monkey_pork

What the hell, I'll throw into this one too - I'm now using a Specialized Roller RS 2.3 on the back. It'll run reasonably low pressures, not super low though', but I like how it feels - on [wet] natural yesterday it felt like it had lots of grip. I'm running a pair on my 'other' bike and they feel really grippy, especially on tarmac - (thats grippy as in 'hard to pedal' type grippy) I can't see them lasting too long though' - but I can't see how you'd get life and grip ... 2.3 may not sound much, but it came out bigger than the 2.5 Onza that it replaced, and almost didn't fit my T-Rex. Just a thought ...

Sorry, I couldn't resist. (Y) . . . . . . . My, err, other T-Rex - still covered in poop from the comp today.

I'll just add to this really - I never, ever ride without a helmet. I was out road riding one day when a car kicked up a fist sized rock from the back of the quarry wagon that had just gone past, the rock sailed up hit me on the side of the head. I was pretty stunned and had to stop for a bit, but my hemlet took the worst of it. If I'd not had my lid on that would have been it - if the impact hadn't done me, falling off in front of the car that was behind me almost certainly would have. I'm old enough to remember a time when helmets really did make you look like a clown - but no matter - I was very glad I had mine on that day. I wear a MET Ippogrifo road helmet now, and it cools really well I find. I can't see that not wearing a helmet is ever a good idea.

Argh - talk about last minute ... Mark Gilmartin. 05 T-Rex. I'll be in my cow-poop covered 405 estate, so if anyone needs a lift from Totnes/Torbay let me know. I'll be riding white, and I fully expect to be at the bottom of the list, as rather than get in any trials practice - I've spent my spare time happily hurling my 'other' bike through the woods (hmm, so maybe I should bring that ...). :blink: See you there.

Err, flying in the face of popular opinion here, but I've not long replaced my '05 T-Rex's BB with a 68mm x 122.5mm sized UN53. They are only about £18.00 or so. That said, maybe it's only because the inside edge of my cranks are narrow enough to get away with it - and in truth I probably could do with a slightly wider platform. I took out a 73mm BB that was ~128mm wide (but only because I killed it, or maybe it died of natural casuses, I dunno).

If you have doubts - try the cut-down bolt in a loose nut first. That way if the cut is a bit 'off' - at the worst it will only have cost you a nut & bolt, and not any kind of engineering on your frame. If you cut it straight, and just tidy the thread up a little bit with a file, you'll be fine. ... err, fine that that is - as long as you've not been given titanium bolts of course, which would have already cross-threaded by the time you've got home. (Y)"

Ha ha - very droll ! What's with the alloy bolt you get with Hope headsets too ? I've just fitted a Hope headset to my err, other, bike and rather than use the Head Doctor expanding alloy malarkey, I've just used a star nut, and a lovely stainless bolt with the Hope top cap and it worked a treat (considering the engineering last gasp horror that is the 'star nut'). Personally ... (and it's just an opinion mind), but I wouldn't trust that Headdoctor thing very far. Tis' a nice headset though.

Yikes - How are you with that length ? - that looks like a pretty long stem ! I've been shortening mine* for the last few weeks trying to get the right kinda feel. I'm now on a short 60mm stem and it feels far more comfortable. Maybe it's just me though ? *... not shortening 'the' same stem of course, I've been swapping it out for different one's - (explanation inserted - before someone takes the opportunity for pedantry). :P"

I chainsawed my shin open a few years ago, which has left me quite understandably nervous about it now. I always ride in pads - this winter I've been using the 661 Veggie Wrap pads and they have saved me loads of times. Might be a bit warm for the summer though' as pretty much all of your lower leg is covered, not just yer shin. Roach do nice fitting hard-shell pads that might be worth a look if you can't get on with 661 stuff.

Eh, when did they start that malarkey - three weeks ago the bloke in Totnes station said it would be pretty much ok to take a bike on any of the trains down to Plymouth ... It's always a hassle though' ... We took both of our fully loaded touring MTB's on the train from Totnes to Penzance a while ago and the station staff kicked off big time about the added delay of getting them onto the train. Err, who's the customer here ? If there's another ride in Plymouth, and I can make it, I 'spect I could probably give you a lift if you only live in / near Newton.

