If you join Surrey Hill MTB (keep quiet on the EMTB!) on Face book there are good suggestions made there.
There is also a small but growing EMTB group "Surrey Hills Fun emtb" that meet up occasionally so you can show us your skills after
I have the Raptor 14 and it's brilliant.So comfy you really don't notice it so use it on all rides even 3 miles to the pub.It recently won best in test with one of the mags.Really useful tool roll and plenty of storage.They even sent me a buckle clip FOC when mine broke after 7 years use
Have a look at joining the Surrey Hills emtb Facebook forum.Happy to take you on a blast of Summer Lightning and Redlands sometime as its on my doorstep
It certainly can be repaired and very successfully I understand.Someone I know, knows the owner.
https://carbonbikerepair.co.uk/
I'm sure they are not unique
Very good review. Bought these too after nearly breaking my hip. Very comfy but I would prefer if they came with chamois as you mentioned.
Wear them with my TLD 7855 vest
Really want to upgrade the fork and shock when I ordered my M20 a few weeks ago but the shop and the rep strongly recommended against it as the delivery date would then go from October to who knows
I'd be interested to see how the 34 and 36's compare. I wanted a M20 with upgrades including the 36 fork but it greatly compromised the October delivery date so went stock.