Nope still boring! And clearly everyone else thinks so …. 1 reply of interest .. dull dull not a sport! Tis a GAME

Awesome stage .. but despite putting "SPOILER" I think you may have ruined it for lots of people … plum!

(Mr MC posting) CF cannondale vs mallett all very impressive. If you routinely crash your top tube into a mallet. Youre more likely to hit, ooh, lets say a sharp-edged rock which WILL put a scratch/gouge in it.
I would like to have seen him put a gouge in it and then beat the hell out of it.

As a former professional materials scientist, the one thing that puts me off CF frames (and drove me from buying an Ibis to a Nomad) is the "notch sensitivity", ie. how much weaker it gets after a notch or scratch. One of the few things I remember from my undergrad composites lectures (I specialised elsewhere) was the headline number "90%". Thats a lot of strength to lose in an otherwise innocuous trial-riding incident.

What I WOULD like to hear is what SC, Ibis etc have done in their manufacturering to circumvent this problem-multiple layers, different lay-ups etc, as I'm with WCA in that CF is ideal for full suspension- builds a really light and stiff structure joining the suspension components. SC are hyping the CF Blur to be tough and I am keen to be convinced with something other than marketing speil.

(Mr MC posting) just bought a (used) Nomad for the sort of riding you describe, and if you check their website there's a list of demo centres.

Half the rental bikes in Morzine are Lapierres, I assume if they were breaking left right and centre the shops would start using something else.

Oranges leave me cold, but Ive only ever heard rave reviews of the Alpine. Do you have concerns about longevity of multi-pivot bikes that might affect your choice?

'09 Reign's will be cheap at years end, but the '10 Reign is supposed to be a step forward and noticeably lighter so might be worth demoing or waiting for?

recently bought a Nomad off ebay. It was shipped in a smallish bike box, which required the forks to be removed in addition to the usual wheel/bars etc. Got the impression this was deliberate to get under dimension limits that would have pushed the cost up.

Cost him 50ish quid to ship next day delivery insured to £1000 with
http://www.interparcel.com

would raise BB and also steepen the head angle quite markedly, which would ruin the handling (unless your mate likes riding with near vertical forks).

(Mr MC posting) a pretty sad story of someone's breakdown and mental decline, and the Mail has followed the path of the early episodes of talent contests, by proving its still considered acceptable to mock the afflicted.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bedlam

"In the 18th century people used to go to Bedlam to stare at the lunatics. For a penny one could peer into their cells, view the freaks of the "show of Bethlehem" and laugh at their antics, generally of a sexual nature or violent fights. Entry was free on the first Tuesday of the month. Visitors were permitted to bring long sticks with which to poke and enrage the inmates. In 1814 alone, there were 96,000 such visits"

Good to see society has developed. Now the Mail and ITV/Simon Cowell mean you can enjoy the same thrill from the comfort of your living room.

yeah fork oil and engine oil for different applications and different viscocities. I use motorcycle fork oil as its cheaper than "mountain bike specific" stuff and havent had any problems in 10 years of doing so (as its no doubt the same stuff…).

OOO if only I could post pics!!
For the girls how abotu James Toseland or Nicky Hayden!!
Or Raphael Nadal .. well just his arms … got stupid hair have to admit!

eurgh to some posted on here but each to their own it would be a dull world if we were all fighting over the same person!

Mark Webber gives me the heebie jeebies he looks about 40 odd! Remember James Toseland is a mountain biker and an awesome pianist! Wonder if he's a good chef and massure then that's a perfect combination for me!? I wonder …

I have 2 WTB cheap ones on road bike and ancient MTB, then a Fizik on my new Cube which to be fair is okay except for loner rides and then a super expensive Selle Italia one on Giant Reign which is good good good!

I like "Ladies" as above I like to think that I am one ;-)

sure I'll get flamed but Ive never seen the point of factory wheelsets. Way overpriced, and difficult/expensive to repair and maintain due to special proprietory parts (which are used to justify the exorbitant price IMHO).

