Not hard at all. just sand ed them down a good bit. Then sprayed them with a couple of coats of primer, then the paint then lacquer.

No, sold the chase a while ago.

Yeh, it's extremely boring. I hit a stump and done a nice nose manual then flew over the bars. I was out on the xc bike at the weekend just taking it easy so a week or 2 and I should hopefully be back to normal. How is it in the Czech Republic?

I mainly teach in businesses, also doing a couple of public courses for college/university students: so age 17 and up. Must be fun studying in Prague. It's a nice City. One thing I've noticed about this country is that Czechs are not, generally, particularly agressive people. They drink a lot, but mostly behave. Unlike in the UK. I have only seen one drunken fistfight in nearly 3 months of living here. And that was a Nazi fighting 2 guys. The Nazis are the Chavs out here in Plzen! Im flying out of here to Paris - to be picked up by a friend - in July, heading to the alps for the mega and a week in Morzine, but I wont see my bike until then. I just drink here. 70 p a pint FFS! And I speak a little Czech because I share an apartment with Czechs; it is very difficult. Much more complicated than English, but once you understand the case system it becomes easier. Still very hard though.

hey, what are you doing in Prague? I am curious as Im down the road in the wonderful city of Plzen, teaching English. Missing my bike.

i will indeed, she rides pretty well, took her round nairn park, (crap yes) few gaps and stuff, handles them very well

The descennders are insane, the hubs are probably the best thing about them, front rolls as smooth as anything, and the rear engages as fast as all hell and has a great cassete and loud too

Hey man... I was using some f*cking heavy rims, so I put the FUNN Descender and the bike lost 500g... they are very light for how burly they are.... manufactured by SUN rims... basically the same rim as the MTX!