Thanks for the replies! Much appreciated 👍
If Nixie has a spare RH decal that would be awesome…I’ll await a check.
If not I’ll be in touch snotrag!
Thanks again.
And note to all…stick some helitape down your fork legs🤦

Does anyone have any of the purple stickers that the pikes came with spare?

First proper outing for the pikes today and the uplift at BPW rubbed right through right hand side and down into the metal, gutted!!

(Don’t use the front most racks if you can help it, the opposite bike on trailer seems to site a lot closer than the other racks and good chance of its axle QR rubbing on your forks…well I think that’s what happened)!

Just to add….I ordered some 165mm xtr from chain reaction, which have just arrived.
I justified them by pricing up xt which often don’t come with a chainring, which then adds another £45+, making my justification for another unnecessary bike purchase totally ok 😁

And to add further…they come lose in a box rattling around, chain reaction seem to have run out of any form of bubble wrap.
So maybe they’re OEM part, like the pikes, race Face cranks etc

And in the time it took me to copy and paste the link, they’ve gone!!

These are now back in stock, though probably not for long….

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/riverside-rt-920-adventure-touring-bike/_/R-p-332473

Or speak to the lovely people at Camelchops 👌

It said “boost” 141 5mm QR when I read up on them a while back, that’s not boost as we know it…worth checking

Is that the one with an old QR rear axle, as in not a bolt thru?!

Could have a chat with Pacenti wheels as another option.
Their wheel builds are strong and light and if you post them your hubs they’ll build their rims onto them for you.
Also easy to deal with!
I have a set of their PI25 rimmed wheelsets.

Amazing response – thank you!
Some bikes/frames there I had not realised had boost adjustable dropouts (I think that’s the way I am going).

Going to go through and see what I can get a 29 x 2.6 on the back and will also be happy with a Tarn carbon fork (i.e. not something that ideally needs a 140mm/150mm fork)

Oh i do like trawling the internet for things I really shouldn’t be buying….

Thanks for the speedy replies

I do have a new DMR tensioner sat here in a box…If i get a chance I will stick it on the Scandal for a trial – I know a chipped £260 ebay frame is probably the most cost effective option…

Oh and I should have added, it needs to be a boost frame to help my wheel/tyre swapping addiction fed.

And yes i had spotted the Stooge Mk5!

Thanks for the reply – much appreciated.
Don’t worry – my main scandal will stay sprung and geared…just toying with the idea of an ebay frame and build it SS and rigid with some parts I have.
I’d like a sliding dropout boost frame like a salsa timberjack or Pipedream Sirius S5 to keep it looking neat, but my budget isn’t quite that high!

I waited for a while for my wife’s frontier frameset.
I couldn’t think/ find anything else for that money that came close.
Seems well finished and they’re very easy to deal with!

Has anyone set there scandal up single speed?
Wondering what tensioner setup would work best with the supplied mech hanger arrangement..single speed all a bit new to me!
Probably be using a gusset XD 1-ER cog/spacer setup…

Thanks for the tape information, I should have updated this thread, we’ve just converted it to tubeless with vesa 30mm tape, worked a treat.

And the vandal…I like it, but not sure it warrants upgrading from my scandal!

Also noticed that the GX builds all ship with an SX cassette, very different piece of kit to the GX cassette that should ship with the new lunar GX groupset. Huge saving cost wise to planet x I imagine.
I guess that’s one way to keep the prices a bit lower and most buyers won’t notice it?

A friend has recently bought a scandal and I’ve said I’ll help her set it up tubeless…

Does anyone know if the current Alex rims they ship with are taped?
If not,does anyone know the internal width for getting some tape ordered in please?

I know my fulcrums on the early batch of bikes weren’t taped…and kind of expecting these not to be as well!

I’ll be buying a Vittoria cannoli to try, seems a good middle ground tread wise…

@kuco
Merlin say they have stock of 2.25 and 2.1 terreno…

Had a small frontier frame-set on order for a build up for my wife and it’s been cancelled due to website wrongly showing stock…new stock in July…

Did anyone come up with anything in stock and similar pricing?
I’m struggling to find anything that comes close with a fork for around £300

Had an email from superstar earlier.
Their V6 hub, isotope rim builds are 33% off.

Isotope33 code.

