I can’t believe nobody has yet suggested Brendan O’Carroll as the worst.

This. I absolutely detest the man.

If I met John Bishop I’d probably shoot him in the face (but then I have a pathological hatred of anything from Merseyside). If he was with Michael Macintyre, I’d stripe ’em both. Then Frankie Boyle.

However, I would let Ross Noble, Lee Mack and Al Murray bring me tea and biscuits.

No worries, I’m in Burnley on the right side of the border!!

No. As you will notice the bearings are press-fit in the Alpine swing-arm NOT a clamp fit.

If you remove the bearings you would be better off replacing them as you may damage them in driving them out. Replacement bearing kit with new caps/screws available direct from Orange.

To do it – remove rear wheel, rear brake, rear mech and disconnect all cables from the swingarm.

Remove the shock absorber pivot bolt from the swingarm.

Unscrew and remove the swingarm pivot bolts. The swingarm should now be free of the frame and you can remove it. The bearings will come with it.

Drive out the old bearings with a suitable drift. Press the new ones in ensuring that they are seated properly.

Reassembly is just a case of reversing the process.

Depending upon where you are in the country I may be persuaded to do it for you in return for beer/cake/biscuits/cold hard cash.

Bikini bike wash?

Where should I holiday in Spain to get a good ride in?

8O

A hail of lead is the answer.

2TB Western Digital external hard drive. Pref. the network version if you use several devices over WiFi.

Well they were big fans of Hitler at one point.

So was most of Germany, and look what happened to them…oh wait, they’re the largest economy in Europe…

Just put his eyes out with a screwdriver.

SDG Ti-Fly – looks like a razor, but soooo comfy, especially with titanium rails.

I have complete faith in the mtb community

At risk of sounding cynical, that’s a sure way to a fall with eBay, I’m sorry to say.

You have to take the attitude that everyone’s a scammer until proven otherwise. 99% are not, but if you have the correct approach you’ll be ready to deal with the 1% who are.

Meh. Any credibility Pinarello had has just gone right out the window. I hope Halfrauds know what they’re doing – Pinarello bikes are massively overpriced, you’re paying for the name.

The majority of you are all dopers

Explain? Don’t understand…maybe it’s the antibiotics I’m taking…

Don’t send ANYTHING until the money appears in your account – it can take up to 24 hours. It’s possible that your buyer has insufficient funds or a registered credit card on their account, which is why you’re seeing this message.

In all cases with eBay, don’t let anything go until the money’s in your account or pocket.

I’ve been using eBay for over ten years – there are a lot of to$$ers out there who will try to rip you off and scam you. My advice in a situation like that is to stay calm, be polite, retain ALL paperwork (including receipts and proof of posting) and as long as you know that you’re in the right STICK TO YOUR GUNS.

Be warned that eBay can be incredibly addictive and useful if used properly – I’ve had some real bargains and I’ve also made some good sales over the years, and I would say that my experience has probably been 95% positive. You’ll find that if you’re honest with people, they’ll be honest back. Always give a proper description of your item (if it’s valuable, e.g. a bike or a car, go into minute detail and be really long-winded – it puts off illiterate dickheads), be polite and have fun!

Volvo C70 T5 GT

You can usually pick up a 1998/99 rag top with full history and under 100k for less than three grand. Monumentally reliable, 260bhp stock (can be chipped up to about 310bhp for around £300), obscenely comfortable, all the toys. Go like shit off a shovel when you stamp on the loud pedal. Dont expect more than 20mpg if you have a heavy right foot though.

Volvo XC70 D5
Aston Martin Vantage
Volkswagen T4 camper conversion

Depends on the type of riding you do and the terrain?

Clue’s in the question, he’s after an all-mountain type frame…

FWIW I absolutely love my Orange Alpine 160. Deadly simple and British. Like me.

Auto trader too.

ebay is a waste of time

Nope. I’ve sold any number of cars on eBay over the last 5 or six years. Never had any bother.

