I made a camera flash once. It was at the bottom of a huge hill. Nothing happened, I wouldn’t worry. I think the rarity of it happening means that it’s not very important for the police to deal with, at least until the Daily Wail seizes on it and starts a witch hunt, maybe.

However my main concern is that slowly development would take place.

mattsccm, I really want to pull you up on this. If you think ‘development’ is a bad thing, then it surely is not development? Development suggests progression, it suggests improvement, enhancement. I think it’s really important to recognise that not all human construction is ‘development’. A lot of it makes things worse for the environment, for people, and for society. Too often this word is used to hide crap outcomes for local people, “oh, but the development will create jobs for about 6 months”

Superb, and the old forum post referencing was very cogent and beautifully realised.

What was her first in mate? Interpretative dance?

I laughed very loudly at this, because you’re not far off – Contemporary Performance. However she also got an A* at maths at A Level. But my girlfriend’s older sister also had the full Steiner education and has a masters in theology. Make no mistake, Steiner education does not prevent academic achievement, as Germany well shows.

However, there really is a lot of truth in the stereotype of Steiner children being tuned towards ‘arty’ areas. The important part to remember is that all lessons, all subjects are taught with ‘art’ hand in hand. Creativity is not separate. I like the sound of that, personally. I also have a lot of time for giving children space to play before growing up so to speak.

I like the softness of it, no football, the colouring, the veggie food. But I’m a hippy, so what can I say? 😳

I don’t like some of the philosophy (have you read some of Steiner’s writing – what a crackpot!) nor the Christian elements, but I do think the education has a lot to offer.

I’m not sure it meshes that badly with mainstream education. My girlfriend went to Steiner school from kindrgarden till sixth form. She’s just graduated from uni with a first. Obviously not everyone will find that transition as easy as her, it is a massively different form of education.

I actually have a Cotic Simple for sale, don’t know whether it’s your size or not, but let me know

http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/cotic-simple-frame-16-black-with-wrap-graphic-1

I’m sure it was cheaper when I bought it… 😯 Then again, new bike excitement might just mean I glossed over the price.

I’ve just built up a Prophet, running this headset, and tapered forks. All went together nicely. Obviously I’ve no idea of the longevity of the bearings yet.

Ban them all I say, then have Le Tour and all that with the boyos from the local clubs.

brandeberryj:

I’m not one for massive maintenance, polishing and all that, I ride my bikes as transport every day.

But….

I recently bought a second hand Cannondale Prophet, and there is a pretty deep gouge in the aluminium tube from a cable rubbing. The frame was dirt cheap, so I don’t mind, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it snaps there at some point. Metal, especially aluminium, is remarkably soft and a bit of protection might stop a tube wearing away and snapping. Saying that, I would recommend a patch on the tube, not a cover on the cable, as the rubbing motion will then be on the patch, not the tube.

Can’t be that beloved if you’re selling it surely?

Bet that raised his heart rate a bit!

I’m trying to sell my Cotic Simple for just this reason. I had bad knees before I rode singlespeed though. I too was drawn to singlespeed because of the simplicity, and my ongoing hatred of the derailleur. I loved it, and rode that way for about 4 years. I found it pushed me up the hills, my speed increased massively. I used to sit and spin slowly uphill, but it taught me the joy of really going for it, the importance of momentum.

I found though that the twinges through my knees were getting more regular, I just love cycling far too much to risk doing my knees in through SSing….

Guerrilla gardening[/url] possibly?

It’s all just trails, keep up. 😉

Came off a 2011 Rocky Mountain Slayer 70, can’t seem to find them available through UK retail channels yet? Nice bars, bloody wide at 710mm and light as a light thing (170gms I think?)

No, they don’t seem to be available aftermarket yet, so my wait for wide bars continues. Sigh…

Post a pic up of the bike when it’s done, I bet it’ll be brill.

Are those the new Easton Carbon Haven’s? I’ve been looking for a set of those, can I ask where you got them from?

I just dont see how giving them the vote is going to encourage “social inclusion”.

Well, by voting, one is participating in a positive way in society, surely? That person then hopefully feels more included in the society they live, they have another fragment of investment in it.

