Sui – Member

tis easy, bottom of Leith (Dorking side). From the coldhourbour pub back to Dorking and it’s on your right hand side! Look on google maps, pick Leith and then look for Mid Holmwwod – it’s in between that!

Ah, thanks. :)

uselesshippy – Member

Redlands is a bit secret, mainly because its private, and your not supposed to ride there. Please don’t advertise it on the internet.

I didn’t appreciate it’s private land so my apologies if I have ‘outed’ the place.

I’d love to know where Redlands actually is. Not because I want to ride it but just out of curiosity.

The jump trails on Winterfold? But I guess you already know about them.

Wire In The Blood on Ranmore gets a bit spicy (for me), don’t know what else there is over though.

I think Pitch is probably your safest bet but then I don’t ride the steep stuff. :(

teamhurtmore – Member

And I though I was indecisive when it came to buying a bike for the Surrey Hills ;)

Dude, I’ve actually been wakened up during the night thinking about this. #someprobsarenicetohave :)

teamhurtmore

Perhaps you should wait for either the Freeborn (on Pitch) or the Cycle Works (Holmbury) days and get a really good feel for different bikes on the trails that you ride?

Worked for me – found I hated some bikes that got great reviews (including for ME, the Whytes) and vice versa. Horses for courses as they say.

Then you only have to decide which shop to support!!

Never heard of the Cycleworks or Freeborn days. I only started riding the SH 18 months ago so missed them last year. Thanks for the tip though. :)

chakaping – Member

Ask Whyte for a definitive answer.

Definitive answer is:

“that it is the tolerance to which the frame head angle is made to”…. I’m a bit too thick to work what that actually means. :D

wilko1999 – Member

Maybe it refers to the fact that the head angle could change depending on which build you go for ie depending on which fork is fitted – different axle to crown lengths?

Could be. I think Whyte are still selling the T-130S with RS Revelations (though I’d guess they’ll stop making that spec soon).

chakaping – Member

Ask Whyte for a definitive answer.

Just waiting for a response, sadly I’m too impatient at times, hence asking the forum. :)

The only real incident that springs to mind was about ten years ago when I was commuting by motorbike from Chatham to London everyday with my then wife riding pillion.

It was on a 30mph single lane residential street. A car was legally parked in the oncoming lane causing an obstruction which meant oncoming traffic had to use ‘my’ lane. One car thought he’d be bullish and try to force me into the kerb but I held my ground and just approached slowly, as did he. He eventually stopped when his off side front wheel was on my foot. He was yelling at me to move out of the way totally oblivious to the fact I was stuck. My wife overheard me trying to tell the driver to roll forward and get off my foot at which point she jumped off the bike going mental. The driver didn’t know who to listen to – me politely asking him to move his car forward or my missus screaming like a banshee. She then starts banging on his bonnet and practically climbing on it thus adding weight to an already painful situation.

I managed to talk her off the car at which point the driver, in a moment of clarity, fecked off into the distance.

I learned a lot that day, not least that there’s no point lying under a car shouting “I’ve got right of way”.

There have been other situations but thankfully only harsh words were exchanged.

Something I asked earlier but think got missed in the numerous responses was that the Whyte website says the Yari has the following head angle “67.0+0/-1” – does that mean the HA is variable or something? :)

Decision made, going for the Whyte. :)

So geometry is the key, first point (with quality suspenders shortly thereafter).

One more question if I may please, the Whyte website says the Yari has the following head angle “67.0+0/-1” – does that mean the HA is variable or something?

jambalaya – Member

One final,word, spend £200 with @jedi or Nathan at UK Bike Skills, you’ll get far more out of that than switching the bike and domit before you go to the Alps.

That’s already on the to-do list, just waiting for a free weekend and some decent weather. :)

mikewsmith – Member

Sometimes it’s not about what you have but how you use it

Boomboom! I try to convince the laydeez that but they just politely smile and shake their heads. :( :D

weeksy – Member

Now I know who you are, I’m guessing a lot of answers will arrive quickly at BPW on the 29th.

You’ll learn that the AM29 is capable and if you choose you can also ride some of the blacks and that may also answer whether you can do it on anything at all.

That Commie is so good I haven’t ridden my BMC since I bought it and if you remember rightly, the BMC was only 5 months old when you sold me the Commie. Still can’t help looking at something newer and shinier. :D

chakaping – Member

My two cents: Get the Whyte, it’ll be great for the Surrey Hills.

Then sell the meta 29 and buy a 26in freeride machine for the Alps and uplift duties, you get a hell of a lot for your money now.

I’m really leaning towards the Whyte now. Why am I considering spending £2k on a bike I’ll only use two weeks a year?

