Let's offroad / mountain bike / mtb / ride dirt

south downs way/ South Downs day rides. 29er or 27.5 ?

Think 29 is generally recommended for everything these days

Did it on 26". Was fine. Ride what you're comfortable on.

Cheers, I was thinking of buying a bike and have the choice.
Was looking at budget new options.
Voodoo bizanga 29er
Vitus Nucleus 1x deore 29er
On one bootzipper?
(I have no idea what I'm doing)

Can anyone recommend any MTB shorts that don't come down to the knee(want something just a little shorter)? Obviously I know hot pants are an option but no one needs to see that.

Can recommend, for a little bit more ££, the Sentier Deore version. Love mine. Got 27.5 but would probably get 29 next time, just for the benefit of rolly rolly on longer rides / xc / bikepacking. Can really feel the 27.5 + dragging on the way to the woods.

Endura Hummvee Lite.

@sacredhart The Bizango is fantastic, really capable geo and well specced but they are so often on gunmtree practically new I would not buy a new one from Halfords. The only two problems are shit cranks and heavy forks. If you bought a second hand one you could easily change those things. But don’t be scared of them because they are cheap etc they are good

^ +1 they are good
Some threads on singletrackworld on how to mod the fork for better performance iirc

Thanks all. I've been trying to get my old Kona sorted for some off roading again but the front end is so low it's not going to be so comfortable for any length of time. I think I'll throw some slicks on it and use it round town.

Looking at newer bikes but really out of my depth with new MTB stuff. Good about about the bizango.

Sentier is out of my budget.

What are people's thoughts on bizango Vs Nucleus?

Speaking of which, have you serviced your fork yet?

Fork service? I thought you just sell them on when they stop working properly?

I’m happy with length and cut of my Overland ones.

New tyres

2 Attachments

2.4” is indeed the size of kings/queens

Oh no you didn't!

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/293540967179
Worth an offer?

Tempted to get one of these

https://www.wiggle.co.uk/vitus-nucleus-29-vrs-bike-deore-1x10-2020/

Interesting-looking 10-speed set up from microSHIFT at a very keen price (in $ at least, haven't seen a £ figure):

https://theradavist.com/2020/04/sleek-and-minimal-the-microshift-advent-x-10-speed-mtb-kit/

I’d keep an eye out for cheaper than 550 - I managed to grab a Bokor with a dropper post for 500 a couple of years back on eBay.

They will come up, as people have a ton of time to do spring cleaning...

2.4" = wide???

I think if your going to buy something that's already cheap second hand you can probably expect to have to service the fork, so I'd factor that in.

The Vitus looks good for the money though, and it's fairly slack.

Shame microSHIFT always feels awful

New bike day! With the Tuscany Trail postponed due to C-19, and really enjoying “gnarbimbling” on the Utrechtse Heuvelrug on rented Cube Stereo 120-150’s in th past months, I took the plunge and ordered a Stereo 140 from my lbs on Tuesday. Got a call on Thursday that it was ready to collect. Picked it up straight away, chatted with the owner for a bit, got thrown in a shock pump so I could fine tune the sag, mechanic switched the front brake to the right lever for me (yes I’m Dutch but I still prefer front on the right hand side), and rolled it home.
It’s now sitting in my living room with the tyres off waiting for the tubeless tape to come in...
Big thumbs up to Snel Fietsen for their service and making the time in their busy schedule to get it ready so quickly. Looking forward to riding tomorow.

Edit: Tyre pressure, where to start?: 2.35 Schwalbe Nobly Nic front and rear, tubeless, 76kg rider, 13.?kg bike

1 Attachment

28psi rear 22psi front

Not really mountain bike shorts, but the swrve wrr shorts are the best all round shorts for riding bikes I've ever found and you can wear them to the pub.