Why not buy an On One instead? 😉

Or even better, get rid of those silly gears altogether!

Why bother? Why not just buy some of those little adapters? I’m sure i paid about 50p for mine.

Edit – Exactly like these ones. I got them from my LBS.

I didn’t realise how much the price of RAM has increased… My machine is running 2x4gb sticks of Corsair XMS3; cost me about £25 18 months ago – it’s £50 now!

What do you use your PC for, and is it being limited by the RAM currently? Also, what OS?

There are too many variables.

A 35lb bike with skinny, high pressure tyres will be more efficient than a 25lb bike with soft, fat tyres.

The weight of a bike should only ever be considered in the context of the complete riding package; ie the bike, rider, camelback, etc. If the rider is carrying an extra 20lb, then what’s the point in trying to pay extra for a lighter bike?

Stop worrying about it, and enjoy riding!

El Guapo?

If i was in the market for a £2k bike, this is where i’d look. CCDB, Reverb, Lyrik fork… Only 1 left in stock though (Medium) so you’d better be quick!

Pub’s serve alcohol

Punctuation sadly abhorrent.

😉

Please see attached…?

Just realised your “OOS” comment above means “Out of stock” 😳

It’ll be well worth the wait.

I wanted to get an Islabike for my boy, but got the Ridgeback MX16 instead. Nice little bike, if a little heavy perhaps. But it’s a proper bike in all respects; proper spoked wheels, square tapered BB, headset restrictor (to make it harder for the bike to throw him off) and decent brakes.

Highly recommended, although it’s only £50 cheaper than the Islabike…

Then here is your answer, my friend!

I’m curious as to why not a 456…? There’s loads of them on the classifieds, and they’re not expensive new (albeit they’ve been slightly revised).

Another Bassist? Sad times.

Gary Tank Commander was available on IPlayer, but i don’t ever remember seeing it on TV.

Bluestone42 is very good. We only discovered it yesterday, so we’re slowly chipping away at this series.

Being in the Military makes it more relevant to me; my Mrs keeps saying things like “Does that really happen?!” and i’m like “that’s been toned down…”

I’m 5’11.4, 41 and 12st 14ib.

And you’re trying to loose weight? I’d suggest you’re a perfectly healthy size just where you are. “Fat”? Be still, my beating heart.

5’11”, 25 years, 14st 2lb and perfectly happy.

I’ve ridden a steel 456 before and liked it

Surely that’s your answer? I ride a steel 456 and love it. If i were to jump on the 29er bandwagon, i’d probably get an Inbred – but as you’ve already said, keeping with a 26er would afford you more flexibility with switching components from your Orange.

Don’t bother with a “light” bike. They’re not worth the hype. A decent build on a 456 will be 27/28lbs, which is just fine.

I’d recommend a Kona Coiler. They’re a bit old and agricultural, but they’re easy to service the pivots etc, and they’re tough as nails. Cheap too.

Here, here, here[/url], and here[/url] are a few examples, all well within budget.

Has anyone suggested reinstalling Windows? Might be worth a go.

I’d recommend this. Hardware doesn’t slow down over time, but software (and windows in particular) does. Before worrying about memory, i’d try a reinstall of windows (which should be free), or Linux (which will be free).

I like chipping my way through some of these.

+1 for Friday Night Comedy – i’ve been listening to that for years. Imagine Have I Got News For You / Mock the Week done as a sketch show by Radio 4. Fantastic.

Also recommend Wireless Nights. I’ve got no idea why it’s good, it just is!

Interesting idea.

An engineer might be able to shed more light on the issue, but for me, that 2wd system seems a bit suspect. Driving the front wheel as a slave of the read… Is it just me, or does that seem like a compromised solution…?

Duffer – didn’t mean 20 times a week! Meant up to level 20 gradually over the course of a month by doing it a few times per week.

My point was that level 20 is unattainably high for a mere mortal. I’m not questioning whether the lads you know are capable of it, but you’re talking professional athlete levels of fitness there.

For reference, i have a reasonable base level of fitness for a mortal – 3 x 5-8 mile runs a week and riding on a sunday – and i’ve never been able to get past level 12. Some of the fittest people i know can break level 14.

My point remains; level 20 is crazy talk.

