Cristof, I have one of the orange-handled ones pictured above and I’m only over in Saltash. You’re welcome to swing by if you want it.

Between the two, I’d probably avoid both.

I own a Pole Taival and it’s incredible, but I bought it second hand and €900 is way too much for what it is (being a hard tail frame made in Taiwan).

As for the Stanton, my friend’s experience of spending months being fobbed off to finally be sent a frame that wasn’t straight and had parts missing from the rear shock when it arrived would put me off buying anything from them. It certainly took the shine off purchasing what was supposed to be a dream bike for him.

My friend has just bought a Pace. It’s proper lovely and £300 cheaper than a Pole would be. As for your concern regarding having a 142mm hub, could you not just use a spacer kit?

One of the reasons I moved from North Devon was the lack of local, decent mtb. You’re looking at over an hour of driving to access anything decent. Cracking road riding though.

Roof rack straps are solid, easy, and reusable. They’re also useful for lots of things.

I lived in Scarborough for a couple of years, but as that was over 20 years ago, things may have changed. Here’s what I remember:

It’s so, so, so cold. Winter water temp up there is about 6 degrees. Cornwall south coast is about 12 at the minute. I was proper redders in a 5/4 yesterday. That’s a summer suit in Yorkshire.

The almost constant south westerly wind that prevails in the south west Blows through to the north east, meaning its almost always offshore. Lots of flat periods though.

How are you on left-hand point breaks? The north east is littered with them. Loads of chunky reefs too. If you’re regular and can’t surf backhand, Yorkshire isn’t for you. It’s not my place to tell you where any of them are though.

Cayton bay is probably your most obvious spot for mid to high tide, which’ll be morning and lunchtime this weekend. Bunkers was okay at high. I recall some cracking sessions at Cayton Point. I’ve no idea if you have to pay for parking and stuff nowadays.

They cook chips in beef fat up there. The sun also rises out of the sea. Weird.

‘Let us know what the Hans is like in 2.6, I love it in the 2.35 version.’

I’ve been running 29×2.6 through the summer. Great for the dust but frustratingly unpredictable in the wet. Surprising as 650b x 2.8 was incredible last winter.

I’ve just swapped to a WTB Vigilante 2.6 up front and it’s much better in the wet than the 2.6 Mary

I’ve had mine for a few weeks. Absolutely love it. First ride felt odd, but once you become mindful of weighting the front, it offers so much confidence.

I’ve been riding a Pole Taival for the last two weeks and it’s an absolute hoot. It’s quite the head-turner in satin red too.

Taival

Came across all of this business a few days ago when I saw one of their frames for sale on eBay. The whole thing is shocking.

Their Facebook page lists their business address as a tattoo parlour over near Brighton. If it was me waiting for a two grand refund, I’d be inclined to go and hold their tattoo equipment to ransom.

Had mine 4 weeks ago. Been exercising sensibly as per my surgeon’s advice, and had my first proper ride yesterday.

chuffed to bits with the surgery result. First time I’ve not limped whilst walking this year.

I have a set of Barons, paired with some 3″ Purgatory tyres. Very impressed so far.

I’m over 130kg and ride a hardtail with little delicacy. The rims haven’t needed a hint of truing in the 7 months that I’ve owned them. I swapped from a 45mm rim and it gave the tyre a slightly rounder profile which seems to make direction change more fluid.

Bearings are still smooth, but then they’ve not really seen much moisture this year. I use a pair of Arch S1 wheels for winter. They lasted two Winters (10-12 months I’d guess) before needing new bearings.

I strapped the car seat into a trailer using bungee cords. Acted as suspension and he always fell asleep in there.

Scamper, I’ve sent you a message about riding in Plymouth.

Cann Woods in Plymouth has some great riding and is very dog friendly. Used to take my Dalmatian around there for hours.

I’ve had a couple of BMWs as company cars. The indicator arms work in a weird way and are very infuriating. made me wonder if people who have them long term just give up using indicators out of anger.

So we’re all in agreement. Plymouth is the centre of the universe!

Check out this STW jannerfest!

I moved to the area 14 years ago and love it. Spent a few years in North Devon and couldn’t wait to move back.

