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

I looked at the fathom and decided against it purely on the fork, saw a few threads on forums of people having issues (will see if I can find).

Edit: found one which covers some stuff about fork clicking and a weird issue with chainline causing issues...https://m.pinkbike.com/forum/listcomments/?threadid=224116&pagenum=2

Might be stating the obvious, but if swapping the fork, go with something that has a lockout option for climbing on gravel (e.g. I got a Rockshox pike recently that's great for trails but wouldn't want to ride gravel on it because of no lockout).

Thanks both!

@Fforiwr The Crest fork sounds like a Giant mistake 😎

Mind if I ask what you went for instead? I'm tempted to go ahead because I have a spare Reba I can swap out straight away

Indeed! I don't really know why they'd choose to spec their own brand one (which is presumably made by one of the big names anyway) but there we go!

Long story short, I was going to get the Kona Honzo But ended up getting a cargo bike instead on the C2w scheme I was going to use for the Kona.

I have just built up a Boardman MHT 8.9 frame with the pike I mentioned though to scratch the MTB itch (bike building itch more accurately!)

That link makes it look like it's a rebranded suntour raidon, which is pretty crap.

Not sure, but I doubt they’re going to check your viscosity at the service centre.

Whistler is worth a visit.

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I'm trying to get my head around modern Shimano geoupsets and have a few questions if someone can help.

I want to put gears on my Karate Monkey. It's 135mm rear spacing. I think I'm right on saying 11sp will fit a standard HG freehub but 12sp needs a new freehub?

Not sure whether to go drop bar/ monster cross or keep it on risers.

What is the Ultegra equivilant for flat bar mtb? SLX?

And if I went the drop bar route do Shimano road brifters work with SLX (or whatever group) of not what do I need to buy? Some gravel groupset maybe.

Yep, 11spd is HG. But not all SRAM 11spd cassettes are HG, some are XD (because, standards)

SLX is workhorse 105 equivalent, XT would be Ultegra. And yes, SLX should work fine with a 105 shifter, or a GRX one

And godspeed in your quest to actually find any stock anywhere

GRX doesn't work with Shimano MTB pull ratios AFAIK?

Also you can get a Sunrace 12 speed cassette that fits on a standard 11s freehub no bother. Not all 11/12s cassettes will fit on 10s freehubs though.

GRX doesn't work with Shimano MTB pull ratios AFAIK?

Technically, I don't think 105 will either, but it can be made to work

https://bikepacking.com/gear/guide-to-mullet-drivetrains/

And yes, SLX should work fine with a 105 shifter, or a GRX one

When did this start happening again? I thought Shimano's road and MTB groups had irrevocably parted ways when it comes to cross-compatibility.

Looks fucking incredible

Also like I would die in about two seconds

why are you doing this to us @BareNecessities

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I'm toying with the notion of building a trail/ play bike to compliment my 180mm Capra next year...

I'm pretty well sold on getting a Marino frame built so I can shop for good deals on parts and then spec the frame to suit but here's the thing...

Would I be nuts to go for 26?

Wheels and forks are cheap as chips and I could probably just buy a complete build for <€500 to pillage for parts and end up with an older Fox Factory suspension setup and some nice wheels for small money.

I've never felt compelled to go 29 and never even considered 27.5 to really be that much of a step up as such from my old 26s...

Does a 26er 120-130mm travel, steel, modern slack geometry full suss (for <€1500 all in) sound like lunacy or a stroke of genius?

And yes, SLX should work fine with a 105 shifter, or a GRX one

this is BS

Ooh, I hope there's a 2.6" version

Bikeradar link to that is dead :-(

26" + playful seems at odds with long, low and slack.

Does a 26er 120-130mm travel, steel, modern slack geometry full suss (for <€1500 all in) sound like lunacy or a stroke of genius?

Ask BTR

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Bikeradar link to that is dead :-(

Nothing ever is really gone on the internet https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:9GRtrnwbZlsJ:https://www.bikeradar.com/news/vittoria-syerra-tyre/+&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=uk

Nothing ever is really gone on the internet

Even all your old bikes?

Also, ta

My old bikes are the internet

It took me a while to cleanse my eyes after spying that monstrosity but I think it could definitely be the way to go!