Any other brands worth considering apart from WTP?

Had a look on BMX Talk, but not finding many complete bikes I like the look of. You got any advice?

TiRed, interesting points.

What is the difference, and do you mean increase my budget for 1st or 2nd hand BMX?

Wilko, I looked at that bike. What is the good stuff about it?

Used Strava Premium for a route at the weekend. The heatmaps are brilliant for route creation. Really makes the Premium sub worth it.

Cheers!

I’m happy to buy 2nd hand, but want to get one in a month’s time or less.

I’m under 6′ by a way so 20″ should be cool. Are 20″ wheels the way to go?

What do you reckon about something like this:
http://www.pinkbike.com/buysell/1509803/

How do you get rid/filter the white spirit/diesel after you’ve used it to clean something?

Have run HDs on Flow EX as low as 9psi. I am about 65-67kg loaded.

Run it at 14/15 front/rear for local trails which are pretty smooth, but have quite a few jumpy bits. No problems so far.

Bit weird getting used to the sound of the tyre deforming when you start. I used to run them at 45 and 50 psi! It was like riding twin pinballs in comparison.

Do TLD persist with Velcro flies? Mine are my laundry day pair for that reason alone.

Plus the bright colours don’t play well with the mud.

Rolling Stone if you’re interested in music documentary

Has been standard practice when buying from Ze Germans.

Buy the 15″ version of your frame that’ll save weight

Best weight saving tip ever!

My plan to save weight is to get fit enough over the summer to race my SS in the Autumn. Light bike, less to go wrong, and super bonus – no wrecked expensive drivetrain parts!

Oh, and what is up with the super steep seat angle on that S-Works Epic in the link?

It is more and more common since eBay tilted the balance hugely towards the buyer.

I have sold things and had them returned for the following reasons:

– Pair of shoes. Both not the same colour according to the buyer. Complete waste of time and money for something that sold for less than a fiver.
– Jacket. Buyer tried to negotiate a discount because it didn’t fit the way they thought it should. Ridiculous.

It is not unusual for buyers to threaten negative feedback if you don’t dance to their tune. I can understand the seller’s attitude, but that is a bit unprofessional. People like Torchy and other folk selling bike stuff have been pretty good to deal with.

As a seller I don’t even bother with no reserve auctions anymore. I just stick in a price I’d be happy to get and start it there. State comprehensively if I’ll accept returns or not and let it run its course.

Finnegans Wake

Cycle from Holborn to Waterloo East. Train to Kent from there. I think you may have to hang about for off peak hours or you will get a lot of dirty looks, or even be asked to get off the train.

Or just ride back.

Chain gang where I got dropped like a dog on Saturday, leisurely pootle on the MTB with the missus on Sunday where she managed a slow motion somersault.

Luckily she is a good sport about these things.

Dreading tomorrow’s chain gang. Nothing worse than knowing you’re onto a hiding before you turn up. Welly nothing worse than not turning up I guess.

Try Savannah. They deliver.

KILL THE HERETIC!

2nd hand Canyon 29er frame off eBay?

I know what you mean. You usually get that feeling because you’ve gone all rigid which feels like you’re too far forward on the bike. Stay loose and actively try to land both wheels together when you touch down. When you get it right it feels like you’ve never even left the ground.

Personally think it’s obvious.

I’d not accept a return, but if I was feeling generous I’d offer an 80% refund or something along those lines based on my inconvenience.

Was it ASDA?

You could have flopped it on the counter and said “ROLL THAT BACK”.

When I bought it:

Now:

Everything’s changed except for frame, forks, seatpost, saddle and brakes.

– Ciclo Montana. Good times with friends.
– Greece with the wife. Lazy, sunny, boozy and gluttonous.

Looking forward to California with the missus next year. Riding, boozing, maybe even a bit of surfing!

I swear by Rock’n’roll Gold. All year round.

Hans dampf seat on stans flow ex with track pump

My experience too, but I’d not go that far.