Happy days indeed. I thought there was some rather special camera work on there, kinda hinting at something more, like the bikes were in on some greater secret ... I think precisely because it went beyond just the riding. It had a really nice 'endless summer' kinda feel there in parts ... ... and albeit echoing other comments here: some of the pics at the end were really rather good too.

If you look around >_<" ... you'll see that they are now at retailing, brand spankin' new at £104.99 ... (ok, I know that's not £60.00, but it might stop you getting caught out by paying too much on ebay).

I fitted an Onza carbon booster at the weekend and foolishly used the titanium bolts that came with it. They were absolutely shockingly terrible, they flexed like devils when I applied any rotational pressure (err, like when I tried to do them up) and then two ended up being cross-threaded within minimal thread depth. There is no way on earth that I've have trusted them, so out they came into the bin. In their place went four, stainless steel, socket capped shouldered bolts. (Deep socketted allen key fittings). Whilst they may have be three times the weight, they have more then redeemed themselves as they virtually jumped into the frame of their own accord, and slid all the way to being tight, absoultely perfectly. Well worth the couple of English pounds I spent on them, and that supplier does them in 5mm increments too, so getting a decent fit was easy-peasy.

Not really of any practical help I'm afraid, but maybe help in the feeling better sense ? I have M4's f&r on my, err, xc bike (think of it as an xc bike), and they both rub. The mounts are both faced, and I am quite the show-pony about setting my bikes up, so I'm content I've done a top job ... it's just ... well, it's just that they rub. :) Being 200mm front and 180mm rear can't be too helpful I guess as there is quite a bit of flex there, but when it gets too bad I just use an adjustable spanner and, err, nudge the disc a little teeny tiny bit, and we carry on in that vein.

Ha ha, that'll be after seeing mine not being ridden in Plymouth a couple of weeks ago then. (Y) It is a nice example of the species though. Good choice.

Hello Rob, yeah it was me mate. I kinda didn't make too much of an introduction what with being the new boy n' all. :unsure: Thanks for the comment 'bout my bike too ! Although I didn't get to ride very much other than kerbs, I enjoyed my day out in Plymouth, just watching and learning really ... it certainly opened my eyes to things to try out. I'd be up for another ride like that for sure. Catch you soon. Mark.

Good work, that caught the day a treat I'd say. I missed out on the stuff at the top end of the city as I was too busy with that dirty xc talk with some other lads, but it looked pretty fair game up there. ... Maybe next time I come down I'll actually have enough of a clue to even try to ride some of it (Y)"

Lol - That'll have been me then (Y)" Nice pics, captured the feel for the day I'd say: the video should be good too (downloading now). I did shoot footage, but it's off analogue 8mm so the quality is pretty poor. I learnt loads yesterday, and it's already helped me get my head around moving my riding forward, (even if I did spend loads of time chatting to that bloke on the P3). Cheers lads !

I'm not 100% that mine is an 05, (although I'm 99% that it is) but: My bb shell is 68mm, & My frame steerer tube length (not the fork steerer) is 110mm. (That's not the fork steerer length of course, as that will depend on all the other rubbish that one fit's: Spacers, stem height and the like). :sleeping:

Pointnorth might be able to supply it. They have nylon webbing (although a quick look only reveals black or white).

... and this is another. Looks like they are drying up naturally now too ...

I had new cranks and a new bb do this to me as well, but rather than go down the grease route, I stipped and cleaned everything carefully and then made sure it all went back together straight. I put it all back together using a little bit of bedding compound to take up the teeny-tiny bit of space between the bb axle and the crank arms and PTFE tape on the crank bolts, then did them up very very tightly, and two rides in - silence ... I have got into the habit of frequently checking my crank bolts though'.

Err, yeah, sorry, I kinda got carried away trying to be helpful :P" I deal with this stuff on a daily basis, and as knowledge is power, I thought I share the love... "Some day this war's gonna end". This is one of the ways.