I wanted to make sure that it didn’t slow the steering too much with a standard 130ml fork, I know everyone’s measurements are different!

Its such a great all round frame I think I’ll be OK with 110 to start- can always change later.

If you have to go up you must come down- the king of descenders is the Colnago C50. I still thinks its the best bike around, reliability is awesome, Ive raced the paris roubaix course on mine aswell.
If you want to spend less and have a pure climber the scott addict is apparently good, and super light. Top end time, look, pinarello, cannondale also very good- not many bad bikes around these days.
If you went for new dura ace you could go compact with a range of cassettes from 28-11 – not far off a triple.
i would avoid cervelo- over rated, expensive and toe overlap.
I’d take a triple to the alps, i have done on my previous trips. Saves on patella tendonitis and associated knee problems.

Being a doctor, and seeing many patients with asbestos related disease, i would recommend that you have it properly disposed of, but agree the chance of one asbestos fibre causing mesothelioma is quite remote- nearly all the sufferers had a long history of asbestos exposure or washed their partners clothes for years- this is particularly common on Southampton in dock workers wives.
Interestingly, the current feeling is that carbon fibre may be the new asbestos, especially the nanocarbon type- so get the bikeshop to cut that carbon steerer tube! The views were echoed by the guys at hope in a recent MBR interview.

The thing is the pikes are quite heavy if you compare the specs with Fox.
I could afford whatever i want really but the price of the latest forks is rather steep. All the bolt through qr 15 ones seem to be over 650 if you want RLC options. I had rockshox in the past and they were returned under warranty 6 times in one year (2002-2003)- i appreciate build quality has moved on but I was rather scarred by the experience. My fox f100 forks have been on for 3 years with no problems at all.

Do it, just the sort who is a danger to cyclists

Don’t ever take you car to a main Ford dealer mate. Ford use monkeys who aren’t even qualified mechanics at their dealerships- to do servicing and even bigger jobs.
Also, the prices they quote you for the other bits are firstly, expensive, and the time they allow for each job is to get it into the garage, on a ramp, and back out- it doesn’t allow for the fact that your car is already on the ramp if your having several things done.
They once tried to charge my Mum 180 quid to have a throttle position sensor changed. I did it myself in 10 minutes, including testing it on our road, for 30 quid for the part. I’m a competent home mechanic but this was a very easy job.
Glad to hear your problems are sorted.

sc-xc, that’s exactly what I need. Pity you don’t still have it.
The one with bosses is the one I have, but thanks swiftacular.

The cost of raw materials has gone up a lot in the last few years, esp carbon fibre, as there is a worldwide shortage. Therefore it is all the more puzzling when santa cruz use aluminium and the price rises in the USA have been much less even allowing for the exchange rates. I have a classic blur and am not upgrading/changing for this very reason. Industry rip off if you ask me.