It’s your donald duck unfortunately re BB. Almost all of the Zestys and Spicys we’ve sold this year have had Hollowtech bottom brackets but we have had one through with a Pressfit. They are getting phased out so you never know, you might get lucky.

Regardless, you seriously cannot go wrong with a Spicy regardless. Only other bike I’d be buying like that would be a Pivot Firebird.

Loads of 2.0 TDIs have issues between 02 and 05. This may be one? Porous heads and problematic bottom ends. Worth checking? I’ve seen a fair few now. Turns out the older 1.9 TDI has been more reliable.

We used to do tons of demo bikes but people just used to take the mick. You can easily wear a bike out over a few days of hire. Ended up costing us a fortune. We still have demo bikes but we usually get an extra 5% off our margin (which isn’t very good anyhow). Naturally if you work in one of the bigger shops, you’ll get much bigger margins (although the manufacturers and distributors deny it!).

£25 is not much at all. We do it for £40 per day and reduce if it’s a multiple day hire. We knock all the money off the bike when they come to buy one – in one case we knock £480 off the bike because he’d hired so many different bikes from us. Still got business and a good friend/customer so no complaints there.

Hmmm, I’ll have a look to see if there’s an easy package deal over that way.

By the way, are people on this forum employed or are you Jeremy Kylers?

How do you find the time? I’ll stop moaning, I’m off to sell some bikes at less than trade price because that’s how we roll!

Every time I read this forum, it makes me wonder why we have a bike shop at all – every time you go out of your way for someone, they usually just moan about it. Apparently there are two sides to every story and sometimes, you know what, things don’t go to plan. That’s why being more organised makes sense in the first place (wish my wife could understand that!). Nobody’s chasing you with a Kalashnikov after killing your family – there are some places in the world where folk cannot rant about stupid things.

Not that I want to support an Internet company, because they are effectively killing the trade but this situation doesn’t sound too tragic to me!

Tenerife was in my mind, thanks for that.

56cm max but manufacturers like to mess around with sizes – Cube’s 56cm is different from Specialized, Forme etc.

I would seriously look at Forme Longcliffe 2.0. Should get some deals off us retailers that often see a victory in giving away stuff for no profit and the wheels have cartridge bearings and can take a kicking.

We use Hope in the shop as a standard. They work and you can get a good mix that fits anything. Worth it.

You’ll get rid of all the good stuff. It’s not a good idea. Cut out gluten and go on the Paleo diet if you want to make a mid- to long-term difference. Sticking a hose pipe up your arse ain’t going to help!

Yes, that’s wrong. I have a frame with green bits yet I have an American Classic back wheel with red hub and a Hope front wheel. It is loathed; I love it.

They’re being wise and clearing stock. Something all bike retailers should be doing. While they’re canny and have buying power, there are a lot of retailers selling stuff at a loss or trade price to keep afloat. Scary times. Shouldn’t be too long before we all give it up and buy stuff from CRC because there will be fewer or no bike shops (we do already when we buy our Lapierres so we’re funding it too I guess).

Drac, just because you’re the big man, doesn’t mean winter tyres aren’t great things. Plus they don’t just work in snow but cold temperatures. You might be a hero but no matter how good a driver you are, there’s no argument when your stopping distances are twice as long (unless you’re behind me and I have to do an emergency stop, and you kill us both, then your narrow-minded attitude would really annoy!).

I can have a word if you want to forward on the details? We’ve had things go wrong before but the warranty guy’s a good lad. He always does what he can.

pete AT [myusername] bikes.com

Simple to understand – I think either M&S or AXA (AXA underwrite it now don’t they?) own shares in the company. At least that’s what I got out of an employee of theirs when he was drunk!

We had a customer who wanted a Whyte 19. She dug her heels in, got the full money and came to us.

Please boycott them. It’s a great idea. Boycott us too. I actually charged a retail price for a tube the other day (and didn’t feel guilty). But then we repaired some bikes for nothing even though they had bought them from another local bike shop.

Try http://www.weeprint.co.uk and tell Jenny that Pedro from Flying Fox Bikes sent you. She charges a one-off, which is really cheap and she’ll keep on redesigning until you’re happy.

Any more information on this? Funnily enough I’m currently penniless but I really need to get this done very soon regardless and it’s pretty simple – my wife will receive what I have! I’m also in Scotland, which may make a difference?

Sweet, thanks very much.

We’ve tried lots and although the Flows are the sex, new, cool etc., I would always recommend my old Mavic 819s on Hopes all day long. Amazing, trouble-free and worth it to run 25psi with nothing to pinch!

I only use Tubeless (UST) tyres as they have been hassle-free. Tubeless-ready usually means they’re not ready for anything but tubes.

