Crikey, are they accessible by bike? Interesting article.

The Rhone valley, near Visp. There’s a great Spring trail called the Südrampe which has all the technical challenge of high alpine stuff but at a low enough altitude that it’s accessible early in the season.

Southern Black Forest, Germany

Baby wild boar in a game reserve on the way up

It’s a leather sleeve. Looks a bit odd when new but weathers and ages nicely.

You’ll have a lot of fun with it. Mine’s done everything from XC racing to Alpine DH tracks.

I’ve got a lot of bikes but my 2Souls is probably my favorite.

Scaled, you’re right of course but single speeding up a 1500m climb and then down the other side is sadly beyond me!

For a fit rider in an Alpine environment it’s a game changer. 1 x 10 was too narrow a range for big climbs and big descents. With 1 x 11 it’s do-able but you need a certain fitness level to make it work.

10 for me (+3 other family bikes)

140mm 29er FS
140mm 29er Hardtail
150mm 26er Hardtail
180mm 26er FS
120mm 26er XC-race FS
Race roadbike
Training/turbo roadbike
Fatbike
1981 roadbike
1992 MTB

Bleed in full slow so that you can then screw the adjuster in to increase the pressure to get the fastest return rate. Highly likely to be the seat clamp though, especially if you don’t have much post showing out of the frame.

I had similar (lower back pain after sitting for extended periods)

See a physio. Mine did various exercises to improve alignment of the spine. After each session I felt 10 year younger (temporarily) and after 4 or 5 weeks my pain was gone.

Bench was from westfalia-versand.ch

Was it expensive? It’s Switzerland, what do you think! 😉

Candodavid – erm, you’ve got a point there. Lucky it’s a clamp fitting rather than bolted!

There’s not much flat building land in Switzerland. It’s common for houses to be built on the side of hills. Garage and some bedrooms at the top, living rooms, kitchen and more bedrooms in the middle and cellar and garden at the bottom.

A strange arrangement if you’re coming from the UK but quite normal here. All that “profiting from other peoples’ crimes” evidently does strange things to our architects…

I think it will last the weekend. The hose still works despite being coiled somewhat haphazardly. The thing that looks like a small vice is a small vice.

As many as you want but with no overlap. Each bike needs a purpose or it won’t get ridden.

If you have issue 78 of the magazine then he’s on the cover and he guided for the article on Switzerland. That was mainly in the Oberwallis region a little further up the valley but he’s a walking trail encyclopedia and knows Grimentz as well.

Contact Dave at swissalpineadventure. If you can get him to guide you then you’ll have an amazing time.

info@swissalpineadventure.com

Cutting the tape to size is no hassle. Just do it with a Stanley knife whilst it’s still on the roll. (ie cut through multiple layers at once)

I use Tesa 53799 Gaffer tape. 1 round is sufficient for mtb applications. It even comes in yellow so you can pretend it’s Stan’s.

I’m not sure that using pliers to open the powerlock is any big improvement over just using a chain tool. My experience is that the powerlock is a very tight interference fit and probably relies on deformation of the plates to engage. It’s good to hear that you have been using them successfully however I assume that the strength/robustness of the link is compromised.

Anyway, anyone using a 10 speed powerlink on XX1?

Duane,

SRAM only makes a powerlock for 10sp and 11sp which is not reopenable after it is closed.

KNC make a 10speed powerlink (reopenable) but not yet an 11 speed one

SRAM would have you believe that there’s a bit more to it. Anyway, checking the actual measurements will be the key.

aracer – no, those are campagnolo chains only

Frankers – I’m 191cm (6’3″), shorter legs and longer body. The XL fits well with the 50mm stem but if I was <189cm then I would drop to an L.

I did manage a jet-lagged spin last night on very icy trails – will wait for better conditions before giving the full ride report but feels very capable, light, agile and surprisingly slack with the 140mm fork.

Fantastic bike and really versatile. I rode everything from all day Alpine epics with 2000m+ of climbing to DH courses on mine last year. Best bike I’ve ever owned by some distance.

Tubeless with no rimtape (just one round of duct tape), 125g Selle Carbonio SLR saddle, shorter reverb post, the Havoc stuff is pretty light as well. Pleased with where the weight came out but not really that bothered about it. Been riding a 17kg fatbike for the last few months.

Seems like we have a mini STW sultan owners club here!

It handles the rigours of the road outside my house with the utmost ease. Currently sitting on an aeroplane so the real ride report will have to wait for a few days.

Moonlander – ride it everywhere – ski resorts, for bikepacking, mud, sand, down river beds. I’ve climbed 2000m in a day on it. 17kg of fun.

Serfaus, Austria – rode up there of course..

I’m coming from 2×10 XT on most of the other bikes. Action is typical SRAM – very positive. Chain retention seems rock solid. Shifting is slightly “clunky” but very accurate, probably due to the taller teeth. I’m happy. Got a 32T ring on at the moment. I climb a lot of big mountains so I may drop down a size for the summer.

