They pedal really well, only ridden the Force and Sanction from the newer range, but had a few GTs (and Mongooses) over the years.

Tom KP

All I did was stick on a N/W sprocket on the front and remove shifter, mech, etc.
No problems with a 32 on the front and a 11-36 on the rear. I’m not the fittest rider and it took a few weeks to get used to it, but eventually you man up and it’s all good.

Tom KP

There’s a review of it on Enduro Mountainbike Magazine.

Best pedals I’ve ever owned. Mine are the previous generation (I think), and they were super comfortable, indestructible and reliable. Until they were stolen

Makes a pair of Ti Nano X £64. Not bad.

Never had a problem with 5:10 stealth rubber in any temperature (down to -10 so far). I had a pair of the Guide Tennies and wore them riding a few times (originally bought them for climbing/walking/running etc with activity groups on weekend courses where I could only take 1 pair of boots with me) and they were fine. They’d make a great winter riding boot but unfortunately mine were stolen out in the Alps from our campsite. And I’ve not been able to afford another pair.

I make do with my old Impacts in the winter and my (old style) Sam Hills the rest of the time (as they’re newer). Not sure what I’ll get next time, but I’ve been a 5:10 since Intense discontinued their shoe and the first Impacts were released.

Tom KP

Hope.
Reliable, long lasting and great after sales service.

Don’t Profile make short cranks?

I love The OC and Mr Rooty in this kind of weather but they will be really slippery. Ski Run is always good as it’s battered to hell (especially the bottom half), Sheep Skull is alright as is Flatland (one of those has a massive root section just before the fire road that can catch you out the first time.

I’ve always found Launchpad to be rather flat and boring since the modified the original tabletops. But my Brother in law loves it. The old tables were so easy to clear you actually had to slow down on the lead in to not over shoot them by miles (and end up piling into the take off for the 2nd one), now they don’t launch you as well and nearly everyone you watch will either not clear them or just roll over them.

The top half of Corkscrew is fun but the top section of GBU will probably be a big unless something has been done to it in the last few months. Plus there’s all sorts of unofficial trails darting off the fire roads.
The end of Verderers is always very popular and holds up better than anything else in the wettest conditions.

If you’re on the uplift you should have time to try most of the above and still get to go back to your favourites. And the fire road half way down makes it easy to mix and match your favourite parts.
Tom KP

Spoke to a few guys who’ve had similar problems with Spesh bikes. Seems to be a fundamental design flaw on what is otherwise an awesome bike. Bring back normal shock mounts that allow for flex and slight intolerances.

Tom KP.

The Kirt Vories section on one of the New World Disorder movies is probably one of the best ones.

A few pairs of Look Keo pedals in our house. All have done thousands of miles, never been serviced and still good as new.

Burgtec do Ti bushes which are good and offsetshockbushes.com do brass ones (both do offset and standard) which are also good but much cheaper.

Tom KP

I’ve got a tube of Chapeau Chamois cream and it lasts ages (as did the Assos one before it). Try comfiest saddle and shorts.

As said above, go for Netflix then look online (use Google) for the way to access US Netflix

Photos probably would have helped.
It’s not a yeti prototype that’s been repainted?

Hope Tech Enduro. Reliable, easy to service and the best after sales care I’ve ever witness from a bike manufacturer.

The GF uses Nike ones as she found that Shock Absorbers tended to be less comfy. Same for all her sports

We’ve been battering a pair of Tech Enduro wheels for about 2 years and they’re still fine. Will probably replace my old Mavic/Pro 2 Wheelset with a pair of them later in the year (if they ever wear out) as the Tech Enduros have had a hard life and still good as new.

Tom KP

I like Renthal bars (I’m currently riding the 780 FatBars but the Fatbar Lights are nice as well). Not sure on price as head came off the GF’s bike as she wanted to keep her 760 RF Atlas bars. They do a matching stem as well.
The Pro Atherton bars are nice and comfy as well.

If you’re looking to save money then the Superstar Bars and Stems are bargains and again are a decent shape. You’ll also be able to match them up.

29 and gearbox versions now as well. That should interest more people.

If I have the money available when the time comes to retire my current bike the Geometron is on my list of replacements. But then I guess it’ll depend how my riding has evolved and changed by then (I might have retired to a fat bike by then).

Tom Kp

The Athertons like to bring in and develop young talent.
They talked about it in an interview a few years ago (with Dirt I think). It was mainly about becoming a brand in themselves and being able to continue after competition (like Dan is doing) as they understood that they can’t keep on being racers forever. Steve Peat and Cedric Gracia have done the same and moved their bankability beyond race results. Think Dan Brown talks about developing new talent and guiding them for a few years under the Atherton banner before letting them go their own way.

It would have been kinder to stop it’s suffering. But there’s nothing wrong with being unable to kill something.

Tom KP

I’ve just fitted one to my Mobi Washer. All you have to do is buy the new style connector. Works really well.
Bought the gun from a shop on eBay.