Juan, I really wouldn’t say the Lapierres are long at all. The new ones are much shorter than they were (which I don’t like as much) and they have inline posts and short stems. Perfect for most folk (but I would lengthen them out!). Also, I honestly have had nobody ride our demo Zesty and said it cannot descend. In fact, the complete opposite.

I’m not particularly in love with Lapierres (although I am a retailer of them) but after seeing that, I thought I should introduce some balance to the chat!

We’ve used lots (as we sell lots) but I can honestly say that the only cleaner I’ll use is Pedro’s Green Fizz. It works and doesn’t kill anodising like the usual crew.

Any bike with Snow Studs or Ice Spikers? They really work!

Large with short stem – I ride our large demo Pivot Mach 5.7 with the standard stem (100mm) and it’s too long for most folk but okay for me (I’m 5’11” but do like long bikes).

I’ve ridden lots (but then I am a retailer so you can say I’m being cheeky if you wish) and I can honestly say that the Pivot Mach 5.7 is the best bike I’ve ever ridden. Then again, I may ride differently from you and like a different type of bike. That’s why we have demo bikes – because they convince people.

Thanks Mr. Toys!

Get yourself on a spreadsheet, multiply cost per litre by 4.55 and that gives you cost per gallon. See what mpg you’re doing in your current motor and get a realistic figure (different from claimed) for the car you may want to buy. I run old cars with big engines. They don’t lose any more money and they’re before a “Y” reg so I don’t get destroyed on VED. I just have to remember this when I fill up – cost of depreciation is massive and I never understand it when people buy new or fairly new to gain 10mpg!

The spreadsheet will give you the answers.

Not really any. We put Force on all our super-expensive Look frames.

Agreed with that man – Black Shark Mud tyres are superb and we only have a couple left and contemplation keeping them for ourselves. Otherwise Dirty Dans are mighty impressive. We got some Hans Dampf tyres in, which are supposed to be all-rounders so can’t wait to try them…

Eh? It would be for me with the possibility of someone else coming in hotdesking.

I’ll have a look at Alex’s comments. Thanks for that. I noticed this:

http://www.play.com/PC/PCs/-/3317/2584/-/19137873/TP-Link-TL-PA211KIT-200Mbps-Mini-Powerline-Ethernet-Adapter-Homeplug-AV-Twin-Pack/Product.html

Could I get one of these and a switch so I would not have to move my router upstairs but have all the benefits of doing so or am I being stupid?

Thanks and good point – I have exactly the same setup in the bike shop but had completely forgotten. I’ll try to find a way to get a cable in.

I’ll check out this EOP thing you mention…! I might need to get a BT Engineer in then to move the phone line upstairs do you think therefore?

Maybes aye. I was thinking that but this guy was talking about a more seamless phone system. I am worried about my broadband speed though – sometimes it can be tragic and I really cannot afford for a phone call to have problems.

We’ve got tons – siskins, goldfinches, greenfinches, bullfinches, tits. Oh, and a Sparrowhawk.

Put out sunflower seeds and nyjer seeds? They come flocking. Oh, and shoot the cats.

Thanks Charlie. Right now anything would be tough to recover from, let alone £3K or even £14K! The backup just isn’t there. It’s a shame but I have had to use that tactic before – not delivering and seeing what happens. I don’t think I’ve delayed any genuine customers yet but the fear of doing so is always there…!

I couldn’t possibly say now could I?

1 Brompton View
Leeds
LS11 6JA

He keeps getting mixed up as to his surname: Simon Olney one day, Simon Onley the next. Avoid if you ever come across this or at least dig more. Sorry to those legit folk with the name out there, I mean no offence but the guy taking your name may.

It’s dodgy but the police were talking to me as if I were the criminal so I gave up.

I thought the passport falsification would be an issue but once again, they really don’t care.

So is there anyone in Leeds who is a nutter OR is there anyone down there that could do something on a more official basis? I don’t care for me – bike’s still here and will stay here. However, I’m pretty disappointed that I would get a kicking for speeding on a motorway but this guy can just run around ripping folk off and get away with it.

I just don’t get it. I’ve ridden a whole load ofc bikes and I took this up our local hill so was on terrain i’ve done tons of times and it was deeply unimpressive. I honestly cannot see past the Pivot Machs myself. For me, there’s nothing better. However, apparently folk have different opinions…!

It IS the bike. You’re right. I have never ridden a bike as fast, and a whole load of folk who have would agree with me. So do NOT judge a bike on looks.

However, the guys who had the company are a joke, they have ripped everyone off who has ever dealt with them and I sincerely hope karma comes for them.