All works now I can access the full site on the iPhone. See the mobile site nor the app have these features. That was the real problem. Thanks anyway.

Ah, the sneaky little “Flickr.com” link at the bottom of the page. Not that obvious that that takes you to the full site. Thanks!

Also, for anyone else who cares, as is always the case, after trying to figure it out for weeks, I finally find another way 5 mins after posting the question in a forum!
Basically Opera Mini is your friend, as it gives you the option to “open an image”, which takes you to the raw image URL that you can then copy.

Thanks again for the most obvious method that I couldn’t figure out!!

If anyone’s interested, it’s icy as hell! Haha, great fun though and there are places in the trees without any ice or snow. Loads of black ice though and that’ll probably get worse as it’s staying cold there.

Thanks for the tip. I’ve done that now anyway, but on closer inspection, the cleats where a suttley different shape to my mates (and all the pics I could find on the net). So basically I have no idea where these strange cleats came from that I had in my bike box, I’ve only ever bought shimano peddles, but I got some shimano cleats from the lbs and all sorted!

Have you tried them on? I’m pretty similar build and height to you and found the 661 pads didn’t shay well on my knees. Ended up with Troy Lee one which have a stretchy knee support type thing that goes underneath and volcro’s to the hard pad. Keeps everything in place. Last thing I wanted was to wear pads that move when you need them.

Basiclyy point us that if you haven’t already, try and find a shop to try on some different brands and sizes before you buy. Even if you then go and buy online.

That’s probably the the best stem cap in the world.

Another suggestion is an alarm lock with motion detector. Very small, very light and only about £15. The cable makes a circuit and triggers the alarm if it’s broken. If you set the motion sensor, alarm is triggered a few seconds after the lock is disturbed.
In reality it can be muted considerably by slapping your palm over the siren, but it’s fcukin loud so it most likely to scare off any opportunists. Plus it has a nice big red labor saying 100db alarm which I’d say is a fairly good deterrent.

Best I can recommend for this is the Abus Bordo 75cm. It’s pretty damn strong, can’t be cut with bolt cutters, and is surprisingly light for the level of protection it gives. Also very compact and has a great secure case for strapping to your frame, secure enough to ride any off road without it rattling around or getting in the way. Sadly it’s not cheap, about £50, but leagues better than a cable lock IMO.

Jedi

As well as the main skills we learnt like cornering better, drops, jumps etc. I now don’t worry so much about my setup, what tires I’ve got or what height my seat it, I just ride, and seem to be much better for it.

Thanks for the advice so far. Big tyres and 203 rotors are already on the list.

Thanks for all the info guys. “Schultz” in 3) should have been “guide”, not sure how my iPhone managed that one!

We’ll all be on full suss’s, a Five Pro, a Prophet and a Reign 2. The possible 4th member has a hardtail with 100mm Rebas, would the advice be that that’s a bit lacking for Morzine? I’m always a bit skeptical when people say “you need a long travel full suss” etc, as he copes with some pretty rocky stuff in the lakes on it.

How long does the drive realistically take (say you had two drivers) home to resort (we’d be starting from Cardiff)?

Best way I’ve found is get the top tube across the back of your shoulders. Ideally resting on the top of a small rucksack/camelback if you’re using one. That way a) the weight is centralised rather than being on one shoulder, and b) a lot of the weight is actually taken on the bag, rather than directly on you shoulders, so less need for padding.
You end up holding the saddle with one hand and one of the grips with the other.

I’d look second hand for that price. I guess you’re not after great quality, so just have a look on eBay. IMHO, Canon is one of the best brands for compacts so keep have a look what you can find.

No

I got all my stuff from bathstore, looked a lot nicer than the b&q/wicks stuff, but don’t pay full price. They nearly always have 50% off sales on and I got a few things ex display as well, bargain! Are you doing it diy?

I have quite a list (not at the same time)!

1) a 25kg sack of tile adhesive on a rear rack.
2) a 15 litre tub of pre mixed tile adhesive on the crossbar.
3) 3 lengths of boiler flue pipe under the arm.
4) large quantity of fishing kit, rods on crossbar, everything else trailing behind.

I have the magicshine which I’ve always run on the bars till last week when I stuck it on my lid and it was really good. Didn’t bother with the mount as I can just strap it straight onto a vent ridge on my Hex with the o ring. Zero fuss, brilliant, and they’ll do about 3 hours+ on full.

Not much good as a hiding place, now you’ve posted it’s location on the Internet!

Edit: is it wide enough to fit a bike? You could keep it in there, good security if thieves can’t find it!

Seems a lot for a repair of a light that breaks when you drop it. Presumably it’s original RRP was pretty high, and I’d expect better durability than that. Obviously i don’t know what lamp it was, but if you can effort it, pay the repair. If you’re strugging at all with funds, you could get a decent enough light new for £50 (dx cough). If you think there was carelessness on his part, then I would be tempted to ask for half of whatever you choose to do. It’s a tough one though, but certainly not worth any kind of fall out.

Sensible comment: have you looked at the Buffalo jackets, they do a lightweight cycle specific one. Idea is that they’re breathable and keep you warm when wet, but don’t try to be waterproof. Haven’t tried them myself, but only heard good things. Would consider if I was looking for a new winter jacket, or had some spare cash.

does a very good job of keeping you waterproof also.

I’m already waterproof!

I might be wrong, but if you don’t have a “waterproof” layer, and the fabric get’s saturated with water, won’t that severly impede the breathability?

Can I ask… were all the injuries from riding, or other persutes? If they were from riding, I’d say that when you do get out again, take it easy!

Either way, just get out any ride again, you know you’ll love it, just don’t fall off!!

Wouldn’t be surprised if they’re sold for a fraction of their value to people who don’t know what they have and don’t really ride, and therefore they never really show up in circles that recognise them.

I bet you’re right about some of them being shashed for a while before resale, but I wouldn’t think there was the same steal to order as with cars, as you’d then be selling them on to people in the know, and they’d be spotted.

Is the clamp in the right way round? I.e. the bolt side of the clamp is in the same side as the split in the seat tube. If it is, I can’t think of much else. You could try lubing up the bolt, as it might help you tighten if more, with less effort (that’s the general solution with a qr clamp, but don’t know if it would have much effect on a non qr).

Don’t pressure washers trash bikes?

If it’s on your leg, go for a nice big gash, like you’d get from a peddle or chainring. If it’s in colour, all the better!

Finished!

Wear what you want and don’t care about what anyone thinks. I sometimes where pads on xc and they’ve stopped an off ruining a ride a few times. If you were asking if you should wear a helmet for xc, coz you don’t plan to fall off, and you think it’s cooler without one, what would people say then?

Minion

Maybe that’s telling you something…?

I’ve just put 9 speed chainset on with 8 speed everything else and it seems fine. General consensus on here was that it would be ok. I’d have thought 10 with 9 would be fine too, if not an even closer match. Best wait for an experts comment though!

+2 for Jedi, again best money I’ve spend. We drove from cardiff and with traffic took us over 5 hours to get there, and still well worth it!

MrTall, did it come on your Giant as standard?

Thanks!

It was chained up in a bike shed type thing at the side of his building, which has a padlocked gate. Don’t know if they broke the gate or went over it, it’s full height though.

I’m sure that picture has been used before for the same joke!

It's not massive, but looks like quite a lot of skill involved! Taken by my parents in Lagos.

Don't think there are many places you "need" a 6" full sus. Granted I ride an orange 5, but my friend does everything I do on a 100mm hardtail, and that's some pretty techy stuff.

bigdonx, very true I'm sure!