I took the bracket off the guard, and drilled through the guard itself and fitted a bolt and large washer through the guard and scrwed it into the thread on the undernath of the wishboney bit. Used a sleeve form a v brake bolt to act as a spacer. Looks reet neat it does.

You can get shimano short reach STI’s. Apparently. I think they are as rare as rocing horse poo from the enquiries we made for Mrs Mugsy.

I got some cable adjusters form Ribble for exactly this sort of thing. Wasn’t a De Rosa though. Alternatively, on my Kaffenback, which ssheared regaurly due to to the canti brake cable running between the two and catching on less than full lock, I discovered that rear mech barrel adjuters are the same thread, and are a lot stronger.

‘Interesting’ Fact No. 1: He’s wearing a Petzl meteor climbing helmet.

Have you conisidered getting insurance as part of the lift pass? In europe it’s usually about 2 or 3 euro’s per day on top of a day lift pass. Just buy it at the pass booth. Won’t get travel insurance though.

Otherwise I’ve used Snowcard and BMC (British Mountaineering Council. Never had to claim though.

Aren’t USE Alien stupidly light, like 150grams? WOuldn’t recommend one for someone who has already broken posts though, nor would I mountain bike on one …. so not very relevant esp as its around £80, but my USE alien does its job on the roadbike.

We’ve got a Little Life Cross Country which appears to do the job.

There’s lots, but I can never remember their names. Lots of expats websites too.

Dan, escaped October 2008.

Knight’s Move was/ is HVS in my book. Handy as I’ve bottled it on lead several times. I missed the original Death thread. But it seems Molgrips has a similar problem to me: The Gulf between VS and HVS. It was crazy (I’ll explain the past tense later) as I’ve done new routes in Greenland, South Georgia and am happy pushing it on dodgy/ snow/ ice/ rock in a remote location… but not on an HVS on a local crag!

Loads of great monutain V diffs though. Now ‘m older and wser, it’s what I enjoy the most. Lost bottle completley these days as/ and rarely go out. When I do, it’s to do an easy mountain route.

I’d say don’t worry, relax, go and enjoy the big mountain routes and as others have said consolidate at whatever level you are happy at. Mrs Mugsy and I went on a trip to Scotland 22 months ago, we did Agag’s Groove and then planned to go and do the Cioch Nose in Applecross. Only there was a big storm, and wild camping there wasn’t much to do in a tent in torrential rain. Mini Mugsy is now 13 months old….!

Third the Castrol R. Reminds me of many a Classic racing meet at Snetterton.

Creoste I can agree with, Smell of fresh cut grass, Smeel of rain on hot tarmac.

To be honest pretty much agree with everything that has been said so far.

I’ve just got a copy of VTT magazine, in which there is an interesting article on small French frame manufacturers. All of which I had never heard (does not admittedly mean a great deal…esp as I have no links with the industry :wink:) Anyway, it seems Brant isn’t the only one coming up with bizarre chainstay and seatstay bridges….

Those Cyfacs look drop dead gorgeous. Too much though.

Laughed when I realised Sunday had to change their name, and decided on Sabbath!

I was shown by my physio to do it laying down, using the same side arm as your leg that’s being stretched and push your pelvis into the ground/ tuck your bum in, if needs be realese the tension on your arm, but it’s pushing the pelvis in that brings the stretch on, if standing up, natural tendency is to bend forwards to counteract which is counterproductive

tiggers (tygers….) always bounce back.

Don’t look back, look forward and all that jazz.

I always remember this saying: Experience is not what happens to you, but what you do with what happens to you.

I wonder if the frame is from one of those electric motor jobbies….

More thanks for your ideas. Have had lots of physio work done to improve flexibility. They and many other physios I talked to, reccomended cyclefit above the others they had heard of (admittedly not a lot, i.e joe bloggs bike shop round the corner…)

I am now a lot more flexible, and cyclefit said I was quite loose (ahem)it just seems to be theirs and Serotta’s philosophy to have a minimal saddle to bar height difference. I know it’s not going to be an instant cure, I believe sorting this is likely to be the result of several small changes. It is only really a problem after say 7 hours in the sadlle, but can creep up easier if I’ve been trainng hard etc. I have wedges, and a stack on my right leg all fitted by cylcefit. Stack is to cover a 5mm discrepancy in my right leg (the troublesome leg for last 2 years) but have had same pain with left leg.

Ok, So I love the Cervelo RS. BUT there’s no more 2008’s around it seems in a 58cm, so I’m looking at £1600 for one. £600 more than I can presently secure funding for really…. any ideas in a tall headtube frame for £1000?

I do like the cervelo RS, it has always been on my list. It does seem a tad long though… I’m not 100% convinced I need a custom build, it’s just that I have the chance to get a custom built frame in alu with a carbon rear end for £1000, and yes I agree that I need to allow for some adjustment.

