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

27.5 seems sensible for the smaller person. Went through this looking for a new bike for my youngest who's ended up on a mullet hardtail. Lots of deals out there on 27.5 forks, wheels and tyres.

Yes I have one and love it. I keep thinking of swapping it but actually for me it's ideal. Mine is 67 ha with140 fork and I ride Rocky mountain terrain, much like the lakes. I don't want super slack as I dont charge down and I ride steep right corners. So yeah, good bike if that's your use case.

I’ve probably done less than 10 rides and I’m new to mtb.

Thanks for the replies everyone I will give it more time.

@furious_tiles No downhill. Single track trails, table tops, techy sections with rock gardens/tree roots, decent amount of climbing.

The bike is a Specialized Evo hard tail, 60mm stem 6°+ rise. Was also thinking about trying a shorter stem.

Sounds like a great bike for rocky stuff. Plus the new one seems to have a load of improvements.

Not sure if they've done that much, they seem to not really say. The seat tube is shorter, it's a little slacker and a bigger fork. I made mine a bit slacker with an offset bushing and bigger fork.

Other brands will likely make better bike, Santa Cruz, Yeti, etc, but they're generally a good bit more money. Worth investigating though.

Despicable Me X: Escape from the minions..

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Ugh. Starting stripping my G16 down to replace the pivot bearings, as I suspect the swingarm bearing is the cause of a very annoying click on compression and rebound. Can I get the pivot axles out of the swingarm and rocker? Can I fuck. The previous owner was a bit cack handed, and he's cross threaded inside the axle where the preload cap screws into, too. This is the third thing I've discovered he's fucked on this frame (all fixable, just annoying)

Anyway, pivot axles - I've tried smashing it out as hard as possible with no luck. Don't think heatgun/blowtorch will work as there's too much material around the bearing. Any bright ideas?

There is a risk of bodge over bodge here..

Worth sending back to the boys?

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I've got all the bearings and pullers/presses, it's just the stuck axles (which need replacing anyway, so I've already emailed them about purchasing)
They do great work, but £200 is £200.

Indeed.. Though as a bodge merchant I would be concerned about what you do after you've removed the axles. Will you need to tap new threads? :(

Edit to add.. are the threads in the new bearings?

Nah, I'd replace that axle with a new one anyway

I think the lower guide like is on the newer MRP Sxg wouldn't hurt, especially if you want a bashguard. Certainly no need for a roller that is in constant contact with the chain.

Ordered that, thanks.

Got the old axle out with some judicial use of a hammer and socket, but there's not a chance I'm going to get the new one in without the correct tool. Before I buy one next week, I don't suppose anyone would have - or know of anyone with - a Nicolai/Geometron service tool?

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Send it back, it's missing some pixels

After another xc race getting bounced around on my hardtail I think I need to drop the fork pressure and tyre pressure- but how low would you go?
Currently run about 28/26psi in 2.35 tubeless with an insert in back. Both feels too hard but last time I raced softer the back tyre burped!
Fork is from memory 120 but whatever rockshox app recommended. I think this could come down a bit too.
Presumably just keep letting a bit out and riding the same trial until I find a sweet spot?
Then put some back in the tyres for local rocky rides?
Or.. after my lower back took a pounding do I need a full sus?!

How much do you weigh?

Shirley you should ride Santa Cruz?

92kg approx plus kit etc.
silca pressure website suggests about 18psi but I can’t see the tyre staying on at that pressure but maybe it would on typical rooty grassy xc courses

How wide are your rims?

Not measured but back one is quite old so not very wide. Front one looks much wider

Yeh that’d be nice if I had the ££

Context from my side FWIW I have a 2.35 with insert on my hardtail and typically run 25psi - 80kg plus kit, so your setup feels pretty reasonable.

I reckon get a full suss.

Maybe get some light inserts and drop the pressure a bit? What sort of fork is it? My Sid ultimate runs at stupid low basically and I still don't seem to bottom out.

I think that’s the answer, just go somewhere I can ride laps and keep dropping the pressure.
I have no problem on loose rock like we get in the peaks but rooty soft loam in forests and bumpy grass field paths and I’m screwed! Feels like my seat bounces me up and down constantly on that stuff.