Speedball user here, no problems so far, but I use a rear mudguard to keep it relatively clean.

Another vote for getting someone qualified to look at it. Potential causes include:
Bursitis
Tendon inflammation
ITB problems
Overusing hamstrings to compensate for weak Gluteus Maximus or Tensor Fascia Lata to compensate for weak Gluteus medius or Iliopsoas (these may be the cause of the problem)

The Bakers Arms, Droxford is nice.

The rubbish in rubbish out argument was propounded by Linn to sell LP12's – and was a valid one at the time. Now, as bit perfect digital files are available cheaply from a computer/nas, processors/amps/speakers are where the difference is made. I have gone for Meridian kit, all 2nd hand. The cost of 3 active speakers (7 amps, 465 watts rms in total), a processor & a 100w sub was substantially less than the new cost of the processor. The audio source is an airport express. I'm very happy, my neighbors probably less so.
I don't believe that a similar ammount spent on new kit would come even close in sound quality – so a vote for quality 2nd hand kit here.

PS Linn agree – they are stopping making disc spinners

Slightly ot, but try Duane Allmans version of going down slow on youtube.

Aldi occasionally have them on offer – seemed like good value when I got one.

Stormy Monday is from: The Allman Brothers Live at the Fillmore East (also check out the tracks on Eat A Peach from the same concerts)

Allman Brothers – Stormy Monday
Rory Gallagher – Who's that coming
Cream – Spoonful (live)
Santana – lots
Peter Green – lots
Derek & the Dominos – Key to the highway
Dire Straits – Telegraph Road
JJ Cale – Carry on
Hendrix – Red house
Mountain – Crossroader (live)
SRV – Stans swang
………

Hendrix
Cream
Rory Gallagher ('71-'74)
Allman Bros ('70/'71)…………….

Pass me my pipe & slippers

Just reread the op. If you are getting symptoms in both the left arm & leg I would want a neurologists opinion, & be fairly insistent about it. Inability to sleep seems to generate action by the NHS, try emphasising that.

Having had problems with skipping & invested is a new chainset to little effect lubing the cable cured my problems (as predicted by various of the STW massive).

I believe that a drug called Gabapentin (?sp) is good for neuropathic pain. I would see if you can receive some NHS physio if cash is tight. If you can afford it try an osteopath, private physio or chiropractor, personal recommendation is best. Surgery is a last resort & it doesn't seem that you have been through all the other options yet.

Stretch your gluteal muscles & hamstrings………lots. Make sure you ride with your spine in neutral (slight forward arch) & your pelvis doesn't rock when you pedal. If it's not improving within a week or so go & see someone who is qualified to diagnose & treat the problem.

I use a CTi for windsurfing & snowboarding, but there is no substitute for working on strength & proprioception.

+1 for Allman Brothers Live at the Fillmore & Rory Gallagher Irish Tour.
Also Rory Gallagher 'Live in Europe', Stevie Ray Vaughan 'Live Alive' & the live bits of Cream 'Disrali Gears' & Santana 'Moonflower"……………Oldies but goodies

A Herman Miller Aeron if your feeling rich, swiss ball if your feeling poor.

Yes, provided the fee is reasonable & the funds generated are used for development & maintenance, not as a profit centre.

Wrap in foil, cook in oven for at least 2 hours (60C) then as rkk01.

Woodsman – I treat people with bad backs for a living. My point was that many (?most) people don't know what sciatica is & that it has a variety of causes and therefore potential treatments. Diagnosis over the internet with an inadequate history is at best speculative & potentially dangerous.

Whilst I bow in admiration to Woodsmans remote diagnosis skills…………………..
Sciatica is inflammation of the sciatic nerve. This gives symptoms in the distribution of the area it supplies, almost always including the outside of the calf/ankle. Back &/or thigh pain, however severe, is not diagnostic of sciatica, it is possible to have sciatica with no back pain at all. Nerve root impingement by a disc is a common, but not the only, cause (others vary in seriousness from muscle tension to malignancy). It varies in severity from something which will respond well to conservative treatment (stretching/ exercises etc.) to a surgical emergency.
It seems unlikely that your condition would be helped by a long distance race……but if you are seriously thinking of giving it a go I would see someone beforehand (a decent osteopath/ physio/ chiropractor) to make sure it is safe to do so.

Let there be rock
Walk this way – Aerosmith
Born in the USA – Springsteen
Sunshine of Your Love – Cream
Ziggy Stardust – Bowie
Smoke on the Water – Deep Purple
Layla – Derek & the Dominoes
Money for Nothing – Dire – Straits
All Right Now – Free
Bad to the Bone – George Thorogood
Rocky Mountain Way – Joe Walsh
Black Dog – Led Zep
Freebird – Lynyrd Skynyrd
Bat Out of Hell – Meatloaf
Purple Rain -Prince
We Will Rock You – Queen
Start Me Up – Stones

Not necessarily my favorite songs/artists, but all fine 'anthemic' numbers

I cleaned the cable……………& it all works!
The old kit will be put back on to see if I have just wasted a load of cash.

