Matt24.

Oh and I’m also 5foot 6 so a smaller bike probably just suits me a bit more to feel like I can put it where I want

I understand the perspective of the seat being an issue for some and it was for me for a while and I’d love to have a seat but I don’t think it would suit the alias. I guess one persons do it all is different to another’s as for me a do it all I’d like to work in a skate park - tight transitions, techy stuff, bigger gaps etc etc I felt the alias could do all of this. A 26” I have never felt works particularly well in a skate park or on tighter stuff which sold it to me. I don’t like having multiplier bikes for one discipline so ride everything on it. I know that means it has some limitation everywhere but I like it!!

I think the Alias is the only do it all 20”. For me I went 20” as wanted it to roll faster and be able to scoot around a skate park if I fancied it. Tyres wise you can get some decent bmx tyres that’ll work ok for street trials and some of the dirt ones will even cope with a bit of natural. The one thing I’d say is the biggest difference between the alias and the hex is stability. If you want something that feels a bit more planted and less twitchy a hex would be better or if you want something that’s a bit more twitchy and techy the alias is better.

Second the Alias - although I’d say the Alias and the Hex are both really good choices. I’d say it depends on whether you like big or little wheels - I enjoyed my Zebdi as a do it all bike and my Leeson 660.

My favourite helmet so far has been shadow conspiracy lightweight piss pot style. Has always felt really secure on the noggin, comfortable and fairly light

You may also be a little late for the bump the stamp duty relief was giving as I haven’t heard of any extension and to complete a chain between now and the 31st would be tough. If there isn’t an extension it’ll likely be a quieter market whilst people get used to the fact the stamp duty is back. From a buyers perspective I always assumed you should get a house below asking unless it looks really competitive against its comparisons so there maybe something in pricing yourself out whilst other properties similar to yours are on the market at more competitive prices as people may be thinking they’ll get a few % off of them also and once they are in the door of the other properties if they see what they like you’ve lost out. I would say for now you’ll have to stick with it for atleast a month to see how it goes and then consider what you want to do. It maybe a better idea to hold for a few months as the market will pick up again likely once restrictions start to lift and could be a better time? (Unless you are in a rush of course)

Good luck with the hunt Ali, we have just moved into our second purchased home and albeit I have found home moving one of the most stressful periods it only lasts for a few months and once you are through it you have the security and something you can call yours which I have always liked. We found that when we have bought the last 2 it’s best to make sure you have straight in your head what your priorities are around location, space etc as we found it tough to always tick every box. We were just us 2 in the first house so priorities were a bit easier and the focus was buy something that if shit hit the fan and we were stuck there we could have enough space and be somewhere familiar when we first bought together. 5 years down the road and with a toddler and a baby on the way our priorities shifted to having enough space for a family, good schools - and the.Lyn the final one which was a compromise which was a detached house - our last neighbour was a bit odd and it put us off being attached to another house. The reason that ended up being the compromise is it meant we couldn’t afford where we set out to buy so shifted location and managed to tick everybox bar being near Stanstead which means a bit of plane noise. For us having everything we wanted and some planes were our compromise - for others they may hate the idea of planes and rather be in semi detached but it really helped when we understood and ordered our priorities to tailor the search.

Yeah agree with above - run discs on 3 different horizontal mount frame and not come across issues

The only drawback I have ever seen with horizontal is the changing length of your chain stays. This can become an issue now a days if you want to run a ratio differently to what was intended. This can be sorted though by running horizontal slammed with a heat sink style tensioner if you end up messing around with ratios away from intended design. However that said people have messed around with ratios for years and think most people settle on the standard ones intended by the manufacturers.

I pick cheap & strong - Alias is the winner ;-). Joking aside - I’d rather spend my money within the initial purchase with a decent back bone to upgrade from. The Alias may have slightly lower spec components but these are cheaper and easier to swap out in the long run bit by bit then get an extension and likely need a new frame as well as components at some point. Obviously these extension frames will last as long as you abuse them so if you are an occasional rider they will last longer or a serial weekly basher it won’t. The Alias with the 20.1 and 20.2 have shown they will stand up to some serious abuse.

I have heard mixed reviews from people on them. They are basically inspired copies and haven’t been around long enough really to know how long they’ll last and how much abuse they stand up to. If I was looking for a 24” for £700 it would be an alias. Proven build quality and good starting spec.

