Swainy90 what size is it mate ? Wouldn’t be small would it ? Please ?

Oh great, cheers guys. My mate heard wrong then. That is really good news !!

Swindon is great – just about all year if that helps

Sorry, didn’t mean to upset people, it’s just the people I know who have gone tubeless all have had bad experiences of some kind, so having worked out the cost of replacing my tyres, then the latex etc.. I’ll stick to the lighter option and keep buying tubes. Met loads of riders who wouldn’t go back to tubes but each to his own I guess !

Cheers guys. Some good tips there.
I may be in the minority but I think riding with a pump and spare tube is a good idea. It seems crazy doesn’t it ? I could go tubeless and NOT ride with a pump and a tube – oh hang on ! You STILL have to…..so it’s tubes for me.

A few years back I know they were hacking down some trees and messing up some great single track but I was hoping that everything was back. Sadly, another one bites the dust…..

Ah! Cheers mate for that. Haven’t been to Tilgate for some years too and that was pretty good then.

I don’t suppose there is a SRAM fitting chainring around the £30 price range ? Is it like DELL computers ?

It’s the X1, and taxi25, you could be onto something there. Did wonder about getting the file out…….

Read the earlier posts and people kept saying ‘can’t go wrong only paying £999. Was the trigger that price recently or am I reading that wrong ?

Probably got a lot to do with moving up to Bracknell and having Swinley forest as my local trail which is very gritty this time of year.
After all I said, it went like a dream today ! I love 11 speed again !!! Didn’t do the red route though which is the worst bit.

Some great points guys. I guess, all I really want is gears that don’t clunk, reliable and change when I want. Obviously asking too much in winter !!
I DID so love 11 speed all that time. No front mech faffing. Oh joy !!
Anyone want to buy a (almost) fully working Trek Remedy 9 17.5″ actual 16.5″ (what’s all that about) ?

Some of you seem to be missing the point. The move to 11 speed DOES involve higher prices for every replacement part, just take a quick look on Chain Reaction, I have averaged 5-6,000 miles a year since I kept a record so I’ve been through 8,9,10 and now 11 speed and I’ve always looked after my bikes myself and now, despite thinking 11 speed is the best of the lot for 5 months, I now think I’ve fallen into the ‘latest’ fad trap.
Luckily, as I said, my new bike came with it so at least I didn’t pay God knows what for it (I know the price reflected the components before anyone goes into one) because I would be even more peeved.
And yes, I know the cassette and chain ring will be next, thanks. Then the rear mech.
Good to hear SOME haven’t had any problems though.

Funny enough, I’ve got a Trek Remedy 9 right now, which is superb but I’d sell it in a flash (if I could get a good price for it) to buy another CANNONDALE. I’ve ridden ‘dales most of my cycling life and I really miss seeing the name on my frame……

Did it on full sus and loved EVERY ride. Saw a few on hard tails, not many admittedly, but certainly not for me now. If you’ve got a full Susser take that for more fun.
If you were doing North Wales I’d say don’t go at all !

“1600miles on my X01, on the 2nd chain and chainring, still plenty of life left in it.”

Anyone remember ‘Trigger’s’ broom ?

I think paying £18 ( cheapest I could find anywhere for the chain) I should expect a longer life than 5 months. I ride nearly exclusively off-road so the 1500 miles I did on it needed love and lube but, as I said, I’ve put a new chain AND cable on but it’s got me cursing.
It’s SRAM X1 by the way. AND I even got the Trek shop I brought it from to check I’d done everything right in the setup, so it’s not me !

Strangely enough, using these BONTRAGER rims the bike came with has done my head in getting ANY tyre to sit straight, so my plan was to just stick with either the R/R’s or Bonny’s but I’ve had endless punctures in both so that’s why I’m (maybe) going tubeless !
The Ralph’s ARE scarily thin, that’s for sure but they are SUPER fast. The Bonny’s improve braking but over 300 grams (each) heavier. SO, I thought, would NEVER hole. WRONG !

