We had them installed in December, and are pleased so far. Even if i discount the electricity I don’t have to buy during the day, then they are paying back around 7% so far, and will pay off in 13/14 years, and I am expecting that to improve over the summer/longer days.

We have also started to do more washing etc during the day to use the electricity we generate, but it will take a year or so before we can tell how much our usage has gone down by.

Like someone said above, if you can spare the cash for 10-15 years then do it, but they are a very log term investment – If they didn’t make money then their wouldn’t be companies that will put them on your roof for free.

NJA – Surely if you take out life insurance to cover a mortgage debt, then the estate will have both the outstanding debt of the mortgage and the proceeds of the insurance, so the net effect would be zero

Would be worth checking he has the correct spacers in correct place for the width of BB shell he has – if there are too many spacers then the crank arm will not fit on fully.

If you fancy racing on a Friday there is the Friday Night Summer Series as well .FNSS[/url] Quite local to you

Look for an App in market place called GPS Tracker, works with http://www.instamapper.com/

Allows you to set the update time, even allows you to turn on tracking remotely via SMS (if the phone is set to allow it). Use it to track my son when he is out training

If you have GB stickers on your number plate you are fine.

It may depend where you are driving, but whilst the French have many laws, being French no-one takes any notice of them.

To have everything in your car checked, you first need to be stopped – They will only stop you if you drive like a twit. Drive sensibly and you will be fine.

On the motorway to Reims last weekend, probably 90% of the cars were British, I bet most of them didn’t have enough safety jackets etc in the car, but I didn’t see anyone being stopped

I haver driven through France in four different cars over the last 8 years, all with Xenon lights. Two had levers by the lights – one I changed with a button on the Dash, and the last one I used Beam deflectors.

Never been flashed by any of them – in fact the only French Police I saw were those sat at the side of the motorway collecting the “ski tax tolls” for the Brits who seem to think that you can drive at 95mph + through France legally.

Larger vehicles (big motorhomes and lorries) need two triangles.

Check out http://www.bikehike.co.uk/mapview.php it allows you to plan routes on both OS maps and google maps, then they can be downloaded to a GPS

Missed this first time around, but have just submitted my details, so fingers crossed

If you check his feedback, he bought a Reba SL fork in 2009 on Ebay, so it probably i a Reba, but not bought last month.

Anyway they don’t do the Reba SL this year as they renamed all the forks.

I found mini vs to be a great improvement over canti’s in terms of stopping power, but much worse in terms of mud clearance.

I checked around 1pm and they were there (have been checking on and off all morning). I applied and now have to wait up to 48 hours to see, just checked again and they have gone now.

Womens Mountain bike tickets seem to be available now……

It’s a scam – but I have invented a whole new game of how long can you keep them talking. Current record is 46 minutes during a bored lunch break. They were not chuffed when after 46 minutes I told them I knew it was a scam.

Funny they have never rung back since.

So the challenge is on, who can keep them talking for longer than 46 minutes……

Another thing to consider is that the higher end trailers will have a much better re-sale value when you have finished with it

http://www.tastynuts.com/%5B/url%5D

I agree and think I will take the roof box (I already have one), just need to make sure I am not too high for the Telepeage!!

I’ll second the vote of go to Lockwoods in Leamington Spa, as they know what they are talking about.

They fitted my boots, and when I stand upright in the boots, then the toes do (just) touch the end of the boot, when you “bend the knees” then the toes move back and the boots are fine.

As the guy in Lockwoods told me, If you can wiggle your foot side to side a couple of millimetres in the boot, imagine that amplified down the length of the Ski.

And a good fitting should last at least an hour, so I would’t go at the weekend if possible, and maybe even call ahead.

The other option may be to go to one of the Snowdomes as you can often try boot’s or ski’s there if there is a shop there as well, before buying.

Take a spade, and take it out of the car when you get there and keep it in the Hotel/Apartment, as if it snows whilst you are there and the car is parked outside, you are going to need to dig it out.

Be prepared for it to take 30+ minutes to dig out and defrost a car after it has been parked outside for a week.

I assume you have checked the cassette is fitted properly and their is not too much play in the freewheel?

I once had issues when the outer to the rear mech was too short. Caused similar problemss.

Went for a longer outer (and put on XTR cables) and it is now sweet as anything. I know XTR cables aren’t the cheapest, but I haven’t had any issues for about 2 months now.

