Thanks for all comments. Consensus is that I should give it a chance so I’ll get out on it and give it a proper run.

@tails

Check your tokens I had too many which needed changing.

No clue what this means, sorry. How hard is it to cut down bars though? Can it be done with a hacksaw?

@superscale20 Yes! That Early Rider looks awesome with the bare metal frame. I wanted to get something with suspension forks. The Hellion 24 looks amazing but it’s big money! The Mrs would remove my man parts if she found I’d spent this much!

@mrl Now the Orbea Laufey 24 H2O looks almost perfect! I’d have to remove the red stickers, grips and the bit on the seat, if possible, and replace with a colour of her preference. Problem is they are out of stock everywhere.

@joebristol thanks again Joe. I did more research on the mallets. Seems they need a lot of maintenance and the cleats need replacing often. On the other hand, the Horizon’s use the Shimano mechanism which are bombproof and can be adjusted and have less float and less degrees needed to get out all of which suits me better. Had to get them in red though… ‘best’ of the colours left in stock.

@joebristol I already have lots of vans in varying states so using an old pair just to try out is fine even if they get wrecked. I just want to thrash around and try jumping with them. When my feet start hurting I can stop or throw the clipless on. I’m going to be doing a lot of riding with my young daughter so that’s time when I can experiment with the flats. If I like the flats then I’ll get decent shoes.

@zezaskar I’m saying I’ll use flats at trail centres but I meant I’ll do this at first as well as the short runs with my daughter. That’s because I don’t want to realise I hate flats in the middle of a 6 hour ride. Also, at the trail centres there will be lots of jumps, etc. to test the flats out rather than the odd naturally occurring jump out in ‘nature’. It’s just a quicker and more convenient way to test out the flats. Beyond that, if I love flats, I can invest in good flat shoes and use them for everything.

On a side note, I’ve found Crank Brothers Mallet DH for £100 inc. delivery online. Can this be right or to good to be true?

Ouch, lol. Love how everybody is taking pics rather than helping him.

@joebristol @zezaskar

Thanks both for your comments that have helped me come to a conclusion/decision about this.

Today the flat version of the 2FO’s arrived. Very nice!! However, I’ve just ordered a third pair, lol. These are the clipless version in a size bigger. I’ll return the other 2 pairs. I’ll then get clipless trail pedals and also some flats. If I do anything that isn’t a trail centre then I’ll definitely use the clipless. For trails centres with jumps and berms, etc. I’m going to use the flats with some Vans skate shoes and see how that feels. I can take the clipless pedals and shoes in case I find it horrible. If I like it then I can just by some decent flat shoes.

Just over one week until I can collect the Stumpy. This is getting exciting!!!

Thanks again, Mark

Okay, actually, not okay. My Specialized 2FO clipless shoes arrived just now and, even though I ordered my usual shoe size, they are too small.

I went onto Specialized’s website and had another look at the flat version of the same shoe and it showed them as being low stock… “less than 3” in my size. So now I’ve just ordered them before they sell out and I don’t have an option for flats at all. Now I’m considering ordering the clipless version in the larger size so that I have both with a view to sending one pair back 🤯

I’ve read extensively on the benefits of flats versus clipless and it is going to be down to personal preference, use and ability but my concerns for flats are two things… firstly, they have metal spikes on them and I have legs that have been used for things nature didn’t intend them to be used for. Now I’m in my 40’s 😭 I’m feeling the affects of all the abuse. The last thing I need is anything smacking me in the knees, especially a metal pedal with pins in it.

The second issue I have with flats is jumping. I don’t mind if people class it as cheating or having less skill. The fact is, I’m pretty certain I will jump better with clipless. As already stated, I prefer things strapped to me (snowboard) and it feels more natural.

I’m only going to be doing trails/cross country with mates. No racing here. The only jumps are the ones on natural terrain and also the man made ones when I visit trail centres. Will I really benefit from flats for this sort of riding? Do most people use clipless for trail riding anyway?

Now I’m thinking I should stick with what I know for the above two reasons but would really like to hear from people in my age bracket, ability (I’ve not done any mtb for 10 years) and who are doing the same type of riding. Do you still use clipless? Did you change to flats and regret it? Do you find jumping in flats as easy or better than with clipless? Have you smacked your knees and or shins with flat pedals and, if so, how much damage did this do? Are knee/shin pads a way of overcoming the possibility of getting smacked in the knee/shin or is this overkill for the riding I will be doing?

I know people will say ‘try both and see what you like’ but that £100 on shoes and similar on pedals to then realise I don’t get on with the flats and then have to splash out the same on clipless pedals and shoes.

Sorry for all the questions and thanks for any help with this. I just want to get it right first time and save the money/hassle. I don’t want to be out on a long ride with pedals and shoes I don’t get on with or with my shins and knees smashed to bits or worse.

Seeing that the OP was 10 years absent from the sport, I can’t help but to suggest to try flat pedals.
While you were off, flat pedals and shoes had a massive evolution and I would go as far as to say they’re the de facto option for the vast majority of riders who aren’t racing

@zezaskar I’m used to the feeling of being attached as I snowboard too. I can’t see any benefit, for me, of not being attached to the bike. It’s easier to pedal uphill and I feel safer attached to the bike for jumping and when coming downhill.

