Mushrooms are a bit of a grey area i reckon? Illegal to grow/prepare em but you are allowed to pick em? Everybody has some sort of 'poison', it's just down to preference. 😉

My official stance is that in allowing certain recreational drugs to be 'accepted' it has only made the next step in experimentation that little bit closer. This can be a step too far for many, especially easily influenced, youngsters with time and money to burn. Pun not intended.

The cost and availability of drugs now is very worrying. There are substances that can be bought now that are on a different level in terms of 'actual' experience but thankfully they are pricey and therefore out of reach for the vast majority. I believe it is about education and not trying to drive home that drugs are bad (O.K?), give people the facts and then let them make their own decision. At the end of the day people will do what they want to regardless of what is told to them, as long as they are well informed then there can be no excuses when you find out they have a 'problem' directly linked to all the 'out of body' good times.
😐

Ketamine DH will sort the men from the boys. 😉

In no way do i recommend this by the way.

Anything over 16yrs from Highland Park, Macallan or Laphroiag with do the job nicely. Splash of H2O bring out the aromatics and enjoy.
Dalwhinne is a good general all rounder for an option.

456 Ti or Salsa Ala Carte?

I'm looking at the CCDB and BOS STOY. I'm sure that there was a mag review done not so long ago? Anyone have any ideas who dunnit?

Pushed DHX 5.0 could also be in the frame, anyone sporting one of these feed back would be greatly appreciated.

I use the osprey 2ltr bladder in mine….

in a hyper 2.5?

I don't think so… i cant find one anywhere.

I defo agree with you there Stuart. I mainly think that i just get daunted by the big stuff and need to improve my mind set more than anything. Confidence is directly linked to practice IMHO.

My 2.5 is more than adequate in volume for general daily use. It does struggle to accomodate a 2ltr Camelback bladder tho due to it's compact size.

Anyone know where i can get a square bladder from 2 Ltr (ish)? The best i have found is a 'Source* widepac but this is a bit too long but will fold over.

Thanks for the link but it is the more extreme stuff i'm looking for, i.e 3-4 foot drops etc….

I had a look at this site before but it looks like a base level course.

Yes, they certainly help. The back thing is a big + IMO. Very well made too, materials top notch sail cloth and well designed.

Lower COG and much better weight distribution IMHO.
My wingnut Hyper 2.5 is head and shoulders above my old Camelback Octane 8.

5-10 Freeriders. Designed for biking, got the stealth sole, but look like understated mainstream skate shoes.

Thats the bad boys… mine will be waiting for me when i get home.

There are some deals around on 5ten freeriders'…

Got mine for 60 english pounds on ebay, even better value!

Is the shock length relative to the size of the frame? Looking at a Ti coil for my Large Heckler and could do with some figures (not with the bike at the mo, and for the next week of so… love you miss you baby.) 😉

I have used some Adidas Originals for the last year. They were all black 'Stan smith' sytle shoes with an almost perfectly flat sole that was rock solid once on my flats. Zero movement on the pedal. I got on with them good, but it could get a bit hairy if for any reason you had to bike-a-hike on slippery ground. I changed out the insoles with the ones from my Spesh BG shoes for extra support and stiffness.
Cheap in the sale and sound in the pub after!

Just got a deal on some Fiveten Freerides tho, i've heard good things about Stealth rubber off friends of mine but couldn't stand the look of the traditional shoe.

I have used some Adidas Originals for the last year. They were all black 'Stan smith' sytle shoes with an almost perfectly flat sole that was rock solid once on my flats. Zero movement on the pedal. I got on with them good, but it could get a bit hairy if for any reason you had to bike-a-hike on slippery ground. I changed out the insoles with the ones from my Spesh BG shoes for extra support and stiffness.
Cheap in the sale and sound in the pub after!

Just got a deal on some Fiveten Freerides tho, i've heard good things about Stealth rubber off friends of mine but couldn't stand the look of the traditional shoe.

I have used some Adidas Originals for the last year. They were all black 'Stan smith' sytle shoes with an almost perfectly flat sole that was rock solid once on my flats. Zero movement on the pedal. I got on with them good, but it could get a bit hairy if for any reason you had to bike-a-hike on slippery ground. I changed out the insoles with the ones from my Spesh BG shoes for extra support and stiffness.
Cheap in the sale and sound in the pub after!

Interesting this people….

My dragon has contract with orange that she sought out herself (independence was her downfall) that has no signal in our house or at the stable yard where she works. Being situated in either of these places for the majority of the time has me spitting 'automated' feathers. My Voda is fine and she is desperate to change.

Has anyone canceled a contract due to similar reasons? and what did you payout? I'm thinking that 2 months notice should be sufficient?

