Buy from your local shop. That way you’re supporting them, don’t have to rely on mail order and get to try it on

The Hope Tech Enduro wheels have been really reliable for us. Low tyre pressures and rocky trails have failed to damage them.

Just checked the Bro-in-law’s bike in the garage and it has 35 Atlas bars. Didn’t notice any difference compared to the Wife’s standard Atlas bars when I rode them recently.

Tom KP

The biggest news is Shimano have invented a chain link that can be quickly undone without the need of a chain tool and a replacement pin.

Why hasn’t anyone thought of something like that for bike chains before? Revolutionary.

Tom Kp

You haven’t got anything to worry about. There’s always plenty of fat people out there riding it on totally crap bikes. Your bike will be fine as long as it’s serviced and running fine before you go it’ll be fine. It’s not actually that strenuous a route.

Fit a dropper maybe?

They take a bit of getting used to but are quite nice one you do. Personally I’m a Campagnolo fan myself.

To quote Jared Graves in the recent PinkBike Bike check “with Maxxis you just stuck on Minions for everything”.
Personally it’s DHF 2.5 3C Exo on the front and a 2.35 or 2.5 MaxxPro on the rear. Currently running non-tubeless versions tubeless with Stan’s for the last 2 years without problems (I run ghetto tubeless as my Mavice 521s are old and battered). Best tyres ever. The GF and Bro-in-law have HR2s front and rear and they also seem up to the job. All other tyres have disappointed me over the years apart from original High Rollers in Slow Rezay compound which were grippy as hell.

Tom KP

On the flip side. The BOS units on the GF’s Carbon Pro Capra are working spot on and better than anything else we’ve tried. The Bro -in-law has the RS kitted out Alu version and it’s all most people will ever need for a bike (although the Pike and Monarch are no match for my 55RC3C, CCDB or her BOS Devile and Kirk performance wise). I won’t be getting one solely because having 3 of the same bike family would be a bit boring. Also I’ve heard good things about the Bird bikes and like to buy good products from British companies wherever possible.

Tom KP.

Just a reminder that Belmont is closed for the winter while they rebuild and repair it

Second hand Brompton? They seem to go on forever.

I don’t know if it’s different for the 350 but the air preload absolutely ruins the performance of my 55RC3 Ti forks. I don’t even use the mechanical preload and have the minimum preload set on my coil shock as I found they made it less responsive at the start of the stroke. quite a lot of forks look like they don’t use all the travel because often the stantons ions are longer than the travel. I believe Mojo often do this with Fox forks to improve the geometry and frame position. The GF’s old Fox 34s and my old 36s had 170mm stantions but only 160mm travel.

I tend to carry a bag at BPW as if I am paying £35 I want to get in as many runs as possible for my money. It also means I have enough water and snacks that we can roll out the bottom of the trail straight into the uplift queue and more often than not be back on the bus having a drink 5 mins later. And I can carry enough water for me and the GF (who gets grumpy if she’s not topped up with snacks regularly). For £35 I want to get a minimum of 9 runs if not more.

If iMm heading to FOD on my own I’ll just chuck pump, patches, tool and levers in my shorts pocket and a 500ml bottle of water in the back pocket of my bibshorts (like an old cheap SWAT bib) and pop back to the van to refil after an hour of DH or a loop of the trails.

I think in-frame storage like the Stump Jumper’s SWAT is the future for stashing kit. I like the fact that it has space in the Down tube and the built in multi tool.

I don’t think there’s a right or wrong answer to what to carry and how to store it. But if you don’t have the tools/fix your bike or tyre on a ride I think it’s fair to expect to be walking back to the car.

Tom KP

I’d go for XTs, had a few sets on a few bikes in our house and they’ve been flawless. On the other hand we’ve had some Zees which have been bleed millions of times, replaced twice and still don’t work properly. I’m seriously considering switching to Guides when they finally wear out as the 2 pairs in our house are spot on (R and RSC).

I wouldn’t touch Zees with a barge pole now. They also never seemed as powerful as the XTs even when new and (briefly) working.

Tom KP

Don’t bother carrying any kit, food or water at all. I’m sure your friends will happily lend/carry whatever you need in their bags. Personally I never have a problem lending my tubes/tools/drink/pump/snacks to my riding mates as it means they can enjoy their ride so much more with a fresh back. I never get mad, angry or pissed off when they ask to shove their jacket in my bag, no siree, not one little bit (grins manically and picks up the big adjustable spanner).

On a serious note, I’ve not managed to find an alternative to a backpack that I prefer for long rides. Shorter rides I just chuck minimal kit (tube, pump, patches, levers and tool) in pockets and drink loads before I go out for a few hours.

Two pairs in our house and they’ve quieter than my Shimanos. I was a bit sceptical of SRAM Brakes having previously used Avids (Emporer’s new clothes) but they’ve been bloody amazing over the past 12 months, silent (even with sintered pads) and reliable throughout.

While it’s true many WC downhillers seem to run almost no sag and pretty slow rebound compared to guys on here, they still tend to use most of their travel in a race as they’re hitting everything bigger and faster than we are. If you look at VitalMTB they often have slideshows showing the racers bottoming out on the big stuff.

