New Yeti SB95, or does that stretch things a bit far?

love the colour, but the tyres do it no favours.

I’m sure you wont be disappointed with the ride though!

Good luck don simon. I too am starting a new business, same as what I do now but am looking forward to all my hard work lining my pockets as opposed to someone else’s! Resigning Tuesday and expect the company to be wound up the same day, even if it’s not I’ve got a month’s worth of holiday owed so will be an easy notice to work!

I think there is a 3year cut-off point. Was in the same bind last year when we bought our car. We bought it used from a BMW dealer and paid £12k for it. I went into the bank the day before we were going to pick it up thought best to mention there was going to be a 12 grand debit card transaction at said dealership. After much faffing they finally got the picture and allowed me to spend my own money!

so, went to pick the car up, were a little surprised when I told them how I wanted to pay. Turns out their card machine was down due to IT servicing and would we mind going over the way to the mini garage to do it there? So, card went through first time and drove off, happy days.

checked my account tuesday (picked it up on saturday), money was still there, was surprised. checked it the following monday, still there. check it 3 months later! still there! was a day away from transferring it to my savings account (for safe keeping of course) when it was taken. 14 weeks later. shit.

does seem a tad steep too, but, it can be a huge pain in the arse, I did it on my now deceased reign once it it took me forever. Did the shop have the Maestro bearing removal tools? the cost of these tools (which can only be bought as a set and are outrageously expensive) could also be a contributing factor

Have played black ops in 3D a number of times and the intial “cool” factor was soon replaced by annoyance and a pounding headache.

Have watched several 3D films at home and there are some really good ones, avatar obviously and also cloudy with a chance of meatballs was really really cool in 3D. Not a huge fan of 3d cinema, or cinema in general for the most part, mostly because I refuse to pay 4 quid for a packet of minstrels

where abouts are you based?

EDIT: in terms of recommendations for wheels, something like a Mavic Open Pro or DT 430(?) would seem a safe bet and then a good quality hub with DT supercomps would see you just fine.

If I was going to buy a new CX frame it either be a Yeti ARC-X or maybe a SantaCruz Stigmata.

The Arc-X is no longer available unless Evolution have them kicking around, afaik it was a “limited” run. If I was building a cross bike now I would certainly buy a frame with a disk mount even if it isn’t used at present, something the Arc doesn’t have :'(

Edit: that seems to be a lie! Arc-X seems to be back in the catalogue!, still doesn’t have a poxy disk mount though!

Will be sorely missed, regardless of the way in which it happened, it’s a shame to see anyone die.

as my mrs just said: “I doubt he’d be pleased to go like that considering what he did for a living”

RIP

Park multi-tools aren’t the best designed for space saving but their tools are still the best quality. Their new (re-issued) mini chain tool (not chain brute, the other one) is a true work of art.

EDIT: this one

I started a thread on my work situation end of last week, I like my job and what I do, I like the people I work WITH, but the people I work FOR make my working life impossible to cope with. I’m literally just waiting for the right time to pack all my stuff into a bag and walk away, will be some point this week I think, just waiting to get paid and my expenses re-imbursed (which is late again!) and then it’s adios, possibly with a call to the HMRC to grass them up thrown in for good measure, BOOM! been sitting here with a grin on my face all day knowing that I could just walk out at any second and bring the whole corrupt operation down around them and there is sweet FA to be done about it.

I feel everyone’s pain. It was a horrible situation to be in until the point where I just stopped giving a shit and focused on being a vindictive little turd, suddenly work became fun again!

+1 Cougar. My Mrs bought me an ipad for christmas. I love it and there are times where I don’t know what I’d do without it, but somehow I just couldn’t justify spending my hard-earned on one.

Slightly OT; I need to open a new business mobile contract next week and I’m debating about what to go for, I have an iphone 4 for personal use and currently use a BB (which I hate) for work so I’d like a phone that does everything so I don’t have to carry both around. Anyone had a play on a Motorola Atrix, especially using it in the “netbook” guise? could just be all I need tbh or is it too much a jack of all trades? should I just buy an HTC desire?

I wish on-one/PX didn’t put tacky decals on everything. Yes, their stuff may be cheap but they go to extra-ordinary lengths to make sure it looks it. I’d be tempted by some wheels for my new 29er project if they wouldn’t make a beautiful frame look like a catalogue special.

I would say my build is similar to what you’ve quoted. I use Ultegra 6800 for shifting duties as I got the shifters and mech at a price I couldn’t turn down and Sram Rival for everything else, including ‘cross chainset.

Brakes, I went for TRP Euro-X on a friend’s recommendation and they’ve been great, a lot less shit than I was expecting, but still shit really.

Wheels are RS30, can be picked up pretty cheap. Not light by any means, but absolutely bombproof and the hubs are still running smooth after a few thousand miles.

Mid-range Truvativ finishing kit finishes it off. One thing I did do was fit a 46cm bar as I found it gave better control off-road than the 44cm I used on my road bike.

