I was in the same position as you. Coming from a circa 2005 Rockhopper Comp with 26” wheels. I was hoping to get a Whyte but ended up with a carbon Stumpy Comp.

I was unsure of the 29” wheels and super wide handle bars compared to what I was used to. Took it to Wales on what used to be the Marin Trail and it’s bloody amazing! I think any bike you get is going to feel better in every way than what you’re used to.

Your biggest challenge might be actually finding a bike you want that’s in stock.

Can’t wait to be able to go on more proper rides when restrictions are lifted.

Good luck with your search.

Weird! Been all over PDA so many times over the years but never seen it without snow!! Would love to do this with the bike sometime. Nice video!

Thanks @glenh and @bedfordrd. I’ve just ordered the Airs for delivery tomorrow. Now I can’t go on my planned ride due to the sodding lockdown I’ll be walking around the house in different knee pads all weekend.

Thanks @JonEdwards

So I’ve ordered POC 2.0, POC System and Dakine Slayer Pro. All for delivery this week so I’ll try them on in the house and see if they fit and are comfortable. Ideally, I want to have a pair for this Sunday’s ride but will send back if they don’t fit.

Thanks @orangespyderman

Are the newer ones the 2.0 or do you mean the latest version of the Air?

Edit: just been on POC’s website and found the ‘System’.

Thanks @leegee. Are you using yours for trails, downhill or something else?

@stevet1 I’ve knocked it on the head for today and will plan for next weekend now. Did a walk instead this morning. Finding it hard to be enthusiastic about a solo ride as I usually do everything with a group of friends. I’ll join a local mtb group as soon as I can.

Guessing Lee Quarry will be frozen if it’s that exposed. Not liking the idea of dodging walkers all day. It was bad enough when I went to Formby with my daughter last week as the walkers, who I understand have the right of way, made a point of using the entire path forcing us into the side. A bit of ‘power’ really goes to some people’s heads. If they’re like that with a 9 year old girl then I guess it’ll be worse if I’m on my own.

@freddiest Just bought a bike so not going to get another one. Hate the idea of a fat bike as much as I do an e-bike. Sorry, lol! Probably would be the best thing for where I live though.

@oldschool @chakaping

I’m after something like Gwydir Mawr/Bach (used to be Marin Trail) as cant go there due to current restrictions. A long trail out in the middle of nowhere would be great. What about Lee Quarry?

I’m liking the look of the KNOG OI LUXE BELL!!

@molgrips Thanks for answering/explaining that so thoroughly. It’s very much appreciated.

I’ve ordered the Stash chain tool and tubeless repair kit and will get a quick link and removal tool. I’m thinking I might as well get it all as the law of sod dictates I’ll only need the tool I don’t have!

@molgrips

Recently I shortened an 11sp MTB chain in the same way, because I didn’t have a quick link available, and the outer plate popped off after about 10km. So I fixed it again at the roadside as perfectly as I could manage using my years of expertise, and it popped off again a few km later.

Okay, so you’re saying that fixing a chain with a spare link rather than a quick link no longer works. The chain tool is still required to remove links to leave 2 thin chain links that you then join with a quick link?

Once back home would you replace the chain completely? If not, is it possible to just keep repairing the same chain with quick links? Is there a limit? Is it possible to remove the quick link and repair the chain properly without the quick link? Can the quick link then be reused?

I just watched a couple more videos showing how to use quick links. I understand a bit more now. The pins on the quick link just slide into the chain without needing a chain tool. You would need a chain tool to remove links to leave two thin links on the chain first though.

So a chain tool is a must have item for sure but I’m still thinking it would be better to install a ‘proper’ link rather than a quick link?

@weeksy

You don’t need a chain tool to installl a quick link

I thought you need to remove the two sides of the broken link and then add in the two sides of the quick link, using the pins and chain tool, and then join the quick links by hand?

@cynic-al There’s nothing wrong with my hanger. I’m just after a spare. Thanks.

@simondbarnes Thanks Simon. LBS open tomorrow and they’re listed on ZyroFisher as a dealer so fingers crossed they can get hold of one for me.

@simonbarnes Thanks. I can’t find it on their website at all. I’ll contact the LBS I bought the bike from and see if they can get one.

Thanks for replies. Sounds like it’s not unusual/stupid to go solo then. I do prefer the banter of going with mates but with work, kids and now Covid it’s a pain to arrange and I need to get riding as often as possible now as I’ve had to give up running :-(

Hopefully the weather doesn’t ruin it for me….

Them bastards!

Name and shame. We won’t tolerate good service in this country!

