Mmm Nuun. Salty goodness 😉

I've got half a tube you can have if you like for a suitable price 🙂

I always thought Braun/Remington were great & it was normal to take 20 minutes to shave (I've got tough hair 😉 ). I was sceptical about the philips rotor type shavers but thought I'd try one 3 years ago and haven't looked back. I got the Excel type – can't remember the model no.

They don't shave quite as close as the parallel types but much quicker & much easier on the skin, especially round my neck (probably because it's much quicker).

Oddly enough, I've just ordered a shed load of Euros.

I used This comparison website which gives a pretty good idea of what's available.

Definitely an advantage to live in London but otherwise some good mail order options. Of the rest, Tescos seem the most competitive over-the-counter option.

Went there for the first time a couple of weeks ago – really good fun. Each loop is basically up to the top and back down again with a few technical bits thrown in to keep you thinking. Quite short but enough there to warrant a 2nd lap if you're keen.

Great views and good fast decents – I was impressed anyway 🙂

I've got one – it's doesn't fit in when the chains new, fit's in the 0.75% side after a while, then the 1% at bit later. Not sure how accurate it is but I try and follow it's guidance 🙂

Well I just ordered some from Ribble as part of a larger order – Continentals for just over a couple of quid each.

Looking at other posts on here today though, I might not receive them in the near future…

Couple of mates have stuck twin ring guides on their Fives – 1 uses a DRS, one uses a Gamut. Both BB mounted without any problems. I think almost anything should be ok on the frame.

ime, there are more issues with crank arm compatibility – I tried to stick one on my Marin with a RF Atlas crankset & the granny ring fouled the inner plate. Got an SLX crank and all seems fine.

SFB – Might be problems at my end as my outgoing server doesn't seem to be talking to me. I'll try that address, otherwise I'll email you when I get home this evening.

edit – seems to have gone ok this time 🙂

Rich – not my fault, I wasn't even using it at the time! Honest!

Flyingmonkeycorps – I did, they said yes you can buy spares…..

SFB – much obliged, ygm 🙂

Another one for the Mega here – leave 4th July for a week in Alpes D'Huez, followed by a week in Les Arcs….. getting nervous now!!

Hainey – I agree, especially as most of us haven't ridden there before and I've heard very good things about the riding in the area – it'd be a shame to miss the best bits.
Still nice to have a bit of an idea what's there though and maybe be self sufficient at least some of the time 🙂

That's great Doug – I'll have a play with those later.

crewlie – didn't think of looking there, I'll have a search.

Cheers guys

Cheers Doug – some good stuff on there. Still be nice to have a GPS route or 2 though. I guess I could plot the routes myself but I know from experience that takes ages 🙂

Got one last year during their Ultegra promo. I don't get out on it that much and it's stuck to a turbo trainer at the mo due to injury but I've only been impressed with it. Fast, responsive & suprisingly forgiving ride.

Superb stuff.

What tyre for…… 😉

Seanodav – Cheers for the Pics. You're right, there isn't much clearance there! I guess you're ok as long as the wheel stays true.

That might be my only option unless I buy some new cranks….

What cranks are you using? I've got exactly the same problem with a DRS and raceface cranks. My cranks won't even turn with everything tightened up!

Anyone else on the day shift got any thoughts?

Looks like I may be swapping cranks around!

Seanodave – there's about 2mm clearance from the outer tyre knobs when it's set in board. It would probably be ok but if hit, it could swing round and foul the underside of the downtube.

Stooo – interesting you've had a similar problem. I can't run the drs that low as the front of the plate would foul the downtube!

I may be being picky but I'm trying to sort a bike for the mega so want everything 100%

I did think about grinding the bolts down but, to be honest, if it wasn't them rubbing on the plate the chain would rub when it's running on the granny ring.

Good god man – you spending again 😉

Great film. Slow start but very entertaining. I don't normally like the bouncy camare view but it seemed to work on this

Loved the place when we rode there last year. A bit wet, a bit slippy, nice and technical and plenty to think about all the way round.

