The MTB thread

[chris8886]

ok, that's good to know, thanks. anyone else got any other suggestions as to what I could get?

[maviczap]

What do you use your mtb for, just road riding or off roading as well?

[chris8886]

I use it for a little of both mav, I know i'll be bouncing around when using it on the road, but I really don't mind that as it makes me work a bit harder than it would if I had a hard tail, so it makes me a little fitter when using it on the road.

[maviczap]

Ah ok, if it was purely road, I'd have said get a hardtail. As a hardman roadie, I don't believe in rear sus ;)

Here's one on Bike Radar, a bit over budget, but I only had a quick trawl.

http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=40089&t=12954089

The MTB section

http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=40089

Have a look round your local Halfrauds, as mine was selling off last seasons models

Don't dismiss their Voodoo range, as its one above the Carerra range.

[chris8886]

I'm afraid I can't see what you're on about there mav, the moment I click the link it takes me to the 'home' page I think and I can't then find the things you're trying to show me :(

[maviczap]

You'll have to register on the forum to access the classifieds section Chris :(

[chris8886]

oh right, well I might do that even if it is just to have a look and see what there is.

[chris8886]

Ah ok, if it was purely road, I'd have said get a hardtail. As a hardman roadie, I don't believe in rear sus ;)

Here's one on Bike Radar, a bit over budget, but I only had a quick trawl.

http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=40089&t=12954089

The MTB section

http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=40089

Have a look round your local Halfrauds, as mine was selling off last seasons models

Don't dismiss their Voodoo range, as its one above the Carerra range.



that first one does look very good, but yes as you say it is outside of my budget, plus I would also be paranoid of it getting stolen despite being locked up if were to cycle into town or leave it at the train station for a few hours! :(

[chris8886]

anyone got any further ideas, am still open to them.


and what does anyone think of this one.... http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/161194163598?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649
seems pretty good, worth a punt?

[chris8886]

come on peoples, am in desperate need of a little advice here I've got this boardman (above) or a Carrera banshee to go for atm, which one would be best? please.

[ClunkintheUK]

Seems like a tidy bike mate. I was never a fan of suntour forks, but that knowledge is years out of date. The last peice of MTB kit I bought was about 7 years ago.

[chris8886]

ok, but which would you say is the better to go for? the boardman or banshee?

[ClunkintheUK]

Personally I'd go for the boardman, but that could be more because of the name. I know the boardman road bikes are very good all round for their respective price points, so I would guess they are similarly good mountain bikes. Though I am sure someone on here will correct me soon enough.

If the forks are cack, I may be able to dig out a pair of Fox Talas's from about a decade ago, Worked ok (a little pogoey) when I pulled them off the On-one to go fully rigid (oo-er).

[ClunkintheUK]

You could go old school (Proflex (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Girvin-proflex-5500-carbon-forks-Hope-retro-brake-conversion-/121250675456?pt=UK_Bikes_GL&hash=item1c3b1a7b00))

[chris8886]

ok, can you not pretty much lock out the forks on the boarman's as standard then?

[chris8886]

You could go old school (Proflex (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Girvin-proflex-5500-carbon-forks-Hope-retro-brake-conversion-/121250675456?pt=UK_Bikes_GL&hash=item1c3b1a7b00))



no thanks, looks a bit cack, plus I won't be able to attach a d lock holder thing.

[ClunkintheUK]

ok, can you not pretty much lock out the forks on the boarman's as standard then?

Not sure now. Lockout were being introduced and still fairly high end when I last bought mountain bike stuff. Quick release skewers were still standard then on XC bikes rather then the QR bolt throughs you get now.

[Kenzie]

Well I didn't want to invest too much into the sport if I don't get on with it so I have opted for this:

http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/calibre-two-two-alloy-hardtail-mountain-bike-p275612

Spec seems ok and it weighs 13.7kg. Designed by a Diamondback engineer apparently.

[AJC]

Well I didn't want to invest too much into the sport if I don't get on with it so I have opted for this:

http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/calibre-two-two-alloy-hardtail-mountain-bike-p275612

Spec seems ok and it weighs 13.7kg. Designed by a Diamondback engineer apparently.

Good choice according to MBUK magazine anyway. Remembered the bike and rechecked, it got a great write up!

[Kenzie]

Thats where I spotted it. Got a great write up on Bikeradar as well. Will let you know how I get on. Should have it for the weekend all going well.

[maviczap]

Nowt wrong with that, similar spec to my Voodoo

[Kenzie]

Still waiting for the bike.