Can’t believe I’m asking this but what is a freeride bike? I thought/think it’s a DH but STBC.

Out of interest, I’ve read about swapping forks for something bigger – how do you know what the frame can cope with? I assume just going from 130mm to 160mm will end in tears?

:)

Wow, didn’t expect that many replies so quickly – thanks folks – and thanks for the useful advice as always. :)

I should point out that whilst I can get round the black trails at CYB/Afan and Glentress, I’m on blues/mincing the reds at Antur Stiniog. I’d like to progress obviously but at 39 crashing now hurts.

dragon – Member

What’s wrong with the Commencal? It should be more than capable in the Alps.

Nothing at all. I’m just in the lucky position to be able to get a new bike just now. The downside (#firstworldproblem) is that this bike will be the last new one for a while. :)

Northwind – Member

Are you keeping the Meta? Big capable bike that, kind of in the same niche as your standard 160mm #Rig, with the right build.

Yep, keeping the Meta, if only as a winter bike or one for my mates to use.

teamhurtmore – Member

What do you like doing in SH – do you blast Northern Monkey, Thick and Creamy type runs or Evian, Secret Santa, Summer Madness types?

All sorts I guess – start on Holmbury, on to Pitch (T trails, Curly Wurly etc – not the steep stuff (Root of all Evil?)) and then to Secret Santa. Sometimes I’ll venture on to Northern Monkey and Charlie Bronson but lately time hasn’t been on my side. Usually avoiding the jumps. I miss Evian.

Hob Nob – Member

That 29″ Commencal is a big, heavy brute of a bike, don’t confuse it with a good, high end 130/140 smaller wheeled bike, they will be very, very different.

Thank you, I was unsure *how* different they would be as the numbers don’t look too different (I know they are different but it’s hard to appreciate a small change has a big effect). :)

ahwiles – Member

i tried to get on with 200mm Dh bikes, but i needed to run the suspension *very* soft to use all the travel, the bike felt awful, everywhere.

This was something I’d never considered. I usually run my suspension quite soft too.

deanfbm – Member

AT the surrey hills, if wanting to do a proper loop and keep things moving, i’ll take the 120mm 29er (still do fly tipper/northern monkey on it), if i’m wanting to session pitch or some of the bigger hucks to flat i’ll use the 160mm bike (makes stuff like yogurt pots, supernova etc etc too much hard work to get/maintain speed to make it fun).

Ah, that would be a problem. I usually use Yog Pots and Supernova as warm up/down.

weeksy – Member

Even worse is the fact I’m off to BPW in a few weeks and the bloke I sold it to is coming with me … on it !

I know. ;)

rickon – Member

Decent geometry > travel.

The Whyte t130 has bang on geometry. 160mm of travel is only really needed if you’re hitting big hucks, or you’re smashing really long bouldery fast descents.

I like rock gardens but I can’t imagine hitting long bouldery descents at such a pace that I’d worry the suspension. I reckon my bottle would go well before that. Did Nan Bield, the first rocky descent was a chore. :(

This thread has thrown a spanner in my new bike ideas. I was deliberating between a Giant Reign and an On One Codeine….. but the Whyte T-130S Yari is proving quite tempting.

teamhurtmore – Member

Most of the testing was actually on pitch! Its a slight digression but I was amazed at how easy climbing was on the enduro. I did push the descent a bit hard and had one scary moment though!!

on a serious note, have you ruled out a trance or a stumpy (evo!)?

Pretty much, yes, but only because they’re appear too similar to my Meta which I’ll be keeping hold of. :)

teamhurtmore – Member

I always thought a reign was overkill for S Hills and then I scratched an itch on a spesh demo day last year and rode an enduro for a laugh (yes, I know its not an giant!) – loved it

Surely you need a minimum of 160mm to properly enjoy BKB? ;)

Still reckon that a stumpy/camber evo/trance is a better call though but maybe you are a much more ballsy rider than yours truly!

Only by accident. :D If my wheels are off the ground it usually means they’ve been replaced with my a*se. ;)

ahwiles – Member

looking at new bikes because you’re not happy with the ‘feel’ of yours is perfectly sensible.

but choosing the new bike on the basis of internet suggestions is a bit daft, especially considering the main reason you’re looking.

yes, i’m talking about test rides.

(by all means, ask the internet for a short-list)

fwiw, i demo’d a Codeine, and my wallet spontaneously exploded.

