I do my own VAT returns, it’s not something to dread unless you’re running a sweetshop or something else with lots of small sales.

It’s very easy, and I’m not particularly great with accounts.

Do you use the flat rate scheme Brant? I was recommended to use it by a contractor friend who said I’d probably turn a profit (I have low outgoings).

Duty is lower on parts, yes.

But as has been suggested above, the bulk of your extra charge will be VAT anyway.

I imported a fork when exchange rate was good and the benefit was marginal after charges, certainly wouldn’t do it again now.

Are top-end wheels still built by robots?

I’d have assumed smaller production runs and tighter quality control might mean some factory wheels are handbuilt anyway?

No idea, in first year of running a business company and just taking the odd small dividend at the moment – no salary at all.

Quite a bit coming in, but I’ll have to wait and see how much the tax man is going to grab.

Have a BA and postgrad journalism qualification.

I’ve got the Traversee wheels too and like Smurf I’ve not had any issues with flex. Only had about four rides so far though.

But “heavier duty” isn’t really the way I’d describe them. They’re very light wheels, more like XC/”trail” wheels that can take wider tyres and a variety of hubs.

Really easy to switch over the hub fittings. Wide rims give even thin 2.0 tyres a great profile.

Just had a look at their website, can’t see a lot of BS myself.

Maybe I’m not so finely attuned to the subtle signals that you’ve picked up on – but it just looks like a nice, well-designed website selling interesting bikes and products to me.

They make their Duster out of Tange Prestige too, respect is due!

Agree with Ian, and only you know the fine details – you probably have a feel for each firm’s likelihood to survive and for the prospects for you within each.

Staying where you are is not always safer, if your present employer is in worse condition than the prospective new one.

Marin somehow manages to feel like there’s twice as much climbing as descending.

Least enjoyable UK trail centre I’ve visited.

Shame, as it feels like there’s loads of potential there.

Ta for that, running low on malts so I’ll pop in there this week.

Haha, I suspect the seatpost has been removed actually.

Got a Montane eVent jacket and it’s brilliant.

Would choose eVent over Gore Tex every time.

Capital J on Jump

Nah, lower case Festival and Music instead.

Price missing.

Venue name a bit over prominent, can it fit on two lines? Perhaps second line smaller.

Try putting the URL at the bottom in red, might balance it up a bit. Yellow on green works really well though, I was going to say yellow when I saw the first effort.

Not sure who the flyer is for or where you’ll be distributing it, but do you need to be a bit more specific about what sort of bikey riding/racing/fun you’re offering?

I can’t add much of use to the advice already provided, other than to say that if enough of you join a union you can force your employer to recognise the union in question – and it will then have to negotiate with elected representatives on matters such as this.

This is the single biggest benefit of union membership IME, the feeling of strength that comes from collective representation.

If you’re interested, contact a suitable union and ask for advice on setting up a chapel.

Yes.

I expect it’d make even more difference on a rigid bike, though I’ve only had them on bikes with sus forks and they’ve been one of the most worthwhile upgrades I’ve made.

****’ell, we should start public hanging of thieves regardless of ethnic/social/whatever background.

Oooh, political.

They only talk to their dealer network, according to my LBS.

So ‘wog’ might be the origin of ‘golliwog’ then, rather than vice versa?

You learn something new every day!

Chakaping, – I just realised who you are! Are you coming out to the Alps with our Irish compadres in the summer? They’ve plans afoot for the Mega avalanche… I’m not sure I fancy that, but some lift assisted ‘scaring myself stupid’ would be fun!

Hello Pete (?), how’s it going mate? Long time no see. Definitely up for Alps, got my visa stamped by ‘er indoors and purchased this in the sale at my LBS…

Hopefully we can book somethink up soon!

And to bring this post back on-topic, how’s that Meta of your working out in the Lakes? Bet it’s perfect for up there ;)

My email’s in my profile here btw.

S

“Wog” is short for Gollywog.

Never tried calling a black person by that term, suspect it wouldn’t go down too well though.

buzz – Your last line perfectly describes my Cove HJ now I’ve put some light wheels and a Reba Team with maxle on it. Seems like the perfect UK trail bike.

