Got to agree with psycobiker & davewalsh , I tried this even at .5 & found the slightest wear on the cassette & a new chain completely incompatible.

Just run the original chain & cassette to destruction.

Guys running Shimano XTR kit claim to get away changing chains successfully according to chain tool indicators , but it’s never worked for me or some of my mates running ‘lesser ‘ kit !

Could have just been a dodgy batch.

I went through a patch about 6 months ago with SIS Gels leaking in my shorts pockets ( ugh ! ).

Touch wood , no problems since.

Hell Yeah Baby !!

Can we have a campsite at the top of the steepest climb possible like Charlie did last year ? 😉

Is it not more usual to use a 160 mm on the rear? Works fine on my OnOne ?

I’ve done this as well , your tyre is not correctly seated. No worries you can ride it . To re- seat the bead , deflate & liberally add soapy water between the rim & tyre. Pump up to the max pressure ( usually around 50 psi ) & you’ll hear it pop as it sets it’s self in place. Then reduce to your normal ride pressure . Your ready to go.

I was out with 2 mates who’re not much over 5ft yesterday. They were both on 29ers ( Cannondale & Lynksey ), and by far the quickest riders out !

Just started with a Saguaro TNT on the rear . Feels as quick / grippy as an X King or Ralph.

Bugger to get on ( get bigger steel tyre levers ) , but inflates easily & no burping issues , compared to the above mentioned tyres,

I run Coninental X-Kings ( 29er Tubeless ready / protection) & think we need to mention different tyres & rims produce different results.

I’m on DT Swiss rims & Continental tyres are a piece of cake to fit & inflate. Down side , they can burp easier .

Just fitted a Geax Saguro on another bike & what a mission , took hours , using screw drivers to lever them on! But what a difference riding , less squirm at lower pressure & can’t burp them how ever hard I try !

Trail & error , hopefully standards will standardise as tubless becomes more main stream.

Should you go Tubeless ?

Well in my experience it can , be a faff & expensive ( you’ll spend more on sealant than tubes)

But as a fairly high milage 16 stone XC rider , for me the ride quality & extra traction are well worth it.

And yes , I’ve had to use a tube to get home more than once ,that’s when you really notice the difference. With tube , it feels heavy & dead , like those solid rubber tyres on kids’ first bikes !

This kit is the business for an external repair , while the tyre is inflated :

http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Panaracer-Tubeless-Tyre-Repair-Kit_406.htm?utm_source=Google&utm_medium=AdwordsProductAds&utm_campaign=Adwords&gclid=CNnq4qW63LgCFbMQt

But long term , Continenals X Kings are a good a ride as Ralphs /Rons .

Pay the extra for the ‘ Protection ‘ model. These are tubeless ready , have an extra ply & reinforced side walls & the super grippy ‘ Black Chilli ‘ compound.

I’m a 100kg fairly high mileage single speeder , I actually get to wear out a rear Continental X King in 6-7 months , rather than have 2 or 3 Schwalbes fail by tearing.

I’d give Continental Country Plus a miss , unless puncture proof is your only priority.

They’re as heavy as Schwalbe Marathons , but don’t ‘tram line ‘ at least.

Feel a bit like the solid rubber tyres your first tricycle had !

@somewhatslightlydazed , sign posted & one way.

The 9sp ring won’t last long if your out & climbing regularly , it’s not suited to single speeding both in tooth pitch & material.

Can I suggest removing the surplus chain rings when you get the chance.

Although the chainline appears straight on the stationary , once you start putting single speed stand up torque through the chain stays, there’s a surprising amount of flex , upsetting chain alignment.

As you are using a chain ring designed for a derailleur set , the chain will catch the ‘ramps’as it pulls towards the outer chain ring under tension.

When you get chance , I highly recommend a stainless chain ring ( ss specific – 3/32th), the on one is very good , & definitely a KMC Z610 HX 3/32th chain.

Not expensive & bullet proof .

A SS chain is the most important component on that bike , you can get proper hurt if it fails.

Got to be something here….

http://superstar.tibolts.co.uk/product_info.php?cPath=57&products_id=359

I hate the way the freehub just falls off when you remove the wheel.

Great for freehub maintenance I suppose , pretty rubbish for sorting out a flat on a wet & muddy trail !

Some people are reminiscing about the old off piste trails that might be lost.

Regular riders might agree that it’s all been so over ridden & the weather so foul , barely nothing is ridable at the moment , a complete bog.

The new trails will at least give some ‘ all weather ‘ options.

Remember , Swinley forest is but a small part of the ridable area.

If you want natural , there’s Crowthorne Woods , Bagshot Common , Broadmoor , Sandhurst ect , all without crossing a road !

