What’s an ‘enduro trail’ ?

Basically they are so inundated with requests for custom quotes they can’t actually reply so they prioritise those people who have placed orders. In my experience they are the best out there in terms of quality. But only bother with them if you are after something click through from their web shop. I get the feelin they get fed up doing the custom work for someone to send the proofs to another provider to undercut.

I wouldn’t be touching them as an outfit I’m afraid! It’s not like there aren’t other more reliable sellers out there.

Can’t believe no one has suggested the obvious solution here….new bike init!

Just to add, I think it’s a wider problem not just within STW. I see so much aggression and hatred nowadays. I have heard of people being verbally and physically assaulted because they voted to leave the EU. I see constant passive aggressive postings on Facebook relating to Brexit. Hell we even get EU leaders talking about ‘special places in hell’. The world is losing respect, respect for each other’s decisions, choices and beliefs and I think it’s a much poorer place because of it.

Trouble is, in the nicest possible way. The moderators can be overly aggressive or assertive. There have been instances where ‘directors of STW’ have told users to f?!k off on Facebook. All because of differing opinions or misunderstanding. It’s a real shame that someone’s posts on a bicycle forum are so ignorant they make another genuinely feel excluded. I would hate to think that I had allowed myself to be the cause for someone’s upset. But I think the general attitude needs to be led from the top by example. The problem is, as we have been told they don’t really care about the forum. We are all still sat here blue in the face from holding our breath waiting for chips feedback following ‘classified debarcle’

I find it somewhat disappointing that the online community has such little value, as arguably its the back bone and USP for STW!

I think Cannock is the last place I would ride again. Not because the trails are poor, they aren’t. Just the general feel of the place. It’s not welcoming and, without trying to be snobby seems full of twunts. In fact I would prefer to ride at Swinley than Cannock now and that’s saying something.

That said my advice would be to consider timings. The FOD blue gets horrifically busy on a Saturday/Sunday. Maybe go earlier or later in the day. That way you will avoid the majority of the full face Capra squad buzzing and swearing at your kids because they ruined their Strava times.

Do people still fit the braided hoses? I had them fitted about 10 years ago but never saw any performance advantage. I should imagine on modern internal routing they would be a right pain

I just loop 2 inner tubes together? Works a treat make me feel like I shoul cobble a more elegant solution together but this solution has sorted him out a few times now

I have the DH’s May order a set of 3’s, even though I seem to stay on flats nowadays. They are so simple and frankly enjoyable to service.

Now Ross on Wye trails! I love them, albeit I still don’t have full movement in my shoulder after coming up sort on a gap there!

Interesting rant Matt? Not sure why or who it’s aimed at?
ImpatientBull, to be fair you have listed probably some of the most extreme trails that side of FOD there, well of the ones I ride. Staunton trails are longer and largely faster. But not too dissimilar, Still think Bunker is one of if not the best trail in the area.

With kid gloves… In fact uphill it’s almost like he was too scared to pedal it 😂

Calling Mboy to the forum…. Mark has been running his shop demo S150 with both plus and 29. Sure he will be along to share his thoughts. I will say he seemed to go a lot better with 29 over the 650b when we rode with him

Without doubt XM1501s are the best factory built wheelset I have ever owned. Light & strong but not cheap. I have them fitted in 30mm 650b version on my Ibis Mojo HD4, has toyed with carbon but can’t see any reason to. I have owned 1700’s before which is a significant downgrade from the 1501 in my opinion

I got to be honest MBr and MBuK are absolute drivel. I’ll buy a copy of cranked just to say I have read one but in hindsight I rarely read printed magazines now. I like the STW website and forum and the content. Just a large number of things are adding up to make it either unusable or a pretty nasty place to spend your money. Coupled with a, what seems lack of ability to even deliver my paid for magazines. I’m pretty fed up. Obviously if people followed through with promises to repair some of the issues then there would be no need to moan. Sadly the only responses nowadays seem to come from the forum moderators.

To be fair the trails at Staunton, I find are a different scale in terms of their technicality. Quite easy to find yourself on something that requires proper commitment and some skill (hence why I spend a fair amount of time on my arse there) It’s a bit of a maze to find you way around albeit it’s all a fire road climb. I love doing a Staunton biblins loop in the summer stopping a t the campsite cafe for a cake and coffee.
Mallards pike is great, easy pedal up and trails growing in numbers rapidly. It’s good for an afternoon sesh but I don’t find you can get an all day ride in like you can around Staunton. That said local riders tend to keep Staunton a bit of a guarded secret. Which I prefer. Did a cheeky hungover dowies shutcastle loop this weekend showings. Forum member around and the place was heaving probably because the mini downhill was on. But for the first time the trails looked tired, berms starting to be blown out by braking bumps etc. Wouldn’t want to get in an ebike debate but I must have counted 10 up there doing 3 runs to everyone else’s 1. Can’t be helping the trail conditions.

