I’d buy some of these in a second…

I have some 800 bars which I love for the width, but their naff all bend gives me major wrist ache so I generally use Salsa Promoto, but they’re only 710.

Orangejohn I’m 6’3″ and about 110kg. I bought one of the first round of Merlin Jones. I’ve thought about selling it a couple of times, but that’s always been when I haven’t been riding it. Then I do ride it and I can’t imagine selling it.

All in all it fits fine. I do like what would generally be considered a more upright position, but with the bars and other elements of the design I move around more on the bike and find it more comfortable than any other bike I own.

Did a bit of cycle touring in China and got caught in “the big wind” which blows from Urumqi to Turfan. Managed 215 miles in a day, mostly because the wind was blowing me at about 50miles an hour.

If you’re travelling at the same speed as the wind, all you can hear is the noise your tires are making on the Tarmac (not very much) and for a good fifty minutes I had a plastic bag blowing along next to me and could hear it rustling. Very American Beauty and wonderfully surreal.

Four hours later I was sitting on a wooden bed screaming silently as I’d partially torn my Achilles.

SS Tinbred with 29er wheels in it. Big apple up front and a marathon supreme on the back. Was lots of fun.

What problem did you have with the carnegie’s? Initially I didn’t like them, but then I switched my brakes from hope techs to formula oros and it seems that it was the length of the brake levers that was putting me off.