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

Just part of the modern disposable culture I guess. Must be one of the things I find so appealing about singlespeeds.

^^ Oh... add a collection of 8 & 9 speed shifters to that list too :-)

I still run 9sp. 2x9. I have 1x10 on the fatbike, and man, the chains suck in sandy conditions. Maybe I'll go 1x11 on my yeti (when I eventually build one)

I'll never go 650b or 29er though.

I can barely cope, my front end is so flexy with this noodle-esque headtube, likewise my minute 26" wheels fall between gaps in the pavement. There's always something new to be hyped, I wonder when we revisit 24" wheels?

I haven't moved over to 29er for the "benefits of larger wheels". Mainly because it make the massive frames that I require look more in proportion. That & the fact that 29ers appear to get offered in larger sizes too.

It'd just be nice to see real advances made in technology, as we've had with improved braking, suspension, frame materials etc.. Not just different sizes, numbers & shifting standards.

if anyone has a cheap 1 1/8" Suspension fork (possibly nicer one,

I've got a cheap one (Marzocchi MXC £50) and a nice one (Fox TALAS R £150)

Southdowns way any one? Trying to find a dry weather window. May be waiting some time!

Hi BareNecessities, you will just love a 29er . They climb so well!! I race a pro 29er Lynskey 1x9. 12/ 24racing just awesome, armchair comfy.

Cheers cawteracing. I already got one a couple of months ago. Really enjoying it!

http://www.lfgss.com/thread90254.html

I'll probably get another one next year :-)

Does anyone know where you can hire a decent mtb in London or Brighton? GF and I are meeting some mates for a days riding on the South Down Way next weekend and since her bike was stolen she's only got a road bike and no money to buy anything at the moment....

I race a pro 29er Lynskey 1x9.

Welcome to the forum. The Lynskey sounds great. For your own sake, don't post it up in the bike porn thread! ;-)

You might want to post a picture of it here though.

http://www.lfgss.com/thread78455.html

^^ I'm staying well out of the 26" vs 29" discussion/argument. Some people like dogs, others like cats. I like both, but own a cat because I get on better with them & they suit my lifestyle* better.

*sad recluse

650b is rubbish though ;-)

my minute 26" wheels fall between gaps in the pavement.

Just saw this.... Riding on the pavement!!

Bet you weren't even wearing a helmet ;-)

I'd be happy to go with another frame material but given I want/need something stupid light Ti might be the 'sensible' option.

Or I just like shiny things.

How about pretend Ti? Not light, but damn tough. ED treated too.

http://www.tweekscycles.com/Product.do?method=view&n=3549&g=249337&p=179490&c=215&utm_source=Google&utm_medium=Base&utm_campaign=Hardtail%20Frames

I like those...but the build a mate of mine did weighed far too much.

Quoted weight is 2.8kg for the frame :(

:-)

Whyte 19ti build is 10.8kg

That's only 1kg more than my crosser with its training wheels on.

I can get it down to 10.5kg with the hollowgrams on it :)

How does that complete build you posted compare price wise to a self build?

19ti frame only is £1600 (litespeed pricing init). A self build would be crushingly expensive.

I could build a very plush cotic for the £3k the whyte would cost...with budget for a lefty, £600 wheelset and a dropper post with an XT/XTR mix

Thinking about it, I wonder if a self build with a lefty would save the same weight as going from 853 to ti.

Hmmmm..? Goes back to look at Whyte spec.

The Whyte has all the right names against it; Hope, Easton, Thomson, Fox.

If they did a lefty build...

Not an easy decision. I think I'd prefer the Cotic, but I have no real experience of the Whyte. It's only the Ti factor that stops me saying Cotic really.

• the fact that I like to have a singlespeed option.
  

Assuming there's no practical way of test riding either I think flipping a coin will do - either way I get to satisfy my Ti. or 853/Lefty lust.

Or I could just learn to ride my XC bike properly.