Also if you read articles from VitalMTB and PinkBike (and others) where they’ve tried riding the pro bikes they often say they are pretty difficult – damn near impossible to handle for the reporters as they’re not going fast enough to reap the benefits. Even Jared Graves said in a recent bike check that he’s started running softer suspension since switching to RS.

What’s the point of having 140/150/160mm travel and not using it on the bigger parts of your normal riding? If it’s set up right it’s ok to have 20-30% sag.

Tom KP

Fit smaller rotors?

Camping ale Pré in Montriond is a good place to base yourself in the Morzine area. 15 pedal up to the main lifts in Morzine (slightly uphill) and 5 mins rolling downhill afterwards.

We camp there each year and as with anywhere in the mountains the weather can be a bit hit and miss.

I checked my Reverb yesterday as I’ve never done so before. In 18 months it had dropped to 140psi.

Cheers, for the help.
I won’t be riding from Bourg -Tignes. Just wondered if it was possible and if there was some way to shuttle back. I expect we’ll just free camp at the Campervan spot at the far end of the lake like before. Only spent a few days there before and enjoyed the peace, quiet and lack of braking bumps but only rode the main Tigne and Val D’Isere tracks.

It all depends on what you fancy, are used to and BB height. Unless your legs are at the extreme end of long/short.

Triscombe. It’s right there and great fun. There’s a FB group who are happy to give advice and guidance to trails.

The Capra is still a really fun bike. It’s not a super long and slack bike. I’ve ridden one on big, steep and fast stuff as well as smaller terrain and it’s great on both (I don’t own one, but bro-in-law and wife have them).

Have you considered an Orange 5 or even a 4? The Bronson and Solo are also fun bikes. Also the new Specialized Stump Jumpers are supposed to be fun as well

Tom KP

Could you not just use a bar and a stem to make a simple balance bar for press ups? I seem to remember seeing Tawnee Seagrave using them in a (very old) Dirt article.

We were out ther in early September last year and really struggled to find places open. Les Gets and a bagel closed after the first week of September, and nowhere else in France seemed to be open. Tignes, Les Arcs, Alpes D’Huez, Les 2 Alpes, Morzine (and most of PDS), Samoens and La Thuile were all closed. Verbier in Switzerland was open (not far from Morgins in PDS) but not a lot there(official tracks anyway), was really expensive and was bloody freezing. Livigno in Italy has a really long season and lots of great tracks for all skill levels, I’d consider going there if I went out again that late, long trails, decent weather, cheaper than Switzerland and everyone was friendly and helpful.

Finale Laguire is open, but it’s all uplifted rather than ski lifts (and seemed geared to groups of 4+ rather than just myself and the GF. I think there’s some lifts open around the Lame Garda area as well, but we headed home before exploring them as the weather took a turn for the worse last year.

Tom KP

OMG! You rode yon snow and ice without a fat bike and didn’t die, how is that possible? Witchcraft I tell thee

Tom KP.

Ps. Looked like a good time. And nice pictures

I’m a Mavic or Stan’s fan personally, but we’ve been battering a set of E13TRSr wheels pretty hard over the last 6 months and they’ve held up remarked lay well. Even with regularly going as low as 20-25psi and hitting rocky sections flat out.

I’ve only ever heard bad things about their hubs (although no problems so far) not the rims. And they seem pretty light as well

Tom KP

Ravelled around Slovenia about 12 years ago using nothing but a Europe road atlas, it wasn’t that difficult to do. Technology just lets you down.

As said above, Mojo have always been super helpful whenever I’ve contacted them

Rental, Enve,

I’ll probably do it to my Alline 160 if I need to replace my Reverb in the near future

Stan’s is my go to sealant. Haven’t found anything else that’s as reliable.
I’m wondering if a mixture of the new Race sealant and the standard stuff would make a good combo.

Tom KP

I still have tubes over 5 years old that are fine with Park patches. I usually add a packet to top up my CRC orders to get free delivery as they are usually cheaper than the cost of postage

If you stay at Camping Le Pré at Montriond then Les Linderats is about a 10-15 mins up the hill and Morzine is a 2 min drive.
The lady that runs the campsite is a little crazy but it drains well and if you ride to Morzine it’s about 10 mins up the river path.

Tom kp

What about the Stans Bravo wheels? They look pretty good. Or some Easton rims?

If it’s got sliding dropouts can you not fit a pair of chain tugs (BNX) style? They’re pretty unobtrusive and stealth.

Tom KP

I’ve got a -1* Works headset in my Orange Alpine 2012) and offset bushings. I wasn’t sure which headset I needed so emailed Works and they replied within 24 hours.

I’d happily slacken it out further but can’t afford it (currently measures in at 64* HA)

I put tougher, fatter tyres on my Specialized Langster Zmonaco a few years and rode on roads, dirt, gravel and similar as that was my commute to work. It was great fun with flat pedals and 750 rental bars. Not sure if that counts but I think 8 out of my 9 mile commute was on dirt tracks and gravel.

I have a Dirt Jumper 1 for sale – £100. Used it as an all round fork for my 100mm bike as I’m no dirt jumper myself.

Tom KP