Well I like it and no-one outside STW would know what it means so it’s a euphemism as far as I’m concerned.

That’s not what a euphemism is though… I’m sure you can do better 😉

Hmmm… But it basically means “to own with a pair of Bombers”… So not a euphemism…

Now, “hammering the tight singletrack because the trail builders are busy on the red run…” THAT, my friend, is a euphemism.

How is “owning with Bombers” a euphemism?

My 2000 passat was hewn from the same lump of granite.

I’ve been thinking of getting rid for years, but it just keeps going! I basically use it as a very fast (and thirsty) van, the back seats are permanently folded for biking and builders yard duties etc.

I had thought about a nice estate, but I’d probably think twice about loading half-a-dozen railway sleepers and bags of cement in the back of a new car! Hence why I think the Caddy would be a better option…

I’ve also just noticed, the headlight bulb has gone… First one ever! Don’t even know how to replace it!

The going rate on iStock is around the £15 mark for something like that. It’s a very nondescript photo of a very mundane looking scene though, very much a snapshot rather than something saleable, so if someone specifically wants it, I’d probably let it go for a few beer tokens.

They’ve been fine so far, although I’ve not had to claim I don’t think.
I see it like car insurance, get the cheapest you can that offers the right cover, and as long as it’s specific landlords’ insurance, there aren’t too many problems. Don’t really need much day-to-day dealings once it’s set up…

It’ll hand like a dog with such a short stem, and the range of quill stems available isn’t huge so you’d probably be looking on ebay.

With older frames, frame size was much more critical than on modern frames where spacers, stems and seat posts can be used to make it fit a wider range of riders. Unless you’re 6’2+, I’d ditch the frame (they can make handy money on ebay) and get something that fits.

Are you looking to use it as a winter bike? I put the bits off an old Ribble on a Dolan Prefissio with full mudguards… It’s fantastic.

I use Lets Cover for most of my buildings, seem quite competitive premium-wise…

I don’t know what amazes me more: that someone would keep a laundry diary; that they’d be prepared to share with people the fact that they would keep a laundry diary; or that they would think anyone would G.A.S. enough for it to be marked as a permanent ‘sticky’ on a cycling forum!

you sure about that ??? sounds like VW bull…. to me .

Why did you not ask in title Help me buy an over priced caddy

I’m driving a 2001 VW Golf V5 with 140,000 miles on the clock. It still has the complete original exhaust system from new, original clutch, and the only parts it’s ever needed are brake pads, tyres and the usual servicing parts. The bodywork is pristine, no rust (never garaged) and drives like it’s almost run in. I thrash the arse off it and apart from servicing when it tells me too, I do nothing to it.

You don’t see many 12 year old Renault Meganes knocking about.

You might prefer cheap vans, but I can afford something a bit better so that’s what I’ll get. It’s a vehicle that will represent my business so I want something that says ‘quality’, not something that says ‘cheap florists van’.

There’s a comment above about cheaper plastics, personally I thought they were just tough as, and what I’d expect in a good van.

Yeah, I noticed that… The demonstrator I had a look at yesterday didn’t look cheap in the slightest – my current car is a very well-spec’d Golf and it was all the same switchgear…

So DH bikes fitted in the Caddy no probs? Was that wheels on and lashed to the side?

Seriously???

Kangoo pre reg from 8k on autotrader .
2 times that for a caddy seems a little mad.

Yes, but a VW will last twice as long as a Renault, will have a far higher resale value and will be far more reliable. 😉

I’m looking at Caddys because I’m going to be using this as an every day vehicle that will be used to transport bikes 2-3 times a week.

Whilst bigger vans like Transporters might be more practical as a bike van, they’re nowhere near as practical for daily use as a Caddy…

Thanks PIHA, that was another question – I’m an absolute numpty when it comes to finance, I have one of those brains that needs walking through anything number related!!

