Heatsink

I finally got the rear brake sorted out Replacement wheel (with wider rim) now completely trued, and CNC Maguras with Snowy pads fitted about as accurately as I've ever fitted them! Time consuming, but worth it. Epoxy drying on the rear hub (to stop it back rotating now used with a front freewheel). Riding again tomorrow to check out the improvements! As a next step I don't want to have to disassemble the bike again for painting but I do want to get a fresh new colour on the frame . How hard can masking all the mounted components be!? Worth a try! Steve

Week nights are best for me!

Well I needed to sort out 2 problems with the build without investing loads of money. The rim is too narrow for the frame which causes brake set-up problems, and the rear hub is weedy with not many enagagements. I have a spare wheel with a wide enough rim but knackered (skipping) hub, so combining this with a FFW set-up avoids a major spend! 'Burns not for sale yet Steve

Time for an overdue improvement to the drivetrain. Out with the LX hub finally and I'm sad to say goodbye to the Middleburns. Front Free Wheel plus fixed rear hub is the next set-up. Hoorah for the TF "For Sale" section Just need to true my replacement rear wheel, grind it and then reset up the brakes with a rear booster. Then the frame will be repainted a nice bright colour which I've finally decided on after much deliberation! Steve

Thanks for posting Simon! It's a great time for me to have a reunion with the Cambridge crew. Never has so much riding been owed by so many to so few (my family to me - I'm overdue some riding after so much Dad-work!) Cambridge has always been a great place to enjoy a summer's evening riding. All locals and our friends from around the surrounding area will be guaranteed a warm welcome. I look forward to seeing old and new faces very soon Steve

Sounds good! Steve

You need to grab the opportunity for exercise more than ever in your thirties. Trials is always impressive! Since the street outside your door is your play ground, you'll struggle to find more convenient exercise outside However, if the joy is gone then why continue. I'm sure you can find new ways to reinject some interest back into your riding though! Steve

Hi all, I've added a new page to my site featuring detailed profiles of the 8 HeatsinkBikes.com sponsored riders: http://www.heatsinkbikes.com/?p=riders The aim was to help interested riders understand a bit more what makes these guys tick. I hope you find their mini-interview responses interesting! Steve

Sorry to hear the 24UK has gone, but the bike is looking very nice! And great choice of rear pads there Best wishes! Steve

After 4 years and then suddenly 2 competitors to the HSB CNC backings come out at the same time! Nothing like competition though. It's a powerful driving influence as I review the design of my backings for future tweaks, as I'm sure the competition have had a thorough look at my backings to help launch their designs. I think that during the years of absence of competition I've sat back and not promoted the HSB CNC backings as much as I could of. With a unique product it has been pointed out to me that I could have sold them for more, but being greedy is not what HSB is about. In a nut shell, now in 2009 they are the most successful and proven CNC Magura backing in the world. Sold globally for the past 4 years and as famously used by Aurelien Fontenoy to win many World and European Trials championships from the point I started supplying him with them back in 2005. Being the most proven design is the HSB backing strength. A great starting point for future refinements! Watch out for the HSB CNC backings gen2 coming later this year! Steve

Have car, will travel! My apologies to the residents of Royston, Hertfordshire, who today had their peaceful lunch time ruined by the sound of my squealing brakes round and about. I hopefully livened up things a bit for them though. More riding tomorrow Steve

Hello again! To my eye the Inspired looks a well designed frame You won't go wrong with it Naturally I've put my full heart into designing the 24UK, but the supply isn't there at the moment. It's just great to have more riders getting into 24" bikes, and hopefully acknowledging the support from HSB for 24" and popping some of my components on their builds! I can't see the 24UK being available for the rest of 2009, but the latest version has the following changes: Looses the long downtube gusset at the BB - Riders didn't think it was needed so away it goes to improve looks and weightGeometry tweaked to closely match the Inspired - Keep it simple for riders!Longer seat tube and changed angle - So all types of seats can be easily slammed whilst the saddle is at the perfect height for occasionally perching on.Cable mounts under the top tube changed from ones where the hose clips in at an angle to ones that you can use the zip ties or plastic clips - For improved hose retention (especially at the front for bar spins). It still keeps the 3x rear brake option: Disc/ Magura on the top/Vee on the bottom of the seat stays. Built in rear booster stamped with 24UK. I was considering burgundy for my 26" frame. The paint is ready to go, but I'm wondering whether a lighter colour will be better. Hmmm. Always a hard choice! Looking forward to seeing your new build! Steve

