I have a 2019 genius in XL at 6 1, they are well worth a look, 64.5 with 160 fork on and reach around 500mm. Find the rear travel adjust really useful and a decent weight as well.

I have 150mm full sus 29 and a 27.5 hardtail with 2.6 tires and Pikes on. The hardtail is slower for me almost everywhere off road with the gap widening the rougher it gets. Enjoy the hardtail though and ride it lots in winter unless Its on really rocky stuff which is just plain painful. If I had to have one it would be definitely be full suss though.

Had a gravel bike for about 8 months thought it did nothing well and sold it. Happy using hardtail or roadbike in its place. Horses for courses I suppose but I would not be selling a 4k mountain bike to give it a go.

Had both 57 Octavia and an 08 and a 12 plate Mondeo at the minute. Mondeo the better car for me, bigger, handles better and stronger engines. Both decent though.

I had a Jekyll 27.5 with the dyad and quite liked it was interested in the 29 but the B.B. is 3 feet high.

I am set to get 1 % non consolidated rise for the 4th year running as a non popular public servant so 3.5 would be good. I do enjoy the job but it takes the piss really and we no longer have an incremental system as per NHS etc. Difficult to compare what I do in the private sector but my mates working as self employed builders, tree surgeons are getting a lot more as are those employed by a large local engineering company and I considerably more qualified.

I have a 170mm reverb been very reliable for the last 8 months

Good luck mine is 13 years old, runs away at will and shits on the dining floor when the mood takes him

I have the xl’s which felt a bit tight at first and now they feel great having stretched a bit

Virus sentier is worth a look, I bought the + model for 850 then added the band x dropper to make it 980. The fork is a bit basic, but the wheels are ok the tires are really good and most importantly it rides well. I will swap the fork out so by the time I have sold the recon that came on it and stuck a Reba or Rev in it the cost will be around 1300 which i think is reasonable.

I have one and really rate it so for the money and  if they have the right size I think it’s a good buy.

Paid 25 quid for my doctors letter, mate got his for free

My mate did it on a 26 inch tr 130 rear with 150 Pikes on and it was fine, as above you need big rotors, beefy tyres and strong rims.

England imploding

Should have been 2 blacks in the bin on that, ref said just a penalty as the French player was already going down !!!!

Phil Mitchell would be quicker !!

I am in Little Eaton good routes from the door over to ambergate etc and only 45 mins over to dark peak etc in the car. I don’t work for the obvious employer but it would not be a bad commute from here by bike and avoid the traffic along the river path.

Had both and for me the brand x is much better. Smoother action, lighter and generally better quality

Whyte t130, yt Jeffsy would be worth a look

E13 grippy one on front and harder compound on the rear works for me at the min in the peak although I may stick a 2.4 ardent on the rear for summer.

Good looking bike that enjoy !!

I am on a flare which is similar reach wise, I am on a large at 6 1 with 50mm stem. Tried the long trend and prefer something bit shorter. I have a 170mm dropper which is not slammed.

Mondeo estate

Strikes me as a shit job so therefore pay compensates, having said that you generally earn very little for cleaning toilets.

No private cover and it’s about 6k I do not have. Physio wise they said it’s a big commitment but 3 months is not to bad, just have to resist the desire to eat and drink

Found it, Sunset bikes Facebook page, don’t know how to link that to here

I have seen a pic, can’t find it now. Looks good someone told me 5.9k for the bike though

Just gone to E4’s from Guides rs, prefer the Hope feel, bleeding is piece of piss and far more reliable for me. I have guide r ‘s too which have been a pain. Horses for courses really.

3500 miles to me is very good mine last about 1500 absolute max but I get sick of stripping them down to regrease etc. New style dmr v12 seem to be about the best for me out of neutrons, nanos, Saints, vaults, spank oozys.

You did Slickandslide :D

I do not get it, maybe a cult, brainwashed by his mullet.

£90 seems worthwhile, I must have been drunk when looking !!!

It does feel good as is, just been mucking about with the HSC quite a bit which the LT may improve to be fair. I have always preferred a coil when sent up right and the weight penalty is not that bad with the vault spring. The aeris is not that weighty either.Just waiting to see a price as the link does not seem to work for me when I click on it on the bird site.

I have a 145 with 160 fox 36 on and cane creek dB coil which i have only had a couple of months, just tinkering with shock atm and feel like I am getting there. I think a may give the linkage a go depending on price to compare the feel, could be useful for alps etc

Are they underneath a black plastic cap as I need to mine as well

Will have a look at the worx cheers

Anyone tried 1 of the mobi v17 ones, £100 on wiggle at the minute.

Another vote for Bird, 3k gets a good build.

I have the deemax enduros which are 28 internal front and 25 rear, not sure I notice any benefit but the back is not silly flex like the yellow ones they did.

I bought a bar a few weeks ago, non sale item took 2 weeks to show up and they did not reply to my emails chasing it up, maybe good news for the lbs