I only wear a pair of shorts as the GF has OCD.
I wear a little more at the GFs family home after getting caught out starkers at 5 am by her builder step dad. I was under strict orders not to shut the bathroom door when everyone was asleep as it was very squeaky. His door opens directly in front of it. Our chats have never been the same…

Specialized Epic Carbon 29er range.
I borrowed one from the bike shop for a week whilst my Enduro was in for a week. Incredible bike! It is the fastest bike I have ever ridden on flat, uphill and tamer downhill. I kept thinking that for a XC race bike it just feels inspiring, fast and playful. The rear end with the bolt through was really noticeable. I ended up selling my Enduro to get a 29er (couldn’t afford the Epic at the time). I’d love to have one.

Thanks to all for the great info!! Really glad I started this thread. Wasn’t sure if I was going to get a response. Scratched about 6 houses off the list from Basildon area.

This is all great information, thanks. We’ve been striking off a fair number of house. I’m the one working in Southend but due to the nature of the job I’ll be travelling around various locations so it doesn’t really matter how far it is from Southend. We’ve found a few houses in Braintree? Any feedback on that area? Lots of these flats/houses seem to be next to a train line..

Brilliant. Thanks for all the input guys. Only seen these places on maps so it’s good to understand the area.

Thanks. Good advice. Hadn’t even thought of those two locations.
I was under the impression that the closer to London you get the higher the rent?

Wasnt to keen on the places below the A127 anyway. Seems to be like one large built up area- basildon all the way to Southend.
I’m more of a country boy anyway so ideally I dont want to be in a town. We both have cars so travelling isnt an issue. Up to 45 mins from Southend and 25 mins from Chelmsford.

Pft, i’ll let my girldfriend decide the fake bake..
Some of the houses in rural areas look rather nice.

Filling me with confidence 😯

Has to be the gyro. The scafolding looks in proportion to the wheels and theres no funny bent tubes. Just the colour I dont like.

Some more..

I’m loving this out of all my bike at the moment.

Now with dropper (and purple bars).

I really didn’t enjoy Gran Torino.

I strongly suggest watching these instead;
American History X (one of my favourite films)
Requiem for a Dream
Babel

Race Face Atlas AM bars… in PURPLE.

(Only ones left at a bargain price on Wiggle)

Every year or every other year. I tend to use it and then hand it down to my dad/brother/sister who ride little and never take knocks. I feel like I do my part in helping them look after themselves but in reality its just a way to justify a new colour/shape for the new bike/theme.

Ive got 60mm worth of spacers that I found in my dad box of nuts and bolts. Bolt on the end threaded and other end is the SFN. The spacers are the perfect diameter for the steerer. Just drop it in and hammer the SFN in. Perfectly seated every time. Sits in the tool box.

They’re made down the road from me in Coventry. Last week there was 15 black ones in a line driving through town. Sounded fantastic and looked lovely. I think they got the price and detailing right.

I haven’t a clue but I love those frames. Good luck!

Done.

Kona Unit

Graduate job puts me in 1.27% richest. With the amount of student debt I have I dont think thats right..

26” tubes work fine. Not an issue at all.
Edit: I got the kona too. Lovely bike. Enjoy!

My dads got a huge scar running across his chest and down to his bellybutton which is car door shaped. He was doored when cycling years ago and it split him open. Many stitches and broken bones. I never filter. Although chicks dig scars apparently?

I really don’t care what wheelsize people ride, as long as they ride.
Fitting big tyres to 26” to achieve 27.5” size with small tyres is missing the point completely. Rather amusing.

For those saying that there is no point to 27.5” as 650b is so close to 26”. Have you actually ridden one? Thought not.

I’ve been running 1×9/10 on all my builds for 3 years. Bought a new bike recently that came with 2×10 and its brilliant! Not sure why I ever bothered to go to 1×10.. The gear range is better and with the new clutch mechs there isn’t any more dropped chains. I realise that it’s more weight, more expensive, more faf to replace and doesn’t looked as radcore.

Have you considered the xfusion hilo?
I picked one up brand new with remote for £96.
This is my second and the last one was fantastic too. Only sold because it was the wrong size for my new frame. It was lovely to use and survived without issue throughout winter. Easy to service and good customer service. What’s not to like?

This happened to me when I bought the yelli.
The transfers on the side got rubbed during transport and left a bit patchy but great communication from the shop. I received a free pair of canfield ultimate v2 pedals (or I was offered money off or refund). Happy enough as it would end up looking like that after some use anyway.

I’d just ask for some goods and go ride it. If you plan on keeping it for a while then it makes sense.

I hated the 456SS. I just found that it wasn’t as fun as the blender on the downs/woods/messing about and couldn’t climb as well as the duster. It just felt like a bad compromise on all accounts. I could never put my finger on what it was either which annoyed me. Not for me!

(Doesn’t mean it’s not perfect for you. Just grab a test ride)

I know you said 26”…
..BUT, just have a look at the Kona Explosif 650b..

Wow, that looks great!
Also interested: where and how much?

Great thread!
Anything with Lee Scratch Perry & Co.

Can’t wait to finish this for summer. Last bits are sat at home and I’m at uni. Argh.

2/10

One- a BSO that lived in my garden at uni. Brakes that didn’t work, steering that was lose, seized drivetrain and buckled wheels. I use to use it to roll to the gym/shop and on the way back cover in bags and push. Was a death trap in hilly Falmouth. I think they did me a favour!

So the TT isn’t actually longer?
Looks lovely though.

I’ve not got a main bike. I use them equally, so..

Just bought my Kona explosif for £1500 + dropper at £96. So £1596 total (still need a 0′ deg rise stem).

Road bike is a Rocky Mountain Oxygen 80 which was £680 new.

Chumba HX2 is a little joint venture with my dad- £500 (my half).

22

My Chumba HX2 awaiting a chain and pedals. Much lighter than I had expected. Can’t wait!

I’ve never got on with full sus other than for DH. Always revert back to a HT after a while. I find FS boring on anything other than DH. I firmly believe the opposite.