Here's one. It's an easy ride about 18m long with 5m on road and includes a section on the Manifold Way cycle trail. It takes no more than 2 1/2 hrs. If you start at Hulme End [north] that is quite near Hartington, and go in a clockwise direction.

I saw the prototype Cotic X in the flesh at the Sram NDCXL race at Bramcote where it was raced by Kate Potter, and very smart it looked too in its orange livery.
I'm sure it will be very popular with the STW Cotic fan club, but with a frame weight of 3.7 lbs I don't think we will see many on the race circuit.

The Notts Derby Chesterfield triangle has some major players which include Leisure Lakes, Evans, Freewheel, J E James, Samways, Stanley Fearns plus numerous Halfords and discount cycle stores so unless you are providing something different it will be difficult. Most of the big cycle manufacturers are already represented so it might be difficult to get a new franchise deal with one of the big names. Sadly lots of keen cyclists also use on-line retailers as well.
Sorry to sound so negative, but good luck anyway.

"Is a road bike much faster on a commute than an XC bike with slicks? "

Oh yes.

The best place to look is probably the British Cycling website;

http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/web/site/BC/cyx/cyclo_cross_calendar.asp?evt_cp=1&evt_mode=0&evt_id=&evt_seriesid=&evt_myevents=No&RefID=&RefType=&evt_month=All&evt_kw=&evt_regions=Yorkshire&evt_disc=Cyclo-Cross&evt_class=&evt_cat=&evt_series=&evt_resultspp=20

My area is the Sram Notts/Derby league but the furthest north we go is Chesterfield, so would recommend looking at the Yorkshire area on the site.
Hope you find something.

Aldi have them every so often for £25 in their cycle equipment specials. Good value if you can wait for the next date.

I've beeen running two Enduro Maxx units for over 2 years now and have so far been faultless and both still exceed the stated run times. I would definately have no hesitation in recommending the Maxx D's, and for me the cable free design is a big plus point.

However, the DX lights are certainly exceptional value per lumen and have been subject of a STW massive buying frenzy recently, so worth considering. There have been a few reported cases of the chargers bursting into flames but even this does not seem to be putting people off them – very strange.

Mr Shimano says you do it like this;

http://cycle.shimano-eu.com/media/techdocs/content/cycle/SI/XTR/FC-M970/SI-15H0A-001-EN_v1_m56577569830600538.PDF

Another vote for talc here. Even Specialized recommend it for their carbon posts. The carbon paste is very gritty and damages the lacquer finish. I've heard about posts siezing in alloy frames, although not experienced it, so perhaps advisable to remove every so often as previously recommended.

Well done funkynick – that's how we have interpreted the rule, good to see it on an official DfT document.

The £1000 limit is governed by the Group Consumer Credit Licence issued by the OFT to cover the employers Cycle To Work schemes which is a regulated Hire Agreement under the Consumer Credit Act. To exceed this limit a company would need their own Consumer Credit Licence – about £750 to purchase I think.

We've set up our own scheme and are not willing to exceed the £1000 limit as the employees top up is a bit of a grey area during the hire period and valueing the bike at the end of the agreement. We also feel it is not within the spirit of the scheme. The same goes for purchasing frames, components etc.

Not wishing to be a miserable begger but every week there are threads on this public forum on how to bend the rules for the scheme, and I think we will ultimately see it's early demise

I think the DX threads will soon burn out – just like the chargers are doing at the moment if you look at the current thread.

squin – Loving that Pine Mountain. The rubberised grey paint frame finish was awesome and mega tuff! My first real mtb. Oh! the memories.

British Cycling cyclocross link;

http://new.britishcycling.org.uk/cyclocross

Try looking at South Western or Western League

Wait for it! 1.7 miles each way 2 or 3 times a week. Hey it all helps!

Another vote for hairspray – not melted my bars yet!

I squirt in a bit of GT85 to get them off.

I run Kenda Small Block 8's in dry conditions and Panaracer Crossblaster's when muddy.
I've also used Schwalbe CX Pro's and Conti Twister's on an mtb for crossing.

SKS Shockboard front and SKS X-Tra Dry rear on my Epic. Both removed in seconds when not needed.

Smart 1/2 watt rear is good.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=42472

Cheap at J E James at the mo

http://www.jejamescycles.co.uk/smart-1-2watt-led-rear-light-inc-batt-id35013.html

About half the people on this forum have bought them, and the other half are waiting delivery!

I've never heard of any other low pressure pumps except the Marzocchi one, although Truflo do a dual pressure one where you change the pressure guages.

In my experience they all leak air when removing them, but this is only air from the hose under pressure and not from the shock. When you connect them some pressure from the shock also fills the hose – hence an apparant loss in pressure.

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.25149

The 2010 Ultegra 6700 has a 11-28 cassette but you need the 6700 rear mech to run it with – allegedly.

All good advice above. If still not confident you could always try some caged spd's such as M424's which are quite cheap.
You can run clipped in as normal or unclip and rest your instep on the cage like flatties. Useful if you feel more confident on the technical bits unclipped.

Yes as long as the total capacity is ok, which, by what you describe will be.

organic355 – Yes that is the right one. Now replaced by the Toro for 2010.

Exposure lights – http://www.exposurelights.com/index.php

The Evans price in your link looks like a good deal.

Can't fault the Exposures – I've been running two Enduro Maxx units for 2 years and so far have been faultless, both still exceed manufacturers stated run times. Cable free design is a big plus point for me also.

The Dealextreme lights do seem amazing value for money though and the STW massive seem to be on a buying frenzy for this at the moment – 900 lumens for £50 – can't argue with that!

Another vote for SKS shockboard here – got one for all my bikes. Even got a red one.

nonk – Thanks. It's a pussycat really.

coffeeking – couldn't agree more.
Mind you it's all that nice Mr Shimanos' fault for slapping a patent on his floating top jockey – cunning or what!

stumpy_m4 – The TCX is a medium 51.5cm with 55.5cm top tube & 110mm stem. I am 5' 11" if that helps.

Yes they do. Best to book.

Yes they provide bikes. Hire Look shoes or ride in trainers.

It's a blast. £9.60 includes bike plus £4.00 for shoes for 1 hour.

oldgit – it's a 12-27 10speed Ultegra. The new 6700 is available in 11-28.

Edit;
Just remembered I've got a 9speed 12-27 Ultegra on another bike.

traildog – still a semi compact frame and ok for shouldering. Wouldn't recommend for touring though, definitely race geometry and no mudguard/rack eyes.

" i ask because it looks just like a work mates stolen one "

Ooops!

The cage is there so you can unclip and put your instep on the cage to ride like flatties.
Useful for people who feel more confident riding technical bits unclipped.

Looks like it's XTR then. 🙂

I wouldn't worry about flat plate dropouts as these ugly beggers are on a 12 yearr old Raliegh and it's built out of Russian chemical tubing – non of this fancy 6AL4V Ti rubbish!

I've also got an even older Ti Dynatech mtb with even uglier flate plate dropouts thats still going strong.

A vote for Spesh S-Works tape with BG Phat bar liner under to kill that road buzz.

My 12 year old uses them off road, on road and for cross racing. However I do make sure to keep the tension wound back and they are shimano spd's so they do have float.