Me, eventually…

I've ordered a Jake the Snake from Wiggle (18/04), won't be in stock until early July! I'd cancel the order and buy something similar or another elsewhere, but I bought it on their 20% discount sale. It's killing me waiting!

nice bikes guys, Bakey .. what size is that frame?? Looks about right for me ..

15.5. I'm 5'5", 28.5 inseam – fits great w/ 50mm stem.

L/H

I went to school with a boy called Tracey; as you can imagine, he was dead hard and no one took the mickey.

I wanted to call our youngest Oscar, but was outvoted (mothers' votes count for two…)

Only properly bonked once, thank heavens. In Portugal on a touring/ATB solo trip (I carried nobblies to swap from my touring slicks) waaay ago in 1988! Three hours uphill on a small breakfast and a fully loaded bike, crawled to a cantina for fizzy pop and a baguette.

Never, ever, again!

In, and really looking forward to this.

2hrs up last August at 0630, in miserable cold and rain. About 60% rideable for me.

I think the voluntary ban is fine and, to be honest, with the number of walkers during 9-5, they would quite spoil what is a fantastic descent.

Racing Ralph 2.25, both ends of a SC Superlight. I'm no way fit enough to ride that course on my SS.

Camping with mates and family nr Dolgellau.

I rather not be pedalling down one of the descents like last year (or was that Builth)

That looks really good. Alas, I'm on a family holiday.

Harry-the-Spider, I'd love to try out the course, but I'm at the SSEC thingy in FoD then…

The Uncle Johns look good, but they've none in my size (small) alas.

Thanks for the replies.

I lost c2.5 stones two years ago – nearly 13 to just over 10 – and have managed to keep it off.

I'm constantly hungry though.

Lots of good advice here, the main ones being (i) read the labels (have you seen how many calories there are in a Ginsters Buffet Bar!) and, (ii) cook for yourself, from scratch.

I'm in – didn't finish it last time…

bakey, isn't copper tubing too soft?

It is soft, but not too soft. I've used the same tool on 3 headsets, might need to trim the bottom off the next time I use it. A bit more hassle than a screwdriver method, but I've not marked or damaged a frame/headset yet.

I use 1" copper pipe, w/ 4 cuts as above – ensures no damage to the alloy cup or the frame.

Thanks for your help fellas; I'll steer them to this thread.

I was axle deep in snow last night at Llandgegla. I suspect the rain over the next few days will clear it away.

Hope this helps.

You could do the calculations which will give you a total cost of borrowing on either method. Bear in mind though that a mortgage or an unfixed loan interest rate may change.

The old business addage is useful: match the loan to the asset i.e. short life asset:short term borrowing; long life asset:long term borrowing. Or in a personal context an overdraft for your monthly ups and downs and a mortgage for your house.

I had a hassle getting them in my J3 calipers, but they've lasted for ages (sintered), so I'm not overly concerned.

These threads always make me smile because I actually used a rock to assist with the fitting! 😀

I love those old VW campervans, but don't have the time (or cash) for the continual repairs.

We've currently an unconverted Bongo (well a Ford Freda) which is superb – no rust, quiet and comfortable. We use an awning and for the four of us we find it fine.

Just built this up. Frame from the classifieds, as was the headset, forks (last year), saddle and seatpost. Thanks chaps!

Now got a Spec. FSRxc 2007 frame for sale, once I've looked it over.

I used to race Lasers. For a ~2hr round the cans race I didn't bother drinking anything, just hydrate heavily before launch. Where there was a long sail to the start line I used to pop a bottle of water in the bottom.

Bungeed bottle to the centre board looks a good idea though. Camelback? – at 7/9 they could do with some extra hiking ballast!

Perhaps…

#431

Third Dyfi and the highlight of my cycling year. Top courses, good length and a great atmosphere.

…anything easier and you'll be spinning out on the flat and road sections will be horrible.

As I found out at HtN last weekend. Fine down and up, but alas everyone whizzed past me on the flat… 32:18 most of the time here though.

Great day. Thanks to the organisers and marshals, esp. at the bottom of the sharp muddy down hill – 5 times and on my *rse every time!

Sounds like the caliper isn't lined up properly. Undo the caliper bolts (with wheel fully secured in the forks) pull in lever, hold, and do up the bolts.

singletracksurfer – my first on had an intermittent connection problem. I emailed them and they sent me a replacement; took some time though. If you want you can try/have my old one to see if it fits your connector better. Drop me a line.

Is a singlespeed a sensible choice…?

On my Love/Hate: EBB w/HTII

Perfect, no creaking and dead easy to adjust

Doesn't 46 bottles per year work out at about 23 units per week? Marginally just above the governments guideline for safe adult male consumption…

MTB singlespeed

What tyres…hmmm

I use a Pelikan for day to day stuff – great pen and well made

A bike rather than a car and the RAC. A long annoying story but it took 4 hrs to get home when a dumb RAC operator failed to grasp that a Triumph T595 is nothing like a Triumph Spitfire…

Bowline on one end, pass the other end through the bight, tighten, and go thorough again, finish with a couple of half hitches.

Can't anyone do knots any more…

Try here:

Charlie the Bikemonger

He was v. helpful when I put my singlespeed together.

Now with white saddle and white forks. Love/Hate

156 Sportwagon 156 2.4 diesel here

Drop links, corroded earth strap (which led to a flatbed recovery), minor electrical niggles and a whistley turbo. Put 80k on it over 4 years, cambelt changed at 60k. Smallest estate in the world, but drives brilliantly. If I'm careful, I get close on 50mpg; would love the V6 but I couldn't affort the fuel given the miles I'm doing at the mo. Will def. buy another Alfa next year.

As mentioned above, key is finding a good independant – they love Alfas and are massively cheaper than the twits at the main dealers. There's a great independant just outside Wrexham if you're near there.

Nice but not that hot

180,000 Scovilles is quite hot enough for me, thank you…

Standard Tabasco is 2,500-5,000 Scoville units (according to chilliworld.com)

Yes please!

michaeljbakewell AT googlemail.com

Thanks

46. Early-stage technology venture capitalist