Cynic-al: Thumb for gears, index finger for braking.

progressivebikes/crispy: I'm thinking about a new shock to replace the RP23 on my 5.5. If yours is 190×50 I may well be interested.

EDIT: cripsy! Dibs on that CCDB if GSuperstar doesn't want it 🙂

No issues, however beware that you can't use end caps (like this: http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=10471).

Reason being that with normal lock-on collars the screw tightens the collar around the bar; with end caps, the screw screws into the bar material and crushes the carbon. Expensive mistake to make!

Got to be Intense lock-on grips to replace the current ones. Apart from blatant brand whoring they are excellent – nice and grippy with inboard flanges.

I also agree on the 710mm bar thing – feel much better than 680mm. I'll post up a pic of my 5.5 when I get home 🙂

I did exactly the same thing with my last c2w bike – already had nice frame + forks so got a custom build and pulled the parts off.

I got a Merlin Malt 1 then custom-spec'd it up to £998 – might be worth looking at if you're picky about spec, but that Genius looks like great value for the parts on it.

Merlin link: http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/custom-mountain-bikes/merlin-mountain-bikes/merlin-malt-11.html

It depends on how your company runs the scheme – my workplace said "buy a bike that costs up to £1000, get a VAT receipt, put it on expenses and we'll sort it out". So I got a custom-build bike from Merlin with the specific kit that I wanted – if your company works the same way then a custom build bike might be the way to go.

Money saving expert has a decent article in this area.

Linky: http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/phones/mobile-recycling

This children's informational video will help explain:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTtPOw9ywaI

I started with a version of this: https://www.pearbudget.com/spreadsheet

Tweaked it slightly to be more applicable to me (less flexible than the original, but based around what I know I spend each month).

*Everything* goes in the S/S (and has done for the last 3 years). Get receipts for every transaction (especially withdrawing cash) and every couple of days empty out the wallet and update the S/S. Really easy to track exactly where your money's going and where you can afford to cut down on stuff.

Has helped me a lot – I had around ~5k of credit card debt a couple of years ago, now I've got savings set up and a sensible monthly budget. Plus an emergency holiday/forks fund 🙂

That video has put a proper big smile on my face – looks like a brilliant ride (apart from the end, obviously).

What happened to Shag? Looked like the landing was fine, then he hit a rock / branch on the way out?

Cannot recommend Pro2 / 819s highly enough. Only problem is that I prefer the tyre profile that 823s give 👿

Don't know where you got the idea that Vans are stiffer, they're both the same structurally, just different internals.

Float bump sensitivity is ever so slightly worse than the Vans, but tbh you'll be very hard pressed to notice the difference. Tracking – see stiffness, same on the Float and the Van.

For me the lighter weight of the Float was a minor bonus, the adjustability was quite a big plus though – easy sag setup, and a 30 minute job to adjust the travel if you feel so inclined (or want to swap the forks across bikes).

I think the most telling thing is that Dirt – traditionally focused on DH, DJ, 4X kit – recommend the Floats over the Vans, despite the commonly-held belief that coil is better than air for that sort of application.

I'm using a Thule 903, fantastic rack and folds up small enough to keep in the boot / pop up in the attic. Really quick to put on / take off and the wheel supports make it nice and easy to pop bikes on and off too.

http://www.roofrackshop.co.uk/bike/thule-903-euroclassic-pro-towbar-bike-carrier.htm

CAT OWNERS – save money on expensive pet carriers by simply tying your pet's tail to one of its back legs and using it as a handy carrying loop.

What kimbers said, 2.5" front and rear, soft compound (42) on the front, hard (60) on the rear.

Ideally tubeless if the 6000 is UST compatible or you can get a rim strip to fit.

What mk1fan said, 5.10 sizes are usually spot on but worst case you can always exchange them (I'm going to big up CRC here because I've done this with a pair of 5.10s from them previously 🙂 )

I know you asked for "other than Dell", but the Dell outlet is pretty good for this sort of thing:

http://www1.euro.dell.com/uk/en/dfo/df.aspx?refid=df&s=dfo

Click through to Inspiron laptops and you can sort by CPU, OS, colour, etc. The "outlet" bit means they're cheaper than a normal Dell, so for 500 notes you should be able to get one with a decent CPU and enough memory / HD space.

Quite possibly interested, again how much would they be?

I don't use DD (for the various "always in credit" issues discussed above), but just got through the gas and electric bill for the last 3 months. This is from accurate readings for a 3-storey Islington town house (high ceilings, no double glazing):

£431 gas, £146 electricity, both with npower.

Hurray for the British winter!

580 for 2010 36RC2 fox vans, where where where?

Literally consuming the body of another animal to gain its strength.

Eating meat rules.