James Quigley

They are both the shiznit, The avid tends to be more I want to bite NOW so whether you want to or not you're stopping. Where as the hopes like, I'm calm I'll slow you down but if you want me to I'll stop dead. Overall the avid tends to be an aggressive biter and the Hopes laid back but works if you want it to. I know that I haven't helped in the slightest, but hey. By the way I prefer the hope, I'm running old mini at the mo, doesn't bite well but for some reason I can make it work, even though no-one else can.

Make sure you make a ma-hoooooo-sive stem to go with that, otherwise you'll fall over the bars just by being on the bike.

Echo urbans were the forks to have a few months ago, until people started using discs on them. The disc mounts snapped and the forks were quite flexy. As for angle my mate bent his after a couple of weeks, so angles inter-changeable. However, I think they have re-released the urbans and should be better, not sure though. As for the hi-fi's they are quite new but from what I've seen, they look the shit and are solid to boot. But only time will tell.

Sounds like fun, I'll try and get some island riders over, we need more excuses to get off the rock!

I'll only say 2 things....... 1 - Tioga - are you really considering this? 2 - Maxxis, Maxxis, Maxxis, Maxxis, Maxxis! Enough said

We need a big island ride going this summer so here's what I've got...... Sunday 28th August, End of Ryde Pier at 11am. Us islanders will try and get some cars together so that we're not stuck in Ryde all day, there are other places to ride on the island. Fletch, mini fletch and hobbsy came over last saturday but it wasn't too good. Fletch was ridding crap because he was upset about scratching his new bike. Hobbsy just knackered himself playing in the skate park, and mini fletch just seemed to sit watching most of the time. So all in all one big ride on the island while we've still got some summer left! Who's up for it?

I'll try and get some of us islanders over, I've only ridden portsmouth once so It'll be nice to visit again.

Onza smart guy forks are probably the best strength to weight combo around. There solid without being too heavy. Urbans with a disc is a no go. The disc mounts crack, or snap off and the forks themselves flex to buggery. My friend bent his only a couple of weeks after getting them. Haven't seen anyone riding the new hi-fi forks, or the GU forks but they're supposed to be good

I recommend neither of your suggestions. I say wait another week and get a KOT MS2 from tartybikes. On their site download the Matt Staples video, he's about your height and is amazing on that frame. It's only £280 too, cant go wrong.

I'm voting burns, I've been running them for years and they have never worked loose, in fact I've rounded the thread in my left one trying to get the bugger off. Plus you get the advantage of running the super small ti-guard.

As far as I'm aware Tony this little black plastic bit on the crank bolt is decorative, I dont have them on my bolts and they're fine. I think your problem lies in the cranks themselves. When I used to run power pro's (it was ages ago) they always worked loose, but since I got middleburns, same BB, it's fine. I'm guessing you've got the cranks that came with the T-Rex and so are probably some form of budget crank, my advise is to upgrade your cranks or try and use plenty of locktite.