To encourage social inclusion, as part of a process of reintegration into society rather than perpetual exclusion, hopefully leading to a reduction in our colossal re-offending rates?

My girlfriend has a small/short as her commuting/touring bike. It’s great, as long as you run it with disks. The V brake pivots are really close together and it’s hard to set them up perfectly as a result.

She’s probably going to sell it though, as more and more we are carrying heavy loads on our bikes, and the Roadrat is really flexy when you have a couple of large panniers on the back. Flexy, in a way that my girlfriend describes as “articulated lorry levels of bend”!

It’s not really designed for heavy load lugging, so I’m happy enough with that. For it’s purpose as a fast commuting bike, it’s great. This is just something to bear in mind anyone considering buying one.

It’s been interesting to read the discussion, thanks guys.

I can’t understand how more breakaway, non-UCI races/events aren’t happening. The UCI and all the other official bodies only have the power and prestige they do because the riders and manufacturers go along with it. Surely if even half the pro-peloton/ top 50 DHers or the big teams decided to ignore the UCI, host their own series and declare their own champion, all the power and Swiss clipboards would explode?

The Troll really does sound ideal: massive tyre clearance, mech/ss/gearhub/Rohloff compatible, steel, rack mounts front and back, disks/v’s, it’s even fairly cheap…

And really, who wants a 29er… 😉

Take a look at the new Surly Troll, sounds perfect for this. I’m getting one as soon as they come out, can’t wait!

It’s Easton’s new Haven carbon range you should be looking at. It’s not out yet, but it looks great and should be out soon.

It’s Easton’s new Haven carbon range you should be looking at. It’s not out yet, but it looks great and should be out soon.

Surely this just flags up the fact that the UCI, along with all those who want cycling to be a sport and not a laugh, *cough* BC *cough*, are just proto-fascists and should be ostracised and ignored until they leave us all well alone?

My 16″ Cotic Simple obviously, email in profile. 😉

It’s all about Finisterre merino boxers.

My father is a sailor, and I know he saw the green flash somewhere in the middle of the Indian ocean. He told me it was incredible, and he’s not too salty so I’m pretty sure he’s telling the truth.

I’ve always used flats, both on and off road. To those who ride spds: do you put on your clippy shoes when you’re just popping over to the post office or getting milk or whatever?

One of the best things about flat pedals, for me, is the casualness they add to cycling. I can wear sandals on the road in the summer, I can wear wellies in the winter, or vans on my Mtb.

But when I tried SPDs I could definitely understand the appeal, for sheer ‘My bike and I are one – zen’ feeling.

I don’t understand the Thomson status either. I imagine we’ll see less and less of them on mtbs in the future though when everyone finally accepts how awesome dropper posts are. 😉

TJ and mansonsoul in “not getting the joke” shocker.

The thing is, I know it was all just jokes, but really it’s just rehashing stereotypes, it’s damaging, it’s not fun. I’m sorry for being boring, I just think it’s a shame.

Rocket, do you not think that it’s this sort of attitude that stigmatises bus travel, thereby discouraging ‘nice’ people from taking the bus when it might otherwise be convenient, and who then clog up our towns and cities, one person per car, polluting and killing cyclists and pedestrians as they go?

A car section? Is nothing sacred?

There, Fixed it for you.
The code was wrong.

Thankyou! Online ignorance clearly displayed!

What does

T. FIFY

mean?

I’ve just got a fox flux. Fits my head really well, better than the xen I had before. It feels very stable. I don’t like the straps so much though, it’s such a bonus having the straps come out of the helmet itself not the inside if you know what I mean?

I love my Alfine. I think with more shimano development it could really turn into a viable gear system for all mtbs. I certainly hope so. Thankyou for the write up stu.

I just used city link through parcel2go. It was collected and delivered fine, but I got my confirmation email from parcel2go five days after it was delivered successfully. Not that impressive.

Quick update: I have phoned Merlin, and upon explaining the issue, they said this was a known problem with certain batches of 2011 Rock Shox forks, and it will be a warranty replacement. I’ve posted the forks back so fingers crossed.

So anyone buying some 2011 Rock Shoxs, probably best to check the wheel fits in before you fit them to your bike!