Mtb thread

[mike os]

Might be worth looking at a Carrera or something similar

That was going to be my suggestion

 

[fixerupper]

This is mine ...I don't get out on it enough really, but it is a buzz when I do....

 

[Craig-SM]

My two bikes

PlanetX XLS carbon fibre cross country bike. My first foray into plastic framed bikes and it is actually very good. Rides like a quality steel bike with a springy ride so soaks up the bumps nicely but weighs naff all

Evil Sovereign. Built like a tank, weighs slightly less but rides great. 40th Birthday present to myself, no expense spared. Only downside is I’ve never managed to stop the brakes from squealing

 

[fixerupper]

That Evil Sovereign looks awesome very nice ...my rockhopper is very old school....

 

[Maker]

Mine's an On-One Dirty Disco, I believe On-one is a Planet X sister brand, the frameset looks very similar to Craig's XLS.

First time I've had hydraulic discs (Or any discs actually), SRAM shifters or carbon fibre on a road bike, I love it. I am only just accepting it's a road bike though, I keep trying to ride places I'd honestly struggle with on a full sus and end up walking.

You've seen my Scott Genius before, don't have it any more, my house was burgled at Christmas and they took it but luckily insurance paid out more than I paid for it so they really just saved me the effort of selling it. As cool (High spec) as it was, I'm not sad it's gone. I rode it with the rear shock locked out all the time so it was basically a heavy hardtail. The fancy lightweight wheels were crap too, any sidewards bump would buckle them and you could kick them straight again. I do miss the dropper post though, my next bike (Probably a Trek Roscoe, maybe an Orange P7 if I'm lucky) will definitely have one.

 

[Ashley Burton]

@Maker I'm thinking of getting another hardtail

 

[marlinspike]

I fancied a bike last year so I bought a cheap carbon Giant road bike on Sphock. Great bike, weighs next to nothing, love it. There are so many potholes round here though, and not having ridden a bike for 30 years, I wasn't that confident in the wet on the thin tyres. So I made a cheeky £30 ebay bid on a local Dawes mtb that needed a bit of work. Bought a new derailleur and saddle and now ride this one most of the time. Only ride locally, 5 miles or so, streets and riverside paths etc but enjoy it once I make the effort to get out. Enjoying it more because the roads are so quiet atm.

 

[Daveleonard]

Missing the trails of south Wales and BPW too , like pondy I've gone British (well the brand anyway) with a cotic rocket made of steel!

 

[marlinspike]

I understand it's quite hard to get a bike these days due to the upsurge in demand during the lockdown. I was thinking of getting a turbo trainer at one point but folk were wanting more for them on ebay than they were when new. Could mean there will be a lot of cheap used bikes coming round in the next year or so though, when things get back to normal. I've never seen so many families out on bikes. I use these sites to look for cycling related deals:

https://www.bikebargains.co.uk/
https://cycling-bargains.co.uk/
https://bikesy.co.uk/

 

[Maker]

I understand it's quite hard to get a bike these days due to the upsurge in demand during the lockdown. I was thinking of getting a turbo trainer at one point but folk were wanting more for them on ebay than they were when new. Could mean there will be a lot of cheap used bikes coming round in the next year or so though, when things get back to normal. I've never seen so many families out on bikes. I use these sites to look for cycling related deals:

https://www.bikebargains.co.uk/
https://cycling-bargains.co.uk/
https://bikesy.co.uk/

I got that Dirty Disco the day lockdown was announced because I thought the prices would shoot up.

 

[jsf55]

I've been back in dabbling with the bikes, no confidence to ride at mo and the hip needs a bit more movement but here we have it

I also did my local mot tester a favour and did 2 punctures and built up a £800 bike.. no idea of who makes them

 

[stuvy]

Mine's an On-One Dirty Disco, I believe On-one is a Planet X sister brand, the frameset looks very similar to Craig's XLS.
View attachment 233721
First time I've had hydraulic discs (Or any discs actually), SRAM shifters or carbon fibre on a road bike, I love it. I am only just accepting it's a road bike though, I keep trying to ride places I'd honestly struggle with on a full sus and end up walking.

You've seen my Scott Genius before, don't have it any more, my house was burgled at Christmas and they took it but luckily insurance paid out more than I paid for it so they really just saved me the effort of selling it. As cool (High spec) as it was, I'm not sad it's gone. I rode it with the rear shock locked out all the time so it was basically a heavy hardtail. The fancy lightweight wheels were crap too, any sidewards bump would buckle them and you could kick them straight again. I do miss the dropper post though, my next bike (Probably a Trek Roscoe, maybe an Orange P7 if I'm lucky) will definitely have one.

my bike is an orange P7 I love it. I brought it second hand off a mate it was 1 year old and he rode it two or three times

@Ashley Burton i prefer hard tails makes climbs in the woods ten times easier and less moving parts to go wrong

 

[stuvy]

If you fancy a real giggle , treat your self to a unicycle , you can get a knock about one for about 40 quid ,, off e bay ,, they are such a hoot , and will improve your riding skills no end , I bought one a few years ago , and it improved my motor bike riding lots too , lots of exercise without going too far for a week or two till you learn .

