Dalby Forest.

29 just runs over stuff with less need for skill or body movement, and it feels like less effort. It needs less travel to do the same job.

26 felt more nimble and alive, and honestly more fun, but more work. In tight technical stuff (for me that is, not the average rider on this forum) it has the edge over the 29 due to being faster to move around.

Caveat: 26 was a trail bike, 29 is a XC setup. 29 is lighter though (carbon vs alu). Both FS.

Would I go back? Not sure. I’m getting older and lazier so the 29 fits me well. :)

Only heard good stuff about Power2Max but that’s a full crank.

Stages, well, unfortunately like rossp I had 3. First failed after 18 months but they changed under warranty, second arrived with problems, and third (warranty replaced again) I never bothered opening and sold BNIB on eBay. A month later the guy came back asking where I had bought it since it had failed…

Please note, Stages/Saddleback gave stunning customer service with fast responses and replacements. It’s just such a shame the product is pants.

A very good alternative for a left-hand only PM is to look at 4iiii. Mine has been faultless. I have no information on Pioneer who seem to be on the rise as well in this market.

Otherwise you can look at pedal based ones (P1, Vector, etc) where you can get dual-sided information (L/R power balance on your legs) if you need that. Please note Vector pedals need torqued correctly to work properly. Or of course rear wheel stuff.

IMHO best, cheapest option right now is the 4iiii. Easy to swap between bikes (if you use the same crank length of course) and it just works.

But as always with this area, start on DCR and see what he says. It’s not necessarily perfect but he is good and independent. 2017 powermeter comparison link here.

First, HRmax is a fixed. Variables could be condition on the day (e.g. illness), battery problems, HR strap connectivity problems (which can cause higher readings as well as lower), and simply not testing it right.

You are unlikely to get your HRmax when just out doing stuff with your mates. Or if you did I wouldn’t want to be with you since when I do HRmax test it’s straining to the extent that I like to have people with first aid skills nearby, and not be too far from home (and hospitals).

Look up some of the tests available. Please note that I find my HRmax to be “higher” when running than biking but that’s merely an adjustment factor when I do my bike training plans. My HRmax is the run one.

…have spent a fortune on a bike that’s been doing nothing but hanging proudly in the garage for a year, and are still pondering what you can buy to make it perform better.

Thanks for the super-quick answers folks, much appreciated.

It is 100mm indeed, Lapierre XR929. And since it is such a nice frame I think it might be time to try out a carbon repair shop. Can’t say I go easy when riding but I’m no pro either, just a weekend warrior. A repair might be just fine for the stress I put on it, especially if it’s possible to add some strengthening to the known flaw in that frame (and not bothered if it adds 50g).

Well spotted on the Salsa, hadn’t seen that before.

As far as I can see, This looks like the best deal at the moment. Quite a saving on UK prices, also helped by Euro rates. Just thought I’d pop it on here in case anyone else is looking.

Brilliant, thanks a lot.

Drug dealing
Pimping
Car theft

Well actually, just go play GTA4 and you'll have all the ideas you need.

They're excellent in all weathers

Except when iced. It hurts.

In short: Do NOT buy Acer!

If it works, great, but if it doesn't then god help you.

Bought one 2 years ago which had a faulty mainboard. After sending it back 3 times to a company outsourced by Acer to handle repairs (so they are not liable) it all started getting legal and such. I looked into the repair company's history and behold, it had been bankrupt/shut down/restarted 3 times in 6 years. Same directors but different company name. The company had completely dysfunctional internal organisation (couple of times my laptop was actually "lost" in their system) and appaling customer relations so it's not amazing they haven't done very well.

So unless you work in IT like me and can video the fault, compile it and send it on a DVD as proof along with your legal claims letter then be careful. I know this sounds like the usual "oh, another moaning moron" but you really do get what you pay for with Acer – and yes, they are cheap.

But by all means if it works it's great. I just don't want to take that gamble again.

