papa44 profile

That’s got smooshed pocket goo written all over it

I firmly believe that more is more so I just bought it for the 30-something-in-one of it all, but now I’m thinking about it I’m not sure if any of the tools fit a modern bike. I don’t even think I could undo a maxle with it, which spoils the point of taking an inner tube with me. Oh great. Looks like I’ll be popping an enduro spud in the oven and ordering a new multi tool that has more functionality than leverage.

Topeak alien from 2002, a cheap mini pump, an inner tube and a knife. I carry these things out of superstition not because I have used any of them once in the last decade, neither on the streets of london nor the alps of Switzerland nor the Pyrenees of France. But I know if I take them out of my bum bag I’ll need every last one of them exactly 10km uphill into my trip. Also a peanut butter sandwich and a banana because once you do it once it becomes just something you do.

Good article! I tell you where the industry is falling short though, crank lengths. So hard to get short aftermarket cranks. It’s either pig iron kids cranks or struggle with adult ones. Honorable mention goes to unnecessarily exotic gearing (7 speed haha)

What would be your to 3 budget forks? Any order. It’s really hard to find solid cheap fork recommendations and I can guarantee I will never need a top flight set even in the alps.

Yeah it’s a shame, out of stock yet super  cheap at the same time. It’s practically quantum suspension.

I have an x-fusion trace which I really like, even though it’s non boost so basically obsolete and I also have a rock shox rl 35 gold which I’ve been dead happy with for the price too. I get the feeling that below £/$500 you get an exceptionally useable fork no matter who you go with, so a budget coil fork would be super interesting and I’m sure it would be great for the price too.

Yeah good shout I might get some photos over. It’s surprising how similar both ride although I haven’t had the Shan in the alps yet, where I’m expecting it’s differences to become apparent, for better or worse

I have a hideously outdated (I kid) chromag surface that’s non boost that I also had to drill for a stealth dropper, but I love it so much my wife has it rather than sell it on. I replaced it with a production privee shan gt but man oh man if I had the money I’d go for the ti, unlike Phil I never rode the Xizang but I dreamed of owning it. Great bike check love it.

My god. I’ve wasted my life.