Do the ‘bleep’ test a few times a week, gradually building it up to 20

20?! Are you on crack?!

so rust that has accumulated externally on a frame over 6 months is not worth worrying about?

I wouldn’t worry about it, put it that way. 60 seconds with a wire brush will no doubt reveal good steel below the surface rust. As above, it’s only worth worrying about if it’s been left for years.

As above, a bit of surface rust adds character. It’s only worth worrying about if the frame is decades-old.

Spray loads of WD40 down the seat tube regularly, and leave it upside down to drain every now and again.

Er… you do realise that Spanish is what they speak in Mexico, right?

I think you missed the irony, there! I am aware they speak Spanish in Mexico, thanks. Haha!

And thanks for the other suggestion too; another one on the Amazon Wishlist for now.

Born to run is finished. Very enjoyable, even if it does appear to be written primarily in Spanish; ironically, i don’t think he visits Spain at any point…

Eat and Run, now! Thanks again for the suggestions!

On a side note:

given your new interest in running they will both have you googling barefoot running techniques.

I’ve done a little more serious research into this Barefoot Running thing, and i have to say there’s a pretty compelling argument in favor. I’m sold, at least on paper. Hopefully i’ll try it out properly in the not-too-distant future. In the mean time, i’m concentrating on using good form, and not heel-striking.

I’m not entirely familiar with the “christmas tree trail”, however i used to ride the area all the time.

Our normal loop used to take us east along Rowborrow Warren, through the gate onto Black Down, up to the Trig Point at Beacon Batch and down the other side. This is the fun bit:

If you follow that trail from the east of the Trig Point and go north / west, following Limestone link and onto East Twin Swallet, that’s some good fun riding, as long as you like rocks.

Hope that helps; it’s quite difficult to describe…

There is some padding on the shoulders and the elbows/forearm,

You can take the pads out… It’s pretty horrible stuff.

quite inspiring in terms of getting me out of a sedentary lifestyle.

Try “Survival of the Fittest” by Mike Stroud. Bloody fantastic, and it genuinely convinced me to get out into the great outdoors more. I’ve since taken up running, which i never thought i’d do.

What class are you?

Surely, that should be “Which class are you?” 😉

I’m an “Emergent service worker”, which i think means scum. I earn good money, but i don’t own a house or have any friends…

No scope for finding a magic ratio?

will all use the official standardised bicycle.

From a British company? Yeah, right…

Anything with this man, playing this bass:

Jazzy.

Don’t be fooled by the thrash metal façade – they play plenty of jazz / folk / classical stuff too…

29ers are a bit of a hot topic at the minute

mainstream bike companies have started looking at them so they’ve become more visible to joe MBUK

My point exactly.

When the industry has milked this cash cow dry, they’ll move onto the next big thing. I’m not against the idea of the 29er, i’ll just stick with what i know until it becomes cheaper to change.

besides which wheel size does not make a bike. just ride what makes you happy

Here endeth the lesson.

29ers are a bit of a hot topic at the minute. While i’m sure they’re lovely, i’ve never had any trouble with 26″ wheels.

Personally, i’d be looking at something cheap from t’internet somewhere – like this (i know it says it’s an Inbred, but it’s actually a 456 – google them, they’re great). If you decide you don’t enjoy the Singlespeed thing, then it has scope to install some of those gear-things.

I fancy trying a singlespeed 29er… I like the idea of rigid forks mary bars etc

Welcome to STW – you’ll fit in just fine here!

Not as wise as this:

the Inbred may not be as sproingy but it’s giggletastic

Haha! I love STW! Nice list of excuses, by the way!

Better off blaming your tyre choice in my experience.

Not blaming your talent, then?! 😉

The Inbred is a very capable machine, although they had to change some of the tube profiles in ’10ish to comply with the CEN regulations, so in reality it became quite similar to the 456 anyway. The 456 complied with CEN already.

I have ridden a 456 with a 100mm fork for the last 5 years, and it’s wonderful! In retrospect, i should have probably bought the Inbred with sliding dropouts, but i’m more than happy with my 456.

There are other options out there, but most are made of fancy tubing and cost thrice the price. Internet hyperbole aside, i couldn’t justify the extra outlay. So in terms of value, i think the On Ones are hard to beat.

Kinda looks like a long-exposure shot of a fast moving unicyclist… Hope he was ok!