Anybody else tried one yet? KS LEV on the front page looks like a contender also.

As above, if it’s a low clamp mech all shimano models now have a big plastic area, even xtr. Shimano front mechs seem to get uglier each year, Sram are slightly better looking.

Looks lovely

Looks good daisbuys, interested to know how you get on.

What’s the minimum insertion, i.e. what length of post can you have sticking out?

Hi Joe, yes I did and sold them on eBay after 2 rides! Not sure what the v4s are like but the v5s have more float compared to shimano pedals. Didn’t get on with them personally and put the new xt pedals on instead. I prefer the rigid feeling you get when pedalling with shimano pedals and they clear mud a lot better, I kept having to smack my cleats on the pedals before I could clip back in. They’re noticeably light out of the box though

What type of bees produce milk?

Boo Bees

Have a look at http://giffgaff.com/%5B/url%5D and consider buying the phone separately and unlocked if you think you’ll have it for a while. I ended up sticking to my contract as it worked out even once they’d decided they would give me the one x for no extra cost.

I’m enjoying the one x, everything is slightly better than the desire hd I had previously with the screen, camera and outright processing speed being the main improvements. It is a large phone, fortunately I’ve got farmer’s hands so it suits me well, but due to that lovely big screen it is power hungry so if you’re a heavy user maybe consider getting something smaller. It isn’t a major upgrade and if I’m honest I didn’t really need it as the desire hd was perfectly adequate. Next time I think I’ll go sim only as in my opinion paying for a phone in one cash lump makes the decision more considered.

I’d recommend the one x, but the one s is also supposed to be very good and I think the battery might last slightly longer. Maybe hold off for two months as the galaxy s3 will be out, but then there is always something around the corner.

Haven’t tried a 10 speed kmc, but the xtr chain runs noticeably smoother than 10 Speed sram chain I previously had on. If you haven’t read the blurb, the xtr chain is asymmetric to aid shifting. Saying that if you’re not running shimano rings it will make less of a difference.

Treme is great, from the makers of the wire. Another vote for breaking bad, can’t wait for the next series.

Kask, best helmet by a mile. Not many places stock them unfortunately, but it is one size fits all.

As above, just sell your xtr brakes on here or ebay and buy some new xt brakes from rosbikes. I’ll doubt you’ll be much out of pocket if at all.

I’ve got a 2009 carbon x, much stiffer than my old trek fuel. Builds up into a pretty like bike, good on the climbs but not an absolute whippet. Frame stiffness inspires confidence. Only had 120 forks in it so far, very short headtube with steepish steering angle.

Oops! There goes the embargo.

Bugger, I thought that was for xtr di2. Not that I could afford it, but it would be quite cool.

Brakes look monstrous

Thanks Jota, downloaded the .mobi file, moved it into the kindle folder and it worked a treat

That’s the book, checked already and it’s not free unfortunately. Some classics seem expensive on there, all the P. G. Wodehouse are 5.49.

Anybody got a Kronolog yet? To add another contender, the Fox DOSS has been announced for May

Thanks for the quick responses, wishful thinking on my part

http://www.bikeradar.com/gallery/article/shimano-slx-2013-unveiled-33285/4

The SLX version is on the way, but could be one month or could be six.

Have you considered the superstar QR version? Working well for me front and rear after my front rws broke. Heavier though.

Pleasantly surprised by the xt 775 hubs I picked up on a second hand bike at the start of the year, very smooth and roll well.

£60 for a m785 pair from Germany, seems like very good value.

Xtr shadow+

+1

But if you want to save some money the xt and slx version are out soonish

Next day here, but I did only order one item. Definitely slower if you order multiple items, unfortunately in my experience it has been faster to place separate orders if you’re in a hurry.

Not on offer but specialized tubes seem to last much longer for me.

Continental and Schwalbe inners puncture very easily in my experience.

How old are the front rings? Mate had a similar issue with a new chain, took us ages to figure out it was the front rings as it felt like the rear slipping. On the two small cogs the torque was high enough to cause it to slip, while on others it would still run.

Kronolog looks good, so I’m interested but the crank brothers stuff I’ve owned has all been a bit crap.

Orange peel worked for me. I just threw some down, but you could make a spray if you don’t want bits of peel lying around the garden

All have have the same pitch, but vary in thickness depending on speed. Just count the rear number of cogs and make sure you get the right speed chain.

Looks like it’s the mondial:

http://www.schwalbe.co.uk/tour/marathon-mondial/%5B/url%5D

Heavy though

Was wondering this too, but it looks like the marketing department has played around with names. Is the XR now called the supreme?

The canal path is closed at the moment around Ealing hospital, so you’ll have to either cross over at a lock and skip through the fields or go on the road for a bit. The a4 is OK just boring and the cycle path on the into London side is a bit crap as it’s half on the pavement.

looks like a groundhog to me

I really rate mine but it was expensive. The shifting is slightly stiffer when it’s engaged but I only notice it when I’m playing with the gears in the stand. Turned it off for a ride recently as I’d bent my rear mech and didn’t really notice a difference.

My old xt brakes squealed and the only way I got rid of it was to switch from sintered to resin pads. Tried heating pads, scoring them and putting copper grease behind the pads.

Northface summit series here, great jacket

This seems to sum it up well:

http://www.pinkbike.com/news/12×142-explained.html

No stiffer than a 135 thru axle just easier to get the wheel back in

Can’t give you a direct comparison but when I changed from QR to the 135x10mm dt swiss thru bolt system it noticeably stiffened up the rear. I’d recommend having a through bolt system of some kind, not sure if 142 x 12 will be noticeably stiffer than 135 x 10 but it makes it easier to put the wheel back in if that means anything to you.

Plus I know you said not milling but true 5 axis is pretty cool:

Water jet cutting is worth a look

Looks good to me, as above maybe consider going 2×10 unless you really want a single ring up front. I Would consider swapping the rear mech for the xtr shadow plus version.

The xt brakes are great, but the new tech evo hope brakes are supposed to be much better than the outgoing version, got a great write up in the magazine. I’ve got the xt brakes and they’re very good but if you want something a little bit more special (in my opinion) and something that everybody else doesn’t have (judging by the rosebikes thread) go with the hopes.

Kask are one size fits all, a bit expensive but worth it in my opinion. If I couldn’t see the peak I’d forget I had it on. Crc did have the road versions discounted, still might.