My older fox 36 can be lowered with spacers under the air shaft. Got mine down to 140mm. Can the newer ones do the same?

Just to add I’ve been riding up there for 10 years and can not once remember any sort of friction between user groups..The horse’ists, walkers, familys I’ve encountered are always friendly if you are and they are mostly seperated only crossingspaths aat certain points of the forest.

+1 for Inspiral Cycles in Bishop Auckland. Nice lad, very friendly.

Hamsterley is so much more once you’ve learnt your way around and found all the natural stuff as well. I can go on 5/6 hour rides and barely use the trail centre stuff. Some reallygood stuff for you to find.

Enjoy :)

Oh and which ever bearings you chose, before installing them pry a few seals off to check if there is enough grease inside. If not whack some more in.

I’ve done this a few times with my Pitch now and certainly recommend not going cheap on the bearings or you’ll be doing it again sooner than you’d want to.

I’ve been using mbbearings mid range set which is about £45-50 I think. They are full compliment(no cage, more bearings) which are best for pivots.

I use a blind bearing puller which I bought from superstar for about £70(an investment for me as I do all my own work and have a few FS bikes)

To put them back in I use a threaded bar with washers and if needed the old bearings as guides.(old bearings on top of new to push the them in) Be carefull with sockets as they arent really the right shape or size so may damage the seals or push to much on the inner race)

The rocker linkage connected to the shock has doubled up bearings so be carefull removing them and replacing them as they can easy go in wonky!!

The lower seat stay bearings have one bearing then a metal lip then another bearing. Don’t try to push them out one way. You have to remove them from each side.

Good luck :)

KS problems are ancient history. Reliable posts with a few places doing service and parts for them now.(and fairly easy to selfservice if your not scared of ripping it apart) Cheapest for them is bike-discount.de. In fact there was a post the other day with a link to them selling the older 150mm drop LEV’s for about £180 or maybe a bit cheaper. Worth a look.

I’ve got the machine mart version which appears just to be, more expensive and red.. I’t’s been a great bench though. Easy to put up, sturdy and enough space. Go for it…

I’d widen that search area. Those little fella’s can shift if they are hungry….

Also look for abandoned shoes, they have a thing for shoes!!

DX was an OEM post the other year thats now for general sale. A materials difference so yes a weight thing. Not sure on FR/DH thing of the older ones but I imagine it’s the same weight difference.

Expanse series has beensigned up to a TV series supposedly. Could be good if it happens. I enjoyed the books.

I’m another Hyperion fan. Loved the series and the worlds it pictures.

I’m trying to slowly work my way through the culture series as like OP started with the HYdrogen Sonata and loved it. Not rushing them as obviously there will be no more :(

My most surprising reads were the Progenitor Series by Dan Worth. A self published author on Kindle but don’t let this put you off. The storys are well paced and very imaginative. Well worth a try for anyone who loves a good space opera.

Just got the latest version from them a couple of weeks a go, obviously a bit more expensive but arrived in 3 days with free postage :) I’ve had a lever actuated i900 since they came out and felt like treating myself. Remote activation and the extra drop it gives are fantatsic. Should of got one ages ago.. The £380 retail price in this country is a piss take when bikesdiscount.de are over £100 cheaper and OP’s link is a bargain.

Were you walking down that? :)

Save the hate for Unicyclists!!

I think they are a great idea. Personal uplift machine and if it gives you the ability to ride twice the distance say, thats twice the amount of trail you get to play on. How’s that not a good idea?

I’m waiting for lighter better bateries before I’d consider them though..

Always get my spesh tyres from freeborn. They are usually the prices in OP’s post and always the cheapest when I’ve looked.

Sister has it in a small patch in the back for the kids to pay on. It’s easy to put down yourself. Dig down, lay gravel and sand like a patio then lay and secure the grass. As someone mentioned, don’t buy cheap though.

