Mountain Biking

I’m not that great mechanically beyond changing a flat tyre and maintaining the basic drivetrain. Plus I feel bit nervous about the idea of spending £2k on a bike without riding it first?

Would that put you guys off?
 
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silvagti said:
I’m not that great mechanically beyond changing a flat tyre and maintaining the basic drivetrain. Plus I feel bit nervous about the idea of spending £2k on a bike without riding it first?

Would that put you guys off?
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It will certainly put me off, especially if its my first bike. Do you have any go outdoors stores near you? If you buy a membership card for £5 you get a nice discount their polygon range have some nice bikes: https://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/16185435/polygon-sisku-t8-27-5-full-suspension-mountain-bike-16185435
 
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In the market for a pre-owned FS bike. I have a question on frame size - I'm 5'11, do I need a medium or large? Seems to be a fair bit of opinion on it?
 
Draeger said:
In the market for a pre-owned FS bike. I have a question on frame size - I'm 5'11, do I need a medium or large? Seems to be a fair bit of opinion on it?
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Not all bikes are the same size annoyingly. Look at reach figures instead to give you a good idea.

Depends what your spending and age etc. If its properly old, I'd consider some xl bikes at 5'11.
 
Begbie said:
Not all bikes are the same size annoyingly. Look at reach figures instead to give you a good idea.

Depends what your spending and age etc. If its properly old, I'd consider some xl bikes at 5'11.
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Cheers, likely looking at anything from around 2014 onwards.
 
Cheers, looking at a Kona Kitsune 19" available used near me at a decent price -£400, hardly used and like new. Old reviews say it was a decent entry level full sus? Any opinions?
 
silvagti said:
I’m not that great mechanically beyond changing a flat tyre and maintaining the basic drivetrain. Plus I feel bit nervous about the idea of spending £2k on a bike without riding it first?

Would that put you guys off?
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They have bikes for testing in some of the trail centres . I know Swinley got Vitus bikes, you can book and test on trails .
 
silvagti said:
I’m not that great mechanically beyond changing a flat tyre and maintaining the basic drivetrain. Plus I feel bit nervous about the idea of spending £2k on a bike without riding it first?

Would that put you guys off?
Click to expand...
I bought the previous version of the Vitus Escarpe as my first proper MTB, prior to that I'd hired a couple of hardtails and done a multi brand demo day where I rode 3 or 4 bikes, and learnt all about wheel size, travel, dropper posts, geometry etc as it had all changed since I last had an MTB about 20 years ago!


That bike did me well for about 18 months until I upgraded to a better, more capable, longer travel 29er full suspension, which I kept for 3 years and which I've just changed for an ultra capable, even longer travel 29er FS bike.

Knowing Vitus I'd have no quibbles buying one of them without riding it, they're multiple test winners and extremely good value for money.
 
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Picked up my Lapierre Zesty 314 today, very pleased.

I'd like to fit a dropper post to it but I'm not sure what to measure to ensure I get the correct size (diameter) and height of post. Any advice appreciated. Looking at the Brand-X Ascend II as it seems to get decent reviews for its price. These are the options on the CRC website, size wise, being a n00b to dropper posts - what are they all for?

Any advice appreciated!!!

dropper.png
 
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Okay, with a bit of judicious YouTube viewing I think I'm sorted on what measurements I need for the dropper post for my Zesty 314 now :cool:

Next question..........suspension..........

Going to fiddle with suspension settings, first thing to get dialled in is the correct sag I believe. One question though - the Fox Float RP2....does it lock out completely for climbing or does the Propedal setting just lock it out kind of half way so it stops pedal bob but still absorbs some bumps? When I have the blue adjuster set to the Propedal setting, it doesn't seem to make a lot of difference to the amount of travel the shock has when I sit and bounce on it? Maybe reduces it a little bit but not as much as I would have assumed? Do I maybe need to add some air to it and if so, how much at a time?

Also, when you flick the blue adjuster from the Propedal setting, it spins freely when round although there is a definite 'click' and a bit of resistance when it is switched to Propedal, is it supposed to spin like that?

This is my first full susser so apologies for the n00b questions!

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punch2.jpg
 
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I'm not au fait when it comes to valves and that and so wouldn't know what I'm looking for, but does this presta look like it has a removable core? Noticed it's got a tad bent somehow, so would ideally like to just replace the core if possible.

EUCek27.jpg
 
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That looks like an inner tube valve - push it into the rim, if it springs back out then it's a tube.

Tube valve cores don't come out normally, and you'll be wanting to ditch the tubes and go tubeless.
 
Very wet and windy day at Stiniog yesterday. Didn't spoil the fun but made the jumps a bit treacherous! Hail stones at one point! :eek:
 
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SpudMaster said:
Very wet and windy day at Stiniog yesterday. Did spoil the fun but made the jumps a bit treacherous! Hail stones at one point! :eek:
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Ha! Last time I was there the wind and rain was so bad you couldn't see 2 feet infront of you goggles or no goggles! That's the only bad thing about that place imo, the wind can be BRUTAL. There next week and can't wait. Have they changed anything / added new trails? They were closed for a month.
 
illuz said:
Ha! Last time I was there the wind and rain was so bad you couldn't see 2 feet infront of you goggles or no goggles! That's the only bad thing about that place imo, the wind can be BRUTAL. There next week and can't wait. Have they changed anything / added new trails? They were closed for a month.
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Everything was pretty much the same from how I remember it last time I went. 2 red trails where closed, Scrybadub and Wild Cart due to water damage.

Yeah the exposure does let it down when the weather gets rough. Was like riding with privacy glass in my goggles with all the rain :p
 
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