Why not get mavic rims that you rate built onto nice hubs either from mail order house, LBS or wheel specialist like wheelpro? Youll get a good quality, light wheelset, well built and in which you can easily repair/replace parts if they break or wear out? I bounced a rear mech into my rear wheel in morzine, and trashed 10 spokes. A few euros on s/s d/b spokes, and a relaxing half hour on the chalet balcony later I had a perfect wheel. Wouldnt have been that easy with double straight pull bladed unobtainium factory stuff.

Hope hoops are a good option as they arent factory wheels in the truest sense, theyre built from available components. I have Hope/Mavic wheels which I bought from CRC and have susequently rebuilt with beefier Mavic rims on my Coiler, and Hope Hoops Pro2 with DT Swiss 5.1 on my Nomad.

what mark says, are your points 3 years or 4 years old? They stop counting at 3 but stay on for 4.

you wont get points as the arrangement hasnt been enacted yet as hora says. Some EU countries sell their tickets to what are effectively debt collection agencies who write official-sounding, legalesey but ultimately hollow letters. A sunday paper financial section did an article on it a few months ago. The collection agencies rely on people's ignorance/fear to pay up and have quite a high success rate, but if you ignore them they can do nothing about it.

I'd only be worried if you intended to drive the same car in france again, as its a fair assumption the french have their own versions of ANPR and PNC, and IF they also put non-fine payers on it you COULD find yourself getting stopped next time your there.

If you'd been stopped rather than flashed you would have got an on-the-spot fine and no points.

PMSL the youtube link. There's loads of spoofs of that speech and obviously being funny depends on your interests, but that one is even better than my previous fave, a motorbike rant…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukAhlxl4hmM

http://www.cycleactive.co.uk go there I think. Did a trip to morocco with them and it was awesome.

Now that pic looks ridiculous! Racing DH in lycra I mean come on who would!!!!?? …………………. he he

I think some of those Oakley ones still have a nice shape to not look completely cycling esque!

Green room I think you're right there and he's had a big dilemma! he doesn't need the money it's more a space issue but 7 bikes,2 motorbikes and 3 snowboards maybe we just need to move to a bigger house!

not done brachfa but what others have said, Afan (Glyncorryg), then Afan proper (wall and penhydd trails). Stop off at Cwmcarn on the drive home.

The Drop Off at glyncorryg is the best trail centre caff in the UK IMHO.

GR, hmmm having reminisced with the pics I might just mothball the Coiler and not sell it. If I don't get on with the Nomad I'll feel a right prat if I've sold the Coiler which I have loved riding….

I think Morzine is awesome! I have been there for 6 or 7 (forgotten now!) years in a row and bar 1 year of rain we have had briliant and fantastic weather each year, hence not had much problem with rain. Yes there are breaking bumps but then the guys are out and about digging up the trail getting rid of the breaking bumps great!

I have never had a problem with over crowding on the trails either, there are just some awesome trails there. The XC is there as well if you want you don't necessarily have to ride pure DH all week.

Loads of awesome chalets, the fantastic 50 metre swimming pool. Nightlife isn't high on my agenda either but I just love the atmosphere of Morzine and the restaurants.

Not been to Les Arcs though so couldn't comment.

Theflatboy where is that pic from it looks awesome!

I have a WS Cube hardtail and love it! Go for the Cube!

http://www.sunglasses-shop.co.uk/uk-sunglasses/Oakley-Ladies-Sunglasses/Oakley-Woman-Enduring-Pace-Lavender-Trust/10229.htm

these were the other ones I think are quite cool and money towards breast cancer also!

What about these pink glasses??
http://www.sunglasses-shop.co.uk/uk-sunglasses/Oakley-Ladies-Sunglasses/Oakley-Woman-Speechless-Crystal-Pink/3406.htm

I quite like them in the black though, wrap around without looking to sporty/cycling.