Cheers,

Got myself a load of gear cables, an X9 mech and chain…

Took my nephew (age 7) to the croft round last year and we had a great day. Barely 5 minutes goes without some sort of race on the track. Not sure if it’s just Croft but the rear of the pits was accesible so you could still get right next to the cars and then hearded out the way as they make their way to the track. Suprised me how loud they are!

We arrived a ittle late and then a bit early to avoid traffic which worked out well.

ahhhhh running is only for when you are getting chased!

I’m not a fan at all. It’s a knee destroyer. Go swimming instead, your future self will thank you.

Neck brace is a personel choice with a full face and you may want to add some sort of spine board to what you’ve already got.

When I first started riding DH I had a full Dianese suit but now I just use a full face, knee pads and a spine board and just pretend I’ll not crash anymore!!

On DH bikes riding hard everyday for 10-14 days I’d pick a dual ply soft compoud on the front and a dual ply hard on the back.

i.e Maxxis Super Tacky front, Maxxis 60a Rear

Finally got round to “Do Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep” ( the book behind Blade Runner) and it’s really good.

This kinda describes what I’ve got at the momment a “behind the knee cap” thing. In the modern way I self diagnosed myself with the internet and most of what I read about knee problems had somewhere in it:

Stop what you are doing to cause the pain – Let it rest etc etc

So I’ve laid off the bike for only a few weeks so far and feels better already. Been swimming and stuff instead. Kept it warm with a knee support that had the knee cap bit cut out (fromsports direct) at all other times.

It’s shit cos I’m not riding my trail bike but a few hours DH at the weekend didnt hurt so I’m gona give it a few more weeks without any hard pedalling and see how I do..

I’d certainly recommend the stop whats hurting it bit though….

I’ve got this one. Very usefull.

http://www.superstarcomponents.com/en/blind-bearing-puller-set.htm?reviewFilter=3

Just called into my local halfords on the off chance. Non in stock. The assistant said it’s store specific for those who have stock left. Didn’t seem sure on reserving one and getting it sent to store as they are discontinued supposedly.

Hope someone proves her wrong. Speak up if this works for you as they are showing full price on website.

Rim strip seals spoke holes,

Them thingys seal valve holes. It’s what I use.. Stick em in and try…

Just bung them on and see then, don’t cut your steerer though till you’ve got the setup you want. Spacers can go above the stem as well until you finally decide to cut it.

I did a similair thing with my Pitch but got 160mm 36 Floats.. I’m assuming your getting 36’s

Spacers will be your choice once you’ve ridden it for bar height but I had to lower the 36’s to 140mm with internal spacers to give a correct head angle. Anything higher gave sloppy handling. I guess being a bigger fork with a larger crown caused this.

You may find similair at 150mm. 10mm doesnt sound much but it’s enough to mess with the geometry.

Rides much better though, original pikes are brilliant forks but the 36 is much stiffer.

Long live the Pitch……

Tried alot of therapies/techniques over the years but have had best results from Mindfulness.

I think it’s becomming quite popular throughout the NHS as my course was through them. It basically use’s meditation techniques to help you control anxiety/depressive symptoms.

I can highly recommend it given your wifes condition. Check with your local mental health team if they offer any mindfulness courses in your area (mine was a five week course, one afternoon a week with practices to do at home which you then continue once finished.

Hypnosis for me was a waste of time.

Had a ride about there last weekend while the race was on and can confirm it was a sloppy mess. Few new trails appeared since I last rode there(few years ago) but it was all hard work and soaking. Good advice above re fire roads up, trails down and nick someones strava route or you’ll never find some of them.
I’ll be back but leaving it till it dries out…

http://www.chillingtontoolsonline.co.uk/trenching-hoe-head-only-p2

This with the long long handle is my trail tool of choice. Keep a good edge on it and it’ll blast through roots aswell. Rarely use anything else.

edit: didnt read the link above but obviously plus one for the chillington hoe…