Hardly anyone uses the trader for private sales these days. Plus it’s way too expensive, even compared to FleaBay.

FleaBay all the way for me.

You need to relax brother!! If you stay loose, a) you’ll not cramp up and b) you’re less likely to hurt yourself if you come off.

Light but firm grip on the bars, cover the brakes with one or two fingers. Scrub off speed with the rear brake, feather the front to control your rate of descent.

If it gets gnarly (dude) lay off the front brake altogether until you’re through the gnar – that way the front wheel will keep rolling, you can keep steering and you’re less likely to go over the bars.

I am 19st stone and ride at between 6 and 12 PSI dependent on the terrain.

Eh? You sure?

Felt for the guys with the seized supercharger early on but it was probably a result of their belt installation.

Ironic that it was the only part that they hadn’t made themselves…

We aren’t. I’ve never bled my brakes.

Not sure that 12mph on a main road is too fast really stu!

Any speed is too fast if you’re unable to stop safely.

You could argue that she violated your right of way – but then she could argue that you should have been able to anticipate her actions (always expect the unexpected, especially on the roads).

If she starts shouting for compo, point out that your bike sustained damage too and that you want compo from her.

Personally I see this as a 50/50, it’s going nowhere.

No, no, no. Bandana, preferably red paisley pattern, a la Marco “Il Pirata” Pantani.

I’m 82Kg and been using Conti Mountain Kings (the basic folders, none of your Black Chilli or ProTection bobbins) for years, no problems.

At risk of getting shouted at, if you pinch-flat a lot, maybe have a look at your riding style…???

winter of discontent.

I’m just sick of the mud/cleaning.

This…says it all…

+1 for Thermalites. Can’t fault ’em!

Steep geometry – quick handling, very stable at low speed. Less tendency for the front wheel to “wander” or lift on steep climbs. Bike can feel “twitchy” at high speed. Road bikes and XC race MTBs have relatively steep front ends.

Slack geometry – slower handling, but very stable at high speed. When climbing the front wheel can feel like it is “flopping” from side to side. Slack front end geometry throws your weight backwards – on climbs the front end can “lift” in very low gears. Downhill and freride-oriented bikes have fairly slack front ends.

Image the difference between riding a Yamaha R1 (steep) and one of ORange County Choppers’ (slack) bikes.

everyone is banging on about paypal.read the small print…anyone has 120 days in which to cancel their payment,in which they get the goods sent then get a refund from paypal.All they have to do is say they were hacked and they get their money straight back,no investigation,not even a phone call,just a straight refund,even if it’s from a verified seller.And if you do get scammed pay pal cust services don’t want to know.

Not true. PayPal are very thorough and very particular when it comes to contested sales.

I’ve made claims against fraudulent sellers, and I’ve also had (unfounded) claims made against me.

In all cases, PayPal DO NOT issue a refund until they have gathered evidence from both parties.

As an example – I once sold a pair of Onza trials pedals to a guy in Canada through eBay. He paid for them within an hour of the auction ending, through PayPal. I posted them the next day.

Five weeks later, I get a disputed transaction notice from PayPal, as he claimed that he hadn’t received the goods (I always use Royal Mail Internation Signed for when posting overseas, normally takes 4 – 5 days even to the likes of Australia, and is guaranteed).

I had kept all the receipts and dispatch notes, and provided copies of these to PayPal. After about 48 hours they found in my favour – result: no refund to the buyer. Mysteriously, the pedals turned up 24 hours later.

I have 10 years experience of using PayPal and I have no complaints. But then, I do play by the rules and read the small print every time.

Donate them to a zoo? Very large banana smoothie?

rj2dj – Member

The DVLA will already know it’s not taxed and be sending an automated letter to them to fine the registered owners for not SORNing it.

Reporting it to the DVLA won’t get it moved. If it’s actually obstructing the road (eg: Fire appliance couldn’t make it past) then report it to your local police.

