I’ve always wondered about drug research too. They’re a few issues with it though, such as the huge investment to bring a drug to market and drug companies aren’t known for being the most ethical organizations. Perhaps producing out of patent drugs could save money?

Maybe treatments don’t need to be cut. But start fining people if injurys are self inflicted whilst drunk or under the influence of other drugs. Obviously some cases won’t be clear cut, but if someone crashes their car drunk or on CCTV clearly starts a fight then why not fine them a hefty sum to pay for their treatment.

Also, I’ve always wondered does the NHS sell equipment, skills or services to private companies? Surely having one of the largest medical organisations in the world there must be a business opportunity somewhere?

Shouldn’t have started this, just makes me want to consume more.

Is the xtr + mech worth it then? Been very tempted, but can’t really justify it at the moment.

Yep, just need swapping over. If you search for the original thread someone has done a great photo walk-through.

It can be quite tannic if brewed for too long, maybe try brewing it for half the time. Some people just don’t like it, if you like sugar in tea it might not be for you.

No win, no fee is a good idea on its own, allowing people on an average wage to contest un-justly situations which they otherwsie couldn’t. Unfortunately there’s a large number of people willing to abuse it, and due to this abuse the goverment is looking into banning it. If more people put the phone down we wouldn’t have this problem and have lower insurance. Just because everyone else does, doesn’t make it right.

New 2012 Shimano brakes are very good in my experience. No idea about the evo model (supposedly 15% more powerful), but the non-evo x2 are a touch less powerful and have more lever travel/wider modulation than the xt.

Watch this video though, and it makes you want the hopes, especially as they’re after-service is possibly the best in the business:

Dithered for too long, all gone!

Cheers for the heads up though

Another vote for nespresso, perfectly good coffee for the ease with a nice crema.

Just started using hope’s shit shifter and it saves me so much time, a lot better than the fairy liquid or muc off I’ve been using. Rinse it off then a bit of gt85, bit of rock n roll and a bit of wet lube on the cables.

All the pistons I used to design looked like that (might even be my old company, Capricorn auto), they’ll be fine if the tolerances are right. Pretty much all pistons are machined slightly oval (with an expensive lathe!), due to thermal expansion and the force exerted on them by the gudgeon pin.

Another vote for dead man’s shoes, lives of others and senna.

TT: closer to the edge is another excellent documentary from this year, and you don’t have to be remotely interested in the TT to enjoy it.

I’d also recommend a French film called tell no one

And Catcher in the Rye? I thought some pages had fallen out. Nothing actually happened in it, it made no sense

I thought that when I finished it, but to appreciate it you have to think about when it was written, this book invented the teenager.

Agree with most of your reviews on your site, but what’s up with all the L. Ron Hubbard though?

One book which should be on that list is this:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/My-Traitors-Heart-African-Explores/dp/0099749009/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1321363842&sr=8-1

No Problems at all, just check their forum history. There are a few traders on here, and there is the odd dodgy add but it’s usually clear from the advert or their history whether to avoid them or not.

I’m using the carlube lithium grease and it’s fine, if you get any slippage just use any a small bit of chalk to help grip it.

For 130 you can upgrade the whole system to the m785 version. Have a look on rosebikes.co.uk

Another vote for Spiral

Treme is from the makers of The Wire and is very very good, takes a few episodes to get into it so stick with it.

If you do ride more XC, I’d spend a bit more and go with the 9:

http://www.pedalon.co.uk/acatalog/trek_top_fuel_9.html

Church and State are separate, unlike the US.

The Church and State are separate in the US, which is believed by some to explain why it is in such an awful state over there (zero regulation or public body scrutinise it). The Queen is head of the CofE, so in our country it isn’t separate.

Thanks guys, will try and make up my mind

Got the new xt brakes, and they have better power and modulation than the previous version, the short levers are great for me, would definitely recommend them. Only minor drawback is they look a bit naff, the resevior looks smaller in the photos, bit bulky in the flesh. Hope brakes look lovely, but most people just want to stop rather than oggle their levers. Got the resin finned pads cheap, and they make zero difference to me this time of year, maybe need to be tested on a Spanish downhill to see the difference?

