Flasheart and hora – I would have thought before i worked in recruitment that you were right. However, if it’s a reputable agency (okay, there are a few) and have a good relationship with their client, then you may well shoot yourself in the foot by going direct (their client might be using an agency so they don’t get applications direct, which may get lost). Don’t play games, most recruitment folk are pretty useless so ring them and ensure that they put you forward. Play games and p1ss them off and remember that they are holding the cards – I don’t do anything immoral because I like my sleep but I could still cause someone considerable pain if I wanted. Some of the people I know in recruitment don’t care about anyone so they’ll do all they can to screw you over.

Summary – one application, make sure you follow up with phone call, convince them you’re great. One thing to remember – they have to state the client’s name before they send your CV – DTI regulations – so you will know anyhow.

Don’t think it’ll harm you too much – the guy who rode across the world used a bike with a Rohloff. Getting mugged, beaten, knocked off his bike and a wee bit saddle sore appeared to bother him, his Rohloff did not.

Pubic toilets? They sound nasty – peeing on yourself or someone else? That’s even worse.

Same as the guys at Bothy Bikes- highly recommended and mine’s great (although I’m about to run tubeless on the rear as I pinch puncture much more often).

Not sure about gears but I’m running 32/20 on an MTB and obviously it’s perfect for going UP the hills around Central Scotland. Look like a right t1t coming down though. I would be going for around a 44t if you have an 18t sprocket but obviosuly I don’t know your commute. I sometimes commute on mine and I have to spin a lot but it’s pretty sweet.

As far as shifter goes, I think you’re giving yourself a whole load of hassle – apart from the “rapid-rise” setup, the Alfine shifter is fine and not that much more (at least mine was incredibly cheap around 8 months ago).

Been beasting my 4.1s (which are softer apparently) for almost 3 years and they’ve been great. They’ve been off everything, including some Alps trips. I’m 15 stone.

MUF?

The News and Dave.

Big Al. Just spare some time to be amazed and to not get an answer immediately when you go in.

Loving your work. And my foolish friend left his Avid bleed kit in my garage. Good stuff.

Sweet, thanks, I’ll have a look.

Glasgow and Scotland in general are dire. Don’t come here. We’ll deal with this disgusting place without you and your yoga skills. Come to Glasgow, we’ll set aboot yer!

Hey Juan, that’s not fair, the French police are pretty laid back…when it’s between around 1230 and 1400 because you don’t see them – for some reason their cars are always parked outside restaurants. Wanna speed in France? Try around these times!

And lister – is that really the case? If all I had to do to live in Switzerland was to get done for speeding then I’m going there right now to see what I can do.

Or maybe an On One? Although they don’t have any 14″ frames left. Any ideas?

oxymoron or likely to burst into flames cos of an electrical fault?

I have a Thule one, which is great. Got it for just over £100 secondhand (almost new). I don’t think they’re a whole lot more new. It’s pretty sweet but can only take 3 bikes.

Can’t help on size but just had a wee look and isn’t this a better buy?

http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/?fn=product&productId=688&categoryId=106

Thanks but I think I’ll go for new. Anyone know if I need IS or Post?

I’m in but £210?!?! Might just have to buy a bike for the brakes and sell the rest of the stuff on here. Oh, I just said that out loud.

Maybe you’re right, although I’ve just bought some new wheels, saddle etc. etc.!! So I’ve treated myself already.

That said, if I’ve spending that much, I might just have to get these:

http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/?fn=product&productId=1060&categoryId=115

Is it worth getting 180 front or just keep to 160s, which I currently have? I have a 2008 Revelation on an One One 456 Ti, would I need IS or Post mount?

Thanks for the advice folks. Might get Stans rims instead then. Was told to go to http://www.justridingalong.com. Now I need to find best rim. Still might get 819s from Merlin depending on price. Do either come with valve?

Maxxis Ignitor UST look okay and I might see if there are any bigger versions of Nobby Nics for the front. I was going to convert my DT rims but it’s £35 a wheel! Buying new wheels would not be so extravagant after all.

Firestarter – what you using for your 321s? I have an 521 I need to make tubeless (it’s on an Alfine with a Continental tyre so it pinches all the time).

So I’d just need a valve/rim tape thing, a tyre and some fluid… Thanks for the advice. How do you feel about the Fat Alberts? I’m in Scotland so it’s a bit squirmy at the moment. Most of the trails I ride on are natural with only the odd trail centre.

Charliemort – you mentioned 20mm. You obviosuly feel that this is worth doing. Should I buy a Hope hub on the front so I can upgrade to this in the future?

