TheLittlestHobo – Member
singletrackstinker – Would be interested to know how you get around wear and tear on your car. Surely at 130,000mls its is just wearing out and not covered

Took the warranty out at 70k miles and was told it included wear and tear cover if the part was mentioned in the policy booklet, haven’t looked at it recently but every time the car needs some work I get my mechanic to phone up.

Warranty doesn’t cover for things like shock absorbers or brake pads/discs but the turbo was covered and that was almost certainly W&T.

I got one just before xmas, the pro model. Only taken it out for a couple of rides but I’m really impressed (new bike syndrome, obviously).

I also worried about sizing and fall in the no mans land between M and L sizes. I got a tape measure out one night and measured up against my existing 07 Stumpy and most measurements were pretty equal. Wheel base is a little longer and the TT too but only marginally.

The pinkbike advice tends to be to size up if you’re looking to mirror the forward geometry bikes which are popular at the moment. I had a ride on an L at BPW and it felt perfectly fine, not too long and not too big. Ultimately I went with the M because the measurements were so similar to the old stumpy.

For the money, I think you’re hard pushed to match spec other than going to Canyon.

In terms of riding, it’s an improvement uphill despite having 50mm more travel at the back but I put that down to better support in the early stage of the stroke (and the Spesh Brain shock being cack). Downhill around Afan reds was quite boring but it’s loads of fun in the bike park. Heading to Cwmcarn soon which should be a bit more a test before the weather improves and we start venturing further north for peak and lakes riding.

Annoying bits?

TT paint scratches quite easily, just from mud off your shorts but i fitted an invisframe kit after the first ride.

Being a euro bike the brakes arrive the wrong way round. When you swap them over your rear brake exits the frame on the same side which results in serious bend in the brake hose. Doesn’t look like it’ll cause a problem in the long run but it does look a little funny when you initially see the majority of the hoses bunched to the left. I’m not sure whether you can reroute the hosing and haven’t looked in to it yet.

Other than that, if your mate decides to take the plunge think about using one of the money transfer services like HiFx. The transfer through them was £150 cheaper than the rate my bank gave me. If i’d been savvy and paid as soon as I’d signed up i’d have saved another £60 but I wasn’t :/

So in summary. Good bike, not quite as modern geo as others but still goes up and down very well for a 170mm travel bike.

I’ve had a warranty direct warranty on my car for the past 3 years.

Some things are covered, others aren’t, as you would expect. However, they have paid out for a new turbo, new dpf and new steering rack in the last 12 months.

All in all, I’m better off than not having the warranty even now when I’m liable for 50% of the parts cost.

For me, the value of a warranty depends on the mileage you do each year. I do 30k miles so that means big costs can roll round much sooner than for those who drive less.

From memory, my warranty is £324 a year on a car with 130k miles on the clock.

I did the last enduro event in the 2014 series, it was my first race so I can’t compare to other organisers’ events.

I really enjoyed it, no problems with organisation or timing. The course had to be rejigged because recent bad weather had turned all the hand cut trails into muddy nightmares so, instead of 43km we did stages which were all in and around the trail centre we were at near Llanwrtyd Wells (rather than a long loop out and back). The amended format worked well and meant you could clean your bike off between stages (super claggy mud) and also repair any mechanicals or just go for a cuppa and a slice of cake.

In total there were 5 stages, we raced 1-3 the first day and then 1-5 on the second day. 1 & 5 were both hand cut/natural trails rather than trail centre reds. You could practice stage 1-4 on the first day before the timing started.

All stages were enjoyable, stage 1 had to be changed after the first day because a traverse half way through the stage was really slippery. Stage 5 was raced blind and because of this was in really good condition and also the best stage. Stages 2-4 were sections of the red route, great fun, not too difficult and you could go hell for leather on them.

Everyone gets together for dinner in the evening, a pasta ‘party’ which was good fun. It was nice to meet everyone and discuss the days antics.