Not stumbled across a copy of cranked, but will order a copy now as I won’t be renewing my subscription. Given I don’t seem to get magazines without chasing STW now

Yep, don’t park in the local streets or the pub (unless you have a good relationship wit them) we got harassed by a local parking across the road from the pub. They can be hostile. I do park in pub car park but a lad we ride with has a descent enough relationship with them and we stop for a pint and food. There is a lay-by near the fire road for the ‘bottom hill’ if you pass the pub on your left and follow the main road back down towards Monmouth M50 it’s on your right. Or you can park on the road to the left just after the antiques shop. Some of the best riding is to be had there but good luck finding it without someone who has a reasonable idea. Also it gets hammered in shitty weather I normally ride there in the summer

To be honest the forum and website failings are nothing to what seems like a complete cluster f&£k of subscription management. Last two copies of the magazine I have had to chase through and get ‘resent’ they seem to ignore my request to look into why since my resubscription magazines are no longer being sent. Just get ignored. It’s a complete shambles

So my ride has now linked with Garmin connect but not to Strava. Tried logging in to Garmin connect URL and get an error message up. Looks like Garmin are in a right pickle, which seems standard usually a couple of times a year

Not sure about Strava but Garmin connect seems pretty broken at the moment! Been trying to sync my ride for hours.

I got to be honest I am blown away with how well my HD4 climbs and descends. Can’t imagine the Ripmo is anything other than superb.

36t on my 1501’s (240 hubs) can’t say I really noticed any noticeable lag. Seems a good compromise for longevity vs usability to me

Been running Joystick Binary 35 carbon bars with a Joystick Builder stem for a while now and really rate them. In fact sold them with my Hightower and the new owner listed them for sale so I bought them back! Always rated the Burgtec ride wide carbon bars as well. Both Joystick and Burgtec seem quite stiff bars to me, so maybe that’s what I like?

Nice work Ton…🤣

Just a note you will need to keep checking back your ad as comments don’t get flagged to you. Unlike reply’s to forum threads or PM’s so you won’t know someone has commented unless you scroll to the bottom of the page.. Drac was reporting it but nothing seems to have changed. I sold my items on pinkbike in the end and missed comments twice on here

I have ridden BPW more times than I care to count but never managed to get a photo taken. I read it as BPW had made the decision, seems a shame but maybe a new contractor?

I have killed a Pedro lever too trying to fit a super gravity Mary to an Enve M70.

In fact I checked an ad again and low and behold another comment no notification so they are definitely not switched on to notify you.

I’m sure most people would check their advert more than once a week.

Why would you if you didn’t know it was there? Furthermore the comments are below the ad content. So unless you scroll all the way to the bottom of the ad you won’t see them.

I only stumbled across a comment 4 days after it was left, no notficiation email or PM. I’d be pissed if I had of paid for an ad!

Well yeah, there is a reason a number of saddle makers make saddles different sizes and with different levels of padding. We are all different, fabrics saddles don’t work for me. But I love on Bonte evoke which is marginally padded. Weighs about half the amount of a fabric scoop or knife or whatever the cheap saddle de jour is called from them nowadays. But the point is you can run a light weight saddle and still have plenty of comfort for sure

Bontrager evoke carbon tailed saddle for me. Comfy as hell and bloody light. Not sure how anyone gets on with bloody charge/fabric saddles. I find them horribly uncomfortable

I got excited when I saw I finally had some response to a classified…then realised it was a scam!

Also point to note if someone comments on your classified item you don’t get a notification. So basically have no idea if they are interested until you stumble across it a week or so later.

Wish mine turned up at all without having to chase….

Nice another ebike thread.

Also to point out 2pure are awesome! So knowledgeable as you would expect but patient and friendly!

If it rides anything as well as my Mono HD4 then you are in for a real treat. I have been blown away with it so far!

Crushed

Sorry, but I will day one thing. Oneup have been the best company I have dealt with in recent years. When my dropped remote snapped following me sneezing once. They replaced it no hassle, straight away FOC. Can’t fault them. Just be careful not to bang it that’s all

Wait until you tap it with you knee… and it snaps at the mount. Super fragile

If you are not riding up is it really worth taking any battery? Not understanding Ebikes can you not ride them as normal hike swith the battery removed thus saving a proportion of the additional weight?