How wide are the 700c tyres you’ve got on at the moment and what’s the clearance like?

I was worried about my Marin Gestalt 2, but I’m running WTB Byways fine with decent clearance.

Had 32mm schwalbes on before. Definitely worth having a look at YouTube too I found a vid of a guy who had converted my bike, so that helped make my decision.

Often wondered if 2.0 XC tyres might fit…

Elliot Heap is a superb coach – had a one to one with him in September and I’m planning another in the spring.

WTB Byways are pure tan sidewall goodness, which isn’t going anywhere and looks great on my Marin commuter. Just got some tan wall Vigilantes for my big bike too.

I had a Cotic Soul Mk4 and then went to a Whyte 909 and now I’ve got a Santa Cruz 5010 frame on order.

Cotic and Whyte are both fantastic bike brands. I got the Whyte because the soul was too small it’s a really great hardtail, but so was the soul.

I can only justify one bike and I ride more technical trails these days, so I’ve got my first full suspension on order. Decided to go for a 5010 because i wanted something really versatile that I could beef/speed up easily. That S120 looks pretty racy to me!

Thanks again everyone – my mind has been made up and I’ve put a deposit on a new black alloy 5010.

It’s going to be my first bouncy bike after years of riding hardtails…I’m very excited!!!

Does anyone run a short stem on their 5010? I’m running a 31mm on my 909 at the moment, but I think I’ll need something a bit longer on the 5010 maybe even 50mm?

You certainly can – you can’t get the C version frame only though.

Thanks for all the replies – I’m going for an Alu frame can’t stretch to a CC. The shop I’m buying it from will swap out all the gear on my 909 for free, which is a great deal IMO.

Size wise I’m going for a large had a sit on one in Leisure Lakes earlier and it felt right – medium would be too small. I’m on the border of the sizes, but I’ve got long arms and struggle with lower back pain if a bike’s too small for me. I ride a large 909 with a 31mm stem at the moment.

From reading the comments it does sound like the perfect bike. I could go full enduro, but if I’m honest I’ll probably only do a few races/uplifts next year and I’m used to riding technical stuff on a hardtail so I’m not your classic FS point and shoot guy – 130mm at the rear will feel very plush for me!!

This thread is hilarious and alarming in equal measure….

Cannabis will become legallised – it’s an industry worth billions of dollars in the US and big money brings changes in politics not ethics or morality.

Is cannabis bad? 

Yes it can be bad, particularly if you’re predisposed to mania, psychosis or paranoia. But these people are rare despite what the Daily Mail would have you believe.

It can make you lazy and eat too much too.

Is it as bad as booze? 

Absolutely not – it doesn’t cause a fraction of the harm booze does. Some who drinks wine every night will be causing far more damage to their body than someone who vapourises cannabis every day

Are there positive effects?

There are many including pain killing properties, anti-depressant qualities and more just google it.

Is it fun? 

Yes it’s really fun and much nicer than being drunk, but you need to be careful not to make it habitual and take breaks regularly or you end up in a rut.

Do you have to smoke strong skunk? 

No there are people out there who sell weaker strains. You can also control the strength of cannabis in an electronic vapouriser. Different cannaboids vapourise at different temperatures, so if you know what you’re doing it doesn’t matter what you’ve got you’ll be able to get the same effects.

Can you ride a bike on cannabis? 

Have you seen a 50to01 video????!!!!

I run 650b Byways on my Marin Gestalt and they’re perfect for my mixed surface commute. I can’t say I’ve noticed any problems on the road and they’re certainly more comfy and carry loads more speed over rougher paths than the G-Ones they replaced.

The only disadvantage is that they’re a bit finicky with tyre pressures, but once you get that settled they’re great. They’re also loads easier to set up tubleless….

If you are going to go 650b I really recommend byways – I’ve ridden down red xc trails with them without any dramas and they roll really well on tarmac too.

Hi Chief Groove Guru – that would be brilliant thanks I’ll drop you a DM.

That You Tube channel is spot on thanks. Big Yim. Just goes to show there’s loads I can do with Dumbells and TRX and something to hang off capacity stuff might tricky.

The Pistol Squat is pretty intense!!! Won’t need to weight them for a while…

Can anyone here do them consistently? Any tips?

Those BC articles are a bit roadie/xc for me and all the climbing I do has my core covered pretty well but thanks.

I need to build absolute strength and power to go faster down downhill tracks and enduro stages.

Thanks Bill – some great info there.

I’ve never used kettlebells and my wife’s banned me from buying anymore exercise equipment.

Are they more versatile than the common or garden dumbbell?

Hi Big Yim – thanks I’ve just listened to that podcast, it is brilliant and it’s given me some good ideas. Problem is there are so many good ideas I’m struggling to narrow everything down!!!!

