Raceface flanks are super comfy!

The charges are just knee not shin afaik?

Nice bike!

What front tyre is that please?

I upgraded from my HT ’06 Rockhopper to a Soul.

Internet wisdom informed me that i basically had 2 options the Soul or a 456c. Have to say i was very reticent to go for a steel frame as the whole “Steel is real” reeked of fanboism and very very nearly plumped for a 456c in the end i went with the Soul for pretty much purely cosmetic reasons, just couldnt get over the ugliness of the 456c.

I am now a convert! It really does have a zing to it and is an absolute pleasure to ride, i still have my rockhopper kitted out for mud duty but although its a fabulous bike it just feels like a lifeless lump of metal compared to the Soul.

That said i have yet to try a 456c and by all accounts it should build to an excellent bike.

Welcome to my nightmare from 6 months ago!

IIRC the 10l Evocs come with a bladder just the bigger ones dont :S

Evoc CC, got the 16l myself as it perfectly fits a 15″ laptop so i use it for commuting aswell!

On this subject what front would you pair with a maxxis beaver rear for mudddy days? Running Spesh Storm rear Purg front atm but the maxxis seem a fair bit lighter…

Ralph rear Ron front, all year. The Ron holds up really well in the inevitable summer rain, very rarely washes out and the ralph is very controllable but i dont mind my rear end getting squirmy.

When the real mud returns the dirty bike has storm control rear and purgatory front.

Only reasons i could think would be a damaged bearing (should be easy to check just take of the adapter and feel for any play in the bearings underneath) or one of your adapters has a manufacturing defect meaning it doesn’t sit snugly in the dropout?

Trabec here to, don’t know if a lid could ever be “Fashionable” i think they all make me look like a bit of a pillock (long head + helmet = mushroom man). Surely more protection always = function?

Can’t compare to Saints but my new model XTM785’s are an order of magnitude more powerful than the previous 2 generations of XT and SLX’s i had!

Moar Soul!

Perlie rides in hackney (Just north of victoria park) only a couple of stops away on the overground. For the love of god dont go to London FIelds Cycles although it is right next to the station, theyre sucha bunch of plonkers!

Good guy and knows alot about MTB’s aswell. Also specialises in wheelbuilding which has come in very handy 🙂

Do it!

Just a shade over 23lb (10.5kg) for my Soul with SID’s, 1×10 and no dropper.

Feels perfectly comfy and composed, but then im not that heavy and a bit of a mincer. More than enough bike for trail centers though imho.

Amedias: Rider makes far more difference than a few lbs of bike difference, but its always nicer to have lighter if durability and performance not compromised.

+1 quitting smoking made much more difference to my ride than upgrading from my rockhopper!

BOR XMD333 is available in 24h, bloody light to!

5’11, Medium Soul, 710mm Haven Carbons and an 70mm stem. Felt quite stretched initially coming from a bike with a shorter frame and a 50mm stem but now feels spot on and the old one feel really cramped!

Grab a 5-6 year old stumpy frame 2nd hand? Tis where my money would go…

Edit: infact i would get this! http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Specialized-S-Works-Stumpjumper-Hardtail-Frame-Medium-/171011191100?pt=UK_sportsleisure_cycling_bikeparts_SR&hash=item27d10fb13c

Sid’s, XTR/XT, Haven and PRO II/717’s… 23.5lb

Get the overgroud to leyton midland drops you just of the border of epping, theres a nice XC route through the lakes up to epping forest, lots of nice if short trails up there and the route is quite a nice ride anyway 🙂

Schwalbe tabletops, grip like a very grippy thing (on tarmac) but very very fast with it!

Non folding ones should be about 15 quid…

I’d go for the cube as the wheels look to be marginally superior to the other 2? Also carbon frame should be lighter…

Not new enough.

Go for the snakeskin ones i switched my ron to these as they launched them this year and i was getting quite a few punctures… No punctures yet, am happy 🙂

Run a 10mm DT RWS on my Soul, hasnt exploded, cant fault it.

Not much to compare it to though as ive always run it like than v0v

Hope:

Or pauls…

Paul

xcjack – Member
Any advice on a chain device, not too bulky?

Either a pauls or Hope IBR, pauls would just fit straight on but the hope system looks super neat 🙂

I was torn between the fox and RaceFace Flank’s…

Went for the Racefaces, well impressed very comfy and unobtrusive. That CRC discount is very nice, wish id held of a month >.<

I got a compass stem cap with my singletrack subscription… Dun use it can be yours if you make a decent offer 8)

Tidy the kitchen, dont keep the guitar near the radiator!

Nice frame 🙂

Got the CC16 absolutely love it. Plenty of room for jacket, food, pads etc… Did consider getting the freeride but i cant see that back protector would really help that much if youve already got a full bag as protection.

Glad i grabbed my black frame when i did!

Didnt Cy post something about not having black option = commercial suicide a few months back? 😛

Whichever you get the best deal on, new sids are just as stiff as rebas.

Must get better photo….

Hope team green EVERYTHING :O

Shit brakes, only time ive beld any of my 3 sets of shimanos was to shorten the hose on 1 the others didnt even need a rebleed after cutting.

dickie – Member
My current fav’s

Yup.

Yup.

Also the Tallboy C really tickles me

Dont remember sorry. So many boxes to open, so little time

It is indeed the seat tube mounted, low clamp one. No shim required. Works a treat 🙂

Didn’t clog in epping mudbath and didn’t drop on Darkside (using a shadow+ mech at the back ofc).