It’s tempting EGF but ultimately I want to eat something tasty!

I completely understand your want to find out more

But this could be a bit of a minefield

I think you really need to talk more with your mother. She’s likely to feel a little uncomfortable with it – after all she’s raised you along with your ‘other’ dad. She’ll probably need some reassurance.

Tread carefully, be patient and good luck

You buying or renting?

It’s part of the appeal of cycling to me. A simple bicycle is such an elegant machine. I love building up a new bike or an existing one after a strip down.

There are however a few things necessary to make it enjoyable:
A decent bike stand is a must
As are the correct tools
And enough space to work
And a little time, unhindered
And perhaps a nice bottle of beer or two

That’s the basis for a satisfying evening of work

However the internal cable routing of my son’s Five is the devil’s work

Hans Dampf 2.35 up front, Nobby Nick (2.2) at the back

What did you think the purpose of news was?

Er, to report on ‘new’ things. What you do with the info is up to you

FYI – I have an iPhone 5 and run 26″ wheels

Depends how you price them

Full new value – hell no, car worth way more. Current value, hard to say. High mileage car, expensive when new versus top end but oldish 26″ bikes x 3

Don’t really care. Car gets me and my lads to trails with 3 bikes. Go for ride on bikes

^^^^^^^^ WTF?

Bad day bearnecessities?

Lotus do it – so it must be robust, right

Sure I’d have nice house – several probably (Dorset, Snowdonia for starters)

Dorset’s not in Snowdonia, dur.

When I win my fortune and hit the global reset button, punctuation pedants will be first against the wall

where can I buy a sea-front property with a sandy beach, some woodland with a river running through it and maybe a small mountain – all not too far from local amenities, schools, etc. oh, and a decent playground for the kids with a skate park.

You forgot to add Waitrose and an organic deli

Just for the OP

I can easily get 3 bikes (front wheels off) in the back of my focus estate with the seat split leaving room for two passengers and all our guff

Agreed DrP

My focus – you don’t need to work the box, just give it some beans

The fiesta on the other hand needs revving if you want it to go

Hence, presumably, the similarity in economy.

Chemistry init? You only get so much energy from each ml of fuel

@ pieface – the 3 cylinder Ecoboost

@ molgrips – you’re quite right. I can easily get 50mpg from the 2.0 tdci on the motorway if I use a light foot. I generally average 42mpg with some B roads and less economical driving thrown in

I have a 2.0 tdci focus
My wife has the 1 litre fiesta ecoboost

Our fuelling economies are almost identical at 42mpg though admittedly mine is run on the motorway and hers tends to be the country roads

While the performance of the fiesta is okay you do need to push it for performance. On the other hand the focus just pulls especially in the useful 35 to 70 mph range

Wealth buys freedom. To do as you please, be where you want, when you want. Answering to nobody other than yourself and family

Sure I’d have nice house – several probably (Dorset, Snowdonia for starters) and a flash car. Buts it’s freedom, health, people and experiences that make you happy

Certainly don’t need anything

But in the n+1 tradition if I did it’d be something for mixed road / light off-road and bikepacking

Possibly a Vagabond or maybe something like a Trek Stache or Salsa Woodsmoke

Wake off?

Auto-correct moderating you?

One of those great British institutions

‘R4 LW will now be leaving the cricket for….,’

As a young newcomer to the Ford Dagenham Press Shop I had to minute an engineering meeting.

I dutifully recorded (and issued) minutes describing ‘Spark Erode’ as ‘Sparky Road’ which, unsurprisingly, I was reminded of almost daily.

But is it laterally stiff yet vertically compliant?

Yes, but it needs bigger wheels

He is a little ‘affected’ isn’t he?

It was me. You’re welcome

I can’t ride a DH bike and I’m not sure what sport that is – but it sure ain’t what I do. 8O

Given how flat a Go-Pro makes everything look, that must be crazy steep

Cotswold wildlife park is very good though, I doubt, cheap

Where are you molgrips – somewhere near the Ridgeway I presume

There’s a home brewing shop in headington, Oxford that used to have them cheap – for use in soda siphons and so on

You’re luckier than me. Made a right mess of the latex when I did it

Stickers not bracelet

Only just seen this. While it has flaws, I thought it was tremendous

Special mention to Hans Zimmer’s score, the best since, well, Inception. The weaving of Elgar’s variations into it was brilliant

You got a link Poopscoop?

I also tend to ride those slow slogs with my thumbs over the bars. A hangover from my road days I guess

Alkalised water! Wtf is that?

And why is he then adding (acidic) vinegar to it?

What a Grade ‘A’ nobclanger

Mmmmmm, that’s very nice.

But what colour for the anodising? Decisions, decisions

As many above have said this really is their problem to fix.

In your shoes, I’d write to the most senior person at Intense and the distributor. (I mean the CEO, MD or some such; don’t bother with a customer services rep)

Simply set out the issue you have (no bike) and what you want them to do (provide you the means to have a new bike, of an equivalent type and quality, for no additional cost).

Place the problem firmly in their court

‘The Catherine Wheel’ in Goring has a nice garden and you can prop your bike at the door/window while ordering

Osprey Viper.

ajantom wins tonight. Hope all goes well

As long as I don’t have to find a job, it’d be somewhere close to Snowdonia for me.

Great riding, the most stunning scenery, away from it all and the coast close by. And I speak Welsh.

It’s full of win. If only there was work there …..

Depends

My current bike (as per stany, above) is a Mojo HD. Easily the most capable bike I’ve owned.

But I think I’d pick my Giant Anthem. The original 2007, 89mm travel version. Such a fast and capable bike. Not suited to me now though I still have the frame. Showcases what the big companies can do when they ‘nail’ it. Cheap too (frame and shock cost me £700)

Not important at all.

We’ve been married 16 years. Both of us realised a few days ago that we had both forgotten our anniversary on the 31st July.

Valentine’s Day – pah!!

Never touched a mountain bike until my mid 20s when I bought a’95 Kona Lava Dome

3×7 gripshift, canti brakes

I loved that bike – I still have the frame and must build it up sometime