As grizz says, bolt the tool in. Use the biggest spanner you have, and an extention tube if you can. As uplink says, clockwise to undo. Lean the bike against a wall while holding it on the front brake, carefully stand right foot on spanner then exert force sharply downwards. If that don’t work, your leg will probably break, so you can’t ride you’re bike anyway. Sorted.

You lot have read some good books! I love Cannery Row, Catch 22, Keep the aspidistra flying, and recommend them all – they all make me laugh.
As something more up to date and lighter , how about some Tom Robbins? “Even cowgirls get the blues” and “Jitterbug perfume” are both awesome little books, well written and very funny. And what about Flann O’Brien’s “Third policeman”?

Never did get to see ’em live, but Cramps had a lot of ‘table time in the eighties in my house. “A date with Elvis” was my fave, that and “Off the bone”. Sure is a shame the old boy’s pegged it. :(

Until recently, i had 4 bikes, with 4 different crank lengths – 165/170/175 and 180! What a mess! But you can really feel the difference. The 165s span up very quickly, so quick aceleration, whereas the 180s had lots of torque and leverage. My inside leg’s 32″ and 180 was really too long , but useful for singlespeed. My advise to people with even remotely dodgy knees is don’t ride singlespeed (Mountain Monkey!) and keep to cranks on the shorter side of safe. I’ve settled on 175 for mtb and 170 for road and all is good.
Going back to the original post, i’d say 170mm would be fine if you’re leg is 33″ or below

Good shop; Bracknell Cycles.
Bad shop; Halfords.

Cwmcarn at night is wicked, even better in snow. I think it’s easily possible to miss a way marker in the dark if you’re not familiar with the route. now you’ve posted here as a wednesday nighter, why not see if you can hook up with someone? Safer and more fun with a few companions.

I was asked three times today….. Do you sell sledges, mate? P1ss off, it’s a bl**din bike shop!…., sir. Coulda made a killing today. :lol:

Hope XC have done me fine – i think my current pair are around 5 years old. Front’s on original bearings, rear’s on 2nd or 3rd set. I always pop the seals off and pack the bearings with grease before fitting – seems to double their lifespan.

Both my Foxes, Vanilla and Float wore through the stancion anodising within 9 months. Marzochhi seem to go on forever with no maintainance, although it is a less sophisticated fork which ain’t quite so plush – but i know which i’d rather have!

Wow, what a great thread! Some fantastic bikes. So far, the Kawasaki Z1, the Goldstar and the MZ get my vote. Anyone have a pic of the original Suzuki Katana 1100? Or the later 750 with the black headlight?

For as long as i have a job, i’m better off than i was this time last year. The mortgage has gone way down, so ,yes, new bike this week.

It’s a way of supporting retailers. And protecting Treks brand. And is best for the majority of consumers in the long run. I know a dealer who lost his Trek account for doing mail order, because he failed to read their terms and conditions. I laughed for weeks on end!

The price increases are killer. At a time when small LBSs are struggling anyway, it’s the last thing we want. Still, I managed to buy reasonable quantities before the hit, so price increases won’t hit my customers for a while. Details in profile if i can be of any help ;-)

break ups suck very very badly and you have my heartfelt sympathy. ride drink shag sleep ride drink shag sleep . repeat until symptoms desist. good luck mate.

I’ve got a Giant XTC 1 in stock, medium (19), 08. Retail is 950, i’d be happy with £800. Contact details in profile. G.

From what i’ve heard, some of the bomb holes in leigh woods, bristol, were made by controled explosion of wartime uxbs.

I can’t read n i cant write,
but that dont really matter
cos i comes from the west country
an i can drive a tractor.

It wasn’t me! I was behind the sofa snogging Renee Sparks ;-)

‘S good. What does fake mean anyhow? Some people who might not be called authentic blues, can out do the old blues guys. Check Beck on “one foot in the grave”, “Stereopatherticsoulmanure” and Beefheart and Tom Waits. Real blues? Or people who’ve taken it to pieces and reconstructed it better than originals.
As a tour of the deep south, Jim White’s “Searchin for the wrong eyed Jesus” is very good, got some Johnny Dowd in it.