Or I have the Rudy Prject Graal SX like these
http://www.gosportsspex.co.uk/RudyProjectPrescriptionSunglasses_Graal_SX.asp

but I have baby blue frames! They come with 2 interchangable lenses so I have orange, dark and clear.

Have you looked into various police forces and whether they do on the job training for SOCO now? I know they have what they call VIXIES, volume crime investigators and you start my doing the basics on cars etc then you can get trained up to be full SOCO. Worth looking into it. If you want any more info you can always e-mail me.

GR this is a duplicate thread, Ive cut and paste my wisdom into the other one! Mine is/was a 2004 5" travel, fitted with 2.35 minions and it would probably fit 2.5's fine.

mr MC posting) bizarre as I am trying to sell my Coiler for ~£400! It is plenty good enough for the alps, Ive taken mine to Morzine the last four years and I keep up with riding buddies on big travel Faiths and Glorys and like getting air. And crashing and breaking my knee. Hey ho.

And its easier to ride on the pedally sections than dedicated DH bikes. I only needed to change the bearings in mine once in its 4 year life, cost me about 30 quid to get quality replacements from Bearing-King.

Stick some decent fat tyres and big discs on and it will be fine. I loved mine and am only getting rid of it as I bought my dream bike, a Nomad, and they are too similar in remit to keep both.

edit- Coiler in action in swinley (20 foot gap jump on singletrack at right side of surrey hill reservoir climb, and yes I was sad enough to measure it!)

and dropping over Munqe Chick again in swinley

and the much missed and lamented ladder drops at Cwmcarn

(mr MC posting) bizarre as I am trying to sell my Coiler for ~£400! It is plenty good enough for the alps, Ive taken mine to Morzine the last four years and I keep up with riding buddies on big travel Faiths and Glorys and like getting air. And crashing and breaking my knee. Hey ho.

And its easier to ride on the pedally sections than dedicated DH bikes. I only needed to change the bearings in mine once in its 4 year life, cost me about 30 quid to get quality replacements from Bearing-King.

Stick some decent fat tyres and big discs on and it will be fine. I loved mine and am only getting rid of it as I bought my dream bike, a Nomad, and they are too similar in remit to keep both.

double post

Agree with CFH this is not a thread for political espousing.

Just watched it on sky news (bbc didnt seem to see fit to have it on their interactive red button or other tv news channels) and some kids had a massive banner for Daniel Hume.

I think the people of Wootton Bassett are ambassadors for the best of human nature, and I'm sure their displays of support are appreciated by the families.

I heard there might be a similar reception in Oxford as they are all being driven to the Radcliffe Hospital.

okay so maybe I'm not doing it controlled enough and I'm gulping in as I turn my head hence the wind thing!?? I'm beginning to get it I think! Guessing I may have to go on the weekend and practice this technique! Spinning class tomorrow then can't go Thursday or Friday! Weekend it is to get practicing and read some stuff on technique and drills.

So I'm getting confused about this breathing thing? I thought you just turned your head to the side took a deep breath and held it until the next head turn .. release and breath again? Is this wrong?

I have just reserved that total immersion swimming book from the library so I shall have a read and see if that helps at all!

It is very rare that these expensive bikes get nicked from organised gangs looking for them on the internet. Most of the people we deal with are the usual drug riddled theives looking to get their next hit and they learn to have a clue about bikes as they get more money from their "handler". Or the other one is young kids who are so good at stripping bikes down and back together they nick a selection and then create a new bike with all the parts. You just do not (Very very rare) get gangs stealing bikes.

(Mr MC posting) much more likely you were followed/spotted taking bikes in to house than someone tracked you down via the tinterweb. Several years ago my then-g/f popped out of her house in cheltenham (she worked from home) to the post office. In the 40 minutes she was out in the middle of the dat the house was burgled and my FSR and her kona, plus her laptop were taken.

