Have high hopes for this jacket as the Windstopper (Soft Shell not Active Shell!) Phantom Jacket II has been brilliant. Only downside is it’s not great in heavy or persistent rain.

Removable arms are very handy – quick and easy to get off, less so to put them back on.

Breathability is the main problem for a lot of jackets. Very easy to overheat and become drenched from within.

The wife appeasing Haribos are a genius idea I have to say.

Wife: What the bloody hell have you bought now, you’re always buying stuff, I thought we were supposed to be saving… oh, are those for me? Thanks.

Me: I’m off to the shed to fettle.

The missus: Nom, nom, nom… whatever loser…. nom

Will try this myself. Thanks for the tip! 😀

@cinnamon girl: Not sure. It is very light. Not much in it I suspect. Ordered mine from Germany and it’s only just arrived.

Yet another reason to run from the bank to your nearest bike shop and buy, buy, buy….

I’ve ordered a few small parts – mostly brake pads. Have been fine.

Very good value. Common to send stuff back first with a receipt for postage enclosed.

Once they can confirm the product is faulty, they refund postage. Think this is covered under the direct selling law.

Ring Consumer Direct if you have doubts about your rights.

interestingly in the last fight the gipsy who was on celebrity big brother was even there as a ref.

Yes, I noticed that too. A LOT of money changing hands.

Thanks very much!

Walkers love bells. I have suggested they wear them 🙂

I have a pair of dhb Aeron Race 3/4 Bibs. Very good quality and comfortable. Would definitely buy another pair.

Winter and summer rides? Tricky as the best option is the temperatures and conditions range widely. My most versatile item is a Windstopper jacket with zip off arms. Can be worn as a gillet with the arms detached in summer, or with a long sleeved base layer – arms off or on depending on conditions or just next to the skins. Mine is a rather expensive Phantom II by Gore Bike Wear but I believe Altura make a very similar product. Windproof is very breathable. Have found most waterproof jackets give a ‘boil in the bag’ experience. A good pair of 3/4 with liners are useful. I would go for something waterproof and vented – I an Altura pair which have been pretty hardy if a little leaky.

Big of an insight into the dark side of human nature. A lot of pride and ‘honour’ involved. Part sport, part dispute resolution (not very effective!), part sport and part gaming with big money. Not sure whether to admire or detest the whole thing. Not sure I would measure up to the expectations of living in a community like that.

Big of an insight into the dark side of human nature. A lot of pride and ‘honour’ involved. Part sport, part dispute resolution (not very effective!), part sport and part gaming with big money. Not sure whether to admire or detest the whole thing. Not sure I would measure up to the expectations of living in a community like that.

I have two pairs of dhb tights. Both superb. Very good value for money.

Apologies, not an Enigma but my Cube Elite HPT. Love this bike 🙂

I had a similar problem with new Schwalbe Dirty Dans. A right pain to get them on.

Looked at a Stan’s video advising installation. Pushed them into the central channel and worked up to the valve then levered them on. Not easy! To get them to seat I pumped the tyres up to the maximum pressure until the clicked into place then deflated the inner tube to my normal pressure.

To balance my experience out, the bike shop is very helpful with advise re fitting when I have bought spares and tools. Often find the people who work in them very helpful but suspect there is sometimes a strong incentive to overcharge. To rub salt into the wound, it was less than three months before the cable needed changing again. Not sure what they did but when I changed it myself it lasted more than six months.

Another massive positive is the help other cyclist have given me – a mate rebuilt my wheels (twice!) and has shown me how to do various jobs.

Suggest going to a bike shop and seeing if you can take a test ride. You could also ask them if they can fit/swap a stem to fine-tune the reach.

Just changed over from SLX to XT shifters and XTR cable set. Massive improvement. Will probably go for cheaper teflon cable inners next time.

Suspect it depends on where and how you are riding. Quite a few chunky riders of both disciplines around 🙂

Put in the miles on intense routes in either and you get results.

I love both but prefer off road because of the health hazards associated with the Great British motorist!

Expensive but what about a Ti? On One do a great (according to reviews) Ti 456. I really like my Cube Elite HPT – light, strong and flexible in the right places.

Schwalbe Rocket Ron front, Racing Ralph rear.

WD40 is corrosive. Need to be careful if you are using it as it can brake down seals, tyres etc.

GT85 is a Teflon lubricant.

Sorry to hear this. Really makes you wonder how someone justifies stealing a bike. Sods.

Thanks very much guys.

I’ve been using squirt through winter and it is pretty good. Never had chain suck and it runs pretty smoothly in the wet and icy conditions. Was advised to start with a clean, fully degreased and dry chain. Apply, let dry and repeat. Reapply after rinsing the chain clean with water and drying with a rag after every ride. This topic always seems to contentious.

Thanks very much. Was considering the SID but a mate of mine advised that it would flex more than the Reba. TF tune? What does that mean?

A friend of mine has an Enigma. Loves it. JD Cycles in Ilkley have a number of test bikes and encourage you to try before you buy.

I love my Cube Elite HPT hardtail – light, strong and flexible in the right places. Believe it was made by Lynskey which have an excellent reputation when it comes to titanium bikes.

I have a pair of these. Really great shoes if a little on the heavy side. No grip issues with them. I ride a really steep section of Baildon Moor – boggy, slippery clay. Grip problems have only come from my tyres! One reservation on the shoes – after many wet rides they smell like a wet cat. Suspect this happens with most shoes.

Excellent. PM me when you are ready.

Thanks very much. Just invested in some Gore Windstopper bibs – Oxygen SO. The Alp X will make an excellent match.

I regularly ride Baildon Moor / Shipley Glen from Saltaire if anyone wants to join me. Tend to leave around 9am on Saturday morning. Can be a bit boggy so mud tyres essential. Ride generally takes around 2 hours….

I left the green cloth tape on but the tyres (Schwalbe Dirty Dans) are a very tight fit and have damaged the tape. Plan to remove it and replace it with yellow tape next tyre change.

I have windstopper gloves and wear them with liners. Good tips above. Try to start with warm hands-warm the gloves on the radiator before leaving. Keep your core warm and wear a hat. Head to the nearest hill and push hard. If your fingers get cold, shake the blood down into the tips and loosen the gloves off around your finger tips. Failing that get some cold weather gloves. Had some very warm Endura gloves which were great before they crapped out.

I have a Gore Phantom Jacket II with zip off sleeves making it an excellent gilet. Very handy and have worn it in 4 seasons. Windstopper now comes in two forms – SO (soft shell) and AS (active shell). The former is warmer and less water resistant.

I ride on Baildon Moor/Shipley Glen which has some very challenging climbs to get you fit. Go on a loop starting in Saltaire, along the tow path, back along the river Aire path, up through Hirst Wood, to Shipley Glen and up onto the moor. Welcome to join me one weekend. Takes about 2 hours and I tend to leave early morning….

What did you end up getting?

Did you end up buying the Lynskey mate? Looking at one myself. They look fantastic…

Considering getting one of these – what’s it like?

Sorry for the late post. Did you buy the bike? Interested in getting one myself. Looks fantastic!