Cheers chaps. The locking collar unscrews (turns freely both directions) but the pedal body doesn’t move away from the axle as you’d expect. Was giving it a good old tug (2nd nob gag there for you) but body wasn’t budging. Will try pulling it off the crank now.

I did it on a rigid SS last year but will probably take my 6″ trail bike because you can have fun on the trails in Eastridge and Minton Batch. For the most part it’s rolling hills with longish climbs and some flat with country lanes.

I don’t want to jump in and spoil the fight (which looks like the only way this thread will continue to grow from this point on), but why do I still see loads of DH’rs sporting the stormtrooper-esque white version of the Shimano trail shoe, yet I can’t find them anywhere, thinking they’ve discontinued them?

I’ve been running a MN FB for a month – trouble is, the past month’s weather has been so wet, it hasn’t been “normal” test conditions. Needless to say I’ve been pretty unimpressed with it so far. Every ride has splashed wet and mud into my face. Will fit a downtube CC too and see if that helps. But, hopefully, drier weather might return…

I have a road bike and a 6″ trail bike. I love riding both. I also love reading about tech and seeing what my riding mates splash their cash on. I then go and seek out cheap – but still good – alternatives. I then do everything my mates do but with a smug feeling that it’s costing me a third of what they’re spending.

£40 to do both wheels with genuine Hope bearings – think I’ll invest in those.

Not sure if stainless, I suspect not. I did use all the proper Hope tools to remove/install, so it sounds like the bearings were non-stainless and have failed. Submersion on the Dyfi yesterday didn’t help, but oh so worth it :-)

Can anyone recommend the best value bearings for lasting at least a year?

It was another classic. Weather stayed fine, descents seemed better then ever. It also helped as I got my mojo back this year and finished 87th, woop!

Since first servicing my Pro IIs they have been almost silent. Not sure what I’m doing wrong/right, but I think it’s easy to make them quieter simply by lubing the pawls and ratchet.

I had one for a few years, very twitchy and bad angles for descents but fine for general XC. Only sold it after I discovered corrosion in the seat tube.

Yes, UST tyres are thicker and as a result, heavier, but they seem to grip when cornering better IMO. Don’t know why, maybe they stand up better under load?.. Interesting that there are so many differing opinions about this – given tubeless has been with us for some time, I guess it’s always going to divide opinion.

Must check my trail pack tube and pump still work – they’ve been buried in the bottom of the pack unused for three years now :-)

You need UST tyres on proper tubeless rims to avoid most, if not all of the above issues. UST Nobby Nics on Flows is a hard to beat system at low pressures for ease of setup and handling.

Just got back from doing this. Was planning to do 35 miles in prep for the Dyfi next Sunday but bailed out. In all the years of riding up on the Longmynd, this morning really was one of the most extreme! My advice; don’t be an idiot and stay under those covers!

I’m glad I started this thread now. At first I feared I’d get shot down for trolling but reading back it’s real user feedback. I’m pushing 40 and have been seriously into trail riding for coming up 10 years. I guess I’m one of the middle-age masses that spent a small fortune on the moneygoround of the cycling boom of the last 10 years and I’m now too pretty much bored of reading about biking (seems to be one of the common themes in this thread). Maybe the likes of me have read the endless routes/tests/epics features for too long? Nowadays, I get my fix from riding, seeing what kit works by my richer mates buying it first(!) and doing the odd event now and then.

Apart from the classics already mentioned, how about:

UNKLE – War Stories
Sub Sub – Full Fathom Five
Maps – We Can Create
Portishead – Third
Jam & Spoon – Tripomatic Fairytales (both volumes)
The Beloved – Blissed Out
The Beta Band – 3 EPs
D*Note – D*Note
New Order – Factus 8

Well done, another one joins the flock.

I’ve got a 57 plate 1.6D (slightly older equivalent of drive-badged engine but still as economical). 55mpg with climate control on all the time and 70mph or less. Very quiet, has a luxury/quality feel throughout. Very pleased with it. Just keep the DPF fluid topped up as and when required (acc. to service schedule) and try to get out on open roads as much as possible, else the DPF will clog and fail (£800 to replace ouch).

Nice one. Just ordered it and a 27.2-30.0 shim. Should be able to sell my Reverb for at least what the Hilo cost, hopefully.

This Hilo one? Looks ok, how much do you think I’ll get for my Reverb? Best to sell it on here rather than ebay?

Thanks mamadirt, that’s really helpful. So it seems I will be able to run a maxle if I swap out the non-drive side for one (which I presume) has a threaded 12mm bolt hole to take the maxle.

Also my Trance is a medium and I think too small for me.

I want a little more travel than the 105mm on My Trance plus it’s getting a bit tired.

Well done, for all the usual naysayers doubting the skills of the company you found, looks like they’ve managed the project well. I sold my Voodoo Wanga on ebay for £8 the other week cos it had a pin-head hole in it. Wished I’d have kept it for a project now!

The Shire Jockies are pending…

mtbtomo, I’ve got the Sektors on the Trance at 150mm and it rides sweet. The only problems are that it’s a medium and a little too short for me and it’s only 105mm at the rear and I fancy stepping up the rear travel to 150mm.

Rock n Roll extreme, applied then excess wiped off.

Thanks. I’ve downloaded audacity, then right-clicked on recording devices and it’s not listing a recording device other than microphone and Line-in (and I’m showing disconnected and disabled devices).

We desperately need another Pixies, New Order, Damned, Jimi Hendrix, Smiths, Stone Roses to kick music up the arse.

My first “nice” motor, so treated myself. Cheaper than you might think. 57-plate, £8k.

New website for 2011 range here – shock: no steelies left in, Wanga is aluminium!

Make sure you use the widest of the two Stan’s tapes.

Shit artwork.

Took it up a year ago and love it. The travel on my FS bike is also steadily growing, so I don’t think of myself as a freak – more like I get on both buses, if you know what I mean.

Now that’s how to buy a motor, well done, hope all turns out good.

2.25 Nobby Nic seems about right for me. If Contis, tend to stick to 2.2 tops.

I fancy a bit of Ride, OX4. Their albums are all under a fiver in there.

It’s ten minutes to beer where I am.

Yes, ghetto is an option, which would work for both rims, but ideally I’d like to set it up with the Stan’s system.

It was class. Great weather, no mud and as ever, great descents. The last descent through the woods was getting pretty slippy on the third lap though, saw one bloke go flying down there. Good to see rally man Gwyndaf Evans there, and CRC World Cup downhill star Matt Simmonds did four laps.

Not sure about Much Wenlock, but a couple of nice pubs in Church Stretton town centre and the Ragleth is nice in Little Stretton (take your bike too!)