But then so does the Trance with Rev U-Turn I’ve just built up.

Neither is better – they just do the same thing differently – and I wouldn’t want to give either up.

Maybe. Does it have carbon chainstays?
Why you are selling it might be more to the point though….

It does have the carbon stays. I’ve never noticed any flex though (I’m about 12.5st). Mine wallows because it’s got a DHX air on it instead!

Selling because I bought the frame blind and it’s a tiny bit long for me (even with 50mm stem). And I couldn’t resist buying a Giant Reign 1 with 40% off.

Funny enough, your description of your first ride on your Pitch was just like the first time I took my 575 out with its Fox 36 forks. Wanted to jump off everything I saw.

Gave myself concussion going off a blind lip and finding a tree had been pulled out to leave a big hole the other side.

Shows one man’s meat is another man’s poison.

Sao Tome is just the place the choc comes from, I believe.

My wife bought me a stack of fancy chocolate bars for Xmas, some had stuff like rosemary or chilli in.

Should be interesting to get stuck in.

The only bike reviews you can trust on here are the one’s written after the owner has sold it.

Not if it’s sold to somebody on the classifieds here.

Damn rude to sell a bike and then post about its shortcomings where the buyer is likely to read it.

I sense this isn’t the right place to give the 575 I’m selling a plug.

Medium just about right on me and my 32in or 33in waist – but I’d say they’re maybe an inch smaller than average sizing.

I suppose anyone starts to look good compared to Lord Snooty and his pals.

Will do Gringerd – cheers.

My email’s in my profile if you’d like to drop me a line.

Agree with MrNutt. Sounds like you have the leverage to get in as a partner/director.

First though, ask to see all their plans and projections. Insist on this, as you’d need to know they could pay your wages if taking you on as an employee.

Then if you think it’s a go-er, tell them you want a stake. Doesn’t have to be on same basis as other directors if they are putting money up.

Local woods.

Beautiful sunny day Saturday, but very sloppy after the last two weeks of frosty fun.

Bring back the big freeze!

A custard cream is merely an anaemic bourbon.

Plain choc hob nob makes both look like amateurs though.

And who says hillwalkers are all humourless, overdressed, pole-wielding coffin dodgers?

PS. I’m a hillwalker, so not me.

Yes, I have the 2.4 protections (with black chili) and rate them highly for everything except fast hard downhills, where they seem to fold a bit as v10 pointed out.

Now have one on the rear of my 575, where folding isn’t such an issue, and one on the front of my Trance or Handjob where it performs very well in almost all circumstances.

If I didn’t have more tyres than Kwik Fit at the moment, I’d buy the 2.2 as a rear as well.

Too good to be true, surely?

Perhaps we could just foster the euro for a bit, see if it works out before we go the whole hog and adopt it.

I’m over Broxbourne way and in a similar position to you, none of my mates will pony up for lights either.

My email’s in my profile if you want to drop me a line.

Damn, I was really keen to do this – but it’s the day after I go on holiday.

Still, at least I’ll be riding in the Alps at the same time.

el_bouf – Cheers mate. My email’s in my profile if you’d like to drop me a line and I’ll get in touch when I’m heading up.

Tell him to get a full English breakfast instead, much easier.

The churchy lot should just have a whip round and take out bus adverts that say "You’re right to be miserable, God knows what you’ve been up to" or "Jesus would have had an Oyster card".

I do [have] is perfectly acceptable?

To some perhaps, but not to me.

Seriously though, it is a bit odd to reply with a contraction of a different word to that used in the question.

I blame all those US sitcoms she watches.

As Piedi says – it’s a good way to feel like you’re still in touch with people that you never see.

The photo sharing facility is really good because of the viral aspect. Only 3 or 4 of my 150ish "friends" might be interested in my MTB trip photos – and I probably wouldn’t have emailed them to those people – but they have to option to look at them if they want to.

I’ve also discovered other "friends" are MTBers via Facebook pictures, which was nice.

Honestly, if you can’t see the benefits it offers, I suspect you’d probably be happier watching Grumpy Old Men on the telly instead anyway.