EDIT: To say, if it is already SORNed and on the road (you have no way of knowing this) then the police might be interested.. but I feel it’s unlikely.

The police won’t be interested unless the car has been reported stolen, is known to have been used in a crime or otherwise has a tag against it.

You should report it to your local (borough) council. They will fix a removal notice to the windscreen which gives the owner seven days to move it. If it hasn’t been moved by then, then the council become responsible for it and will/should impound it.

If you do go for the £30 chinese lights, just be aware that the chargers may blow up – almost all my riding group have them and most are fine, but one lads charger blew up across the room and set on fire – just make sure you are around when it is charging and don’t leave it overnight.

This. Non-UK approved Chinese mains adaptors are very often lethal and aren’t earthed properly.

A colleague bought some cheapo Chinese studio lights off Fleabay with were 240v and came with UK plugs, but the earth wiring was horrendous. Needless to say he got a huge belt off one of the light casing which threw him across his living room.

Things are often cheap for a reason…

Several things jump out here, and it’s not all one way traffic.

To the OP –

You’ve seen a bright light, it’s dazzled you. How about looking away from it for a few seconds and/or stopping until it passes? Works for me every time.

You’re out in the dark. Have you got a light or any hi-viz? That way an approaching cyclist will be able to see you from further away.

You’re using a shared footpath/cycleway. The clue is in the name. Are you keeping to one side or are you, as a pedestrian, wandering about aimlessly all over the shop? Personal experience would suggest the latter.

Why is your missus throwing the ball for the dog in the dark? Does the dog have night vision? And how can it go after it if it’s under close control?

To the cyclists –

If the behaviour of pedestrians and/or their dogs bothers you, try riding accordingly.

Assume that pedestrians are brainless zombies and wander about aimlessly everywhere, because 99% of them do. If you aren’t sure that they’ve seen you try an audible warning (bell/horn/shout/warning shot into the ground at 100 yards).

So they’ve got a dog – it’s not on a lead and running all over the shop. Not sure what it’s going to do? Need more time to think and assess the situation – how’s this for an idea? TRY SLOWING DOWN, or even stopping!!! Fugg me it’s not difficult, is it?? Are you really in that much of a rush?

Finally, to everyone –

Stop assuming that because you’re on a particular piece of road/path/trail that you own the thing. You don’t, you have to share it with other people. Try doing so courteously and maybe people will stop being so ghey about the issue.

Or, if that isn’t an option, try walking/riding where there isn’t going to be conflict. Too many people ride their bikes where they have no right to do so and then get all upset and weepy when people complain. Well I get upset and weepy when I get tarred with the same brush as these no-marks.

Play nice kiddies, that’s the ticket…

Also, once the buyer has collected and paid, tell them that you are going to request that they cancel the transaction – that way you avoid paying the final valuation fee.

Don’t do it too often though as it will ring alarm bells.

Sorry to say not as much as you think. The market for film cameras is virtually dead. I’d agree with to £10 – £20 estimate.

deano8 – Member

It is illegal to use fog lights unless the visibility is down to less than 100 metres.

Incorrect.

There is no hard and fast rule. The Highway Code suggests using them if visibility is “seriously reduced”, but doesn’t define what “seriously reduced” is; the police driving manual “Roadcraft” suggests only using foglamps when visibility is reduced to 100m or less.

The federales take a dim view of using them in anything other than zero visibility.

Hope reckon that they use bearings made by Schaeffler, but I used to go through them like they were going out of fashion.

As soon as I switched to SKF (from a local bearing supplier, who also happens to be a mountain biker) then I stopped having problems.

A land Registry deed shows the land belonging to a non-trading company registered in London. *Sigh*

I’d call that a result in that case…

Or, check with Companies House, see if there is a record of them there.

Funny that – I work for a CAD consultancy in a place in North Yorkshire with a castle already… 8O

Volvo 960 estate. Very old, very reliable, very cavernous, very cheap. If a bit thirsty.