Definitely thinking of replacing my GX shifter with XT. Missing the double shift and 2-way downshifting.

Wonderful and inspiring.

100% race on the trails at Comrie Croft. Were you at Evanton for SSEC17? Like that… maybe not quite as tough but similar formula.

I’m one of the organisers of this, so I’ve got an interest. I’ve stayed at CC 4 times in mid summer and never noticed midgies once. There may be some but it’s not bad like it is up here in Highland now.

There will be all sorts of people there. Most will start the race very enthusiastically and less will finish with the same enthusiasm. There will be great beer, food, music and it’s a proper campsite with showers/facilities included in your entry. You’ll have plenty time to explore the excellent trails and plenty time to socialise with people of like minds.

It’s a social event, none of the three organisers are taking a penny out of it and any surplus is going to a very worthy cause.

Oh, and I’ll be 32:20 😎

Great pics Rich. Was good to meet up mannie.

Magic Mary 29 x 2.6 front, Dirt Wizard 650b x 3.0 rear. Truly sensational.

I’m using Hope adapters front and rear. Works fine although the cassette is in the regular 135/142 position so the boost chainline isn’t perfect. I’ve got regular rings with more offset I can use to sort that but I’ll probably just buy new wheels now I’ve proved a point to myself.

I’ll have a Medium, Large and XL Vendetta X2 available to demo in approx 2 weeks.

Any danger that the delivery would be ahead of the started early October? Start of September would suit my needs perfectly.

Can we order directly from you reallygoodbikes?

WTB Horizons on Pacenti CL25s with tape and Stan’s Solution. Does that count?

Of course we could have snow by then …

Rich stick a post on the Facebook page. Sure you’ll get a ride. Or get an over 50s rail pass and a cheap ticket and I’ll pick you up from Alness 😉

Details here ?[/url]

I got a pair from here which were delivered today.

http://www.bikestacja.pl/pl/opona-wtb-horizon-tcs-road-650x47c.html

£74 delivered for the pair.

Great Glen Way
South Ness Way
With three buddies

I’ve been using a Vapour-rise smock as my winter bike top for maybe 10 years. Only ever wear a merino t-shirt under it … a long sleeved one for extreme cold. Most versatile and longest lasting bit of bikewear I own.

Simon I got a Marmot Never Winter from Craigdon at the end of the summer. I haven’t tried it in anger but reckon it’s a perfect bag for Highland bikepacking. Loads of room for me so a shortarse like you would be fine.

I reckon 3.0 Snakeskin NNs are fantastic tyres. I’ve had no issues with fragility and I’ve ridden mine on mixed terrain on Highland hill and forest tracks for 12 months. Remarkable in mud too.

My geared B+ shortlist is currently 3:

Sonder Transmitter Carbon
Surly Karate Monkey 2017
Dartmoor Primal Plus

The KM is the most versatile (IMO) and probably the favourite, but the DPP is the only one I can actually get at this moment in time. I’m trying to be patient.

Can only speak to my own experience, but I’m running 3.0 NNs on my Stooge and find them excellent in the mud.

I also ride a fatbike and took a couple of rides to adjust but found both tyre combos I’ve tried to be very good. Started off with VHs front and rear (which I liken to huge Swamp Things – my favourite ever mud tyre), but am now on Bud front, VH rear. It’s a great combo with the Bud having slightly better control out front.

The reason i took a couple of rides to adjust is that you do get an initial slide/float when you hit mud, but you are so stable on the big tyres you just ride it and wait for the bite.

Only caveat for all this would be that I’m riding forest trails and mountain tracks in the Highlands. If I wasn’t riding mountains I’d maybe have a different view.

I’ve used a 3″NN on 35mm in a 29er Pike and there wasn’t much room either side. 2.8″NN on 35mm was fine, but it’s actually not much bigger than a 2.35″HD.

I’m probably going to go Boost Yari now as I much prefer 3″ on 50mm. Also looked at Manitou Magnum and X-Lite McQueen.