I’m a light person, but I used to get flats all the time. Slow punctures, trail side ones, annoying ones picked up while descending, pinch flats, you name it, I’ve had it. Low lights include turning up for a ride with one tube, finding a slow puncture, repairing it, and puncturing mid-ride and having to turn back.

Since I went tubeless I’ve had one incident where the tyre started pissing sealant. Would have probably sealed, but guide thought it best to put a tube in. It reseated fine once we were back at base. Same tyre is still running on the bike with no problems. This is in over 2 years of using tubeless.

Oh, and never having to fix the missus’ punctures is an added bonus.

I will commit murder before going back to tubes!

Bit dramatic, but I feel very strongly about this. It’s the difference between taking your bike for a ride, and taking your bike for a very frustrating bit of maintenance.

My first foray was with some Rovals and TL ready UST tyres. Absolute bastard to fit, but they’ve been amazing since. Would not buy a non-tubeless wheelset again. I’m not the type for faffing with ghetto conversions either though.

Commonwealth citizens get to vote.

Did you get to choose a nominal nationality? English, Scottish, Welsh, Irish?

Haribo type sweets are rank, but I do worry about my Blok consumption at times. So much so that I’ve now started restricting myself to a single Blok for a 2 hour ride, and one more Blok for every hour after that.

Haribo may not give you Diabetes, but I don’t think it can be good for your teeth?

It looks like your wife has two problems here.

1. Being asked to attend a meeting on here day off without adequate notice to arrange childcare.

Can she not explain her position to her manager/meeting organiser, while making it clear she is being asked to come in on her day off and if she can dial in to the meeting via phone/Skype/other? If you really cannot arrange childcare then ask if she can bring the baby in. This will show she is serious about the childcare issue and not taking the mickey. It also shows willingness to be flexible.

2. This is a longer term one. It sounds like either her performance has suffered – in which case she should ask for a quantifiable measurement she can use to gauge it – or they are trying to manage her out of a job. This is tricky, and I would seek legal advice regarding my options.

Personally, I would not have agreed to a probationary period. I would try and find out the legality of it. Maternity leave is standard practice. Being put on probation once you’re back is one I have never heard of.

For your sake, I hope these things get sorted out. Having to worry about finances is not a fun problem to have. Be the clear head in this situation and don’t do anything rash. Good luck.

I used to take the following to work in an Osprey backpack:

– Laptop, plus charger.
– A 4 notebook.
– Change of clothes (including shoes).
– Gym kit (minus shoes)
– Towel

Never contemplated panniers. Unless I had a dedicated commuting bike.

Most people are so self obsessed they will not notice your odour.

Trust me on this.

The white one looks like a losing scratchcard.

Ahahahaha!

It hurts when your scratchcard is made of carbon 🙁

Ah well, they turn up cheap 2nd hand anyway.

I used my CB tool to link my SS chain and to bodge a pin back in when I figured out I’d shortened it too far. Wasn’t too much hassle, but I was doing it in a garage and not trailside in a race. That’s what the KMC quick links are for!

Champagne taste on a beer budget?

If the bank’s only willing to lend him 63k then his wage is less than 16kpa I assume. Not a whole heap, but if he’s living with Ma and Pa then there’s nothing stopping him from saving almost every single penny. Buy him a set of earplugs to drown out the in-laws noises and wish him well.

Six whole years…. wow.

I know, great huh? Pretty sure they’ll last me the rest of my life if I’m careful. They’re backed with a lifetime warranty even if used with metal utensils.

When I was skint I made one investment that I do not regret. A set of Scanpan saucepans. That was over 6 years ago.

They are still going strong. Good pans also make you more inclined to cook more.

Non-stick frying pans are a bit of a toss up. The £12 Ikea Tefal one is pretty good. Unfortunately after 2 years the handle is starting to come loose so I will throw it away soon.

Crank Brothers for me. I have had to use it for trail side chain repairs a few times. Can’t fault it.