[Kenzie]

Does anyone fit mudguards to their bikes? Or is it not the done thing?

[maviczap]

Yes, I've got a front guard & I'll fit a rear one sometime

Front one stops dirt getting flung in your face.

Even if its only a Crud Guard under the down tube

[cheesypeeps]

Yip got crud guards on down tube and guard on rear, on my MTB. I'd say having a sh&t strip is not the done thing!

[phi-dan]

Cruds front and rear, and a diy inner tube p..s flap on the forks. Most of the trails by me are shared with horses and cows, don't want that lot spraying up!!!

[Kenzie]

I have a Crud one on the front of my daily. The spare guard I have is more of the motorcross style one but I thought this may look a little over the top.

[Kenzie]

The new toy arrived today!

http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg268/kenzie2k3/ed4a14f3-2c7a-4f91-97d7-9c41e0344e5e_zps1da0c724.jpg (http://s250.photobucket.com/user/kenzie2k3/media/ed4a14f3-2c7a-4f91-97d7-9c41e0344e5e_zps1da0c724.jpg.html)

http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg268/kenzie2k3/c5a56ce7-a44b-41c9-90ba-39d63b91334c_zpse94a90f4.jpg (http://s250.photobucket.com/user/kenzie2k3/media/c5a56ce7-a44b-41c9-90ba-39d63b91334c_zpse94a90f4.jpg.html)

[Mark_h]

I've got a 29er crudcatcher on the back and the downtube but still got it in the face when it was sloppy mud/dung. Added a mucky nutz bender fender XL which extends forward and now no longer eat mud and stay much cleaner than others I'm riding with.

[JamesMio]

Donning my Creatomatic / web design hat for a sec, what do you guys think of this..?

http://www.upliftscotland.com/

Launched this afternoon...

[Kenzie]

Does anyone know if bottom brackets are left or right thread? Just tried taking one out of my daily and the tool snapped after I put a bar on it.

[DJ123]

Should all be standard right hand thread. Have you used any penetration fluid on the bolt?

[maviczap]

Left hand one (as you sit on it) does up in the normal way

Right hand cup does up the other way ie the wrong way

But BB's are prone to seizing in place, if the threads wren't greased regularly.

[Kenzie]

Not been out in six years and I wound it the wrong way.

[maviczap]

Depending on what the cups are made of, its probably safe to say they might not come out.

Any water or moisture goes down the seat tube & collects in the BB with obvious results

[Kenzie]

Well its fooked at the moment. Have put the pedal set back on and worrying about it at a later date.

[maviczap]

I think I used an impact gun attached to my extractor to loosen one stubborn BB cup.

I had a similar problem with a pedal I couldn't remove from a crank.

[Kenzie]

Might have to soak it then use a chisel as my tool slipped and broke.

[maviczap]

If you've got time, take a pic of the offending BB cup

[Kenzie]

Can't, put it back together now.

[maviczap]

Even one of it assembled would help

[Kenzie]

Will see what I can do.

[Kenzie]

Sorry for the delay. Managed to get the bracket out but have been left with this:

http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg268/kenzie2k3/caad84dc-377c-481d-b50c-e1aa39a9c48e_zps8f52132d.jpg (http://s250.photobucket.com/user/kenzie2k3/media/caad84dc-377c-481d-b50c-e1aa39a9c48e_zps8f52132d.jpg.html)

Threadless repair bracket has been ordered.

[maviczap]

Sorry for the delay. Managed to get the bracket out but have been left with this:

Threadless repair bracket has been ordered.

Yep, probably the only solution for that mess :(

[Kenzie]

Should be here in a few days. Might take the Calibre for a spin along the Gipping at the weekend after work.

[maviczap]

There's a new 10 mile off road trail out Tunstall way, Forestry Commission land, so all legal

I'll seek out once my injuries have stopped hurting, probably on my 29er

[Kenzie]

Well the repair bracket turned up today. All fitted up and just need to adjust the front gears and its sorted.

[chris8886]

I'm trying to get the pedals and crack off my old mountain bike before chucking it, however I'm struggling hugely, I just can't seem to get them to budge at all. are the bolts reverse thread or something? I don't want to go trying to hard and screwing something up, as I would quite like to be able to salvage them to potentially use them on my new bike.


thanks for any helpful suggestions! :rolleyes:

[maviczap]

Right hand one (as you sit on it) undoes the normal way, anti clockwise

Left hand one undoes clockwise.

But thee a good chance they are completely fused in place. I had a pedal I couldn't undo once.