I’m guessing that dealerships make a lot of commission – they seemed to be falling over themselves to tell me that they could do loads of deals on the purchase price which sounded to me like they were trying to hook me in on that so I wouldn’t ask any questions about the finance!

For the finance side, I’d suggest in the fist instance asking your accountant.

This is my next port of call… But having never bought – or leased – a vehicle through the business, I thought I’d ask if anyone had any suggestions either way.

I’m warming to the idea of finance lease at the moment – this was briefly explained to me at a dealership yesterday, but my understanding is that I could personally buy the van after 3 years.

Having done a bit of measuring-up lat night, I’m not convinced I’d need to go for the Maxi though, does anyone use a Caddy as a bike van?

Ideally I’d like it to be ply’d/carpeted and some sort of fork-mounting rack fixed to the floor to carry 2 bikes…

I have one of those little Bontrager Torque Keys like this…

It’s spot on for stem bolts etc. I also have the Giant ‘proper’ torque wrench which is pretty good value, seems well made and works.

I was out there 3 weeks ago, Col de Soller is a lovely climb with a cracking descent down the other side, The Orient is beautiful too, and the Deia ride is a must… Don’t think for a minute it’ll be easy though! It’s a TOUGH road.

Col de sa Bataille is lovely, either from Selva or Pollensa side, and if you get that far, it would be rude not to ride Sa Colabra.

There’s nothing particularly tough in Majorca – they don’t do the 25% gradients that we have in the UK, and the climbs rarely elevate more than 1000m, so whilst they’re long, they’re not “Alpine” long…

I suspect heat might be a big problem so get out early if you can. It was very warm when I was there but not much humidity so climbing was pleasant.

But Soller is very sheltered from the wind, so climbing the Col can be murderously hot.

Have a great time, you lucky, lucky b*****d! 😀

I’ve ridden HT almost exclusively for the past 3 years (Chameleon and Soul). I love the lack of maintenance and the fact that there is so much less to break on the trail.

It’s made me a far better rider too, I have no problem out-descending most of the riders in my weekly ride group, and have to say, I think it’s a far more “involving” ride and I really enjoy the challenge.

And when I get back on my Blur, I frighten the living daylights out of myself, as my skill level allows me to go far faster than my fear level can tolerate!!

As Crikey mentioned, YOU DIDN’T DO A RACE!

You did the Colne Valley CHALLENGE. It’s not a race. It’s like a sportive, but for mountain bikes.

If you want to race, enter a race. They tend to be advertised as “races”, and you’ll effectively be racing against other riders rather than not racing, which is what happened at Colne Valley this weekend.

But going back to your question, and notwithstanding the fact that you’re talking about an event that isn’t a race, no. Daft idea.

The Categorised system works well, particularly in road racing, but it tends to be for the purposes of keeping the lazy numpties in 3rd/4th Cat races away from the dedicated riders who have earned the right to ride in E/1/2 races.

A rider of your ability has no place on the leader board with the names of people that put in a lot more graft…

You should NOT have eaten more than 15 minutes.

(does anyone else use the Minutes System for dividing cakes and pies?)

I have those Clarks pads on my Crit bike – used them in the wet last night for the first time and they’re excellent.

I got them from CRC (or possibly Wiggle) and they came with 4 spare inserts and a pair of free gear cable inners.

The most important thing to bear in mind, at all times, no matter what, is to look cool.

Shave your legs and apply a thin film of oil to enhance the coolness, lose lots of weight so you can wear closer-fitting clothes whilst looking cool, and work on your super-cool-thousand-yardmetre-death-stare.

Whenever you pass oncoming traffic, close your mouth and breathe through your nose – it looks cooler.

Whenever you stop at traffic lights, avoid letting passers-by see you pain by holding your breath… It looks cooler.

Don’t attach anything to your bike – it’s not cool.

Watch bike races, see how cool they look, and focus on emulating them.

K’s are cool, miles, not so cool.