I can’t help but thinking that A-heads are a step backwards…with quills couldn’t you adjust the height whenever you wanted….then you start looking at old pictures even less than 10 years ago and see that bars were a lot higher than they are now.

Thanks for everyones help.

PS AP I was a bit more off than you…..but If I remember rightly there was only a couple of places between us….different age brackets I guess. So I need to be a lot faster… not sure now, you’ve sown seeds of doubt! MUST try and get in with a good group this year, esp along the valley.

hi this is a gensis road race /genral ride around bike im selling the bike for a friend as he is moving away and has no need for it is bike is a replica of a world trial bike championship and is only been owned for year and half and has only ever been riden on a few as having a car licence and i forgot to mention this is a rare bike and is 24 gears and has a lot of really expencive parts on it and has light and just been surviced by a friend how is fully quilified cycle mechanic any questions is welcome and am up to sensible offers and am willing a ride is welcome and sorry to say cash on colllection from ….

A lot of really expensive parts?
errrrr

thisisnotaspoon,

Would that free bike be my Dawes Horizon form Walkley by anychance?

Cheers The Beard,

Engima was who I menat when I said Omega. I don’t know I’m just not convinced by ti or steel.

I can only apologise for my spelling. I hang my head in shame!

aP, the fitting took into account all my present componentry i.e toupe saddle, 175mm cranks etc etc. Still chasing gold for this years Marmotte! After the fitting I was agahast at how much my sadlle went up: 45mm.

I’ve got all the dimensons right on my current Planet X alu superlight, but the only one I can’t get is the saddle/bar height realtionship. I’m almost 3 times what they recommend with a high rise ugly stem (admittedly I’ve cut the steeer (pre fitting) too short. I’d still be out even if I went up to the next frame, and then I’d have a stubby stem because the reach would be too great.

Care to expand on what you have heard? mail me if you want it off forum daniel DOT heywood AT scottwilson.com. I do wonder if they overegg the saddle/ bar height relationship a bit too much.

aracer, yes, I do realise one mans 56cm is another mans 58cm, and even some bikes are sized on the seat tube rather than the top tube and then we get into the c-c, c-t etc debacle, not to mention the spanner in the works that sloping top tubes give.

So, if I said my ‘stats’ were: 790mm saddle height. 96mm tip of seat to c of BB, 45mm height diff between bar top at stem and top of saddle at mid point. 560mm tip of seat centre to handlebar.

What off the peg frame is there that does this, without more than 50mm of spacers, as with a carbon steerer that seems to be the max that manufacturers advise. Having looked into it now and agin during the last 12 months, I’ve come to the conclusion that the ‘Sportive’ branding of many frames seems to be a misnomer, although a step in the right direction. They still won’t give me the required stats.

Thanks for every ones help on this. I’ve learnt a lot since my fitting, and am now becoming quite obsessive…

Doesn’t have to be UK built. Doesn’t even have to be via a UK ‘handling’ company I guess.

I guess 953 is an idea. My centre BB to saddle height is 790mm. My reach from tip of saddle to centre of bars is 560mm. The height diff between saddle and top of bars in centre (i.e. by stem is 40mm)

With many 56cm frames, I end up with a lot of seatpost out resulting in a bum in the air set up. With a 58cm set up, I’d need to run a short stem and probably a fair few spacers, so yes I could get away with an off the peg, but I’d be compromising.

Lightweight is important, I originally thought Ti, but I’d like something punchy and stiff for road racing. It’s not so much comfort that is important rather than a set up which does not tilt my pelvis in casuening tighterning of the hamstrings and ITB. Do club riding, col chasing, La Marmotte etc. Starting racing this year.

I’m currently thinking of the Glider Boxer, as as much as I love the idea of the Glider GPM in carbon custom made at £2k it’s too expensive really. Glider Boxer is £1K for custom, main triangle is Dedaccai Force Competition tubing with a Dedaccai Black Tail and Mono Box rear end

And as an example of the resorts near Grenoble:
http://www.skipass.com/stations/index.php?RegionId=15

Sorry. http://www.les7laux.com/

If you’re not afraid of being lonely, and as you’re a beginner. One idea that I try and tell everyone is if you get a cheap flight to Grenoble or Chambery. Stay in the local youth hostel and get the local bus form the town centre of either to the local resorts such as Les Sept Laux http://www.7laux.com or Chamrouse etc. http://www.skipass.com lists all the french resorts. These resorts are much smaller but as a beginner and only there for 2-3 days you’re not going to run out of things to do (you could go to a different ‘resort’ each day. A day pass with insurance is I think 29 euros at Sept Laux. You’re paying through the nose for passes at resorts like Alpe D’Huez, Val D’iSere etc that as a beginner you’re never going to make the most of.

I live about an hour and a half away, and it’s the sort of place I choose to go to when I go ski ing because it’s never for more than a day and I generally take a lesson now and again as I’m still learning. I think the ESF ski school at Sept Laux charges 35 euros per hour for 1:1 lessons. I’d definitely take at least a 2 hour lesson at first and prob another one the next day.

