Don’t blame the police. They’re having their budgets and numbers cut repeatedly and London’s a fairly busy place as far as crime goes. It almost rivals Sandford in the levels of crime.

Tom KP

Bigger shoes coupled with thicker socks. Definitely not same shoes with thicker socks. It’s all about insulation and increasing circulation.

Tom KP

Madison make some nice ones, comfortable and warm. They’re basically made from neoprene (or similar). Keep the wind off and hands warm.

They’re also under £20.

Tom KP.

Park, Pedros or Continental are my choices. I’ve broken several of each over the years but then again I’ve broken or bent most brands of tyre levers including steel ones.

Tom KP

On the flip side, I’m just about to retire my old X7 mech, not because it’s worn out or broken, but solely because the bike it’s on is going and everything else is now 10 speed. Bought the bike in 07 and abuse it most weeks.

Although I’ll agree about GPX BBs
Tom KP.

Will probably donate it to a local bike recycling GROUP.

Although I have worn out a 10 speed X9 mech in 18 months of hard use.

2012 model here. Running a CCDB coil on the rear and a set of Ti coil Marz 55s on the front. Weights in at 34.5lbs and I’m happy with how it pedals uphill (even without a pedal platform or lock out) and love how it descends. It’s got offset shock bushings and a -1* head set so pretty slack (64*) and low at the moment and running mid weight tyres, fairly a heavy wheelset and 11-36 with a 32t on the front.

I think if I was buying now I’d probably get a 5 and slacken out the head angle by 2 degrees and fit a 150mm fork to suit my riding style.

Currently it’s my only bike and I ride it for everything ranging from groomed trail centres, long technical XC adventures and Alpine DH or XC jaunts.

I’ve never really had any problem with pedal Bob on climbs and you get used to how the suspension works under heavy braking. To ride it’s fast, active and I prefer the geometry and suspension style to many other multi-pivot designs. I think Orange have absolutely nailed the geometry for the 5 and Alpine for the last few years and having tried a 2014 version of the Alpine l think they’ve improved it again.

Just remember that the 5 is lighter and a very capable bike nowadays and with the right fork will give most 140-160 bikes a serious run for their money. The Alpine is just a burlier version so if that’s what you’re after then go for it. A friend’s is sub 30lbs but he’s willing to spend more on it than I had.

Tom KP.

Tom KP

Normal patches and/or duct tape

You’ll be fine, just swap to a 30 or 32 on the front if you have problems. As for top end speed, I’m sure you’ll spin out now and again with the 30 but how much pedalling do people actually do over rough and fast downhills, surely it’s just the odd crank here and there?
I’m running a 10 speed mech (11-36) with a 32 on the front and rarely feel that I’ve not got a high enough gear. Although I’d prefer an easier gear more often.

Tom KP

I put a pair of TFTuned/Speed Bros low friction seals in my 36s and had a lot of stiction problems, it made it feel like riding on rigid forks over small bumps this summer. A few oil changes and regreasing hasn’t helped and Torico checked them and said they were fitted correctly.

Going to strip them down and have another look and then probably replace them with something else.

Tom KP

The main problem I’ve found with waterproof boots/shoes (and gloves) is the massive design flaw where there is always going to be a massive hole at one end (where your limb goes in). I’ve found that (my opinion) is to find a shoe that’s comfortable and warm when wet.

It’s different with mountaineering where waterproof trousers/gaiters cancel out the hole at the top.
For commuting I tend to use overshoes to keep the wind chill down and heat in over my normal road shoes.

Tom KP.

Awesome, cheers guys. That’ll make setting up the bro-in-law’s bike when it arrives next month.
Are they pretty easy to put in?

Pretty sure you’re OK as long as you have D1 on your licence. I’m sure the hire company will be able to tell you what you need as they’ll be the ones that you have to show your licence to when you pick it up.

Tom KP

Am I the only person who like wet and slick trails as much as dry and dusty? Well at trail centres and harder/rockier trails anyway. Not a fan of mud fest all the time, but sometimes sliding around on muddy tracks (or snow if we’re lucky) is great fun and it does wonders for bike handling skills.

Tom KP.

Ps – I’m sure we’ll have a dry/cold snap before X as and then it’ll be fast hard packed trails again.

Trail centres were basically invented for winter riding, and if the weather isn’t great all the crowds stay at home.

Try replacing the sintered pads with organic ones. I’d rather not have pads than use noisy Superstar sintered pads.

My Alipine was much better after I swapped out a Pushed RP23. It was great before, but now I’ve finally got the ACCDB set up how I like it (took a lot of trial and error) it’s worth the extra weight.

Tom KP

Judging by previous posts about waiting times (in general and not YT) you have to wait at least 5 minutes after you drop it off with the post office/courier so you’ve left it late.

I think waiting 9 weeks for a 4 week turnaround is perfectly acceptable. Crack on and get chasing.

Tom KP

Think my bike(when not set up ghetto style) is running valves cut from a tesco or scwalbe inner tube. The GF is using SuperStar valves in hers

The GF picked up a Berghaus Goretex Active jacket yesterday at Bridgend Outlet village for £60. Most likely better built than most MTB specific companies. They had a range of colours. The cheapest I could find he guys version was £80.

Also had some really good looking WindStopper gillets for £30

Tom KP

Peace and quiet on the trails, not seeing anyone else out there all day.
Although I do like riding with the GF (she’s at the stage now where she’s starting to kick my Arse on a few of the downs as well as the climbs), bro and Brother-in-Law.

