Foxy…that brings back memories. Did that with both of ours….they're 17 and 13 now.

OOh eck, as a parent of two reasonably.well-balanced kids,I was going to offer some advice.Similar to the above,but what's the point?
It's your life,do as you wish.

Confused? you will be. Just pick one that you like. Very difficult to buy a truly shite mountain bike.
For what it's worth,I've got a P7,nice bike etc..

Lego was always a winner with our kids and game consoles.

3 of my riding pals have them.They ride as good as they look.

I saw a "man" driving a Beetle convertible at Llandegla a couple of weeks ago. I'm not into this "you are what you drive" shite,but it did strike me as odd.
On the flipside amongst the sea of Audis on the car park, was a Porche Carrera ,complete with a roof rack.

Wrong Wrong Wrong. Brogues for us middle age types. Deck shoes for golfing types,folk that say K instead of grand and address other chaps as "guys". Yeuch! Burn 'em !

Ritchey foam grips are the ones,cheap and very comfortable.
Can't help with the pads. I'm self-employed,so can't afford time off work..but pads just seem wrong to me….and what about the areas not protected by armour?

There are a number of 575s in our group.different hues,vintage and builds. Stumpys are rarer than Yetis in our bunch.

It's an ugly brute,but I prefer to some of the overtly bling bikes that appear on this forum.
….and with it being ugly,it doesn't matter when it gets scratched/dented/dirty….and finally it's unlikely to ever be stolen.

Another happy 575 owner here. Can't add much to what's already been said,it's the best climbing bike that I've tried/owned.
The Orange 5 is more responsive ,you'd be happy with ether of those.

I don't wear pads.I do wear a helmet,gloves and glasses every time I ride.I don't ride trail centres very often and must admit that the sight of so many riders "padded -up" at Llandegla surprised me.A lso I thought that they looked slightly ridiculous on such a benign track.
As always,I didn't have to wait long for a wake-up call,falling heavily on my hip last weekend..on a non-technical stretch of singletrack 😳
Still can't see me getting padded-up in the future.i'm not macho(nowhere near) it just feels wrong to me …something for downhill/extreme chaps….and yes I've smashed myself up a number of times in motorbike accidents.

I use a Minewt in conjunction with a Hope 4.It works brilliantly ,the helmet adapter works well.Secure and unobtrusive.

MUFC as little as possible. proceed with caution.

Civic looks good. Jetta doesn't.

What tyres for Llandegla?

Then they wonder why the country's gone to the dogs…………

i've had a quick "go" on one. A very nice bike.

I had one(confirmed) when I went over the bars in a motor bike enduro. I caught both thighs as I sailed over the bars,the right fairing worse.
I knew it was bad at the time,but not broken.It was a long lap so I rode to the finsh.
Unfortunately,I'd travelled alone,so it was a long and painful journey back from the Beacons. I stopped for fuel in Newtown and collapsed whilst queing to pay.
Did my best to hide the injury from my wife. Eventually I went to A&E where it was diagnosed. Had ultrasound treatment to break it up and physio. When the bruising came out,I was black and blue from me nads to me toes.
Hope you have a swift recovery.

That green one looks great.

:D. Correct ! I am a loser and a tight wad. Chris King stuff is just too expensive. I must have the only 575 without a CK headset. I fitted my old Hope one from my old Spesh.

Blimey! Makes me feel a bit guilty about doing nowt with my Hope hub,which I've had for seven years…..cue massive failure for being smug….

Blimey! Makes me feel a bit guilty about doing nowt with my Hope hub,which I've had for seven years…..cue massive failure for being smug….

I've just bought a P7 to give the 575 a rest this winter.Rode it 3 times.
The 575 climbs better. Is more comfortable and easier to ride.
The P7 is easier to clean,steers nicely and that's about it. Me knees are aching,as is my lower back.
…..Must get the 575 up and running again.

Great photos! Can't wait to get back in November.

I thought they were a comedy/novelty act! Slightly better than the Coldplay/Keane/Snow Patrol brigade.

Not for me. They love the arse-wipe on Radio 2

Like everything else,there is no best. I use spuds. They give me confidence over technical terrain and I feel part of the bike,Also flats are so ugly,especially on XC bikes.
I have no interest in improving my skills. I just pedal.

They attempt to make the photos look dramatic…and fail..and end up looking daft.
At least the chap with the tattoo sleeves seems to have disappeared.

err barry,derek and Tito ramone. Is I right ? Does I get me fifty euros??

take your pick. i've got XT on my P7 and X9 on the Yeti. They both do the job.nothing to seperate them.

BETD have everything you need. Tell 'em I sent you.

High rollers

Any bike racing for me. F1 somehow manages to make going extremely fast,boring.As for all the cheating and rule changing…

Nice Work Mr.!
If anybody is passing by Newcastle -Under-Lyme,I recomend that you pop into BETD and ask for a guided tour. Think it's great that there are engineers still making fantastic stuff in this country….and on my door step too.

Ajantom,I considered sticking one of these on my old Stumpy…until I tried a 575.
The BETD linkage is a quality bit of equipment. Hadge from this site works there and will tell you all you need to know. If he sees this thread.

We've got a mira Sport,2 teenagers and the Mrs…….and me it gets plenty of use. We have another much flashier looking shower that has let us down twice. Thankfully ,while under warranty. But we do have a bath for back up.

Well,I thought their bike handling skills looked fine.They're not concerned with hucking,or airtime,just getting round a course far quicker than any of us could manage.
Looked fun to me…..but not at that speed.

Rode mine for the first time today. Great fun,but me back's s ore.

I've had a Hope one for 7 trouble-free years.