finished. It was spiteful, petty and basically highlighted why I was leaving the business. I played it cool and just kept records and referred them back to my contract as they did to me. It was a ridiculous situation when they took my customers and my staff away from me but refused to place me on leave. I could of been arsey with them around them changing my duties and by the terms of my contract my clause activated from the moment they changed my core functions. But in the end I decided to slide out the door and quietly start my new job ignoring the clause. Granted this was for a big company employing thousands of staff. So very different to a small business. I would personally be inclined to honest and civil. It always feels so much better when you keep a level head when others blow their load!

To be honest I have been completely unimpressed with my GX. Looks like I have trashed another mech following my chain snapping a couple of weeks back. Can’t get it to index at all. Tried everything. I have ordered a new X01 mech now, after being assured they are much stronger than GX. Personally I’m now in the departure lounge awaiting Shimano XT 12 speed. Hell I may even go XTR if I’m feeling flush.

I’m running the new Hans Dampf, much better than the old one. I run the orange soft compound. Not super gravity, it’s a fantastic tyre. Will be running with a rimpact shortly.

Just looked at DTV Facebook page, I think it the trail they have been working on for a while. You reach it from with Worcester lodge of the same fire road as Y2K runs alongside some of the tracks previously used in Mini enduros. Didn’t know it was called Vaper. We always called it tree puncher, can’t remember why. Probably to do with some crash years ago

EDIT: Were you just talking about the front? That is a weird size, had enough trouble converting from 20mm to 15mm.

Yeah just the front on the newer wheels, they have a slightly smaller diameter of flange with the end cap and no one makes a kit. It’s only like 2mm smaller and the exact same size but it is smaller

Vape trail? Dont think I have heard of that? Where have you seen or heard that talked about mate?

Mine were not centre lock and the latest spec, so likely OEM. But they are out there!

You got the link to the exact model? It’s the front end cap flange that’s the problem. I suspect you have the newer model, but without a link/pic I can really help

Depends on the year. If they are the lasted spline 30’s then you can get a rear wolf tooth kit to fit but the front is a different end cap size (by 2mm smaller if memory serves me) and non of the supplier make a kit to fit. You can use those horrible spacers from eBay but I hated those in the end I bought the same wheelset in boost!! I have the rear conversion kit somewhere.

If they are the older version then yes they can both be converted. I literally tried everything to the point I was going to get the older kit turned down by an engineering company but lost the plot with it

I depends completely on what trails you ride there, your tyres, if you run inserts, weight etc etc. If you are running the blues all day I wouldn’t worry too much albeit they can be fast so with a tyre like a Nobby on the back you can roll it and burp if running too low on the berms. If you want to attack some of the bigger trails they can be rocky and if you are clumsy on line choice it can be hard on wheels. Like NW I broke a carbon rim there (and seriously flatted and alloy one) but I am clumsy, heavier and hard on kit so my riding isn’t sympathetic. Lots of pinch flats too, my buddy ruined a fresh fitted tyre on first run once, same lad ruined another the next time we went. It’s not overly harsh, but I personally don’t get comments around it not being Hard on tyres etc. That’s almost as subjective as your post OP. Me personally I would want something a little sturdier than a Nobby Nic on the back, but that’s just me I guess

Given it’s the base model I’m guessing the wheels are going to be fairly plump? Also NX, alloy bars, tubes etc not to mention The Yari over your previous pike fork. Personally I wouldn’t chase my tail trying to lose weight from it until I was happy with everything and spent some time on the bike. Once I had run it for a few months I may start the inevitable upgrades. However no transition full suspension alloy frame has ever been a weight weenie first choice, they are heavy frames so no amount of bolting carbon and expensive bits on is going to change that fact

So quick question. What about the other parts needed to fit the back box? Like paste, new hangers brackets etc? These would be included under the parts line of the invoice. But I’m really struggling to see what the garage has done wrong here. If the bougt the box from a local motor factors it would be delivered same day, which they pay for. They then fit at a 0.5hr rate. Completely reasonable. Now you are complaining that they didn’t pick the time exhaust up at service?? When you mention it’s a slight ‘rattle’ from the front? If the back box isn’t blowing and the exhaust isn’t leaking they won’t pick that up as part of a service.