One of the few (the only)joys of shift work is being able to ride mid-week and having the trails to yourself/small group of mates.

Tom KP

I’d probably be up around 9/10 today, except…
… I just spent 4 hours blasting around FOD as the wife is working from home today and needs peace and quiet to make lots of work phone calls. So obviously I bit the bullet and dragged myself away and had a horrible day in the woods riding dry and dusty trails. Hit up all the main tracks and trails and did some exploring.

Sometimes you make these sacrifices for loved ones. It was horrible. I got dust all over my bike.

Tom Kp

I used to love my Primo Tenderisers on my BMX. Then I got some Syncros Mentals (hated them). I do remember saving up for ages to buy some BMW Shin Burgers only to find they were terrible.

I don’t know if it was the advent of 5Tens or buying decent pedals that finally stopped my legs looking like mice had been nibbling them.

The GF still complains about using my old Shin Burgers when she was learning to ride every time we have a wedding to go to and she has to wear a short dress :wink:

Tom KP

Sorry, got the first and second post mixed up with ref to the stroke lengths

Running a Works -1 on My Orange Alpine. Improved it to suit my style and after about a year there’s been no problems. Easy to fit and align correctly, my only gripe is that I wish I’d got a slacker one but I figured -1 for my first attempt in case it ballsed up the handling.
Can you fit offset bushes on the Nomad as well? They’ve also improved my bike.

Also Works are really helpful and quick to reply to email enquiries about which one you need. And much cheaper (and quieter) than the Cane Creek ones.

A friend had an older Nomad and bought a replacement linkage for it (think it was from Push Industries) and reckoned it improved his bike.

I think offset bushes and angle reducing headsets are brilliant for improving older models, especially if they had a 1.5 head tube or 1 -/8th forks so you can properly slacken them out.

Now if only someone would release the slacker headsets for 1 -/8th steerers that they were all prototyping a few years ago. I know Dirt showed a Cane Creek one but they weren’t going to release it and I think FSA had one as well.

Tom KP.

I’d go XT over Saints or Zee. Mainly due to weight and the fact that the Zees I’ve got have been nothing but a complete ball ache. Rear caliper has never worked properly and ended up pissing fluid everywhere. Where as the XTs have been flawless for longer. We were also disappointed with the fact that the Zees were no where near as powerful as expected compared to the XTs and saints.

Yep, I popped off the bead on one side, whipped the tube out, reinflated the tyre until the bead popped on the rim completely then stuck a load of Stan’s in the valve (from Super Star).

Even though they’re not tubeless tyres they’re working a treat so far.

It’ll be slacker and lower. It might work out ok, you’ll get less travel as well. They used to shorten the shock and/or stroke on the previous generation of Giant Glory to improve it’s out of date geometry.

Try removing the old shoc and inserting a length of wood that’s the new shock and have a look at how low the BB is to see if it will be rideable. Then do the same with a shorter bit of wood to simulate it bottomed out.

You might get away with it.

There’s quite a lot there besides the main trails. It’s not to hard to find if you don’t mind a big of an explore. Look on Strava

The steel backed organic pads are the best I’ve found for SRAM and Avid brakes

I had this on my Alpine recently, stripped everything, regressed everything, rebuilt everything, screamed at everything.

Turned out it was the bearings for the swing arm. The only thing I didn’t think about.

Us Orange owners tend to talk about how low maintenance our bikes are cos of the lack of bearings and complicated suspension then forget they need replacing.

I got some Katec bearings from eBay and they’re doing well

Tom KP.

I’m pretty sure they would have sought permission before building, or at least before putting it on film for the world to see. They’ve always worked with landowners before

Juice Lubes ceramic stuff is pretty good. Takes a few applications to really get going though.

GoPro

Yeah, used to live in Bristol. Someone either followed us home from the shop or saw us getting it out of the car and into the house.

Thank ###k we don’t live in Bristol anymore

Tom KP

How often do you wash them? They’re quite a sweaty area and a prime breeding ground for wee beasties

Tom KP

Had a Meta 55 for less than 24 hours, was nicked out the living room the night it was bought. If you’re talking about how long have you had a bike before choosing to get rid of it then probably 18 months.

Tom KP

They’re only a small company also quite likely that most of them skipped off to Vegas for Interbike.
They’ve been really helpful when we’ve emailed for anything (24-48hr replies). Only time they were shit at updates was for delivery and that ended up coming early

Tom kp

Don’t superstar sell a service kit with new bushings and bearings and stuff? Pretty sure they’re not very expensive

Tom KP

I would happily supply an original receipt with bikes I’ve sold if I had them. But tried to do it with the last one and have turned the house over looking for it but no luck.

I think it’s ok to ask, but they don’t have to give it to you. It would be nice to have it to blag the warranty though.

Tom KP

I’m 90kg and I’m running the stock spring with a bit of compression (no preload). I was led to believe that there wasn’t a lighter Ti spring available. Have you co ta red any of the tuning companies (Loco, TF Tuned, etc.) to see if they can work any magic?

Tom KP.

Have you tried a lighter oil? Or possibly running with a bit less oil? I’ve just got a pair and was told I could add a little extra oil to work like a volume spacer so a bit less might work the opposite. Or get someone to fiddle with the shims tack to make it a bit less progressive.

Not sure if either would help, just spitballing.

Tom KP