I had chucked the old chain so took the bike back (for the third time) and they fitted a new cassette.

Went for a ride last night and it is definately improved but still did it a few times – but towards the end of the ride so perhaps it was caused by the mud (allthough it wasn’t a really muddy ride)

OK will try that. New chain should be correct size – but wouldn’t put it past my crappy bike engineers to put wrong one on. I will c if the cassette feels secure.

Freehub should be ok – both wheels new within 30 – 40 rides (hope pro hubs I think)

The only reason I suspected the rear deraileur is cos it looks to bend in towards the bike very slightly (allthough the bracket holding it doesn’t seem bent) and has a tiny bit of play in it.

Sigmaf

Good luck with your venture.

I think the shops in a great location. It is 5 to 10 mins drive from City centre and has ample parking.

I hope you have flood insurance though!

Morans … I always want to call it Morons. – Has anyone been in?

In my opininion, it is the finest food in Sheffield owned and ran by husband (chef) and wife team who are very friendly.

[/quote]What makes you say it is dangerous? As Dick Barton says…………

Are you winding me up?
Do you really not see what the consequences could be coming off your bike and landing on a baby?

so andy, don't take a baby in a car, you may have an accident. Or in a pushchair, you may have an accident. Or put them in one of those door bouncy things, they may have an accident. Honestly the way people pamper kids these days is plain stupid. we're expecting our first next month and i'll be getting them out on bikes as soon as i can. If that means in a sling then so be it, i'd never do anyhting to put it at risk, and cycling on a dedicated off road cycle path is not putting anyone at risk

In a car there are approved car seats for babies and toddlers to reduce the chance of injury or death in an accident – some idiots choose not to use them.

'Those door bouncy things' are hardly a sensible comparison.

I think using a dedicated cycle path while your baby is in a sling is very thoughtful – do you think its head is less likely to get squashed/knocked sensless on there? – but if you do have an accident, as you say, at least you're not putting anyone else at risk.

andy – you miss the point – it is not dangerous. There is no epidemic of deaths

I do not miss the point. Of course it is dangerous, even though an accident probably won't result in death.

I hope most people would agree.

Just because other countries deem it as 'normal' does not mean it is safe/sensible or acceptable behaviour.

[/quote]It's not like I'm going to take him down a black run is it!

I don't know. If you decide the risk is acceptable to take your baby on a bike in a sling, you are daft enough to attempt anything.

To even consider strapping the baby to you (at any age) while cycling is insane even if you are not off roading.
Do you really need a few possible scenarios spelling out?

Just been out for 3 hours – without a problem, so it seems as if the ergon grips work for me.
Many thanks everybody

Ti29er
Just been to lbs to exchange the ergon GP1 for Ergon GR2 (with the bar ends attached) Going to try them this afternoon!

Have bought some Ergon GP1 – will try them tomorrow

PeterPoddy

I only have this when biking!
Starts on up hill grinds and is both hands – mainly fingers, but the whole hand gets the sensation.

Thanks for the input.
I Could be holding on too tight.
Don't think its the gloves cos it does it with them all, but will go for a ride without gloves to check (when it gets warmer)
Will look at Mary bars (whatever they are) & ergon grips.
Pretty sure its not a trapped nerve – the feeling goes away after a few mins if I shake my hands.

If it's the same 4×4 that I have seen there over the last 3 weeks (old Range Rover)it is still there stuck in snow – but now even harder to drive away cos someones jacked it up and nicked the wheels!!!

My Enduras were c++p.
Lining came out everytime I took them off – let alone wash them.

Took them back and got a refund – the shop owner used the same glove and didn't have the issue, so perhaps a faulty batch.

My Sealskinz don't do it and are great.

Thanks for all the further input.
I must add that the groove is worse than it looks on my photos – it is not just paint that is removed – a chunk of carbon has gone as well!

If it is only cosmetic as TREK state, then although I’m annoyed, it’s not really an issue to me cos the bike will look tatty in a year or so anyway.

However, I would like firm assurance from TREK that they would cover this as a warranty issue if it did prove to be a problem. I am also eager to hear what TREK have to say regarding the set up of cables as per the photo phead kindly posted.

Lots of very helpful posts – and overall not very good PR for the company.

Hora
I have to agree with you. They are the original outers (factory fitted) so exactly my point the design/finish/build is at fault

Markd
I clean and inspect the bike after every ride. This wear really is hidden behind the cable and I really did not know or expect the damage would occur (or of course would have prevented it.)

Halfbee
No frame protectors were provided and untill I reported the issue to the lbs I didn’t even know such things existed existed.

Jenga
Mountain bikes should be suitable for use in mountain conditions, and if the cable fitted at delivery are causing frame damage after such a short time then the bike design is unsuitable – this is my thinking exactly and why the following comment and photo are so interesting.

Phead
Thank you – a very interesting photo and helpful post. If the cables were run like that there would not have been an issue. I am interested to hear what TREK say about that.

trekcol. Colin from Trek

Your colleague has been in email correspondece with me this morning and promptly answered my questions, but I do not agree that a factory built bike, without modification should have suffered any damage in such a short period.

However, I am releived to hear that this is cosmetic. I have now 'patched' this area so it will not get any worse.

Thanks everybody for your input.

Andy

geoffj

Yep – thanks. I realize my contract is with my lbs – but had heard good things about TREK and their warranty – so thought it was worth letting them know.

Incidentally. If as seems to be the general concensus it is not a problem, I do not give tuppence. The nature of the sport and my general ability mean the bike will not look brill by the end of the year anyway.

I guess i am slightly paranoid because of the horror stories I hear regarding carbon.

