The answers to all your technical questions, plus how to plug a hole in a tubeless tyre and o!set shock hardware explained Grime TIME
Your questions answered
Cheaper cousins
Having read your Bike of the Year issue ( MBUK 355), I’ve decided it’s time I bit the bullet, dipped into my savings and replaced my 10-year-old hardtail. While I’d love to buy one of the trail bikes you featured, my budget doesn’t stretch that far – I’ve got £2,200 to spend. Could you guys point me in the right direction, please? I ride a mix of trail centres and just messing about in the woods. Gareth Voller, via email It wasn’t long ago that cheaper trail bikes came without dropper posts and had narrow bars and fairly average tyres. Fortunately, times have moved on. If you took a shine to any of the top three bikes in our trail bike test, you’ll be pleased to know that each has at least one model below it that costs less, though some are better than others.
The YT Jeffsy 29 AL is only available online, which means you don’t get to sit on it beforehand or get the backup of your local bike shop. What you do get for your £2,166.80 (inc. shipping) is better kit than on an equivalent shop-bought bike, bolted onto a frame that we’re big fans of. That includes a Fox 34 Rhythm fork, Maxxis tyres (though not tubelessready ones) and SRAM Guide R brakes.
If you’re keen for a bit more downhill prowess, the Norco Sight A3 29 looks pretty decent if you can push your budget to £2,300. Its RockShox Revelation fork works well enough and has a great chassis, and the TranzX dropper post and 1x11 SRAM NX gearing are great to see on a bike at this price. While it uses the same great frame as our Bike of the Year runner-up, the Trek Fuel EX 7 29 isn’t as good value as the YT or Norco. Its RockShox Reba fork is pretty basic and a little flexy, and its rear shock doesn’t get any of Trek’s fancy ‘RE:aktiv’ gubbins. It does get tubelessready tyres, though, along with 1x11 SRAM NX gearing. All three bikes are great in their own way, but at this price, we’d be leaning towards the Sight or Jeffsy.
undercover protection
I’m after some elbow pads that are thin, comfy and don’t slip down my arms. I don’t want anything too bulky or a pair that’ll make me look like I play ice hockey. Any suggestions? Roger Milford, via email There are a few elbow pads that we’ve had success with – although, as with any tight-fitting bit of kit, there’s an element of subjectivity to the experience. Troy Lee Designs do the Speed Elbow Sleeves for £55. While they’re not cheap, they’re super-comfy and the long ‘sleeve’ can be pulled up high, where it stays put pretty well. The D3O padding is thin enough to fit under a long-sleeve jersey, for a more subtle look. Scott’s Mission pads are a touch cheaper, at £50. They’re not as long, but the tight cuffs do a solid job of keeping them in place and they’re comfortable too.
Feeling the pressure
My mates always moan at me about my tyre pressures. I either just ride my bike as I find it or pump them up super-hard. Is it really that important? Michael Gardner, via email In a word, yes. Stop being so lazy! If you haven’t ridden your bike in a while, make sure to check the pressures before heading out. Tyres that are too soft won’t only be prone to pinch flatting, they’ll also make your bike’s handling feel vague. If they’ve got too much air in them, they’ll be bouncy and unpredictable. Try putting 22 to 25psi in your front tyre and 24 to 28psi in the rear, depending on your weight, tyre size and the type of riding you do.