Iv got one

and a chopper bike

and 3 bmx’s

and 4 beach cruisers....

mat one point I had 33 bikes of all different kinds I sold my Raleigh choppers and rare beach cruisers but have a few bits left like my monty trials bike that I’m loathe to sell but never use it

 

[Tupers]

Mine are all hung up in the workshop. The Giant Fathom is my regular ride and the rest are just set dressing.

 

[Shox Dr]

Bought my first MTB in 89. A Raleigh with Suntour groupset, my next was a Proflex 956 with Suntour gear as well. I remember everyone thought I was mad for paying so much and then knackering yourself using it.

In 90/91 a mate showed my a write up in an American mag, of a Boulder Defiant. I had to have one, problem was sshockwave (uk importers) wanted £2495 for a frame and Doug Bradley hand built 1st gen Manitou forks.
There was always a 6page centre fold ad in this mag for a bike shop call Bikepro900. I called them in 91 and ordered a Defiant with Manitou forks it was 2440USD Plus shipping duty etc. The dollar rate was 2.04. All in ISTR it cost me less than 1500quid. My mate has owned that bike since 94.(picture taken 94)

Nukeproof hubs, Ringle Q sewers. USE post, XTR group set, and Topline cranks that I bent. Weighed 23.4lbs


I than bought a Boulder Starship* With the intension of becoming the UK importer, the following year I displayed at MTB show Olympia. I sold that bike to a guy called Kerry, who I believe PMd me on here a few yrs ago, he still has that as well.(No pic)


And to my current steed, a Boulder Starship LT.

Bought as a demo, it was first off built super light (frame inc shock is sub 5lbs) but Im a strong rider and ended up breaking stuff, by this time I was racing, and broken bits dont win you races. So it weights in at 26ish lbs.

Risse Racing Gensis rear damper with addon volume (air) extender. Top link is a 530 chain link. Thousands of miles before it or the bushes wear. (I’ve never changed the lower pivot bush or pin,)

Middleburn RS3 cranks with 48/36/28 chainrings, combined with a 11/26 at the back I could still Pedal and accelerate at 55mph.

XTR rear set, with custom groupset 11/26. Rear mec is an XT. Hope Titanium 3 piece hubs with Hope Ti skewers, mavic rims.

Hope 2finger levers XT ****ers, Grabon grips intended for rd bikes. Best grips in the world. I bought 10 pair 25yrs ago, I fit them to everything inc m/cycles I ride.

Cattle Prod Stem, Xlite bars and stubbies.

I custom built the forks, a cross between Manitou X-vert, MARS, and bits. Fitted in 2001.
Shot of the swing arm.

The LT hs 4"rear and 4.5" front. Accelerates like a hard tail. You dont feel the suspension, it just works. But then it was my job

*Rich Williams the man behind Boulder Bikes was a Treky. All his bikes were named after Startrek Battle ships



edit; Just been speaking to Mike the onwer of the Defiant, I fitted Pace RC35, he still has them, but doesnt use them as he cant get elastomers for them. Anyone know?

 

[stuvy]

I remember those as a kid, have you got many other bikes @Shox Dr ?

I worked in Michaels cycles for my school work experience and was offered the job as a Saturday boy I loved it there

 

[stuvy]

Mine are all hung up in the workshop. The Giant Fathom is my regular ride and the rest are just set dressing.
View attachment 233785

I had one of those DMR’s so did @Ashley Burton we only spoke about them recently

 

[Ashley Burton]

@stuvy tbf, My Reign pedals pretty well uphill, But want to drop some weight & get that hardtail feeling back! Full suspension is just very forgiving & you loose that fun sensation sometimes

 

[matt1978]

I’ve just got into this. With the recent lock down probably at the worst time. Hardly any shops have stock of new bikes below £2k and the 2nd hand prices is just plain stupid. Facebook market place is full of bikes that were £600-£700 6 years ago and are still selling for £500 now.

I didn’t want to spend a fortune as it was my first bike and wanted to make sure that I will actually use it, after all the rave reviews of the MTB Magazine “best MTB under £400” I went for the Calibre Two Cubed, but again, they are like rocking horse crap, ordered one online after days of their being no stock, only to find out 7 day’s after them having my money that they still have no stock and the cancelled the order.

In the end I got a ex rental bike from bike centre at one of the trails.

Ended up with a Whyte 805 Hard tail. Happy with it. Enjoyed every time I’ve been out on it although it’s only been Road, Parks and Tow paths so far. I live close to Cannock Chase, so once my helmet etc arrives I’ll be trying some trails.

If I enjoy it as much as I think I will, I’ll most likely get a better one next year on the Bike2Work scheme once this Covid nonsense has died down and normality resumes

 

[Mark 2]

I have a cheap carrera for daily use around London and this DMR for enjoying the hundreds of trails around Shepherds Bush!