Chris`I

Been speaking to a certain someone about using their pile, but it depends how much interest we've got, hence why I've started the calendar to RSVP to. If its low numbers we can all crash at a certain moderators place, but if theres a fair few of us its rather unfair, unless he has a large garden and we all camp perhaps Been for a blast on the ubyk owners SB66c and have to say its pretty awesome, and safe to say I will be getting one some time next week They are a really nice lot in ubyk, so if anyone is around the Oxford area, definitely look them up. They've been nice enough to take my stem and spacers and are going to fit the headset and cut the steerer for me before sending it out, so I should have very little to do to build it up other than transferring parts. I'm a little undecided about getting a fancy heli tape kit from invisiFRAME. Seems like a good use of 50 quid to me to protect a couple of grands worth of frame. Anyone else using it? I do have a roll of heli tape but this would save a lot of faff and look s a hell of a lot neater. Good luck with the Manx E2E Mr AK

So who's up for a bit of biking mid Oct? Looking at heading up to North Wales 18th-20th Oct. No arrangements on accommodation yet, open to ideas depending on the numbers we get. Obviously we will be in the bus so happy to rough it anywhere, but appreciate others might not want to camp that time of year Would look to get a day booked in at Antur Stiniog and maybe something like Coed-y-Brenin or Penmachno the other day? RSVP on the calendar so we can see numbers: http://www.350z-uk.com/calendar/event/44-club-mtb-weekend/

I thought it was 22x34 and now 24x36? You said 22x24 which is why I was confused and asked Spesh look after Amanda with a 36t/22t x 36

XX1 suits me to the ground, enough range for all the hills I'd ever want to do and fast enough that I wont spin out. Having no front mech makes it eerily silent and slashed a good chunk of weight from the bike. I can see its a bit expensive atm though Clutch mechs are great, dont think I'm going to need a chain guide with XX1 at all havent had a dropped chain yet. Plus I havent got anywhere near to striking the chainring as its higher off the floor not needing a larger one on 2x. We'll get you into 1x11 one day I assume you mean 22x34 not 24. I think Amanda got pretty much the same range on her 2x10 as she had on 3x9. He lowest gear is silly low, if she spins in first I basically have to get off and walk as I cant spin my first gear at a low enough cadance. That or I just pull away from her. It makes you realise how noisy 2x10 w/o clutch is when you have 1x11 with one too.

Need to fit some rigid forks matey, that's the new way forward. If I was going to 650B (its not 27.5" as people love to call it) it would be on a Bronson C. Might still get one, I might not like the Yeti. Will tell on Saturday So the yuth been cutting new trails? Or were you just blind before? Hope that XT is 10sp too. Rumours are a foot with the big S going 1x11 this year, lots of frame makers doing frames with no front mech mounts so they reckon the big S will be announcing something soon.

Good work. Looks like a right motley crew on the FB page And its all about the bike, I dont need no skills with a super bike - thats what the adverts tell me

Bronze medal in the DH World Champs, cant be all bad http://www.vitalmtb.com/features/Jared-Graves-DH-World-Championship-South-Africa,562

If I like it Saturday then it is Just have to wait a few days delivery. The naughty men at the shop were trying to temp me to pay for it so they could get it in for me for the weekend! Whats the Gorsforth 10k? Piccies?

No full turquoise on the carbon so will have to stick with the one pictured above. Now I just wait for Amanda to want one, no showing her your one Lou

Should just about do it matey Yeah looking at doing something similar as its 0% anyway. You'll be amazed how many cant these days! All my local shops say send it to Mojo for anything ubyk are going to have me a SB66c to test on Saturday assuming Amanda will let me go. She's given sign off for purchase woo! Apparently its one of the shop directors bikes so I better not break it I'm assuming its the law that any Yeti has to be the turquoise version?

Oh and you riding with Blommers is the same as us riding with you Mr AK! Maybe I should go back to SPDs then. Or you should be made to ride 1x9 all the time and forced to pace us

We'll have to have a wee get together then once the new bikes are decided to see which is best Certainly starting to notice more flex in the stumpy now that we're riding more trails than XC, was very obvious at BPW for instance. I think the SB build would weigh in about the same as the stumpy but be much stiffer and a wee bit more travel at 150mm vs 140mm now. Gonna mean a new bike for Amanda again soon being on 120mm!

Switch pivot has Enduro bearings now so no issues with sealing. I hear early models had some issues with the switch bearings but any MY12 onwards seem to be fine on Enduro bearings. I do love my Spesh, I've had them since the early 90's and always got on with them. Backup from Spesh is legendary so if anything goes wrong they just send you a new one. Would love a SC but I think the Yeti has it for now. Trying to get Amanda to let me go try one at ubyk in Oxford on Saturday morning And I cant believe you're riding clipless Mr AK, you're the one who told me I should be on flats all the time! I do find now I'm getting more into trail riding and less XC that I do prefer being on flats. Theres been a few times I've pushed it a bit hard and would have come a cropper on SPDs. I think I'm starting to get to the limits of the FSR too, the rear end doesnt feel as solid as it could, I'm hoping the Yeti with carbon and 12x142 will stiffen it up nicely. As for needing a bit of beef - you did see the DH World Chaps? Jared Graves took the Yeti to show the big boys what its all about! He did have 180mm forks on the front but still.

