Funny, I just got off the phone to Thule about an issue with my tow bar rack. They were very helpful.

Disappointing to hear that might not always be the case.

Prince Albert?

Probably not available any more, but I’ve been using the £3.99 gloves from Aldi for the last few rides and they are just right for the current just above or below freezing temperatures.

Also have Sealskiz technical MTB gloves, probably cost £25-£30, which are too hot above about 2 degrees – but which I’ve never felt cold in.

I’d go for the Duster too, esp if you already have an alu hardtail. Always liked the look of them.

The fact that it’s £100 cheaper would seal the deal for me.

Good effort. Will there be PM functionality in the pipeline?

What percentage of total STW traffic does the forum constitute, if you don’t mind me asking?

There was loads of snow settled in the woods (Hertfordshire) on my afternoon ride yesterday. Very rare after such a light snowfall down here.

Wished I’d taken the camera – very strange to ride all my normal trails but with a frosting of snow and most of the puddles frozen solid.

And brilliant that all the churned up patches of mud have become temporary “rock gardens”.

Don’t be too adversarial.

Just be matter of fact. Say you have this much cash, it’s the best you can do.

Walk away if you have to but leave your phone number “in case he changes his mind”.

I’d like to see the out takes where he grinds a broken bottle into his chest and says “I’m insured against that”.

I guess people get their MTB thrills in different ways.

Some are happy to pootle round a nice smooth red route at a trail centre, while still being at the limit of their skills and experience.

Others aren’t satisfied unless they feel like they’re on the cover on MBUK.

I ordered a DVD box set for my wife from Amazon for Xmas.

Two weeks before the 25th was plenty of time for them, but it didn’t come.

Now they are estimating late June for delivery.

These testimonials are useless without links!

Go 29er!

Sorry, I have nothing useful to say. But I’m about to do a Stan’s conversion for the first time myself this week so I’ll try not to make the same mistake.

A lot of this work/life balance stuff just boils down to “how much money can you do without?”

Although I work many more hours now I’m self-employed – the fact that I don’t commute and don’t have a boss makes me feel much happier.

Probably something to do with having a baby daughter too. But if I have to work 70 hours a week and still manage to get six hours on the MTB I’ll feel some balance.

I like Interparcel better. Pretty much exact same business idea – Parcel2Go just seemed a bit more flaky to me.

It’s perfectly understandable with the currency situation, but at the same time as boutique brands are increasing prices, UK retailers are advertising 10%, 15% and 20% off 2009 bikes.

Presumably they’re trying to maintain cashflow in the face of the downturn, but it doesn’t bode well for high-end brands.

Genesis Altitude Ti?

New so a bit of an unknown quantity but the steel frames have a good rep and it’s on my fantasy ti frames shortlist.

S-Works – Haha, Camden’s dealers are taking food off your plate!

I’m not betting on Celeb BB, my spider senses aren’t tingling about anyone.

I did a photoshop course last year which was given by a woman who does the same job as you – I was amazed at what can be achieved by those with the skills.

S_Works – Surely you don’t need to re-touch pictures of the radiant beauty that is Amy Winehouse?

Celebs pay for my bikes and bits too. And a 20-1 bet on the winner of Big Brother bought my Fox 36 forks last summer. Very satisfying.

Mrgibbons – Curb costs.

Sorry, I’m not usually the pedantic type in my spare time – I just couldn’t resist because you’re an academic.

Journalist. Now running my own company specialising in celebrity and reality TV content for online media.

Business is good, there’s a trend toward outsourcing in the industry – but it’s a very fast-changing business.

409 and 426 have a steel steerer, 454 an alu one.

I think 409 is the OEM designation – they probably have less adjustment than the 426 if they’re like my 409 Revs (no extrenal floodgate adjust).

But somebody more knowledgeable will probably be along in a tick to set me straight.

Does that patent apply in the UK?

I had it in my head that it was US-only, but may well be wrong.

Is Loot still going?

Gumtree seems to take the place in the market it had.

Will anyone here own up to snaffling it from under your nose?

Nickegg – I’m certainly glad I got made redundant both times that it happened. Forced me out of a bit of a rut.

Good luck with the career change (and wedding).

Funny how the mind turns to holidays at this time of year.

Will be reading this thread with interest!

Think you’re right about that.

Been for holiday and wouldn’t have wanted to be riding. April was good in Southern Spain last year, May would have been perfect probably.

Reba or Rev?

Nice fork, and you’ve done a good job of getting the tide mark off that wall as well.

Sorry, also meant to say I just bought the standard model and cut down the bars, fitted a shorter stem and a more girl-friendly saddle.

On your budget I’d just get the best deal and do the same, don’t hold out for something pink and flowery.

Got my wife (5ft 2in) an XS Giant XTC for £350 in Paul’s Cycles permanent sale.

One of those (or similar Spesh/Trek/GT) secondhand shouldn’t be more than £200.

Try to get one like my wife’s, that’s only been used a few times because she didn’t really get the bug and then got preggers.

Should be great on the Trance, yeah. I’m going to give them a go on mine at some point – could make it the perfect trail centre/big day out bike (for me).

WMB has a mini-review of the fork in the new issue btw, scored 9/10.

They don’t mention the “Blackbox” damping at all though, annoyingly. I’d have liked to known what they thought of it compared to Motion Control.

It doesn’t play “Ride on time”, unfortunately.

It wouldn’t look very clean after a few rides though, I bet.

Very good. Light-ish, supple, stiff.

Had one on my Cove Handjob for three rides so far and it’s brilliant.

Was reasonably impressed in the winter slop on first outing, but now everything’s frozen and hard it’s really let me test how well the fork holds a line over hard bumpy technical sort of stuff. And the answer is “very well indeed”.

Highly recommended so far. Such a shame there’s not a U-Turn version, or I’d get one for my Trance too. There isn’t is there?

Stir fry with couscous, mushrooms, onionsm, garlic, cumin, coriander, harissa, tamari, chilli etc.

Will make you fart like a good un’ too.

Went once in winter with a streaming cold, did the touristy things and didn’t really like it at all.

Went back in summer and just went to beach, ate, drank and wandered round – and it was much more amenable.

I had a Fox 32 140mm fork on my 575 and found it was the weak link on the bike, didn’t hold it’s line very well and felt a bit like a stilt on the front.

Swapped for a Fox 36 Talas and it’s suddenly a different bike, much stiffer, more composed and the front and back ends seem better matched.

Still, a Pike or Rev with Maxle would have probably been a good solution too. I seem to ride with the 36 set to 130mm travel most of the time – hardly ever use the 160mm setting.

Doing very well here, I’m pleased to say. Started my own business in April, have doubled my income and have more work than I can handle.

Was working about 70 hours a week, but the business is beginning to stabilise and I’m starting to contract more work out – so I’m even getting out on the bike a bit now.

Still very very busy, but I’m not complaining. Don’t know how long it’s going to last so got to grab as much as possible now.

I paid £50 for a £1000 bike, if that helps anyone.

There’s less people posting, so it moves slower, so I don’t get sucked into reading it for so long.

That’s better.