My brother got bundled into a car by what turned out to be the local police. They demanded money from him for release. He managed to contact home and we ended up transferring around £1800 to get him out. After contacting the British embassy they explained don’t worry this happens all the time. Just pay up and he’ll be ok!

Before we realised it was the police who had snatched him we feared the worse. My parents didn’t sleep for weeks and my brother needed councelling.

Thanks all. Well some of you!

Whilst looking up at clouds similar to those in your picture a Cornish fisherman told me theres rain coming as the clouds look like fishes scales and whales tails. So get your pacamac ready.

It sounds like the same symptoms I had when I broke my elbows. Feels like sprained ligaments and twisting the wrist hurts. Doctors told me not to lift anything but keep them moving. Pop to A & E is my advice to be sure. If you have broken it, listen to the physio. It helps with maintaining the range of movement as much as possible.

I had a 2012 Passat with bypass electrics with no problems. Regarding parking sensors, the towball itself didn’t affect them. When the bike rack is attached it obviously sets off the sensors as soon as you put the car into reverse. I found this useful as a reminder that the rack was fitted as I often left it on the car without bikes on and you can’t see the rack through the rear window. I’m sure without the warning I’d have ploughed it into many walls and other cars etc.

What fisha said.

Fat, heavy, soft compound tyres at low pressure. This way you have to push hard to just get home. There is no easy way out if you can’t be arsed to do sprint intervals for example or go the long way home. Ideally do all of the above!

I think value for money the bike in this link is brilliant but I think they have been out of stock since before Christmas at my local store. But if you can find one it would be my choice.

http://www.decathlon.co.uk/24-rockrider-700-kids-mountain-bike-id_8327645.html

As the above bike was out of stock I purchased the one in Qwertys link from Paul’s cycles and it’s a lovely bike. I’d go for that one. Well I did!

If there is enough height I’d hang them off the back or side wall from the wheels. You could use individual hooks or a rail with butcher hooks which slide along the rail.

Hinge bolts are a cheap way of securing the door. My experience is that sheds generally have flimsy hinges and once they are levered or cut through the door can be lifted off. Hinge bolts stop this. Also bolt the hinges and use a ply pattess behind so the don’t pull through the door if they are pryed.

Big bucket of concrete with bent reebar loops buried in is saved my mates bike.

http://www.toolstation.com/m/part.html?p=30917

Thanks Loddrik

Is the coastal path rideable towards portreath?

Mitsomonkey, it was a bit of a rough area and was wearing work clothes. If he had enough money to buy a nice DH bike he maybe had enough to buy a cheap commuter so he doesn’t wear out his nice DH bike. I maybe I’m wrong?

People on the estate have previous.

klunk, wednesburyish.

I can email you the video if you want. You can give me you opinion. It’s only a short clip.

Bump

16 x 10 fully tanalised, council slab base, insulated, ply lined. £2k

It’s the trail that runs through the “a” of Hagg Farm on your map down to snake pass.

A friend of mine makes carbon fibre mudguards in the spare time between making bikes.. Very nice they are too!

https://www.facebook.com/SwarfCycles

Police have still done nothing, but I’m not giving up. When it was stolen the officer who came to investigate said there was an operation in the local area as bike theft is a big problem. Now I’m not sure he was being honest. I regularly see suspicious folk riding very expensive bikes which don’t look right if you know what I mean. Can the police not stop these people and ask a few questions? It may deter people from buying cheap knocked off bikes.

I’ think a scheme where if you cannot prove you own the bike it can be taken away might work. It’s a bit controversial as the law is normally innocent until proven guilty but in my experience to date there is no deterrent what so ever for bike theives.

yorkycsl. Really frustrating isn’t it? I’m undecided if the police don’t have the resource or just don’t care much. They only seem to act when pushed.

This morning after I gave a statement I said to the officer i think the advice the police gave me regarding reporting the sale to Ebay was not the best thing to do in hind sight. He said sometimes the correct thing to do is not always the most effective!

euans2- Good idea. I’ll give them a call.

Letmetalktomark. I had thought about paying him a visit but I don’t like asking friends to come with me for a potential kicking! Also something tells me he’s more than just a petty criminal. His house is worth a lot of money and hidden behind gates, yet cannot string a sentence together. This is all just a hunch and he may be a lovely man who’s unfortunately bought stolen goods?

