haydon_peter

Rob - they are Mono M4's. So far they feel ok but I dont think they have fully bedded in yet. I have been riding down hills dragging the brakes to bed them in and they just don't appear to be heating up much! (I guess this is because they are massive!) I will see how I get on with them in France but so far I prefer the feel of the Shimano XT brakes that I run on my Commencal. I might 'upgrade' to something with more lever adjustment in the future. Fatpants - How about the newer Commencal Supreme? They seem to pedal really well and would certainly be fun on the down hills! I also like the Orange Alpine 160's, they are just single pivot so again fairly basic but are meant to ride really well. Can you get hold of Lappierre? They do some very nice looking all mountain bikes! You need to get out and try as many bikes as you can before buying something.

For the mount kit look on Mojo

Finished! LBS scales say its a shade over 40lbs

It looks like a giant groomed BMX track

You paid a pikey £50 for recovering a bike that his mate had just stolen from you? Nicely done My bike update: Chris built my wheels on Saturday. Picked up the Totem forks yesterday. I fitted the chain device last night and got a good chain line before discovering I am going to have to take an angle grinder to my cranks because the granny ring tabs rub on the chain device! All required parts are now ordered and will be here tomorrow or Wednesday (Depending on how fast Parcel Farce 48h delivery is) My credit card company will love me for abusing the card so wisely I should be able to post photos by the end of the week

I know how big they are and I know what they are going to look like on my bike The bike should hopefully be finished on Tuesday night! Before and after photos of bike will be added once I am done.

Rear shock is back from TFT. Enduro linkage bearings are now fitted, just need to bolt the rear end back together. Picking up some 2nd hand but practically new 2009 Rock Shox Totem Solo Airs on Sunday. New rims have arrived from CRC and appropriate spokes ordered from Tarty today. Just waiting on Chris to use his wheel building skills over the next few days and I will have some nice strong straight wheels. I have few other bits to sort like hub bearings, tyres, bars and stem but otherwise I have all the bits sorted. So by the middle of next week I will have a built up bike! Just in time for Morzine in 2 weeks! :D

New drive train and chain guide purchased waiting to be fitted (Over a pound lighter than what I removed!) Rear shock is being serviced and custom valved by TFT next week. New linkage bearings arrived today, the frame is currently stripped and ready to fit the new bearings ASAP. TFT have advised they will happily service the forks but wont be able to get rid of any play in the bushes (Dam you shitty 2008 Marzocchi 66's!) so I am now on the lookout for replacement forks! France in less than 1 month! Will the bike be ready in time?

Last night I drove down to Exeter to view and purchase a second hand 2008 Giant Glory FR. Let the tweaking commence When I am finished I might post pictures...

You are very close to Swinley Forest, Swinley is awesome if you know where to go! Esher Shore is also just down the road although admittedly it doesn't sound like the sort of riding you're after. I am sure locals will know of other places but those are the 2 I thought of as soon as I looked on google maps...

For those of you that haven't had the pleasure of seeing The Collective, Seasons or Roam: The Collective Roam Seasons

Just watched Follow Me Positives: Amazing filming, editing and locations Crazy riding Negatives: A bit too short Too much slow motion stuff I'm looking forward to watching it in a cinema next month

The Hi Rollers size up wider than Minions so you would still end up with a slightly wider profile tyre on the front. The Porte du Soleil MTB lift pass covers 12 resorts spread across both France and Switzerland!

It sounds like our paths may cross in Morzine this year Tomm and Tom!!! Me and Chris are there 10th-24th July Back on Topic: High Roller front and rear, 60a rear, you could go softer compound on the front if you want but its not too important. Either run Dual Ply tyres with normal tubes, or Single Ply tyres with DH tubes. 2.35 Minions seem to come up pretty skinny, if you are going to run the Minion on the back I would probably get a 2.35 High Roller on the front.

I saw this a few days ago but assumed you would have already known about it. Who submitted it if you were the one that took the photo and didn't know they had placed it on STW as news?

160mm forks will completely ruin that bike! If I were you I would be getting some U-Turn 454 Coil Pike's If you must go 160mm you will find the odd pair of Fox Float 36's for around £350 second hand...

Which is just a copy of the Commencal Meta style linkage (Sorry lets not continue this lame suspension discussion)

Marmite is OK but Vegemite is nicer. Before anyone says it, yes they are different...

Going DHing in the Porte du Soleil for 2 weeks in July! Me and 3 riding buddies are travelling over in a van and basing ourselves in Morzine. I am so excited

The Marin hardtail range is awesome. All the frames in their 'Trail Hardtail' range are the same geometry (and maybe even the same frame just different colours and logos), its just the quality of the parts they use that is the difference between the prices. I used to have a Rocky Ridge and it was an amazing bike!

I'm at 1:37...

I'm at 1:37...