Did a days downhilling there in the summer and it was excellent. Didn’t do any XC but there’s maps available and I’m sure the possibilities are endless. The downhill choice is amazing with some easier routes like the Milka line if you’re not Steve Peat and there’s Leongang on the other side of the hill and also Wagrain and Schaldming less than an hour away. Spoilt for choice!

I had a demo on a 160 version. Amazing bike, lots of really clever touches like the chain guide. The low weight makes it very fast up and downhill. My 2012 Spicy was better downhill though, the 301 had a touch more flex which became apparent on the rocky downhills of the Lakes.

I actually pushed the button one one but then they wanted to charge £140 extra for the 160 version which they don’t tell you in any advertising so I got a bit miffed and got a Remedy instead.

Stunning thanks!

They just forget to put in a slip sometimes. You can still print off a slip online though.

Love mine. Very comfy, plenty of grip, light as a feather and stick to the bars without glue. Not tried them without gloves but plenty of grip with.

They are delicate compared to other grips but they do last well if you look after them and don’t crash.

ESI Silicone chunky grips are awesome and very soft.

Been there got the t-shirt…

Had one about four years ago now. Was stressed out to the max at the time, went out and got pissed, had four hours sleep and had a seizure the morning after.

Did the same tests as you, saw neurologist, mri etc all clear. There’s no doubt in my mind it was a combination of the stress, booze and lack of sleep.

I’m now very careful about managing stress levels and getting a good nights sleep. And after being a bit of a boozer for years I stopped drinking apart from the odd pint. Aside from not having another seizure I’ve never felt better and feel like it was a good wake up call.

Email me if you want more info.

They all have their merits and I think it would be misleading to say one is better than another. They all behave differently and cater to different tastes.

Personally I always buy four bars because I don’t like the brake squat you get with single pivots, vpp etc. Four bars do bob lots though but I have pretty much eliminated it with my riding style and modern propedal shocks.

Stay anywhere near Kudamm (Kurfuerstendamm) for shopping and restaurants etc. KaDeWie the German Harrods is on there.

Potsdamer Platz in the East for a bizarre mix of uber modern and old former soviet cobbled streets. The East is generally considered the cool area now so good for nightlife.

Everywhere’s pretty acccessible by u-bahn though.

No more carbon frames for me.

I’ve got a carbon zesty, 20 months old and the press fit bottom bracket spun round in the shell wearing the carbon and trashing the frame. Lapierre told me it was my fault…

anagallis_arvensis – Member

As a teacher I really cannot see how a Grammar school system is beneficial.

So teaching kids in classes appropriate to their ability doesn’t benefit the kids or the teachers?

Merlin are fantastic. Bought loads recently cheaper than CRC and Wiggle and got it all next day.

Have spoke to Hotlines again and they said they are happy to look at the bottom bracket but I might have more luck if I spoke to Lapierre themselves.

I still have the BB and it has worn carbon on the cups as proof that it is the original and they can always take it apart to make sure I haven’t regreased it or anything.

Interestingly the hotlines guy conceeded that it wasn’t my fault. He suggested initially that I need to keep checking the bottom bracket to make sure its not slipping but agreed that with carbon once its slipped the shell is fecked anyway.

wwaswas – Member

are they literally press fit or shoudl there be soem sort of loctite type stuff holding them in? If so, was it there?

Literally press fit, like a headset but the cups are only plastic.

TroutWrestler – Member

Do you still have the bearings to show to the shop where you bought the bike?

Yes.

*rushes off to buy bash ring…*

My company spends a few quid on facebook advertising and it seems to work pretty well. Works better for leisure brands than corporate but can still be effective for both.

1000 likes for £30 is good. We’re currently paying around 8p per like doing it in house. The trick is being able to track whether they actually go on to buy from you which is very difficult. But a spin off benefit is that facebook posts help in google rankings.

I say go for it. Make hay whole the sun shines as its only a matter of time before everyone is doing it like on adwords and prices will rocket.

As to whether its right or wrong, facebook is a business so it will inevitably become more commercial.

A first aid kit…

I’ve got a shed from these guys but they do all sorts and are fantastic quality:

Keops[/url]

Kendal climbing wall do outdoor rock climbing courses in the Lakes. I did an indoor course with them and the instruction was spot on and well organised.

Kendal Wall[/url]

I like it *ducks for cover*

Another email for me too. Gave me a 10% voucher but still crap service.

Well thats one very negative way of looking at it Binners 😕

Another way might be sharing your passion with like minded people and just having a bit of fun 😀

We’ve got a forum and facebook page for locals riding in the Lake District. There’s quite a few members but not many regular riders. No committe meetings, rules or other rubbish, just a few mates getting together, riding bikes with the occasional beverage afterwards. Happy days!

Things are definitely hotting up with the discovery of oil. The Argies cause is now being supported by other South American countries too:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-16280613

And a scary quote:

“Brazil and other countries know that thanks to Liam Fox’s defence cuts, the UK no longer has aircraft carrier capability so British maritime power projection has been fatally weakened by the government.”

Nice one cheers, was waiting for a cheap triple to come along.

Where are you taking those oil levels from? It says 30/15ml per leg here:

Fox Oil Volumes

No

Quattro is great, even if its not winter. I test drove two Audi A7’s, one with front wheel drive and one with 4 wheel drive. The front wheel version was very fidgety under acceleration and the traction control kicked in occasionally even when i wasn’t booting it. Whereas the 4 wheel drive was much more planted, no front lift under acceleration and no hint of loss of traction.

Worth the money IMO.

These are great for when summer gloves are too warm and winter gloves are too hot:

Giro Blaze[/url]

Just find another job that isn’t connected to your current one.

Doesn’t sound like Company X will ever give you a pay rise and it sounds like your worth is 55% more to at least one other company so just go elsewhere.

They messed up and held their hand up and gave you £5. Doesn’t sound too bad to me.

Chain too long?

Got mine from these guys all was good:

Keops Log Cabins[/url]

I_did_dab – Member
Also anyone using black iridiums transitions for night riding or are grey transitions better?
…hmmm…

Grey ones here and they are fine for night riding and dark enough in sunlight. Can’t comment on black lenses.

Used to use contacts but got bored with the faff as I was only using them for riding. Got prescription Oakleys now with the transition lenses which are perfect, go dark in the sun but clear for night riding. The lenses aren’t quite as hydrophobic as the standard lenses though so visibility isn’t great when its wet and they do mist up.

Got mine online from the theinternetopticians.co.uk, think they were £175 (lens only no frame) so not cheap… There is a slight risk involved getting them online rather than in a shop as they might not be the right eye width etc but I had no problems.

Rutland cycles have great deals on Lapierre.

molgrips – Member

A 5 does not squat under braking though.

How so? You proved it yourself?

Call it angular momentum or whatever you like but the end result is the same.

In reality the suspension still works and single pivot bikes are a lot of fun but theres no doubting that the suspension does compress under braking.

Have you actually done this? I have on a 5 and I think it’s angular momentum which is doing it not break induced suspension activation.

Yes I have (thats how exciting my life is…).

An easy way to illustrate what happens is to put the bike on a workstand, take the shock out, then spin the wheels fast and brake. On a single pivot the swing arm will jump up – this is squat. On a horst link or abp it won’t move.

Some people like the squat effect as it slackens the geometry going downhill.

Mine went too but was repaired under warranty. Might be worth getting a quote for them to fix it too.