If the cranks are alloy & you are chucking the bike, then just cut through the crank by the pedal spindle, do this top & bottom & the pedal should undo, but the crank will be knackered

[chris8886]

Right hand one (as you sit on it) undoes the normal way, anti clockwise

Left hand one undoes clockwise.

But thee a good chance they are completely fused in place. I had a pedal I couldn't undo once.

If the cranks are alloy & you are chucking the bike, then just cut through the crank by the pedal spindle, do this top & bottom & the pedal should undo, but the crank will be knackered



I have the crank bolts out, but I still can't get the pedal ones out for some reason. I also can't pull the cranks out once I have undone the bolts they seem to be stuck. so I've chucked some wd40 on it so as to try and loosen things up a bit, but I don't know if this shall work or not at all :(

[maviczap]

You'll need a crank puller if its an old style square taper crank set Chris.

ZDK6knIPhQg

[kiggles]

anybody up for MTBing this weekend. aston hill. swinley forest. box hill or if enough people wales!

[chris8886]

that's a good video mav, thanks, but I don't have the "crank arm puller" tool thing that he talks about. is there anything I could use alternatively?

[Kenzie]

I think my crank puller was about a fiver from a local bike shop.

[maviczap]

that's a good video mav, thanks, but I don't have the "crank arm puller" tool thing that he talks about. is there anything I could use alternatively?

If you go on Google you'll find another way of removing the crank.

But TBH I witnessed a neighbour trying to remove a crank without a puller & frankly its impossible.

Can't you roll it up to you local LBS and get them to use a puller?

I don't think I've got a spare, otherwise I'd lend it to ya.

As Kenzie says they're pretty cheap.

Let me have a look in my toolbox tomorrow

[Kenzie]

Anyone know of any good trails near Ullswater/Windemere in the Lake District? Going there in August.

[JamesMio]

Whinlatters great, Askham has a crackin trail too. Spoilt for choice!

[Kenzie]

Managed to pick up some padded Muddy Fox mtb shorts from Sports Direct for £17.99 yesterday. Seem pretty decent starting point. My wife has also just bought a Marin Wildcat to join my Calibre. Should arrive next week. Also picked up a Thule Ride-on two bike carrier as I was sick of hanging the bikes from the Witter carrier I had.

[Kenzie]

My wife has joined the club with this Marin Wildcat

http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg268/kenzie2k3/DSC_0504_zps1826cb9b.jpg (http://s250.photobucket.com/user/kenzie2k3/media/DSC_0504_zps1826cb9b.jpg.html)

http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg268/kenzie2k3/DSC_0503_zpsdd4366a2.jpg (http://s250.photobucket.com/user/kenzie2k3/media/DSC_0503_zpsdd4366a2.jpg.html)

[northwind]

Good looking bike that. Stay on top of the fork maintenance! They're decent forks those XCMs but the bushings and seals aren't great, and if dirt gets in they wear in a hurry. If you're at all mechanical, worth taking them to bits really pretty frequently and giving them a clean and lube.

[big jc]

I agree with northwind, good budget forks and work well if you keep on top of the maintenance.
It's really easy to do, plenty of you tube videos, all you need is some Allan keys, a hammer, some rags and a decent grease.

[big jc]

Some of you might remember me putting my orange five black gold up for sale until I saw the light!
Unfortunately I'm getting moved abroad with work and cannot take my bike with me, so I need to sell. The bike is located in Edinburgh, if anybody is interested give me a shout, I'll try and get some pics up later, but in the meantime it can be found here
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2012-Orange-5-Black-Gold-Ltd-Edition-MTB-/321409314627?pt=UK_Bikes_GL&hash=item4ad57cef43
John.

[Kenzie]

How often should they be stripped and cleaned and what sort of grease should I use?

[big jc]

Depends on use but I did mine every 6 months or when they felt like they needed it. The grease I used was the general purpose one from halfords
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductMobileDisplay?catalogId=10151&storeId=10001&productId=214754&categoryId=165705&langId=-1
Any lithium based grease will do the trick though.
John.

[northwind]

I neglected mine and they wore, after that I was cleaning them and greasing them about every 15 minutes :rolleyes:

[Kenzie]

The wife and I took the bikes out to Alton Water on an 8 mile loop to give them a baptism of mud. Great bikes, but I lost one of the little pedal reflectors when I clipped it with my shoe spike. Cleaned off as soon as we got home and put away.

http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg268/kenzie2k3/f61bf08c-1163-4fb2-9faa-2bd3d1cbae6d_zps01fa6ac8.png (http://s250.photobucket.com/user/kenzie2k3/media/f61bf08c-1163-4fb2-9faa-2bd3d1cbae6d_zps01fa6ac8.png.html)

Didn't get much worse than this though.

