Thanks for the info on the Milnes, I’ll avoid that!

I guess it isn’t an issue unless I have raced, I’ve only nearly fallen once!

Thanks chaps. I have really really long legs and a short body. 6’1 with 37 inseam, so short reach and long legs!

I’m going to have a look at the frame side of things, I’ve found a 58 Paul Milnes carbon frame, any good?

I’m on a 56, I could definitely get away with a larger frame, 58 maybe, my stem is 100 but could probably swap to an 80 without too many issues.

I’m also trying to convince myself not to get a carbon frame, I’m so used to carbon frames on the road the alloy feels very heavy and not as responsive!

I’m already on 165, which with 37 inch legs is pretty short. I’ve used 155 in the past, but figured I’d not get on with them on the cx as I always felt the force generation was too high and short, so not suitable for off road. I’m fine with short cranks on the road, but use 175 on the mtb for leverage.

So this should work?

https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/mavic-crossride-rear-mtb-wheel-12x142mm-cl-/rp-prod173307

I presume CL is centerlock? Does this pose any issues or is it just rotor choice.

Ooops, sorry about that. Not a classifieds only poster thanks, just want to sell some stuff.

Rich – how about a on-one carbon 29er race?
I’m giving up on my 29er stuff so selling the frame if you are interested. Let me know – email in profile.
It rides fantastically and is very very light.

The hose is way to long! Wasn’t sure what else to do with it?!?

So very true alex.

Mostly balanced, I’m not sure how getting myself into credit card debt will help at all!

njee, good point, I guess its not, I think I just thought it would be. Something really really fun that would re-ignite that feeling I got when I first took up mountain biking. Oh well.
And I have to concentrate on road/tri next year as I hope soon thats going to be my job! For a very short time though!

iainc, I was hoping for some suggestions, and some of them have been really good, like keeping the frame and selling the nice components and getting some more standard ones.
I have already done that with the shifters which have been swapped from XX to X9.
I never meant to use this to advertise, I haven’t been writing on here long, so I hadn’t seen the activity you describe. But I’m really sorry if it came across like that. Just wanted to share my frustration! I’m more annoyed at myself than anything else, that I don’t have reason to use it more, or that I don’t love mountainbiking as much as I thought!

Wow, some very cynical people on here. I guess that’s from being a cyclist, I’m starting to feel that cycling is making me more angry and more cynical everyday!

For what it’s worth part of me does want to sell the bike, it was great to ride yes, but I only took up mountain biking as a bit of fun and I can’t help thinking the most fun I had was bashing around Cannock on a beaten up anthem. This bike would never get the use it deserves as I just don’t care enough. I’ve loved building the thing, but I think this was one bike too far, I can’t keep pretending I’m on my old wage.

Don’t worry though guys, if I do decide to sell it I won’t need to write on here anymore!

bikebouy, not my intention.
Originally this was meant to be a wohoo, look at my new bike thread…after finishing it last week.
I’m going to hold onto it for a bit, I think it does need a few more rides at least!

mboy it is yes.
I bought the bike when I thought we had shelved the house idea. Then it turns out my partner has a bit more money than she thought, and then gets a bit of money from her parents. Now I am in the situation of, if I can find an extra couple of grand we can probably get the house.

I love my bikes, but I want to start my life proper and get this house. So to be fair it was her suggestion, and one I agreed to.

I would love to keep this bike, but how many times will it get out in a year? I use my road bike twice a day, everyday in comparison.

right, I’m gonna have a look and see what else I can sell instead!

Whilst I stand to loose a fair bit of money most of my other crap wouldn’t raise as much as this bike will, so its logical really, sort of, well not really, but life is about sacrifice sometimes. I want a house! I’m fed up of renting!

hehe, true.

Erm, a lot!
I have to concentrate on road biking/triathlon next year, so the road bike and TT bike have to be kept.

I shouldn’t have bought it no. It was silly of me. I’ve recently changed jobs and cut my wage by over half.
I guess I hadn’t thought about how much that would impact me financially. My partner has been very supportive of this, but there comes a point!

Yeh, I think the amount I can get for it is going to play a possible role. wouldn’t want to loose too much!

