Happy,always happy.You’re in one piece,got a loving Wife and a cold beer. Life is sweet!

Widening the M6 is not the solution. As stated earlier,it would just fell up(with even more cars).
Failing to tackle the Transport infrastructure has been one this governments’ many short comings.
I live quite close to Junction 15,the whole city grinds to a halt,if there is a problem between 15 and 16.

I’m hoping to fit a Middleburn on my forthcoming P7.Nothing against the big S,but I want as much UK made stuff as possible on the Orange.

Hope,made in England for English conditions. Mine is on its’ second bike,bought in 02 and still going strong.

Great photos! 382 wins best moustache prize and number 705 wins best smile. She’s lovely!

Cannock is far from being crap,but if I lived in North Wales,I wouldn’t bother.
I’ve been riding at Cannock for a few years and rode some stuff that I’ve never seen before. Follow the dog is so so. Not in the same league as Penmacno.
But as others have said,get the map out.

The 675 is one pretty bike….Saw and heard a DesmoSedici last sunday.What a machine! What a noise!

I can only repeat what Hadge has said. Get in touch with Bob,or better still,pay a visit and see where the magic happens.
Great to see quality stuff made on my door step……but not literally 😀

Good question! I plan on buying one later this year,tried my mate’s last week.Size 17 seemed a little bit small.Although,I did feel confident and comfortable. I’m 5.10 with 32 inch inside leg.

Carbon just seems wrong on a mountain bike. F1,Moto GP and road(race)bikes are where it’s best suited.

Cradle Of Filth?

Jules,where do you live? There’s a demo night coming our way later this month.

I’ve got the Ritchey ones.They are very good.

I use horrible foam grips with no lock ons,they haven’t fallen off…yet and I can’t say tht I’ve noticed my gloves getting any wetter whilst using them…..if it’s rained enough to saturate the grips,your gloves willbe soaked anyway
…..I do have some lock ons to try next though……on my one and only bike…with non-carbon bars.

very bling!!Which isn’t really my thing,but I’m glad that some folk are a bit flash,cos it’s a pretty bike.

2 thousand and something…..i’ve been very confused since the turn of the century 😯 It was a yellow and black Raleigh full susser that I naively thought looked the business.Only bought it to ride with my kids. Made the mistake of buying a mountain bike mag when we were on holiday…liked the look of it and hooked -up with Stoke MTB Club on my return. Didn’t take long to wreck the Raleigh,so moved onto a ex-demo Stumpy FSR.
Had a few health problems and stopped riding for 3 years. Started again about this time last year. The stumpy has gone and the 575 has taken its’ place. Enjoy riding now ,more than I’ve ever done. The Tuesday night Gang are a great bunch of people.

Have a look in the road atlas the Dyfi Forest is massive. Used to do motorbike enduros there and thereabouts. Great riding.
Head for Newtown and then as Sheldona stated follow the Machynlleth road, Caersws,Clatter,Carno etc..dead easy and a great road.

Tricky one,Jules. To this old duffer,it doesn’t seem right jumping straight onto full-susser with that much travel. My advice would be a decent hard tail with a long(ish) travel fork,or a full susser with less travel. Something like a Stumpjumper would be a good starting point.
Over to more experienced and knowledgeable riders.

I had go on me mates’ P7 t’other night.I liked it,a lot . So much so,that I will be building one up for the winter. I felt confident and fast(relatively) immediately.

No problem with my X9 and I ride plenty.I switched to sram because i wanted to switch to gripshift. Had a XT rear mech before and that was good aswell.

I’m using Kenda dread Treads at the moment…..so far,so good.

Not really bothered about the “Designed In Britain”. Just seems like an excuse to charge top dollar for yet another Taiwanese frame.Whyte are the wort offenders,Union Jacks all over the place and very,very expensive.
I salute Orange for not only making great bikes,but for making them here.

Overpriced junk!

I’ve got Asoss shorts,expensive,but if you ride a lot,justifiable. I’ve also got Endura 3 quarters MT 500.Not quite as good,but less expensive.
Simonbarnes is right,they are horrible especially worn by me,scrawny legs,but I couldn’t give a ****. Comfort is everything.

Naming stuff just makes life easier,,better than “that bit in the woods” etc..
Merlins
Llandibley
186
Ledge of life
Narnia

Vee Dubs are living on their reputation.A Mondeo estate offers much better value.
I do have soft spot for Subarus. My Father-in-Laws’ Outback has been faultless from new. It’s got an air of invincibility about it.

Ton,you’re right…and I have calmed down now 😀 How about Another Girl,Another Planet by The Only Ones…a pop masterpiece.

The knack ..New Wave?? No ,just shite. Dr. Feelgood washed-up pub rock chancers. Punk Shite? The Clash nuff said,more of a band tha the Jam ever were.

Can’t understand NOT riding through the winter. It’s never THAT bad and keeps you fit for this glorious weather.

I’ve got Ritchey foam grips. Not lock ons,but they’re really comfortable.

Are Kona past it? Yes.

Yeuch! :D……each to their own etc…….

I don’t want any band to reform. If they’ve split-up,they’ve had their day.

I buy all my stuff from LBS. For me,it’s more like a co-operative. Very helpful not only on bike/bike gear purchases,but advice on becoming a better rider. He did tell me to buy a Sram shifter from CRC,because he was having trouble getting a delivery.

Betd for us chaps and chapettes in the Potteries. Done and doing plenty for mountain biking in our area.

you’ve got a car for nowt,splash out on a Thule ya tight wad 😀

I’m self-employed and have been for 31 years. Sometimes it is scarey…..but with £20,000 debt,it’s going to be very tough. I’d reduce that before planning anything.

I use a Camelbak Lobo,had it for years.Perfect for my needs.

At that price,country of origin,or specific models aren’t so important.Hopefully you’ve got a friend/relative that knows his way around cars. Some very sound advice from the earlier posts.

I ride with two groups,a relaxed Tuesday night gang and a more serious,(ie they’re quicker and don’t stop as much ) group on a Sunday. The Sunday group consists of Orange 5s,575s,assorted hardtails and a Maverick. We all get around pretty much the same.
I think any of your shortlist will be just fine.