Heatsink

You can create more chain space on the top sprocket shaft if you take the washer off that sits between the circlip and the outside of the plate. It's 2mm thick so once removed it would allow a washer of 1mm thickness either side of the sprocket to be added. If you need more space than this then a new shaft would be required. Steve

You'll have to judge this by eye! I wouldn't want to go out by more than a few mm max myself, although I'm sure it'll run ok when 1cm out or more, just it's going to wear everything at an angle and increase the likelihood of skipping. You'd have to make a judgement for yourself about when the chain is starting to crunch off the teeth at entry/exit. The tension a Rohloff can provide when extended will give you an advantage in keeping the chain on the rear sprocket though. I've just set-up my chainline this evening following some changes to my drivetrain, and it took a while, but it's worth it to know that it's as straight as possible. I take it you've removed all the spacers and have run out of adjustment towards the wheel? Maybe the other way around? It does take a while to set-up a Rohloff, and to get my chainline perfect to the measurements I'd taken, I had to take time out to source some extra washers. You have to be patience with fitting Rohloffs but it'll be the only time you need to fiddle with them Steve

I would prefer the Golf MkII, but surely you'll have to look hard to find one that hasn't already been thrashed as all the GTis have long been exchanging hands between boy racers now. I once got a 3rd party quote on a H reg MkII GTi worth £500 and is was 1.5k! It could have been a dodgy quote since my insurance is usually only around £350 nowadays. MG Maestro? My Dad used to own a pair of Maestros! Steve

I've got a singlespeed set-up so wanted to replace my 8 speed Sachs MTB chain with a sturdy 1/8" one. The extra width of a 1/8" chain (around 12mm wide) certainly requires special attention to get it to fit around all sprockets and tensioners without fouling anything! I've got a short off cut of one 1/8" chain to give me an idea of the clearance needed. I've got the front sprocket clearance sorted with a Cloud9 bashguard on Middleburn cranks, and my Rohloff tensioner is currently in pieces so I can measure up for some new axle parts to create enough chain clearance. My question is; 1. What 1/8" chain do you recommend 2. What issues are there with removing pins and rejoining these chains. It's probabily well trodden ground since I gather that BMXers use 1/8" chains alot? I'm wondering if the wider chain or possible tighter pins causes any problems with using standard chaintools. Cheers, Steve

There's always confusion between the thread size and the allen key size needed! M5 thread bolts have a 4mm hex head - 4 bolt mounts M6 thread bolts have a 5mm hex head (here's where many get confused between sizes!) - Vee mounts Steve

I hope you don't mind me adding this vid to the Wall of Youtube vids on my site! Best example of Trials on TV I've seen ...It's up Great to see people raising the Helmet issue - I used to always go on about this but must admit to not noticing when I first watched the vid. Please get a lid soon Leon and lets see more of your vids again! Steve

Nice one Patt! More of these showing how strong your riding is! Great tune by Yes too Lyrics here if you wanted to sing along! http://www.yesworld.com/lyrics/BigGenerator.html Youtube steaming on my site now: http://www.heatsinkbikes.com/?p=team Steve

Nice one Leon! You came across really well in the interview and the footage shown did your riding justice for sure! Definately great publicity for Trials and you! I can't resist saying "Nice Jumps!". The trials language doesn't come easily to those outside the sport! Steve

Sorry for this being off topic, but again I have to put the record straight The whole thing was, you got the wrong end of the stick about me adding Coust pads to my range. It wasn't due to any problems with my pads. Quite simply Coust pads had no decent backings, and rider demand was (and still is) high for them. It made perfect sense for me to fill the niche with my 3 available pad backing types and pad making experience. Why not have a go at every other shop that stocks more than one sort of pads? Is this an admission that the others they stock are rubbish? It's a groundless argument and one that I wasted alot of typing time trying to politely explain. It's no accident that many others find your comments on a variety of topic just go too far into the hating direction, provoking spirited and angry replies. There's some amazing stuff happening on the forum, why not find something to get behind rather than tearing things apart? Steve

Mint video What I'm really appreciating in vids at the moment is fresh riding, more originality of moves etc. That sort of thing rekindles my motivation to get out on my bike. Top marks for that! Regarding Spacemunkee's posts, why all the hating? It's a fun trials vid - I've wasted too much time myself rising to Spacemunkee's posts..... I couldn't remember doing anything bad to provoke such negative comments thrown in my direction. It's the sort of thing that puts you on the back foot when it's not your thing to go around treading on people's toes! Hohum, I guess there will always be people who are like that. Steve

Now playing in realtime too: http://www.heatsinkbikes.com/?p=team Great vid! Steve

My Middleburns for sure I've just rewarded them with a special update to celebrate their 7years of service: Steve