[northwind]

Yesterday was the Glentress Seven, launch day for Tweedlove

(http://tweedlove.com/)

I don't usually do cross country race stuff but this one's always good, we blagged free entry in previous years for helping build the course but I've worn their generosity a bit thin now. Previous years I've been in a trio (7 laps) and twice in a pair (8 laps), this year without really having a goal, 7 laps- 49 miles, 8900 foot of climb (and descent!), pretty sure that's my biggest day on a bike. I am so shagged today it's not funny :smt082 Kind of in awe at the fast boys, it's not just the fitness, it's the speed on the descents, on ridiculous skinny xc bikes.

Ironically I sold my XC bike last month... Next best thing:

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3699/14080974969_4f37fa1a7a_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/nshFhv)IMG_2719 (https://flic.kr/p/nshFhv) by Northwindlowlander (https://www.flickr.com/people/53860438@N06/), on Flickr

Did miss the granny ring though!

Next up, the Enduro World Series. I figure this is an upgrade, I usually get beaten by loads of people in enduro races, this time at least a bunch of them will be world champions :cool:

[maviczap]

The wife and I took the bikes out to Alton Water on an 8 mile loop to give them a baptism of mud. Great bikes, but I lost one of the little pedal reflectors when I clipped it with my shoe spike. Cleaned off as soon as we got home and put away.

http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg268/kenzie2k3/f61bf08c-1163-4fb2-9faa-2bd3d1cbae6d_zps01fa6ac8.png (http://s250.photobucket.com/user/kenzie2k3/media/f61bf08c-1163-4fb2-9faa-2bd3d1cbae6d_zps01fa6ac8.png.html)

Didn't get much worse than this though.

I found two puddles bigger than that on my road ride today, not quite as muddy though.

[Kenzie]

Can someone help me with a gear issue I am having with my daily? The front gears will shift up but won't shift down to the middle ring. The only way I can get 2nd is to shift down to 1st then either back up or try and catch it. I have put a new cable on but no joy.

[northwind]

How does it all feel in use? Stiff or anything? THe mechs can seize up over time and there's more force involved in an upshift than a down, so that's a likely one

[kiggles]

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10154249126190601&set=a.10151314748145601.816943.582745600&type=3&theater

did a enduro on saturday. was a bit muddy

[maviczap]

As Northy says, most likely the mech, corrosion in the pivots. On the up shift you're using the cable to pull the mech on the downshift its spring tension causing the mech to move, so anything causing friction is going to stop the mech working properly.

New mech time I think, as nothing will really help, especially if its a budget mech

[Kenzie]

Some Shimano jobby. Bike is 6 years old. If you push on it then it will shift down.

[maviczap]

Lucky it's lasted this long :p

Especially if its the same bike as your seized in bottom bracket.

Sounds like a partial service is needed now.

Grease hubs and headset bearings to give them a bit more life

[Kenzie]

Its one and the same. Could do with new shifters as well as the windows have gone funny. Can't see what gear without looking down. Not sure how much I want to put into it. I have seen a nice Carera Gryphon at Halfords though.
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_81 0673_langId_-1_categoryId_165534

[maviczap]

Aye, sometimes worth moving on

[big jc]

Kenzie, I had an email from Evans this morning, they have a deal at the min offering up to £250 for trade in, might be worth a look.

[Stenno]

Picked up a Trek Excalibur yesterday via the bike to work scheme. Did 15km around Burnham Beeches today and discovered how unfit I am!

So some newb questions:-
What do I inflate my tyres to? (I've yet to check the tyre wall, is it there?)
Any tips on maintenance? Should I wipe down the bike after? 3-1 oil for the chain?

Cheers :)

[maviczap]

So some newb questions:-
What do I inflate my tyres to? (I've yet to check the tyre wall, is it there?)
Any tips on maintenance? Should I wipe down the bike after? 3-1 oil for the chain?

Cheers :)

Tyre pressures should be on the sidewall

Yes, can't hurt. Wash the dirt off & spray parts with GT85

No, most definitely not 3 in 1, unless you want your chain to have the perfect grinding paste to wear it & the drive components out quicker than you can say my bothers brother is called robert.

