Thanks chaps. A good tip with the screw too. I'll give that a go. Before I snapped the hose I had already tried pulling the lever while standing on the hose – God knows how much force will be needed to get the little blighter out.

MG1's. Cheap-ish and v light

Looks good. Let me know if you hate the RR's enough to want to sell them

To be fair, I used to average almost that from Twickenham (13 miles in 45 mins). I chose a route that avoid lights and I have to confess to jumping them if there was no traffic (albeit at a slower speed!) I was riding it flat out though, just to relieve the tedium.

Bummer about the guy who lost his leg. Without wanting to be a doom-monger, I know two people who commute in to town on bikes daily. One had a huge accident involving a bus (unconscious, face, arm, leg ripped up. Lots of facial scars still. But body in one piece thankfully). It is something to bear in mind unfortunately but good route planning (and sensible riding) can mitigate the risks. But it sounds like you have done the commute lots already.

I was about to suggest you become a professional cyclist until you clarified it is 12 miles each way – that makes much more sense. It used to take me well under an hour to cycle from Twickenham in to the City (13 miles) but it partly depends on how many lights etc there are on your route. That distance is definitely do-able. Slick tyres, and bar ends to give you a more stretched position, would be nice.

24 miles – that's at least an hour and a half commute each way. DO you really want to be riding 3 to 4 hrs a day on London/Outer London roads?

I did 13 miles each way 2 or 3 times a week and although it was great exercise (at Warp Factor 10) it did my head in (same dull roads, dealing with traffic etc etc)

Would sticking a second hand 80mm set of Rebas on the front not sort you out? I've never done a 12 or 24hr race but I would have thought that would be ideal. I bought a set a year ago off here for about £150, if memory serves.

It looks like the threads from the BB have come off in the frame. Is that right? Can the threads (in the frame) be chased clear?

I left mine. I tried adjusting the limit screws but the screw doesn't have enough adjustment to be of any use (top swing XT mech)

It cost me £52 to "buy" my bike (On-One Scandal 29er) at the end of the 12 months.

It'll be pressure on your ulnar nerve – it's under the fleshy part on the other side of your hand to your thumb

Oh yes. Got my parts of hand wrong!

How to make a clown bike even uglier…

Sounds like you have (temporarily) damaged the nerve that runs under the fleshy part of your thumb. It is a common complaint (thus gloves like the Spesh BG). I am no Dr but I suspect healing is just a matter of time. You might have too much weight on your hands on your road bike – can you play around with your position on the bike to reduce pressure on the nerve?

Other than in winter gloop, Nik front, Ralph rear. Not tried the others. Nik very pressure-sensitive though and Ralphs and Niks are easily cut by flint (so I have discovered) although I still use them.

Another +1 for 24/36/bash and 11/34 (although this is on my toy bike rather than an XC mile muncher)

+1 for liners

Also, I find any glove which is even a tiny bit snug/tight on my fingertips leads to cold fingers. I think perfect fit is vital for gloves. Unfortunately I have never found a pair that fits me perfectly!

you are too far forward over the BB to contemplate much in the way of uphill riding.

I don't understand this comment. I assume the SS has a steep seat angle for the very reason of making it climb better? It it is anything like my Blur 4X you will want an inline seatpost and get used to sitting down only when winching up the hills. I suspect these sorts of bikes aren't designed for pootling around on the saddle in an "ideal" pedalling position. You are either gnar'ed up to the max 😉 out of the saddle or spinning you way up a hill and you want a steep seat tube angle to get your weight over those long forks (plus spacers plus high-rise bar!)

A layback seatpost?! Don't let Brant hear about it…

I am about to take a set of SRAM Rocket shifters, that work with Shimano mechs, off my bike. Email me if you might be interested in them (for just a few quid).

But at too low a pressure the sidewalls fold (on the front at least) – 25psi. Ask me how I know 🙁

which one will take the most stick? drops, fast rocky desents, like the peaks and the odd jump

Won't pretty much any bike take that kind of stick?

I don't really care if it is breathable, waterproof or fancy in any way etc.

It sounds like you just need a Pack-a-mac in one size too small. 😉

Non-breathable windproofs are nasty IMO

I got the medium and OK its not a tight fit but it is sort of fitted – The arms are no way baggy – I think its a good compromise between a very close fit and aerodynamic enough not to flap

Agreed. For the terminally thin, like me, the fitted jackets are even better though 😉

The Phantom (nice jacket, by the way) is actually not one of Gore's "fitted" jackets. Some are more fitted.

If you look on the Gore website they label their jackets, loose, average and tight fitting (or words to that effect). I have a Gore Oxygen SO and it is basically figure-hugging. £100-ish though.

If you happen to be XL-sized I happen to be selling one in almost perfect condition (a bit too big for me)

ETA – Here you go: Linky

I am with the "just pull on some trainers and run" brigade (although "proper" well-fitting trainers are of course a good idea in the medium to long term).

I am not really a fan of running tbh and haven't run much for about 5 yrs (since training for an adventure race) but I started up again a few weeks ago, pulled on my 10 yr old Ron Hills, 5 year old road trainers and hit the muddy footpaths in the Chiltern hills on my doorstep. I suspect my technique was terrible, I was definitely in the "wrong" shoes and I ran too far (about 45 mins) but guess what, it was great and I survived.

Will I get properly fitting, off-road shoes at some point, yes. But for now I am just happy to be doing some exercise.

Ashridge – spring bluebell walks (rides for some) are an institution where I live

ETA – beaten to it!

Re wide, flat bars, have a look at the Niner Flat Top bar. 9 degrees of bend and 710mm wide. £38. Here

I need to take some new photos…

Not been out and don't recognise those skies!

Yesterday it looked like this from my ride though:

cr@p iPhone photo sorry

You need one of the DX torches and a handful of batteries. You should get away with running one on Medium power so one batter will last a couple of hrs. Search on here and you will find links to the Hong Kong-based seller etc.

Shouldn't cost you more than about £50

How about just borrowing one from a mate for the night though?

I have in-laws who moved to Peterborough and it isn't as bad as I feared tbh. That said, I haven't been "out on the town" there too many times but the area around the hospital has lots of nice, smart houses and the town centre doesn't seem that bad. River is nice too.

I test drove a Yeti (not owned or even driven a Qashqai) and I actually quite liked it. Handled nicely. Gives you a bit of the higher-up-better-visbililty thing and most importantly the Mrs was happy to drive it as her main car (the theory being that I can stop driving the family bus and get something smaller/more fun!)

On a budget, these: http://www.on-one-shop.co.uk/acatalog/info_WPOOMODELFNV.html

Arcteryx kit is lovely 🙂

Agree with above – my "Gore Oxygen SO" is so versatile that half my kit is now no longer needed/used. It, plus a base layer, is all I need pretty much all year round (windproof on its own for cool days, plus base layer on very cold days, base layer on own for warm days). It is even fine in all but torrential rain (it beads brilliantly) – in fact I haven't used my eVent jacket since having the windproof.

Won't any old bike jersey fit the bill? Not much point in a windproof mid-layer IMO. If it is cold enough for a windproof then you will be wearing your windproof (you imply you have one), if not a normal jersey would do, no?

Also, it has to be pretty damn cold to need more than a base layer under a top quality windproof IME. I find my Gore Oxygen SO good to around zero and have never worn it with more than a Helly underneath. But then I don't ride in minus 10.

You are only cheating yourself

😉

I would tell them. It is the "right" thing to do.

The On-One wheels are fine although I had to put new bearings in the rear hub of mine after less than a year of very light use. Not a big deal though. For the price I don't think you can do better.