DanLees profile

I ran these all of last year. Great performing, durable pedals! All for £10 more than a set of cleats…

That's lovely!

However you lose points for headset logo misalignment. 😉

Maybe I'm completely unfashionable (actually that's highly likely), but a reinforced arse panel in shorts is a GOOD thing for me as that's where shorts generally fail in the UK slop and grime.

To be fair compared to some of the flouro vomit shorts doing the rounds at the moment I really like those.

Good article!
I can be out the house and rolling towards my local trails in under 5 mins.
Can I add #12? "Live next to the trails" If you can ride without having to drive, it removes a barrier.

Maybe shorter stem and a wider bar than normally spec'd on a trail bike. Though this is becoming less of a necessity.

Also swapping out cheap Avid brakes for cheap Shimano would be something I would also consider.

Swapping out "designed for Cali" tyres before the first ride is a given isn't it?

Will Norbs get robbed again? 😉

I had a good look around what was available fairly recently.

I came to the conclusion that if you want a Park bike for kids, Commencal or Mondraker are your best bets. If you're looking at something more trail based Trek do a nice kids 26er full suspension.

Hey DanLees, which trail centre? I plan on visiting as many as possible in two weeks time this coming season.

Pics of Jacob (Green bike/kit) are actually above Val D'Isere in the French Alps.

Pic of Dylan (Red kit/bike) are at Sherwood Pines in Nottinghamshire, England.

My 2 kids are getting there with their riding.
A few pics of my eldest's first Lift accessed ride last year in Tignes…

That's Mont Blanc in the background.

This is my youngest last summer at my local trail centre.

This arrived this week for my eldest, just need the trails to dry out a bit!
I'll see how my youngest sizes up on it, if he can ride it, I'll get another before the riding season starts in earnest.

Anyone have any recommendations?

Currently looking at the Giro Chronicle and 7idp M2.

I run a little hot so good venting is a must.

Cheers

Slightly off topic but it IS a hardtail…

Just ordered one of these for my 8 (nearly 9 year old), it'll get some decent pedals and some Schwalbe Rocket Rons set up tubeless (hopefully) from new. Lighter bars/post will probably follow pretty quickly . Will probably fit a nicer drivetrain in the summer too.

It comes in at 10.5kg which I reckon I could get down 10 relatively easily.

Can't wait for the trails to dry out a bit!

http://www.saracen.co.uk/bikes/kids/junior

No plans to change this despite the old fashioned axle spacing…

No upgrades either…apart from maybe a grippier bottlecage.

2016-07-31_07-36-03 by Dan and Claire Lees, on Flickr

3rd the "odd stuff from the back corners of the show" suggestion.

Also softgoods!

Bike parts that hold up to a full season of riding (with regular service) but without needing a warranty replacement.

Someone has been buying SRAM stuff…

Did you follow the MBR service video where they tighten the foot nuts with the fork compressed?

Don't do this! You end up with a secondary negative spring.

You might find that the old cable tie down under the seal trick works.

After spending far too much time thinking about it I want for another set of Pikes.

I loved them until they died and didn't fancy the bigger offset and basic damper in the on the Yari.

If the x-fusions had been cheaper I might have been tempted.

In the end I couldn't justify the extra cost of MRP or DVO.
Fox even a "mates rate" price came out at a lot mor than the Pikes.