Well I created a tcx of my commute in in Bike Hike added directions and it worked a treat. Thanks

Thanks guys. I knew there would be a way.

Medoramas – I’ve tried the strata route builder its great but no waypoint option as far as I can tell. The route builder itself works really well and you can use the global heatmap to highlight popular roads which is great when designing a route in an area you’re not familiar with.

Maybe we should setup a thread(s) to share route files.

Last year I had been pining for a decent coffee machine for a while and couldn’t believe my eyes when I found a Gaggia Classic in our local village charity shop priced at £15. I gave them £20 and scampered off very pleased with myself.

It’s an old model but i don’t think it had much use until I got my hands on it. Still can’t believe how jammy I was that day.

I used a Halfords voucher in Harry Halls (Manchester) a few years ago. Evans may not be as helpful though.

I had it for a weekend. Our 1 year old had it for 2 weeks. It was hell!! He finally shook it a couple of weeks ago and now we all have horrible colds with coughs, sore throats, etc. Not a lot of sleep in our house in the last month.

Milliput. This stuff has bailed me out of some DIY faux pas in recent years. At the weekend a friends little tyke decided to swing on our baby gate ripping it out of the wall complete with all the hardwear. I’ll use this stiff to fill the huge holes in the plaster screw straight into it once dry. Amazing!

http://www.milliput.com/

If the rear mech is a relatively recent model an 11-30 casette should be fine. You may need a longer chain though. I got up Holme Moss with a 11-30 set up on my steel cycclocross bike so you should be fine.

I did the same last year. 12 months with GiffGaff and I’m very happy.

Thanks guys.

Greenfield is also my local brewery. I do like the Thirst Born and the Dobcross. The Silver Owl is also very good but may be a bit hoppy for the masses.

Doh! Forget about it, ride the hell out of it and they’ll soon be plenty more marks and scuffs on it. Mountain bikes looks so much better when well worn. Think of it as a head start.

Holmfirth -> Marsden -> Saddleworth (Isle of Skye Climb)-> Holme Moss -> Penistone -> Holmfirth.

[/url]Publication1 by Aaron Cousins[/url], on Flickr[/img]

I had two in my bike bag which were spotted on check in at Manchester Terminal 3. The security bloke said it wasn’t a problem, I just needed permission from the airline so off i went to the Ryanair desk.

The lad minding the desk didn’t have a clue and couldn’t track down a manager so I couldn’t get written permission. He was a strange lad who appeared to be scared off them so I left them in the middle of his desk and asked him to dispose off them appropriately as I walked off.

My advice is to get written permission from the airline before you travel. An email should suffice.

My white/black trade team jersey arrived yesterday. I wore it on the commute this morning and am very pleased with it. Almost tempted to order a second one in a different colour or the club jersey which has been reduced to £55.

Ed,

I had a similar dilemma when we went to Spain in May. I booked a mini bus taxi and warned them about the bike….a Octavia Estate arrived. After a fair bit of swearing we got the bike (road bike in a bag) a pushchair, the luggage and the 3 of us in but it was tight.

Just book a mini bus and warn them in advance. Hope the legs weren’t too heavy after that windy drag over the Isle of Skye on Saturday!

I’m no fanboy but I appreciate good kit and 60 notes for a cycling jersey of this quality is great value. Haters will always hate but im a convert. (I don’t understand the hate – designed in the UK, manufactured in Europe, it creates jobs, boosts the economy, etc.

I’ve been using a Rapha country jersey for commuting 26km each way 3 days per week since January and its as good as the day I received it (used from eBay) It fits well, washes well and looks good.

I couldn’t justify full price rapha kit but at the price of a nylon rag from Evans I’ll take one please. (Or two because I couldn’t decide which colour).

I get on very well with Funkier bibs. Merlin have them at a good price.

Just saw this thread and immediately removed my office slippers (comfy Clarks slip on shoes). Debating whether to remove my socks. Freedom!

My funkier bibs are the comfiest I’ve worn…ever.

Ed, They’d spot a chump like you coming a mile of and take you to the cleaners! Only joking…I bought my Alpine from them and the service was very good.

I use a Bagman with a Pendle Longflap for my 52km daily commute. weighs a bit but no complaints at all. you can get a surprising amount in it without the lonflap extension. I typically have lunch, trousers, shirt, pants, pacamac, tubes, tools, CO2 inflator and I have room for more if required.