I also wasn’t that clear about the structuring of each session and how they address each energy system…be useful if they wrote out a sample for each of the two workouts, but the dude on there probably wants us to buy his program….

Thanks guys

Have you tried the inverted brew method with your Aeropress? I get a decent crema using this method…

Gaggia is definitely the way forward and if you can get a reconditioned classic from a few years ago they’re more reliable than the newer ones apparently.

No it’s not worth spending 90 odd quid on an espresso machine – most of them break after a year or so’s heavy use.

I have a Gaggia Classic, it’s probably the benchmark in home espresso machines, but will set you back a lot more than £100….

I use an Aeropress at work and when I’m camping and they are brilliant – much better than a cheap espresso machine. You will need to factor in the cost of a decent grinder and I use a metal filer screen too.

With the Aero I used a harrio hand grinder, but now I have a cheap delonghi burr grinder, which does a decent job and doesn’t cost the earth.

You’ll be able to pick up a hand grinder and aeropress from any self-respecting hipster coffee shop for around £50.

I entered the marathon, because I couldn’t get in the full endure, but now I’m really worried – is it really that shit???!!!

“Towpath with hills”???!!! “You can do it on a gravel bike????”

It sounds worse than the Hell of the Cotswolds and that’s saying something…..

I’m minded not to trust too many comments on this forum, but if there’s any truth in that I’ll be chucking my entry and getting a festival entry instead.

I’ve got family round there and have ridden some of the bridleways around Swaledale I had a great time – how can it be so bad???

Only managed an entry to the marathon pretty gutted I was up early and everything…on the waiting list for the full enduro, so fingers crossed….

At least I can ride 40 miles in the Dales with my Dad – not so bad, but I really wanted to race the hardtail category….

Bundobust isn’t far from the Palace and it’s very very very very nice…

You could wander down to Hatch on Oxford Road by Man Met – lots of options there.

Apparently the burrito place on the other side of Oxford St by The Palace is ace too

There’s no need to go to a chain – you’re spoilt for choice in Central Manchester.

Cheers for the replies. Funnily enough losing my front wheel was the cause of my spill can definitely see how getting dialled on a BMX will help skills on my big bike.

Looking forward to fettling a bit, getting some alloy pedals on and taking it down the skate park…

Picked up the bike today from Evans at the velodrome and went straight over to the pump track. It feels amazing in the berms and pumping rollers. I had a lot of fun, but I ended up getting a bit cocky and now I have a black eye..Full face for me on a track next time.

There’s not much room for error when you ride round a pump track quickly.

Does anyone run alloy MTB flats on their BMX?

The bike has a three piece crank, so should have a 9/16 axle and I have some V12s and a pair of Boarman alloy flats I could try on it.

Looking forward to taking it down to some ramps in a park near me tomorrow…

They do offer tasters Craig – pretty cheap too if memory serves me right.

In terms of skills I’m trying to improve it’s jumping/bunny hopping/pumping. I can do these things adequately, but I want to hone my skills, so I can shred even harder. It sounds like BMX park riding will be perfect….

Who’s ridden the track at the Velodrome? Do I need a race bike or will I be OK on the Kink?

Thanks for the replies so far!

Having re-learnt to drop in on my skateboard on a quarter pipe recently I have little fear from 12-year-old skooter kids mocking me in the skatepark…

Broken bones are another matter, but if I let that bother me I’d never ride at all!

There’s a late night BMX session at Beastrampz every Thursday, so I’m going to check that out. I’ve skated at Projekts a bit and everyone is really friendly there.

Can anyone say riding BMX has improved/honed their MTB skills?

Ha ha ha hA ha ha ha

My tip would be learn to wheelie first – you’ll get to know your bikes balance point and how to feather the back brake properly.

My other interjection would be you don’t need to be able to manual for miles to get the most out of it riding trails. My wheelie, manual and bunny hops all need work, but I can do them all well enough to get some air off jumps and negotiate drops.

Most decent coaches will teach people wheelies then manuals, then rear wheel lifts and then bunny hops. IMO the better you are at wheelies the better your manuals are and the higher you can bunny hop.

Everyone is different, but one thing which really helped me is some decent 1-1 coaching. It’s worth spending money on that rather than a new fancy bit of carbon for your bike.

If you’re in the North West try these guys out: https://ridemtbcoaching.co.uk

Elliot is currently leading the EWS for his age group and has beaten Sam Hill in some stages this year, most importantly he’s a bloody good coach.

I’ve been on MTB courses with my dad with other coaches recommended on this forum and not got a great deal out it at all – you definitely want someone with decent experience/pedigree not some bearded hipster who can barely ride better than you can…..

