Right, so Yodel has lived up to their typical chaos. Order shipped two two parts, which is fine apart from Yodel put these in different vans, We missed the frame as TBH I was not expecting it to arrive on a Saturday so were out and now tracking says it’s still at the depot but will also be delivered today? Have I brought Schodingers frame?

Update! Good news is that everything has shipped. Bad news is that it’s coming via Yodel. At least we are going to a petting zoo tomorrow so I can find a handy goat to appease the gods.

Ragley Marley in bright Orange as a winter bike. 🙂

Yeah, I suspect it’s just staffing issues like everyone else, but the stock issue does sit at the back of my mind. Here is hoping for the right email soon.

Jew on a Jetski?
Muslim on a moped?

Cheeky DM sent 😉

Another thing to think about is to work with a decent PT (degree level not a 2 week college course) who will be able to work along side the Physio to help rebuild you stronger. This is aimed to complement your bike work and help prevent injury later on. I did this after wrecking my shoulder in a high speed OTB and am now reaping the rewards as I am no longer worried about landing on it again.

Sent you a cheeky DM. 😉

So far the Ragley Big Al seems to be on the money, given I brought my Scandal for £150 new and that’s kinda part of the charm. Don’t get me wrong all the others look lush (Pipedream Moxie, if money allowed), but price is sadly a factor. If I knew more about bike geo I would be tempted with a Marino but to much choice for my simple mind.

Just seen the prices for them on Reverb. That seem’s very good value given there over 500 new.

@bikebouy so thats with out amp but tbh 300 would be a sweet spot I think. Half the issue is that a wonder around the local guitar and nothing really moved me. They all look pretty but nothing jumped out with the walls adorned with Fender, Epiphone/Gibson, Gretch and Ibanez or every price point. Might need to hunt out PRS dealer as they have caught my eye.

As for tone, I have always favoured humbucker for the warmth and versatility. As for fretless bass. You’re having a laugh!

Wanders off to the Anderson website.

So I have picked up the guitar again after a long break and am happy that I kept my old Acoustic guitar (along with the muscle memory for a minor pentatonic scale and a few chords).

Now this thread has started the itch to buy an Electric guitar to use with something along the lines of an iRig2. But where the hell do I start in piking a new (or SH) guitar? At the moment I don’t really have a musical style of choice but have always in the past leaned towards rock and metal but these days like the idea of Blues and Jazz. Previous guitars I have owned have been Ibanez of some sort and a Peavey Wolfgang special.

With all this in mind it feels like I am walking into a bike shop and saying “I would like to buy a bike please”. Queue a sigh from the shop staff.

So suggest some plans of attack! Budget is up to £500 but I am starting to wonder if just grabbing a Squire Tele would be a good starter for 10.

before sending it out of sight over a hip jump so massive it needed planning permission.

I love the idea that Dan on discovery of needing planning permission for a jump thought “Have I gone too far…? nah”

Hmm interesting. I have a pair of 2016 XT’s which have been faultless. The MT5’s look nice. Wonder how easy they are to bleed?

Hey I am up that way for the next round of the SouthWest Enduro series, but sadly pretty tied up unless your racing to.

It doesn’t need to be a v3. Just want to see what ones like as reviews seem thin on the ground. Sizing wise I’m pretty sure I’m an XL.

Tried but no luck. 😯

So @chiefgrooveguru (great name btw) raises a valid point. This is going to be used for racing which is becoming a greater focus now my results appear to be improving ( 11th in my age cat at my last Enduro race. Natch) so at the back of my mind a 29er seems like a good idea.

The Stumpy has been a great bike so far and I really get on with the suspension design. What lets it down is the conservative geo compared to more modern bikes and the 130mm backend (6fattie version) which lets down the 150mm front end when things get really rowdy.

So far the airdrop has peaked the most interest. Oddly the Bird AM160 does nothing for me. Weird eh?

@tracey oddly enough never got around to it, but do have a 29er hardtail and have owned a full sus 29er in the past.

