Discussion
Following a wicked weekend at Afan spent riding like a legend - well downhill at least! - I came to a couple of conclusions. Firstly, I've cut my steerer tube too short. Secondly, my Talas now needs a seal and oil service.
Now to cure the first problem I need a new stem and / or higher riser bars which could be £110 odd (product standardization is expensive!).
The forks will need to go to Mojo as they're still under warranty, so that's another £80.
So with the prospect of needing to spend £180 on my 2003 Stiffee that is nearing retirement age (20th July 2008) I thought, 'What the hey, maybe try some 140mm coil forks with a 20mm axle'. Now the Fox 36 Vanilla's (2007) can be had for £359 but I've just ordered a set of Rock Shox 424 Pikes for £259!! At that price, I think I can live with the additional 0.4lbs in weight over the 454's! Additionally, I can carry these over to the Stiffee's replacement, whatever that maybe.
Should be with me next week.
Now to cure the first problem I need a new stem and / or higher riser bars which could be £110 odd (product standardization is expensive!).
The forks will need to go to Mojo as they're still under warranty, so that's another £80.
So with the prospect of needing to spend £180 on my 2003 Stiffee that is nearing retirement age (20th July 2008) I thought, 'What the hey, maybe try some 140mm coil forks with a 20mm axle'. Now the Fox 36 Vanilla's (2007) can be had for £359 but I've just ordered a set of Rock Shox 424 Pikes for £259!! At that price, I think I can live with the additional 0.4lbs in weight over the 454's! Additionally, I can carry these over to the Stiffee's replacement, whatever that maybe.
Should be with me next week.
I saw your piccies. Looked like you had a similarly good weekend as ours. Atomm took some pics but I don't know how they turned out.
My wheels are Hope Pro II's with Mavic 321 rims so I should be ok. I used some of the credit I accumulated at one of my LBS's to get the Hope conversion kit for the bolt-through.
I'm due to collect my Inbred from Argos in three weeks time and was planning on demo'ing a Hustler round Whites Level at Glyngorrog but I may just take the Stiffee to bed in the new forks!!
Getting quite excited about them now - how sad is that?!
My wheels are Hope Pro II's with Mavic 321 rims so I should be ok. I used some of the credit I accumulated at one of my LBS's to get the Hope conversion kit for the bolt-through.
I'm due to collect my Inbred from Argos in three weeks time and was planning on demo'ing a Hustler round Whites Level at Glyngorrog but I may just take the Stiffee to bed in the new forks!!
Getting quite excited about them now - how sad is that?!
mk1fan said:
I saw your piccies. Looked like you had a similarly good weekend as ours. Atomm took some pics but I don't know how they turned out.
My wheels are Hope Pro II's with Mavic 321 rims so I should be ok. I used some of the credit I accumulated at one of my LBS's to get the Hope conversion kit for the bolt-through.
I'm due to collect my Inbred from Argos in three weeks time and was planning on demo'ing a Hustler round Whites Level at Glyngorrog but I may just take the Stiffee to bed in the new forks!!
Getting quite excited about them now - how sad is that?!
Cool, wouldn't mind hearing your opinions on the 20mm thru compared to QR when your sorted.My wheels are Hope Pro II's with Mavic 321 rims so I should be ok. I used some of the credit I accumulated at one of my LBS's to get the Hope conversion kit for the bolt-through.
I'm due to collect my Inbred from Argos in three weeks time and was planning on demo'ing a Hustler round Whites Level at Glyngorrog but I may just take the Stiffee to bed in the new forks!!
Getting quite excited about them now - how sad is that?!
With my weight I can tell a huge difference between a 20mm and QR setup.
Buying new bits is great though! I had my Yeti in last week for a new spring (only a steel as Im still finding the right weight before going Ti) and to have my Hope Mono M4's rebuilt with new seals/banjos/pads and goodridges.
Needless to say the bill was safely tucked away from MrsR's prying eyes!!
Buying new bits is great though! I had my Yeti in last week for a new spring (only a steel as Im still finding the right weight before going Ti) and to have my Hope Mono M4's rebuilt with new seals/banjos/pads and goodridges.
Needless to say the bill was safely tucked away from MrsR's prying eyes!!
mk1fan said:
I saw your piccies. Looked like you had a similarly good weekend as ours. Atomm took some pics but I don't know how they turned out.
My wheels are Hope Pro II's with Mavic 321 rims so I should be ok. I used some of the credit I accumulated at one of my LBS's to get the Hope conversion kit for the bolt-through.
I'm due to collect my Inbred from Argos in three weeks time and was planning on demo'ing a Hustler round Whites Level at Glyngorrog but I may just take the Stiffee to bed in the new forks!!
Getting quite excited about them now - how sad is that?!
Let us know what you think of the hustler when you have demo'ed it, I am thinking of adding one to my cove fleet too, My wheels are Hope Pro II's with Mavic 321 rims so I should be ok. I used some of the credit I accumulated at one of my LBS's to get the Hope conversion kit for the bolt-through.