@konanige Okay, thanks. So I’m right thinking that you really need 3 separate pumps then?

@thebibbles Thanks. I’ll check the Fidlock out. Right now it’s between that and the camelback.

When Abigale is competing along with her tube, Dynaplug and gas canisters she can fit snacks and a flexi bottle in the SWAT box as well as the external bottle.

@Tracey I think Enduro bikes have a larger downtube so fit more stuff in. What bike is she on? Is it Enduro? Specialized sell two sizes of SWAT bags possibly for this reason?

@garage-dweller So true. It was dark in the forest yesterday.

very nice, what size is it to your height? How much hammer are you giving it? Always a bit dubious about their marketing adds, they properly hammer the stumpy but I’ve seen the last gen snap on a small drop, on you tube actually but equally their other bikes are winning World Cup races. Pedals look better than everyone is letting on.

@tails Thanks. It’s an S3 and I’m 5’9”. I’m probably giving it very little hammer. Not ridden properly for around 10 years. Did 3 circuits of Gwydir Bach. Minimal air on the jumps. I love my red pedals too 👍🏼

Thanks @tracey They don’t have one with a cap to stop it getting covered in mud though.

@howsyourdad1 Pump, puncture repair kit and spare tube. There’s a bit more room left but not much.

@endomick Not really bothered about colours. My flats are blue though. If it makes you feel any better, the pedals match the red ‘thing’ on the rear shock.

A black water bottle would look smart or maybe a blue one. Actually, red would look better, lol

@tracey Thanks Tracey

@ads678 that’s not my forest but I’ll sprinkle some grass seed next time I’m there.

@matt-outandabout I cover the pedals with my black shoes. Best I can do.

Agreed on the water bottle. Any recommendations? Has a bottle been invented that prevents you getting a mouthful of grit?

There’s a guy on YouTube. He cut through a 22mm chain link in just over 2 mins. This was both sides of the link so 2 cuts. He used a cordless grinder and said it was the most powerful one on the market so only just had enough battery power to get through it.

@weeksy what length do you have and do you have a ground anchor too? Thanks.

@thegeneralist I did a few searches on here and came up with nothing. I’ll check out the Almax and Pragmasis, thanks.

@thegeneralist Yeah, I’m pretty happy with that. It’s the 2021 Stumpjumper comp.

@monkeyboyjc Have all of them except the dog! Just need a better lock than the current one.

Agree, if they want it they will take it. The more deterrents though, the ‘higher quality’ of thief required. I think the deterrents stop the idiots, druggies, etc. and therefore the likelihood of it being stolen.

Thanks all.

Annual cover has cost me £29 and that covers me in and out of the home as long as I don’t leave it unlocked in a public place. Also doesn’t cover racing, etc. but I have not intentions of entering anything.

It doesn’t specify that I need it to be locked in the garage but I’m going to buy a lock anyway and will look at the ones suggested in this thread.

@tracey

@matt_outandabout

Yeah, I’ll get photos when I’m out on a trail, in its natural habitat.

@tracey

We have gone down to 780 on the bars. 800 felt just a bit too wide
New bike, wheres the photos 😉

Think I’ll do this too, in time, but maybe to 750.

Just realised, my old Rockhopper has 26” wheels. So mtb wheels have gone up 2 sizes since I last bought a bike? I really didn’t realise this. No wonder it feels like a BMX.

@mboy No, it’s not the Evo. It’s the 2021 Stumpjumper and it does come in sizes S1 through to S6.

@akkwlsk Didn’t say it was ‘shite’, lol. Just felt MASSIVE in every respect. I guess it sounds obvious but I’ve been away from MTB for many years so I’ve not seen any 29ers in the wild and, thanks to the lovely Coronavirus, wasn’t able to see one in the LBS so it’s really the first time I have seen one close. I’m like a caveman that has been brought back to life in the future. Everything about this bike is different. Full suspension, wide bars, 29 wheels, carbon frame, no front mech/gears, dropper post, tubeless tyres, clutch on rear mech, slack geometry, flat pedals. Some of this I hadn’t even heard of and some is new to me. Hell, I thought my old bike was cutting edge when I bought it because it had disc brakes.

There’s a lot for me to get used to and I’m sure, as you and others have said, that I will love it once I get it off-road. I put in a few miles this morning albeit on the road again and I’m getting used to it now. Met up with a friend who had a modern 27.5 wheel bike and, with his huge tyres, the wheels are practically the same diameter anyway. His geometry is similar too. So even if I had got a 27.5 bike it would still be massively different to my old Rockhopper.

I’m hoping to go on a trail ride during the week so it’ll be interesting to see how it handles.