I can’t afford to buy pedals and shoes twice so getting flats and finding I don’t like them would be a PITA.

What is it that’s driven the change to flats bearing in mind I’m trail riding and will never be doing comps? From what I’ve read, so far, I can only think it’s because the majority prefer not to be attached to the bike. Feel like I’m overlooking something about flats though.
Thanks.

I think I’ve found the shoe for me….

https://singletrackworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/specialized-2fo-roost-shoes-for-clip-in-and-flat-riders-alike/

These with the Horizon DH pedals and I’ll be wearing the Specialized tyres until they’re worn out or damaged. I’m pretty sure they’ll be good enough for me.

Thanks for all the help with suggestions.

Contigo West Loop Autoseal Travel Mug.

No leaks at all and keeps drinks warm for hours. It’s so good it feels cold on the outside when there’s a piping hot drink inside.

Thanks for all suggestions. I don’t intend to change to Maxxis or not until the tyres that come with the bike need replacing. It just really stood out that the majority of bikes seem to run Maxxis and I wondered why.

I’m thinking Horizon DH but not settled on shoes yet but will keep searching. Trying to find skate style with cleats at a good price.

Nothing wrong with the Specialized tyres that will come with the bike, you should get the valves with it and its worthwhile setting up tubeless. We run 22 psi front and 24 psi rear in our Butchers
I ride flats but my daughter competes with the DMR V Twins.
Flats its worth keeping an eye out for 5 10s in the sales. Tried alsorts but can’t find any that grip better.

Thanks Tracey. I was thinking about tubeless and trying to find out if I need to buy a ‘special’ pump to inflate them? Will have a look at the pedals and shoes you’ve mentioned.

But seriously, what bike and what kind of riding?

Have a Stumpy Comp on order and intend to use for trail riding. I won’t need new tyres for a while but the Maxxis are just everywhere so I had to ask.

Need to the pedals and shoes ASAP though or I’ll be doing no riding, lol.

Not be long before your doing this on it

@Tracey Lol, I hope so!! But I won’t be doing anything if I don’t decide on pedals and shoes soon!! Roof bars came today so at least I’ll be able to bring the bike home from the store.

Need to start planning that first ride!!

I think the Stumpy will be perfect…. sod what anyone else thinks/says just enjoy getting it filthy.

@choppersquad Thanks. I’m looking into where to take it now for first outing. Feels like waiting for Christmas Day to come!!

Copy the text you want to quote. Click b-quote. Paste in your copied text and b-quote again.

Then make some sarcastic comment or tell them they bought the wrong bike,house,wife etc……oh and the grass needs cutting, fence needs painting!!!

@teamslug you bought the wrong wife and your grass needs cutting!

How do I quote somebody in my reply? I would have thought clicking “reply” at the bottom of somebody’s post would make it appear in the text box and then I can type my message below it but this doesn’t work. I see the “B-Quote” option above the text box but not sure what that’s doing. It just puts the word “” in my message.

Sorry if these are stupid questions and obvious but I have tried to find out before asking but no avail. I’m not IT illiterate either. Heeeelp!!

Ah yes, I get an e-mail for that… thanks, lol

Is there a way to be notified when somebody responds to your own thread or any other threads you’re interested in?

Okay, at least I know it’s not me doing something wrong. Just never seen a forum formatted like this. Not saying it’s bad or good. Just need to get used to it.

Thanks for the replies.

Yeah, will get some images up for sure. Need to arrange where to go for first proper outing now. Wahoo!

So I pulled the trigger on the Stumpy and collect shortly after 16th. Cue a hundred people on the forum telling me I shouldn’t have bought a Specialized because……

Can’t do YT on 0% payments. I have the money but when 0% is offered it just makes more sense to pay off over time and keep the cash. Again, this bike looks awesome and they can ship to me in 48 hours. Can’t see any UK suppliers so guess they are only direct order from manufacturer?

Yes, the XT derailleur definitely caught my attention, lol.

Thanks tthew. I guess I just want to know there is nothing wrong with the Stumpy Comp because I now can’t get the Whyte T140 at all but can get the Stumpy delivered on 16th Nov. No point in finding out after the event that there’s something fundamentally wrong with a purchase so trying to do my research before pulling the trigger but under pressure as everything is selling out quick. I’ve watched pretty much every review of the Stumpy I can find on YouTube and nothing bad. All seem to say it’s the perfect do it all bike.

I know looks shouldn’t really come into it but that Scott Spark 930 looks awesome. Liking that army green colour a lot.
This is all new to me but my understanding is that the SLX group set (on the Stumpy) is above the Deore groupset on the Spark? Also, is it weird that the Spark then has an XT derailleur?

Thanks lawman. Is there anything wrong with the Specialized as it fits what you’ve said, 29er and travel but you don’t mention it? I think I’m going to struggle to get the Whyte as all sold. I’ll check out the Scott and YT now.

I used to do the Marin Trail (has a different name now), Lady Bower Reservoir, various Peak District Trails, Snowdon, Old Man of Coniston and a few other places I can’t remember around the North West. I intend to do similar (probably not the mountains) but also some easy stuff with the kids.