But to answer the OP:
Dell: Still lots of proprietary stuff if you want to change?
Asus: My wife's, best support I can think of
Toshiba: My current, pretty ok support
Samsung: Looks good on paper but no personal experience
IBM/Lenovo: Can't fault them but not a gaming rig

"As you can imagine, this is not the first time today I have been thinking of <name> while sitting on a hot seat with a piece of paper in my hand."

Don't know how low you want to go.

You lot.

(I'll get my coat)

A reject from BikeRadar…

Sweepstake time! How long is going to last here?

Place your bets. :D

Sorry csb, no offence meant by the hotel comment there!

Just one comment on Bois de Vincennes – it's a prostitute area at night. But lovely in the day as csb says.

No sane person will recommend a hotel to you. The risk is too great. :wink:

Just use Laterooms or similar, search for a hotel near Place Bastille and pick a lottery ticket. It could be the most fantastic small idyllic french perfection place – or a right sh1t dump. Welcome to Paris.

Lived 3 years in the eastern suburbs. Comments:
– A great area is near Place Bastille. The whole area is littered with small restaurants and has a real Paris feel to it (a winner if going with the wife/girlfriend).
– The latin quarter on the south bank of the Seine (Notre Dame and westwards) is good as well. Lively, loads of restaurants and close to the centre. Could be more expensive though.
– Ignore the area from Arch of Triumph to Eiffel Tower, too expensive and nothing to do (16/17 arondissement)
– Do NOT take a hotel "just north of Gare du Nord" regardless of the price. I rarely wen there during the daytime, let alone at night.
– Looking further out is not a problem as long as you are close to the Metro line 1 (east-west central line), RER A (red, east-west) or RER B (blue, north-south). They all go through Chatelet-Les Halles which is the central hub for the undergound. If you go further out be prepared to end the night at 11:30 to get the last train back around midnight-0:30. Check when you arrive in town.

To see:
– Take a stroll down Champs Elysee from Arc de Triumphe to Concorde
– Continue through the Louvre garden and go to the museum if it's your kind of thing
– Go see Sacre Coeur, great viewpoint and cool area behind it (to the west)
– Eiffel Tower by all means (watch your pockets)
– Rue Saint-Honore is good for shopping (just north of Rue de Rivoli next to Louvre)

I can help on this one – I'm a white water kayaker and probably submerge my phone rather a lot more than the average biker (I seriously hope!).

Get one of the Aquapac medium sized (link in second post). Been using one of those for the past 5 years on the river and never failed.

Be aware of the sides splitting next to the locking mechanism which is the usual fault on them after a while. If it starts to break, replace.

Only problem with an Aquapac is shock protection (none) but if you want anything good on that side you need to think of a Pelicase solution. They simply rock but unlike kayaking down a river, bikers have to work as much against gravity as with it so weight will be a nasty problem there.

I'm using my phone, a 2 year old O2 XDA Orbit, for which I have downloaded (*cough*) western europe Tomtom. Works a treat.

If I go anywhere I bring my phone anyway, and if I know I need it as car Satnav I bring the air vent holder and car power lead.

Also great for MTB (and my white water kayaking) trips as emergency phone. I can start it up and get lat/long for helicopter extraction should I need to, much better than "3rd turn after the hill with the pole" (although I hope I'll never need this feature).

Phones with built in GPS often comes with Satnav software, so might be something to look at?

Thanks sv, that's reassuring. It was serviced 6 months ago so I guess the seals would be of the newer type.

Thanks for posting Recycler, and everyone else for answering. Much appreciated.

I bought the bike, spent 3 hours on it yesterday and can now officially call myself a hooligan.

Now we just have to see how long the soft tissue (me) can survive the speeds this thing goes down a hill at.

What the hell do you expect asking questions like it was a sketch from Playaway.

Hey, the title of the thread clearly states I am a tool.

Hmm. That didn't go the way I expected it. I expected my exceedingly clever post to be received with bright and informative suggestions but I guess people around here have hit too many trees head first. :P

Let's try this instead:
"I need a tool or toolkit for short rides. Which would you recommend?"

Blowing the budget, but I just picked up my Kona Hoss 2008 from an eBay auction for £400. It had 8 road miles on it.

Does it need to be new when you can get a lot more for your money near-new?