stupidstupid...

weeerrrlll i'd seen Ryan Leech and ofc old riders like Hans Ray using suspension... just wondered. I think the DMR rigids are a bit heavy. Will also try the minis, they've always been unbelievably powerful and lock up no problem. As for bending; if it bends it bends. Better than it sitting in a box. The Tiogas i have are kevlar, so should be a bit lighter and more pinch resistant than steel bead at least. I'll run those for now, see how things go. What you reckon to rear rim? Am so out of sync with bike components...

Yeah am at manchester uni, where abouts are you? The bike is erm... i cant even remember which frame it is, its still at home at the moment. Its a long wheelbase 12in aluminium thing; very gussetted and braced. A friend runs a bike shop and got it knocked down because it wasnt painted. Will a disk on the back cause the spokes to flex too much? Perhaps because the XC bike and wheelset is so light, but the minis do lock up incredibly well, even when compared with much bigger brakes i've tried. Didnt experience any flexing mucking about hopping gaps. Never had much luck with the HS33s when i rode them, perfectly set up with new (broken in) pads i was never impressed with the locking power and ofc modulation was shite but i could easily stick one on the back. I hate the wear rate of the decent pads... Maybe i could re-lace the back with a beefier rim, what would you recommend? Also, which tyres should i run? I've got a few pairs of 2.1 hutchinsons (was considering for the front) or some crap old Tioga DH 2.35. Maybe a Maxxis hi-roller dual ply 2.5 for the back? I've noticed quite a few riders using suspension over rigids, i have access to a pair of DMR cromo rigids or Magura Phaons; which pair should i run sensibly?

I'm just getting back into trials after not touching it for a few years. Now i'm staying in Manchester i'm wondering whether anyone knows any basic secluded spots between southish Manchester (Fallowfield etc) up to the city centre. Looking for somewhere i can practice a bit to get back into it; some fairly small obstacles in a flat concrete area would be ideal. Also, anyone know if there's somewhere to ride near Pamona docks and around that industrialised area near trafford? I also need to get some new stuff to rebuild a trials(ish) bike after riding XC for the past few years. Pedals: am assuming DMR V8's are still good cheap platforms? Bashguard: cant decide between running my bike fairly distance friendly and going for a 36t DMR ring thing and keeping the front mech and 22/36t, or whipping off the 36t and mech and running a Blackspire granny god etc. Wheels and brakes: Got a pair of F519s laced with DT single butted onto Hope Bulbs and a pair of minis. Also have unlaced D521s and access to some HS33s. Not sure which combination to run. I'd LIKE to run the F519s and minis, but will they be up to it? Only planning to tackle small obstacles and flat stuff for now, so i'm not sure whether the 22t blackspire is overkill, especially considering i want to be able to ride the bike into uni in the next few months as well. Many thanks, Tom.