So starting to get itchy feeling and quite fancy an upgrade. Given the lack of OEM parts on my Stumpy now, about 90% of components will chop over to a new frame, but think I'll need a new fork as well. Options thus far include: 1. Stumpjumper FSR EVO Carbon - nice little upgrade to mine but frames alone are fairly expensive given its only half carbon which means not really much of an update. Benefits would be 12x142 rear end, an updated shock, tapered HT (new forks) that's about it really. Would also have to run a mishmash bottom bracket to convert their PF30 to GXP. 2. Santa Cruz Bronson C - proper tarts bike as Mr AK would put it! Full carbon, but would require new wheels as its 650B. Would get the benefit of full carbon, new wheels, 12x142 rear end, new forks, no proprietary shock rubbish like Specialized and its a Santa Cruz! 3. Yeti SB66 Carbon - best of both perhaps? 26" wheels so no need to change them, but would require new forks. Benefits of full carbon, 12x142 rear end, tapered HT, new shock (again not proprietary. Lovely looking bike, will save at ~£400 over the SC (no new wheels) Cant decide. This is of course assuming Amanda signs it off Think I'm leaning towards the Yeti at the moment. Not least because Jared Graves smashed it on his at the DH World Champs!

Well as August BH's go, I cant say I've had a better one this far. Managed to get away camping in Brecon with some ex-work colleagues and their babies, and managed to get in some excellent riding and a hike up to Pen-y-Fan to boot. First up was the classic Brecon 'The Gap' ride. This goes right past our campsite, so rude not to do it! We headed up a night early to get a good day at it. Weather was ok - you could say good for Wales as it wasnt raining - but the cloudbase was low so Pen-y-Fan and other peaks were in the clouds Following day was chilling and a small 6 mile walk along the canal with an attempt at Pen-y-Fan the following day. I say attempted, as of the 4 adults and 1 child that started it, only myself and another chap made it to the top! Was a good laugh though, even if again the tops were hidden in the clouds. I was amazed to find you get 3G up there Finally, on BH Moday, we headed over to the very recently opened Bike Park Wales. This was much anticipated and the weather Gods could not have been nicer. Lovely clear skies and 20+ degrees. The trails were running sweet, dry and dusty. We got in 5 runs, 2 blues, 2 reds and a final blue/red mix. Cant wait to get back there and try out the blacks next time. Only slight issue of the day was the uplift did take a while and we only managed a run every 45-60mins which was a shame.

Aye its looking great, even Amanda is quite excited! I think shes the opposite end, quite happy to pay 30 quid to not have to pedal up the hills. You can pay a fiver entry and pedal, apparently its 5km and 30mins to the top. I would imagine we'd be up for going again at xmas if you do head over or even some other Valley bikies. Also looking forward to getting The Gap in. Rude not to, it goes past our campsite. Another classic to strike off the list

Sounds like a good trade to me Chris! About the same as a the biscuits I used to pay my LBS with, but alas they dont accept that any more! Are we still on for a club bike trip in Oct too

Saint gets my vote then, purely for the looks

Most things dont need a LBS any more and things you would expect them to do - like servicing suspension - they dont touch either! I asked 2 LBS' to service my forks and shocks and they said they just send them to Mojo so I could just send them myself! Everything else now is just drop in replacements, headsets, bottom brackets, pivot bearings, all easily done by yourself, just buy the tools - which incidentially cost about as much as having it done once by the LBS! Wheel trueing/building and full on suspension servicing (anything more than seal maintenance) are the only things I dont do myself now.

Dont know what the weight is on the Saint, but they do look good Must be plenty of second hand XT/XTR triples around now, maybe see what eBay/other forums have? Does seem a shame to get an XT triple and bin the rings. What about 1x10 with a General Lee? http://www.bike-discount.de/shop/k750/a106975/general-lee-sprocketadaptor-29-42z-for-shimano.html

Pff you need 1x11 Whats big in September? This weekend I shall hopefully be getting in Brecon Gap and Bike Park Wales. I say hopefully as my knees seems to have shat themselves and have been a bit painful the last week. Have to ride to and from the station every day (5 miles) so really hard to rest them fully but hoping it will ease off in a couple of days

Title updated

Park Tools website is good for generic, non suspension stuff (gears/brakes/chain line/etc)

LMAO!

I think its this then. I have auto subscribe which only sends on email per round of updates until I read the thread. If I manually subscribe it defaults to "Immediate" and that sends an email for every reply. So try unsubscribing and resubscribing with "Offline" as the option