I’ve gone from a small Cotic Soul (275) to a large Whyte 909 a reach change of about 40mm. My last bike was too small and I had a bit of pain in my back as a result of being crouched over all the time.

I’m average height, but I have long arms and I find the extra reach on the Whyte amazing. I’ve put a 31mm Renthal Stem on it and have no problems looping out when attempting to manual/wheelie. The bike climbs much better and goes like a train downhill.

Personally I think people focus on reach to the point of forgetting the other things which make up a great bike.

My Whyte is super slack with a really low BB and short chain stays. The fork is 130mm, so it doesn’t wallow and steepen the HA on descents. They made it long, but they made a whole bike not a top tube.

I’ve just bought a new Whyte 909 and it’s an incredibly capable and fast hard tail – plus tyres are definitely the way to go on a hardtail IMO.

The 905 – the model below mine, has been lauded as the best hardtail MBR have ever reviewed and the 909 got a really good review on here too. Only thing I’ve changed is a super short stem, some 800mm Burgtec bars and a bigger front rotor – believe me it’s incredibly fast and you’ll want more stopping power!!!

Thanks very much for the replies – loads of useful information here. Luckily I know how to use a map and compass from my fell running/rock climbing days. I’ll definitely always carry a compass and a 1:40000 Harvey British Mountain Map, but stopping to look at the map when exploring new trails is a pain – hopefully the new Garmin will solve that problem and with a bit of thought I should be able to explore new trails using the Strava segment explorer.

If only Harvey did a GPS version of their BMC British Mountain Maps – I’m sure that would be the perfect scale for the Etrex.

Very exciting I just need to find the time to sit and fiddle with it now!

Not a 29er but I rode a Sonder Transmitter Carbon at Northern Grip and it’s one hell of a bike 27+ might be more forgiving than a 29er if you’re new to it all too.. it’s the only hardtail which could tempt me from my beloved Cotic Soul….they do a cheaper alloy version with the same geometry too..both bikes get excellent reviews.

I use one of these https://www.bigxtop.com/products/saddle-roll

l’ve had a few of the zip up saddle bags, which work with droppers and real world conditions have destroyed the zips pretty quickly….

Just ordered a mtb strap on for an inner and I’m pretty covered for most things with out a pack now..

Thanks for the replies everyone.  Fudge9202 – do those specialized go up tubeless and what’s the clearance like with a 650 2.0 mtb tyre?

Thanks Cogwomble, but I’m after big fat 650b tyres.

I’ll give a plus one for Cooksons – nice people good stuff in stock and not that far from salford at all. Sorry to hear about the bike thefts.

I have one of these – https://www.bigxtop.com/collections/frontpage/products/saddle-roll

It works fine with a dropper and has no zip. Zip up saddle bags always fail in my experience. Mud and grit just destroys the zip. The tool roll design is much better and you can pull it really tight so it doesn’t rattle around.

I carry a decent Topeak multi-tool, CO2 with duct tape wrapped around the canister, tubeless repair kits (dynaplug and some small worms) and a little baggie with quick links, spare mech hanger and zip ties, I also carry a tiny gerber multi tool like this http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/gerber-bear-grylls-compact-tool-p192940

Rarely carry a tube (unless I’m going somewhere really wild) if my tyre is damaged so badly that I can’t fix it with dynaplugs/worms/gorilla tape a tube isn’t going to help. I also use a water bottle.

I ride the Vale loads and the blue trail is perfect for kids – the red has a couple of tricky drop offs into some tight berms, but they’re all rollable apart from the last big one near the first descent and even that’s just about rollable.

People are always a bit wary of the Vale which is a shame because it’s a cracking facility for manchester riders and the cycling centre keeps it in decent nick too – they cleared loads of fallen trees after the recent storms. It’s also great to ride if you can ride fast with good technique or if you’re slow and learning – it’s never going to be Penmachno but it’s great for where it is.

I’ve ridden the trails at least once or twice a week for years now and never had a problem (touch wood) I wouldn’t leave my bike unattended near the velodrome mind!!

I was teaching an 8 year old lad a few months ago and he’s got a 3/4 Aria classical with nylon strings, which cost about £40-£50 and it’s perfect for a youngster starting out IMO.

You want a guitar which isn’t too big for her and don’t get steel strings – most beginner adults find them hard on their fingertips let alone kids.

If she gets into it keep her on an acoustic for a year, so she can build up strength in her hands and then go electric – a bit like hardtail to full sus….

A decent independent music shop will see you right and the ukulele idea is a good shout – a lot cheaper than buying a guitar.

I suppose a new helmet costs less than 24hr care after a brain injury if the old one doesn’t do its job properly….

They’ve actually just resurfaced the A6 through Levenshulme and Longsight.