Bit on the large side isn’t it? Will it fit in a jersey pocket?

I got one of those neoprene ones for running but they’re really awful. It starts bunching because it’s so cheap and nasty in about 5 seconds and for some reason smells of kerosene oil to me!

Perhaps I should “invest” in the Crumpler.

I’ll probably take the buff out and cry as it falls out and onto the floor!

How easy is it to claim the tax back? Do you just have to fill in the return at the end of the year?

@Rorschach
Here’s your TL;DR: It’s a steel bike with a hole in the seat tube. He had some problems with the supplier which he is annoyed about. He thinks he likes it, but probably should have bought a PP Shan instead!

@craigxxl
Valid points. While it would not be nice to lose the money, I can afford to live without it. They’re not friends either, so no worries about wrecking relationships!I’m just trying to find out what protection I have, and what I need to worry about.

@mefty sounds like you’ve done a good job of clearing this up, so thanks!

@suburbanreuben
Don’t have one!

Like cb says, they’re only looking for £150k and I’m one of the smaller investors. Looks like I can claim half of my investment as tax relief, which is pretty decent. I reckon I’ll just have to file it with HMRC. Do you know what shape the advance assurance takes? So far I’ve just got an early e-mail to the investors saying they’re using the scheme.

Thanks! Guessing not seeing a reference in the shareholders agreement is not a problem then?

That does look nice. Any UK dealers?

Also looked at a Ritte and an Argon 18, but something’s a bit off about the colour scheme and design.

I’d like it to be carbon though. Nothing against Ti, or Al, but I’ve got a couple of them and I like how they feel. I’ll wait for a Switchback to scratch the Ti itch if I ever feel it!

So, with framesets from £2230, no standard build kit, and my nearest dealer over an hour away and asking for a 3 hour slot to do a consult to figure out my build options the Open is almost certainly out. Can’t say I’m gutted. The colour is not really to my liking.

@jmatlock For the third time, is the only way to buy the Open to e-mail the guy? To be fair, £3k probably means the dreamier builds are out. I think I will be consolidating to get this bike too.

The curved top tube always makes me think of a dog doing a poo. Therefore the Pivot is a no go.

Yeah, but how on earth do you buy it?

@chakaping on an uplift day last year a lad let slip that his dad had bought him two DH bikes. One for racing, one for training. Total cost £15,000. I seem to remember it being a Pivot of some sort. He’s probably an outlier. A lot of the lads on the uplift were on 2nd hand beauties. Iron Horses, 5-6 year old DH bikes that were still going and being ridden well, but there are folk out there who spend on that sort of thing.

Just going to look at dat dere Norco. Should know next Saturday.

@robgclarkson yup, probably me trying to corner into a road with a dropped pavement off a slippery road littered with gravel at 30kmph is why I crashed. But why let the truth get in the way of a new bike? Hope you’re ok. That looks like it smarts.

Kind of want to stay away from Cannondale because of the proprietary BBs. Unless they’ve done away with those?

The Norco is winning me over so far, if I can get one in my size! Has the advantage of being C2W able. I want a carbon frame for some reason too. Ti sounds nice, but I don’t think I’d appreciate it.

How is the SRAM groupset by the way? I’ve always used Shimano.

Funny you should say that, I was just looking at the Norco!

If you ride a road bike too, then did you size down? Open looks nice too. Where can you buy it?

Try posting on Pinkbike.

Based on my grandparents who are healthy, but miserable in general and some other old folk I’ve known with terminal illnesses your outlook on life seems to be the most important thing.

You can be healthy, but miserable. You can be terminal, but happy.

If it were me, details and eBay no reserve. Details because I’d not want some skint rider losing out on the joy of riding because he bought a duff fork!

That sounds a lot like what is happening to my MiL. Her short term memory is shot. She cannot recal conversations from a few hours ago. She last drove 2 years ago and she has not driven on a motorway in over a decade. She will not seek any help, and it feels like we’re powerless to do anything about it.

It’s horrible to think that there maybe medicine or treatment that can help, but she has no access to it because she is not a danger to anyone other than herself.

If you mean whether you can use it to get a better rate of interest for money for your use, then I don’t know the answer to that. Looks like you also need to reclaim the tax on the interest.