A real nice change from the standard 7-Stanes fare

We're staying in a campsite towards the end of the qualifying run. Can't remember the name off the top of my head but apparently it's very nice 🙂

I think you may struggle to find a good chalet actually in Alpe D'Huez for that week now

Looked at these sites before but never got round to using them – I never remember.

Maybe I should make more of an effort!

Rode the new stuff for the first time last Thursday evening and I have to agree with the op- it is surprisingly good.

Obviously a shed of work has gone into the build and the downhills are great fun with enough on them to keep things interesting. As for the switchbacks, they're a necessary evil and they do make a pleasant change from your usual fireroad plod.

Oh, and it was a lovely evening. We saw about 5 other riders 🙂

You could try one of the free music player alternatives on in the market place – I'm using Mixzing at the mo which seems quite good.

As for getting rid of the Orange junk, I think the only way would be to flash the rom with a generic version – I'm considering it at the mo, esp if 2.2 (Froyo) is released for the desire 🙂

Another SE convert here. I got P'd off with the QC issues on my last one though (C905 – had 4 replaced with various problems) so I'd never get another.

Had my Desire for 2 months now and Love it.

Great bikes – demo'd one in 2002 and I've never ridden anything that felt quite as smooth through singletrack 🙂

And I think they look quite good too 😳

Not good on steep descent though I believe?

Had something pretty similar for nearly 2 weeks. Just about the right side of it now although I still don't feel great. I'd rather not describe the gunk I was coughing up last week!

Feels great to be nearly rid of it though 🙂

Obi_twa Ok, fair comment – I'm willing to try anything at this stage.

Sorry if it seemed like I was criticising the technique – I know very little about it. Just making an observation 🙂

That just seems to be a wiggle-your-thumb-but-not-too-much sort of exercise! I've got a powerball I might start using again too – see how that goes.

Ok, thanks for the advice guys. I might still see about some physio – keen to get this as sorted as it can be for July…

Similar problem here – except a chunky bridge on my nose means sun burnt cheeks but well protected eyebrows! 😯

I can ride any trail on my hard tail – doesn't mean I don't chose to ride my full sus sometimes and have "more fun" 😉

fwiw I'm currently looking to get an uppy downy post, primarily for the Mega but I reckon it'll get a fair bit of use after too.

That really shouldn't be funny – it was though 😯 😆

missingfrontallobe "Snuff box" is fine thanks :).

For the most part, the pain is very much localised to the palmer MCP joint and a region just proximal to this.

elaine anne Pink girlie cast sounds cool – might go with that anyway 🙂

Dr_Death – it wasn't really a true FOOSH injury – I was pulling up on the bars trying to manual a ditch, mis-judged it and landed heavily on the up slope and must have over extended my thumb as I went over the bars 😕

Re the co-lateral ligaments, After a quick google anatomy lesson, the pain is roughly around the origin of the RCL so I guess that could be a source. Everything feel stable though so poss just a strain.

Thanks for the info – don't you just love relaxing after work 😉

Learn to tape your thumb in a thumb spica style way

I've thought about something like that but gear shifts may be entertaining with a strapped up thumb?

ryan_c – I can't take NSAIDs as I'm allergic (asthma) so I'm stuck with paracetomol/Co-Codemol and "complimetary medicine".

Dog saliva doesn't have magical properties. They eat crap, lick their bits and have rubbish dental hygiene. That's why in the wild, simple wounds can and do kill them…

It's one of the most resilient old wives tails around. 😯

Hope you're still alive this morning 😉

Not that it really helps your situation but I'd agree with other comments on here re the supply of new parts with the frame if needed.

I found a crack in the frame on my '03 Mount Vision frame earlier this year. ATB Sales (Via my LBS) not only replaced it immediately with a new 2010 frame (they had to strip a full bike down as they didn't have any frame only options available), they supplied it with a new headset, seat post & clamp, and Rear Shock to ensure I didn't have to buy anything myself in order to build it up again. I was very happy 🙂

Brilliant 🙂