Haha amazing that you have to ditch a crank! Good luck

I had issues on an old Triton I had with cranks fitting as it didn’t have space for a 22tooth cog even though it was built as a street bike. I had to opt for the bonz 2 piece and run spacers for the upfront 18tooth. I found that they constantly came loose and was really frustrating. Tried everything to keep the red lock ring staying done up bar drilling a hole through and putting a lock screw through. Not sure whether it was due to them typically being run on bikes that wouldn’t do much distance pedalling where as I rode around a lot! Just thought I’d mentioned before you spend money on them! Might be worth investigating if it could be an issue you may get as well. edit - just noticed above you have some lying about so atleast it’s worth a go!!

Avid BB7s have always been popular for trials. I ran one on the front for years and it was a very good brake. Out of the deore and the BB7 I would probably go for the deore on the rear as I preferred the slightly more positive and direct feel you got from it in comparison to a cable disc at the lever. However if set up right with some decent pads I’m sure the avid would work well. Probably better to work out what you prefer the feel of and choose that way.

I have used avid ones without an issue. I think hope and Magura are ok too. I think the ones I use at the mo are old Hayes ones. Just look for something chunky! On the brake pad front I used trialtech after the ebcs and they have a more aggressive bite - I think the Jitsies adam mentioned are also a bit more aggressive than ebc so maybe a good shout for a bit of extra confidence.

I used some deores on my alias at first with 160mm on the rear. Never failed me with ebc reds. When I built up my second alias I put some 4 pot XTs on and they actually are overkill in comparison - not as easy to modulate compared to the Deores. If you do think you may throw the bike around I think they are a good option. Think a lever is about £20 to replace and they are super easy to bleed and maintain. I’m about 13 stone and like a rolling gap so they were tested well!! The only thing that is a must is to get some beefier adapters otherwise they will rip the caliper in two when they give in! It only took me one ride!

This is exactly why £500 on frame and wheel rebuild was preferred to my teeth!!

Halo do a 110m spaced hub with disc mounts and a splined sprocket fitting. Considered it when I was weighing up whether to keep the 20.1 or chop it in for the 20.2. I ended up going 20.2 as didn’t want to be the one to see if the hub would stand up to trials. But is is an option!! https://www.halowheels.com/shop/components/hubs/mxr-supadrive-disc-hub/ 120 engagement points.

Keen also to know! Been running mine for 18 months without issues. Would like to be confident it isn’t going to explode on me!

Let’s hope I got it right then! Good luck

Hey Mark, 1. Alias are inspired - I ride a 20.2 and the build quality is really solid - designed to stand up to a lot of smacking about. 2. See above answer! 3. I'd say they are probably basic and will probably need replacing over time. However I think that is perfect for someone starting out again as they can get changed out as they fail for something better, the most important part the frame is going to be solid and well made. 4. I think the components like, wheels, bars, cranks are probably going to be comparable if not the same between both. I think it comes down to what you'd rather ride as they will feel different and whether you are prepared to wait. The Alias is going to feel a little more nervous and flicky, spinny being shorter with a steeper head angle and shorter chain stays. The flow will be a bit more stable with longer stays and a slightly slacker head angle - that said there isn't miles difference between them (Same bb rise, 1 degree in headangle, 9mm in chainstays - this will be less depending on how far the chain stretches and you pull the wheel back in the drop outs on the Alias). For me one of the biggest differences will be around the material - Aluminium & Steel feel different to ride - Steel will be more supple and forgiving with a bit of flex however the flow will feel quite stiff in comparison - one is not better than the other it is more what you prefer the feel of. I have always preferred the feel of steel!! If it were my money I'd buy an Alias maybe pop a longer stem on for your height and go for the v brakes with some boosters & better pads - then upgrade as you go (probably the freewheel first!....... However if you like aluminum go the other way. Both of these are streety bikes so be mindful of that they won't feel super trialsy - they will be more like an in between of your Pashley & later Echo - some Frankenstein in between... Good luck!

I haven’t actually managed to watch it yet but reading a bit of the blurb around Chris’s but they couldn’t get to where they wanted to film because of weather so just had to film stuff on the fly that they could find..

Tap was impressive, also at about 1:20 I really like the hooky thing on the black gate. I forgot how poor the quality was on these videos! Imagine seeing this in glorious go pro footage these days!

My own brain - I consciously read books about health, eating, exercise, drinking etc yet my unconscious brain continues to disregard all information and allow me to a be larger swilling, fast food eating, occasionally riding slightly podgy man. What's all that about.. Also the breadth of cycling disciplines that get addicted to poorly executed bar spins and tailwhips ;-)

Probably why I have ended up posting 2 and probably could post a couple more, i'd say I have a top 5 that I find hard to choose one over the other from