Re-taped the bars yesterday, after spending ages messing and testing with things. Bars are back to where they were, but lowered the hoods a bit which means my wrists sit at a better angle. Double wrapped them on the tops and in the drop, to give more cushioning. Also re-jigged the saddle position. Basically started from scratch!

I’ll see how that goes, but think a slightly shorter stem or adjustment to stem height is all that may be needed now. Will get a pic later and see how the next few rides feel!

Cheers.

Someone ring tv licence and ask?

I guess copy n’ paste info from the tv licence website is wrong…

I have, and the copy and paste from the website is not wrong, you are mis-interpreting it. The key word is WATCH TV as it is broadcast (on any device). On demand services do not do this and therefore do not require a TV license. Not sure how that is difficult to understand.

I have my tv licence as I have a 50 inch plasma.

No you have a TV license because you watch TV as it is broadcast. If you don’t, then cancel your license.

Never watch BBC though and wish we had a subscription service/choice.

We do. You can choose to cancel your TV license and watch on demand services. I only watch catch-up/on demand TV and Netflix. Cost me £5.99 a month for Netflix. I already have broadband. Cheaper than a TV license and I now watch more programmes and movies than ever before. Get a Roku box or similar, plug it in to your 50″ plasma, and your done.Unplug the TV ariel and watch away.

Not bothered about looks, but never considered DH pedals eating my shoes.

Ton, thanks for the offer, but don’t think they’re what I’m after.

Will keep searching.

Quite like the look of these, but imagine they’ll never stay the right side up and look quite slippery?

Boardmans fetch silly money on ebay/gumtree.

I’d be scouring the sales and getting something new for £600, or an ex-demo. If you hit luck/aren’t too fussy there are bargains out there.

Does noone shower before they ride?

Can’t see the point in that :?

Is it a full suspension bike?

I know things have moved on in recent years, and some road bikes even have disc brake, but I doubt it…

Trying to fix a mates roadie

:lol:

30 mins is enough time for me to get out of bed, eat breakfast, use bathroom, get dressed and be on the bike heading to work!

Water bottle, 30 seconds to fill.
Tools always in bag.
Clothes – I wear them anyway (mostly).
GPS and Strava stuff? Don’t have any of that.
Bike check – usually when I have a spare half-hour during the week. How often does it need checking?

Just get out and ride!

so £700 ish to build – £350 then yeah??

Nice enough bits, uninteresting frame- £375.

£325

Three prices, so aim for the middle, £350, and see what happens.

They only changed the pull ratio for 10spd mtb for reasons I can’t fathom.

To sell you more stuff.

I’m just quoting waft the tv licence people say.

No, you’re not, you are mis-interpreting what you have actually quoted them as saying

Just go on tv licence webpage and check.

“You need to be covered by a valid TV Licence if you watch or record TV as it’s being broadcast. This includes the use of devices such as a computer, laptop, mobile phone or DVD/video recorder.”

Only if you WATCH OR RECORD live TV (TV as it is broadcast). Owning a TV but not watching it (i.e. for gaming use) or a laptop (i.e. for internet use) does not require a TV license, as stated.

I have a TV that I only use to watch Netflix, and on-demand services. I therefore do not need a TV license.

The Redbull live TV part is an interesting question though, as I’d not considered foreign channels before.

I think this one product where reviews mean nothing

Get to a shop and get your feet in them

Where the round for the house for a week. If you don’t like then try again next weekend

THIS.

Cotswold Outdoor are pretty good, and if you have one local it’s worth getting a proper fit from them. I looked at Go Outdoors and they didn’t offer, or even have, a measuring device :roll:

Had this in the past. Never quite got it right until I angled the mech slightly (rotated it clockwise around the seat post as you look down on it). Fixed the problem. I only know as I moved the mech recently as part of a service and forgot that’s what I’d done. Took me a while to remember!

£325

I was looking at the Jamis Quest Sport recently. I was going to buy the Comp at the end of the month, but got offered a CX bike at a bargain price instead. Anyway, the Jamis looks like the best spec for the money in my opinion, especially as it is a steel frame. It was £400 in Evans, they have an ex-demo for £360.

You put it back, the forks now work great?

Thanks guys. Got a bit of tinker time tonight so I’ve rotated the bars a few degrees and levelled my saddle a bit (always run nose down though, just not as much as in the pics!). I’ve also moved the left lever in a touch, as it was angled out a touch. I’ll see how that goes on the way to work over the weekend, and a longer ride on Monday.

Small steps, but at least I have a direction to move in. Also marked everything so I can move it back to the start if needed!

Cheers.

Oh, and gloves, I’m not wearing any at the moment.

