I got the frame from a shop in Glasgow called Cycle-Lane (cos they did it on 6 months interest free for me). I don’t see why any Kona dealer couldn’t sort one though.

Chopped the bars down to 750mm and it’s a different bike. Feels planted and solid now, but really chuckable when I want it to be. One of the issues I’ve always had with 26″ bikes is that I feel really ‘perched’ and unstable. Geometry of bigger wheels seems to really suit me as I feel like I’m a lot more ‘inside’ the bike, so a lot more confident. Does that make sense?

There’s nothing really worth shouting about around there. Sorry. The road riding is excellent though.

Best bet is to head over to East Dartmoor from there.

It’s really amazing how much easier the modern ski designs make it

I find this rather ironic as I had years of listening to chalet punters telling me snowboarding was crap because it was easier than skiing.

Bars are Blackspire 808. Got ’em in the CRC supersale for £17.

That was me. Well spotted. Went for a quick roll around Cann to give it a test.

Kona offer a geared dropout for the Unit. Cost me £25, which seemed a lot but I suppose isn’t much more than a regular mech hanger. The sliding dropouts are bolted in, so it’s really easy to change over. Otherwise, the Unit comes with all the cable stops you need to run it geared.

I got it from Dartmoor Cycles. It took them about 3 days to get it from Geneva.

The white paint job on my Mondeo’s pretty nasty though. Getting swapped for one in Panther Black next week. Meow!

also it appears you seem to be running one of those new ‘folding’ chainrings

It’s a new fitness aid that forces you to keep it in the big-ring for some uphill gurning. They’re really easy to fit. All you do is buy a second-hand chainset and forget to check if the bolts are done up before you fit it.

Oops.

scon, butter, jam, cream. but that’s another argument

We argue about which way the cream and jam go on down here. Not sure about this butter business though.

Bike looks good, who told you a 29er ht feels like a 26″ FS??

Just the usual nonsense you read on the intermenet.

It’s very ermmmmm, grey and black, then….

My last bike was white and was a right pain to keep clean.

Trailer with ability to attach his bike to the back to be carried,, then he can ride bits.

That was going to be my suggestion. I thought some bungee cords to strap it to the outside?

1st ride conclusions:

Despite what people will tell you about 29ers, it didn’t feel like a 26″ full-suss (not that I expected it to), and it went around corners fine. It even left the ground a couple of times. It cruised the flat very quickly and climbed surprisingly well too.

Despite wide bars being all trendy and stuff, 800mm is just silly, even when you’re my size. I feel they slowed the handling down too much and made everything feel a bit stretched. I’m gonna chop 50mm off which should improve the bike character (so I reckon). The knuckles on my left hand are also quite sore.

I had a lot of fun on it, and that’s the point, isn’t it?

SpongingMachine, I’d be interested in how you get on with the Unit. I’ve got a stock build (singlespeed, rigid) and much as I enjoy every ride, it’s not a delicate machine. It’s a bit of a plough in fact. Is that just 29ers?

Hard to say as it’s the first 29er I’ve ridden. I rode it for the first time today and have to say that it felt slightly less nimble than the Kona 120 it’s replaced. I think that’s mostly to do with the 800mm bar I’ve stuck on there. I’m gonna cut it down tomorrow. I’ll let you know.

22″. Off to the woods now.

Looks good, I take it that’s a 2012 model? (2013 has maxle backend)

It’s the Honzo that has a maxle back-end. mine’s a Unit.

None of the above, but I just finished this a few minutes ago:

I’ve only ridden it up the road, so can’t comment on how it handles.

I cheated and just bought a frame that came in a raw finish. I do think it looks smashing though:

Keep it up, and your bike could be as pretty as mine!

My advice would be a Special K Fruity cereal for breakfast

Terrible advice. Nothing but refined sugary crap.

Purely decorative.

I live in a small rural town in Devon in which there are not one but two young chaps called Merlin. Make of that what you will…

I’ll wager that’s Totnes. Weird bunch of hippies.

My new Kona Unit came in a raw finish. I really like it.

I spend 5 hours a day in mine. I like it a lot.

I find Time ATACs offer all of the advantages of CBs, without the maintenance or random unclipping incidents.

buy a piano accordian

You’ve just made me want one too.

I work around there. I understand that the towns/villages around Minehead (Williton, Watchet, etc.)are very nice and very expensive. Smashing riding though.

If the iron starts smoking, the wax is burning, turn it down

My mate delaminated one of his skis with a hot iron. Turn that dial down!

Ricola!

A 150mm stem would finish that Klein off nicely.

My friend likes to drive over from Germany in his Aston as it means he can wash his car* and fit proper tyres

I have a gentleman to organise these things for me.

I can sell you a Dirty Dan in good nick for a decent price, if that helps solve your dilemma?

Is that the Piglet or the Pace?

Piglet.

gets great reviews as does the ragley piglet.

Worst bike I’ve ever owned, although a lot of that was due to the geometry not working in a 20″. I would imagine it translates quite well to 16″. However, I found a couple of holes in the welds and the paint was appalling. Seattube wasn’t the smoothest inside either.

Well after trying this 29er thing I ended up back on the 26″ Unit.

Mind if I ask why that was? I’m about to take the plunge into big wheels with a 29er Unit.

Big wheels arrive next week. Count me in for some of these shenanigans.

It’s a Devon/Cornwall love-in!

It’s worth noting that Avid Shortys are notorious for squealing, no matter what you do with them.

If Dartmoor stays as wet as it is (which it probably will, looking at the forecast) a load of us from Plymouth will probably have a day on the Quantocks. You’ll be more than welcome to join us.

Chortle.

What a cheerful chap you are, Shortcut.

Could someone enlighten me on anchovies?

EDIT:

It’s quicker to repair that kind of puncture than fitting a new tube with the likes of a Panaracer tubeless repair patch kit. Leave the tyre on,clean in and around the hole and plug it. Inflate.

I never knew trailside repair kits existed. Just ordered a Weldtite one. Many thanks.

As another point, someone suggeted to me today that CO2 inflaters shouldn’t be used with tubeless. Any truth to this?

Did as suggested above but the sealant just dribbled out. I did think that anything under 3mm wasn’t seen as much of a problem. Maybe I was just unlucky.

As for spare tubes, I always carry one. It’s just that it was quicker to walk than mess around with the change.

Here’s another question. What’s the best way to repair the tyre?

Should we be prepared for Arthur’s Army to be leaving every available log, branch and twig in the way? Good news though.

Nanny state? You expect the state to look after you when you’re ill, why is it not right for the state to try and prevent people messing themselves up? Prevention not better than cure?