I would check that none of the bends are too tight

Text to speech work on my desire. Just hold the button for a couple of seconds (like for shifted letters etc) and it seems to work well

Sell them individually, will be more part after just one part then a whole groupset

I had this issue a few years ago.

Spoke to my insurance company who said I would be fine to drive IF I got a letter from my Doctor saying I could drive. Spoke to the Doctor who said he wouldn't write a letter and it was up to the insurance company. So I ended up stuck between the two and ended up not driving.

Also broke my wrist about 15 years ago (it seems to be a recurring theme in my life) and was a witness to an accident where the police were called. I was asked by the Police if I was driving, which I said I was and they weren't fussed about the cast on my arm.

So I don't think the Police care, unless it causes an accident, but if you have a problem I bet your insurance company will use it as an excuse not to pay out.

I have used Continental Mountain Kings and Race Kings, both the Supersonic Black Chilli versions, and they both worked fine. Is use the Cafe Latex to seal them (reviewed in STW this month)

They were all fitted with just a track pump as I don't have a compressor.

I will say though that most of the people I have seen stopped have been on the road up to Calais and in the late afternoon (mainly Brit's late for their crossing's I guess).

Must admit I have been flashed load's of times in France, but driving a UK registered car nothing happens (same as in the UK for French registered cars). The only time you will get stopped is if the Gendarme's see you.

From memory you only pay once on the way to Disney, you get your ticket about 20 miles from Calais then you turn straight onto the motorway to Paris and pay somewhere near Paris. It is a pretty easy drive, have done it 4 or 5 times.

Mine's coming Monday hopefully…..Will let you know when I get it

Big John is correct. Part of the reason you might be on a 3 month notice period is to make sure that you cannot take any current information to a new employer. I see it happen at work where people are made to take 3 months gardening leave to make sure any information they may know (current work being bid for, new products etc etc) is out of date before they start with a competitor.

If your future employer wants you most will wait 3 months for you to start – and you may get to ride every day for the summer !!

Planet X do one, you can also get a Kinesis Crosslight 5T as a bike.

I have a Crosslight 5T and use it for Cross, road riding and commuting – Did London to Paris on it a couple of years ago. I think If I had to have only 1 bike it would be a cross bikes as they can do most things.

If you are getting a cross bike to do more than cross, just check it has bottle braze on's (most of the cheaper ones do)

I use Campag on my cross bike, with no issues – although it does eat through the bearings (2 set's this winter). I have now installed some Ceramic ones, so will see how they survive the winter.

XT servo-wave brakes are no better, the Shimano pads in mine lasted 3 laps (about 17 miles) and the last of the Thetford winter series in Tunstall forest. I think it was the sand in the mud that makes it like grinding paste.

It wasn't anything to do with using the brakes either, as I only used them once or twice on each lap :-)

I agree that they are not as quick as they used to be.

I remember one of my first orders with CRC was placed at 5.45pm in the evening didn, and it arrived at 10am the next day. My last order was placed Friday morning around 11am, and;didn't arrive until Wednesday morning (I know Monday was a bank holiday). I guess this is the problem as they get bigger. Need some bit's for this weekend, and was going to order them on-line, but I'll be going to the LBS now.

Running a 50/11 means the rear wheel will turn 4.54 times for each revolution of the Chainwheel, on a 53/12 the rear wheel will turn 4.41 times for each revolution of the chainwheel, so for the same cadence you will go faster on 50/11 than a 53/12 (albeit only 3% faster)

A 50/11 gear is surely higher than a 53/12, so a compact with a 11 -21 cassette will give a higher top gear than 1 53 on a 12 – 25

You can also fit Mini-v's such as these http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?PartnerID=79&ModelID=34580 – they can be used with Road levers and are a lot more powerful than canti's.

I fitted some on my cross bike and they transformed the braking, but when it got muddy they completely clogged the wheels, so I went back to Canti's, and am learning to "carry my speed" through corners :-)

I have flown to the US on numerous occoasions and gone straight to the Gym as soon as I got into the Hotel – I find it helps with the jet lag

I bought one a few weeks ago and so far very pleased with it. Did a 2 hour ride last weekend and didn't really notice it (which is what you want I guess)

Weber Baby seats are designed to fit most trailers, the Chariot slings are specifically for Chariot trailers

njee, would be interested to see what you think to the frame when it arrives…