I’m missing the first event this year because of holiday but will be at the rest of the events. Other friends are signed up for the first event in March.

In terms of value, it’s £50 for 2 days racing. When I was looking the only other option was an enduro in the quantocks which was a 1 day affair but only £10 cheaper. It’s all relative – I decided I’d rather race a couple of days and make a weekend of it.

If it’s your first foray into racing it’s quite a good series to get into 🙂

Edit – Can’t comment on the sign removal as I live a long way away. Bit disappointing for those living nearby though.

I had full range of movement immediately but no strength and it was tender.

Took about 2-3 months until it felt normal again but was capable of easy exercise earlier on.

Think yt are just about to release an aluminium capra. That might come in around your budget.

We’ve used Appogee for the last 3 years. They’ve been alright. They supplied us with a canon – big beast that we put 35k copies out per month.

Biggest thing to watch out for is that your total monthly print runs don’t exceed the manufacturers maximum recommended number. They didn’t mention this us when we set the lease up and we only found out when the printer kept breaking.

Once identified, no problems tho.

Its a specialized stout hub. Could this be causing my random gear changes on the rear?

If you’re based in hampshire (or can be bothered tp drive to southampton) I’ve got a stout hub you can have for free. Needs a good service but you can probably canibalise the two into one good hub?

Free to a good home if cookci isn’t interested

Ta.

Is there anywhere natural nearby which holds up in the wet?

Rode cafall recently and don’t fancy bpw without the pre booked uplift.

Got them on my bike. Seem pretty good so far.

Like the reach and bite adjusters as they dont need special tools.

Stop me fine too, which is a plus.

Mrs sts has one that I use reaonably often for biking.

Not exciting to drive but economical enough. Usually sling two bikes in the book without any worries.

Cheap to tax and insure. Usually returns 48mpg on thrashes up to wales/the lakes from southampton.

I’ll be travelling up from Southampton for it. Looks like a great way of spending a weekend.

1300. Pretty pricey but at least you didn’t have to pay it up front.

Their Facebook page made it sound like they’d had loads of interest so I pretty much gave up any hope at that point.

Contemplating the guided holiday they offer instead, unless anyone has suggestions for alternatives (trans provence already considered but I can’t get that much money together that quickly).

So, did anyone get in?

No good in deep loam/mud as it clogs and turns into a semi slick.

Excellent in all other conditions tho.

Results are out. V pleased with how I did 🙂

Echo what has been said above. Had loads of fun all weekend.

Having not ridden anything loamy before I found stage 1 really difficult. Also discovered that I need something chunkier than a chunky monkey for slippery loamy stuff!

The new section on stage 1 was much easier to ride, so I was happy with the overnight changes 🙂

Stage 5 was by far the best, there were 3 or 4 people at bottom when I got down and everyone was hugely impressed.

Not sure if I said hello to anyone on here. I was one of the guys on the old school stumpies.

Will be going back next year when the events restart.

Can’t wait to see how I did, 23rd after day 1 which I was chuffed with as it was my first race.

Hadn’t thought about speed and line choice. Thanks for pointing that out.

Is it usually ok to push back up the course? (Outside the taped bit ofc).

Both plans sound good 😀

I’ve been checking out the yt capra recently.

Looks good value for money.

(Can’t post a picture because I don’t have the necessary forum skillz)

Rider briefing just arrived

Edit: beaten to it

I’m doing it with a couple of mates.

First enduro so can’t help with what to expect.

Have you received anything from the organisers yet? I haven’t but thought it would’ve been sent out by now.

CRCR25Z3*HVF

fiver off 50 quid.

njee20 – Member
There was a thread yesterday with 3 routes linked – just download as GPX from Strava. IMO neither of those are all that. The first would be best, hard to see exactly where it goes, the second one looks to prioritise boring miles over riding any of the decent trails.

Missed that. Feel like a plonker now.

