Get some Crankskins from Ebay USA. I've had a few sets over the years and they have saved the looks of several cranks. Costs about £7 for 3 or 4 pairs.

I put them on my XTR's from new and they are perfect! The skins themselves have needed replacing a few times. And they are available in many colours including clear.

Knick Knack is my fav. With the lecherous snowman.

There's a big difference between having a poor sense of humour and sitting at the keyboard waiting to be offended by something.

aracer – Do you live in Lazytown?

Or are you the Tellytubby who rides the scooter?

Benneton were very successful before Schumacher and after with Race wins.

Renault won before Alonso and will win after.

Not all results are down to the driver, circumstances make more difference. Just a quick safety car and there you go.

glenp- I don't understand your 'in a Renault FFS' comment. Renault swept the world before them when they were an engine supplier to Williams. The Renault team itself was previously Benneton, who were multi Champion winners with the German. Just because they can't screw road cars together for toffee, you can't compare the two.

I'd be surprised if Alonso is particularly bothered whether anyone thinks he is a great champion or not

I'm sure Alonso thinks his behaviour is all completed justified. That's half the problem. He got away with it last time, he needs slapping down.

Another cheating scandal and there's the Spaniard again!

"It was not mee, it was heem and heeem and heems"

A cheat for sure, and not the great champion he would like everyone to think.

They are notoriously miserablists.

But I do have some sympthathy with them when someone says 'how do I lighten my bike?' How may times can you say 'put some light bits on'.

It's not cold fusion, it's very simple.

She's got a bit too much slap on, and not enough leg on show.

Perfect.

Does the 'summer in pictures' article have some fancy fade in/out to it? Or was my copy just shitly printed?

NO.

I had a set of Bolt through Pace Fighters that replaced the QR Marz Am SL I had before. I never really got on with the SL's, they had a nasty top out I couldn't tune out. The Fighters where stiff, light and delivered the full travel without a murmur.

With DT taking the basic design and making them with a bit more precision, they'll be great.

Just very expensive.

I was never a bit fan of Wogan but having listened in the car for the past few years I've warmed to him. It's a nice gentle way to start the day.

I listened to Chris Moyles once. Never again. He spoke about doing the washing up the night before for about 15 minutes. Then played what sounded like a couple of teenagers having a saucepan fight. And then talked about washing up again.

I must be too old.

I was at CDG airport last week in a little Flybe thing and it taxi'd passed a Singapore Airlines A380 at the stand. I couldn't see the top of it out of the window. Simply immense.

I don't believe they can fly, though. It just looks too big.

If the sellers name is Fruit, Tango or Superstar then approach with caution!

I work in Bury and I went to school there. It's cheep to buy mainly because it's rough; especially around the Council estate areas.
Radcliffe is known locally as dogshit gulch, but that may not make the Estate Agents details.
I live 'up the valley' in Rossendale. It's not bad, and handy for the trails.

They are heavy. They don't last that well. Cheap, though.

A Deore hub on XC717 would be similar price, but lighter. Try Merlin Cycles, they make good custom wheels, and they are cheep.

I was there on Tuesday and there were the usual couple of folks milling around wondering were to go, about half way round.

There are some posts in the ground, and some kind soul from on here has added yellow arrows to point the way.

The Red arrows doesn't give the whole route yet.

Which is a shame. But it will come.

No

Clickety
You will need the special Hayes hose end. It's not an olive; it's more complicated than that. CRC have them in stock and it'll make your life much easier. They form around the hose end and I wouldn't like to try to get one off.

Hayes experts recommend cutting the hose at the caliper end, and using a 8mm ring spanner to undo the fitting without rounding it. They are very soft!

Yep, the Brains are very good. I had a 2007 Expert Stumpy and the operation of the rear Brain shock was excellent. Very firm when smooth and fully plush when on anything rougher than a fireroad.

I am sure they are better now than they were then. I'd get one again.

Orange R8 – fresh off the boat. Not cheap, though.

No, most of the issues were with shifters with gear indicators.

Lots of piccies on the Hope website to help out, though.

Because football is considered a religion to many of the lower orders of Brit.

I took my 5 year old to Blackpool Tower circus yesterday and I have never seen so much cheap sportswear on so many fatties.

TJ- That's just not true. Or did the Iranians get the Syrians to do it?

I've been to Orange. It's in a faceless industrial estate in the outskirts of Halifax.

What they do with so few people is astonishing. On One etc have a bike brand with less people, but don't get involved with the manufacturing. Giant make bikes with hydroforming on every tube, all in the Far East but they don't look any more or less like a bike in my eyes.

I've had an Orange bike in some form or another since 1992. So I'm with them.

Haven't got a pic handy but now running Talas 32 RL 150mm with the QR15.

Very impressed so far.

Biketreks in Ambleside have a 5 in Orange with Orange rims. It looks great in the shop but I bet it'll be eyewatering out in the real world

I found the slab fairly unimpressive; there is a section in a local ride that is steeper and rougher (quarry near Mitchell's House, Stumpy – do you know it?)

The rock steps in thre trees early I find more nerve-wracking; they are always look so slimey and wet. It's all in the head, though.

I was there again last week and was suprised by the number of people who missed out the slab bit; they just had a look and couldn't be bothered.

I also met the most miserable man in the world, who couldn't even reply to a couple of simple "Morning"'s. His mate was a cheery soul, though, so I assume it wasn't me. Maybe he didn't like being caught?

You're right that it's the basics; but it's the key to riding your bike. You need to move your weight around. Move your weight right back and you can use much more braking force. Both front and rear.

I can't see why your front wouldn't lock; it should be possible. Not always welcome, though, you need to be expecting it. That what they call modulation; it's feel and knowing how much squeeze gives the braking you want.

Kefalonia.

Most of the evidence that convicted him looks spectacularly thin, so letting him out might be a reasonable ploy.

Even scapegoats need a break every now and then.

BETD do one.

It works fine.

I'm pleased for you.

Maybe if you sorted them properly instead of constant hamfisted meddling, they would be fine?

I got a nice set of Mini's off here from a user who said they were the worse brakes ever invented. I sorted out his mistakes and they are still going nicely on my hardtail.

I've run Hope brakes since my first discs in '98. I've tried all the others, and always go back to Hope as a preference. If you fit them properly they don't squeal, leak, judder, or explode like many people seem to believe.

Hope brakes are great. Frequently badmouthed by people who don't know enough about them to get the best from them. Parts are easily sourced and they are easy to service. Goodridge Sintered pads for my sort of riding.

They go X2, M4 then V2 in terms of power. X2 pro is the new caliper with the mini lever.

Merlin have the lighter options at good prices.

Google Streetview was also banned for uploading photos of Cop Shop.

They are a bit paranoid, have they put on weight and a little touchy about it?

It was like all the other Police Stop Crims telly that's on.

The only difference was instead of saying 'don't the rossers do a great job' it was from the angle of 'Crime is really bad, isn't it?'

Museum of Science and Industry charge £5 a day for visitors. That's what most folk in Manchester do when I've been trying to visit the Museum.

Get XTR and fit with a Hope BB. You'll get the best cranks plus a British BB.

Best of both worlds.