mboy – Do Whyte ever do a frame only option? Would love to get a 629 frame.

core – Is it rockguardz who now offer a cheaper plastic version as opposed to the very expensive carbon?

The one in the pic above is the new plastic one, (the shorter one).

Just replaced my Marsh Guard with a Rockguardz (Mudguardz) PG350 for the winter.

It’s still bone dry down south so haven’t tried it out yet but it looks good and the fit is superb, feels rock solid.

You probably wont be able to cry for a while!

It’s the bike racks that create noise on the roof really, as long as you have the rubber strips fitted in the T-Tracks on the wing bars they are near silent. I rarely take mine off these days and the MPG impact is negligible.

Normal Man wins….it was indeed a montage!

29 years since I saved up for my first bike.

Wow, that looked epic! :-)

Thule 598, loads of threads on them and the previous version (the 591).

Specialized don’t distribute it Swiss spikes, just go to a shop with your wheel/spoke and nipple measurements and they will gladly help you find the right one.

Wiggles, did you read my post? I said ask Spesh uk for the part number and then when they give it to you order them through your nearest Spesh dealer.

I know this works because guess what, I just did it and got new spokes for my Stumpjumper.

Email Spesh uk and ask them for the part numbers, then ring nearest Spesh shop and ask them to order spares for you.

Buy a whole load, try them, keep the ones that feel the most comfortable. For me this was the Fox Launch Pros which are very light and all day comfort.

If I had the cash I would buy one, and then spend an extra £5k on the Litchfield performance pack to take it to 750bhp.

http://paulcowland.com/?p=771

Don’t ask me to explain why, because I cant, I just would!

I have what I believe is the 29er version of this bike, not exactly the same but most of the spec looks pretty similar albeit with a 120mm suntour raidon air fork. To be perfectly honest I bought it direct from Commencal for about £550 in their end of year sale with the intention of using it as a family bike for gravel tracks, holidays, towing the kids trailer etc. I’ve ended up doing something like 600 miles on it and absolutely love it. So much so I am considering swapping all the bits off anther bike and building it up into something half decent with 130mm forks and a dropper.

Despite the poverty spec, (ISIS BB, X5, low quality wheels etc), it all works brilliantly and other than a new BB I’ve not had to replace anything, (Im 6’5 and about 15 stone). Geometry wise it’s nothing like the long low slack mantra that everyone bangs on about but I find the handling is great, the front end however is quite slack and its just one of those bikes that is more fun to ride than the sum of its parts. I’m actually pretty gutted Commencal have discontinued the 29er version otherwise I would have just bought another frame.

Oh, by the way, the one I trashed was on the front!

Depends on how heavy you are and the type of riding you’re going to be doing?

I’ve only ever wrecked one wheel (in 28 years) and it was a mk2 crest. Subsequently realised I was very close the recommended weight limit for crests so replaced with mk2 arch EXs on my hardtail and zero issues.
(Been on for 2.5 years, I’m 14.5st, 29er HT, trail riding in the south so not too rocky).

BoardingBob, you can adjust the pressure in the post to slow it up a little bit. I think spesh recommend a range of pressure (something like 15-25psi). I had mine at the higher end initially and was very glad I already had kids!

Had my command post IIRC since last November. Also had the same initial issue as ^^BB^^ with a slight drop by one or two notches, but was also fixed in seconds with a couple of turns of additional cable tension on the lever.

Overall I rate it over the reverb I have and the new spesh gear lever style activation is brilliant, it feels much more natural using it when riding in comparison with a reverb lever.

Got an XL clockwork with dropper and 130mm fork I’m thinking of moving on. Great all rounder and perfect size for you!

Give bikescene a call and see what stumpy evo frames they have in your size. Will take a 150 fork without invalidating the warranty too.

Just in case you get some time to yourself….

http://www.trailmate.com.au

I think you are stretching it a bit to do multiple locations in Oz, NZ and HK all in 3 weeks.

Best to factor in a day or so to recover when you arrive although if you stopover in HK on the way this will help.

Don’t underestimate how long it takes to get around, it’s a huge country. Internal flights can be pretty cheap though so flying about is not too bad.

The last few times we flew to Oz we used the same travel agent and every time they either got us a better deal on flights or better flight times/stop overs. I dont think I would bother trying to do it myself any more.

Weather in NSW/QLD should be pretty nice, but Melbourne could be anything from spring-like to freezing and wet!

Spray or wipe the bead with a little soapy water first and it will slip on and seat much easier.

Frame only option gone I believe.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/nukeproof-scout-290-comp-bike-2016/rp-prod135672

http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/helmets-for-the-large-of-head

Looks nice but wrong size wheels, come on Orange – do a decent 29er HT!

^^^ THIS ^^^ Give us a Crush 29 and a frame only option!

Fairly easy to get D’Arenberg over here (McLaren Vale) and the “Footbolt” and “Dead Arm” Shiraz are pretty good. Had lunch there a few years ago and met the owner d’Arry Osborn. A really nice, down to earth bloke.

Langmeil “The Valley Floor” Shiraz from Barossa is pretty good too (IMO). Never seen it in the shops but you can get in through online resellers in the UK

I’ve had 4 XL 29ers, (2x HT and 2x FS) and all of them fitted onto Thule 591 and more recently a 598 without any issues.

Definitely look to slide the clamp backwards so both wheel channels are within the extents of the gutter.

As above, in terms of the cable clamping issue, the 598 is a much better design for this type of thing and has a softer deformable area on both sides of the clamp so the cables should be fine.

Personally I would sell the 591 and replace it with a 598, probably cost you £40 to swap over.

I just put a 2.25 Beaver on the back of my 29er and it is an incredible tyre.

Seems to work perfectly as an all-rounder as it’s grip in the dry has been spot on.

Also it’s way more sturdier in the sidewalls than the 2.0 Beaver.

^^^ This, with a Shorty on the front in the winter gloop.

Wouldn’t ride off road with QR on disc side – far to easy for it to jam with a branch or similar.

Eh?

Yes 135/140 but geometry pretty similar as both in the “trail” category.

The 650b or 29er Camber?

Personal choice but having owned 2 Stumpjumper FSR 29ers I go for the waggon wheels.

In true STW fashion…

Never greased, never seized and used weekly all year round. The lever position of the shimano skewer I have is also a poor fit on the disc side of my bike. The hope one is perfect.

You could stick a fox rear shock up….

Yes. Had one on my hardtail for 3 years with no issues.

IMO the Camber is perfect for what you want and easily capable if you ever decide to take it to some more testing locations, (Alps, etc)

Maybe look at the weather forecast and temperatures in each of the places you are going?

Bought 3 weehoos from them a while back and great, friendly service.

Front mech cable bent outwards and clicking on right hand pedal crank?