I’ve got a spare Olympus TG2, boxed, complete in vgc with an Eye-Fi card you can have for £100 plus whatever postage costs. My email’s in my profile if you want it.

If anyone bought a large OOF on impulse in this latest sale and is now having second thoughts give me a shout. I want to butcher one into a plus bike

Aye, Swordale Singlespeed Society is hosting the European Championships in 2017.

I had a 650b one on the front of my Stooge but didn’t trust the sidewalls so switched to a NN. Tread reminded me of Tioga Factory DH on steroids.

If anyone wants it …

Found right handers at Blacks for £80 (less 15%), but I did suspect these may be a bit short so thanks big_n_daft.

Scotroutes do I know you?

In the market for a bag. This may have been perfect for my needs. On length is the regular fine for 6′?

Doesn’t seem to be any stock kicking around now tho anyway. If anyone bought a 20 or 35 on impulse and wants to sell give me a shout.

I got a BT40s this time last year (or was it the year before?). Teamed it up with a Torchy battery pack and it’s the best light I’ve seen. Slightly yellow light and so much better definition than typical blue/white LEDs for my eyes. No reason to change but I always keep an eye on what’s new. I team it up with a Joystick for my perfect combo.

I’m with mrhoppy. 3.0 NNs on 50mm 650b time are astonishingly good on the Stooge.

Also going to run it 27+. What rims are people running with this setup.

Cheapo 50mm rims from Ridewill and Nobby Nic 3.0s here. They were easy to build with, hold air perfectly with a single round of 25mm yellow tape and I’d go as far as saying the NN 3.0s are my new favourite tyres.

Moto Bar for me too 🙂

604 ERD was correct for mine (mind to include the spoke heads). Built up easily and the bead of a Bombo seated perfectly, dry with a track pump. One wrap of yellow tape here too.

Waiting on the B+ ones coming from Italy now.

I got a KS ETEN 272 from bikediscount.de for about £90 delivered last week. Seems to work well. Out of stock now but more coming in: KS ETEN 272

I bought 2 rims from them and they cost just under £60 delivered. Arrived in a few days.

May buy the B+ ones now.

Settled on 604mm for the 29+ rim (from Ridewill). Have ordered spokes based on that, so we’ll soon see.

ir-bandito, what did you find the ERD to be? I’ve seen it listed as 600mm, but i measured it at 606mm. On the point of buying spokes for a build as it’s not going to build into an existing Pro2 with Flow.

Excellent, many thanks for the heads-up.

However this may be of significant interest to some…

Aye I’ve bagged a pair of them for my new Stooge. Need to suss if I can get front hub qr adapters. I’ve seen pics of the hubs with them.

Suspected an OOF with a Bluto and light rims and tyres would be a pretty perfect trail bike for me, then tried a friend’s one which confirmed my suspicions. Started buying bits immediately after and now it’s all I’m riding … and it’s going to Spain next week.

Okay I was maybe ranting a wee bit, but there is something in what i say. I know or know of the people involved so it’s a bit more than anecdote. Some of them have had public arguments on social media about the validity of each others times etc.

My roadie comment was maybe a bit cheap, but came from my belief that Strava suits road riding better than mountain biking. You won’t get any benefit from carrying your road bike through a field instead of riding around it on the road. The distance and terrain between 2 points is fixed for everyone.

That doesn’t translate to narrow ribbon singletrack crafted out of deer tracks. If someone misses out that beautiful switchback to record their record time who are they kidding? Without Strava it was only themself.

Only my opinion and I know opinions are like arseh0les. If that makes me a Nazi sobeit.

I’ve not used it and I’m not interested in it. It’s like a disease around here. Trails I’ve been involved in creating and riding for 15 years now suddenly have shortcuts created or trail obstacles removed because a few think that makes them faster. They are of course kidding themselves, but in the meantime have f**ked up some great sections of trail. Wish they’d **** off back to the road to be honest.

I’m heading back to 26″, but with 4″ tyres. Seems it’s quite easy to build a 30lb-ish trail fatbike that will be more capable than my mid travel 29er.