Anyone? I’ve been looking around and I think the 819s are my only option so XT hubs with them built by Merlin probably. Can you tell me what else I would need? ALso, recommended tyres anyone?

There’s some nice secluded beaches on Arran – try west side near King’s Cave maybe? Hardly any distance at all from Glasgow but as secluded as you want it to be.

They do on a Honda – seriously I once rang the AA and said I thought I had a front wheel bearing collapse. Turned out to be a problem with the brakes – AA guy rang me back on the way to see me and said he’d never seen it and would doubt it. Turned out to be right.

I’ve had wheel bearings go on Renaults between 120K and 150K and they were pitiful. I just feel below 100k is very short and is indicative of the car itself. Even Auto Express, who love Minis, gave it a fair scathing when they took it apart and why did the earlier version use an old Chevrolet engine? Problems will occur, it’s just when. If my 12 year old Honda is more reliable than friends’ 2 year old MINIs then it is my duty to slag them!

Other than the fact I detest them, I shall try to keep this as neutral as I can. Auto Express (who love them when they review them as new cars) once took a mini apart after 60k miles. There were some glaring failures to say the least. They did the same to a Honda Jazz a few weeks previously and it was like new apart from the boot catch, which had rusted!

The old petrol is an old Chevrolet engine I believe and that’s where you will have problems on older cars.

Mattoutandabout – is it not scary that you’ve had wheel bearings go? I’ve had a car for over 200k miles and haven’t had one go yet…

Behave with the SuperStar chat! My sintered have been great and if they keep their prices where they are, I’ll keep buying them.

doglover – I gave an example of an old reliable Honda. He did state that – there are tons of fast, hot older Hondas he could look at. I have VR4s, Honda Civic Type R and have owned RX8 (worst idea ever!) so I know something about fast Jap cars.

Want reliability and speed? Only one choice IMO – Japanese. I’ve had a lot of cars but my best is still going – a ’96 Honda Accord 2.2 VTEC – goes like stink, does 40mpg if I’m nice to it and I’ve replaced the radiator once in 5 years and had to sort the rear brakes twice. It has 212000 miles on the clock and is fresher than French cars I’ve driven with 60k.

Honda Civic VTi was mentioned – subtle but fast. Honda Accord Type R? Serious hot hatch and if regularly serviced then phenomonally reliable (check gearboxes etc beforehand and check honestjohn.co.uk)

Pop into Bothy Bikes on the way to Colyumbridge on the ski road. You can buy all the route maps for around £8 or £9. Well worth it. There are tons of trails. I was up there the other week and went along the Ryvoan trail route (past the Ryvoan bothy) – pretty sweet and we went for a 30-odd mile mission before we even got to this bit so you’ll easily be able to use up 4 hours every day for a week on mostly different routes.

Get them – I have Vredestein Wintrac Extremes and the difference is unbelievable. I have them on my standard alloys and bought some more wheels from the enthusiasts/sad git club for £50! Just change them over every October or thereabouts with a £10 trolley jack from Aldi!!!

Cube AMS Pro WLS? Loads of standover height and my missus adores it.

Kaprun, Austria? We had a great time in 07 with OverTheEdge. They cater for your group so can do more singletrack/downhill/XC as required. Plus you can go snowboarding in the summer on the Kitzsteinhorn glacier on an off day.

Beautiful place and the tour guides were great. They also do a tour in Northern Italy, which they say is even better riding.

Mine’s sweet as but it hasn’t had a lot of use. A guy I know has used his several times a week on very hard offroad rides and his is fine too.

You might waant to have a chat to one of the guys from Bothy Bikes in Aviemore? They’re pretty helpful in person so hopefully he can spare two minutes – they run them on hire bikes and swear by them. When they sell the bikes on they do a lot of work on them beforehand so he might be able to give you some guidance?

The missus had different Bontrager ones: they were pretty good. Now she has a Fizik that came on her Cube AMS Pro (2008). Awesome – she loves it. It is the woman’s version but you would not realise this to look at it. I was going to get one for her other bike but the price was a bit scary when I had a look last (around November).

Sweet, thanks dog.

Cube or LaPierre?

My Avids were dire and they were carbons. Mrs. Squirrel’s are the same. I now have Formula Oro K18s and Hayes Strokers. Both were bought v cheap and are great. 160mm all round and I’m 15st and live in Scotland, where there are hills galore!

However, if I could do it all again, I’d probably go for Shimano (if it weren’t for the cost).

If you’re splashing the cash, does that mean you’re coming out on Tuesday, so to speak?

She’ll get it back but it will be after April 5th. No harm chasing them up after this time but they iwll only know what she earned in that tax year probably after her April payslip. Therefore they can give a refund thereafter.