You’d think Specialized would at least want to get the chainstay back to see if it is indeed a warranty claim. If it’s been whacked by a rock they could at least then offer you a chainstay at a reduced/crash damage price. Even if it was out of warranty they could offer you a replacement at a price.
We get used to spending hundreds of pounds on tyres, wheels, deraileurs etc whats the problem with paying for a damaged chainstay? Especially after five years use.

POOK – I kinda guessed you were onto this diabolical trend with the post title 😆
It’s a shame this herdlike behaviour is taking over the web.

It’s nearly as bad as these stupid little orange +share boxes that appear next to the most uninteresting forum posts.

Freesat/Humax – me too. Just wish I could work out how to stop subtitles appearing everytime I restart paused or re-wound programs.

If you’ve just done Skiddaw – Ullock you are not going to want to push up Blencathra. Dod wood and Latrig are your best options and there are lots of tracks in both just give way to walkers and bird watchers.

Fleetwith main ridge footpath down to Garesgarth – there are 2-3 sections of carrying down. The rest is OK if you’ve not done it before but not amazing.
Main bridleway down Warnscale is the usual way down. One tricky section down a slab and further down a likely few metres of cary across a gully.
Path down left of beck is rideable but a bit stop/start at top.

Loft beck – wouldn’t bother!

butter and marmite on toast then the beans on top.

payment is due 2 weeks before delivery date so if delivery is November you’ve got 3 months to save up.

Redbull is a bit reactive for the older persons stomach and teeth – kid’s can knock litres of the stuff without too much effort or immediate ill effect.
To all the Redbull haters out there I’d just ask how much overpriced disgusting froth they buy from Costabucks etc.

Don’t they melt if you leave them by a radiator or in a hot car?

the ability to land big drops and plough through rock gardens at full whack are the main advantages of using a DH bike.

Would you have to inform insurance company if you had already received a cheque to cover loss?

Does a bike on roof bars suffer when travelling at 70-80 miles/hour in the rain? I’ve wondered how this affects bearings etc as it feels like you are pressure washing your bike.

size large is pretty big – check the size chart. Good up to 6’4″ apparently.

Hob Nob – the hideous paint schemes are an attempt to stop old folk buying the bikes. YT stands for Young Talent …..bit ironic really.

i’m thick – so is that 26″ or 27.5 wheels?

chill out eyerideit, it’s the Pike fork that makes it more interesting – not really bothered about the wheels!

Hey, billybanzai – have you considered the 650b version?
I quite like the set up with Pike fork but not so keen on the triple chainset.

Great news!

Seconded, even my Joplin works perfectly with a bit of juice lube.

The photo mode takes awesome wide angle landscape shots. Make lots of short clips if possible. Anything longer than 5 minutes is a huge file and a pain to edit.

yeah, I had a go with the tape measure but still can’t decide medium or large? How tall are you Pukeko?

Thanks for all replies – looks like it’ll be best to stay in the mountains and move from Mammoth Lakes up past Tahoe to Downieville. Three excellent biking spots – all with uplifts 🙂
Got a few days in Yosemite for tourist stuff. Also booked a few days in Santa Cruz for r&r before we fly back.

Will leave the desert stuff for another time!

I thought it’d be too hot in the desert but thanks for confirming it.

I used to be against the plan but have changed my mind now.

Noise? This would be limited to a small area of a fairly busy road pass.

Other users of the Lakes make far more widespread noise without too many complaints – I’m talking about microlights and powered paragliders – it’s like having a 2-stroke motocross bike at full throttle passing overhead at a snail’s pace! Bloody racket!

Squeaky breaks are another menace!

Possibly the best chips I’ve ever eaten were from the chippy half way along the front.

Expedia had the most transparent pricing and website so booked through them.

looks like you can’t win.
Now CaptainFlashheart if I tell you the route/dates everyone will start searching for the best deal and before you know it I’ll have to sell the house to afford the tickets!!!!
Or have you a better plan?

that’s criminal – I’ll try from a different computer! Any independent travel agents out there able to beat the big boys?

Cheers MuddyF – you know your stuff! That’s an awesome video.

[Thing is – with such a delay/leadtime would they extend the length of protion]

good point – I can’t see Visa Mastercard being too helpful if it goes pear shaped.

This year there’s no limit so anyone who orders on 11/11/11 will get one.

Chapaking – how much did you pay for the Session frame? I can’t see how you built that for 1.5K

Only a few days left to decide – here’s selfishly hoping the Euro collapses and then 2880 euros will be an even bigger bargain!

Hi Hob Nob
There’s not a lot in large frames going 2nd hand that hasn’t been uplifted or battered in the Alps and then you’re looking at some biggish bills to sort out bearings,shock, fork, drivetrain etc. Not being particularly gifted mechanically I like to start with a new slate!

I guess its like Planet X you’re just getting the bike at trade price because you’re buying direct from the manufacturer. After all if Specialised/Giant did the same thing a Demo/Glory 00 would be about £3000 to us.
Just wish they were based in the UK!

most rechargeables are only 1.4 volts instead of 1.5 volts – I have found they don’t work very well in high energy consuming equipment like cameras. I find rechargeables are pretty poor compared to std Lithium batteries.
Get a few of these and never look back.

Plus – handing over £2500 to a company overseas for 5 months could be a bit nerve wracking in the current economic climate!

The A66 Keswick by-pass over the Greta gorge is an unusual winner of engineering awards:

In 1977 the bridge was awarded a Highly Commendation by the Concrete Society.

Readers of Concrete magazine however voted it Best Civil Engineering Structure of the Century in 1999.

Beverley Hughes MP, Minister for the Environment, unveiled a plaque, which is positioned beneath the bridge.

The Plaque reads:- ‘GRETA BRIDGE Voted Best Concrete Engineering Structure Of The Century September 1999 / Consulting Engineer : Scott Wilson Kirkpatrick & Partners / Contractor : Tarmac Construction / Maintained by The Highways Agency.

Greta Bridge, