Merlin are excellent and use Royal Mail. They’re a bit slower than usual, but getting stuff within a few days seems reasonable right now.

I’ll get involved with the resurrection to ask: Any racks working well with modern (loooong) bikes? Thinking L/XL Aeris / Geometron 29ers.

I’d always say get the exclusives for each system which means buying each hardware platform for each console generation. Not prohibitive if you time it right and get access to a decent back catalogue, which is pretty much where we are now. Still doesn’t help finding space under the TV.

First thing is PS+ worth 40 quid a year, but look for prepay codes or deals from cdkeys to keep the cost down. MonthlyFree games are a mixed bag of utter junk and a few decent ones to keep it worthwhile. Need to download monthly as you’ve no access to Past games. Anyway, onto what’s good:

God of war. Bad dad sim with blood and gore. Boy!

Nier Automata. Give it 10-15 hours or so, get into new game+ and revel in it. Future classic, join the cult now.

Not played Shadow of the colossus twice already? Play it, feel bad, you monster.

Gran Turismo up to the limits of a pad. I always found you hit a point at which the cars are too twitchy and powerful for a pad.

Last of us and uncharted combos.

Fancy a challenge? Not strictly PS4 only, but anything from From Software: Dark souls / demon souls series or bloodborne. Great games, but not exactly forgiving.

Another halfords flux returner here. Bit of googling afterwards suggests there’s a mix of old duff batches and newer ones with better QC. Credit to halfords, they happily gave a refund with no issues whatever. Could have gambled again, but decided to look at more reliable alternatives.

Flux also limited in terms of what will fit – short cage mech only and no boost. Limits things if planning on using an MTB on it.

I went moxie.  It’s very, very long.  Built up in 29er flavour with the DVO diamonds bundled in.

All seems good so far, but need a few proper rocky rides to see what it’s really like.  Not a natural canal pootling bike, but why the hell not?  Can also highly recommend the DVO forks, OTT gives lovely initial sensitivity.

Raw is kind of a matt black btw

Bottle cage bolt worked for me

Retreating from internet and hiding credit cards . . . . .

Just checking the larges in stock would absolutely? not fit someone 185cm tall with 85cm inside leg?

Yes, but my phone is a bit crap (Moto x force).

What’s the bolt like for offroad navigation / routes? Decent built in map with bridleways and paths etc?

Crohn’s, no surgery yet, azathioprine + humira (because I’m worth it), low residue combo. Watching and bookmarking for future interest.

So far I’ve found the exhaustion can be partially controlled with iron top ups, at least when your gut can take it.

Even so, flare up = no bike for a week or so.

Ballsed up inflammatory response also seems to mean bruising / pedal bites stick around longer.

Got a zero TR and it’s brilliant.

Length can be a problem on really tight stuff, but it’s rare. Happily used mine round dark peak and similar, but long days on it can be a bit of a killer, so I normally use it for shorter fun stuff or winter riding.

Get a 2.4 out back, every little helps.

Forza Horizon 3, cobber.

Occasionally get lucky and end up in an online isetta or reliant robin race.

I’ve got one and just measured – it’s BB centre to the top of the tube. There is no seatclamp, it’s got an internal clampy thing instead.

FWIW, I’m 185cm with 85cm inseam. 170mm reverb isn’t far off max insertion.

Same bike, same problem with a 591. It does fit on an Inno 389. Added bonus it doesn’t scratch the paint.

I found it terrible up front. Swapped it to rear, minion up front and life is a lot less scary. Not tested in full slop yet.

Recommend what you’ve got? New T129 has wider rear and rims so can take regular width tyres. Long, low and fast. Very happy with mine so far.

Had a similar debate and got a bird. Then a whyte FS.

I’m an idiot.

Gave up trying to make sense of it. Hard tail –> full suspension, while increasing wheel size to 29er, but decreasing suspension travel . . . Went a bit ocd calculating potential figures then realised it was getting unhealthy. Seems at 185cm I’m at the top end of large, but long body/short legs means i favour a longer reach. Going to try and buy from an actual shop to get sized up properly with scope for swapping if it’s way off.

Problem may stem from ‘old style’ bikes (5-10 years ago) where smaller = fun. Did it balls. In hindsight it meant me at 185cm hunched over an 18 inch frame, seat wedged back, long stem and knee/bar risks.