As said, it’s not the prettiest city but it offers access to so much. I live in Saltash and have everything I want in life within a 15minute drive. Good doorstep mtb and easy access to loads of great spots.

Loads of good windsurfing options (I’m also getting back into that after a 20 year absence). I mostly sail at St. Johns lake, overlooking the dockyard. Oodles of surf and sup options too. I would imagine the water to be much warmer than Scotland.

What strikes me most about Plymouth is how friendly it Is, and how easy it is to make friends. I’d also say that there’s nowhere in Plymouth that I’d be scared to walk at night.

I lived in Chard for six months and used to ride Shute Hill, near Axminster. Dunno what it’s like now, but was okay ten years ago.

I got a Garmin Vivofit for less than £20 on eBay. Does all that fitness tracker stuff but also connects to a garmin hrm belt.

Muddy bridleways aren’t really my trail of choice.

I’m at the holiday Inn, next to the m40

I grew up in Dunstable and cut my MTB teeth there. I’ve still got a mate from there who now lives in neighbouring Leighton Buzzard. There’s a wood there that he rides a lot. It used to be called Heath & Reach when I rode it, but gets called something else now.

As for Dunstable itself, there are local trails but they need linking up with quite a bit of road, and they’re nothing too technical. If I still lived there, I think I’d want a cyclocross bike for doorstep fun (unless the trails have changed significantly in the last 15 years). If it’s still there, the chalk pit used to be fun for messing about in the summer. Good for mx bikes and stolen Vauxhall Novas too.

EDIT: Just remembered that Heath & Reach is now called Rushmore.

I used to live in north Devon and found the lack of decent mountain biking to be enough motivation to move. You’re looking at travelling for at least an hour to get to anything worthwhile. The riding around Okehampton is also crap, by the way.

How about the Plymouth area? Great doorstep riding plus easy access to places like Tavi woodlands and Dartmoor. Local beaches are also lovely and offer a lot of variety. Plymouth itself isn’t particularly pretty though, but stay in the south hams or se Cornwall and you’re sorted.

Do the pass before your present offer runs out. It’ll just add it on.

My bikes are more fun to ride with a dropper post fitted. Surely that’s the most important thing?

I lived in North Devon for a few years. It’s a nice place but you need money to live somewhere nice. There’s a massive disparity between those that have, and those that don’t. Living there is not the same as being on holiday and there’s (rightly or wrongly) resentment across the Westcountry towards people moving there with money from their South East house sale.

I would mention that the doorstep mountain biking is very poor. Exmoor only really gets fun when you get into Somerset, which is quite a hike. Good road riding though.

Down ‘ere in Cornwall, thunder and lightning is a scone with clotted cream and golden syrup. Ansum!

It’s a 1996 Proflex Beast. I had one. Came with Vector fork, elastomer shocks, and Magura HS22 brakes in red. I seem to recall that it was the first model to feature some kind of controlled damping. Nitrogen or something.

I owned mine for about a year. I’d say it spent more time being fixed than ridden. Definitely the worst bike I’ve ever owned and ridden. Hated it.

No one?

Thing with inflatables is that you get what you pay for. The budget jobs are generally awful. Much better to buy quality second hand, although the inflatables really do hold their value.

The Red boards are hugely popular. If you’re going to buy one, make sure it’s the 2016 model. They look the same as 2015 but have a different internal technology which makes them about 25% lighter.

I think I’m missing something. All of the above links take me to the American site.

I’d keep the shoes and helmet in hand luggage. That way, you can still ride a rental bike if the airport loses your bike.

Very glad I saw this post. I’m off to Morzine in July with a group of lads DHers. I’ve been worrying about where to ride.

+2. I went from a 2.0 to 1.6. No better fuel economy but really lacks the acceleration.

The fast and the furious
Point break

I grew up in the Home Counties. We just all had our own bikes to ride. :wink:

Actually, that’s a lie. ‘Twas a backie when I were wee.

The surf forecast on the bbc news for Devon & Cornwall is hilariously inaccurate, and always has been.

Ideal. Thank you.

Xxl specialised shorts are a genuine 40″ waist. Got some Atlas shorts for Xmas and they’re really nice.

I was riding in Cann woods today, which are next to Nwnham. ‘Twas very wet, but all rideable still. It’ll be fun on Sunday.