IIRC DHL run a franchise called DHL @ home. They hand parcels over to self employed subbies who turn up in their own cars to do the final part of the delivery. They do turn up in a yellow fleecy tho. Seems to work fine for me.

I fitted one of these in an 08 1.0 frame. Tricky bit for me was finding one that mentioned an OD of 50mm

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=15888

works well and spare bearings are available.

I got mixed results. MP66s wash fine in the washing machine when mixed in with lots of (2nd tier?) towels with normal non bio.

MW80s appear sensitive to what washing powder you use. In retrospect I'd only put them in the machine with goretex specefic stuff (eg grangers / techwash / ,,,).

either way – wash at a LOW temp, sensitive / handwash setting and dry them as quick as possible to stop the bacteria regrowing. Maybe with a fan or near a radiator with some airflow.

Oh – and take the cleats off and the insoles out. Realistically I dont think they will survive this treatment forever but it does extend their (non smelly) life.

Got a spoon that I cannot get on with. Since got a Spec Phenom BG which is fine for 6 hours. Just got a new Gobi but only been on it once for a 3 hour spin and it seems fine – but it's physically narrow so may not suit your bones / butt.

You doing the full 100? I did it last year and really enjoyed it! I'm doing it again this year along with some other stuff.

I cant make Sat am (usually work Sat) but ride from the Craigleith area a couple of evenings a week if you want to meet up for trips to the hills. email in profile.

If yo ucan get from North Edinburgh to the Scout Hut in 45m you are doing pretty well!

it depends on what part of north you mean and how close you are to a cycle path / WoL but thats doable even for me.

I've got square on one car and aero on the other and agree that the sqaure setup is more intuitive. But in use the aero one seems just as sturdy to me.

Foxy has a point about the bolts. If you pop one of the levers up can you see some bolt thread coming out the top of the metal circular nut inside the lever? If the top of the bolt is still inside the nut it is too short.

Can you move it about when the plastic levers are locked down? Youre sure the levers are about as tight as a wheel QR?

The strenght comes from the lever pulling the top of the bar up against the bottom the carrier ie squeezing the carrier onto the bar. Or put another way I doubt that you could pull those square bolts straight up out of the bars with all your might!

Oh – and dont screw the levers all the way in – they work just like quick releases for wheels where the last bit of tightening is done with the cam action.

And a handy hint – keep the one with the key nearest the side of the car youre mounting it on so you can unlock it easier.

Ok. Next step (for the first time anyway) is position the carrier over the threaded bolts in the bars. You should find the holes easy enough. The plastic levers have small metal cirular "nuts" inside. These may need rotated to see the hole for the bolt and get it lined up. You then screw these on.

Not too sure if the model is the same as mine but the aero bars should have a slot running all the way along the top. This may be covered with a rubber strip which you need to pull up & out. At either end of the bars there are a clip/door that you open. The square bolt then goes in there with the threaded part upwards.

Looks fab! Cracking photos!

I would have replied earlier but I'm sitting here counting how many of you there are going over that bridge. Flipping hundreds of you! :wink:

If youre fed up teaching kids you may find adults worse. Either way – I wouldnt mention it.

Thanks Coyote – can you send me their details. email in my profile.

Thanks Philby. It's in Scotland if that makes any difference.

Thanks guys.

So b_r – if she resigns and signs on: is she still entitled to benfits? Or is it a maybe type of situation?

ooooh thats dirty! :D

Supertacky – I'm laughing.

If you give me all your credit card, bank account, passport details I'll sort it out for you ;)

I'm assuming this is either a troll – or you're currently a dim pensioner or close to being one?

I've only used XTR stuff from a kit (for a HT) and it comes with all the ferrules(?), boots and tongues. Had enough for my HT.

Never had a cable problem since. No immediate difference from new cheap calbles but I think the difference is that they stay working well for longer.

Is it me or are the rings and derailleur not parallel?

Sounds good – see you there.

Guys – I fancy a spin. Finished a new build at the weekend and need a reason to give it another outing.

Rode out to Balerno today and the snow was relatively 'grippy' but only 2 other tyre tacks since the last snow.

Could we meet at Murrayfield / Roseburn?

Cheers guys! I'll pick one of these.

Looking at the pics of the new ones makes realise how completely shagged the current ones are!