Nespresso machines are very good, and I like the coffee they sell/make. Only drawback is you’re limited to their products only, but at £80 for the machine and milk frother it’s very reasonable in my opinion. They run at optimum pressure so you get a very nice crema

240s on those rims with the right spokes should be that. Check on DT Swiss’ wheel builder though.

7mm is for the m785s, m775s are a different size

edit: maybe they’re the same size but you needed a 6mm for the levers on the 775s, and you just need an allen key on the 785s

I’m not confusing this am I??

Yep, and you need a 7mm socket spanner to loosen the bleed nipple.

+1 for ODI Rogues, great grips

Dinner by Heston at the Mandarin Oriental is very good. Should be able to do it on that budget if you don’t go silly on booze. Need to book few weeks in advance though

Does no one write anything worth charging for on Android then?

Or does everything just have ads in it?

There’s a company called google, and they release a few apps for free like goggles and turn by turn navigation, but apart from that not much.

HTC sense is a better interface to samsung, but for whatever reason they refuse to put a large capacity battery in any of their phones (I charge it every night, and often give it a boost via usb at work). I would recommend my desire hd to anyone, and it was free on my 18 month contract compared to £200 for the iphone 4. The iphone is an excellent device but personally I can’t justify the extra cash when the htc does everything I need (including itunes control). Plus looking at maps, internet and apps (generally free) on the 4.3 screen is definitely an advantage compared to the iphone.

I purchased a longer micro usb cable for a £1 as the cable was too short for me and never had a problem. Short cable is now at work to charge from the computer.

Would recommend dt 240s. Very smooth, and similar to hope service wise. Mine use the 9mm thru axle front and rear which makes a noticeable difference in stiffness. Would like to see how 15 or 20 mm compare but to be honest even standard QR is enough for me in this country. Bit more expensive than hope, unless you can get a deal somewhere.

Have you tried pumping it up again?

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=20701

You need a set of these if you have got a 3×9 speed set up. Might be able to shop around and find them a bit cheaper. They do a 10 speed version too, so make sure you get the right model for your drive train. M770 is the model number for 9 speed xt shifters.

Or if you just want the function you could save £20 and get slx.

Not sure how relevant to you as there’s a few years between them but I’ve got an old trek fuel 90 which used do this, it used to disappear for a while if I cleaned the area thoroughly. Eventually I got fed up of it returning mid way through a ride and I removed all the linkage bolts out, re-greased the threads (not the bushings!) and torqued them back up, problem solved since then.

If trek are OK with you doing this and not voiding the warranty then maybe give this a go but to honest I’d expect it on my old fuel but not on a new one. As the above advice, take it back and have it done under warranty.

Personally I’d go ODI, once you’ve bought the lock on set, the grips themselves are a tenner to replace once they’re worn or if you want swap yeti for ruffian etc.

I’ve tried cheaper grips (token and another 8 quid grip) but they just don’t last, false economy in my opinion. ODI just seem to last and grip well, plus if you want to run them over the end of the bars for a bit of extra width you can, unlike the tokens which wouldn’t hold the bar ends in.

Purchasing more and more stuff new. There’s been some excellent deals around recently, prices new that I would have been happy to pay S/H for. Bike used to be 100% S/H now everything new apart from frame, post, bars and forks. Nice to have receipts and warranty on things.

Thanks guys

Specialized Tahoe looks good too.

Decisions, decisions

+1 for Blanket/Tarp

Went to tighten a bolt on a bit of decking, allen key landed at the perfect angle and fell between the wood. Swear box was full after that.

Tub of this:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CARLUBE-LM2-MULTI-PURPOSE-LM-LITHIUM-GREASE-500G-/140505425167?pt=UK_Car_Accessories_Car_Care_Cleaning&hash=item20b6c6a50f#ht_635wt_842

(Although I’m sure someone will disagree)

and a dog bowl:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MAGNETIC-PARTS-DISH-MAGNETIC-TRAY-MAGNETIC-DISH-4-TIDY-NUTS-SCREWS-BOLTS-NEW-/270818337157?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item3f0e07e185#ht_1727wt_852

Plus a torque wrench is handy if you don’t have one, otherwise it’s pretty straight forward really. Most things on a bike are simple to do once you’ve read the instructions. Some things you can afford to break, and buy again the amount bike shops charge now a days. Evans wanted £60 to swap and bleed brakes!