It's got to be the Inspired I bet you didn't expect me to say that, but it's true! You can read why here I'm very proud of the 24UK frame since alot of hard work has gone into packing it with features since 2005. It's a very popular and proven frame which has really helped popularise the 24" movement since its inception. The 24UK Some exciting exclusive news: A small number of Mk3 frames are coming into the UK this week which exhibit the latest tweaks and improvements after pouring over in great detail all rider feedback on the Mk2. These frames are all spoken for, and I wish I could have built up a big stock ready to buy, but it wasn't possible at this moment in time! Photos coming within 1 week from now. So be sure to buy an Inspired, but don't forget to arm it with some Heatsink CNC Magura backings for the perfect finishing touch! Steve

Old School style (forgive the pad to rim wonkiness, not set-up yet!) I'll get some practise in and see if I can muster a vid together this summer! Steve

Substituted a Kore stem + 2" Rise Azonic bars Looking better I hope you agree, and it's more comfortable to ride too. Wheelbase is 1100mm. A Control 04 Long? Steve

Popping an alternative stem + riser bars on tonight I may treat myself to a new hub in the near future. Well, I'll keep my eyes peeled for a 2nd hand one anyway! Steve

That's very generous of you! The only new parts are the Cloud9 bashkit and Vee pads. Everything else has sort of been frozen in time from around 2004. That's when real life intervened on my riding aspirations! Nevertheless, I really like how it rides and I'm looking forward to further improving the set-up: 1. Better relative hand/foot placement to suit me 2. Different colour to breathe some life in the frame 3. More coloured components as "bike jewelery" If I keep up the riding regularity of the last few days then I could get much fitter this summer Steve

I'll have to check how many brownie points I've saved up with Tracy. I haven't been on a group ride in ages....

A fair comment Alan! Trials on a shoestring, and enjoying every minute The gold stem has been patiently waiting to be used for a few years now. I took pity on it and finally gave it a chance. I'm easily persuaded on the colour Luke! Ive been swaying between burgundy and black. Burgundy and gold through the build (booster/stem/pad backings) will no doubt jarr a few teeth. A bit of experimentation let's call it. Steve

Hi, A new build on this old frame! I was going to paint the frame first, but the compulsion to get out riding was too strong. I thought I'd build it up and then see what needs tweaking, followed by a new paint job once I've got hooked back into riding this bike! Current Spec: 2004 Echo Control frame, stripped and partially sanded (start on painting prep.)Steel Onza Tuff Guy forks with 2001 Feebal sticker18t HSB Cloud9 Bashkit on square taper Middleburn RS7s (18 : 16 gearing), DMR V12 pedalsWheel set: Ground walled Mavic D521 Rear on Deore LX hub (wow!) / Smooth walled Alex DM24 on unbranded hubBrakes: Magura 04 with HSB Yellow pads Rear / Deore Vee & Avid Speed5 lever with HSB Red CNC Vees FrontEcho straight bars + Polished & Gold anodised Echo Supa stem + Raleigh Foam gripsTyres: Intense Comp 60 DH 2.40" Rear / Kenda 1.95" FrontShimano Exage 300EX Rear mech (short cage road mech) locked with a cut down spoke and cages spaced out for the chainKMC 1/8" Kool chainShimano LX UN53 Square taper bottom bracketHope single speed alu spacers + 16t sprocket To do: Bars too long: Cut 1 inch off each end.Fit the polished & gold anodised HSB boosterFit the polished & gold anodised HSB Vee backingsFit the "Double Magura backing" bodge to rear pads (D521 too narrow for the frame!)Raise bars higher: Change the fork to my other black steel one (curved not straight blade) with a longer steerer so the stem can be spaced up higher.Secure the grips onto the bars with hair spayDismantle bike, paint the frame Satin black, rebuildAdd stickers I really enjoyed riding in the glorious lunchtime sun today Comments from my work mates when I got the bike out of my car at the start of lunch: "Where's the seat?" "Where's the seat?" "Where's the seat?" "Where's the seat?" Needed: a witty reply to replace the long winded explanation! Comments from the public: "That's very good balancing" I'll take any nice comments about my riding I can get! Updates coming soon, Steve

Hi Dave, Sorry to hear about your unusual report about the HSB yellow CNC performance. I've just PMed you with support. Ready to help as always. Otherwise, best of luck with the alternative ones. Steve

Hi Ross! Great debut video! Love what you did with the HSB pad colour cycling too Speak soon Steve

Hi Rob, Your HSB CNC Yellow Magura pads ordered on the 31st March Sent out 1st class on the 2nd of April (as I let you know via email) It's a shame that Royal Mail haven't delivered them next day as they do in the majority of cases. Keep your eyes on the letter box tomorrow! I look forward to your feedback on how they perform I've recently discovered a fantastic new degreaser which really shows off the power of the HSB compound. They should be ready to perform straight out of the parcel with no bedding in. I've been getting some very strong first impressions from new Team riders. For example Damon Watson who said they were outrageously good! Best wishes, Steve

Hi Ben! Priorities are right All orders are being sent out on time. Hope you've all been enjoying April Fools day! Steve