Headshot

I agree re the shock and leverage ratio. They need to take a page from YT's book. That said that black and red frame is beaut!

And I as well

Agreed, but still think it has a future, if they ever get it off the ground. Think of all the effort put into rear suspension while the front gets the same treatment with minor tweaks year after year... I think the major advantage along with increased torsional rigidity is the HTA effect - it doesn't reduce under braking and on descents like a conventionally forked bike.

Such a good event this. Back to basics MTB and all for a good cause rather than a huge corporate marketing exercise and money spinner for the organizers...

Nice! Such a good event. Back to the basics on proper trails. Bring your trail bikes people.

I have conducted extensive crash testing on two products. The KS 661's (soft but DH worthy) and the 661 Recon's lightweight pads. The results are as follows. The KS pads stay in place better and offer far more protection which stands to reason. The Recon's have fancy impact hardening rubber which actually works pretty well. The problem is how they stay in place and the fact that a rubber outer tends to grip rather than slide - (the KS pads have kevlar cloth which slides). In short they move too easily and you get hurt because the padding isn't where it should be. I raced an enduro in them and will never do that again. Strictly for light trail riding and to keep the knees warm :-)

Okay okay, I misquoted you :-)

You left out the Spaz Enduro - the king of them all. Edit - Just seen you dissed the Enduro in a previous post.... Spaz! Ask your friend to have a word with Jeff at Intense - their new colour schemes are revolting :-)

Giant seem to have a Spaz esque belief in the value of their high end models which are a rip off no matter the bike. Lower down it gets better but still... Cannondales new Jeckyl comes in at far less for a very light full carbon bike and by all accounts its brilliant. Keep it Giant.

Time is rapidly running out for this one. Wish I was in the draw... Good luck to everybody who has contributed!

Nice thanks for the videos.

Agreed -yellow is the new black...

That is correct.

Looks like everyone is jumping on the long travel 29er band wagon Spaz started in 2013. Have they been sleeping...

Nope - and I have called the style police to come and take you away for "reprogramming" .

Bring a bike and we will show you around...

For those prices they can keep those ugly Intense bikes. Like that new Orbea a lot though.

Days are counting down people. Get your many many tickets as soon as possible.

I think its heading that way quickly. Massive thanks to SC, Gary Perkin and Rush sports. Tokai should be mint this weekend after all the rain!

I spoke to Rob and he said they build me a custom Nomad with a flip chip and the option of 26 or 27.5. So weh!

Mmm, I wonder what I'd go for. Maybe the Bronson, but I also like the High Tower. Then there is the beastly new Nomad... Good luck guys!

I think the website has the details, but basically its a bike without all that Enve carbon stuff if memory serves.

We rode most of the black route a couple of months ago. We had the place to ourselves on a perfect if a tad hot afternoon. It was the day JH was closed due to protests and luckily I remembered a friend had recently raved about these trails. I am more a fan of the rocky tech stuff you find at Tokai and JH, but the tracks at Boschendal are so well built that they are fun, and the faster you go the better it gets. We saw the new track under construction - it looked good. The best trail IMO was Porcupine I think - very fast a and flowy with those proper berms you can really rail and a few surprises as the speed increases. The first single track descent (Inferno) I think - also very good fast fun. Setting is amazing. There is also an amazing jump line down a line of trees - all sizes including gaps. Amazing skills area. Those new bits look even better. More people should ride it.

Its not all plain sailing and I doubt 27.5 DH bikes are going anywhere soon. The bigger wheel still cause some issues - look at the cut away seats that they have had to make to allow the back wheel some room. A minor issue I hear you say except that there is a rumour that Gee's season smashing crash was caused when his backside made a bit too much contact with a big rear wheel of his Session wagon wheeler....