I’ll stick it in the classifieds at some point and see what happens.

@supertacky. My partner is fantastic, we have been saving for a house deposit, she hasn’t been shopping for a long time.
I originally had my half of the deposit and she was saving to get hers, we have found the perfect house and so we need a bit more deposit!

Hehe, some great replies, I may try some of them!

To be honest, she has a point and we had a frank discussion where we decided that the amount of use this bike will get will probably not justify the cost!

A shame, but in the future I will get my toys back!

Thanks guys but I’m Leeds/Leicester based!
I’m going to order one from Merlin I think.

I’ve tried 4 of the local bike shops, none have anything suitable in stock. Pretty shocking really.

you’re right actually, I’ve ordered from merlin 3 times in the past and its always arrived next day.

hehe, yes I know that.
But basically I have my half of the deposit and am waiting for the other half to save hers over the next few months. But having recently changed jobs I am spending more that I am making, so I need a bit of money to help tide me over for the next few months until I pick up more work! So I don’t have to dip into my savings.

I have 3 pieces of PX merino, they are all fantastic! I wouldn’t ride without them now!

Goldenwonder I live in Leeds and Leicester (week in Leicester, weekend in Leeds).

I think looking at the price of those novotec hubs I think I’m going to have to learn how to build wheels!

No i’m afraid thats not the right one.
It was about a guy building up a set of road wheels that came in at not much over 1kg for a very low price.

That didn’t work then!
Google niner rip 9 black!

Not sure if the image will work, this is not mine but I have just bought that frame with some white fox talas forks.

Total of the build with mostly XX group and a bit of X0/X9 will come to around £1400, not bad considering the frame retails for some ridiculous price and the forks for about 1000!
There are bargains to be had out there, just have to be patient!
I got that frame and forks off the bay for £900!

Excellent I will get some of those too.

Also, if you want some brilliant gloves get the deFeet Merino wool gloves.
They are great, I have had a pair for a year and they have made all my other gloves redundant as they are worn (and keep my hands warm) in any weather.
They also dry out fairly quickly when they get wet and don’t absorb as much water as I was expecting from woolen gloves.

Have a look into heart rate variability and your mind will boggle.

Mine drops to 28 in the day and has dropped to 26 at night.
I do have a heart condition though that causes this!

Its funny but I have started wearing a bracelet when I ride that says heart rate very low, don’t give me atropine or put a pacing wire in!
I worked in cardiology until recently and put a pacing wire in a women whos heart rate was dropping below 30, she arrested twice. I told the registrar who was showing me how to put the wire in that mine dropped to 28. He didn’t believe me so afterwards we put an ecg on me (It was the middle of the night, we were bored) he was pretty shocked at what he saw and that it didn’t seem to affect my performance!

I also received a shot of atropine in Burton A+E whilst working as a med student after I passed out whilst having my toenails removed post marathon (don’t ask). Hence the atropine bracelet, it was not a fun experience. They even had the defib pads on me, scary!

Sorry, my mistake, its a 39/26!
Does that change anything? So I could put a medium on no problems?

No idea why but it was the first thing I noted with the penny farthing, it just didnt want to stop going uphill. The comparison was harder as it was a short suss 26er (anthem) compared to a titanium HT 29er but the difference felt like night and day.

I’ve got the exact same lights, you can get them from ebay direct from china for about £20 now.

If I plan on putting a larger ratio cassette on the back – say 11-36 does that make a difference? That would need the long cage correct?

On a slightly different note, would I be able to use a 3×10 front mech shifter with a 2×10 front mech?

You may be way past this point having sheared the BB spines, but last time I had a stuck BB, truly truly stuck, not a millimeter of movement I did the following.

3 days complete submersion in coke, I don’t think it matters if its regular or diet.
Then I submerged it in ice cold water for about 10 mins, then poured boiling water on it. And it then came off with minimal effort.
The freeze thaw causing a tiny amount of shrinking/expansion of the metal moves it enough to break the rust seals.

Loco do you have top hats for a giant anthem with fox shock lying around? I have a replacement bushing but I think the top hats are also too worn as there is still movement.