Keep the chain as clean as you can, using GT85 and then use a proper chain lube. I use 2 sorts, one for wet conditions & another for dry conditions, but either will do better than 3in1 as they are waxed based & don't let the dirt & grit stick to the chain as much as 3 in 1.

[Stenno]

Cheers maviczap! I'll pop out and buy some asap!

[northwind]

So, here's what I did at the weekend

http://singletrackworld.com/2014/05/tweedlove-enduro-world-series-day-one-race-video/

http://singletrackworld.com/2014/06/tweedlove-enduro-world-series-day-two-race-video/

Total madness tbh, they shouldn't let people like me into world class events :D 3 days of practice, 2 days of racing, world champions everywhere you look (I met Andrew Shandro! Dude! Rode up one of the climbs with Tracey Hannah and Anne-Caro Chausson, they seemed pretty overawed to meet the legendary Northwind).

Saturday's trails were just ridiculous, bodies lying everywhere, there was one bit where I knew I couldn't ride it so I just decided where to crash beforehand and got on with it. So hard... Getting over to innerleithen for the downhill stage was a relief (though they'd taped a track that was harder than a typical inners downhill race, coming down it with 150mm of travel and an open face helmet was a bit iffy)

Sunday was a bit less technical but that just meant higher speeds, used some of the glentress trails and a bunch of new and old offpiste including some stuff I helped build- was pretty cool to hear Steve Peat raving about how good our new trail was. Never really got my race head on though, rode OK but really pretty safe and a long way off my speed.

50 miles and 8500 feet of climb doesn't seem so much but there was (for me) a full hour of full on charging in the timed stages, 10 minutes a time just flat out. Finished 80th in the E2 (amateur) class out of 200 (though, lots of DNFs in that, I think 120 actually completed the race). Well chuffed with that! I should really have made up about 10 more places if I'd ridden my best on sunday, but then I had a great day on saturday so maybe it balances.

Finished totally rebuilding my bike just in time for practice, and got the new stickers on it the night before the race kicked off...

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3916/14330091232_fb3f68afcf_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/nQisSu)IMG_2742 (https://flic.kr/p/nQisSu) by Northwindlowlander (https://www.flickr.com/people//), on Flickr

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5479/14308706836_01890e16a2_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/nNpS31)IMG_2739 (https://flic.kr/p/nNpS31) by Northwindlowlander (https://www.flickr.com/people//), on Flickr

Like a new bike- total nut and bolt rebuild, refinish, new forks, new bars, new seatpost, new gears... Didn't quite get the wheels done in time, so that was a bit of a bummer but tbh with a dh mud on the front saving 300g in the wheels probably doesn't make much difference :cool:

Probably best bit was getting back to the race HQ- people everywhere, not just riders but random Peebles people just out to check out the event, kids everywhere, rode down the track highfiving people like Bono on a bike :takeabow: Even had kids ask me to sign their programmes! Here's Tracey Moseley taking the win in the women's class...

http://singletrackworld.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2014/06/DSC_5764.jpg

That's Tweedlove done for me, it's been amazing, back to normal now- I ache all over, bouncing from one race to the next with no real rest's broken me a bit. Wouldn't change a damn thing.

[garynortheast]

Great vids, looks like it was an exciting event.

[northwind]

It was awesome... TBH I really recommend these enduro things, no matter how big or small, I've hardly done any that weren't brilliant. I've always felt like XC and downhill racing are basically for the top 10%, everyone else is just making up the numbers and paying the bills. But enduro is much more like the sort of riding loads of us actually want to do- descending as hard as you can on difficult trails, then winching slowly back up. Being in a race just adds a bit of extra challenge and motivation and a sense of event, it's a bit like going for a ride with 300 mates. Actually really a lot like a big motorbike rideout, atmosphere wise, I never thought of that before.

So, that was actually one of my best placings ever, generally I'm at the top of the bottom third and you'd think that'd be frustrating but it's just as cool duking it out with your fellow knobbers. Love it. Next up is Laggan for the 3rd round of the Scottish Enduro Series, in which I expect to be top of the bottom third ;)

[Kenzie]

Well since I posted the link from Halfords last week the Gryphon has dropped from £349.99 to £279.99 and also got an addtional £20. Pick it up tomorrow.

[chris8886]

26x2.00 & 26x2.10 my mountain bike needs at least one new tyre badly, if not both. could you guys please give me some suggestions as to what to get? I'm using them to go properly off road fairly often (as in to work, across very muddy tracks). I don't have a huge amount to spend and I have gone to a local shop and been told what I'm after will be about £40 per tyre! which I think is frankly crazy!

so can anyone give me a link and some recommendations or something as to somewhere that I can buy one if not two new tyres?