If set on the bigger resorts, I once stayed down in the valley form Val D’isere at a youth hostel that charged me 25 euros for a room in a dorm, breakfast, dinner and free bus service. It was a winner as it was a last minute trip to go and see some mates, and the chepaest hotel I could find in Val D’isere at the time was upwards of 100 euro’s and that was speaking french and ringing direct

D’oh…. now read ALL of Barca’s thread!…

‘European’…. I’d feel sorry for you if you chose to do the Trans Pennine Trail out of all the choices in Europe!

Ever looked at the GTJ? Grand Traverse Du Jura? To the immediate north of Geneve, runnig along the Swiss/French border. Good views of the alps at times, but a lot more rural wild france feel (they eve have wolves) and it’s the coldest place in Frnace in the winter.

Hasn’t Wellworths been around for years in Northern Ireland?

From Geneve it would be pretty easy to get out to the Jura.
Great scenery but not as steep/ big as the alps. Heaven for XC skiing in winter.

I live between yon and Geneve but much closer to Lyon.

We have a 2004 Berlingo 1.9 Diesel with highest level of interior including the Modutop: overhead lockers, windows in roof etc etc. Bought in 2007 to repace our Berlingo van as Little Mugsy’s arrival was imminent. Great vehicle for bikes and kids, camping etc.

It’s now for sale as we’ve moved to France. That is the only reason for sale. It’s in Norfolk at my parents. Has I think 38k on the clock. Metallic paintwork. £3k. Has about 6 months MOT, but sadly no tax, as we cancelled the insurance and then the tax ran out. daniel DOT heywood AT scottwilson.com

I was reccomended ‘Sheffield Powder Coaters’ never got round ot it though.

I’ve got a pair of the Hope built wheels. DT rim on a PROII hub. Seemed a good compromise between handbuilt and factory in terms of price, serviceability and ease of initial purchase (needed them in a rush)

Not very keen on the finish on the rim though, it looks a bit like hammerite, and is very difficult to clean. BAre alloy would be a lot easier.

Seem a nice strong wheel, which was important as my only wheelset for commuting, sportives, peak district club rides etc through the year.

Shock horror. Ski ing in euroland has not got any more expensive (well it has a bit ok). The reason it costs so much is the £ is now worth nothing.
Top resorts in France such as the 3 valleys etc has always been the domain of the rich and the Brits etc because they could afford it. Ever noticed where the French go? The smaller, less crowded cheaper resorts!

Ok the small resorts prob not so good if going for a week etc, but there are still lots of gems out there. I think a road ski trip would be great. Sept Laux for instance inbetween Grenoble and Chambery is around 27 euros for a day and there’s plenty for most families for a day or two at a push.

see http://www.skipass.com for a comprehenisve listing of all french ski resorts. Another idea esp for families and beginners is the Jura, north of Geneva. I was there this weekend and the snow is the best in around the last 15 years. There are some small resorts such as les rousses, Lelex, (Metabief being the biggest). It’s really a mecca for prepared x country ski ingso you should do some of that. At least try it. Time to forget the idea of a traditional week p*** up in Merribel. Lodgings massively cheaper than the alps and a hell of a lot more cultural: No real ‘resorts’ as such but just normal villages

My wife who is French, got spoken to in English by a french waitress in Alpe D’Huez – sums it up for me!

A bit of change, will make you see things in a different light. Make the most of the change and use it as an excuse.

Happy to offer more alternative french ski ing holiday ideas by e-mail. I live there!

IME Rab stuff is no where near as good quality as it used to be, say 5-10 years ago. I’ve had problems with bits of kit that have fallen apart, as have lots of other people. However the ‘Rab Jacket’ is to down jackets what the hoover is to vacuum cleaners.

They have however given me deals at trade prices for various expeditions. There’s a factory shop too at their place in Alfreton

PeteL= Pete of the Alps on UKC!

We just use an EPSON EMP DM-1. Ok so it’s a not a bachelor pad home cinema set up, but to watch the occasional DVD once a week etc it does fine for us.

Hey Paul.Hope all is good.

Juan has a good point about Le Queyras, just the other side of Briancon. Not far form the Ecrins. Of course you’re absolutely more tha welcome to come and stay with us for as long as you want. 40km to east of Lyon, towards Geneva. Chamonix is 2 hours. Grenoble 1 hour.

Good riding at ours for a day or two. Good idea for a stop off on the way down? Or can pick up form airport (lyon, Geneva, grenoble, chambery) if needs be. Might even be able to drive you somewhere from the airport too. And who knows we or one of us might be able to escape with you too.

I can’t understand the french road cycling club situation. I seem to have a choice of 3 old blokes, or a full team outfit including 3 team cars, team coach, team mechanic, team bikes (for the 1st cats) etc.

I want betwixt the two. And they don’t seem to do Sunday café club runs. Sigh!