Only way to be sure is to ride both. Fat chance of that unfortunately.

Gonna have to make an eductated guess, running a Reverb means no layback. Just seems/sounds to me like its going to come up short in Large. I have a looong torso, I think I have extra vertebrae in their or something.

Am worried about XL feeling a bit barge like, having said that, TR275 in XL flavour is a gnat’s cock smaller all round than an Aeris in Large – which supposedly shreds.

Ooh yeah gazc, so it is an RT3.. Nice.

So that makes the frame price alone actually around £350? Can’t be bad eh? (apart from its apparent anchor weight)

So, 2 votes for large (although riders a smidge smaller) and 2 for XL

Northwind, got any pics? How gate like is an XL?

Giggedy-dick

Once had injury leading to blood dripping from the third eye. Nothing prepares you for the sight of claret exiting at that particular point of your body.

Hope it was a one off fella. Hopefully the urologist will set your mind at rest

the 2014 Nukeproof Mega TR 275 mentioned earlier are being sold off at £650 (RS Monarch shock).. good reviews, might be worth cutting my teeth on before committing to something as lovely as a Spitfire.. Perfect for my Rev with 130mm at the rear too.

what say you good folks?

That is good news. Apologies, but i’m notoriously bad at working out geometry calcs.

The Soul was sold to me as a good ‘long’ hardtail option, and whilst I rode it for years happily – towards the end I tended to feel like I could use at least an extra 10mm on the toptube.

To me, the large Spitfire looks short ‘by eye’, and i’ve scoped an XL which again, to eye, appears nice and long. I have little chance to demo one unfortunately so am reluctant to plump out £1000+ and end up feeling cramped on the large.

I think that part of it is my fear to give up on soul/hardtail geometry and fully commit to trail geometry.. I’m a 120mm fork fan at heart.

Final question: will my 140mm Rev hamper the frame noticeably in any way? It bugs me when I only find reference to 150/160mm forks on the Spitfire.. although, my preferred riding style is to climb as well as descend – I already find my 45650b a beast to keep the front end down during climbs with 140mm up front.

Getting scarily close to pulling the trigger on one of the above Bashee’s.. can someone please tell me why a large won’t fit me at 6ft1″ with stubby 31/32″ inside leg?

Worried about shortish reach not suiting my freaky long torso. Used to riding large Cotic Soul/45650b for reference.

Wear it with pride.

And yes, occasionally.

Also used to get a lazy lob sitting on the angled back seats of a black taxi. There’s a pressure point somewhere (i’ve searched) that gives me an instant nose of gonzo.

i’m amazed that it hasn’t been ransacked.. each tile must be worth plenty rubles.

nice blog hummerlicious – I rode out to Paris on the Ave Vert for Froome’s first win a couple summers ago, was great to see pics of your route and recognise a few spots.
Great action shots of the peloton by the way! All I got were complete blurry blobs!

Still on single page status, yet thread of the year.

Keeping my eyes peeled

Sweet b’jeezus, the black frame looks ace but I’m a total sucker for raw frames..

I may have to email you

Man you’re twisting my arm..
How’s the Banshee ride on 140mm forks? Anyone doing so?

The more I look the more I like, especially with that shock.
I’m chewing over the Banshee, a reduced Orange five frame, or a new complete Whyte T130

I’m thinking that as a lard ass, the single pivot Five would be best compromise.. There’s a lot of bearings to service on that there Banshee..

Dingleberry – how’s the weight of your set up feel? Are you using a 160mm fork?

So builder reckons wall isn’t load bearing, yet will need to install a concrete lintel.
Seems like i’ll just need to get building regs to sign off on lack of requirement for calcs..

Cheers Anthony, that’s actually the 2nd Banshee i’ve been offered!

looks a real bit of kit that does. I’m a bit worried about it being too much bike for my nimbying among the hills.. ?

Large plz. 6’1″, short legs long torso

well I must say, that’s a rather disappointing response

South Downs – west of Brighton.

Thanks guys!

We have a builder coming round for a quote tomorrow (we are yet to move in but the property is vacant). Fortunately the father-in law will also be present, whom is a retired foreman so will know a bunch of stuff.