Agree wholeheartedly. I won’t be buying without a test ride on this occasion but getting a short list together is tougher than it should be, #firstworldproblems. :)

honourablegeorge – Member

fizik – Member
I only ever get compliments about how my codeine rides, including how light it and poppy it feels but then it is the *better* 29er version

29er Codeine, especially in blue, is far nicer looking than that godawful 27.5 one[/quote]

Nah, in the flesh the 27.5 in both Sea Foam green and graphite and black look waaaay better than the 29er. ;)

chakaping – Member

What don’t you like about the feel of the Commie? Does it feel precarious on steep descents? That could be a high BB, because the 68deg head angle should be capable enough and it’s nice and long.

How tall are you, out of interest? I’d ask your inside leg too, but we’ve only just met.

The Commie is really quite fantastic to be honest (IMO). On steep descents it feels just a bit too big because I’m quite stretched out (despite the shorter stem).

I’m 5′ 7″ with an inseam of 31 inches – I’m a bit of a whore so happy to share. ;)

rickon – Member

sofabear
Head Angle – 68
Chainstays – 458mm

You’ll be spending a long time looking at 29ers then

Most 27.5 enduro bikes come with sub-440mm chainstays, and will come with sub-66 degree head angles.

A slacker head angle will make the bike feel more planted, and additional wheelbase will do the same. As will a lower Bb height.

The Reign has all of those things, 65 ha, very low Bb, long wheelbase. But short stays to keep the cornering in check. [/quote]

The angles I posted were from my current bike, which as you point out is a 29er. ;) So something slacker and lower would be my choice as my BMC is more cross country oriented and feels flighty by comparison. :)

tomaso – Member

There are a whole heap of others options out there – Commencal Meta V4, Mondraker Dune, Vitus Sommet, Nukeproof Mega, Whyte G150 or G160.

To be fair, I hadn’t even considered those options so thanks for pointing them out. :)

crashtestmonkey – Member

Personally I’d still get the Reign.

I’m putting the Norco down to a moment of low blood sugar – it was before lunch so I wasn’t thinking straight.

chakaping – Member

The Norcos seem a bit shorter than your original two options, have you got a good grip on what geometry you want?

TBH, not specifically. I want something more confidence inspiring on steep descents and something not too similar to my Meta which has the following angles:

Head Angle – 68
Chainstays – 458mm
Top Tube – 615mm (large – I really need a medium)

No idea on the reach but I’ve put a 50mm stem on it to pull it in a bit and it made a world of difference.

The Meta is probably all the bike I’ll ever need but whilst I’m in a fortunate position to get another (especially with a generous Cyclescheme employer) I may as well make the most of it. :)

glasgowdan – Member

Trust me, the Giant hasn’t compromised function over form at all! It’s a bruiser that can take a beating and skip up the hill and across the pedally flats very well.

Sorry, didn’t mean that the Reign was incapable, just that the designer was obviously a bit more creative. :)

Popped into the local Evans at lunchtime, they had a Norco Range Carbon 7.3 for £2,100. It looked good in the graphite/yellow but I know nothing about Norco – are they any good?

Not the main reason to buy a bike granted, but I actually prefer the looks of the Codeine. To my mind it looks more function over form, a bit more industrial looking than the Reign.

chakaping – Member

Are you saying you’ll have another bike for your local riding OP?

If so, the reign will be spot on for your needs. It’ll also be fun on some of the Surrey hills trails I’m sure.

Yep, I’ve got a Commencal Meta AM 29er and a BMC Fourstroke FS03 so I’m quite spoiled for choice. In fairness, I’d probably look to off load the BMC.

dragon – Member

Get the Giant it is a no brainer when compared to an On-One.

Any particular reason(s)? :)

Roter Stern – Member

What’s the warranty like on the On One? Is it two years the same as their hardtail frames? That alone would sway me towards the Giant who IME have an excellent warranty service.

Good point. No idea tbh but it’s something I’ll make a note of.

Thanks again to other posters’ contributions. :)

Thanks for the advice folks, it’s appreciated. The Reign definitely coming out as the more popular bike.

I’ve been to the O-O showroom in Rotherham and thought the Codeine looked really quite good in the flesh. The bike also didn’t seem that heavy (compared to my current 2013 Commencal Meta AM 29) but then I’ve never lifted a Reign to compare. Also, when it comes to weight, I’m definitely the limiting factor.

chakaping

Where are you gonna be riding it though? The Reign will excel at all mountain riding and enduro, but I would choose my other bike for trail centres and more XC-style outings.

Most of my riding is Surrey Hills so the Reign/Codeine would be over kill there so it would be used mainly for BPW/Antur Stiniog. We’re also planning a trip to the Alps later this year.

wrecker – Member

Looking at the geometry, the codiene and the reign are very different bikes.

Really?

