Just to close this out. The Super DH fits well and is a keeper. Tad heavy, but fine.

Leatt Enduro 3.0 didn’t fit. About 5mm short front to back, like most helmets. Looks like it’s gonna be a Bell Super DH then.

@Mert did you ever find something that worked for you. I’m still running my old Super 3. My mate just bought at Super DH which seems to be the replacement of the Super 3, and even with all the latest mips tech in it, it fit me pretty well, feeling much like the Super 3. I had been keen on something better vented, but when I looked a year ago nothing fit due to I guess my longer than usual oval head with a bump at the back. Reading your comments I think we have similar heads.

I’m probably going to order a Super DH. I guess having that optional chin bar could come in handy for those once a year trips to a bike park.

Yeah. That’s pretty much my head. The Fox didn’t fit. I don’t know if they have changed the shape and I got an older one or what. I’d prefer to buy from a local bike shop, but aside from Evans there’s nowhere near me, certainly not with stock of helmets, and I’d prefer to to pay £140 for a helmet if it can be had for half that.

Digging this back up. Went into Evans today and tried on some Giro helmets. Too small. Then I tried on the Speedframe Pro, having not tried one on for about a year. It actually fit better than I remembered, better than anything new I’ve tried, so I’ve ordered one from CRC since they are half price there. Hopefully they all fit the same.

I just replaced my perfectly good, red, Hope Tech 3 E4 brakes with a pair of gold bling Cura 2s. I was willing to sacrifice a little bit of modulation for a little more initial grab. Honestly, I can’t say there’s a huge difference – I’m running 203mm up front with the Cura 2 vs 180mm when I was on the E4. What I can say is that you can’t go wrong with either the E4 or the Cura 2. I decided, based on reviews, particularly from Paul Aston, that I wanted the 2 rather than the 4 pot Cura. My E4s are now in the classifieds section whilst I wait on eBay offering me reduced fees.

How are folk finding these in the wet and cold. Just back from a ride in the original regular trailcross mid and my feet were soaked and cold. Want a pair of boots for winter and thinking these or the eps mid.

My trailcross mid are a 10. Do I want the gtx version in a 10, 10.5, or 11? This thread has mixed views – any more?

@dyna-ti interested to see how the new lever works out. I’m toying with swapping out my tech 3 levers for the 4 with my tech 3 e4.

@w00dster yeah – I’d have loved Campag, but I already had eTap RED groupset and I like it a lot, so couldn’t justify the change. Similarly, a pair of Campy wheels would have been nice, but the Zipps are great value for money and I already had SRAM everything else. So yeah, not a very conventional C64. Campag EPS will be an upgrade in a couple of years, maybe.

I give up. The Ambush was the worst fit I tried. I’m just going to stick with the 6 year old Super 3 for now.

I went black and white.

Yeah my Bell Super 3 non MIPS is a perfect fit. No slip left to right, doesn’t need much tightening to the adjuster. But the newer Super Air needs much more tension to keep it stable, and it just feels very heavy. Haven’t found a Giro and forgot about 661. Probably doesn’t help that I’m used to my road helmet which weight exactly half the Super Air.

OK. Taking forum advice I’ve ordered a L Ambush. Not the comp as I’d like to see whether the lighter one fits first and the L Ambush appears to be the same sizing as the XL Comp. Hoping this works out – I have three L Specialized road helmets that fit so fingers crossed. Only £77 at Sigma Sports.

I take it back. The Super Air is too heavy. It’s over 500g which seems a lot for a trail helmet. On the bike it wobbles about unless it’s cranked up really right at which point it puts a lot of pressure on the forehead. It’s going back.

I’ve tried everything with my cleats. Bike Richmond on YouTube recommend getting them as far back as possible. I’ve tried shimano ultegra pedals vs speedplay to see if more float helps. I have had too wide and just right shoes, and even shoes that were a little narrow in the past. Nothing really worked. I’ve always assumed it was swelling and hot spots after an hour of riding. But it doesn’t seem to be. Wondering if I need better metatarsal support. It’s way less of a problem in cheap 5tens on flats on my MTB.

I decided to try the Bell Super Air to see if it fits like my non mips Super 3. It does, more or less. Slightly snugger on the sides but about the same front to back. I think it might be a keeper. Little less mushroom than the S3 too.

After years of sore feet I upgraded my Bont Riots to a pair of wide fit Lake CX332 shoes and G8 insoles. My feet still hurt. Maybe a little less. Not convinced they were worth it.

I’m still running my Hope E4s with Tech 3 levers. Powerful enough for me, great modulation. They replaced XTs on my Trigger Carbon 2, then moved them to a High Tower where they replaced the stock SRAM, then moved them again to my current bike. Must be 7 years old now. Bled with each bike transfer and new pads once every year or two. Those CURA brakes do look lovely though, similar style to the E4s, but maybe a modern upgrade.

Thanks folks.

I think I’ll try to find a Giro Source / Montaro, Bell Super Air, and Ambush Comp to try. Might give the Speedframe Pro another try (I recall it being not quite right, but maybe it will be workable. The Kortal and the A3 were so close – if I could have removed the sweat guard from the A3 without risking the return, that might have been enough, but not sure. I really like the look of the Smith Forefront 2, but I’ve seen a lot of reviews suggesting it was too small for their oval head – but then some contradict others, like its very oval, no its very round.

Looks like Sweet Protection top out at 61cm. I’m a 62cm oval.

Thanks guys, sounds like I need to try the Ambush again, and Sweet Protection, if I can find. Is the A1 a larger more oval fit than the A3? Maybe I need to try the A1 too as the A3 was close. Anyone tried a Sixer or Super Air?

