Got one of these http://www.carphonewarehouse.com/mobiles/mobile-phones/PRESTIGIO_MULTIPAD_7_DOT_0?intcmp=TF_prestigio as a tryout. Its fine for 49 quid.

I have a Forme Thorpe 2.0 carbon road bike. Its very nice. Also has a lifetime warranty on the frame – which is unusual for a carbon bike.

Designed and tested in Derbyshire by a guy who used to race for Credite Agricole and knows his onions!

Have you tried asking me?
We distribute them.

Marketing depts earning their corn imho.

The 26″ mtb demand has dropped thru the floor for most retailers so they have to find something to fill the gap. Its been a few years trying to get 29 going and it hasnt really taken off so they are looking around for something else and 650b (or 27.5″ as its being called in the trade) is this years attempt.

Went to Playa de Mura(???) last year. Its about 3 miles outside Alcudia on the coast and really nice. You couldnt pay me to stay in Alcudia though.

Stayed at Alcudia Pins hotel and everything was brilliant apart from crowds round the pool. Easy solution was to walk 20yds outside the back of the hotel onto the beach and job done.

Alcudia is a 10 minute bus ride away if you want to head in for the evening – we had good entertainment (and more importantly a floodlit football pitch for jnr age 8) so stayed around the hotel most nights.

Puerto Pollensa is good – been there twice.
Also liked Cala Bona in Majorca.

Shouldnt miss this opportunity. – sadly its his last ever tour

Its February.

Most of the smaller bike shops are skint and trying not to spend anything until the sun comes out in March (ish)

Standard operating procedure in the trade.

Is it that Russky meteorite thingy?

I’ve started a new job. I’m busy and have no bike time .

Is this a first world problem?

Tssskkk

Told you so 😉

Refurbed ipad from Apple store and add an external keyboard

All in for sub £400

Simples

Have agreat day with the new addition S!
Poss riding from thurs onwards but a bit weather dependent.

Re the last couple of posts – i have worked in sales (admittedly in the bike trade which is not a normal existence!) for 10 years and love it to bits. Best thing i ever did workwise and it rarely leaves me feeling empty or unsatisfied. The growth is linked to the financial reward and i deal with some fantastic people that have become my friends as well as customers/colleagues. The warm glow comes from growing my business as a result of my customers growing theirs with my products via our relationship and i cant see me doing anything else in the medium term.
It is not for everyone however.

Cheers
Mudpup

Hallo S!

Will be about for some riding for a bit as the band is slowing up for 6 weeks – i’ll drop you a line to see when youre around.

Re your post – dont think its for you. I think you’ll stress about it too much and it’ll mess up your cushy life too much 🙂

Answer these questions – they are the most important ones.
Am i going to earn a shedload more money (not just a few quid)?
Am i going to have to work significantly longer hours?
Am i going to be away from the kids more?
Does a bit of job satisfaction – IF you are successful- mean that much too you?
That will clarify your thoughts – its all that counts at the end of the day.

I believe this was a potential move for you previously and you turned it down??? If thats the case and nothing else has changed, you dont want it enough or you would have taken it then.

I also think you worry about what people think about you too much sometimes and take it to heart – you need a very thick skin and the ability to move on very quickly if you get a kicking from someone. If you cant deal with it swiftly it will soon impact your performance and consequently start bringing you down.

Theres a knack to knowing when you’ve taken a step too far/in the wrong direction and its usually only learned when youve done it once unfortunately.

There will be no going back to your old job – unless you are overstaffed (unlikely i believe) they will be filling your old boots pronto.

My tuppenceworth based more on knowing you than any techy details!!

Speak soon, happy xmas to M, D and S!

Is it a puncture you need doing?

Go to Stanley Bridge in Cheshunt. Ask for Ben specifically to do whatever job you need doing – tell him i sent you. Or just do it yourself. What do you need done?

Are you by any chance the “numbers” guy for G4S?