I’d give the ticket to someone who has the day off on Tuesday.

As it happens, I can get a shift swap at short notice…

In that case, wheels and tyres are the first place to start as they’ll make the biggest, noticeable difference to how the bike rides.

I bought a smart tv on sale it was the cheapest in the shop. I never use the “smart” bit of it, wasn’t interested in that in the slightest. I have Apple TV for streaming to from my macbook, and Netflix is AWESOME.

Thanks Binno, some good tips and a methodical way of going through things. Yes, it’s the front brake I’m pulling with the right hand. Cycling home tonight I did think about how my wrist is, and wonder if the bars/hoods are angled a little high. I shall let you know how I get on. I am replacing the bar tape so will look for the cork tape that you suggest. I was thinking blue 8)

I’ll work through the above and let you know how I get on. At least it’s not a million miles away and before I bought the bike I had a test ride and thought it felt good, so these are just little tweaks that need to be made to help with longer rides.

Cheers.

Am I the only one who thinks you’re getting too hung-up on this?

Some of my best days out have been without the “right” kit. Just getting out and making do. If he enjoys it he’ll know what to take next time to improve his experience. I bet a head torch won’t be top of his list though! In a bothy his Maglite will probably be enough light for everyone, and give you a romantic evening in “candle mode”.

I’ve travelled and camped at over 4000m with a maglite solitaire (AAA battery, not even LED). I don’t ever look back and think “I wish I’d taken a head torch, that would have been SO much better” :roll:

Yeah, the saddle was level, but I was getting some pain in the lower regions so dropped it roadside for the last few miles. Didn’t realise it was that low until I saw the pic, so yes, it does need lifting a bit! All my saddles are just slightly nose down though it suits me. The wrist pain was happening before this.

Happy with the saddle position (once I’ve angled it back up a few clicks) as this works in terms of pedal/knee alignment. Copied from my XC bike which has worked well.

Do you think the hoods look in the right position, is there a rule for setting these on the bars? Or the bars themselves (angle of the drops for example). They feel comfortable enough on the tops, and on the bottom of the drops, but I wonder if the levers should be moved down a touch?

Guess what we used to use before head torches…

If he doesn’t have one, no point buying one :roll:

We will only post to the cardholders address when taking payment over the phone, which I guess you are doing in this instance (rather than online)?

Saddle position is set to suit pedal stroke, pretty much how my XC bike is set. Core feels fine, and if I let go of the bars (when on the hoods) I don’t fall forward and can maintain my back position without effort. A few pics. Ignore the pedals, their borrowed for now, until I order some more appropriate!

I reckon you’ll have the same issue with any mudguard set you buy, they all need some fettling.

Make a little tab, triangular, with three holes. One lines up with the lower calliper mount, the other with the original mudguard mount. The third is your new mudguard mount.

Or P-clip it higher.

Or drill a new hole in the calliper mount:

The best way to get over it would be to go out and ride it, and be glad you’re bike is back up and working!

Just avoid the cafe at the trail centre and maybe cover the bike on the roof rack, to save any embarrassment of mismatched rear end and forks. Or buy new forks.

Upgrading the forks and discs on your Spesh might be a better option, and may save a lot of weight (as would ditching the reverb).

Why does it need to be lighter?

Phone the county council and report it?

I’ve got the day off today, should I cycle to work and back anyway? Don’t know what to do :? Feel like I’m letting the side down by not cycling in to work today, but it’s my only day off and work won’t be expected. I’m confused. Help.

:roll:

Or support you LBS shop and buy one from there?

Maybe get a few pairs, you know, so you always have spares?

Or perhaps it’s a subconscious effort to sabotage yourself before the event, adding extra pressure which you later thrive on, or maybe you need an excuse not to race? Who knows, but it’s easy to have spares…

Blackburn EXP1 disc for me, it’s on my hard tail at the moment as I can’t quite bring myself to put it on the new CX bike just yet. Keeping that for “best” for a few weeks :twisted:

Pharmacy.

When you can get a Smart Lunar 1/2 Watt, R1 or R2 for £8.50-£11 I’m not sure I’d bother with chinese ebay specials!

I just want one that remembers the last mode I used, and switches off without cycling through every other function first!

Must admit, I struggled with mine last-night, after picking the bike up yesterday. Got them working eventually! I haven’t read this yet, but intend to once I print it off.

Avid Shorty 4 instructions

Next job is to work out how adjust the reach of the levers, they’re just a bit too far away, even for my man-hands!

I have a size 3, pretty good size for most jobs. Used to use it in industry as well and never really needed one bigger.

Solent or RUB, as above.

Surely the smell would have been enough to put you off drinking it, even if it was free!