@thegeneralist when I’m out on the trails I’m too busy riding to take photos. It lives on the West Highland Way and John Muir Way mostly, because it’s on my doorstep so I can get a varied ride of around 55km easily every weekend. Climbs very well for a big bike – slower maybe than my Trigger 2 was, but I suspect that’s my fitness. Goes down really well, eats up big chunky stuff better than my Hightower did, gives me a lot of confidence (being a natural coward) and feels incredibly nimble for a 29er. I’d love to take it to Glentress but it’s a bit of a trek.

On selling £800 forks – with the current environment I lost £70 on thr Lyrik and then bought what I feel is a much better fork, that’s way more controlled and supportive than I got out of my Lyrik, whilst still feeling plush and sensitive. Not sure that was just about colour.

Edit:

My usual loop…

@twonks I did the same thing – considered selling it. I’d lost my mojo over the winter after going over the bars when I lost the front end in mud, at speed. Was spending a lot of time on the road bike after. The Mrs talked sense into me and I’m glad I kept it as I’ve spent so much time with it this year since the weather improved and found my mojo again.

Thanks guys. No marks on it yet. Though I have been over the bars once around November. :) Bike survived without a scratch!

I didn’t really see the red as a big deal either, but deep down I really wanted to the Fox 36, so the red was a nice excuse to push me to the 36s. Hehe. Won’t be swapping out the Red E4s though – they’ve been with me across 3 bikes and 7 years and still going strong.

@bobodaclown yeah, I like the 36 a lot. It feels just as supple over small stuff, but much more supportive, rides higher, and doesn’t dive under braking so much. And if I’m honest, as shallow as it is, I think it makes the bike look better, the red fork didn’t quite work. :D

One year on and I still love this bike. I caved and bought Fox 36s for it this week and am very impressed with them too.

Parts. I sold all my stuff quickly.

In the dry, no issues. In the wet, sometimes they get noisy, especially if I’ve not ridden in a while. My MTB is the same though. Mostly I’d say I have no issues – Shimano were noisier than my etap hydraulic, but they were fine.

I always use a camelbak hip pack. Nothing in it but water. Forget it’s there, doesn’t have the discomfort of a backpack.

My current and last bike have a roomy cage but I use it to store a tool bottle full of co2, multitool, etc.

Short rides with the kids I might leave the tools and take a bottle – never had a puncture in 5 years but you can guarantee it’ll happen if I leave the toolbox.

In stock here. I got mine from them a couple weeks ago. Nice fast service from them too.

http://www.bikegoo.co.uk/components-c8/disc-brake-spares-c11/hope-silicone-lubricant-p519/s1194

I ran a cheap top cap mount from ebay for ages, but recently upgraded it to a k-edge. Only because the cheap one never had a very firm lock on my Wahoo and it would wiggle squinty during a ride. I bought a new K-Edge insert to pop into it but found that it was too big for my top cap, so I just went ahead and bought a K-Edge top cap. It’s an expense that’ll be forgotten in no time I guess,

You may find you need to run a 5mm (I prefer 10mm) spacer on top of your step if you have a short stem, in order for your computer to clear the faceplate (I needed to on a 40mm Renthal Apex stem).

The one that came on my Hightower seized up two or three times about a month into ownership. Then it righted itself and two years later it’s still working fine and moved to the Ripmo. I’d not choose to buy one right enough, but it’s been fine other than that initial weirdness. I’ve read reports of them chewing up their pawls. I’d probably go Hope Pro 4, despite the racket they make.

I kinda feel like the 140/160 trail bike has become pretty efficient and light these days. I’m not sure you gain much by going shorter travel these days unless it’s a super light XC machine with skinny light tyres and a bit less grip. I was looking at a Ripmo, Ripley, and Following MB. The Following was on the shorter end of the travel but was the heaviest bike, with the heaviest frame. The Ripmo, despite having more travel comes in slightly under the weight of the Following assuming same wheels, tyres, and drive train. The Ripley was lighter, but it was only a couple of hundred grams – your helmet probably weighs more. I’m sure the Ripley is a bit more efficient, but it’s not going to be a huge difference given how efficient these new bikes all tend to be.

Poppy and engaging can be more a function of the Shock tune and pressure.

I’ve been paying £3.99 a month for a couple of years. I can’t recall exactly why I subscribed, there was a feature I wanted. I dunno. Anyway, it’s not much really.

This was the plan when I built it up. Not sure I have the patience to apply stickers though. Stikrd seem to have done a few Ripmos so should have the sizing.

If I can be arsed I’ll order some decals from stickers to make the frame blue/pale blue instead of blue/pale blue/orange. I probably can’t be arsed.

@frogstomp I think it’ll work well for that. Feels more responsive anyway. My HT was an XL and this is a L which might have something to do with it.

I found the Hightower a little wandery on climbs with 150mm forks and 29er wheels in the stock Low setting as it is with regular bushings. I’d start with one if I wanted slacker to see how it felt, but I never felt like the Hightower needed to be slacker – it always felt like a stable monster truck. Granted mine was an XL which felt pretty big.

If your sag is right it doesn’t matter. Check your sag periodically. Throughout the year the pressures will change with temperature so even if  it’s not leaking out, they’ll need a tweak a couple of times a year. Winter usually shows the pressures have dropped due to cold. If you are anything like me, your weight will also change throughout the year. Typically +\- 2kg. Often more drop during the first few months of Spring as I shed me winter cake fatness.

As long as it doesn’t make a bubbly gurgly squelching sound. If it does that the seals are gone and air is mixing with oil. Mine did that the other week straight out the box and had to be sent away for repair to silverfish.

Hard to tell from your video. Let a little air out so you can cycle it through it’s full stroke.

Does it sound like this? If so it’s the oil and are are mixing and it needs a repair.