Wiggle royally screwed it up for a lot of riders by banning a lot of the other exhibitors from retailing so they could hoover it all up and then not actually taking anything useful to sell!

We’ve got an Outwell Oakland XL and its brilliant. Bit over your budget – about 320 quid – but well worth it. Easy to pitch and a massive living area. Having all round windows is great on gloomy stuck inside days – the Oregon only has quarter windows i believe. If theres 3 of you, you’ll need a 5 berth for comfort. Blue tents seem to be a bit dull inside in my opinion, green brightens it up a bit. Try and get a carpet. Some steel poles make it a bit more rigid when its windy. Use self inflating mats rather than airbeds – much comfier and warmer.

Try Jagwire slick teflons.

20inch wheel is too big for a 5yr old.
Its more like a 7 yr old size.

Stan, i have an old but perfectly functional Vango 3 man and a big porch jobbie you can have on long term loan if you want. Give me a call.

Back your car in.
Unload in safety behind it.
See that giant area of (safe) grass looking out towards Tottenham? Stand/sit on there for your pre/apre ride bike/cake admiring session.
Sorted.
Whats all the fuss about?

Flight tickets last year had my sons wrong date of birth, went to loads of trouble getting new tickets issued at airport to be told its not required. Name may be different, who’s fault, its a lot of money they are trying to charge, check the small print. Leave your mate at home……..

Had a similar experience recently. Thought we had a virus or an update had slowed everything up.
Turned out the hard drive was on the way out. Got it replaced and all fine again.

Buy the kmc tool – you’ll not regret it. Sometimes you lose the knack of doing it by hand and i find pliers slip on the rolllers too easily.

I have some too – best winter boots in my opinion. Good for 3 season UK conditions. Just use a thicker woolly sock if its really cold.
The LX140 at Cycle Surgery is a completely different shoe – its for commuter use really.
Only get leaky if the water runs down your leg into the cuff – wear longs and problem solved. Wear shorts and you’ll get wet(ter).
Cant explain the loose BOA – never had an issue myself.
Theyre discontinued because the material/manufacturing costs were pushing the price up to an unacceptable level – they couldnt sustain them at £140.

Youre not too far from the QE2 bridge so the new cyclopark in Gravesend is only 10mins over the bridge. You also have some good riding near Bluebell Hill and Wrotham heading onto the North Downs.

I think Best Buy are now closed

Camelbak cleaning kits for 4 quid

Currently using polarised black iridium vr28 or tungsten iridium for driving and vr50 for mtb (they are better under the trees than vr28 or persimmon as they let more light through)

Bosch induction here
Excellent

Klipsch iGroove – you need to hear one to believe it. Amazing sound quality and bass depth and a league apart from the usual sub £100 stuff.

We bought a 32gb wifi iPad2 in white (cos it doesn’t show the fingerprints so much). Using it mainly at home via router for webby stuff, pics and guitar bits. Refurb from apple shop at 419quid with the full apple warranty support. Really pleased with it so far.

If you’re settled on a golf, get a DSG – it’s a lifesaver for London driving. I ran one for 3 years doing 40k a year in London and M25 area.
Now running a Skoda Octavia VRS estate DSG. No problems parking it compared with the golf, much more fun to drive, getting 45mpg as an average. Not as comfy – firmer suspension and sports seats but loads of bootspace.

iPad

Hey Andy, Happy Xmas/New Year!
Jon ML

Andy, is that the world famous mr B ex of ML? Legend of the central SE belt?

Decathlon do some budget stuff if youre not sure whether he’ll stick with it thru the winter. Gumshields are a couple of quid and the base layers are about 8 – 10 pounds.

Is this a troll???????????/

I have.
They are the same fit as the road version in terms of width.
The sole is grippy rubber.
They are not the same fit as the other MTB shoes like the MX85 or MX170.
SprocketsUK are a great online supplier with a good returns policy – run by a great rider rather than a corporate giant. Try them.
They are also going up 20 quid for 2012 – get them now (i work for the importer so theres a heads up for you)

hope tech x2, mono minis and minis