May not be of any use to OP, but might be of use to someone…

“WAFFLE WARNING”

Now I know it looks like there will be another batch I don’t feel quite so bad about posting a few pics and info on my 920 (56/200)…

If it’s any consolation to those that missed this batch, I also had my order cancelled 14 days after placing it, but my friend who also ordered one found the Large too big, so I bought his…

First impressions are it’s a very well made and hence may seem a bit weighty – but having used it for a few weeks and tinkered with it, I don’t feel you can compare it to a “gravel” bike (used to have a Nukeproof Digger and have ridden various other “gravel” bikes) – not entirely sure what this bike is with all the ridiculous genres to chose from and quite frankly I don’t care!

I am hoping to start doing a few short trips later this year and being a MTBer first and foremost, this seemed a good starting point – I am at home on 29ers with squishy 2.4ish tyres.
I also like b*ggering about with anything with wheels and this has lots of shiny bolts to remove and attach various “useful” things to and I can plug stuff in to charge – quite a novelty!

I’ve done some local rides with plenty of offroad and one 55KM ride before lockdown which mixed in all sorts of terrain and it performed very well. IMO, even on the mezcals and me riding, it keeps up with gravelly type bikes on the smoother stuff if you need it to. It’s a hoot on the offroad downs and that seems to be where it leaves the gravelly type bikes behind.

So far i’ve:-

– added some of the supplied helitape type film in suitable places. Notably, the cables on the left hand side of the head tube rub quite badly, so protect that bit before you ride it.

-swapped across some Pacenti PI25 wheels I had from another bike – bit lighter than the Sun rimmed things it came with and has made it a little more spritely – I’ll stick the dyanmo front wheel back on for any longer journeys. This is never going to be a 10kg bike!
(Highly recommend Luke at Pacenti for wheels – lovely wheels and easy to get different freehub drivers, end caps, spares etc.)

(-the stock wheels went up tubeless straight away and are taped and it comes with valves in the toolkit.)

-Put 2.35 mezcals on – as I had them and like them as a tyre and this bike will be offroad a lot. I also like the thunderburts having used them before and will put them on when it drys up a bit.

-180mm front disc – as I had a spare and I think it cannot hurt to have it instead of the stock 160mm

-Swapped out the Brooks as it did not fit my backside – the charge spoon just happened to have the correct shade of green on the logo! (ebay purchase for £24.99 delivered – new old stock i think)

-front mud hugger fitted and managed to fit it using two cable ties and the upper most cage bolts. As they go all the way through the fork, I bought some longer stainless cap head bolts and used a penny washer and nylock to fix it.

– managed to get the specific racks before they went out of stock as well!
They’re not the prettiest things, but seem well made and I like the 6 bolt arrangement on the rear rack for rigidity. The silver was pretty hideous, so I sprayed them an even more hideous green colour to match the Podsacs logo on the top tube bag…not fitted the front – it’s just too big/naff for popping to the shops or work with.
Note – M6 bolts are used for the rear rack and the ones on the frame are basically plugs, so not long enough to mount the rack – you’ll need longer ones.

-bought some blackburn bolt on cages – seem well reviewed and I like the rubberised straps, definitely hold items securely – they also had to be sprayed a hideous colour to match. From tredz at £16.99 each and then one of their £5 voucher pop ups.

-bodged in an old spare fat bike mud guard thingy just to keep some of the crap off.
this will be improved as and when – I bought a rear 29er mudhugger to use (fawkes cycles seemed cheapest when I looked), but that can only be fitted when I am not using the rack.

-Having priced up a bolt on top tube bag and thought £55+ was a bit silly I bought a PlanetX pod sacs one and just made it bolt on with a soldering iron to melt two holes in it and then a thin sheet of alloy as an internal support plate.
The podsacs works well as a bolt on option as the frame straps are removable rather than sew on. So it can be reused with the straps on another bike if required.
It also comes with a soft cushioned removable liner which covers the alloy sheet and bolts nicely.

– trying a shorter stem – again, had it in stock and I also seem to bit shorted stems to things to help my back. I suspect i’ve ruined some crucial geometry value, but I can still ride it without falling off…

Future plans – ride it for what it is, enjoy tinkering with it / adding bits and bobs to it, try not to mess around with the drivetrain too much it.

And most crucial for me – remember to also ride my hardtail and my fatbike as they also make he smile!

[/url]


[/url]
[/url]
[/url]
[/url]
[/url]

203mm fits on back if you need to 👍

Great thread, I am about to update my home workshop kit and would like a nice little kit to leave in my bike pack as well.