Someone had to have seen us take the bikes into the house, and had to have watched the house to see her leave as no one gets that lucky. As she was in a basement flat they could force the door unseen. I'm convinced it was builders/labourers (or their sh1tty mates) renovating a place a few doors down.

Salad-dodger, most forces use centralised call centres now, so if you walked into for example Oxford nick to report a crime theyd hand you a phone that goes thru to the call centre in Kidlington or Windsor. I am surprised not more was done if the bikes were taken from your inside house (not garage or shed) as that would be a dwelling burglary which is a home office priority with associated targets. Shouldn't make any difference where they were taken from, but sadly it does.

MrTall in my experience (detective in Oxford) it is largely local scumbags nicking bikes not organised groups who would search the internet. Some of them are pretty skillful and know bikes, but the vast majority of burglaries are committed by drug addicts, and if they can offload something (ie one of their handlers can get rid of bikes) then theyll take it. We had a nice high-end FSR stolen in a burglary in Oxford. It was recovered from Little Johnny Sh1tbag's house on a rough, poor estate in Oxford a few days later during a house search. It had been professionally re-sprayed and re-stickered. He didnt search internet forums to find bikes, but he did know how to strip and rebuild a bike. I also potted a prolific bike thief who was adept at swapping parts around to make bikes less identifiable. Luckily being a bike geek when I searched his garage it was obvious that for instance the red anodized Hope bits on 4 different bikes had come from one source.

They will and do use ebay to sell, and as other threads have said dont email the seller, contact the police and/or the loser. Ebay is a gift to the police and "we" have had several successful jobs via ebay.

not me selling it but theres a nice 5spot in classifieds cheap.

I have tried to find some swimming clubs around my area but haven't been too successful and also doing shift work can sometimes be problematic. I used to live in Cardiff and loved going to the triathlon swimming sessions.
I have managed to teach myself to breathe every 3 strokes so I alternate sides and I've read a few things about keeping elbows high. Exactly as ebygomm says though it's hard when you are in a lane with other people trying to do "your" training but I've managed okay. There are some right plums though! I was in the "fast lane" yesterday (don't think I'm even fast but the people in the medium lane were the classically overweight head out of water breast strokers who don't even get to the point of heavy breathing) and some plum gets in in his wetsuit and "blenheim palace" triathlon hat and pounds up and down the MIDDLE of the lane doing some random front crawl attempt like he was a beginner getting in everyone's way! IF he appears at one of my sessions again he might get some strategic leg kicks as he encroaches on my side!!!

I tend to just do front crawl, the ocassional bit of back stroke when I need a change and sometimes focus on arms with a pull buoy between my legs. I think I'll definately have a look at that book that people have suggested. It's just so difficult when (a) I have no-one else to swim/train with (I often try to tag on the back of some super fit bloke every now and then) and (b) can't see what my technique is like and whethe I'm improving.

So how do I breathe to stop the parping then? David_r your comments made me laugh! I was laughing to myself in the showers at the pool last night as I let a few rippers out ;-)

It's of a 25m pool. About 6 years ago I used to swim 6 days a week before work but joined my current job so it's impossible. Just getting back into it as I want to start doing some triathlons but I find it a nice break from running. I was thinking about my technique yesterday but problem is I have no clue! I had never thought about my breathing .. mmm what am I doing them? Should I just be holding my breath them? Sorry but I have never really had any training and just get in the pool and do 100 lengths front crawl then get out!!!!

Any suggestions on training for speed or something to make it a bit different? Cheers

…and toal cr@p from your LBS. They should know that your contract is with them not the manufacturer. Most shops try fobbing customers off with "manufacturers warranty" but it is often they (the shop's) responsibility to repair or replace the item under Sale of Goods Act.

Thubms up for Orange, and I hope you wont be giving that LBS any more business.