TBH confidence is the key, somewhere to play and start to accumulate some skills with someone to point me in the right direction.

I have decent technique i reckon but would like to be given some coaching on bigger/steeper/faster stuff that just ain't available near to where i live. I am also a firm believer in developing good habits from the start. I would love to be able to hit the bigger drops etc with confidence, and hope to hit the Alps with at least a little prior experience. 😕

Tape applied… more challenging than i imagined. 😕

Being one for aesthetics, i decided to measure and fit the the best i could just removing bits from either side of the 100mm strip to acomodate cable mounts and contour the BB area. I also did the bit on the top tube that is my 'up and over' grip and strap securing point for my carrier.

Pleased with the outcome, it is visible but i can handle it for the benefits it provides.

A word of advice though… definitely get some assistance when it comes to application if you choose to go to as much trouble as i have to make sure that it is central. Apply from the center of the down tube and work up the sides.

Easy.

Just invested in a wingnut 2.5 after using a Octane 8 previously.

No comparison IMHO. The weight is lower down on your hips which means that you have a lower COG. I run a 2 litre camelback bladder that in all honesty… is not the greatest fit (could be a niche here for custom bladder makers!) but this is the only downside.

Pockets are accesable and it is constructed from sail cloth with taped seams, the quality is impressive. No sweaty back in the coming summer months has got to be a pro too. I did hear that wingnut are moving their factory to the far east and will be offering more competetive discounts and colour options very soon.

Maddness. Just ordered some of those bad boys!

The trails are drying up a treat up in the north, sunday there were pockets of 'moisture' but on the whole very encouraging. I'm putting the speed kings on for tomorrow evenings venture.

Thanks for your help.

Yeah… i know. It has almost a matt finish and i really would prefer it not to be noticeable if poss!

The former mate… just on high damage potential areas. Down tube, cable rub areas, maybe top tube where i have the habit of taking a breather post exertion.

Here here! 😀

Farted today on a ride…

made a noticable difference, i could feel the extra weight on my sadle. 😉

I agree with Simon… and think that there is a certain amount of placebo effect with weight. We are all individuals with our own goals and requirements, but mentality is paramount. Unless you are a racer, where competetors are striving for the tinyest advantage often at the sacrifice of other areas. If the heavier bike (lets face it… in modern day terms this can be a marginal ammount) is very rewarding to ride and puts a smile on your face then you can afford to conceed a few pounds and still probably ride faster.

To a certain extent weight makes a difference… a bike with sorted geometry can easily conceed a few pounds to a whippet and be much more rewarding to ride. Trust me…

I have just upgraded from a Scott Geniuis Ltd to a SC Heckler and the later fits me like a glove.

This XTR unit is now working fine…

TBH i would like to go on a decent mech's course because i am sick of being disapointed when getting my bikes back from the LBS! The shop in question are a large presitige brand shop in the north east and you would think that when you spend just short of £500 on bling that they could at least have decency to set it up properly!

Rant over.

Even had the cheek to charge me a quid for a shock valve cap that i noticed missing on collection!

Defo over now. LOL

Bit of fettling with the H/L limits and it was fine.

Frustrating when you have to do a job yourself having paid someone else deemed to be professional to do it.

Spose the saying is very true with bike maintenance…. If you want… you get the picture.

What's so good about the dropper?
I had a i900 before that was good.

Nice one DM52….

Anyone else with droppable seat post info please pipe up!

Thank you for that insight, very interesting TBH. The reason that i was considering a remote unit is due the difficulty in actually operating my lever i900. But with consideration i don't think that i will have this problem as the old bike had a much greater seat post angle (Scott Genius) compared to my new bike (SC Heckler) with is better 'plum'. On the Genius i had to get quite far forward on the sadle to get the unit to operate which was a hinderence.

Which do you rate out of the mentioned above? I must admit the i900 seemed good, no slop at all 12 months on considering i am 14.5 stone.

Thanks Ewan…

does anyone know if it is poss to run a remote on a non original remote post?

thanks to everyone that was constructive… the 36t is bang on.

had the bike round Dalby at the weekend and didn't miss the old set up at all!

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Nice one Ash.

Just got back from Dalby… only got there about 5 so had top smash it round and in the end it was dark before i finished! I didn't want to stop tho, i was loving the new bike too much! It is a proper weapon that thing, and i kept on saying just one more section…. had to bail in the end the ST was too sketchy with no lights. Yup, forgot em!

Easy mate.

Thanks all.

Yup… i do apreciate the 'constructive' critisism. I do like busy tho.

Interesting that you mention the SS i am considering a a similar project. What size ring do run up front?