The MTB thread

[northwind]

I'd never dropped that bit before, always been too scared... I'm not good in the air, really, well I'm OK but too chicken! But the photographer was watching so I felt obliged

[Drew Carey]

I'm ok on the whoops and table tops.....can get some air and correct it etc...but that photo does look good.

But as Mike will know, dropping of a boardwalk at speed was not my finest moment.

[Luckypants]

Anyone interested in Rockshox Reba SL fork with 20mm Maxle? My daughter's boyfriend is selling one £300.

[Drew Carey]

Howdy MTB'ers.....can you help me......

As some know, I managed to bend my seatpost last time out, plus I have noticed that on the time before that I have managed to smash the fixings on my other seatpost. So bottom line is I need a new seatpost......

To compound matters......I also need a new Saddle too.....sooooooooooooooooooooooo

Can you recommend me a seatpost and saddle for circa 60 quids for the pair? I can get an SDG IBeam set for about that money, but not sure of them. Most complicated thing is the tube size is 29.8mm.....an awkward size....so was thinking of getting a more common 27.2mm and using a seatpost shim I already have.

Ideas chaps?

[northwind]

29.8, you just had to be awkward eh. I use a 27.2 seatpost in one of my 31.6 tubed bikes with a shim and it's been fine, sometimes irritating (you lift the seat and the shim comes with it, grr) but no bother. Some people say it can damage frames, I've no idea how though, maybe on weird things that need enormous amounts of seatpost in the frame like those old Paces.

For a seat the Charge Spoon or Madison Flux is spot on- reasonable weight, quite comfy, nice shape and size, oh and £20-£25.

[northwind]

So in a fit of weakness I've bought a BMX Not had one for about 20 years, it's absolutely comically shagged out but it'll fix. The front brake cable's so seized, it's not just stiff, it's completely immobile... And there's barely a tight bolt on the thing. Plus the rear hub seemed to have been greased with mud and had 13 ball bearings in one side and 6 in the other. So, it's in a million bits in the garage getting rebuilt. Then... Well, no idea what to do with it really, guess I'll just be dicking around in car parks. Woo bmx!

Right I have a decision to make!

Do I spend a little money and make my Kona Coiler into more of a XC bike, this will involve a new stem and new wheels and tyre's at least. Current spec is;

Tora 318 solo air forks,
Kona Coiler frame (2004) with 130mm travel,
Cheap Shimano cranks and gears
Avid Code 5 200mm front brake (yes OTT!) and Juicy 3.5 rear 160mm
Sun ditch witch 24" Wheels

How much for some half decent 26" wheels? Weight isnt an issue tbh.

Or Do I sell the bike and start again? If I did that it would have to be about £500 on one. Its mostly for Transpeninne trail type riding as anything more than that ill use the Scott for demolishing the bumps.

Originally Posted by ThEGr33k

How much for some half decent 26" wheels? Weight isnt an issue tbh.

my 48 spoked halo's cost £120 for the rear and £90 for the front so around that price

[northwind]

Don't know much about those Coilers... Not sure tbh, you can get a pretty nice XC/trail bike for £550 (Carrera Fury frinstance)

On One is still clearing out Sun Singletracks on deore hubs for £80. Very lardy but very strong. Or this:

http://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/WPSHMT15...set-%28pair%29

You won't get better than this for the price, but you'd also need to buy centrelock rotor adaptors or centrelock rotors so not quite ideal. But very nice...

[northwind]

Meanwhile in Northwindland, I did my first downhill race on sunday at innerleithen, entered at the last minute. I was absolutely rubbish but what a great laugh... tbh I think just getting down the hill in one piece was a result, the conditions were blimmin' awful, it ****ed down all night and half the morning and some parts of the course just melted. The local shops all sold out of mud tyres

So I did some carpark comparing and found that only one person in the race had less suspension travel than me and about 65 of the 70-odd entrants were on proper DH bikes... so it was a bit like bringing a knife to a gunfight and the result was much the same Second last in class and I think 6th last overall. I RULES!

One dirty bike...