They’re not very big (Escort vans had way more space back in the day). I personally think that if you’re going to get a small estate sized van you should just get an estate car as it can take the same amount of stuff (inc bike) but can still seat up to 5 people, if needed. And it doesn’t cost £13 bloody quid to drive across the bridge to Wales!

They’re also not very tall so doubt you’d be able to stand a bike upright (BMX maybe). The Peugeot Partner and similar shaped vans are a bit bigger but at those sizes you still have the all disadvantages of a van without many of the advantages.

And vans tend to have more cabin noise than cars. And are often less comfortable
Tom KP

No, they’re saying that people like to buy new expensive toys that (might) make them either a teeny bit quicker/cooler/bring the trails alive* so they’ve got ones that will actually work with their bike.

Tom KP

*delete as appropriate

Not sure on that exact model, but I’ve always found Paramo products to be a bit on the warm side when trekking and mountaineering.

Tom KP

The Missus’ is 18 months old gets ridden regularly and they are all still running smooth with no play. And in that time the forks and shock have needed a service and the drive train replaced through use. In my experience Transition bikes are pretty low maintenance compared to some other brands.

Tom KP

I’d look I to replacing the fork and shock if you’re planning on keeping tin for the long term. They’re not the best anyway. I’m sure you could drop the lowers off and do a quick oil change and seal service at home if there’s nothing knackered. And the same with the shock. I expect there’ll be a walk through online somewhere there seems to be for every other shock out there.

Offsetshockbushings.com will make you some brass ones up. Standard of offset. Jeron’s very helpful and they don’t work out any more expensive than any others.

Have you contacted Windwave for advice?

My Missus has a Transition Covert which is more pimped out than my bike that’s for sure. I figured that if you want your partner to get into the sport and enjoy it as much as you do then you need to make sure that they’re riding similar level kit to you guys. Which might explain why we honeymooned in the Alps, are heading to whistler next summer and ride nearly every weekend. Although it doesn’t explain why she’s faster than me on the climbs.

Tom KP

I predict that it will not be on the 2016 version of their bikes. Same as the Kona Magic link, and the soon to be obselete Yeti switch link thing.

Tom Kp

Get her measured up for a Specialized Body Geometry saddle. Or my Missus swears by her Bontrager Affinity WSD. Switches it between her road and MTB

Oakley factory Pilot gloves are pretty good. Mine are 2 years old and just starting to go at the seams.

Nobby Nics (all versions, not the first thing to come off of a new bike),
Superstar Laser Chain device (their other chain devices were fine but I could not get this to fit anything without taking a hacksaw to it),
Tioga Factory DH Tyres (like riding on ice),
Renthal Kevlar Lockon grips (ok but not very comfy, not very hard wearing, ugly colour and expensive),
ISIS Hussefelt Cranks,
Norco Atomic,

I’d suggest getting the biggest cassette you can so something that has a 32 on it for the days when you really want to go up something steep or bonk and need to struggle home

Only ever used TF Tuned over the years and never been disappointed.

I fitted a Superstar top guide to my Alline 160 (2012) for a month in the Alps this summer but ended up removing it after a few days as it kept getting knocked out of line and causing the chain to jam or drop off. Didn’t have a single problem with it once it was removed so doubt I’ll bother fitting it ever again.

I reckon don’t bother with a guide at all or get a direct mount one that fits on those 2 bolts if yourfeel the need

The 2012 Alpine had a tapered head tube and a wider seat tube so it can take a Reverb. Mines had a few years hard riding and not cracked. Just fitted some offset bushings to it today to see how that goes. But TBH the geometry has always felt pretty much spot on.

Last year they made it a bit lighter and added an adjustable shock mount and this/next year there’s a 27.5 version and they’ve lengthened the top tube a bit
Tom kp

Plus 1 for modified front shifter. Shimano/SRAM have spent a lot more money making comfortable shifters compared to seat post remotes.
Also free if you have one spare

Tom kp

You could just run 2 Ply tyres and take the weight penalty. Otherwise try Maxxis EXO or specialized sad carcasses.

We had a set of Zee’s that leaked because the pistons had come out a bit to far. Had to push them back in, replace pads and rebleed the whole system.

Sports direct sell a small dry bag (about the size of a sandwich bag) for £3 if you need it water proof. Or just a bit of string/cord around you neck if it’s not a fancy electronic key and the weather is dry.
More expensive dry bags are available.

I prefer ODI Ruffian grips but they’re about twice the price. I’ve had several sets of the SS grips on various bikes and prefer them to the Renthal Lock On Kevlar grips I’m currently using. The half waffles are good and wear well. Not the hardest, not the grippiest but have replaceable parts (unlike Renthal), come in a variety of colours and work well.
Many people rave about SS while others hate them with a passion but apart from a Laser chain guide and some early brake pads all the stuff I’ve had from them has been brilliant.