Exactly……………..if the obsessives can't agree the differences are unlikely to be discernable to a mere mortal like me.

I have a 32" Phillips LCD & a 42" Panasonic plasma (both getting SD freeview signals & 720p screens). I prefer the plasma picture, but they are almost 2 years old & I think that LCD's are probably improving. Whatever you get make sure that you assess the picture using what will be your main source IIRC 1080p LCD screens didn't deal with SD signals particularly well.

I ripped all my CD's to my iMac using apple lossless (20 days of music = 165GB) & feed it to the hi-fi via an optical out. You can control it remotely using an iPod Touch (also gets the album art) & supply different rooms using airport express. The fact that hi-fi geeks spend a lot of time debating if there is any difference between this method & using very expensive disc spinners (with no general agreement) suggests to me that I am unlikely to notice/appreciate any difference.

It's all 9 speed & used to work perfectly.

Rory Gallagher – Who's that coming (Irish Tour "74)

Waitrose organic jumbo oats, made with water then golden syrup & a little full fat milk.

What tends to wear out? $25 for a couple of plastic rings & a small bit of brass seems a lot (but I suppose if it keeps the thing working)

It's chalky/ flinty where I am & I seem to land on my elbows if I fall………………so I often wear elbow pads to economise on the stitches.

Went for a ride anyway…………….Mysteriously the rear lever firmed up and all was ok (apart from my mate who ripped his tyre wall). Next DIY service will be my Maverick speedball, so expect numpty questions on that soon.

Thanks, I'll get some fluid for lubing/bleeding.

Anyone?

Woodey. IMHO severe pain which doesn't improve over 6-8 weeks or is affecting your sleep; major or worsening weakness &/or numbness are indications for considering surgery. If you get any numbness in the saddle area or bladder or bowel control is affected go to A&E – it may well be a surgical emergency. Otherwise working on reducing the pressure you put on your low back (posture, flexibility, ensuring that the rest of you is functioning as well as possible), improving it's support and managing the pain as well as possible is the way forward.

KoB: Recommendation is best, failing that the General Osteopathic Council's website has a locator by postcode.

MrMichaelWright: You have demonstrated better than me that imaging is not the be-all & end-all (and can be a waste of limited resources). What is needed is is a diagnosis and a treatment plan, both of which should be reassessed regularly. Without that you are being fiddled with, not treated.

I had my DHX3 coil pushed – it was due a service anyway. I have a Helius CC & am no riding god (I aspire to mincecore lite). No idea why, but post 'push' the rear felt more planted & confidence inspiring downhill, so now I go less slowly. It hasn't revolutionized the ride for me, but it feels better & I think it was worth it.

I am an Osteopath & have a fair bit of experience with bad backs.
Leg symptoms should be investigated by a properly trained clinician – their nature, distribution, daily pattern, intensity, progression, aggravating/relieving factors etc. Having done this they will form an opinion of the likely cause of the problem. If they are reasonably confident of their diagnosis, feel you are a suitable candidate for treatment & you are happy with the proposed plan of action go with it, if not get another opinion.
Imaging is not the panacea it may seem – there is a poor correlation between findings on imaging and patients symptoms, together with false positive/negative results. Plain x-rays are relatively cheap, but only show bone (most commonly not the primary cause of back pain), an MRI is much more revealing and also more expensive.
I would only normally request an MRI if I thought surgery was possibly indicated (spinal surgery is not to be undertaken lightly).
Assuming you have a disc problem it is most likely to have been caused by repetitive microtrauma, This can be reduced by improving overall spinal function, hip flexibility and abdominal support and ensuring that your lumbar spine is habitually held in a neutral position (habits are hard to change!).
Ultimately you need to rely on the clinical judgement of a trained professional – MRI's can help to arrive at a diagnosis and are occasionally required, but they are no substitute for the clinician.

Howies Etxtra Miler (if they still make them)

Assuming you are talking about adductors….There is no muscle called the adductor muscle – there is a group of muscles on the inside of your thigh which are collectively called the adductors (adduction is the action they perform). The one at the back of this group is called adductor magnus and is often overused in people with weak or overused hamstrings – this can cause strains to it. Hamstrings often develop problems if they are being used to compensate for weak gluteal muscles.
Stretching is a good start (make sure you do it perfectly rather than cheat to get an extra inch) as is core stability work – but I would also check your pedalling technique (low back in neutral, pelvis steady, knees going straight up and down), together with your hamstrings & gluteal muscles. Arthritic hips often present as non-specific groin pain – that could also be worth checking. Advice from a forum is no substitute for seeing someone properly qualified to assess you.

Nicolais have a long warrantee & plenty of choice if your feeling flush.

Anyone………….please.