Had a similar lack of confidence with 29er storm controls. Seems to work great on the back wheel but didnt like the front on roots, rocks, techy stuff. Now have a 2.25 Beaver up front and initial impressions are its a massive improvement.

OP – What wheels are you using?

The 20mm axle was no issue with the hope hubs I used, but depending on your wheelset it may be a little restrictive?

Im running Revs at 130 on my clockwork. Its the upper limit of the frame warranty but they’ve been great and would highly recommend them.

hora – OP dont do it. It’ll be covered in Gin and youll find dirty knickers in there

That may well be another selling point!

I think I read somewhere on here recently that the kits for adjusting Pikes were coming in the next month or two.

LoCo tuning seemed to be in the know so might be worth dropping them a line. IIRC about £35 for the kit?

The QR lever on my bike has a neat little notch cut out of it specifically designed to allow you to run the dropper cable through it when you close the clamp. Stops it flapping about so havent bothered changing it for a bolt on collar.

Snowboarding impact shorts should do the job!

About £190 on bike-discount.de (incl delivery)

FWIW I think if you have a visa credit/debit card* you are better off paying in Euros and using the visa online currency convertor to work out the cost that will hit your card.

[*assumes your visa card has no fees for use in the EU]

Good to hear the 2.25s are on their way, which is more than Maxxis UK could tell me!

Ive been trying to find out if the 2.25 version are going to be available and just had the most frustrating conversation with Maxxis UK helpdesk who were utterly useless and dont even know their own products!!

I have a lovely low mileage A4 Avant 2.0 tdi (170) S-Line for sale if youre interested, be perfect for what you need! Its well within budget and would leave you enough for a new bike!
Email in profile :-)

You could build up something pretty nice for that money. Im 6’4″ and started out with an Orange clockwork frame (XL). For a £150 you cant go wrong.

http://www.bikescene.co.uk/Orange-Clockwork-Frame-6382-107-0.html

Look at the deals on Merlin for SLX or XT groupset. Hope Hoops wheelset, Rockshox rev fork and you’ll end up with a cracking bike.

In your shoes 21 months ago we went for a newer shape 2.0 tdi A4 Avant.
Plenty of space for the 3 of us, a great size boot for weekends away, holidays etc, swallows the pram no problem with room for all the other cr*p you inevitably cart about, (dont underestimate how much stuff you need in the early months!). The wife liked it because the flat load area meant pulling the pram out of the boot was very easy for her. Isofix, parking sensors all round, decent drive, low running costs and of course roof rails for the bikes too :-)

Weirdly, after I bought it I was strangely compelled to go and buy an Orange….??!!

Been using storm controls front and rear, as a pure mud tyre for xc use through the winter and they are pretty good, real bite from the rear on steep muddy/grassy climbs. Im less convinced about the front one though as not too great on rocks, roots or more mixed conditions. Keen to try a new 2.25 Beaver on the front and leave the storm on the back.

Sounds like Arch EX’s will be perfect for what you want.

You’re not far off the weight recommendation of the Crests and well within that of the Arch’s.

Yes…those recommendations are for stans wheelsets and not hope hoops but its a decent enough guide given their intended uses. Crest are aimed at the XC racer / rider, the Archs are XC/All Mountain (which I interpreted as good for all round trail use!).

I bought crests, bent one beyond repair and replaced them both with Arch EX’s, wish Id just bought the Archs from the start and there is only 151 gram weight difference.

As already stated the weight limits recommended on the Stans site for 26/29 crest rims is 190 lbs.

Im right on the weight limit, probably a little over once fully kitted up. I found the front crest developed a wobble quite quickly and needed straightening, then when I had a decent “off” the front bent beyond repair. The rear however was faultless and remained totally true the whole time (on a 29 hardtail).

Personally if you are close to the weight limit I would go for the Arch Ex’s.

“Hose length: 1500mm”

http://www.sram.com/rockshox/products/reverb#specs

The “Gore Power 2.0” range of bibs is superb IMO. Bit pricey but 20% off at Evans at the moment brings it to about 75

Are there any brands you would recommend? As you can probably tell Im no mechanic, internet research seems to mostly come up with “Wheels manufacturing BB30 to shimano hollotech” adators for about £30?

Many thanks for the info, Im definitely planning to get the LBS to fit it! Do the adaptors require any spacers at all? I’ll be running 2×10?

