.

Mota is alright in slop, distinctly average to below-average anywhere else. I bought mine cheap but would rather buy a Schwalbe MM for more than double than another Mota tbh.

The weird thing is that going to a new bike with a 5mm lower bb scan feel unrideable, but, in reality, it’s just you. 5mm here or there is nothing, outside of extreme situations.

Just get used to it. After a while you’ll look at the trail and think, “no pedalling there”, and after a bit longer you’ll think, “Ooh, a half stroke here, a quarter stroke there.”

Got some in 2.35. Decent enough in slop, squirrely and quite unpredictable on rocks and roots. I wouldn’t buy them again. Something like Schwalbe MMs are as good in the wet and more predictable elsewhere imo (obviously cost more, though).

I recently bought some Craft Ideal tights I’m quite happy with. Unpadded, roubaix, wind- and waterproof knees and groin(!), ankle zips, and relatively reasonably priced. Only thing to watch is that they are quite long in the leg.

That said, they’re replacing a pair of Endura ones that lasted fooooreveeeeer without issue.

I use camelbak in an elite prism. Works well.

What tj said. Bearings cost relatively little and tend to last a couple of years, at least, nowadays so I don’t see the point in regreasing them. Nearest I’ll get to stripping down is removing the shock to feel if the suspension bearing move freely.

I get it a bit if I haven’t ridden my ht for a while. Just a matter of picking a good line, carrying momentum and grabbing every safe opportunity to get a pedal in, even a half one. Bit different to just being able to plow through stuff on the fs.

I’ve only used raceblades and the cheapo Prime copies. There might be something better, but the raceblades work well enough that they’d be my first choice if I needed new ones.

Another, “Ooh, that’s a cheap fork/set of wheels. I should get some as a spare for my bike.” 2 months later, “Tadaa! I’ve got another bike, and it was cheap cos I already had the forks/wheels.”

.

Any kind of tweak would take more info to recommend that that she doesn’t gel with it. Best would be to hear it from her about how it feels, and you/someone else about what you see happening.

35mm bars (disclaimer: I did and it was, unsurprisingly, stiffer than a stiff thing).
Mobile on the bars.
Tyres in any colour that isn’t black.
Colour-matched stickers and components (half the Vital BOTDs look like turds rolled in glitter).

Crankbrothers. None of that ratchet and bits/integrated rubbish. Just a well made lump of metal that works and will for decades to come.

Magura have some kind of no leak guarantee don’t they?

Can’t comment on the others, but I’m really enjoying my piglet. It’s sprightly but capable, despite being built cheap with heavy parts. Also, pink.

For multiple bikes I have an appropriate tube taped/strapped to each then just a bumbag (the little camelbak one with one bottle holder, I forget the name) with multitool, pump, etc. Bag and bike are always ready to go. With a bottle on the bike I can be fine for 3-4hrs and a light jacket fits with some persuading too.

Longer rides, or just more kit needed, I have a bigger bumbag with bladder or a pack for days out.

Pace have a couple with sliding dropouts. Was close to buying a 627 myself recently.

Ive been fancying some of those knippex pliers for a while. but they are just that, pliers. they will mark a surface that a spanner wont so why would you use them?

As someone said above, they’re good enough that you’d have to be pretty incompetent to damage or mark anything if using them properly. Also as above, they’re really handy to have for general stuff but don’t think I’ve ever used them on a bike.

These look like they might be slightly more appropriate for MTB use…the sole looks like it might address the ‘slippery when wet’ issue highlighted by Jakester earlier, too – https://www.vans.co.uk/shop/en-gb/vans-gb/men-shoes-low-top-shoes/ultrarange-3d-shoes-vn0a3tkwb9m

I actually have a pair of those. Never ridden in them and can’t say I’d want to. They’re even softer than regular skate shoes. Super comfy for everyday wear, though.

Depends on what you’re doing in my experience. Just messing around? Fine. Planning on cycling longer distances and times? The stiffer sole of a proper shoe is preferred. My feet start to ache otherwise.

HT PA03a are the same as Horizon Comps and still available.

Seem to remember having read that when HT realised how popular the Horizons were they stopped licensing them to Nukeproof.

I’ve got One Ups and the HT made Nukeproof Horizons. The One Ups are better made, but the HTs are better at being pedals. Fill em with grease and they do fine.

Have you told them what you want? Not that you should have to, but if you’re running around trying to sort spares/replacements they’re probably going to do even less to help you as they think you’re sorting things.

As has been said, there’s being nice and there’s being walked all over. What exactly have they offered, if anything?

On the spd front, I’ve got a scar on my right shin from an ordinary Shimano M520 spd. Gouged a hole and a little chunk of bone during a crash. I ride spds and flats on various bikes, sometimes with pads sometimes without. Shit happens.

Only Pro members get new Donut content 😊

[grump]Seems a little cheeky that they’re doing exactly the same stuff as Epic Bleed Solutions, down to the flat spanner that epic developed, just undercutting them a little (I know, I know, capitalism).[/grump]

For no upcharge, Hope. I’ve got current gen SLX and Deore on 2 bikes and they’re totally fine; I’d buy them again tomorrow if I had to. The 3yr old set of E4s on my other bike are still my favourites though. They just work, have needed no love apart from 1 bleed, and I like that every part is replaceable.

Built up a new Piglet a few weeks ago and really liking it. Not too long, not too slack, pops off everything. Others on my shortlist were the Pace and Stanton, but pink piglet…

I’d be changing tack now and pushing on that quote about them not having resources to pursue such incidents. Pointing out that you, as victim of a violent crime, were required to put in unnecessary time and effort to get them to pay attention. They refer specifically to your email as an important factor in their decision, which is just plain wrong that that should be the case. See what your local mp has to say about that, maybe copy in his opposition, etc, etc, etc. Lockdown has given me far too much time on my hands to be an arse about stuff 😁

Weight is lowest on the list for me. Reliability, function and price at the top. There are more xc-specific posts now that I’d look at if weight was the priority, but most of them sacrifice drop and cost as xc-specific things do.

My performance dpx2 has a slightly clickier click in amongst all the others for the trail setting. It’s pretty easy to miss if you’re adjusting on the fly.

I used one for years without issue.

Are you trying to save pennies because you just spent your savings fighting for your ‘principles’ ?

I’ve got a similar frankenfork. Not had a problem with it for years. Can’t help with the 1st problem, but the second sounds more like the seal on the damper has blown. Google “fork hydrolock” and you should see. The damping oil has moved from the upper to the lower leg and acts as a stop.

Aren’t the Jones and Stooge slack to effectively increase the length for different size riders due to lack of available frame sizes?

I like the look of it. Been secretly scanning 2nd-hand ads for a Unit for a while. Shh, don’t tell the wife.

Not for shimano specifically, but I’ve returned other things to them in the past. Couple of weeks I’d guess. Don’t they have an automated return thing, just find the old order and print a return slip?

Majortaur!

I did for about 5yrs and then gears only for another 5, or so. Now got 2 geared and 1 ss. Honestly, if I could only have 1 it’d be an ss. I love the directness and the challenge. That’s not to say that you should. I wouldn’t do it just because they’re ‘less complicated’ (I don’t really think they are in real terms), but because I prefer the ride. There’s plenty to obsess about on an ss if you want to.

What’s the mini-dildo under the main shock body for ?

You can’t see it from that angle, but there’s a baby-robin holder mounted on the downtube just in front of it.