Have a look at Navitron. I know a few people that have put these in themselves and they work really well. Pretty much the same kit that other suppliers use under a different badge.

If they're thinking of accessing the renewable heat incentive when it is launched next year (maybe!) then they may need to get some kind of accredited installer to at least sign off the installaiton.

No suggestion for a car but try Piston Heads classifieds[/url]. I just bought my new old Alfa from there.

I've had a new Fiesta (1.4 TDCI) as a hire car today and I was well impressed by it after a couple of hundred miles. Feels almost like a big car on the motorway and good fun on twisty stuff. Could have done with bit more oomph but it didn't feel really underpowered for overtaking.

I've got a set of Orange F8's[/url] and I've been pretty impressed with them. Not bad for £60.

Fashion faux pas already committed here. I recently put some of these on risers on my rigid single speed, how's that for coolitude?! They're pretty pricey but really light, comfortable and have a (I think) nifty clamp design. They make a big difference comfort-wise too.

I've just been looking for a down bag (albeit with a £100 budget) and concluded that Alpkit ones are hard to beat for value if looking for a new one. I ended up getting a used Rab one from the classifieds on here though so would second that or ebay etc. Snugpack ones seemed pretty good for synthetic bags around your budget.

Rider 267 here, first Dyfi I'll have done. Oh and I'll be using Race Kings too.

Glad to be of help. Although not diabetic I like it as I can control how I take in carbohydrate on a long ride. Hope it sorts you out. Might be worth trying some others like Nunn tablets as different ones seem to work better for different people.

Paul

I suffer from cramps after about 50Km and have found that adding an electrolyte/mineral supplement to my water, something like Elete water, sorts it out. I do sweat more than anyone else I know though so need to regularly top up my salts!

Whites and the Wall together is signposted as the W2 trail and is a cracker, you can stop at Glyncorrwg for a spot of lunch half way around. It may be a bit muddy right at the top but nothing too bad. You won't be disappointed whichever of the trails you do at Afan or Glyncorrwg.

It never really gets too muddy on any of the trails apart from the run to A Ridge too Far (I think) on Penhydd. It has been dry here all week so I reckon there'll not be many puddles, a couple of crisp days – you should have a lovely time. Hidden Valley on Penhydd was closed last week and I don't think it will be open this week. Enjoy.

Paul

I've entered too, really looking forward to it although it looks like my riding buddies have let me down so I'll be doing it on my own.

I've not drawn up a training plan apart from riding whenever I can and doing a few Enduros in the build up. I'm sure it'll be fine but if anyone in South Wales fancies teaming up for a bit more of a structured training regime then drop me a line.

32:16 here, gets me around most of Afan. I did the ride in one gear for a bit thing to figure out the best place to start and found that useful.

Paul

Ah ha, perfect. Thanks for that.

Paul

I've used an On-One Doofer and it worked perfectly well. Easy to set up, quiet when running and doesn't look like there's much to go wrong with it. I think the Superstar ones are very similar and a bit cheaper.

I was going to – nobody impulse buys expensive things like a mountainbiker – but am away from home on work so no pics possible for a few days and was looking for some other avenues.

You'll need another pair of hands but try pushing the tyre into the rim over the valve without squishing any of the rest of it on the floor, and then pump like buggery. Once the area around the valve goes in the rest follows a bit more easily. Usually.

Or inflate it with a tube so the tyre seats, deflate the tube remove only one bead to take the tube out and try inflating tubelessly again.

You may need to go to a car mechanic to use a compressor. That gets it on no problem.

Thanks tazymtb, that's much appreciated but I've already got a replacement standing by. I was just deciding whether to add the busted one to my tyre mountain or to get rid.

Cheers all.
Paul

I know. I'm finding it hard to come to terms with having to bin a practically new tyre! I think I've moved on to the acceptance stage.

Sounds like it needs bleeding. How does the lever feel – is it still firm or does it pull back to the bars?

I used to get bad cramps after about 50 miles of riding in my left calf only. Thinking it was due to injury or scar tissue from a previous injury I went to see a sports masseur who could find no trace of scarring or damage.

He reckons (and I don't know if it's true) that asymmetrical cramp, i.e. in one calf rather than both at once, is down to an electrolyte deficit whilst symmetrical cramp is down to an energy deficiency.

As a result I use the Elete Water, as per the instructions, along with regular stretching between rides and that has sorted it right out.