Wondered if any stand out as better than others?

Happy to add to to any kit, but maybe better to start with the most suitable in the first place and add to that!

Very pleased with mine, managed a filthy off road night ride after setting up tubeless and it was a great ride. Much more agile than I expected.

An XL has just popped up for sale on decathlon website.
Maybe a cancelled order…

I’ve just hit buy on my fat bike itch – should be here in a week or so…
No idea what to expect apart from the obvious remarks from my cycling companions!
But hopefully it’ll roll along rather nicely and surprise a few on their fancy carbon full sussers ;-)

Went for a 2021 Trek Farley 5, rummaged second hand market for months, but it’s all over the place and not a lot to chose from. The Farley 9.6 at £2600, just seemed a stretch too far for an itch!!

The spec isn’t fantastic for £1500, but a couple of bits are an easy upgrade if lacking and it comes with a dropper and once tubeless setup is perfectly acceptable.

It is a 27.5 x 4.5 tyre thing – not great praise for this genre from above posts – hopefully I won’t be disappointed…

And taking of tyres – it comes with Bontrager Gnarwhal – any thoughts?!

77km!
I am lucky to manage 10km of a an evening these days with work and family!

Love to see the GPX though – I’ll email you – thank you :-)

I live in Yettington – moved here because of the proximity to the common (but don’t tell the wife).

I watched the installations appear during lock down as they were on our daily walk route and it did make me cringe – I knew what was coming!

If you go there now it has improved with nice people clearing the debris and I try and clear paths of tree felling debris etc when i walk the dogs up there.

Keep an eye out for Logs that have been put across tracks around corners – not sure who is putting them out – but it’s bloody dangerous!

You’ll see a Map has been put up recently by Clinton in an attempt to designate tracks for cylists/walkers/horses etc and make people aware of the bridleways.
They are really making an effort and I know they’ll leave the nice flowing tracks alone if people just resist jumps and structures.
If Joe Bloggs goes up for a ride one week and then goes up the following week, does the same trail, but hits a jump that wasn’t there the previous week and breaks his neck – who is going to get blamed/sued…

There is also a few tracks in the small valley next to the steep road hill out of yettington on the right hand side. They’ve been there for years and have recently made a come back despite logging. Adds a nice little loop.

If anyone gets stuck out this way with a bike breakdown – lost – needs a guide etc, please feel free to keep my number (PM me) for getting in touch. Have most tools here and a van!

And a big thank you for the above posts on East Hill/mutters etc, I really need to get out there and explore. (just jumping on the common is rather easy when you know it well!)

Happy biking :-)

Is that the Blue and yellow Lost Lad that was reduced and sold out for £400 ish a month or so ago, or a new one for 2021?!
Not seen a new one online yet?
2020 one:-

Lost Lad

Cracking thread and very bad timing in many ways!

As I sold my gravel bike yesterday as it was a bit too good and I wasn’t using my modern hardtail enough (obviously a good reason to sell it)…

And then I spot this glorious thread…and the budget gravel bike thread…get all excited about steel frames that i can weld mounts on..

…head to ebay…

…procure what i think is a 1999 genesis triple butted vanadium steel Gary Fisher Aquila (same as the hoo koo e koo frame) monstrosity to try and build into a usable bike of some sorts!

God help me

:-)

Just to add….

I had one of the very first GX builds from PX which has actually been pretty faultless.
Guide brakes have been a bit faffy despite fettling and front wheel bearings didn’t last too long, but apart from that all has been good

On arrival I added an Ascend dropper, 780mm bars as it came with 740mm selcof carbon thing and a Guide RE front brake i had in the shed.

I tried to run it with 3 sets of wheels, 27.5+ 3.0, 29-2.6 and 29-1.9 (earlier in this thread) as a one bike solution and it performed well with each set…

…then I picked up a nukeproof digger drop bar contraption and that does skinny tyre uncomfortableness now and just ran the scandal with 29×2.6 and started to get a bit bored.

The Fulcrum Red zone 700 wheels that came with the early builds are not the lightest, but have actually been a pleasantly surprising wheel to run for the dosh.

But…my scandal has come alive with a lighter set of wheels (DT Swiss XR1501 25mm) and dropping back down to a light 2.35 tyre (Vittoria Mezcal).

Genuinely fallen back in love with the bike having got a bit bored of hauling 2.6 DHF/Rs around. I am not very gnar – but like to go fast.