Been Tubeless on various bikes for about 5 years, never a puncture. Always used Tubeless specific tyres however, that might well have helped

thanks for the advice, it’s good to band ideas around, especially with some people who may have/may be experiencing similar.

I don’t eat a lot of processed foodstuffs generally. I bake my own bread and although I do find pasta easy to eat during the day, I do tend to use wholewheat as it is generally lower in carbs. I would normally eat 3 portions of veg in an evening meal, and we grow most of our own veg so I can see where it’s coming from.

Last check up I had was last may and I had bloodtests done then, nothing irregular appeared, but I guess that doesn’t mean things haven’t developed since.

I have a very slow metabolism, even when I was young I was never one of the kids who could scoff happy meals whenever I wanted. I’m not diabetic but have thin-ish blood (get haemotomas often and easily) and according to the docs that can lead my body to craving sugar.

To give you an idea today I’ve eaten 2 slices of toast with marmite, some pasta, small packet of mini cheddars and 2 bananas, I’ve also got 2 homemade cereal bars (from the river cottage book, they’re amazing!) which will be eaten before I get home. coupled with 22 miles on the bike and probably a 45 minute swim when I get home.

I do drink, not a huge amount, but regularly. I will probably have 5-6 pints a week on average.

I’ve seen the iDave diet banded around, perhaps I’ll give it a go.

EDIT: I would say my commute is quite high intensity despite not being that long. It is about 5 miles on road and the other 6 on Bridlepath. I always make sure I can feel that I’m working myself.

I come across plenty of engineers who are doing just fine!

not necessarily, but it certainly won’t help. Obviously I would need to demonstrate a track record of sustained and regular income.

An Update. Was supposed to have a meeting yesterday afternoon with the puppet master and associates, yesterday afternoon came and went, no sign of anyone. Asked the ops manager for my parent company (who are also based in the same office) what was going on. His reply was “don’t know but I wouldn’t expect said puppet master to be in the office until next week sometime” Have sent numerous e-mails relating to certain matters, mostly work related and they’re being ignored, along with my calls.

I know what “should” be in the bank, and it’s healthy, should be enough to pretty much cover my next year’s basic in one go, and with change to boot.

I’m happy to cut my losses to an extent, I wouldn’t want to go to a tribunal even if it were available, however I am in the process for applying for a mortgage and am about to start proceedings to take out a commercial mortgage too. The frequent late payments could potentially be damaging to our applications. I was even aware that there was an instance where the accountant was informed not to pay me as, and I quote “you’ve got other more important things to sort today than XXXX payroll, do it another time”.

Blackburn Mammoth 2-Stage? A little bulky and not pretty, but very well made and fantastically efficient. Lifetime warranty too.

I live out in the ayots and I haven’t found many trails that I can’t ride on my cross bike. First proper off road ride will be sketchy until you get used to the rigidity and lack of functioning brakes, I guarantee you will come back with an enormous grin!

it’s about to rain here (st. albans). I’m also about to leave too. bugger.

Anything north of Watford is North!

I think you’ll find it’s Watford Gap, don’t be dragging the home counties into this!

but I’d then have to drive 1 day a week and drop off 4 ironed shirts at work

Chrome Kremlin Messenger does the trick for that! If I got stuck somewhere I reckon I could pitch it as a tent it’s so big!

would lead to gradual loss of power over a few rides. The nature of the problem was that small amounts of fluid were forced inside the main lever body assembly so it was hard to detect.

It wasn’t a joke, it’s just what I’ve been told, it may have been BS, it probably is. I know their heating bills are **** all for such a gargantuan house.

I do know they’re thermal panels, it sounds like I’m talking out of my arse come to think of it. I know they definitely keep the pool heated though

I agree, it will take time and investment. However, the rise in school leavers applying for apprenticeships is on the rise, a number of companies I work with will have a workforce that is classed as “skilled labour” with a growing proportion of those being apprentices. I dont think it’s a co-incidence that the reducing number of young unemployed, the increase in apprentices and the proposed welfare reforms all seem to have a pretty direct correlation.

I have some friends in manufacturing, they’re once again able to compete with foreign competitors for tenders and their order books are bulging. Far-Eastern manufacturing is becoming less competitive and a lot of companies are starting to see the “value” in UK production as opposed to the bottom line. I think making stuff seems to be the better way of getting ourselves out of the mire. I may have the blinkers on however.

When I worked in the trade, I saw more a couple of sets of XTR DC’s with the same issue.

if you fully drain the system, take a look inside the master cylinder, there was a small number of early units where the master cylinder had been machined to such an extent that in one corner there was a tiny pin-prick hole or certainly machined too thinly. This could also have developed over time if it has been milled in this way.

I will stress I think this problem was very limited but it might be relevant and could even still be a warranty claim.

I found the exact same thing a few months ago. About a week or so later I felt like death, like I had the lung capacity of a thimble but I promise it does get better, it took me a while to get over it, but it feels like I’ve developed a 3rd lung now too. Again, I was still on the bike all the time so I didn’t put on too much weight (I was a tad flabby already).