Thanks, I'll give that a go and drill if the bump causes a problem.

Paul

This happens sometimes on my Mono M4's and I use a screwdriver (carefully, watch fingers and caliper!) to push the pin from the non-rubber seal end to pop it out. It doesn't take much force.

A bit of grease or water around the seal helps when you need to push it back in.

I've got SP Pro 3's (with 6 bolt hubs, no fancy new fangled rotors needed) on Stans 355 rims and ride mostly around Afan.

Had them since August with regular (couple of times a week) riding with no dents or going out of true and have been the single best thing I've upgraded on my bike, however a spoke broke on the rear wheel today.

Being SP it was nice and easy to remove said spoke and carry on with about a 1/4" dish, if that, in the wheel. If in doubt get them from Wheelpro so any defects from the machine build are tweaked out before reaching you.

Thanks Willsimmons, I've seen some that come with the shorties and some that don't. At that price I'm not expecting any! I've used foam grips with twist shifters previously which has avoided the step you mention and lets you easily cut them to the right length but I may chop up one of my Rogues, good suggestion.

The tart that I am I'll probably end up buying these, eventually for my ASR – it's all got to match!

I like using gripshifts for most of the reasons stated and have just ordered another set from Merlin, which seems a cracking deal. Does anyone know if they come with the short grips?

I'm pretty sure they haven't all gone – get in touch with the Energy Saving Trust to make sure.

If you know someone in education then you can get a cheap legit copy from here[/url]. I just had to put my sister's A-level college details in to get Office for less than 40 notes.

I rode Penhydd today and it was fine, 2-3" of snow all way around but not especially slippery. Not sure what the other trails are like though.

2.2 Race King Supersonics (Black Chilli ones) on 355's with yellow tape and sealant. They did take a while to get sealed due to the porous sidewalls but were well worth the effort, cracking tyres.

I feel your pain, it took me hours to get mine on and I snapped 3 tyre levers in the process. Eventually I was at the point where I didn't care if I broke anything else so used a lot more force than if I were being careful and they just popped on.

Cracking commuter tyres once they're on (I use the 700c versions on my Road Rat too) but just wait until you try to take them off – it's harder work than getting them on.

Yeah, he's got a thing for Aston Martin cars. I'll check the Caterham site though, it's nice to have options and I quite fancy the idea of that.

Thanks

I use them for xc and trail centres. A real step up from skate shoes or old Merrells as they replaced in regard to grip and stiffness. My feet do not slide off my V12 pedals at all and I can easily pedal a fair way past the 6 o'clock position in a pedal stroke, if you know what I mean.

Not very weather resistant especially when compared to some Goretex shoes although with a pair of Woolie Boolies my feet are wet but warm. I'll probably get some extra liner socks for when it's really cold though. The lace flap does hide the shocking green laces and probably keeps out light-ish rain but I don't know if I'd miss it.

In Holborn I'd recommend 32 Great Queen Street (yes the address is the name of the place) for good food. There's a nice bar with a great barman in the basement there too for a few pre/post dinner drinks.

I couldn't find a forecourt pump that could blow quickly enough so had to ask a mechanic to use his compressor. He was astounded that you could get tubeless bicycle wheels. I also needed to get an adaptor so the compressor nozzle would fit onto the valve.

The compressor is just to get the tyre to seat in the rim in the first place. If you can get it to make a ping-type noise and stay seated with a track pump then that's fine. Then you can shake etc like in the Stans video to seal any leaks.

It can be tough to get the bead to snap into the rim and that's when you need to get in air quicker than it escapes. Your first ride on these wheels is going to feel good after all this effort!

For when you get the right tape – Sticking in a tube and tyre at 40psi over night helps stick the tape well down. I didn't file the tape out of the hole, I just cut a cross and pushed the valve through. Hasn't caused any problems so far.

Dickyboy – God yes, Conti Sport Contact are a pain to get on and even worse to get off. Good tyres though plus they last ages and I've never had a puncture with them.

Does anyone know if there is a difference in brightness and battery between the Maxx and Maxx2? As far as I can tell it's just the smart port on the Maxx2.

When I put tyres on my Stans rims as you've described one went on straight away with a track pump but the other needed a compressor at a friendly car garage to get it to seat. If you haven't put the sealant in yet then you could try a CO2 inflator thingy.