When packing, be sure to put something between the rear stays at the drop out to avoid them being bent in! A piece of wood cut to size and secured with tape will be easy to sort out. Of course, always remove the mech hanger to avoid it being bent. I'd put it in a small bag and stick it to the piece of wood between the stays. Wrap the whole frame in lots of bubble wrap and I like to bunch up extra bubble wrap and sellotape it on the frame extremities for extra protection, headtube, BB, top of seat tube, drop outs. I've had good experiences with Parcelforce sending to locations all around the world on 30+ occasions. Expect to pay around £30 for a frame which will typically be just over 3kg when packaged. Sending out is arranged at the Post Office and is really straight forward. Just ask them what Parcelforce services abroad are available and see which one sounds best for you. Possibly the International Standard rate. This has a £150 compensation as standard if lost, and you can pay extra if more is required. Check on the cheaper International Economy rate too. I notice there's not loads of info on their website since they promote the more expensive guaranteed delivery time services which would definately be uneconomic for a bike frma. Sending frames can cost a fortune with most couriers since they are only selling services with guaranteed delivery times which are very quick. These sorts of services from known firms like DHL, FedEX etc are more suited to big business because the delivery cost approaches the value of the frame! Steve

There's no reason why I shouldn't have put the "Blueberry" pads back on line I've built up high stocks of them recently, but haven't got around to updating the website. I'll put the back up for ordering within the hour They are the same blue pads but I decided to give them a name! I reckon they're the best they've ever been due to the evolution over time of assembly techniques and materials used. I'll have the complete range of pads put back online for ordering very soon too. Now the Middleburn bashguard is released, the pads are my top priority (after my family, naturally!) Steve

Hi, I've had a delay with the latest Coust pad delivery due to it not being forwarded from our old address since the new resident is never there The post forwarding should have caught the parcel, and I should have got the new address sent on, but never mind, I've got a new delivery in the post to me so I will have pads available in just a couple of days Steve

More ideas here on this French Forum: http://www.espacetrial.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=6899 Steve

Thanks for your kind remarks Johnny! Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the Clive Leeson bashguard a standard Protrials (22t) turned on the lathe to trim some material away for weight saving/looks. Apologies if he has already produced a splined bashguard from start to finish! Steve

Some further exciting news: Following enquiries about selling brand new Middleburn cranks with the Cloud9 bashkit fitted, I'm pleased to announce that the best guys are on the case. TartyBikes.co.uk are now able to supply from their wide range of Middleburn cranks (ISIS/taper, various lengths, black/silver arms) with the Cloud9 bash fitted professionally by them (correct bolt torques and thread lock used). Pricewise, the Middleburns cranks + cloud9 set-up slots nicely in the niche between the Protrials(22t) and Super Protrials(16t) set-ups that they sell. I'm really pleased that Dave, Adam and the gang at TartyBikes are able to offer the complete Middleburn + Cloud9 assembly ready to go. They've got an impressive UK and Global record for delivery, and all the indepth back up knowledge you could wish for. I know that many riders around the world are aware of Middleburn cranks and envious of their reputation but have been looking for an exciting new reason to consider them and also a reputable supplier for affordable global delivery. It looks like this is now sorted! Steve

Huge and fearless riding! Very impressive vid there Bill!

Best of luck John! I'm sure it'll go well - those guys know what they're doing. And I was worried about getting my ingrowing tow nail sorted out the other month. You're more of a man than me! Steve

My 24UK. Steve

I've had a copy of this DVD for the past week. I haven't had the opportunity to watch it all the way through, but what I've seen of it has really impressed me! The build ups to the riding segments are beautiful to watch (I won't spoil it!), surpassing the standard of film which has gone before, and the riding locations are to die for! Top class riding of course and they've also squeezed in some Australian ladies too which seem to hang out at all the cool riding sections in not very much clothes. For a more complete review I'd better watch it all the way through and I'll edit Steve

Thanks for everyones' continued comments Regarding the sprocket price, this is something that I'd like to reduce as soon as I get an overstock of these sprockets. At present there is an equal number of sprockets to make up Bash Kits, hence these are worth extra to me until the new batch of sprockets arrive. By the time the sprockets have worn out (a long time with their hard-chromed finish!) these will have long been reduced down to a cheaper price, but still a few quid more than a normal rear sprocket to take into account the cost of CNC drilling. I want to show riders that the cost of replacing the sprockets on a Cloud9 bash is much more affordable than other front sprocket set-ups, in a world where sprockets for some trials set-ups are going up in price to £20 odd now! At least at present they are still the same sort of price which you'd expect to pay for a bolt mounted front 22t sprocket, but with a harder wearing coating than most of these. It's strange how much the price of equal toothed sprockets differs between front or back mounted! Steve

Thanks for all your positive responses This bashguard certainly has had alot of careful thought put into it, and I must thank Mike Singleton for riding the very first example since mid Dec '06 all around the UK, generating intrigue and allowing me to cement confidence in the fundamentals of the design whilst I continued to tweak the finer points. The Cloud9 bashguard offsets the chainring inboard by 1.5mm compared to standard Middleburn bashguards. This tiny move was necessary as part of the new geometry that allows wider chains to be run. The sprocket size decrease from 22t to 18t does allow you to run the sprocket nearer to the BB without it fouling the BB yoke. Steve

My latest baby I've called it the "Cloud9 Bashguard" The very first independently made splined bashguard for Middleburns The first for 18tooth sprockets Lifetime warranty Packed with many more features aswell, more info: http://www.heatsinkbikes.com/?p=cloud9 In Stock Now Steve