I need very good off road grip and am not fussy on brand, just want something of reasonable quality for a reasonable price.

OMO help me please!! :D

[phi-dan]

I quite like the Conti X-king, does the job for me on the tracks and trails round here, and holds up on the trail centres as well. I'm a cheapskate so run the wired option.

[chris8886]

and what are they like on the road? I forgot to add that my bicycle is now my only form of transport so they do need to at least be useable on the road too, but I just need them to be more off road orientated.

[phi-dan]

The centre block pattern creates a near constant strip (at least, when up right) so it rolls really well. Not as well as a slick obviously, but better than most knobbly patterns.
If you need something more biased to the road there's the Schwalbe SmartSam, rolls much better on the hard stuff but not as good in the wet.

[phi-dan]

More biased to the road than a full knobbly that is

[northwind]

You could do worse than a Specialized Captain. They're a pretty good allrounder- the central tread blocks are close together so fast rolling in a straight line, and the rest of the tread is more open so will shovel a bit of mud. I use the higher end Control version a lot as a fast rear tyre and sometimes as a summer front, it's been excellent- the Sport version is cheaper and should still offer reasonable grip and will last longer.

[maviczap]

I quite like the Conti X-king, does the job for me on the tracks and trails round here, and holds up on the trail centres as well. I'm a cheapskate so run the wired option.

The centre block pattern creates a near constant strip (at least, when up right) so it rolls really well. Not as well as a slick obviously, but better than most knobbly patterns.
If you need something more biased to the road there's the Schwalbe SmartSam, rolls much better on the hard stuff but not as good in the wet.


You can get the tyres above at pretty good prices from Rose bikes

http://www.rosebikes.co.uk/products/bike-parts/tyres-and-inner-tubes/tyres/mtb/

Ignore the fact they are a German company, their service is brilliant, their prices tend to be a little cheaper than some UK online shops

Here's Merlin, one of the cheaper UK sites

http://www.merlincycles.com/tyres-tubes-mtb-44248/

[pookie]

have a look at planet x as they have some tyres on sale at the moment

http://www.planetx.co.uk/c/q/deals

[chris8886]

thank you for all your input guys, I shall have a look at all you've posted up and I shall do my best to remember to let you know what I go for and what I think of them.

[chris8886]

You can get the tyres above at pretty good prices from Rose bikes

http://www.rosebikes.co.uk/products/bike-parts/tyres-and-inner-tubes/tyres/mtb/

Ignore the fact they are a German company, their service is brilliant, their prices tend to be a little cheaper than some UK online shops

Here's Merlin, one of the cheaper UK sites

http://www.merlincycles.com/tyres-tubes-mtb-44248/



thanks for the links mav that german one is all well and good, but their postage charges are massive and make actually buying from them slightly more expensive.


do these tyres get sold as pairs or do you always have to buy 2 separate ones if that's what you're needing?

[maviczap]

Sold as singles mate, I'd go with Pookie's suggestion of Planet X for your tyres

[chris8886]

Sold as singles mate, I'd go with Pookie's suggestion of Planet X for your tyres



damn, that is poo! ok, I shall look at that one, thanks again.

[Kenzie]

Took my Calibre out on the trail yesterday but the Shimano disc brakes were really squealing. Anything I can do to shut them up?

[maviczap]

Oil them :D

Here

http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/article/workshop-step-by-step-guide-to-quiet-disc-braking-22829/

[chris8886]

i'm back and once again i'm asking for your advice please people. the second hand carrera banshee that i bought a few months ago (off ebay) has broken (the frame has sheared!!). so as a result i'm looking to buy brand new this time and hopefully save myself the hassle of going through all this again for a while. my main reason for asking for help is that i am having great trouble finding something in my price range with the kind of spec i'm looking for.

i'm looking for a bike with full suspension and disc brakes once again, but this time my budget has risen a bit and i'm prepared to spend more like £800. i realise from having done a little research that this is a challenge as most of the bikes that i have seen have been over £1500! (quite how on earth these kind of prices can be justified when you can get something with an engine for the same amount or less baffles me!).

so i'm asking you guys because i haven't been able to find anything and am wondering if you lot know of anything that will suit me and my budget, thanks in advance....

[7755matt]

How about http://www.decathlon.co.uk/rockrider-91-full-suspension-mountain-bike-id_8213074.html

Everything I've seen says decathlon are pretty good. I had a hardtail of theirs and it was very good for the price