stumpyjon, they generally answered my enquiries within an hour or so. i did a few sample purchases from them to see if they were any good or not, and they impressed me – in that i had no problems – with 3 orders, so decided they’d get my cash rather than halfords (boardman carbon jobbie, about a grand). the boardmans are nice, but in the end i just couldn’t give halfords that much money!

Thanks for all the advice guys. I’m not likely to ride it through winter and I have a co car for the crappy days.

on the wiggle front, i ordered some bits this am at half 10… got an email at half 11 saying they were packed and ready to go 🙂

Hmm Wiggle have redeemed themselves a bit. Emailed them and got the stock reply back saying they would get back to me in 6 -8 hours but 20 minutes later I got an email saying it was being processed there and then with a sort of apology. This was followed by an automated email a few minutes later saying it had been processed and now my order is showing as processed. So fairly good once fingers were removed from backsides but it was shame I had to kick them first.

Not the first time I’ve had problems, seems as soon as you can get the attention of a person they are very good, just their systems let them down a bit sometimes (mind you can’t really moan, spent all morning on the shop floor debugging systems I’d written 😳 ).

Sorry Ed2001, poorly phrased sentence done in a hurry.

The CAAD9 would be a nice day bike[,] in addition to [my other bike] a proper winterproof commuter.

Although, saying that, I’ve seen a very smart winterisation of one using some cut down SKS guards with a few P-clips and zip ties, probably a tighter and less rattly setup than the SKS guards on my current winter bike.

New developments today. My boss is willing to do the cycle to work scheme if I sort it out!! Woo!! So me and a colleague are going to order bikes.

Down to the focus cayo a Ribble (sportive or nero). Can’t decide. Ribble charge £50 admin fee the robbing swines.

Does the focus come with Pedals out of interest?

Without, mine finally arrived today (at work in a very large box). Looks the business, haven’t had a chance to properly unwrap it yet. I got a set of XT pedals for it, couldn’t justify buying yet another set of shoes and cleats, just need a bottle cage and little tool bag & tube etc. You get a free multi tool and pedal spanner as well although that probably won’t sway your choice.

Post up some pics?

Here’s my 208 Cayo….

Being a 2008 model, I got Ultegra for £999. A couple of minor changes – bar/stem, saddle/seatpost and recently some GP4000S’s and I absolutely love it. Done a couple of sportives this year and no problems after 100 miles.

Try Paul Hewitt in Leyland.
http://www.hewittbikefitting.co.uk/

druidh. That’s noice. Better than the 2009 imo

I’ve done two rides on mine now- an hour fine set up and 3 hours ‘cruise’ that turned into a mortaring session!!!! The bike just screams ‘go faster’… Much more so than a 2000 dale I rode and a custom but ultimtely rubbish dave hinde.

Really really impressed. And the gf approves of the colours 🙂

1 week report on the Cayo – FAB!!!!! i’ve tweaked saddle and bar position slightly and it’s even more grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr now! I love it!

gears and brakes came set up perfectly, and are still working perfectly.

Just about the Boardman carbon – one of the guys here has one and it’s great – I’ve ridden it a couple of times and it really is a bargin for the money – especially through bike to work – very light, good kit and the ride is spot on – confident downhill but not slow elsewhere.

I got a Bianchi through B2W a year ago but it’s one with B4P geometry rather than the rather ugly looking C2C ones (with the bent top tube) and it’s great through not a bargin in the way that the Boardman is.

Check out the Dolan Mythos, carbon frame full 105 groupset and mavic wheel set. I got in on Halfords C2W scheme.

Boardman from Halfords…unbeatable value. Trust me.