To all you 29er's out there!

was going to suggest the same, but not sure what the bank holds

That's sort of the conclusion I was arriving at....as I'm about 14 stone, or a bit under, I would need the flow rims right? I read that the crest are for less sturdy chaps and chapessess!
I'll be looking at some of those, but might have to wait till after chrimbo......the wife has her eyes on some mulberry.....thanks for the input though!
Does anyone know if my ranger bags of sand can go tubeless though? I might be able to shave off a bit that way.......I have found a couple of references to them, some say they can be, others not........?

The Crests are meant to be pretty strong too. I would be tempted by the flows myself, as your bike has "hooligan" written all over it!

Depends on what you really want to use it for I suppose. Regular XC, trail riding, or DH & jump style abuse?

You'll be fine with the crest.

Thanks guys.....I've just come off my 96 hours on duty, and will go and give it a go today with the pressures up......the front was at 27psi and the rear about 25. I've put them up to 50 for now, and will let a bit out halfway round the route, to about 40psi. It was superb in the Gloop, but struggled on the flat to maintain the kind of speed that I normally ride at.
It might look a bit hooligan, but I'm not sure my 43 year old legs are!
Don't get me wrong, I like to give it a good leathering, but my days of big drop offs are behind me!
I don't even understand some of the terms now! What the fuck is 'gravity'? Isn't it just downhill? I like the look of pump tracks though.....they look a giggle. Any nearby?
I'm just going to have fun with it, but want it a bit lighter....

Don't know if there's a pumptrack more local, and if there is I'd love to know, but Chicksands bikepark has a small but fun pump track. It's a great place to improve your riding in general, and not as extreme as it might sound.

I second Scoble. You'd be fine on the Crest.

But, and I consider this an important but. The flow are near 5mm wider. which will make a notably positive effect on your tyre profile, and volume, while allow slightly lower PSI. This all adds up to better rolling, and a bigger contact surface.

Not many things in MTBing give both more traction and better rolling, and the wieght penalty is small.

Flows, all the way.

^ Bah, beaten to it! There's about 150g difference per rim. I think I'd be more concerned by tyre weight. That can vary considerably.

Thats very rider specific too though. I ride in mud, and over smooth rock. So dont mind weight weenie sidewalls. Those riding in eg. sharp slate, will want sidewall protection. That adds a surprising amount of weight, and of course affects the rolling.

^ True. I was thinking about the conditions of the local loop stedlocks posted.

Thanks for the input again folks.... It's invaluable to me! I guess I e got to play around with what I have until the new year though.... It's not a major hardship! I'm off out now at 50 psi and will report back later.... Does anyone know what those geax barro tyres are like? I quite like the look of skinnier tyres and normally use panaracer fire xc pro 1.8 on the airborne.... At 60 psi! Fast rolling, and a bit sketchy in the mud.

Rocket rons are good for the weight. Not sure they'd my chioce for that gunk though.

For soft mud dont go too wide. Maybe not over 2.0".

Bonty 29-MUD TLR, are well respected mud tyres for 29ers, and they arent too heavy either.

http://www.jejamescycles.co.uk/bontrager-29er-mud-item197644.html

I've heard good things about the maxxis beaver.

http://www.maxxis.com/Bicycle/Mountain/Beaver.aspx

Quite narrow, light & meant to shed mud well.

Gitar Ted seems to like both. Both are 2.0", and weights are similar. The Bonty might be a touch more mud specific though.

http://twentynineinches.com/2011/05/02/bontrager-jones-mud-x-29%e2%80%b3er-tiremid-term-final-review/

http://twentynineinches.com/2011/10/23/maxxis-beaver-29er-tires-mid-term/

I've heard good things about the maxxis beaver.

http://www.maxxis.com/Bicycle/Mountain/Beaver.aspx

Quite narrow, light & meant to shed mud well.

That's what I run. And they are phenomenal at shedding mud, as my face post-ride will attest.

Blimey! The difference a bit of air makes!
I only did a 20 mile loop today, mostly muddy bridle way type stuff, but where I admittedly lost a bit of traction (sideways on the rear, but there are no knobbles to stop that on the tyre I have) and a tiny bit of comfort, the bike felt so much quicker! I'll have to analyse the garmin data, but I am positive it was rolling much closer to where I want to be..... I can live with that, no problem. I'll check out the beavers for sure (fnar)!
I love this bike though! :0)

stedlocks

i use the flows and have a v low psi, traction is great and it does not seem to impede speed

Cheers DJ, I think that is the way forward.....I'll see what I can blag after Christmas. Rutland are doing the cheapest I've seen.... £276 for front and back.

So what new forks are you getting?

;-)

Stop it!
It's going to be like fucking triggers broom!

One of these would look good. Light too!

Ha!
Wheels....definitely.
Chainset...for sure
Forks....probably not! (Yet)
Headset...king inset 7 (later)
Mallet stem....not my bag, mister ;0)
Tyres....first thing to do

Pah!

You havent even started fecking with your bars yet. ;)

Seriously though. The right tyres, tubeless, on some light rims, and it'll feel half the weight.

I was looking for some jones bars though!
I'm hoping for that......the bike weighs in at 32.5lbs as is.....I've only got to get a bit off. Wheels and chainset, and it will be nearly 25ish.....!

I was looking for some jones bars though!
I'm hoping for that......the bike weighs in at 32.5lbs as is.....I've only got to get a bit off. Wheels and chainset, and it will be nearly 25ish.....!

What about getting rid of another 7lbs of body weight and saving a shite load of money?

Cheers for the stickers, put them on tonight, it's proper slave now m8!

Good game tonight, lucky old Arsenal ;-)