GT Zaskar LE in frost blue from the ‘98 Bikenet Catalogue. Full XTR, SIDs, Crossmax etc. Price was about £4 million, like everything else in that catalogue. The good old days…

Morcambe!

I had a 2014 26er Enduro & used it in Aus & NZ, incredible bike. I agree with Tracey in that it climbs like an XC bike, & is on another level going down hill.
Only bad points are the integrated Campy headset & Sram press-fit BB unit. My BB creaked unbearably then siezed up over the space of a couple of weeks. Replaced for Hope BB, no probs since.
My lower headset bearing couldn’t handle a NZ autumn, replaced it with a bottom Hope bearing, has been just fine since. Just a shame you can’t replace the top Campy bearing with a Hope, as the original components are very badly sealed for UK conditions.

Recently bought a 650b frame, dying to build it up!

IOS 11.1.1?? Updated my 12 month old iPhone SE, & having to reset it 2 or 3 times a day for it to barely function. Useless

How does the innocuous question ‘do you ride from home?’ degenerate into such chaos?
And some wonder why others don’t bother posting in the forum :roll:
TJ, think you need to chill out & go for a ride mate. Time spent arguing petty opinions on an internet forum is time you could spend out on the trails, them ones from your doorstep :wink:

Live at the foot of the West Pennine Moors, so some great riding from my doorstep. Convenient, but still doesn’t stop me racking up the miles in the car to ride elsewhere

Bit of kindling from the woodpile & a lump hammer

What ChunkyMTB says, I got stern words (& free bike wash) from the customs dudes for slightly dirty tyres.
Emirates allowance is 30kgs, inclusive of bike, bag, equipment etc, which doesn’t leave much remaining for normal luggage.

In my experience it all depends on who you get at the check-in desk – some are by the book & charge £££ for the smallest excess weight; when I last flew in June they didn’t even weigh my bike bag.

Get your bike gear properly insured & freight it there & back much cheaper. It’s a PITA travelling with bike & luggage

If it’s only 7-10 days you can spare I’d forget Aus & head straight to NZ.
Wherever you end up in NZ there’s invariably somewhere to ride. Can’t advise you on guides, but head to a local bike shop & the locals will fall over themselves to show you all the best spots.
Weather will be perfect in March time too! If you end up in Rotorua you must ride Rainbow Mountain. Tiny ride but the descent from the top is hilarious (and you can wash your bike in the thermal pools at the bottom).

If you do decide to ride in Aus though, I’d recommend Tasmania, there’s new trails developing all the time out that way (Derby trails well worth a visit).

Another vote for the Petzl Myo.
Use it all the time for night fell running & events, esp autumn & winter, it’s excellent.
Head band is comfortable enough when tightened properly (I don’t use the additional over-the-top band), and soon get used to the weight of the battery pack at the back (not really that noticeable).
I don’t necessarily agree with the “1000 lumens upwards” – kinda takes the fun & danger out of running in the dark if you can see everything…
The RXP is 370 lumens on boost, plenty bright enough for a night out in the fells

Can’t remember the last time I rode a UK trail centre. Some are ace (CyB, Stanes lot etc), but much prefer the natural stuff, & love it when the trails are quiet. Can’t beat an epic on the moors in the rain.
Was being teased the other week as I was the only one to turn up on a 26er with a front mech & ‘skinny’ 2.3 tyres. WTF?? Glad I left the spandex at home for that one

Sounds good, cheers for the links, I’ll give them a try. Based in Melbourne, up in the Territory at the mo. Was in Tassie a few weeks ago, Derby trails are improving all the time – you tried them out yet? Psyched up for the Maydena Bike Park opening next year, cracking place for it! Ever get to the You Yangs? Liking the new bike, extra kudos for 26, enjoy

What are the Beechworth trails like Mike?

Best thread on here for ages, proper riding! Great stuff munrobiker

Hello,
44mm refers to the inside diameter of the frame’s headtube, and is now pretty common on new frames. As you mentioned, it allows you to run whatever sized steerer you want (I reckon it’s one of the better recent ‘standards’ adopted by the bike world, hope it’s here to stay). A rough example:
1″1/8 fork – both top & bottom headset cups will sit integrated into the headtube;
Tapered fork – top headset cup sits integrated, bottom headset cup sits external of the headtube;
1.5″ fork – both top & bottom headset cups will sit external of the headtube.

You’re correct that 1.5″ equals 38.1mm; but this refers to the outside diameter of the fork’s steerer, which is not the same as the headset cup diameter required (in this case it’s 44mm).

Hope that helps, almost confused myself there. Give me a shout if you want any more info.
BTW, I’ve got a Cotic BFE with 44mm headtube, & it’s bloody ace. Get one!

EDIT: guys above beat me to it

Deviant, they’re just stainless grub screws (or set screws). Dunno what size yours are, but a decent hardware/engineering shop should stock all sorts of sizes, & would be much cheaper than a bike shop (prob not Homebase)

:D Just seen his line up for 2014. Know where my salary’s going next year then…

Without doubt he, and the E-Street Band (even without Clarence) are the most awesome live act I’ve ever seen.
Seen him a few times in recent years. The guy’s energy on stage is mind blowing, Springsteen’s in his mid-sixties – there are musicians a third of his age who can’t move around like him.
Like others I don’t like paying through the nose for tickets to see high profile bands, but with Springsteen I wouldn’t give it a second thought, it’s value for money, every time.
Regardless of whether or not you like his music, everyone needs to witness a Springsteen gig – no one else compares!

Bit of imitation snow over Tockholes National Park & Darwen Moor earlier on. Pity it’s not sticking – 2ft of snow instantly makes the Darwen metropolis look better…

I use a neo-air for mountain marathons, it’s great. Bought a small to keep weight to a minimum, and it packs down quite small too. I’m 5’9”, and was impressed how comfy it was (and how well I slept – not the norm on previous mats). It’s a damn site fatter than a normal Thermarest, which helps its insulating credentials, and I tend to shove a foil space blanket beneath it to line the tent footprint (seems to work for me). Obviously an appropriate season bag for the conditions will help keep you toasty too. If you can part with the wads & wads of dollars to buy it I’d recommend one

Suppose you can’t argue with Stealth rubber. I’m off to get definitions for Proutster’s intelligent words, & face the prospect of an expensive shoe purchase. Ta lads

Thanks Ton, how are they for pedal grip? My Impacts were great (better than the replacement Barons)with MX30 pedals, was like riding with clipless

Cheers guys,
I’ve got an old pair of Sealskinz that are pretty rubbish really. Tried thick thermal socks (obv. no good when soaking wet), thinner socks with a regular good wiggle of the toes…
Doesn’t help that my 5 10s have just fallen apart after a good few winters.
Shame they don’t do a ‘flat’ version of the MW80s, they’d be cracking. Might have a look at the AM41s
Proutster ta, I’ll see about the Exums – though I’ve seen smaller canal barges…
Ta for the input all

Knocked the nail on the head with your first choice. My mk2 BFe is better than life itself, I’m so chuffed with it. The mk3 looks future proof enough, until the industry introduces us to 3″ – 1.5″ upsidedown taper forks, 30 inch wheels & 200mm rear hubs for our 20speed cassettes…