Got one, not hacked but its a great bit of kit still. UMDs are dead cheap these days and if you get a decent size memory card you can store music, pics etc on it as well as access the internet through wireless (albeit very slowly).

Seconded recommendation for Loco Roco and Patapon too!

If you want a bike you can pedal uphill, blast the downs and take it down the odd DH course then the Giant Reign X1 has the personal woodywoodbine seal of approval.

09 is about £2k I think. Had mine nearly two years now and its been battered all over from living in Vancouver and riding the North Shore most weekends for 6 months, 6 weeks non stop riding in Whistler, a week in the Alps, hiking up and blasting down Ben Lomond, trail centres all over the country and it’s just served me well at the Kielder Enduro last weekend. Not tried too many others but for me, it does it all. Fairly slack angles and a bottomless feel in the suspension but minimal bob unless you’re mashing out of the saddle in the granny so you can comfortably pootle up to the top of the next run.

I’ve got an 08 Reign X (slightly more travel than the Reign, 170mm compared to 150mm) and it climbs incredibly well considering. Very little bob indeed unless you’re out of the saddle mashing the granny ring and downhill its basically a small DH bike.

Not the fastest up the hill but will get you there in comfort and style.

Recommended.

Another vote for the CX300s. Cheap but excellent performance for the price. I’ve no doubt you will get even better performance from those higher up the range but I’m terrible for breaking/losing pairs of headphones so £25/30 a pair is about my limit. For that price there’s nothing touching the Sennheisers.

Advantages come up very big in my experience. A 2.25 Advantage has a much bigger profile than a 2.35 High Roller. Never seen one but I’d imagine the 2.4s are enormous!

Been pretty pleased with them as an all round tyre (got 60a, best balance of performance and wear I’d say) but I think I’d go for some 2.1s for my XC when these wear out – they would size up to an average 2.25 from other makes/models I’d say.

Definitely make sure you ride the original North Shore in Vancouver while you’re there.

Thirded for the Rocket. Nothing special but perfectly fine and 30 secs from the stations up the steps to Leamington Road (not the main exit but ask someone and they’ll be able to point you in the right direction).

Inspire is probably a better bet if you’re fussy but is 10 mins walk into town

Sounds like you might have tightened the preload up a little bit too much? Try easing it off a tiny bit and spinning again maybe.

I’m about 5’8. It comes up quite short so the front wheel sometimes lifts easily on steep techy climbs but other than that its perfect.

My Reign X1 in uphill mode. A brilliant bike IMHO. Very little pedal feedback unless you stomp the gears in the granny ring and mega plush and stable downhill. Feels really nicely balanced and has done me proud all over from Whistler Bike Park and the North Shore to Verbier (where this pic was taken) to Scottish trail centres and everything in between. Basically a mini DH bike you can ride cross country with not much bother.

Used the exact same set up for the first time last Tuesday. Maybe not quite as bright as some but certainly more than enough with the lid light as well. Recommended for the price, esp with the current 10% discount.

Guitarhero wins. The Session 88 just looks ‘right’. Very nice.