We wshould have enough wedge left over after moving in to carry out the works and feel that opening up the living area will be a vast improvement. I hadn’t budgeted 2k+ for the works but its the kind of figure I estimated should the wall turn out to be load bearing… which i’m now conceding it may well be.

I’ll call local planning dept. tomorrow.

Hi Steve, got any more of these available?

Just booked tickets for Brighton in October 🙂

So!

I’ve seen them twice now.
Last week at Roundhouse was.. brilliant.

I’d had more time for the first gig to sink in, and to listen to more of the back catalogue. This time I found a post right smack in the center of the sound stage – and I eventually worked my way back to the projectionist for best sound quality.

I tell you, the noise the band create coupled with the whir of the old school projectors behind me was something else. I found myself completely zoning out and nodding along.

I’d go again for sure. Glad to have added them to my listening repertoire.

5% is good, but I can only invest modest amounts each year. I’m not sure I like the idea of reinvesting a new ISA every year (whilst the fixed term rolls on with previous investments) – keeping track of up to 15 accounts will be a PITA, surely?

That Bird looks the nuts

thanks guys, and keep ’em coming.

i’ve forwarded links to the Mantra and Bizango. Both look great, Mantra really looks good angle wise.

Chris – my first port of call a few weeks ago was the On-One line-up (being a 45650b owner myself), but they didn’t seem to float his boat. Expecially as the budget would need stretching. Plus the max size of 20″ may be just a smidge short for him (I run a 20″ at 6ft 1″).
I’m a steel nut but he seems to like the Alu frames better for aesthetics.

Yes, i’m hoping to line him up with a Recon or Sektor as a minimum. Or perhaps one of those X-Fusion jobbies?

Good shout.
Call me a snob but i’m not keen on the Suntour forks (despite having never ridden one). Are they actually any good?
I’d much rather see a budget RockShox on an entry level bike.

I was about to suggest looking at the Orange line-up. By all means, feel free to post pics or send me some details.

Yes, im not sure carbon is a realistic option for a hardcore hardtail. Other than 456evo, which is 26″

Anyone able to suggest 650b steel or alu options?

makes me want to need one! great job.

Amazes me how people get so uptight over other people’s tattoos. We all have skeletons in our closer. Some have them permanently adorning their skin.

I covered scars on my arms with tattoo sleeves which really helped my self confidence as a younger man. Saddens me to think some chumps out there judge me negatively for even thinking of having a tattoo

OP – I like it. Respect given to anyone who goes for a bigger stamp first time out, rather than a half arsed micro version

I was about to make a jokey ‘we’ve all done a poo in the street’ remark, but then I remembered..

When I was running regularly several years ago I had read about ‘joggers’ bowel’ but assumed my constitution left me impervious to such outpourings.
When during one long run I was caught at the half way PONR.. with an incredible urge to unleash my by-product. I managed to shuffle/walk/hobble for around half a mile, I took a few minutes to admire the view and convince my body that everything was going to be alright. In the end it was to no avail – I ended up birthing a quadraplegic beaver beside a tree in what I thought was a largely unused alley/shortcut. The dog walker disagreed.

Joggers bowel is real man – believe the hype.

I believe I read Paula as stating on her evacuation ‘I had stomach cramps for several miles and knew I would have to quit the race if I didn’t go, so decided to get it over with’.
Personally I think its testament to her winning spirit that she chose to do so in front of the adulating crowd. Win at all costs.
Don’t google it.
My episode had the density of lead. Paula’s was more like a brown watery death shower.

sorry for hijack – anyone able to recommend a Renault remap specialist, ideally in the south?

Looking to get my (Nissan derived) GT Dci remapped/chipped/whatever.

mr blobby, are you referring again to allegations of his sexuality?

Proper looking bike that, nice build.

Loved my orange 26″ Soul, rode it for years then tried the green flavour instead – which I liked 95% as much.
What a great ride too, plus much lighter than it has any right to be when built with half decent parts.

Am running a 45650b now, which is excellent. but the plan has always been to switch frames to a Soul 275 when funds allow.

Simply the best bike I/most riders could ask for/justify.

Barry Sheen was pretty handy.

Valentino is the reason a lot of people will always find it hard to call Hamilton a legend. No matter how many GP’s he wins.