Tony Harrison

Ah yeah totally didn't spot that.

@Ross McArthur did find these for sale... https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Azonic-Chubby-DH-Lenker-28-6mm-Lenkerklemmung-700mm-Breite-2-NOS-Retro/263025494395?&shqty=1&isGTR=1#shId Pricey but nice. Also have the 1.5" rise version, and brand new ORC stems!!

A bit of artistic licence there perhaps then. Would be interesting to see the prototype Inspired actually, if it still exists. Totally forgot about Kris Leeson, definitely a pioneer.

I think it's fair to say that Edd and Martyn kicked off the 24 revolution, and provided a lot of inspiration. It's still nuts to think back to how innovative Edd's riding was, even in the Pashley days. Some of those videos where the faces of other people (like his brother Matt, and Akrigg) were just "wtf" after he'd done something inconceivable.

Nice, thanks for sharing. My Justice frame still hangs up in my parents garage.

Moist...

Best shape bars ever. Still have the silver ones I bought in 2004 and I can clearly remember the first ride I had on the bike with them.

Great choice of parts. I always feel that inch diameter bars (rather than 31.8) look way better on the older bikes. Tasteful crank/bash choice too. This is going to be a beast! (Somebody sell me some black Azonic bars!!)

God damn, looks new!! Is it? Either way an amazing buy.

Mental... https://www.redbull.com/gb-en/kriss-kyle-exploring-dubai-on-bmx-video

Looks like a fun project, definitely an unusual-looking Leeson - a custom build for someone back in the day? Good idea adding the seat - I always thought the Ashton and Pashley 26GHz looked more 'complete' than seatless low frames.

I have the same frame and forks (mine is one of two made in blue for Martin Hawyes but the geometry is presumably the same) which I built up years ago to try out. The rear end was probably around 390mm, I remember it feeling noticeably less fun and stable on the back wheel than the early Ashton Justice frames. Wheelbase I think was probably around 1030mm. I found it ok to ride, but nothing special. Also it was interesting that Giant didn't build it with 4-bolt mounts, something that Martin lamented when I asked him at a British championship round how he liked the new bike (I surmised his opinion to be "not very much").

There's a shoulder on the spindle so the non-drive side keeps it in place... ...but what I don't understand is what stops a sideways impact on the drive-side crank from pushing the bearing/cup out of the shell.

Yeah I'm now leaning towards 11sp with the Hope cassette...

I need to decide which groupset before I buy the wheels, because if I'm going for the 12sp SRAM setup then I need the XD driver. I'm not even that keen on 12sp, 11sp would be fine, and as I have an XT BB I could just buy Shimano cranks and a Hope cassette/driver... Not in a rush though, got some time to work it all out.

Ok, a guide I read says: "Because the bearings are housed inside the shell, the spacing remains the same as it would be with an external bearing configuration, which means a wider spindle length is not necessary for riders switching from a 68/73mm threaded shell to a BB92 set up." So presumably the SRAM cranks I've seen for sale for 68/73 will fit...

Unlike when I was a lad, and it was all easy, and only BMX frames started to get different bottom bracket standards, now we seem to have gone mad with different specs. Even the naming from one to the other isn't conventional, with some putting the emphasis on spindle diameter, others on shell diameter. What the bleeding f'ck is going on? I have bought a frame with a 'BB92' shell, so it's 41mm inside diameter with a 92mm length. Currently fitted is an XT bottom bracket. I'd like to fit an SRAM Eagle GX crankset. I understand that to do so I will need to buy a GXP BB, which SRAM do make for the BB92 interface. However, what about spindle lengths? There are options here too I think, and I don't want to buy a crankset only to have the spindle too short or long. As my frame has a 148mm 'BOOST' spacing I know that I probably need the SRAM BOOST chainring, which has an additional 3mm offset to give a 52mm, rather than 49mm chainline. But... if I end up with a longer spindle and have to use spacers, that's all going to go out the window anyway... So does anyone have a clue how I can solve this? Or do I just buy some Shimano cranks. (frame is a 2018 Rocky Mountain Altitude)

I test rode the Strive and it was a really fun bike, and I imagine the Torque is too. Thanks everyone for all the suggestions, and Duncy that was a really helpful list, cheers! I've been looking at complete bikes and thinking I'd change this or that, so I'm in the process of finalising a deal on a used frame, got some other bits coming in the post and so 4 years after getting into trail riding I'm going to build a bike myself for the first time. Super excited, I will be sure to post pics once it's done.

Yeah, and they often have those giant bucket-sized chalk bags and about six different brushes for cleaning the holds...

For me I got to a point where everything I'd ever wanted to achieve, I had. By the time I did so (around 2003/4) the things I'd wanted to learn (basically whatever was in Tricks & Stunts and Chainspotting) were quite below par compared to how trials in general had progressed. I had no real want to learn the bigger hooks, taps etc, it was more the fun of socialising on rides and d'cking about. I think once your 'heart' isn't in something, it's not a bad idea to stop. Now and again I've had the bike out since, but the hunger hasn't been there to re-learn what I used to do, let alone anything else. However if you're getting a positive feeling each time you see the bike then that's a great sign that riding is what you should be doing! I do still have some 'retro' projects I want to finish building though, and trials will always be part of me I think.

Now that I no longer have my YT Capra I'm looking at new bikes with around 160mm travel F+R (150mm on the rear is acceptable). Definitely a fan of the 65 head angle, prefer more of a fun playful enduro-orientated bike to an XC trail machine. It's definitely going to get a bit of abuse, some drops and gaps etc, but nothing too crazy. So far I've been looking at the Rocky Mountain Altitude which is a strong contender, but wondered if anyone has other recommendations that would fit the bill. Thanks!

I remember when it was like that :/

Just when I thought the 'best of 2018' storm had passed...

Both my last two bikes were bought secondhand and I had less trouble!!

I rode one at a test day and it just didn't excite me at all