Life’s too short. I use disposable M520’s. I tend to smash them up on a rock before they stop turning smoothly.

100 PSI in 28c road tyre (16oz cartridge). May have to be careful you don’t over inflate skinny race tyres. There is an estimate on the page displaying the cartridges of what tyres are filed to what pressure.

Keep an eye out on eBay. I recently bought Thule roof bars and bike carrier for £45. Very pleased with it.

Hora – I start a couple of miles from greenfield. There are a few routes to manchester. Off-road along the canal which I save for dry periods; this is pretty flat. Secondly the A635 (through Bottom Mossley, Stalybridge and Ashton). My preferred route is A670 (Greenfield, Top Mossley, Ashton, Manchester). The climb to the summit of the A670 between Mossley and Ashton (by the tower on Hearsthead Pike) is not as bad as it looks. I’m consistently riding this in about an hour each way.

To continue to Huddersfield there would be several big hills and another hour on the time I reckon.

I started riding a 32 mile round commute (Saddleworth to Salford Quays) about this time last year but I gave up after a few months as I wasn’t enjoying it. Started again in January based on the annual ‘I’m going to get fit regime….’.

Three months in and I love it, even in the wind and rain. Something just clicked. I’ve even been tempted to ride road at the weekend, but I usually end up messing about out on the mountain bike.

At the moment I’m using a Cotic X but have found myself ogling a few road bikes.

A couple of hours on the bike last night and productivity is definitely down today.

I think it has more to do with the post ride refreshment than the ride itself. I typically ride on a Tuesday and/or Thursday with big group of ‘unsavory characters’ (perfect description). A couple of hours on the bikes followed by a couple of hours in the pub. I try to stick to 2 pints but it’s almost always 4 which is just enough to cause broken sleep and a bit of a headache in the morning.

Most of my colleagues think we’re all mad but I love it!

No more Hans Dampfs.

Merlin have some good deals. Hoping these will be on my door mat tonight:

http://www.merlincycles.com/shimano-m088-spd-shoes-black-59113.html

Speed 12- Alligator is one of my favourite albums of all time. You won’t be disappointed with any of their albums.

Shimano AM45. Cheap, comfy and last ages.

AM45

What they said^. I commute 16 miles each way about three times a week. The other two days I go Brompton/Train and I take trousers, pants, shirts, etc to tide me over the days I ride all the way. When I’m low on toiletries (deoderant & wipes) I nip to the supermarket in at lunch time to stock up.

You definitely need a bit of time to cool down. I unzip my jacket and stroll along the canal for the last mile or so to start the cool down process. I use a discrete radiator beneath a stair well to dry the chamois and air the merino.

The girls and fatties in the office cannot understand why I do it and the sight of the chamois has drawn several comments…but I love it. I actually look forward to the Monday morning commute.

When I ordered mine I asked the shop if I should reduce the gears. They told me not to be a jessy. I live in saddleworth and it’s fine. I’d miss the top speed around Manchester if I reduced the gearing.

Ours kept dropping out a couple of times every hour which was very annoying when streaming TV. BT denied there was an issue so we’re back on copper. Don’t really notice a difference in the speed during day to day use but it doesn’t drop out.

I’ve had a similar issue on and off over the past year on various bikes with various shoes. Doesn’t stop me riding but I do worry about future knee issues. Put it down to getting old.

Whilst working in Teesport a couple of years ago went looking for a Post Office in my lunch hour which resulted in entering one of the residential areas to the east of Middlesborough. I kid you not, every other house had a battered shipping container in the front garden. WTF!

Not strictly my LBS but local to where I work…

Bicycle Doctor in Rusholme, Manchester.

Currently rebuilding a set of wheels for me. Fantastic service and thoroughly nice chaps. I would much rather give my cash to these guys than to CRC, Wiggle, etc. Just a shame the parts stock is a bit limited (as it is with most LBSs).

Truly awful. Our router broke a few weeks ago. Two engineers came to the house and didn’t spot the issue. Plugged in. My old BT router and it worked.

They replaced my cracked Commencal a few years back and we’re apologetic and helpful.

Area for camping, running water, portaloos, bike parking. Count me in!

I may or may not be there depending on whether or not my wife goes into labour. Mini Aazlad/ladette was due 6 days ago and is keeping us waiting! I’ll be on a Green Cotic >X< with an Exposure on the lid.