I'm due to collect my Inbred from Argos in three weeks time and was planning on demo'ing a Hustler round Whites Level at Glyngorrog but I may just take the Stiffee to bed in the new forks!!
Getting quite excited about them now - how sad is that?!
I have Revelations on the HJ and lyrics on the stiffee, so i reckon you will love the pikes, they are really excellant(my friend has them on his stiffee with a through axle too) and work really well.
I would be excited too, so you are not sad.
After five years hard labour my Stiffee deserves to be retired. I was thinking of going FS for my trail bike but have such a blast on the HT it's a hard decision. I may just replace the Stiffee with an '08 Stiffee, or a Dialed Bikes PA or Alpine. Then again it may be a Hustler or a Hummer.
The 'Alpine' is their new long travel HT Trail frame (140-160mm travel) designed for such trail conditions as found in the Alps (strangely enough). Essentially, it's a re-jigged and beefed-up PA. It has only just been released. However, Head for the Hills in Dorking are building one up into a demo bike.
I'd also consider a Santa Cruz Camealeon but I'm slightly put off by the claimed 90-160mm range of travel.
I'd also consider a Santa Cruz Camealeon but I'm slightly put off by the claimed 90-160mm range of travel.
mk1fan said:
The 'Alpine' is their new long travel HT Trail frame (140-160mm travel) designed for such trail conditions as found in the Alps (strangely enough). Essentially, it's a re-jigged and beefed-up PA. It has only just been released. However, Head for the Hills in Dorking are building one up into a demo bike.
Aah yes, that sounds like a winner!I don't think it's a re-jigged PA as the frameset is very different in design. Designed around a 130-160mm travel fork (though you can use any single crown fork on this frame), the Alpine is constructed of Reynolds 853 (top and down tubes), Reynolds 520 (seat tube) and 4130 cro-moly (everything else). It will be available in the following sizes:
15.5” with 21” top tube
15.5” with 22” top tube
17” with 22” top tube
17” with 23” top tube
Head angle is 68.5 degrees and seat angle is 74 degrees when using a 130mm travel fork. Chain stays are 16.75” long (centre to centre) and the rear end will accommodate up to 3” wide tyres. Colours are to be confirmed but most likely metallic black and metallic deep purple.
Er I seem to have taken a load really crap pictures from Wales though I have one of mk1fan no looking like a legend but holding a roll looking sick and some static bike pics, couple of the Dialled PA though my good that's a good bike until the forks expired
15.5” with 21” top tube
15.5” with 22” top tube
17” with 22” top tube
17” with 23” top tube
Head angle is 68.5 degrees and seat angle is 74 degrees when using a 130mm travel fork. Chain stays are 16.75” long (centre to centre) and the rear end will accommodate up to 3” wide tyres. Colours are to be confirmed but most likely metallic black and metallic deep purple.
Er I seem to have taken a load really crap pictures from Wales though I have one of mk1fan no looking like a legend but holding a roll looking sick and some static bike pics, couple of the Dialled PA though my good that's a good bike until the forks expired
A downhill legend, mk1fan enjoying his lunch!!
And my wifes bike converted back to male configuration for me to rag around Wales for two days which I did and and thoroughly enjoyed all my bikes have 27.2mm seatposts so it's a quick change from male to female configurations and back again.
Sorry for going way off topic but it tied into Wildcards request for pictures!!
And my wifes bike converted back to male configuration for me to rag around Wales for two days which I did and and thoroughly enjoyed all my bikes have 27.2mm seatposts so it's a quick change from male to female configurations and back again.
Sorry for going way off topic but it tied into Wildcards request for pictures!!
Edited by atom111 on Thursday 14th February 18:35
mk1fan said:
I'd also consider a Santa Cruz Camealeon but I'm slightly put off by the claimed 90-160mm range of travel.
A hummer, one of the best HT i have ever ridden, but wow is it pricey, so i bought the HJ instead.
The Dialed bikes look good though.
Magura Menja's 2008, they are great forks, plush, handle really well and even after the seals had gone, had play in them and were leaking oil up the stanchons they still worked, as was proved when a kind person pulled over on the trail I looked at them said thanks looked back three big rock steps down first one was ok the second lucky the third entire faith in the equipment to avoid over handlebar moment and they dealt with it. I had prior to them failing been saying how there are alternatives to FOX, and I have a pair os RockShox and now these, those these have died after 100 miles so I think that is maufacturing issue rather than indicative of future performance. The LBS are dealing with them now. The PA doesn't come in pink it's grey or orange.
I too experienced the joy of that kindly woman stepping aside on the trail. And in return I informed her that there were two more guys behind me. Turned back to be confronted by the same rocky section! Very funny but thank God I was in Legend mode.
For the record I wasn't enjoying that lunch at all.
For the record I wasn't enjoying that lunch at all.
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