And Strava… It’s cool.

emsz – Member

Shib, Hels is a girl my lovely

I do apologise, I find it so difficult to tell these days… 😉

My mental image of hels is one of a scruffy, unkempt individual with a lackadaisical attitude to personal hygiene and grooming, and an inherent, deep-rooted homophobia.

Upon seeing stylish, attractive and well-coiffed people, his immediate knee-jerk reaction is to undermine their masculinity by branding them homosexual.

This, in itself, is a reaction to his personal disgust at his own sexual attraction towards other men, and dissatisfaction at the size and virility of his own manhood.

(Fact.)

If Mr. Thicke was gay, I doubt he would be bragging about the size of his manhood via the medium of helium-filled balloons*…

*This is pure speculation, of course, but if I was of the gay persuasion, I would have thought a reputation for heft of cock would put me off inviting a man to insert it into one of my tightest orifices. Also, call me old fashioned, but the choice of dancers suggests he has similar taste to me.

I got good money for an XL Chameleon frame – it was one of the last US built ones though.

I put it on ebay with a high Buy It Now price and it went within a couple of hours with lots of offers.

The XL Cham isn’t a huge gate of a thing – it’s a similar fit to my Large Blur and suited me for XC type riding – I’m 6’1″.

I hadn’t seen the vid til this morning, but it’s Grimmy’s record of the week on Radio 1…

I have to say, I thought it was brilliant from the first listen, gets me in a good mood.

But then, I’m a self confessed pop music lover that doesn’t pick the music I like based on the image or what I think is cool.

Awesome record, great video!

I think mountain biking is too easy, the bikes are ugly and the people that ride them tend to be fat, tattooed chavs that are desperate to belong to a scene.

I only visit this forum so I can mock them. 😉

I find the 3M ones to be most comfortable…

Thanks Rich, I keep trying to avoid getting sucked into buying a TT bike, but I think the new carbonzone might be the most cost effective way if I do!

Cheers!

Found shimano factory builds a little flimsy if you try to put some power down over rough roads or you’re heavy. Mavic factory builts are much better, I’d shop around for some mavic ksyriums, you’ll be able to find some for around that price.

Rubbish. The majority of the pro peleton are riding Shimano factory wheelsets this year, and whilst they’re not heavy, they put down a lot more power than you or I!

I have Ultegras and Dura Ace C24s and they’re amazing wheels – considerably cheaper than an equivalent spec Mavic wheel too.

Why do they need to be sealed bearings? Cup and cone are no trouble at all on road wheels…

Words fail me… As a Lancastrian (albeit hailing from the lovely Ribble Valley), this image fills me with shame, disgust and revulsion.

The tattoo is bad enough, the “staffie cross” that’s clearly not trained to walk to heel is another, but the woman on the far right has FAT SHINS!! And the girl to her right has a proper ‘gunt’.

I’d have a go on the blonde 5th from the left though…

I always do my own, just under downtube, chainstays for chain slap and heel rub, and the cable areas.

I borrow a “round cornerer” off a printer friend, it’s like a small die-cutter/guillotine that puts a perfect 5mm radius on all corners.

Spend a bit of time, alco-wipes to prep and hairdryer for any tight bits and it’s perfect.

Can’t believe anyone would pay 80 quid for what is essentially a very therapeutic job for a quiet evening…

Is that one of the carbonzone frames that comes with bars and brakes? What do you think of it?

I’m riding Ultremo ZX and think they’re lovely. Only done about 1000 miles on them including a week in Majorca but they grip beautifully, and aren’t showing any signs of nicks or splits.

And is that Rule No. 5 on your back wheel? Can we see a full pic minus the shopping bag? 😉

Am I the only person who feels thoroughly cheated? I always thought he was a bit of a legend – a real personality back in the 70s and 80s when I was a kid watching Look North West and It’s a Knockout. And again when he rekindled his career with those incredibly eloquent football reports…

It’s so sad that a man so gifted has done such terrible things.

Oops, sorry… 😯

😀