This whole post is a prime example of how a little knowledge can be dangerous.

OP, I think your garage has done a sterling job of getting your car back on the road for only £150. Even if they made £100 on your job, they have to pay a technician his wages, pension etc. They have to pay rates and insurance not to mention tax. Plus also, drop in jobs like back box replacement puts pressure on their prebooked service work. They are the ones being completely reasonable! Calling them up and chancing your arm for a couple of quid discount is going to lose you good grace for when the inevitable happens and the car breaks down the morning of your holiday….

Is it not legit? Damn!

Tyres…I change A tyre but not (s) rockrazor on rear, keep Mary on all year up front. But I won’t be going semi slick until it’s proper summer. Some slick shoots still around which I would like to still have use of my rear brake on.

Looked amazing, loving the EWS. Looking forward to the video roundup. Sam Hill down the pack, not feeling well it’s reported. Maes looks to be on proper form this year. Could be a bloody exciting one!

Couple of places like that in the Forest of Dean too. Noticed it tonight, I guess it’s a wild plant of some description. But it’s quite potent, sort of smell normally found around the uplift point at lunch time

I couldn’t deselect PayPal when I last sold something a week or so back. Despite it saying cash on collection

My line up, just swapped Lewis Buchanan out due to illness, he doesn’t look like he will be fit

Martin Maes
Yoann Barelli
Remy Absalon
Sam Blenkinsop
Anita Gehrig
Anneke Beerten

No search function to find the league, anyone got a link

Love them both.

increase in moaning about the classifieds threads

As predictable as the moaning threads, a moaning post moaning about people moaning…again…the irony! 😂

Be prepaired for all car sales to be odious, oily individuals who place more store in thier suit than customer service

In true STW style, sweeping Ill-informed generalisation there! Whatever next…all Brexit voters are racist? All priests are peadophiles? 😂

Not really, but I would say without knowing the price why worry about haggling. It really isn’t a retail environment. Driver sales schemes are a great way of reducing defleet and onward sale costs, whilst allowing the customer to buy their own lease car for family, friends etc. Pricing will be largely fixed as the calculation will have been made based on projected auction prices, defleet and collection costs etc. Almost always it will be cheaper than the retail price of your car if you were to buy from a dealer. Plus you get the piece of mind that you know the car history.

Yes, you can speak with the lease provider or finance company and ask where it’s being sold. There should be no reason why they wouldn’t tell you. Alternatively just keep an eye and register on BCA, Manheim and Aston barclays websites. Be mindful though that sometimes cars are not sold through open auction nowadays, with so many online routes to market. Also bear in mind the indemnity costs for a private punter are significant! So it maybe better buying through the lease companies driver sales solutions.

BCA are an auction company, ordinary lease cars go straight to auction, or possibly to a dealer, Motability cars come to one of the sites of the company I now work for, who repair and refurbish them, if Motab agree, or they’re rejected and are auctioned, either online or via Aston Barclay or BCA; I wasn’t aware of BCA undertaking repairs.

Close, but unfortunately wrong. BCA own the largest defleet business in the U.K. as well as supporting new car supply at dock side to name but a few. They provide defleet, In life and recon services for most of the lease providers and OEM’s…. you’ll have to take my word for it I’m afraid, or google it to find out. But auction is only one part of the total operation.

It’s not the inspector you need to challenge! Jeez there are so many urban myths around EOC lease returns. It’s almost comical. Ironically the only dodgy part of the whole process seems to be the customers, who try anything to wriggle away from the fact they have damaged the car.