Tom KP

I’m 6′ and the Large is fine for me when I tried one.
Some people look at the geometry and complain they’re too short but I’ve found them alright.

Tom KP

You can get 2.7 Kenda Nevagal in 26. My old 2.5s rode well.
A lot of the Rampage riders were running 26 wheels with 2.7 tyres.

Tom KP

I don’t think slack head angles make for crap climbing. Not been lucky enough to try a Geometron, but my 2012 Orange Alpine has a 64* HA and the front doesn’t wander. I run the saddle most of the way forward and the chai stays are 435mm long and a 1200mm wheelbase. It has no problems on tech climbs or tight switchbacks. It’s running coil forks and shock so no lock out and minimal LS compression.

I think the Geometron is a step in the right direction, and have seen a few out on the trails and they don’t seem to struggle on either the rough natural stuff or trail centres.

Tom KP

I just stack them against the wall behind the driver and space them. With old lengths of pipe lagging and cheap foam sleeping mats. Then use a few bungees to secure them in place. Minimal to no movement in transit and still plenty of space for getting changed, sleeping, etc.

If it’s just 1 bike and no bed it either get bungeed to the side or it just lies on the floor on its own.

As said above what’s the point of a decent sized van if you are forever having to dismantle the bikes? Only time the wheels come off is for long journey across Europe or when the double bed is more important than the bikes (then I just use the mattress as a single instead).

Tom KP

The GF rides in one of these when necessary. http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/troy-lee-designs-bp-7850-hw-short-sleeve-shirt-2015/rp-prod59939 They do a long sleeved version as well. The pads are foam so comfy, she’s tried a lot of different brands over the years and prefers this one. Some of the pads are removable if necessary.

Tom
Kp

My usual one is swapping out stem and/or forks as a favour for someone and forgetting to tighten up the bolts. Last time it was a quick car park bodge for my bro and he discovered it on the first corner. Oops. Quickly tightened it up and in the second corner he discovered that the rotor on the new fork was about 5-10mm smaller and thus didn’t stop him from using the berm as the start of a 20ft step down. Luckily he’s pretty good at crash landing without serious injuries.

I also took a SRAM X9 shifter apart to see how it worked. It’s still in a little zip lock bag in my tool box waiting to be put back together – 9 years later!

Tom KP

You will burn in hell for all eternity for your crime

We had a problem with this as our road is private but people park in the entrance at school time (school around the corner). The other residents spoke to the police who suggested a chain. In the end they put up a sign informing them of it being a private road and stuck a cone there. No more problems.

I just used to attempt to squeeze my battered dirty white van through the gap and they soon moved.

Try painting house numbers on the spaces as said above. Or pay a clamping company to put up signs for a few months
Tom KP

I just lightly clamp mine around the top tube. It’s supported buy just resting in the bottom of the clamp and then I lightly close the clamp so there’s minimal pressure on the frame. Been doing it with alu and carbon bikes for years. Just don’t be ham fisted when doing it.

I’ve had a Park Tools stand for years now and it’s taken a lot of use and abuse and still working flawlessly it’s also really stable. Not sure which one, but it has 2 legs and cost around £100 years ago. It is quite heavy though.
Tom KP

They’re all meant to sit in a tub on the shelf and gradually multiply with every Reverb you buy. And then in about 10 years you won’t have a clue what they are and where they came from.

Tom KP

It just needs a set of Marz Z1s and an orange chain ring to finish it off

Strangely only one of my Ambush knee pads is uncomfortable as well. Can’t remember which knee though. I don’t tend to wear them for long pedalling rides as I had a totally trashed pair of Kyle Straits that were super comfy (but missing quite a bit of the side foam and stretched and torn) and used them for pedaly stuff until they died last month.

I have tested the Ambush pads with some rather spectacular high speed crashes this year and am happy with the amount of protection. Just wish I had another pair of Kyle Straits as my stockpile is now gone :(

Tom KP

I swapped over to my full face halfway through the day last Sunday (mainly as the trail lid was now stinking) and it kept my ears warm as the temp dropped and the wind picked up.

I probably wouldn’t bother to buy one specially for the trip.

There’s no reason not to wear it it will all depend on how you feel and what you like. I’ll happily ride in Morzine in my pisspot, but what’s the point when you don’t need to sweat it out uphill?

Tom KP

Ariel isn’t a kit car company. The car comes ready built. Kit cars are something that you buy and then put together yourself. Many a childhood weekend/evening was spent making fibre glass body parts for an old Jago Jeep and then trying to fit it all into the chassis of an old escort.

Email TFTuned and ask their opinion/advice, they’re usually very helpful when I email them and happy to talk through options and explain stuff when I pop the forks in.

Super Star Nano (X I think), they’re not very expensive and will last for years. They’re the second best set of pedals I’ve ever owned (after my Burgtec Penthouse Flats, but they cost shitloads). Maybe more expensive than some of the cheap options above, but for £30-45 quid they’ll be better VFM in the long run. Think mine are currently 5 years old and only just developing play (rebuild kit is dirt cheap as well) and only lost 1 pin.

Tom KP