I’ve got Finish Line Carbon Assembly Paste in stock, WTF. If you call me with a credit card, it’ll be in the post today. Cheers, G. (details in profile)

Yep, sizing really is odd on these, completely different to altura’s other gear – strange cut around the arse/thigh area. Good fabric though!

Yes, yes , aluminium steerer on several forks , mainly 100mm travel Rockshox. Saw this happen regularly back when i was a shop mechanic.

Thanks for the link, MamaD. I might have it sorted now after a call to Hotwheels. They say Mongoose used a 12mm years ago, and i have some nuts in the post! Just hope them’s the right ones. Thanks for your input though, i appreciate your time. Cheers, G.

Yes, i get this too. Never considered it a problem as it doesn’t feel cold when i’m riding.

Dropoff’s right. Loctite stud and bearing fix is the stuff for gaps as you describe. Between steerer and crown race then leave to set over night before installing the fork.

Hello Dan! The UK housing market has taken a bit of a dive and i guess things would be better later if you can carry on renting it out. We’re all feeling the pinch over here – mainly because the BBC keep telling us how awful things are, so no one’s spending any money. Hope the ecomomy is better for you down under. Good luck, mate! Giler.

Demo bike is the only way to find out. Ride as many as you can, friends bikes too, hardtails and FS. Don’t expect a FS to be any better. Don’t be seduced by the hype. I’m sure many folks on here love their full sussers and rightly so, but they ain’t for everyone.

Used to kill cheaper square taper (un52) in under two months. Better ones (un72) would last a year or so. XT level Octalink (es71) also lasted a year or so. ISIS of any price, no more than a month. XT outboard, so far so good, just fine since last april – if it lasts a year, i’ll be happy and then up-grade to summit nicer. I’m not sure it matters wether it’s in board or outboard, it’s more to do with bearing quality and seal quality.

I’ve lived in Bracknell for 2 years, surrounded by zombies and the living dead. Although they look scary, I’ve found them mainly harmless and best ignored.

Hey, come on guys, we all know it’s Robert Peston’s fault really.

Got to say, the price rises have come at an unhelpful time, but it’s all part of the same problem. Sure you can do your own research for the reasons why it’s happened. As a business, retailers have to increase their prices when the supply costs more, it’s not like they’re profiteering.

Saw it the other night. The music is fairly dull, but it was interesting seeing Steve Hillage with a teacosy on his head. It would have been nice to have had a rundown of the players at the end, but there weren’t one.

Billy the border collie came out with us today. He loves it! He does get under the wheels sometimes, tends to do unexpected u-turns to check we’re still there. Shout “mush” and he moves sharpish. I’ve buzzed his nose with my tyre a couple of times, but nothing worse. as long as it’s traffic free, go for it.

Minus 8 degrees here in Bracknell. Only done a quick shopping run in the car, off for a whizz round Swinley Forest at 10.30 – that should test the limits of my socks and gloves!

Retail manager, Bracknell Cycles in Berkshire – 10 mins from Swinley forest, which is the in place to be! Business is ok….just not hitting the projected growth. Always on hand to help with good deals for STW members though!

Car park is visible from the outdoor seating area – but you’re damn right CG, you shouldn’t leave a bike unattended, specially not in Spacknell. It’s not what I’d call a nice pub, but I think it’s big enough to squeeze in a few dozen turning up en mass. So might be appropriate for what you need. There’s a website with pub reviews on somewhere, can’t remember what it’s called – might be worth checking out the Manor and maybe see what else is in the area.
Oh, full of winos? I dunno, can’t say I mingle with people round here much – them’s far too wierd.

Check the Old Manor in Bracknell. Not too far, large outside heated seating, car park on site. It’s a Weatherspoons so food and drink are both cheap as chips.

Thanks WCA! Aleigh, is it a 3 litre Camel? If you’re too drunk to drive home there’s always cardboard boxes at the back of the shop! :?

Thanks for info, Simon, just curious as I sold Jamis for a couple of years and always liked them. Good to know they’re still going….if not in the UK!

I’ve done a couple of hours round Swinley. Trails are perfect, dry and hard. Millions of people out, millions i tell ‘e!
Simon, what’s your Jamis like? Not something you see in UK since ’03. Is yours more recent? Wos it like?