Cycling: That time of year again

[VEGAS]

That's mighty pretty, Eddie. Nice to see it out again - and it looks like you had a very pleasant ride. (XTR gearset? How much do they pay you?

Bloody hell don't you start.

I get flak off Mr Booker for been being loaded!

Im an official citizen of Skintsville, Arizona. Population: Me.

I earn less than John Candys dietician.

Besides. The bike belongs to Rob aka Happyotter

He's the millionaire ..

[thehappyotter]

Besides. The bike belongs to Rob aka Happyotter

He's the millionaire ..

Haha. I wish!

They were still dishing out overtime when I brought the bike back in '07...

Mrs May is making sure that I'll I'll not be buying any more shiny bits!

That said, one of the shifters is broken, It's got to match the rest and all that. Now where's my credit card...

[speedbird591]

Mrs May is making sure that I'll I'll not be buying any more shiny bits!

That said, one of the shifters is broken, It's got to match the rest and all that. Now where's my credit card...

Only £90 for a matching shifter, Mrs May!

Ian

[thehappyotter]

That's mighty pretty, Eddie. Nice to see it out again - and it looks like you had a very pleasant ride. (XTR gearset? How much do they pay you? ) I see you've got the same tyres as me - Kenda Nevegals

I've tried so many tyres I've lost count but keep coming back to the Kenda's again and again. It's running Nevegal's front and rear at the moment (following a disastrous spell on some Michelin rubber) but my preferred combination is a Nevegal on the rear and a Kenda Blue Groove on the front. The Blue Groove is slightly rounder and helps with corners.

I've got it set up pretty much perfectly for me now, the P7 is a very capable and tough steel frame, it can take a lot of punishment and the shorter 90mm stem brings the bars and the feel through them right to the sweet spot.

Ideally I'd like to replace the forks with some that have a through axle quick release as opposed to the skewer type to help with flex, they're the 32mm Fox Vanilla R and I'd have liked like some RLC's to offer more adjustment. Sadly Fox don't make the Van in 32mm/140mm any more and I would prefer a coil sprung to air sprung fork. Decisions decisions...

I have been tempted by an Orange 5 (I love Orange's!) but I can never see myself parting with the P7, and in the real world what would a 5 offer me over a hardtail that fits me like a glove.

[speedbird591]

I do love steel hard tails. I had a gorgeous little Whyte 19 steel for two years, hoping that the steel frame would be kinder to my vertebrae than aluminium. It was but back pain was still the limiting factor on the length of my rides. So last year, after reading the trail bike of the year test in WMB, I bought a Canyon Nerve XC 8.0 with Fox suspension front and rear. I can still remember my first ride, which was my first on a full susser. After 15 minutes I realised I would never buy another hard tail. Everything the Whyte did, the Canyon does better. It's lighter, climbs better, rides smoother and faster. It's completely neutral in handling and I've never noticed any pedal bob enough to use the lockout. I no longer brace myself or stand up over bumps and can ride all day with no backache.

Only thing is it isn't pretty like the Whyte, which I kept for a year as a second bike but didn't use it. I recently sold it and used the money for an iPad3!

I'm very tempted by a Santa Cruz Tallboy 29er but at £4k more than the Canyon, I can't even justify it to myself

I love the Nevegals. They're not the fastest but the grip and predictability have saved me many times. At my age, I need all the help I can get

Ian

[thehappyotter]

I'm very tempted by a Santa Cruz Tallboy 29er but at £4k more than the Canyon, I can't even justify it to myself

Ian

You clearly have good taste. Aside from my obsession with Orange's, I lust after a Carbon Blur TR.

http://www.santacruzmtb.com/blurtr_carbon/