Head Angle – Codeine is 65.5 against Reign’s 65
Chainstays – Codeine is 430 against Reign’s 434
Top Tube – Codeine is 616 against Reign’s 620
Reach – Codeine is 440 against Reign’s 444

They seem remarkably similar but I’m certainly not in the know.

Obviously there are more numbers to consider but I’d have thought the ones above the most relevant. :)

cheekyboy – Member

Does nobody dislike him ?

I’m undecided but I’ve never really listened to/watched him.

The only production I can remember him in was when he was on Desert Island Discs and, IMO, he came across as bit of an obnoxious ****. Happy to be corrected.

Wot perchypanther said. Wimmen love a man in a kilt.

Of course, it does get a bit tiresome when the auld wimmen keep trying to lift it up.

chakaping – Member

I suspect it does happen but is the exception rather than the rule. Most burglars appear to be more random, probably feeding a drug habit.

It’s whoever is buying the many, many stolen bikes that we really need to find out about anyway IMO.

IMlimitedE, most junkies flog their stolen wares at Cash Converters and you’d think that any quality mountain bike would stand out in that fine establishment. :(

sleigh62 – Member

That’s good news, thanks …. which cog do you recommend I get rid of from the slx cassette?

Everywhere seems to say the 16 or 17 … Is there a definitive answer or just any.

My cassette is 11-36 …

I’m running an SLX cassette on my 1×10 set up. When I fitted my 40t expander I removed the 11t (or 12t – can’t remember exactly). In any case, I didn’t split the cassette, just removed one of the loose smaller cogs. Works just fine. :)

chakaping – Member

Some kind of pleasure device?

For massaging the feeling back in. ;)

Usual visit to Peaslake/Surrey Hills. Most of the trails were holding up well to the rain, a few were a little worse for wear.

Weather was a bit sucky, drizzly rain and a bit chilly but fun nonetheless.

:)

I’m in the hating it camp too. The only good thing about Christmas Day is that I don’t get disturbed with work, the Blackberry stays silent.

I’m up at the folks’ place just now and would much rather be at home under the duvet waiting for Boxing Day. Don’t get me wrong, enjoy spending time with my folks, it’s just that Christmas sucks.

:)

Aye, still in the office and will be for a wee while yet (I reckon another couple of hours). Then back in tomorrow for a re-run. Happy days.

Not on my own though, there are a few irritating eejits here to keep me company. Not sure they’re any better than Coldplay.

:(

philwarren11 – Member

If anyone wants any guiding around the Rhondda let me know. I know all the descents that Afan Off Piste use on their uplifts.

I could be tempted to take you up on that. My only excursions to Wales have been trail centres. Unfortunately I;m based in SE London so it would need a bit of planning. :)

As for my favourite descent, Innerleithen all the way down from Minch Moor. I can’t remember much except for loving it. :)

rascal – Member

Got tyre off – cleaned rim – applied tape.
Tyre back on and inflated dry – up straight away.
Deflated and popped fluid in and reinflated – sloshed around etc.
Currently doing its 10 mins rest on either side
It’s up – just hope it stays up!

Cheers all

Good news. I find getting the insulating tape the critical part. Too little and the bead won’t seal, too much and you can’t get the tyre on (less of an issue with insulating tape compared to gaffa tape).

My tyres do lose a bit of air over the course of a couple of weeks but nothing that 2 minutes with a track pump doesn’t sort.

Sounds like you need to build the bead up a bit more. I prefer good quality insulation tape to gaffa tape, I find it’s easier to get a tighter fit without going too far the other way (IYSWIM).

Apart from a grandfather that was a miner, I haven’t got much to add to the discussion. If you’ve time though, I thought this BBC Radio episode of The Reunion was good. Available on podcast too.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03zxmyt

Thanks P_B.

I’d quite like to try one but am seriously unfit so I’d just be getting in the way on the uphill stages. Och well. :)

At the risk of sounding like a numpty, what is ‘enduro’? I’m assuming it’s a kind of endurance race no?

I think Condor Cycles in Holborn do bike fitting. They seem to be held in high regard for quality of service and product so give them a call.

http://www.condorcycles.com/

sq225917 – Member

Sofabear, you could ask me. I’ll probably be putting it for sale online tomorrow if one of the staff doesn’t bag it first.

simon dot clark@

Thanks. Email sent. :)

@hammyuk FFS, what a nugget I am. Thanks mate appreciated. :)

sq225917 – Member

If you ask the right PX people nicely there’s a medium GX1 27.5 Codeine in rhubarb and custard about to hit clearance for £1299. GX1, Reverb, CR32 rear shock, CR forks. Just been built.

Who would such “right PX people” be? :)