I enjoyed the BBCs choice of pictures in their article on Nick Griffin resigning….. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-28408039

Ditto Embleton and The Ship Inn. My folks used to have a cottage up there. Great place.

cheers. decided to go for some scott shorts. scott mind – 30 sheets. Good reviews online.

Movida is always good. Also Italian waiters club just off Bourke St, followed by cake and coffee at Peligrinos roud the corner. Two brilliant Melbourne (out of the way) institutions!).

For lunch Don Don on swanston st is brilliant too and dirt cheap. Some good Japanese place on clarendon st in south Melbourne too.

Gloucester road gearboxes were good and cheaper than other places to replace my gear box and clutch.

There doesn’t seem to be too many links in there (I took a good few out of the chain to make it fit) and the chainring is a normal one from a three ring chainset. I am a bit dubious (after reading some other posts) of thick thin chain rings. sounds like they might not be too reliable without the other expenses of clutch mech etc.

Any suggestions of cheap but decent chain guides? Jamie, what is the one pictured?

I understand that bike shops need to make a decent profit on what they sell to keep them going, but sometimes it does leave a bitter taste inn your mouth when you feel as through you are being charged a premium for needing something there and then and not shopping online. I was at a trail centre a while ago and needed a new set of brake pads and was changed £20 for one set! I could have got the same ones online for half the price, or a little more in a shop. From that experience I would be unlikely to look at buying anything from that shop.

Anyway, I didn’t get a puncture yesterday on the Dartmoor classic so didn’t need the tube!!

it felt a lot harder than last year in the rain and wind! Struggled up a few of the hills at the end! great day through.

no. I could have gone to a Halfords that would have been less out of my way!

I’d prefer to support local independent shops so thought I would just go in and get one. asked for a tube….they rung it through the till and told me the price….in my head I thought what the f! but just paid up. Its only a couple of quid more but as a percentage thing over other retailers it just seemed really excessive. Also bought a few other minor things from them recently that I thought were really over priced.

I had my mind set on their titanium bike….but it was only in large which was surprisingly big! and now they have stopped selling them. Looked at the RT58 when I was there and sat on a medium. Felt and looked very nice, but at the time I was still in the mind set of the other bike id come to look at.

Cheers for advice. I say a medium or large as Ive currently got a large boardman. I was at PLanet x recently looking at a bike there….when I tried the large it was too big and the medium fitted much better. I guess I am on the cust between different sizes and some brands will size their medium / large slightly differently.
The Synapse looks good and good value. The Giant TCR is also nice looking but I think it will be a bit more ‘racy’ and Im less inclined to go for something like that…keener on all day comfort.
I like the look of rose bikes and canyon, however at least with buying a Cannondale or giant online I can probably try one out in a store nearby to get a feel, unlike those.

Cheers for advice. I say a medium or large as Ive currently got a large boardman. I was at PLanet x recently looking at a bike there….when I tried the large it was too big and the medium fitted much better. I guess I am on the cust between different sizes and some brands will size their medium / large slightly differently.
The Synapse looks good and good value. The Giant TCR is also nice looking but I think it will be a bit more ‘racy’ and Im less inclined to go for something like that…keener on all day comfort.
I like the look of rose bikes and canyon, however at least with buying a Cannondale or giant online I can probably try one out in a store nearby to get a feel, unlike those.

Cheers for the heads up Scruff. I recognised the name Goldcar and checked our booking….that’s who I’d booked with via a broker site. Googled them and nothing but terrible reviews….crazy prices for full tanks etc. Have now cancelled and booked with one that sounds more reputable!

YEs got transport – unbelievably cheap car hire at £23 for 6 days! I did a couple of searches and Nerja came up as sounding good. Will have a butchers at Torrox and Frigliana. Happy to be a bit inland / rural. Just looking for something chilled out in a nice location. Think we will drive to beaches and seek out good food!

NWA – Straight Outta Compton. Brilliant Album. The song Express Yourself is played at home a lot. also worth checking out other versions of it (probably where the samples came from) on Spotfy….especially Charles Wright and the 101st St Watts band.

Bennedetto, the first of the routes you linked to has a last little section called Loughrigg Terrace….its not particularly hard-core but has to be one of my favourite sections of trail in England. Fast and swooping with amazing views. Plus in winter / spring you don’t get the crowds. Have fun!

or device up front

Any recommendations for chain tensioners?

rude chalets.

interesting. doubt I will actually buy one as after something different but seem pretty good value. Even if it is just a generic frame as long as it rides well….and the spec is pretty reasonable it seems like a better deal than any other company is doing. If I was looking at a first road bike again I think for the money it would be very appealing.

booked!

I separated my collarbone from the shoulder after an off at Bike Park UK last summer. Hurt like hell. Different story from all the doctors I saw….some saying it would need surgery….most just saying ‘give it 6 weeks and lets see how it goes’! took me about 3 months to get full movement and get back to biking and swim training….after a lot of rest and plenty of physio exercises (they do work). I am now left with a raised collar bone at the shoulder end….. but have good movement and getting more confidence back on the bike again finally!

Dose up on the pain killers, do the exercise the physio gives you (religiously!) and be patient.

cheers for the advice guys.