Hahaha, that tickled me fontmoss.

Try eating more soups. They keep you full for longer and discourage snacking.

Also, do you have time to go night riding? Just thought biking might be more enjoyable than that soul-destroying gym stuff.

Maybe go riding by yourself more anyway – you’ll stop to chat less (hopefully!)

Gary – Yep, this thread has made me thirsty too. Just fetched a Leffe Brun in from the garage.

Cheers!

Student stoner hats aren’t they?

Were in my day anyway.

Cheers for all those guys. Have tried quite a few of those, but there’s evern more that I haven’t.

Wasn’t a fan of Innis and Gunn, might have been a bit sweet for me.

Djglover – Interesting, hadn’t really cottoned on to the bottle conditioned thing, explains why some beers (and I know I like some of the ones you mentioned) taste fresher and more complex.

Don’t listen to these misers.

Treat yourself to a new bike, I’m sure you deserve it.

Great site, that Speedtest.

Just checked and I’m apparently getting 9892kbps out of Virgin for DLs and 487kbps for uploads.

Happy with that.

A button just appeared on the top of the classifieds forum view.

Looks like thay’ve fallen off the wagon.

Had seven Merlin wheels, all have been fine.

Definitely recommended.

Those remote levers are rubbish anyway. You don’t want it cluttering up your bike.

If nobody is answering this, perhaps they’ve given up booze for January?

I’d like to know too btw. Sold a few things recently and that other thread has made me realise I owe them a pint.

I got a pump with my 2009 Reba recently, if that helps at all.

Pantsonfire – You should be grateful that your scouse accent was obviously getting you some action, not complaining!

I’ve found the rear shock fine so far, yeah.

Bobs a bit when climbing out of the saddle, but pretty solid the rest of the time. Give it a go and see what you reckon.

Be good to know what you think of it when you’ve set it up.

Brooklyn Lager.
The Wire.
Grand Central Station.
The Velvet Undergorund.
Preston Sturges films.

That’ll do, don’t want to spoil you.

Only been reading the mag for two or three years, but is it me or are the bike tests getting shorter?

I’m in the same boat as you Shinsplints. Picked up a secondhand 2008 Trance 3 for a song off ebay (£450).

Rode really well as stock, but making the following changes…

RS Revelation U-Turn 100-130mm.
Mavic 717 rear, 719 front rims with XT hubs.
Sram X0 shifters, X9 rear mech XT front mech.
XT brakes
Race Face Deus crankset.
RF Next SL carbon seatpost + WTB Silverado ti rail saddle.
Truvativ team carbon bars.
90mm Truvativ stem.

Here’s a shot with a few changes…

Rides really, really nicely. Very well balanced, perky and confident.

Back end feels like more than 4.2in and front seems to work best at 115 or 120mm – though wind the fork down to 100mm and it climbs almost as well as the Anthem it’s replacing.

Was perfect for the Dales and pretty good at Dalby too. The sort of bike that puts a smile on your face. I’m a big fan already.

Bottom bracket definitely low on mine, btw.

Santa Cruz frames are particularly expensive though.

Prices are rising for sure, but there’s still plenty of good deals to be had and the more mainstream brands are still pretty good value.

Lots of shops were doing 10, 15, even 20% off 2009 bikes recently – obviously taking the initiative to increase turnover.

Think you’re right that it’s the high-end brands who’ll feel the hurt. Some bike shops are sure to go under, they do in good years let alone bad – but I wonder if any brands will go bust too?

Went before New Year for first time. Second Topangarider on the carpark – take something to stand on and get changed!

Definitely worth the 50 mile drive, I did about that to get there from the in-laws’ place in Leeds.

Very pleasantly surprised at quality of riding, flows pretty well and never seems like too much climbing. Fun bike park bit halfway round.

Did most of the black detours, wouldn’t do them again – red was mostly better.

If you do the black option raised timber bit, do not lock your brakes if the wood is wet!!

Great analogy trickpsyclist, ST is just like 6music – idiosyncratic, independent, interesting (running out of I words now…), but also a bit cliquey and up itself sometimes.

Definitely worth the entrance fee, especially if you like a dram.

No George Lamb luckily.

Have a look at the Giant Trance X, that’s got a short top tube.

So hooky, you can’t help but smile.

Which is naughty really as that bike was obviously somebody’s pride and joy and may not have been insured.

If the guy lives two miles from work and doesn’t walk or cycle then he might be a tough nut to crack.

Hide his car keys?

IanMunro – very good.

I’m suprised they didn’t manage to Sweep this under the carpet. Perhaps the asian polo guy will Sue HRH now.

Tandem Jeremy, you said: “Correct. Did you realise that crime is significantly down over the last ten years?…”

So how is journalism making society worse exactly then?

I agree with your points btw, just think you should have said “Wrong. Did you realise crime is…”

Coffeeking, I don’t think restricting the freedom of the press is really going to help make society a safer place. Look at Zimbabwe.

A pal of mine from the northeast said he was “popping down the **** shop”, I was gobsmacked and told him “you can’t say that”.

He was just as surprised that I was shocked.

I suspect that casual/unthinking racism is just more acceptable in some parts of the country, perhaps where there’s been less immigration?

Thanks guys.

:)

I don’t remember a lot of tarmac particularly on Syfydrin, maybe compared to other trail centres though.

Felt more like a really good bridleway route – with added singletrack bits.

Love it personally, can’t wait to go back!

Cheers, was aiming to fit it in on my next Welsh trip in a few weeks.

Are both red and black do-able by an average rider in one day? I will do my own research at some point I promise.

Is there a B&B called Bed and Brechfast? If not, there should be!

How much further is it from Afan/Port Talbot then?

Discount on hip flasks to existing subscribers? Everybody happy(ish)?

Not that I want one, already got a perfectly good hip flask – and I got a free DVD when I subscribed anyway.

Imagine if ST give away shares with subscriptions and then you lot all turned up for the shareholders’ meetings!

Think it’s this one…

08700 660511

If he just wants a standard XC bike for £600, he could do a lot worse than the Boardman hardtail they sell though.

Lots of replies here seem to consist of people saying “I know a person of asian ethnic origin who jokes with us whites about his racial identity, so therefore it’s fine to call people ‘****’.”

Do any of you also refer to your “**** friend” as a “good ****, not like the rest of them”?

Only guessing.

Is it a bike to work voucher?

They had a central team you could phone and order the bike you wanted to go to the shop you wanted when I did it (twice).

Not mad about either, weird because I was/am a music obsessive – just never got round to listening to them much.

Lennon and Macca were undoubtedly great songwriters, but I find almost all their music completely emotionally unengaging.

My opinion of the Stones has been raised significantly after listening to Exile On Main Street a bit lately though, they’ve stood the test of time a lot better than much of The Beatles output.

Looking at some of the fancypants parts you guys are using, you should put the total cost as well as weight. Genuinely interested.

Geetee – you talking about the Traversee wheelset? I’ve had a few rides on my pair now – very impressed so far.

Looks like a good read, but it’d better be for £116!

Giant Trance and Trance X at Pedalon, Pauls Cycles and Ash Cycles. Good stock levels between those three when I was looking a short time ago.

My wife has worked in academic administration for some time, every place she’s been at has been a shambles. I’d tear a strip off them if I was you.

I’m a reality TV and showbiz journalist, definitely not because that’s what I’m interested in – but because it’s what everyone else is interested in!

Was a hard news journalist for years and years, but you go where the work is like any trade.

Magazines can be quite low-paid, so most bike journos do it for the love and freebies, I reckon.