Our son was in 3 different hospitals over a 2 month period about 5 years ago. Looking back when discussing it with my wife we don’t actually know how we got through it as it feels like another lifetime and also in some ways that it happened to another couple.

My feeling from the whole experience is that you don’t know how strong you (and your partner) can actually be until you are really pushed.

Basically you don’t have a choice in the matter so you just have to hang in there (easier said than done obviously).

works now thanks (you have to be a friend….)

can’t get that link to work even when logged in to FB

very interesting – thanks for posting

cheers Mike 🙂

<hijack sorry> Hi Mike, whats the latest on the PA29?

P.S. I have a 17″ 853 Classic and agree with Loco above – fantastic do everything frame, you won’t be disappointed.

The Graduate

How come Cotic dropped the 26er Simple frame?

If you have been looking at carbon frames you should consider the on-one whippet at £299

Something like this?
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=65383

Any news on when/if the PA29 is arriving?

If anyone still needs a sim card cutting down to the micro size, I just went into a Carphone Warehouse and they did it there and then with a sim hole-punch free of charge.

Many people use the same tyres with or without tubes so there’s no difference in construction

Yes, but the tyre must act differently, in terms of deflection etc. when tubed as there is the interface of the tube pressing on the tyre carcass to consider….

Superstar have started doing carbon rims:

http://superstar.tibolts.co.uk/product_info.php?cPath=49&products_id=675

I guess these are designed around the use of a 120mm fork, anybody any ideas what they would be like with a 100mm forks (or even rigid ones!)?

You could go down the Garmin route; FR60 used on ebay for £25, plus £40 for a new footpod. Ok no GPS but you can upload to Garmin Connect etc.

Standard “them and us” non-article.

one of these
http://www.amazon.co.uk/SwissGold-Coffee-Filter-reusable-KF300/dp/B0056ZVVHA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1352823772&sr=8-1

and a decent grinder.

You’re implying that aluminium can only be stiff?

Well, I’ve never heard of anyone saying a aluminium road frame was “noodily”, where as people have been on here saying they have swapped their cheap carbon frames for aluminium as the carbon ones were not stiff enough. Of course carbon frames can probably be as stiff as you want them to be (track frames for example).

For the average rider I don’t think there is much benefit from deep section carbon rimmed wheels, if you are racing and averaging higher speeds e.g. over 20mph then the aero benefit probably outweighs the slight weight increase over some super-light alu wheels.

Not sure what a “good” ally frame gives but the cheap ones are generally light and stiff, probably too stiff if you are cycling on rougher roads where there could be more compliance from a well designed “all-day” carbon frame.

Currently got a Zooom and a Strider. The Zooom is very heavy for an aluminium frame. The Strider is brilliant, very light steel frame, the seat goes really low so they can get on it before they are 2.

Oooh! got any photos!

Looked into this a while ago, first balance bike was a Zooom, good but heavy. Recently bought a Strider balance bike for our 2nd toddler (http://www.stridersports.co.uk/), main reason was that the saddle goes really low, they are a bit plasticy but very functional and very light. I think these are the best balance bikes.

Anybody got their frames yet?

yep, I’ve got some 20f/24r alphas (superstar). I’m around 80kg. I was a bit worried at first but the front wheel has been fine so far, only done a couple of hundred miles so far, its still as true as when I first got it. The rear has gone out of true by a couple of mm but still fine.

I’m fairly sure they are re-branded Novatech hubs that Superstar use.

How about this “Klein”:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/mens-boys-Klein-mountain-bike-/251083356149?pt=UK_Bikes_GL&hash=item3a75bbf7f5#ht_992wt_216

I’ve got the MKI version of this:
http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/i/q/FRPXSLTAV2/planet_x_team_alu_frame_mk2

very happy with it – who needs carbon fibre!

17″ Sky Blue here, XCish build with 120mm Rebas, Mavic717/Pro2, Hope Mono Minis, other Hope/Thomson bits 3×9 etc.

I haven’t heard any dates, are Dialled/Mike still aiming for end of July?

15% drop info here:
http://www.bikequarterly.com/images/TireDrop.pdf

calculator:
http://www.dorkypantsr.us/bike-tire-pressure-calculator.html

The best price looks to be £135 in halfords using the NUSMAY12 code for an extra 10% off. I got one a few weeks ago from there and it arrived the next day!

thanks for the info sneaky – pretty much what I thought….

anyone?

trickydisco – what frame is that (the white one, not the planet x) ?????

cheers

PA 853 Classic the new ones coming this summer.

you forgot to include the 10% VIP at merlin

merlin look to be cheaper with their VIP deal:
http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/Bike+Shop/Tyres++Tubes/Tyres++Tubes+MTB/Maxxis+Tyres/Maxxis+Advantage+Folding+Tyre_1615.htm

jackal, sorry to backtrack a bit….prior to spain how did you find running the Advantage Exception tyres tubeless? What rough pressure did you run etc.

cheers.

(I currently have some tubed and are thinking of converting them).

I’ve got the Forerunner 205, use it for both running and cycling. If you have 4 bits of data on the screen for cycling the screen size is a bit small but not too bad. The virtual partner is a great feature that I have just started to use, it gives you a profile of a previously recorded course, you can tell where you are on the road in relation to when you rode it before i.e. ahead or behind.

Wait for the mmmBop MKII? How did you break it?

Just bought a Zooom off Amazon, was around £50 but appears to have gone up now. Its an aluminium frame, my daughter seems quite happy with it….