There’s a ‘ Mega Train ‘ opening ride on Good Friday posted up. This group are involved with CE , so I think we can take it that’s the official opening day.

Alas , it still can’t be guaranteed that all trails will be fully opened cus of this shitty weather.

Can’t rate GORE highly enough. Great fit , not too expensive & you know they’ll last.

As always , best bought from a shop . Couldn’t get XL Enduras over my feet , where as the Gore XL were spot on.

Was so chuffed I went back & bought a second pair (£39 in a sale )

Done a few hundred (MTB) miles with them under baggies now , well happy.

Ride it before you make your mind up whether it’s ‘ruined’ or not.

Pretty chuffed with the bits I’ve ridden !

Don’t forget you’ve still got Crowthorne Woods & ‘ Over the wire ‘ Bagshot Heath , plenty of natural CX & ST there.

Swinley had to be sorted , the sheer weight of riders was destroying the place.

CE could have just decided to ban us all on the grounds of :

Dickheads suing for accident compensation.
The SSI status with the ground nesting birds.
Good old elf’n’saftey with the on going logging works.

Instead we’re going to get a half decent all weather loop , the bits so far ridden being pretty bloody good.

Bring it on CE !

+ 1 Conti x-kings.

+1 For MW80s , but they also come up tight , so try before you buy , fine to use year round.

I did the race yesterday too and I noticed, on the pushes where everyone was pushing, I made places! I think this is a training effect from riding that gear!

Hell Yeah , got a bit cyclocross on the ups !

My mates Torque Alpine turned up on time today…..

Hi Luffy. I had a similar problem with my rear Avids . Just watch the Avid video a few times , it really is as easy as it looks!

29ers can generally come up larger than 26ers. I’m 6ft & always rode large (21″) 26ers , but now have 2 medium (19″) 29ers ( Cube & On One )

I’m glad I got a test ride first , otherwise I would have ordered too bigger bike.

You’ve got to try to get a test ride somewhere , and if you find yourself right in the middle , it’s best to go for the smaller one if ‘ chuckable ‘ is your requirement.

Ah , Stiltortoise , can’t speak for steel forks , but I started with ali ones , they nearly rattled all my fillings out , unbearable !

Got carbon ones now , not too expensive from on one , much ,much better.

Saying that , I know at least 4 Singular riders , who have steel rigid forks & have never heard them grumbling !?

Whoops !

I built a single speed 8 months ago & absolutely love it . Hills ? with practice you’ll get up anything a geared bike’ll do in middle ring . If it comes to granny climbs , it’s no slower to get off & push !

I took part in the Brass Monkeys series yesterday , along with quite a few other single speeders & did as well as I used to on a carbon ht.

Of coarse it’s horses for courses , no serious hills around our way & oh yeah , it’s just got to be a 29er !

Hans , I can highly recommend Four4th . Dozens of us use them & can vouch for the build quality & performance . I night ride year round , mine have been in use 3or4 times a week for 3 years now.

More importantly , they are available with slight green or yellow tints , which , while not snow specific , dramatically reduce glare.

http://four4th.co.uk/

@Northwind , I started using the deores because the XTs didn’t last any longer & didn’t wanna risk 3X as much on XTR.

To be fair to shimano , these components are designed for light weight , geared bikes , not a 16 stone SSer !

I don’t mind spending more on something that might last more than 5 minutes , hence , the Hope question.

I’m six foot & generally feel right on large (21″) 26ers , however I now ride medium (19″) 29ers.

Generally , you can go down a size on 29ers.

Wow , bottom brackets lasting years rather than months , thank you gentle men , think I’ll take the plunge with Hope then.

I find running has built up my leg muscles for standing up hill climbing – then again , I mainly single speed.

A fair few of us rode todays Brass Monkeys at Ceaser’s Camp on 29er single speeds. Lot of climbing , 32:18 working well for most of us .

What would you prefer to break – your frame or your mech ? Your hanger has done exactly what it is supposed to do.

This is the joy of night riding , no walkers or horses to upset. MOD land however…….

I agree with all the above , just two more points :

Regularly check there is plenty of sealant in the tyre , don’t just assume as I did in the early days , especially with non TR tyres , as they’re actually quite porous !

Remember that while tubeless might be more puncture resistant , they are certainly not puncture proof , so still carry a spare tube ect.

I’m not convinced square taper is any tougher , the 3 or 4 cranks that I’ve seen come off mid ride have been square taper.

I single speed on an old hollow tech crankset , no probs yet , apart from a new bottom bracket every 3 or 4 months !

That hollow axle has to be lighter surely ?