Could have done with a bit of local knowledge, as you say orangebeast, I met a couple of guys after coming down MORE fire road just before The Adams family who told me the same. They were picking out the BEST bits ! So why is there so many rubbish bits I wonder ?
Following day I did the Dragons Back on my own as my mate could hardly move, and enjoyed it more, though, ofcourse, it does have a lot of the Beast in but not that rocky start for 5 miles !
As I said, SOUTH WALES next year AND it’s NOT 5 hours to get there.
The best part was eating at THE GRAPES pub. If any of you are still planning on going North, that’s the best place for good food and only 10 minutes from the centre.

Ok, so far done 4 trails and the WORST one was The Beast ! Totally rubbish. Doesn’t allow you to flow or get a feel for it. What the hell is all that pointless loose rock climbing about ? My mate did his back in early so I completed it on my own but wish I hadn’t bothered.
South Wales again next year !! I prefer to RIDE trails not stumble

Hopefully have time for that too, coolbeanz. Nice suggestion.
Thanks everybody for the advice. As I said, haven’t been to North Wales for a long time, been doing South and loving it but just fancied a change. Can’t wait now !

Thanks guys. Really useful so far. Keep them coming please….

Still raining !

Raining !

Thanks PACEMAN, couldn’t see it for looking. Have a good one. We WERE 26″ Ain’t Dead but now we’ve all gone 650b so I guess it is !!

Can someone do a link to who is entered this year ? I can’t find it, sorry

I rode up a particular hill near me on my old 3×9 bike 2 days before getting my new bike with 1×11. I can happily say, I got up with both, sometimes ‘wishing’ I had just one more gear – but don’t we all think that occasionally ?
If your bike comes with 1×11 then you are VERY lucky. If you want to add it to your current bike -don’t !! It’s far too expensive. Simples !
As a rider who was always sooo reluctant to move away from 8 speed, I can honestly say I absolutely LOVE my 1×11 more than anything I’ve ridden.

Nah, go for it ! You can’t have enough travel and it will give you the confidence it sounds like you are lacking. It can be set up by the shop you are buying it from so you get the best out of that 160mm, as long as it’s a GOOD bike shop, and you’ll go on in leaps and bounds. Probably be thrashing your boyfriend in no time. Maybe THAT’S the reason he doesn’t want you to change ?

That’s the HAPPIEST AND SADDEST video I’ve ever seen ! I used to see Martyn at nearly all the bike shows and I’m sure I’ve got some footage tucked away still.
Truly inspirational – makes you think about the times you haven’t gone riding because it’s “too windy, a bit cold, too hot !!”
Thankyou Martyn

Er, too many ‘er’s’ in their, sorry

Thanks again for all the response. Glad it’s not just me !! It’s just stopped raining so I’m going to give it ANOTHER go.
I was pretty sure I’d seen a tool for doing this somewhere so I might check out Park, thanks Neil

Cheers guys, that sounds good. Hey Billmc, you can’t find a link to that YouTube clip can you ?

Spent 4 days down there last year (second trip of the year – lucky me !!) and did all the trails but, unlike some here, think The Blade is my favourite. Did Penhydd on the last morning before we headed home. I’m SURE it said ‘ROOKIE’ trail on it but I know if I took my wife on it she would NEVER talk to me again !!! (Gives me an idea….)
But there were some VERY long and boring fire road climbs though some good singletrack and, rather strangely, the BIGGEST drop off in all of Afan ??? What’s that all about ?

Mmmm! I see…never used these before but a friend ? Recommended the Ralph so got a Nic at the same time. Not REALLY what I was hoping to hear !
Easily puncture ? I take it you mean the same Mike ? Or is it JUST the grip ? DON’T say the grip is bad too !

What ? Explain qwerty….

Anyone else ? ALL AGREE ? I’m WAITING TO PUT THEM ON NOW…..

As metalheart says worth looking at the Titus. In fact, at the London Bike show they had a couple of full sussers, so maybe check their website out….

True, my son payed £80 for an estimate eventually paying £200 odd AND it’s STILL not right ! Fixed the initial problem but it’s got another one now. Looking like a new one…anyone REALLY like BBC1 with no sound ???

Good answers guys. It is a MTB I’m looking at but the same applies across the range so I’m feeling better about going for the 2011.

Brilliant ! Thanks guys. HAPPY CHRISTMAS to you all…