Anyway, thanks all for your help and melting my brain.

Interesting stuff. Sounds like a large bird zero is the equivalent of most xl bouncy bikes when it comes to length.

Brexit step one should be standardised bike sizing.

I’m nearly 6’2″ and rode 18″ inbreds for years. In hindsight, they were too small: 400mm post at limit, seat all the way back, high rise long stem and spacers . . . all the hallmarks of small and flickable fashion.

All hail long, low and slack.

Just got an inno 389 which grabs each wheel. Bought for flexibility: no frame contact and easily swaps between big wheel / little wheel bikes so fewer limits on n+1 transport. Seems to hold OK, but nowhere near as stable as a fork holder. Normal price is crazy expensive, but I bought someone else’s return at knockdown from roofbox.

Keep well away from anyone with a cold. You REALLY don’t want any sneezing.

I’ve got the same frame + tuggnut combo and use a halo hex skewer. Works fine, just remember to carry an Allen key.

Okay, any would be kickstarters looking for a project:
– Flat grippy sole, bonus points for grippy bits at toe and heel. Not too thick, not too thin.
– water resistant, or even better proof
– Dry quickly
– Don’t look like they were designed by an NHS committee

Didn’t pay attention when buying the 5:10s so bought some non-element things. Lesson learned: They must be able to triple their weight at first sight of a puddle.

Will grab some sealskinz for now and look at a shoe upgrade next payday.

Twistedpencil: Passenger seat forwards, brute force and no choice – forgot the Allen key needed to remove skewers.

Similar to above, I’ve got the estate as a company car.

It’s big. Seriously big when parking, so definitely get sensors. Good news is it’ll hold a lot of bike, I’ve had a 29er in with wheels still attached.

Led headlights are great, sat nav is terrible but irrelevant these days anyway, good on motorway, exciting as beige, lots of toys (x pack a good upgrade).

I had a similar dilemma and went for the bird. Arrived earlier today, so no chance to ride it yet, but it looks and smells lovely.

(Is new bike smell a thing? Clean rubber, fresh grease, that heavy sticky new chain gunk . . .mmmmm)

Does the job, think nest may be more integrated into the googleverse, but that wasn’t a big issue for me. Biggest plus over nest was the thermostat runs on batteries so easier to move when redoing the living room.

I’m a UK 10, but just sent back a pair of size 44 as they were too tight. They’re a stiff shoe compared to my ancient Shimano’s which may have contributed? Either way, figured a bit of literal wriggle room in a winter shoe would be a good thing, so back they go.

Could someone PLEASE buy the last of these? Pauls seem to keep finding more and I’m getting tempted.

XL halo hex skewers are great and cheap. Shimano qr was a little too short for me (chain tug added extra few mm) and cheap skewer was just crap – wheel slid forward when braking.

Just got one. Running rigid ss and it’s brilliant – best bmx I never had. Quick twitchy steering is fun.

Steel + tubeless on wide rims surprisingly comfortable. I’ve mashed pedals hard enough to hear brake rub so it must be pretty bendy.

Downsides are track ends are a pain – already swapped to hex skewers to stop wheel slip, but dependent on dropout choice. Suppose it’s also a bit retro in terms of geometry and skinny seatpost, but no issue for me as it’s not main bike anyway.

Only had it a week, but would definitely recommend.

Still can’t get into any games today. Back to plants vs zombies for me.

Sign me up please – Danski_uk

Online for me is flaky as hell, but seems to be getting slowly better. Still clinging to the hope there’s a decent game fighting to get out of the mess.

I’m 6’2″ and have a 56cm superX. Wouldn’t want to go any bigger.

Does anyone have standover measurements for the DD? Trying to translate MTB sizes and geometry isn’t easy.

Check the bar doesn’t obscure your TV’s IR receiver. Some cleverer ones have repeaters built in the back.

if your TV has HDMI arc (audio return) you can plug bar directly into that then everything should configure itself. Worked for me.

Steam sale is on now, it’s a game in itself. Choose what you want, put it in a wishlist then see how long you can hold your nerve: prices can be fluid with daily deals and flash sale. Batman games were a couple of quid each which is utterly bargainous.