Although the butcher isn’t as bulbous as the purgatory if you like your front bigger than your rear

wilko99 – Am considering the butcher/purg combo (both 2.3), but interested in your comment on sizing, are you saying the equivalent butcher comes up a little smaller than the purg, by how much would you say?

JCL – 2013 Evo frames in my size are not available and the 2014 version is £2500, hence why I am looking at the non-Evo version.

Ive logged a question with Spesh UK to get their view on what may or may not invalidate the frame warranty in terms of travel but otherwise a simple question about who is running what?

Question relates to fork travel on non-Evo model.
Cheers

Full write up here: (for those not looking for yet another 12 page debate on the various merits of different wheel sizes!)

http://orangebikes.co.uk/news/view/big_wheel_believer

[edit] beaten to it by bungletastic!

wiggles – I think the review highlighted the pick up on the hope hubs being a little slower and the stans rims being softer. I interpreted chrishc777’s post in that he couldnt get the complete spank wheels, so whilst going for the Hope Hubs as a compromse he also saved £100 on the overall spank wheelset. Still think he’ll end up with a decent set of light, strong wheels and there is no shortage of love for hope hubs on here either! Maybe a better option would be the new 40T hope hubs?

I left the revs at 130, not had any issues so far, touch wood.

Running 2.25 Ardents front and rear and no chainstay rub at all.

In terms of keeping the build costs down (and the wife happy) definitely worth a look at the groupset deals at Merlin (e.g. SLX with brakes). I also noticed the MT66 wheelset which got a good write up in MBR this month was on offer for £170 at Merlin too. Dont have any experience of them but could be worth a look if youre trying to stick to a budget?

Yep, that sounds like a no brainer!
Im lead to believe mine are arriving early next week, but if not I will be in touch for details of your LBS!

dandax – great news you’re back on the bike. Im currently in exactly the same position having broken my right clavicle into 4 bits in mid July, plate fitted then 2 months off the bike, so know exactly what youre going through.

I got the ok for “light biking duties” a few weeks ago (pending another consultants appt) when Im hoping it will be fully healed. Been doing gentle rides on gravel tracks, easy bridleways and smoother trails to start getting some fitness back. Bit aprehensive at first (still am) but slowly feeling a little more confident, although suspect it will take a while.

Shoulder feels good but plate can get a bit tender, Ive found that pulling the chest strap tight on my camelbak moves the straps into a comfortable position.

That said, its just bloomin great to be back out again! :D

Also wrote off my helmet (Giro Xen), but grabbed a bargain 661 recon from CRC for £39 while I decide what I really want and all these new-fangled enduro helmets hit the shelves!

Hi teadrinker,

I just happen to be the aforementioned mate of slowboydickie and can confirm he is 100% right….I absolutely love my clockwork!
I built it up with mostly XT and Rockshox Rev and absolutely love it. It’s light, fast, very capable (despite being ridden by me) but most of all it’s fun. Ive ridden it on everything that Ive taken my Enduro down and it pretty much takes it all in it’s stride.

Best of all, in XL it looks like a “normal” bike!

I have a 29er hartail which I love riding and can and will ride it anywhere. On smoother less technical trails it feels just as quick as riding a full suss, but when it gets rough…it’s still a hartail, so tend to chose between HT and FS depending where Im riding.

No problem, I bought on-line in the end and got a good deal, so if your LBS cant sort them for you then feel free to drop me a line.

Just been through the exact same process with the exact same wheel options! Had previously decided on Flox EX on pro 2’s and like you had my eyes opened to the Spank option! Ive not yet found a single bad review or any reason not buy them plus they are (claimed) 200g lighter than the Flow EX’s, (in 29″).

Placed my Spank order last night……

I see!

fitnessischeating – Member

Both are 2.25 made by maxxis I thought that they would be the same size?

Sorry, not sure what you mean? MTN king II are available in 2.2, but I initially tried the 2.4s, before fitting the 2.25 Ardents.

Had the same issue when I built my clockwork. Started out by fitting Mountain King IIs, and wasnt happy with the clearance (think they were 2.4s), so sent them back and ended up with Maxxis Ardent’s (2.25’s) which are spot on. Big enough volume but never had any issues with frame rub.

Big thumbs up from me for the clockwork. Everytime I ride it I always comment on how much fun it is, I love it!
I would offer you a test ride but afrad mine’s an XL! :D

Saw a recommendation for “ODI Rogues” as being good for big hands, definitely more chunky than others Ive used and theyve been great so far. Use them on both my bikes now.

5 years with my carbon enduro on the roof with Thule 591. No issues.