I used patches, wore them just during the day and then willpower from then on in. I’m not going to kid myself and say that I’ll never put a cigarette to my lips again but I’ll never go back to “regular” smoking again, not now I’ve experienced the other side.

I don’t think I’ve got to the end of a single Collective film without putting my kit on and heading out into the woods!

My Missus and I can get by on £20 a week food shopping. Lots of savvy spending involved though, she has a fascination with MSE and the like and loves a deal, you should see the size of our freezer!

With regards to renewable energies, her folks have just moved into a new house which is pretty much off the grid. Gas has to be bought in on site. The tank lasts about a year ish and costs £1k to fill which is bonkers. However, they have solar panels on one side of the house, only about 4 panels and they were put in when the house was built about 20 years ago so I’m guessing they’re not the most efficient, however those panels on their own heat the entire house…..and the pool.

Thanks all.

I think the most sensible option would be to see what is said and offered and then consider my options. I really don’t want to go to court, but the point is that I could, and I know I would win (had a long chat with a commercial contract lawyer) but I just don’t want to. Likewise I don’t want to be fobbed off when I know I have been treated badly. Repeated late payment of my wages could have serious reprocussions for years to come.

There’s definitely something fishy going on somewhere down the line. Bearing in mind that I have sole control over everything except for invoicing and payments, I can’t even see the accounts to see when customers have paid, which has nearly landed me in hot water with customers a number of times.

I can’t get the photo of mine off the dog (‘n’ bone) 🙁 but I’ll give a brief rundown of why I love it so much.

Brief spec:

Mojo SL large
150mm Rev U-turn RLCTi Maxle
DT EX1750 wheelset (mountain king / race king 2.2 UST)
X.0 running gear
XTR chainset
Thomson Stem/Post
700mm Carbon Bars
Gobi Carbon
XT brakes with 180/160 prototype Aztec floaty rotors

weight is about 25lbs with this spec.

I’m 6’1″ with 35″ inside leg, but short torso and arms. I demo’d an XL but I found the TT just a tad long, tried it with a 50mm stem and it was just wrong, almost didn’t buy it because it felt so odd. Tried a large with an 80mm stem and it was spot on! have to run the seatpost at near max extension but it just works and fits me so well.

Originally ran it with a 140mm fork, but the 150 does make it just feel better, takes the edge off the angles as I find it sits quite deep into it’s travel and isn’t slack by any means. 0degree stem and 15mm rise bars.

The bike is a rocket ship, not hugely stiff when you really push it, but I personally wouldn’t run it with anything flimsier than the 1750’s (then again I am 14 1/2 stone). Only thing that ever gets changed is tyres (although it’s likely the race king will need to be cut off 😮 ). And I’ve got a Joplin for the odd occasion.

Buy one, you won’t regret it. Alternatively, buy the HD140, I think I will be. So if anyone wants a large, white SL with blue links, get in touch!

Now my biggest concern is: what do I do if they want me to stay?! I had pretty much convinced myself that they wanted me out. I definitely do not want to stay, but I feel I would have failed if I leave of my own accord.

I’m not a puppet like the rest of the company (and parent company) and I think this almost frightens them, I think they want drones to do their bidding (of which I certainly am not). My biggest hope is that a deal can be done, I can walk away and get on with my life.

Another question: What if they decide to make me redundant and then fold the company? (I think this is an option that might be under consideration – just a hunch)

22 mile round trip for me mix of lanes, bridleway, bit of singletrack. I wear full lycra every day. I don’t have the figure for it but it’s just more comfortable.

This is all good advice, thanks. My ideal situation would be to walk away with a small “golden goodbye”. I’ve taken good legal advice and have been told that I have them ‘over a barrel’ if I really wanted to make a nuisance of myself but if I’m being honest I’d rather not and I know they would rather not too. My contract is paper thin and weighted heavily in my favour. I’m worried about the tax situation more than anything, not paying PAYE or NI is the sort of thing they would do.

I do have a stable job to go to if required, however I also have a limited company registered in my name so I could (and would) start up on my own as there is the potential for a good profit, the business model is simple and the overheads are tiny (less than 100 quid a month costs to keep me going).

I think I’ll wait to see what I’m offered (if anything) before making my decision.

That’s crazy, I’m honestly astounded by those prices! I’ve just renewed our car: BMW 116i; My Mrs is main policy holder (23 with 4 years no claims), I’m named (25 with 1 year), and although it’s a safe postcode, we’re paying £607 fully comp.

Other than possibly no claims, what is the biggest differential insurers take into account?

Rental market everywhere is booming at the moment. When we moved out of our last rented property (about 2 months ago), we were told the agent wanted to bring in “a couple of interested parties between 2 and 3pm”. The landlord had been good to us, so I thought I would be welcoming and make tea for people etc. Went out to buy milk at about quarter to 2 and there was a queue outside the front door! The agent had bought 9 couples with them!

f*ck knows who got it, but I know it went (deposit paid) before 3pm, I couldn’t imagine doing that again. The only reason we got the place first off was because it had snowed on the day of the viewing and we were the only couple who could make it (afaik there were 6 viewings on it booked that day!)