Just need to finalise the stem stack, trim the steerer and I’m good to go!

Well, good things come to those who wait. 10 days after I received the damaged frame, I finished the build and it’s ready to ride. CRC did a great job and I’m fully satisfied with their response. If you ever get to deal with Chris then you are in good hands.

It weighs in at 12.9kg. Not bad for an XL 29er AM build with Reverb.

Turner Sultan 2012 XL
RP23 Kashima
Revelation RC3 140mm
XX1 groupset
XT brakes (203/180)
Truative Ceramic GXP BB
King Headset
Easton Haven 50mm stem (35mm clamp diameter)
Easton Haven carbon bars (800mm)
Light Bicycle AM rims laced to Hope Pro2 Evos (built up very nicely – so stiff!)
Ardent 2.4s
2012 Reverb

Not a good day for photos but:

Horse steak is served in our company canteen every few weeks. Always very popular.

skool holidayz allreddy?

1993 Specialized S-Works

M900 XTR – mint condition
Early Race Face Atlas crankset with original rings
Futureshock forks that are surprisngly good
Original Selle Flite titanium
Longest stem in the world

Been running Kasmina fox 34s all this year on my hardtail. No issues at all with stiction. Just serviced them last week and they are in perfect condition after a pretty tough year. Not heard much real world experience with the Hilos yet.

Lee, sounds like you’re a man with similar tastes to me!

Lee, sounds like a terrible situation to find yourself in. The reason I’m so relaxed is that I’m not under time pressure – I’ve it plenty of other bikes to ride until spring when the higher trails start to clear again. If it was the eve of a big ride or trip then it would be a different matter.

I’m going to build my sultan up with XX1, Fox 34s, Easton’s new havoc 35 stem and carbon bars, reverb, selle carbonio and I’m building my own wheels with light bicycle AM carbon rims on Hope pro2 Evos.

Not sure where it’s going to come out weight wise but it should ride like a dream.

Looks like a nice build Davosaurus.

I’ve got my full build kit here, ready and waiting. I’ll hopefully get the wheels built ready for when the new frame arrives. Quite excited – it’s going to be a little bit “special”. Going for a light and stiff alpine trail eater for long days far away from the beaten path. .

CRC are certainly keen on getting to the bottom of this. They want the damaged box back in the same condition I received it.

OK, a short interim update.

To their credit, Chain Reaction have responded admirably to this issue. I’m impressed.

The additional customs costs have already been refunded to my credit card

The damaged frame will be picked up from my doorstep by DHL later this week

There are no blue frames in the UK but they have found a black one which they have ordered for me and should ship soon.

I’m promised that everything will run smoothly and that I will be happy!

Totally professional, uncomplicated and satisfactory response. Well done CRC.

Should have gone to your LBS….

No, I shouldn’t have.

I did not require the services that a LBS charges a premium for. I knew exactly what I wanted. I didn’t need any technical or service support. I am fully equipped with tools and skills to build and maintain my bikes. I was happy to buy last year’s frame at >60% discount from a mail order firm who are obliged do deliver me what they sold me.

When I need help, I go to my LBS (a real local bike shop in my village). They are very friendly, helpful and knowledgeable and I support them with business and help for their projects. They don’t sell any bikes or frames that I want to own and they know that but they are experts in their field, doing high quality work and with a great network of suppliers.

As someone stated, these things do happen. I’ve spent a lot of money with CRC in the past and been pretty happy. In this case though they dropped the ball. I’m pretty sure they’ll pick it up again but in the meantime you can all enjoy the pictures of the wrecked frame.

Thanks for all the kind words.

daveasaurusrex – glad I could help in some way!

Front triangle alone won’t fix this – see the pics of the dropout damage at the end of page 1.

It’s not the end of the world – I’m not in a hurry, it’s still fat bike weather here. But it’s just such a shame that a beautifully finished frame has been ruined by such careless treatment. And I’m sure it’s going to cost me a lot of time and effort to get this resolved…

OK, look away if you are easily shocked…

I just had a closer look at the rear triangle.

Something’s not right here. Personally I would have removed the hanger for shipping or at least installed the axle.

Ouch.

Such a good looking frame from a distance. What do you think it’s worth on the classifieds?!

Don’t know whether to laugh or cry!

RRP on that frame is £2099. What a waste.

I’ll be in touch with CRC in the morning. I just picked up the frame a couple of hours ago and I thought you would all enjoy my misfortune!

I’ve every confidence that they will refund me, plus return postage and excess tax however it won’t compensate for my time and annoyance. It was the last 2012 XL frame in the price drop sale and I’ve bought build kit to match the colour and spec.

That Rush is the most gopping bike I’ve seen for many years.

On proper hardpack snow (or powder on top of hardpack) they are a revelation. I just don’t know how often you would encounter that in the UK.

On mud, they are also brilliant which may be more of a UK specific application.

EDIT: This kind of snow is GOOD!