I’d still like to say at this point I only think that this is my bike as the photo’s are fuzzy and until I see it cannot be 100% sure. It would be great if I get the opportunity to see it though to verify if it is or not.

hora. The original listing says the “item location” is different to the new listing. Not by much though. So i guess it could be the same seller.

It is really frustrating that Whilst I was making a statement at the station all I could think of was “Why aren’t they sending an officer to at least knock on his door?”. If the seller has smelled a rat then he will just get rid. Surely we can write up statements after??

I also think that the seller does not come across as entirely innocent. As Plyphon said why would you spend £2K on a bike when you are not a bike expert.

If the seller is the innocent party, I have sympathy. I’m not concerned about getting the bike back, he can keep it for me. I just want to catch the original theif.

I have the sellers address and telephone number. Not sure if this helps or is relevant. Part of me wants to pop round and ask a few questions. It’s probably best to let the police do their work?

Cognitive dissonance

From the Santa Cruz Website..

http://www.santacruzbicycles.com/en/uk/nomad-carbon

This bike uses a 216x63mm shock with 22x8mm eyelet hardware (21.8mm x 8mm for SRAM). Please do not use any other shock size or modify with eccentric shock bushings- this can cause damage or clearance issues with the frame.

Hello

I have a Grohe kitchen mixer tap with a spray head and extendable hose going spare. Let me know if you are interested and I’ll send you some pictures. It’s unused and I just never got round to installing it.

email me on stephenlunn@live.co.uk

Cheers

Steve

I’ve seen a lad riding what looks like a V10 with boxers local to me a couple of times. It doesn’t look right as he looks like he commutes on it and I got suspicious when I saw him??. I’m not totally sure on the bike spec as he went passed me in the opposite direction and only got a quick glance.

Have you got any pictures and I’ll try to get a better look next time. He seems to ride past the same spot at the same time which is handy!

Stephenlunn@live.co.uk

Steve

Errm Not sure? I have the receipt from Halfords…?

It still has a warranty till Mid jan 2014. I’m open to offers?

Steve

Hello!

I’m thinking of selling mine. I paid £300 from halfords plus a few quid for a silicone cover and screen protectors. It has the full 1:50000 OS Maps. I brought it in February this year so it’s still under warranty. I’ve hardly used it it was a bit of an impulse buy! I’d be looking for about £250 if you’re interested?

Cheers

Steve

I find I get chain suck with raceface rings. Not sure why? Maybe try another manufacturer. Ive not had any problems with shimano or hope rings.

I had a raw 2008 heckler and it had no clear coat. Brasso once a year made it look bling. Buy a dremmel and make it a quicker job.

hello

I’ve got a pair of aerobars for sale with a 757 footpack if you are interested.

I have changed to a Thule wing bar because I was told that the aerobars would not be wide enough to fit my new car. The wing bars are no quieter and to rub salt in.. my old aerobars are the same width so would have fitted.

Anyhow… let me know if you want pics of the aerobars and footpack.

Steve

Nice one. I’ll check it out.

The flimsiest piece of crap ever to come out of the scalextric factory. I paid full price last christmas and it lasted a few minutes before the clip on bikes fell off the motor thingies! It’s not worth £1.99 never mind £19.99. Apart from that I think it’s great.

Cheers pook

http://www.pinkbike.com/buysell/1121655/

I have a melon for a head too. Fox flux fits nicely in XL obviously!

I’ve just got back from a week with The Mountain Bike Chalet in Les Arcs. I can’t Recommend them highly enough. The people are amazing and make you feel at home and they cater for all abilities. Great value to boot! It was like riding with mates in a world class place.

All the cool kids have an MGP.

I’ve stayed at the one by the centre for alternative technology. I liked it but there were no midges cos it was November. They allow open fires which is nice their number is 01654702492. That’s if it hasn’t changed in the last few years. Can’t remember what it’s called, sorry.

Coolhandluke is not far off the mark. I ride a Cotic Soul with full knobblies and 1 x 9 on canal toe paths for 13 miles each way and it takes me 45 to 50 minutes each way. with better fitness in a month or so i recon i could take 5 minutes off those times.

My air shock is a Rock Shox monarch 3.3 I think, it’s at least as good as a Rp23. It came standard with the frame so no tuning. My coil Fox DHX5 has been push tuned so I guess I’m not comparing like for like. With the coil though it’s just a more capable bike. Climbing and descending. I want a coil fork now! Old school coil is the future.