Prince Albert and your opinions please
Discussion
I want a new hardtail. There, I've said it. I'm pretty smitten on a Dialled Prince Albert, and I'm sure there are others on here who've had one / got one. Usual PH search service has resumed though, and it doesn't work. I know opinions are like a
holes, but ...... And I also appreciate I should go off to one of the MTB fora for this, but you lot are much more sympathetic 
I will, of course, be speaking with Head For The Hills at some point today too.
Total budget is £1500(ish), which is moveable(ish). Who needs to eat? I'm after XT range bits, I like the look of those Pike forks (I think the PA is built for 130mm forks??), and want the bike mainly for XC and singletrack. Yorkshire moors, Dalby Forest, that kind of thing. Not really for big jumps. For reference my current HT is a 10 year old Marin Rocky Ridge, that I want to replace, and my bouncy bike until it was nicked was a Commencal Meta 5.5. I loved that bike
Thanks for your imput!
holes, but ...... And I also appreciate I should go off to one of the MTB fora for this, but you lot are much more sympathetic I will, of course, be speaking with Head For The Hills at some point today too.Total budget is £1500(ish), which is moveable(ish). Who needs to eat? I'm after XT range bits, I like the look of those Pike forks (I think the PA is built for 130mm forks??), and want the bike mainly for XC and singletrack. Yorkshire moors, Dalby Forest, that kind of thing. Not really for big jumps. For reference my current HT is a 10 year old Marin Rocky Ridge, that I want to replace, and my bouncy bike until it was nicked was a Commencal Meta 5.5. I loved that bike
Thanks for your imput!
They're excellent. Mine is on Revelations but will be switching to Pikes soon - the former may suit you better if you're more of a "wheels on the ground" rider. It's also pretty basic spec using bits I had from other bikes - so Deore drivetrain, shimano m525 discs, etc. It's been flawless, not the lightest of things but reassuringly solid.
Was thinking of a new bike but more inclined to get it stripped and resprayed and build up again around XT.
Was thinking of a new bike but more inclined to get it stripped and resprayed and build up again around XT.
I have got a cove handjob ( and a stiffee FR) and it is a great steel hardtail you could build within budget, to do all the things you describe, really well, it is a stunning frame.
However, i have never tried a Dialled Prince albert my self yet, but read loads of great things from people who have one and it does look great, also read an interview with Mike Wong ( Dialled bikes ) in this months Dirt MTB Magazine, he seems a top bloke and I would advise you have a look at the magazine this month as it is a hardtail special and it will give you the lowdown on lots of options.
But i think you can do no wrong with the prince albert, looks a great frame.
Good luck in your search.
However, i have never tried a Dialled Prince albert my self yet, but read loads of great things from people who have one and it does look great, also read an interview with Mike Wong ( Dialled bikes ) in this months Dirt MTB Magazine, he seems a top bloke and I would advise you have a look at the magazine this month as it is a hardtail special and it will give you the lowdown on lots of options.
But i think you can do no wrong with the prince albert, looks a great frame.
Good luck in your search.
sjg said:
Built myself (and the frame is a mk1 in black that I picked up for £90!). It's not difficult - maybe get the heatset and BB installed if you don't have the tools, but the rest can be done by anyone with some allen keys.
That's kind of my thinking. I've got an 'adequate' tool set, but I think I'd rather avoid the jobs that could go horribly wrong or need pretty specialist, one-off-use tools. I think the satisfaction would be good too. Having said that, I've never actually built a bike from scratch, just swapped bits as and when, so ensuring everything works together could well be a ballache and worth getting a pro to do. Dunno Vesuvius 996 said:
Dialled is owned by one of my best mates.
I hear they are the absolute nuts!!
Go for it.
Mike?I hear they are the absolute nuts!!
Go for it.
Top geezer, one of the reasons I went for one over an On-one. Was dead helpful when I bought mine and put me in touch with some other owners.
I've had two, an original 530 spec with the extra tube, and a later, lighter 853 frame. Bother were superb, built up with cheapish sturdy parts (130mm marzocchi forks).
Err on the smaller side of sizing, as having a long seatpost further helps the good all-day comfort. Highly reccomended.
Thank God you didn't post his on STW - oh the problems when I mentioned the PA had better cable routing than a Chavbred!
atom111 really likes his PA. And £1500 should see a really top build. The Pikes are too long for the PA as their A-C height is long. If coil is your desire for front forks then try the Fox 32 Vanilla's - unless you're wanting a 20mm axle (in which case you'll need a DB Alpine to accomodate the rise in A-C of the Pikes).
I also have a mate who rides a 456 and he likes that too.
In reality the riding differences betweeen the PA and a Chavbred 456 are negligable. The additional cost for a PA contributes to a much better overall (ie: paint) finish which imo is worth it.
I say, do it. You want a PA. You've earned a PA. You deserve a PA.
atom111 really likes his PA. And £1500 should see a really top build. The Pikes are too long for the PA as their A-C height is long. If coil is your desire for front forks then try the Fox 32 Vanilla's - unless you're wanting a 20mm axle (in which case you'll need a DB Alpine to accomodate the rise in A-C of the Pikes).
I also have a mate who rides a 456 and he likes that too.
In reality the riding differences betweeen the PA and a Chavbred 456 are negligable. The additional cost for a PA contributes to a much better overall (ie: paint) finish which imo is worth it.
I say, do it. You want a PA. You've earned a PA. You deserve a PA.
Two things please: pricing and sizing......
Pricing
The suggested spec that's come back (and appears to be the same as the HFTH demo bike) is broadly as follows:
rockshox revelation 426 air u-turn forks
XT drivetrain
hope hubs
mavic wheels
formula k24 brakes
raceface stem and seatpost
all the other necessary bits but no pedals
Built for £1549. Any thoughts?
Sizing
It seems that medium (17" ) frames are sold out for now. They have a large (19" ) frame available and a small (15" ). But how do I *really* gauge the size I need? If it helps, I'm 6', 33" inside leg and I like my seatpost/saddle high up.
And yes, I'll be asking the stockist too!
Pricing
The suggested spec that's come back (and appears to be the same as the HFTH demo bike) is broadly as follows:
rockshox revelation 426 air u-turn forks
XT drivetrain
hope hubs
mavic wheels
formula k24 brakes
raceface stem and seatpost
all the other necessary bits but no pedals
Built for £1549. Any thoughts?
Sizing
It seems that medium (17" ) frames are sold out for now. They have a large (19" ) frame available and a small (15" ). But how do I *really* gauge the size I need? If it helps, I'm 6', 33" inside leg and I like my seatpost/saddle high up.
And yes, I'll be asking the stockist too!
Edited by bigandclever on Monday 31st March 14:58
snotrag said:
Vesuvius 996 said:
Dialled is owned by one of my best mates.
I hear they are the absolute nuts!!
Go for it.
Mike?I hear they are the absolute nuts!!
Go for it.
Top geezer, one of the reasons I went for one over an On-one. Was dead helpful when I bought mine and put me in touch with some other owners.
I've had two, an original 530 spec with the extra tube, and a later, lighter 853 frame. Bother were superb, built up with cheapish sturdy parts (130mm marzocchi forks).
Err on the smaller side of sizing, as having a long seatpost further helps the good all-day comfort. Highly reccomended.
It's borderline. I know people who are taller on mediums, and slightly shorter on large. If you're going to be throwing it around a lot, probably worth going smaller.
Spec sounds ideal though. Shame about the lack of mediums, I was starting to eye up an orange one rather than respray mine!
Spec sounds ideal though. Shame about the lack of mediums, I was starting to eye up an orange one rather than respray mine!
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