Mine charged me a tenner

Can't add much of real help, other than we're both thinking of bringing our (mountain) bikes over at some point (we met in Sardinia), but haven't got round yet to trying to research if it's rideable. Wouldn't want to come over only to find that there's no access / nothing to ride, which is of course a big concern. The fact that you run something for mtb's suggest that there are trails, but we'll need to do our research and frankly haven't thought about how to even start doing that.

In sum, definitely 1; speaking for us only, I would say not 2 or 3.

Quick 1/2 hour blast around the Chess valley (Bucks) after getting home from work last night to catch the very last of the sun – watched it go down as I was pedalling along. Saw two herons by the river – a first. Probably the last week of post-work riding without lights in 2009. It's amazing how cold it gets in the valley bottoms now as soon as the sun goes.

Before that – great ride along the river Coln in the Cotswolds on Sunday afternoon with Mrs Ononeorange.

If only we'd had a full summer like the last few days……

+1 P7

or Cotic Soul

Yup me too in buckets – although it's got a little less as I've got older. Being fit / unfit makes no difference to me. Happens with stress too – I've just put it down to a rogue gene somewhere, although I'm the only one in my family.

Very best wishes, Mark & Megan. Can't add anything to what's been said above, just make sure you beat it.

You're right though, feeling guilty for being ill is irrational, but I reckon we would all do exactly the same.

Stay with it.

It would certainly be of interest to me to be able to change my riding buddies gears remotely, giving me the only chance I'll ever get to actually beat them somewhere!

The Richard Long exhibition at the Tate Britain is superb – if you appreciate open spaces and the "why" of outdoors, you'll enjoy it. Recommended.

Cheers chaps! I couldn't see them. Must have had my eyes shut!

Used to have a Soda – loved it to bits and never got over it going – and recently bought a Soul frame off the Classifieds and finished building it a week or so ago. Only had a couple of rides (last night was excellent) but first impressions are very good. Really lively and fast (technical terms!). Running with Revs but everything else is a hotch-potch collection of what I could find in the shed and doesn't match – nothing very light either. Medium-term project to upgrade things (of course). Heavy front wheel first.

Enjoy – I'm sure you will.

We've got Dirt Jumpers as well. We were recommended something with a steel steerer.

Started with Hope on the old Mono Mini's, had over-cooking problems so went to Avid, big mistake, constant attention-seekers with sticking pistons (and pads are bu99ers to change). Now going back to Hope M4's, so much better than Juicy's with reliability and much more power, agree with the comments above in support of Hope.

Never tried Maguras so can't comment.

Reading that makes me feel so much better! I thought I was the only rider in the country who couldn't. Not a chance.

*Sigh*!!

I did a great course with Dales Mountain Biking, a heck of a long way from Hampshire I know being in Yorkshire, but a great excuse to do some great riding up there too. It got me from puncture repairs to most things.

http://www.dalesmountainbiking.co.uk/

Despite being the worst ham-fisted clum ever, I've gone from being distinctly edgy about repairing punctures (trail-side faffs were legendary) to doing most things now apart from wheels, forks and headsets. I am wheel-curious though. I'm grateful for a heck of a lot of patience and help from posters on here.

It's all because my "LBS" is an hour away (well the nearest one I'd trust anyway). Starting to really enjoy it now, but for some reason I cannot get to grips with Pro II hubs. There's some sort of curse on them as soon as I touch them. Follow all the instructions – I can almost repeat the Hope video word for word – but does it come apart? Does it go back properly? Does it heck! Determined to do one before my time's up, though.

Thanks everyone. Minehead looking good, looking forward to trying a new part of the country.

Cheers

Yes – I did notice yesterday that they were travelling a lot with the lockout on, which is "new". And the travel adjustment keeps jamming, but that's nothing new!

Thanks guys. Didn't think of the SRAM site…..d'oh! I'll take a look and make a decision, but it sounds like TF are calling at some point.

Amount of oil is fairly small, I suppose it's more the fact that something has changed – ie, it suddenly started breathing out a tiny amount at each compression which it never did before.

Cheers again.

I note the use of soft words like "encourage". In other words, make the right noises, set up a task force, claim a headline or two and job done – seems to be the way most policy is approached now. The Train Operating Companies are not going to do anything that doesn't create revenue / reduce costs without the regulator requiring them to. And retail trollies create more income than bikes do for them. So nothing will happen.

Please excuse my cycnicsm, but I don't see anything else in the response. Certainly approve of the petition though.

"Her 40th coming up, I may have to get her something bloody lovely."

Titanium hardtail it is then!

I have a rather nice spare stainless steel (ie should last for ages) 32 tooth chainring from On-One if you want to make me an offer. Never been used, I got as far as bolting it onto my Soul before unbolting and deciding to go geared.

email: jamesandrews23@yahoo.co.uk

I wonder how it enhances the precision of a drivetrain?! I imagine that they'll be flying out the door, then.

Vinneyh – that's the logical way to look at it, I suppose, my frustration is the long waits just to find that I'm too low each time at the last moment. I wanted to get a set of brakes on the bike and have been bidding and waiting for weeks – I may just forget ebay and buy new and be done with it, it'll be quicker.

Sorry – away from the pc for a bit. I've been using a trackpump – it goes up OK but is then flat after a day or two.

There's really software for bidding?!! I agree, it makes it all rather pointless. Makes me and my bike obsession feel less geeky!

Thanks guys, apologies for the rant, was just frustrated. I've calmed down now. Might try the Classifieds again, although got no interest before.

Dopey question time – how do you "remove" the presta valve core?

OK – too slow!

Can I just say that this is the 1300th post abnd my only input so far?

Wow – lots of replies! Thanks guys. As I said, basuic stuff, but I can see I'll be topping it up.

Cheers

Sick of Avids here too so going over to Hope M4's on my bikes as well. No problems with the M4's on first bike, deeply happy with the fit-and-forget nature (compared to Avid's!). No idea frankly why I stopped using Hope.

Taken an empty bike bag on the deep tube in rush hour (when I picked it up) which is effectively the same thing, no bother. But I'd definitely avoid the Piccadilly Line in any case between 8am and 9.15am as it will be absolutely packed.

I'm absolutely gob-smacked that he actually rides….I thought that was all hype for the mayoral election. Presumed he had the standard chauffeur-driven Hummer or something. He's gone up in my opinion slightly from zero now….

(Didn't there used to be an underpass there?)

A clique?

Thanks, TJ, Nickc and officer.

I struggle to follow the terminology used for tubeless never having tried it, but the reason that I would consider trying to work it all out is if it really does help with punctures – I am plagued by them, every ride without fail. So – does it really help reduce them?

How do reduced pressures help in our climate – doesn't a lower pressure cause the tyre to "stick" in mud more? Or is that not the case?

Orange 5 (one of the first ones)
Orange P7 (mud bike)
Inbred s/s
Ti 456 (lightish bike)
Building Cotic Soul
Dawes Tandem

Excellent thread. Thanks for the updates and brilliant looking bike. Hope you're soon up and about and riding it.

Hopefully finish mine off in the next few days – finally got all the parts now. Won't look as good as that though!

Is there another update on the way?

An Inbred. Or 456.