ROB’S NUKEPROOF MEGA 290 RS CARBON £5,999.99

Our tech-ed-in-chief’s long-termer is ready for some TLC after a tough life so far

With the final throes of summer lasting until mid-October this year, I got out on the Mega as much as I could last month to make the most of the dry conditions. It’s really hard to beat dusty tracks in the middle of autumn! After a few decent rides, it was only when I swapped bikes to try out a different test machine that I started to realise that my Mega is in need of some TLC.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s far from falling apart, but it’s about time I spent a bit of time taking care of it. The first and easiest thing on my to-do list is giving the drivetrain a proper degrease and re-lube. It’s a mucky job but isn’t exactly taxing and the results are always satisfying.

I also need to give the RockShox ZEB fork a lower leg service, assuming I can get the small parts I need. It still feels pretty good, but it’s not as slick as it once was and can feel a little sticky at times. The final job is a brake bleed. On a recent trip to some steep tracks in a location I’ll not mention, I started to notice the SRAM Code RSCs pumping up a bit as I dragged the brakes in an attempt to control my speed. Again, it’s not a major job and I’m hoping it’ll yield some decent results.

For those with a keen eye/good memory, you’ll know that the only things I’ve swapped on the Mega are the wheels and tyres. I’ll post a proper review of the wheels soon, now that I’ve been riding them for a decent amount of time, but in short,

I’ve been impressed with how the WTB CZR i30 rims have held up and how they react to the trail.

I’ve enjoyed my time on the Michelin tyres, too. The front Wild AM2 has been predictable and worked well in a variety of conditions. However, the same isn’t entirely true of the Force AM2 I’ve got on the rear. It’s suffered a small tear, courtesy of the rocks at BikePark Wales, and, while it’s been great on the drier trails, now that the weather has changed and surfaces are a mixture of mud and wet leaves, the tread is struggling to dig in under braking. With just one month left with the Mega, pending the arrival of our 2022 bikes, I don’t think I’ll have the chance to change this one, though. www.hotlines-uk.com