I shall be keeping an eye out for a deal on the selcof carbon front fork as I am intrigued to see how it performs with a lighter front end.

Glad to see so many enjoying their cheap hardtail builds :-)

Just to say thank you for starting and commenting on this thread – I have just fitted a pair of 29 x 2.35 Mezcal from R2-bikes and am very pleased!

I’ve tried all sorts of 2.3,2.4,2.5 and 2.6 tyres, and recently even a pair of vittoria baro race 2.0 just to try and gauge what suits me, location and bike!

Funnily enough the light(ish) 2.35 fast rolling but grippy Mezcal seems to be spot on at the moment.

And if of interest mine weighed 720g and 729g each

You’ll struggle to find a new digger anywhere – my friend tried every dealer and some were taking deposits for 2021 models…
I think MTBers are going for the Diggers as they are a known MTB brand first and this is there take on a drop bar bike?!

Ironically he ended up with a factory and a comp and has the 2020 Comp in Medium to sell if of interest.

I have a 2019 Comp which is a hoot to ride anywhere and been a great first drop bar bike for me, but then the Camino was what I was originally aiming for (digger came up cheap on ebay).

Apex stuff seems OK for a basic hydraulic groupset, – i’d prefer to give the GRX setups a try like on the 2020 models.

I really do not think you’d be disappointed with either of your choices.

Just remember all diggers are 650b with a 47c maximum clearance – tried 2.1s, they fit but about 1mm clearance.
You’ll get more choice speccing a camino through sonder and they might even do a few custom bits for you.

Has anyone got any weights for the built bikes as a rough idea? i.e. a rigid GX spec?
Not seen any weights on PX site or other threads on here…

I have been running WTB Venture in 47C and have been amazed at grip in the slop considering the tread pattern, I tend to ride my gravel bike like it’s a trail MTB…
They also seem to roll nicely on the tarmac and have been a good compromise tyre for me this winter and i’ll probably run them into the summer and see how they get on

I’d check the clearance on the nukeproof Digger first… I have a 2019 digger which came to me with 2.1 crossmarks which the previous owner had fitted, they had about 1mm clearance on the seat stays!
So it’s back on 47c tyres now and I’d says that’s the maximum the frame will take with decent clearance.
Have they redesigned the frame for 2020?

Thanks I do keep my eyes out for a second hand tarn fork, they seem to be harder to find now!
I’ve just spotted there “special edition” scandal seems to run the same carbon fork…
I’ll ask next week 👍🏽

I see the carbon whippet is now available on their website… With a selcof carbon fork and the rockshox 35 fork as an extra option, suggesting its suspension corrected for 130mm ish…

So would that selcof fork be a pretty good fit for a scandal?

I cannot see it for sale separately on the website and am keen to try one out if its boost and will take a decent size tyre!

Personally i think Exmouth is your answer! And not just from a cycling point of view…
I dragged my wife from her cottage in North Dorset to live in a caravan whilst we built a house in a little village next to Woodbury common.
She thought i was totally mad, but it did not take long for her to realise the location was worth the 2 years of slumming it and we’re now happily bringing up a family there.

As said above you have a great network of paths to get to places on bike or by train and the ferry across is a great addition to a ride in season.
House prices are more, but there is a reason for that.
Also I believe it currently has one of the highest % house price rises in the country. It’s going to catchup with the more “sought after” costal towns in the area before long, so might well be a good long term investment.

Feel free to give me a PM if you want to come out for a ride in the area or even give me a call for a chat about the area.

Good luck with the move :-)

There is nothing better than a mac ride…
Not cheap, but it just works, means you can near enough ride normally without your knees out at an angle.

My now 3 year old has been on it for over a year and absolutely loves it.
We do blue runs at haldon forest, local common muddy rides etc and it has genuinely improved our lives!

It’s also mighty good for fitness, imagine strapping a bag of cement to the top tube….

My father has the other steerer spacer adapter on his e bike, so we can swap the seat easy between bikes and give my legs a rest.

We also bought the ebike adapter kit which allows the mac ride to fit over a chunky battery filled down tube.

As said it genuinely takes less than a minute to fit each time, the weeride seat I had before was just a complete pain.

Other thing worth noting, we personally think it’s unsafe to use one of these without a dropper post on your bike. Stopping at a junction etc is very very hard with the saddle at full height, and no where to slide yourself forwards and down to a safe standing stop.

thank you :-)