If anyone has a strava premium account and would be kind enough to dl the route and send it to me i’ll be very grateful? Linky – http://www.strava.com/activities/191182323 – email is singletrackstinker at gmail

Grace – Member
If you have time throw a Pitch Hill loop on as well… Ask any of the chaps around Peaslake for directions… I’d offer to show you round but I’m 2 weeks into a broken bone

Will bear peaslake in mind if I can’t get hold of the other gpx. Here’s to a speedy recovery 🙂

as far as i know it’s not possible. tapered tubes are 1.5″ at the bottom so wider than your head tube.

I might be wrong, but that’s my understanding.

Recently read that fox’s latest 36 come in straight flavours too. stupidly expensive tho!

Ubyk do.

Edit: beaten to it

Hi andy,

No spacer. Will check alignment and see if I can turn it out slightly.

Otherwise I guess it’s back to a 2.1 on the back.

Got a copy. Can be hit and miss but good fun when you’ve had a couple of drinks.

We stayed at the hotel de hallen earlier this year.

It’s not cheap but it was a lovely place to stay.

I have one. It’s sort of matt rather than chrome.

Drop me an email (mine is in my profile) and I’ll send you a couple of pics. I can’t work out how to post pics…

Cheers!

Had a pop at an auction for a stans wheelset last night. Those thing retain their value! 2010 wheelset went for nearly £190.

Think i’ll take a look at those superstar wheels now, price is much more in line with what I’d like to spend…

Cheers gents.

I rode a shorter loop around the quantocks in the summer and really enjoyed it. This one seems to incorporate more of the stuff that I was looking at last time and wondering why it wasn’t in the route I was on.

Just remember there being a horrifically boggy bit shortly after little climb following a long grassy downhill bank. Can’t remember where it is on the route but it was about 4 inches deep and super claggy. This is what triggered the concern more than anything else.

Anyway, glad to hear that it shouldn’t be too bad. I’d much rather be making the best of the (potential) last of the natural riding in reasonable conditions before retiring to more resilient trail centre stuff (although points noted about the conditions on cafall).

Plus, didn’t fancy riding Cwmcarn now and in 6 weeks time when I’m up that way for the weekend…

By the looks of it this route starts off in a slightly different place – Holford rather than Crowcombe.

Can anyone shed any light on the parking situation? looks like there’s a carpark there, is it pay and display?

Another +1 for campaign monitor we used it for a few months for e-shots.

The missus uses dot mailer, sounds pretty good but likely to be more expensive.

I’m also up for joining in on this ride.

Will need to see if I can get a green light from the handbrake first though…

Was surprised by how many trees have been chopped down!

Forgot to ride the blue but got two laps of the red in before I got bored.

For anyone interested the trail is running nice and quick at the moment.

Ta

Weeksy,

I’ve also contemplated the Quantocks one but can’t afford to enter it. I am entered into the red kite one though with 2 friends. None of us have raced before.

If for whatever reason you don’t end up going to the Quantocks come along to the red-kite one and be clueless with us!

Email in profile 🙂

We’ve used Jetboils in the past for tea duty. Quick, easy and reliable.

If you’re looking for something a bit more cooking capabable you could try something similar to these primus stoves

They both work on using the same principle a ‘jet type’ gas burner and a cup or pan with folded metal around the bottom (rubbish description, sorry) which helps to boil faster.

Would recommend both.

Links off google search, so might not be the cheapest options out there btw.

I encountered the problem on my android when I updated google, although I think it’s related to the ads rather than the update because when I used one of those programs (that shall not be named) to load the site without ads the problem disappeared.

Oops, should probably have mentioned what I was factoring in.

Hubs/Wheels are built already so spokes included.

Casette/Shifter etc is factored in to he groupset.

I’m moving my bars over so they’ve got grips on already, also transferring pedals.

Other bits have genuinely been forgotten. Lots more to buy!

Thanks to all so far!

Nedrapier, that list looks v useful 🙂

Anyone got a ball park figure on what cost I should factor in for random bits like cables and outers etc?