@DanW

Did you use the Halifax one? Details are here:

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/savings/child-savings-tax-free#best

It’s a regular saver, but you can drip feed the money to maximise your interest I reckon. They’re all only for 12 months though. So probably best to do it for a year, then move it to a junior ISA.

Stocks and shares ISA for your children maybe a good move too. I’ve got one with 3 funds in it for the little one. They’re funds with the FTSE 100, a global fund, and a tech stocks fund. If the little one is going to be addicted to Instagram.

This way, if the UK/World economy improves there’ll be some return, ditto on if the child develops an Instagram addiction!

^
That’s cold man.

Just spent the weekend with the wife’s parents so this is a topic that is close to home for me. They’re not that old as things go. Late 60s. FiL is in good shape, but his wife is absolutely batshit. She refuses to drive, her short term memory is rapidly deteriorating and she thinks Jesus is talking to her. I don’t mean he’s saying “do good and be a nice old bat”, but things like “you need to wear brown pants today”, or “have bacon for breakfast”. That sort of thing.

He is basically an unpaid carer for someone with mental problems. I’m not sure if I would stay with my partner if she went down that route. There’s something profoundly sad about seeing someone trapped in a hopeless situation like that.

On the other hand, I can see how it can be a relief when someone passes if they’re like that.

Some people are a little “breathless” with their descriptions. Especially in city centres. Stayed somewhere in Sydney which was described as having air conditioning which translated into having a dehumidifier which vented via some tubing through an open window into the street. It sounded like a herd of bulls when switched on.

If you have any complaints then do it immediately. Hosts are pretty accommodating if given a chance to resolve the problems.

Depends on what you want the money for.

Cash ISAs are paying awful rates at the moment. If you want it kept as cash then you’re better off using one of the interest paying current accounts and parking the money there.

Stocks and shares ISAs, well, you could lose your money, or you could get a decent return. If the stock market gets so bad that you lose all the money in a tracker ISA then there’ll be bigger problems in the country than you losing £6k in savings.

If you want to ultimately keep it for your kids then there are children’s savings accounts paying 6% I believe.

Bro, I have a tiny baby hands.

RSC contact point adjustment from what I’m reading is not consistent. XTs with the “free stroke” adjustment may be what I need.

Or MTFU like you’ve said! Time to hit the gym.

My lack of riding is mainly through illness, holiday and having to study for exams! Normal-ish service should resume soon though.

Disappointed you didn’t come and say hi whilst you were over.

I did call Mr Harris. Wasn’t driving anyway, so couldn’t have even if I’d wanted to! Am back in the Shire this weekend. Not sure if I’ll get any time on the bike though 🙁

You could go to Bike Park Wales instead! A couple of the trails are almost reminiscent of Spain, except chalky, wet terrain instead of rocky and dusty!

Give the uplift at FoD a go too. It’s really good fun.

Exactly like that, but with a full face helmet and goggles!

Lord knows why you hung on to that photo. Are you going to Spain again this year?

@Rubber_Buccaneer fewer rare butterflies too!

Managed to do a turtle impression in the car park and had to be saved by a kind stranger who I think was riding up with his son all day. Unfortunately, I also managed to pop my shoulder in that stack. Put me on the back foot all day.

Rode the blues, a few reds (A470 squashing almost all the jumps, Vicious Valley, Bonneyville – walked most of the switchbacks 🙁 ) and some black sections.

Will definitely be back soon! And this time with a bit more skill and fitness, and definitely an uplift pass! If I had my own car I’d have taken both helmets, rode the blues and reds in the morning to get my eye in and then moved to the blacks in the afternoon with the FF on.

Incredible weather and a great day out!

I’m mainly looking forward to the blues and a few gos on the A470!

How unfit are we talking Fuzzywuzzy? Can you put a number in vertical metres on the climb?

I’ll take my full face then. Should have washed the liner from its last outing 2 years ago!

Damn, can’t believe it’s been 2 years since my last uplift day. What is my world coming to?

Thanks folks!

I have two of the yellow ones (inherited one). They work great on all my tyres. Even 650B ones.

They’re pretty decent on my tubeless road tyres too.

If you can get to Shinfield, then I’d recommend L’Ortolan.

I go to Bergen every year. This year I may take the road bike, but I’m told there’s some decent riding there seeing as it’s in the middle of 7 mountains!

Bodø looks cool! One day when I’m retired I reckon 🙂

Did you ever ride Rundemanen in Bergen?