If the inspector has highlighted damage that isn’t there challenge him, but for (certainly the two biggest inspect and collect providers) the inspectors are paid by job not for damage picked up. So they have no reason to lie. If you refuse to sign, the car is filthy or you try to avoid the process the damage recharge will be calculated off the deflect inspection. Under proper lighting, cleaned etc. My suggestion would be to ask questions to understand prior to the inspection process. There really is no ‘con’ the businesses that run inspect and collect services are massive international organisations, the lease companies are also big reputable businesses who are fully regulated. Yes the Charges can be high, but remember that when ordering cars with diamond cut wheels and pearlescent paint (which can’t just be touched in)

completely underwhelmed with the megatower, usual boring SC colours as well…really Meh! Sure they will sell loads mind. Also don’t buy this passive aggresssive, reverse snobbery to SC. What does it matter how or what people ride? FWIW a number of my mates on SC are some of the wildest/fastest riders locally. None of them has a T6 or BMW.

The only difference I can think of is when the Van went back they were expecting us to replace it

That’s not the case.

All the leasing companies outsource the inspect and collect element to one of about 4 suppliers. All of which use the BVRLA guidelines to inspect the vehicle (damage visible from 2m or sidelining) I’m not sure why the guy was a **** because he did a proper job, maybe he was proud and enjoyed doing what he does. Ultimately all of their work is audited, all they have to do nowadays is highlight the damage and the recharge rate is determined by BVRLA guidelines the lease companies damage agreement.

They (bca) don’t fix the damage anyway.

That’s not true, BCA fix cars on customers behalf. Different lease companies have different recon matrix.

The inspector on the day found lots of dents and scuffs i’d never noticed

This is because they carry out a zero tollerance inspection based on some rules and the system decides as to the damage being in/out BVRLA standards. The damage recharge element is controlled by the lease company.

The whole process really isn’t all smoke and mirrors, but is emotive subject given no one likes to end up with a bill.

Also worth noting that regardless they carry a full inspection out at deflect centre. So if your car is filthy, it was dark, raining etc. There will be a clause stating they may come back at you when the vehicle is inspected in controlled conditions…not many will, but it’s in there. I will say (carefully as I work in this industry) there is little arm chancing or fiddling. Genuinely it’s a tough job, the inspectors are not on a bonus for picking up damage and get given the run around allot. You tend to find the vocal people about being stung are those that feel hard done by as they believe the damage to their car is insignificant. Remember everyone is an expert when it comes to cars!!!

Yeah I’m entered the n’duro

Ordered. Hopefully Sizings are ‘standard’ and not Chinese fit. Cheers Alex

Rode for the first time in tirpentwys just near Pontpool. Was absolutely minging and felt quite uneasy riding around the trees with them moaning and groaning in the wind. Proper messy day, interesting place to ride. Wasn’t fussed on the bike park trails, not really my thing but the off piste stuff on the other hill, with all the cars dumped down the trails was good fun

Non serviceable so you have to actually push out the cups every time you need to change bearings

Do you have a carbon or alloy Jeffsy Poops? If carbon what do you mean about the cups? There are no cups in the carbon version it’s just bearings that press into the Bb shell. I’m pretty sure! The hope bearings have a flange. It’s a complete crock of crap system due to the lack of actual space for bearings

Yep it’s true, we were talking about this in the week with my mates. Mallards always takes a hammering at this time of year, it drains poorly. But even the more hardpacked off piste stuff like the Dowies are looking sorry for themselves. I don’t think Ebikes are helping hearing people brag that they can do 10 times the runs at mallards or dowies compared to their trail bike. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to understand that trails are going to take a pummelling. Not to mention seeing people of 40lb bikes smashing the hell of of corners skidding through natural berms. Part of the issue is the trails around the centre are either winch and plummet downhill trails (also smashed) or basic blue or red xc route. There is more stuff being build towards the rubber duck climb and Y2K, but you can see why people are heading to places like mallards. Especially when PABA build a cafe there!! Also worth noting the amount of races being held around PABA seems to increase (2 weeks on the bounce now) people are going to look elsewhere