So at the mo heart says Airdrop Edit v3, but heads says Swoop. The Edit is winning as I could go frame and fork and swap over my current bits which makes sense as I have X0 11 speed, XT brakes and carbon cranks. Hmm tempting.

Anyone got anything else to add?

Cheers @sharkattach, sadly Shefdield is not from Exeter to got to, plus I might get altitude sickness!

The Swoop is so hard to ignore. The Edit has the UK thing which I like. Didn’t think of Cotic oddly despite a mate having one (and he is a midget so no demo ride for me! )

Any more suggestions?

Now that does look good value for money and UK made. Added to the list. You ride one @sharkattack?

I too an interested in the outcome as I am eyeing up a Radon Swoop. 🙂

This is the thing. I would love to spend my money at the LBS but the value for money might not be there. I have never been for pouring over geo charts. I guess can you really buy a bad bike from a well known brand?

Ohh exciting. Pics appearing on Instagram from Exmoor and the sun is out. Oh and it looks like @scottfitz has double downed on the bogs this year.

Only doing the lite and my first mash up. Anyone got any tips on how to best approach them?

Well that was a good giggle! Round 1 of Southern Enduro @ QECP was a belter with some great stages and cracking weather. Bagged a provisional 15th in Masters which I am dead chuffed with (waiting on Roots and Rain to update).

Stage 1 and 2 where the longest I have ridden at nearly 4 mins with a lot of peddling. 3 and 4 where shorter with a mix of berms, drops, off camber sections and rooty twisty turny stuff.

Bring on the Southern Champs!

Oh thats good to hear. Last year was still good fun despite the weather but it will be noice to hit the course at full speed rather than sideways at minus miles an hour!

Another weekend and another race! Down in Hampshire for the weekend which can only mean it’s Southern Enduro time. Always look forward to the QECP has it feels like the guys always out that little extra work in on there home spot. I guess a lack of 2 plus hour drive helps. Weather has been wet. It looks dry now for the weekend so should be plenty of grip. Bring it on!

Aww that’s a shame. Not sure what the plan for Pippingford is yet. I would love to do it but meed to work out the family plans first.

Hey @OwenP you around for Southern RD1 @ QECP? We should be down again this year. 🙂

Don’t just get pit zips. Get Massive Pit Zips.

Yeah that was a fun day out and the SWKE. Cracking stages with a really nice mix of styles . Another mid pack finish (three guys all within a second!) and a solid performance so super happy, specially on the rooty drop/roller on Stage 3. Riding that blind in practice focused the mind! As other have said thanks to everyone involved especially the Marshall on the bridge between the woods who had to sit in a hail/snow storm with no shelter for our safety!

@scottfitz, it was odd to see you on a bike. So used to seeing you looking tense with a mic in your hand!

I am jealous of some of the Scottish and Northern events as they look like proper days out. They are just to far from the South West sadly. 🙁

So who is racing this weekend? Opening round of the South West Enduro at a very windy Haldon for me on Sunday. A few sneak peaks of the course on Instagram getting me excited to go racing.

I really do feel for Vettel and the other drivers right now. Only the day before Vettel walked part of the track with Whiting. Now after the new he and the other drivers have to put that behind them and get on with the race weekend as the show must go on. The drivers briefing is going to be a sombre event.

Right so the first round of South West Enduro series kicks off in 2 weeks. Winter has been kind to the trails at Haldon for the most part so lets see how Spring treats them. What do we know? Parking at the Race course and use of Off Piste trails so hopefully this will mean the Cafe side trails will be pulled in. Big question though; Will the Fajita man be there? Exciting times. Who else is entered?

That it, the Roval wheels that came on the Stumpy have been fine with no rim damage that I am aware of. Based on that at the mo the Trail Wide are looking the better option.

https://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/cecile-ravanel-down-and-out-for-now/

Yeah that was my second thought, but a bit like a Women’s Downhill race without Rach at full strength any wins will not quite be the same. Hopefully she will be well enough to turn up and heckle everyone at the European rounds later on!

The sun was out at Haldon so got out and made the most it. I like that I can claim “playing about on my bike” counts as training!

Erm Push fit BB not quite in right? Not sure what BB standard a Bronson uses.