Anyone know why the originals (and some 3rd party) are plastic/resin and some are metal – does it make a difference?

wormhole – I'm in the same boat. Took my xt apart (12 months old) as bottom wheel is looking like 11 thick hairs sticking out of a tiddlywink. Seems like the tooth part is plasticy. And the usual places seem sold out! at £24 a pair.

So dumb question time – anyone know of any aftermarket ones or other shimano ones that'll work on a xt?

They seem to come on small bikes and ladies bikes. They're on my good ladies – personally I cant see the difference. If you dont notice then why worry?

Simple. You don't get on the plane if a bag is over 32 kg. Some pooor porter dude would wreck his back. If all of you turn up with 32 kg bags. – no problem. But you pay for each kilo over 20 kg in each individual bag. If one bag is 25 and one is 15 you may have to pay. If one bag is 33 kg and another is 1 kg you don't fly.

It is worded to confuse I think. They make a tidy sum from excess baggage. Take comfort from the fact you're not with ryanair.

Brownlie's is near the union canal so I tend bring my bike in the car then cycle home.

Farmers are old Kwik Fit places. Similar service and prices. I'm not a big fan. Dunno about National.

Ive always found these guys to be good, honest and fair prices. Oily floor kind of place.

Robert W Brownlie

25A Bankhead Drive
Edinburgh, EH11 4DN
0131 453 2200

I never even thought about going shopping in my nightwear.

I do sleep in the nip – so I guess I'm now banned. Shame :(

I'd say if you already have newish chainrings (most wear should be on the middle and inner tho) I'd try and keep them good. So replace the cassette – you already have the chain.

Apparently try and replace the chain at (or even slightly BEFORE) you can get the .75 end through a link. Once it gets over .75 and near 1% the chain wear will be killing everything.

Yes & yes. You may also need front chainrings.

Other option is to run the current set into the ground. Then replace the lot.

My experience is limited to Shimano LX, Avid Juicy 7's and Formula Oro's.

In first place I'd put Oro (havent needed any work, dont mind winter, great power, light but will eventually need a £15 bleed kit). They are in the process of being superseded now tho – you may get some bargains.

2nd – Shimano (good power, easy to work on, any car bleed kit works)

3rd – no brakes at all (kind of came about accidental like when using Juicy's that leaked)

4th – Avid Juicy's (good power, bugger to work on – need the £39 bleed kit often etc). Maybe I've been unlucky.

But that's just my experience.

Edit – Beat me to it re rick!

According to Which Magazine – the cheapest small hatch to own over 3 years is a BMW 1 series. Cheaper than renault / pug / ford etc. Something to do with depreciation.

Small boot tho and crap in the snow.

EDIT – Deleted – You answered my question as I typed it.

Some local branches that never seem to have any customers and been on the news for financial pressures-

JJB Sports
Allied Carpets
Blacks / Millets

Otherwise there's a simple test – if X didnt exist would you start it up and would it be successful?
My "no chance" list would be:
WH Smith (competing with supermarkets)
H Samuel (cheap tat at high prices)
Homebase (sell cushions or is it plants or is it kitchens or is it nuts + bolts or just a little of everything? Lost their direction vs b+q)
Staples (vs Viking direct etc)
Flight Centre (vs the web)
Phones 4 U (vs everyone)
Blockbuster (vs lovefilm and parking attendants)
Ann Summers (dunno what they do wrong but no one ever seems to be in the store)
Moss Bros

Your post should look like this – note to self – make doubly sure that you dont end up wth http://http…. which easily happens when you use the IMG button above.

Sorted.

Solution 1 – become a premier user (you can then turn off most of the flash ads).

Solution 2 – use a browser (well known – clue: sack bushy tail) and get the plug in.

Solution 3 – get a beer / wine and treat the pauses as a reason for a tipple!

5 secs does sound like a long time tho?

They dont work with formula oros. I tried and the rivets foul the caliper. So not a stupid question!

Dunno about XT though.

Perhaps they (or winter tyres) should be compulsory for rwd and rear engined cars / vans that seem prone to getting stuck easily?

Wooden floors ? If they have builders in they may have carpets out which makes it worse. If you have wooden / stripped floors – even worse again!

If you want some headphones then some SENNHEISER ORPHEUS at £10K may help the neighbours (but prob not your hearing long term).