Tom kp

Having had Oro 24sin the past I would recommend staying with them until they start to cause problems or become high maintenance as they’re great brakes. Shimano brakes are good. They’re reliable, easy to bleed and have good performance but I preferred the levers on the Oros

They look quite budget in the flesh. But apart from that there was nothing wrong with them that I could see

Tom kp

Camping Le pré in Montriond is very good. Decent ground that drains well if it rains, decent showers and only about a 10 min gentle pedal to the Morzine lifts and downhill on the way home. Run by a mad French lady, she’s lovely but speaks no English.

Suoerstar Resin (or maybe called semi metallic) are decent and have proved quite. Avoid sintered pads as they tend to be noisy

Used one for a few weeks in the Alps on my bike. Started off with a top guide fitted (didn’t believe or trust the hype) but took it off on the 2nd day after it took a knock and been running it with no guide now.

I officially do now believe the Hype.

Ring has worked flawlessly and not showing any signs of wear beside some of the black going on the teeth.

Would happily buy another from them. Hopefully they’ll release an expander ring for the rear cassette soon

Tom kp

She hates front mechs with a passion and wants to simplify her gears without losing the ability to climb. No to worried about the high gears as much.

Do they remould everytime you grip them (memory foam style) or are they like mouldable insoles that you only do the once? As I know I move my hands around the grips quite a lot depending on the terrain and grip them fairly loosely at the best of times.

Taken the Alpine 160 out for the last 3 years and found myself having no less fun than my old DH bike. I always find it funny seeing people out there on an old DH bike they picked up cheap 2nd hand with old Geometry and suspension and when you talk to them or overhear them in the lift lines it turns out they’ve left their £7k 160 “Enduro” bike which has much better suspension and angles at home. Modern AM/Enduro bikes are so capable nowadays that unless you’re blasting out and out race runs it’s not really necessary (just ask Graves and Mullaly).

Tom kp

2 weeks abuse in the alps with a new set of Tech Enduro wheels and they’re still arrow straight. But it is normal for new wheels to need a quick true after a few weeks use. That’s why most shops say bring your new wheels or bike in after a few weeks for everything to be tightened again.
Bad luck about your stem though. Have you tried tapping a torx into the rounded off bolt and see if that can undo the bolt? Often works when Allen bolts are rounded. Then all you need to do is replace the bolt.

I have an X9 Type 2 medium cage rear mech and am running a Superstar 32 tooth Narrow/Wide and it’s been spot on for 2 weeks in the Alps and only dropped the chain once while back pedalling. For the first few days I used a Superstar top guide(didn’t believe the narrow/wide hype) as we’ll be that kept getting knocked and moving around and causing problems so I took it off an it worked as well as my old chain device. Not tried an expander yet but will probably get a 42 tooth one if I can’t ride up hill with 33 by 36

Tom kp

I’ve had the same 70mm Thompson X4 stem on a variety of bikes since 2007 when it came with an Ex hire Commencal Mini DH from Les 2 Alpes it’s taken a beating on everything from XC to jump bikes and DH bikes and is currently on my Bro’s bike being abused. Still going strong. Thinking of nicking it back but donit need a 70mm stem.
As said above “If you want a Thompson, buy a Thompson”. Anything you buy could break

+1 for Eco lube

Ann’s are my least favourite tyre for MTB. Tubed or tubeless they roll around and fold over unless pumped up rock hard when pushing them through turns. They’re light and roll quick so great if you only want to ride in a straight line. I rode mine for a solid fortnight (13 out of 14 days) and gave them away in the car park to a random punter before going home.

Try some of the Specialized tyres or keep a HD on the front. Maxxis Aspen seems to work well as a rear

I’m 5’11 and tried out a Large 26 bandit and felt it could be a bit longer for my liking. I love their bikes (TR450, Covert, Bottle Rocket) but they’ve always come up short in the TT the Missus rides a small Covert (5’5″) and thinks maybe she should have gone for a medium

Tom KP

I don’t really see the point of this helmet. It’s the same as the TLD one from a few years a ago. It’s to hot for doing a lot of pedalling and if you wanted more protection you might as well wear a full face lid. You can’t even wear it in the EWS as they require full face protection.

At least the TLD one was bought buy all the too cool for school people who wanted a “retro-cool” TLD lid like Steve Peat wore.

The 1.9/2.0 HDI engine is bombproof. Fairly noisy/tractor like but my Pug 306 has done 250k hard miles with only one pulley going and 2 clutch cables

5-10s always seem to come up the right size for me. And they’re more roomy than Shimano shoes which Imve always found you need to size up

Don’t know anything about the Evoc bag, but have had a CRC pro bag for a few years and it’s still going strong. Would recommend it

Cable tie or wrap an old tube around it. Or cut up an old tyre and cable tie it on there. Down forget the bottom bracket area as well.
It might look ugly, but it’s only for a week

Less body hair = less time drying after a shower at 4:45am before work. Cuts minutes off my time. Plus I like how it feels and makes my calves look much better ;-)