It is something I have heard about but never practised. Interestingly whilst trying out a few bikes recently, I’ve noticed I can see the hub behind the bar. Is that a good thing?

I’m in a similar position in looking at Anthems but they certainly seem to be in short supply. Having said that my LBS says the 2013 stock is trickling in with similar spec and keen pricing.

Icebreaker.. Take a look at natureshop.co.uk

@starsh78, how are you finding the 29er thing? I appreciate the arguments, but at a touch over 5’8″ would the Epic still work for me?

:)

Thanks guys… oh yeah, Canyon, but in XC flavour also on the shortlist, but I’m slightly wary of buying a bike without first even seeing it.

Just to confirm the above, I’m 5’9″ with a 31″ leg and find the 18″ Soloist a good fit. I think that while you’d be ok with saddle height, you’d find you’d need a long stem.

Alpha and elevator are closed so, as has been said, there is a (boring) diversion to Cymmer in place. 373 also closed on Tuesday with a fire road diversion that took me to zig zag/final descent, missing graveyard entirely :(

Supposed to re-open at the start of next month.

Not that it helps the OP, but my time in Kenya and in particular, Hell’s Gate NP is what inspired me to take up mountain biking. Along with the Rift Valley, Mt Kenya would have some wonderful trails. Great country, but Nairobi is dubious at best!

Bellissimo signor!

Sitting in my window-less “office” hoping the weather reports are inaccurate…

I have a (Black) 159 2.0JTDm ti SW… and it’s fabulous! As an estate car, it ain’t particularly roomy, but just look at it and tell me that a roomier Passat is better. You may get a few more mpg from a bimmer, but who cares, when the Alfa is such a lovely thing to drive. It has ooddles of torque, handles beautifully and rides well (considering the 19″ wheels). But a word of warning… if you are buying it thinking that it is like Alfas of old, it ain’t. Firstly it’s better built but secondly it’s more refined and comfortable. Personally I feel more of the image of a big Lancia than an Alfa.

Oh, and watch for those big wheels, it’s far to easy to curb those lovely 8C alloys and the price of the tyres… (ouch)

Okay, so I’ve got a ground anchor, but I now need to secure 3 or 4 bikes to it. 3 bikes hang vertically from the garage wall, what the best way to secure these to the anchor… I’m thinking some kind of security cable.

… and it goes well with my Polish Fiat 500 ;)

I like the positive/agricultural (delete according to bias) feel to the Veloce shifters. I also like the look of the stuff but admit the Veloce brakes are sh1t.

But then I have a Bianchi, an Alfa Romeo and Fiat 500… maybe I’m biased?

A previously loved Deore set with HTII BB. Seems to work”…

I have a basic pay as you go Nokia for biking. Can’t remember the last time I charged it. Perfect for the job.

Oh, and avoid touch screens.

My understanding is that the soon to be developed “Penhydd” will be a different trail to the old one. I think they’re aiming for a blue or green designation rather than the old red.

[/i]2 “High calorie supplement drinks”

Was this “preload”? What did you think of it?

I was supposed to be out early this morning, but a rather nice bottle of wine and some good food last night stopped that plan. Awoke to the rain beating on the windows :) Due to brighten up later, so it will be a quick road spin for me. Thankfully I managed a couple of hours yesterday… in the sunshine!

As above, I have just hopped on with the bike. Admittedly when I do it is usually an early train and as ever I think they have the right to refuse the bike.

Yep, have a road bike here, too. Bianchi Via Nirone with Campag via C2W scheme. I hadn’t been on the road for over a decade prior to this, but now loving it… I even catch myself oggling some carbon road bling!

I’ve been out of the country for a week and come back to find this wonderful discussion! Quite a few posters refer to the “average” doctors salary. If you are referring to the much quoted BBC/government figure of 120k you are very much mistaken. Trainees start at around 30k and consultants start at 80k. IIRC top consultant salary is 100-110k. Merit awards can be applied, but are very rare. Doctors (and the majority of the NHS) have undergone pay freezes, but it has been accepted as they have they earn a decent pension at the end. As a medic friend says to me: I’ll happily take a private sector style pension when the NHS pays me a private sector style salary (and just in case there is any doubt, that would be very expensive for the country.

And if you think the NHS is suffering in England, Scotland and N.I., come to Wales. The WAG want to cut health spending by 20% over the next 4 years!

Oh and a small point: medics also leave uni with a surgical degree so we’re equally as qualified as those fabulous vets ;)

Zinn here… great for numpties like me!

IIRC there is an Aussie law limiting how far a rear rack can extended the length of the car. I believe it is a fraction of the vehicle’s wheelbase… but for the life of me I cannot remember the rule. I’m sure it only becomes a problem if you have a short car and a multi-bike carrier.

As above, but I would also add the possibility of a DVT and PE. Off to the GP Sir, and keep us informed.

Another Spesh’s Epic here; 2008 Comp. As Taff says it pedals like a HT but is more forgiving. It has more than enough travel for what I want.

Funkydunc, is that pic from the Ridgeway above Cardiff??

Yep, go for the pirate look. A bit hotter, but that is outweighted by keeping the sweat out of your eyes.

@fbk, another Brucie Bonus heading your way! I had to curtail my merino fetishism but picked up some some new running socks and a pair of new RF gloves. Thanks for the PSA :)

Looks like a day for a bit of maintenance and earning brownie points from the family!

My pair are 3 years old and suffer some clumsy footwork without any problems..

No stickers. Valve lined up with tyre name, that way it makes it quicker to locate the valve :)

Romin on the road, a ti Devo on the SS and a ti Silverado on my Epic. All comfy…

Please excuse the partial hijack of this thread, but I’m about to make a similar move to tubeless. Treated my self to a set of Hope hoops Crests that I’ve been running with tubes over the winter, but I’m now looking to go tubeless. Has anyone any experience of using Spesh’s 2Bliss tyres on the notoriously fiddly Crests? Looking at running the Captain and Fast Trak’s…

Thanks.

Drive by The Cars.. can’t help but think of Live Aid and the pictures as reported by Michael Burke

A lovely Sanderson Soloist. If you are ham-fisted like me you may find the EBB is a bit fidly with an external BB, but once fitted, it rides and handles beautifully.

Ritchey ergo’s here… because they were cheap. Have found them to be excellent!

“being pregnant does not give you fat arms and a fat face”

Not fat, but it’s a physiological fact that preganacy causes oedema (water retention)peripherally in places such as face and limbs.

[/quote]“the key thing here is the opposition from the royal colleges. (not nursing tho)Unprecedented”

Unfortunately, the Royal Colleges didn’t oppose it… if they did, it would have spiced things up a bit :)

c) Use but don’t abuse

^ This

If the worst comes to the worst and you hate it. Strip it down to the components and sell on.