By the way – apart from this (hopefully tiny issue) I really like the bike. A decision made partly due to this forum and njee20.

Let me see,

Purchased a new car recently
Turning corner and changing gear has caused the chassis to wear after only a few miles.

Never mind says the retailer – probably be ok.

Manufacturer agrees and says its my own fault for not putting tape over the chassis – as I should have known it would wear – it’s what happens when you drive.

coffeeking

I am fairly new to mbiking and wouldn't know where to start in building a bike!
The bike was factory built and as such I feel they should have at least made me aware it was likely to rub in that position.

geofj
It would seem exactly that:
I am now in email correspondence with TREK – their initial responce is, it is my fault, not a design error and I must patch it. They also reckon it will not have 'significantly' weakened the frame.

Will add patches and hope it doesn't prove to be a problem in the future.

Not really the best responce from the manufacturer of a 10 weeks old £4500 bike (even though I paid less as it is last years model

I would say the cable sits about a third of it into the groove (looks like it was designed to fit there!)

So if as you say the cable is 4mm the groove is less than 2mm (but sure looks and feels deeper than that.

Its hard to measure it exactly but definately between 2.5 and 4mm (not .4)

I have regularly checked the frame for rubs – and placed tape where cables are rubbing up and down (which seems to be largely cosmetic – removing the gloss paintwork.) I missed this though cos it is directly underneath the cable and has been caused by rubbing in the direction of the cable, not up and down – so the groove has been covered by the cable
Take a look here for photo of damage http://www.sheffieldaccommodation.co.uk/page18.html

Yes I agee. Have used them a number of times and been highly impressed with the turnaround.

Update.

The Superstar pads work very well – can't tell any difference from the originals apart from them being at least a third of the price.

2 days feeling very uncomfortable – but not 'absolute' pain, but in my case several months before no discomfort at all.

I know the doctors say the 'sexual sensation' afterwards is the same – but I disagree.

Didzy2009

Thanks for the recommend – I have just placed an order for 4 packs of Sintered and 4 packs of organic to give them a fair trial.

I have just spoken to Endura who say they are not aware of an issue with my glove and to take them back to my lbs for them to rissolve – which is of course a cop out.

The tips of the inner glove are not stiched to the outer – so you have a hell of a job getting them back in once taken off or washed. This is not a faulty/warranty issue – this is a design flaw which Endura must be aware of.

Crap design – do not waste your money on these Endura gloves

Endura cordura are also crap (and expensive). The same fault as finbar says with the lobster.

They are so rubbish I have emailed Endura – but they have not responded, so I will now freely slag them off.

Endura – your gloves are useless you should be ashamed of what you are selling and your customer relations is also appaling. I have bought loads of your gear in the past – not so sure from now on.

I don't know how you even managed to perservere 18 months with these jobsworths.

The authorities wonder why people start using footpaths and 'illegal' trails.

Send them a copy of your post and subsequent thread

rightmove (properties & prices in your chosen area)
shazam

& mainly for kids:

Smack talk (kids love it for a few hours fun)
TicTacFree (noughts & crosses)
Sleeps lite (sleeps till Xmas
FartinFurious
WS Kids (word search)
Crash cart (racing game – brill for kids/adults – hours of addiction)

Useful thread – just purchased the Edinburgh Cycles one for £50 – delivery Wed.

Yetiman
Searching the forum sometimes helps [/i]

Yes but if you search the post you refer me to it asks which winter boot won WMB review. – I asked what the readers of this forum liked best.

Any way – obviously of interest to a number of readers even if a similar post has been placed earlier

Thanks for all your input.

Think I am erring towards the MW80, but would have liked to try a pair of Northwave GTX, but no shops locally have either in.

Would have rather tried on and purchased from a shop than purchased via internet (sizing varies that much)

After loads of deliberation and conversations and reading advice on this forum I decided it should not be necessary to have handle mount lockout.

Yesterday I purchased a Trek fuel ex 9.9 (09) at what I consider a good discount. I took it out for 3 hours and was very impressed with it and didn’t feel the need to touch the rear suss once!

Thanks to all for your input

Andy

You lot have really put the cat amongst!

Looked at the Trek fuel Ex 9.8 which I liked.
Looked at Stumpjumpers which I have decided against.
Also looked at a Whyte E-120 (liked it but ugly to my eye but in the running) and despite being ugly a Orange 5 – which could get my business because Orange are prepared to ship a demonstrator from Halifax.

Will have to decide in the next few days cos my bike is on Ebay!

Fuel ex 9.8 (2009) but if they have a top fuel in will look at that, but probably above my budget.

njee20 – Thanks for the suggestions – I will take a look at them. After reading all the above helpful input I have decided to look at other bikes and am going to see a 2009 Trek fuel 9.8 this afternoon.

Thanks all – I think I will start looking at other options and because of your suggestions have been reading about the Trek fuel EX and could afford the 2009 9.8. It certainly gets good press. If it is correct that the rear shock doesn't need adjusting every 2 mins, it may be an option.

gingerflash – thanks for your suggestion. I have never contemplated an Orange because I think they are ugly (perhaps a daft reason to discount)

Think I will start another thread about the Trek

Willsimonds – Yes I understand what you are saying. If I found a rear suspension bike that didn’t need altering all the time I guess I would not be as bothered about the handlebar lockout – Perhaps my first bike has tainted my view.

Trying bikes out in Sheffield is easier said than done, but you are right, ideally I need to be trying some. I will try and see the 10 Fuel EX.

Traildog – The only reason I thought I was bothered about the handlebar lockout is because my current bike needs constantly fiddling with and I hate it and I thought all bikes must be like that, but am interested to have read willsimonds comments.