marsbeetle

Nice looking bike, congrats !

+1 for Petrol. Use it to remove tar from my car and motorcycle, works like a charm with little effort required.

Nice, enjoy the snatch ..er stock.

I was considering getting an Urge Archi-Enduro helmet until I read this - http://forums.mtbr.com/utah/crash-report-urge-archi-enduro-helmet-795542.html

I came across the full spec of all the Giant 2013 bicycles on their US website. Maybe I'm just a bit slow but I didn't see the details shown on any of the other international sites or any direct links so thought I'd share.. http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-us/bike-index/?collections_id=9&preview=true

I've been considering getting a SB66/SB95 but there are so many issues with these bikes I think I'd prefer for them to mature first before I part with my hard earned cash. From what I've read there are cracked frame issues(mostly on the SB66), wheel against seat post and the most common being the bushes and bearings going with the "switch" technology it uses. Now before anyone says these are isolated issues, they are not. Many people have complained about the bushes and bearings going and that is even after they strengthened them. Just google and you'll see the myriad of problems with these two bikes specifically. On a positive note it appears Yeti have very good customer service but that doesn't detract from the issues, not for me anyway. A pity because I really like these bikes. Comments ?

Just make sure you have increased the ISO so the shutter speed is acceptable for hand-held shooting. A rule of thumb is having at least a shutter speed that is equal to your focal length but realistically it should be slightly more when shooting at a very short focal length. Also try to pan or move with your subjects so that the camera matches your subjects movement. Sometimes it's useful to have a slightly lower(but not too low if hand-held!) shutter speed and pan to create a blurriness in the background but not of your subject which will give the impression of movement instead of having something that's static. As mentioned having a fast lens(large aperture) helps in such low light conditions.

Carbon may be stiff but it sure isn't abrasive.

No, that's the cheaper aluminium one I suggested ;-) ...I have two, the one I suggested and a lighter carbon one I use for travelling. The aluminium 055PROB comes in handy where I live with the strong winds, last thing you need is for the tripod to fall over with your camera attached.

Yip, don't buy the cheapest, it doesn't pay. For a good solid and not too expensive tripod I highly recommend the Manfrotto 055XPROB http://www.ormsdirect.co.za/manfrotto-055xprob-pro-tripod-legs I have this tripod and a carbon one for travelling but the 055PROB is a very solid and popular tripod and always gets good reviews.

Taken with my iPhone.. Kalk Bay Mugello, Italy

http://www.giant-bicycles.com/showcase/trancex29er/

I see the say available August, wonder when it will be available here ? Maybe send off an email to Dragon Sports next month and see when they expect delivery..

That Scott looks more like a Spark to me not the Genius which has a different shock setup. Nice either way.

Damn that 29er Trance X 0 looks sweet. Now not sure as what would be better, a Yeti SB95 or a Giant Trance X 0 29er ? Both similarly spec'd..