WTB or Stans valves both work fine, sure I got told 100ml minimum’ish each tyre but usually put more in to be on the safe side. I’ve always found Maxxis tyres the easiest to seat and seal too.

I’ve just got mine a Strider. Is second hand of fleabay but managed to find one in good condition but was collect only so only paid 20 quid (had to travel and hour each way). Nice and light with plenty of adjustment and feels plenty sturdy enough. A good clean and check over and it looks near enough new.

Thanks, I’ll go find some to try.

Mace, apparently it’s good for taking out bloody great Bengal tigers!

I’ve been running a set for about 4 years and their still working fine. I give them a bleed every 6 months and have never had any bother. Only just now thinking about a seal service but will probably just give them a bleed and do the seals next year.

I swapped from a Five to a Scout and much prefer the Scout. Great for 95% of my riding as don’t really do races anymore, not that I did loads, and mainly ride around the North Yorkshire with the odd uplift. Always felt like my Five was a bit too long and struggled to get over the front and everything swapped straight over to Scout. Same as above too in that I run mine with a coil and find it better suits me. Was looking at the new frames the other day and their all externally routed now, I did the cable heat shrink thing on mine and have had any rattle.

The one I had was 18″ (26″ wheels though) and I’m 6′ 1. I loved riding it and was brilliant for messing about and trails, struggled with anything that involved pedalling for more than an hour or so though. Did a few full days riding on it but always felt like I needed it to be a bit longer.

I’ve found Fox, Dakine and Troy Lee stuff normally fit well and wear well too. Same as everything though that its probably best to try as many as you can and decide how much you want to spend and protect.

There’s a bit on their Facebook pages about why they’ve moved on.

I got some Smith Squad goggles after trying Oakley and 100%. I’ve smashed my hooter a few times and had it operated on so struggle with a lot of goggles and glasses fitting and not pinching or riding up. Don’t seem to get it with the Smith stuff.

Black Seal or Myers are good.

I broke my tungsten one dropping it now just use silicone ones. Can get them for about 20 quid and are fine for work and biking. Have snapped two now but still got all my digits. I use Amrap ones.

Roost, based at Malton.

Creek Cutler make some nice ones from old files

Used them for a couple of years but went to Briskers instead last winter. As already said, feel about the same but I find the Briskers comfier and a better fit.

They were a bit snug to start with when trying on but didn’t notice it when riding. I’m in a medium and have been in everything else too.

I got some after my Troy Lee ones went a bit baggy at the top. Been good so far and haven’t noticeably stretched. Just have to move the pads back into place after you wash them but is not a problem. Not had any rubbing problems on my knee cap either.

I got some after my Troy Lee ones went a bit baggy at the top. Been good so far and haven’t noticeably stretched. Just have to move the pads back into place after you wash them but is not a problem. Not had any rubbing problems on my knee cap either.

Dakine pads are nice and comfy too. The Slayer has enough knee and shin protection for most rides , the Hellion has bigger padding and side knee protection but still comfy to pedal in. I used to use Troy Lee and Fox but find the Dakine fit me a bit better.

Transitions aren’t boost yet either. Liking it over the Five as it’s a bit shorter and the back end seems to grip s bit better. That’s not to say the Five wasn’t good the Scout reminds me more of a good hardtail (giggidy), just comfier.

Nothing wrong with new/ bling bike envy, buying one doesn’t mean it’ll stop though. Modern trail bikes are just as capable as new #doyouevenendurobro race bikes for most UK trail riding but it’s all relative. I bought a Five about 18 months ago because I always wanted one but something always niggled me with the way it rode, don’t know why and can’t really describe it. Mates all ride Bronsons and Capras and that sort of thing. I swapped to a Scout just before Christmas and love it, and don’t get to ride as much as I like with a 10 month old. As others have said try some demos and see what it is you actually want, might be a better way go.

Sweep and width will make a difference too

As long as you don’t over tighten anything am sure you’d fine, torque wrench and gripper paste always worked for me. I had my exposure clamp on a set of carbon Renthals and put it as close to the stem as I could, logic being it’d be a stronger/safer area. The silicone pad stopped anything digging in.

Not had any trouble changing springs on the 190 length shock. Plenty of space once the top nut is backed off.

I’ve swapped to the E’s from the DH’s and am finding them a bit comfier as I’ve got smallish feet. Have put the wider DH axles in them though as I prefer the extra clearance. Seem to last fine with a bit of looking after.

I found mine moved around quite a bit no matter what I did with it. Also rubbed on my hips quite a bit when it would slip down. Using a Skyline pack now which i find a lot comfier and more stable, and it’s a lot easier to drink from on the move.

It made a big difference to the Five over the Monarch it came with. I was running quite high pressures and played about a lot with reducers but always felt quite harsh when pedalling on singletrack/trail centre stuff. The CC obviously has a lot more adjustment for this but I never changed it from how TF sent it to be honest it just felt really good from the off. Changed to the Scout as everything including the shock swapped straight over. Feels a lot easier to get over the front on the Scout and easier to push about, or slip and slide around everywhere as it was today. All I’ve done so far to the CC is put a softer spring on, 550 on the Five to 450 on the Scout. Will play about a bit when it’s not so wet. Not tried the Scout with an air shock yet but am not really bothered to be honest, have no trouble jumping off things other than my inability to jump very well but definitely feel I have more confidence with the coil. I enjoyed the Five and rode a lot on it but am enjoying the Scout more so far.

I’ve gone from last years Five to a Scout, IL coil swapped over from one to the other. It made the Five feel loads better, quieter too. Still getting used to the Scout and setting it up but feels a lot smoother and quicker to turn.

The rides aren’t organised by the shop anymore, think a lot of folk just carried on riding on a Tuesday.

Thanks for everyone’s comments but been swayed by a good offer from the bike shop so no Canyon for me now.

Thanks for the replies. Keep looking at the Spectral Cf but never spent that much without it being from a shop so was just curious as to how people have been getting on recently with them as the reviews in the past haven’t always been that great. Other option is Transition Scout but not carbon.

I’ve started using a Joystick and a Toro and has been good for me so far. Lose the Joystick light a bit when looking straight ahead but is a good mix when head and bars are pointing different directions. Would imagine MaxxD would be enough for most people.

I was looking at the Troy Lee Raids as their stuff normally fits really well but struggled to find them so have ordered some Dakine Hellions to try. Seem to get good write ups and aren’t too bad price wise if you shop about a bit.

I had to use a lot more sealant than normal when I ran them but stayed up OK, juice lubes on Hope rims.

Think it depends where you ride really. I used the toughs on my fs in the highlands but also used the lights on a hardtail round Dalby and the moors. Think the toughs were a bit stiffer than EXOs but the extra weight is worth it for fit and forget.

Little grub screw on the inside of the lever, think there’s some exploded diagrams on the Hope site.

Give your shock a few good bounces then check the pressure again too. Can sometimes take a bit to get the pressures to settle and equal out.

Forks and shock will be easier to set up once your riding again. My Orange came with a shock full of reducers and no tokens in the fork. I’ve played about with and changed both alot to get it somewhere near how I like, lots of threads about set up but all comes down to personal preference.

I ran the Tech Enduro’s on a 140 travel hardtail before swapping them to a cx basher and they’ve been spot on. High Rollers and Wtb’s were a good size on them and they’ve stayed nice and straight after some not so subtle riding.

I’m liking the Nukeproof Horizons. Switch between them and Mallets for clipped. Used the Electrons in the past and the new ones seem alot better. Bigger platform and more grip, foot seems to sit better on them too.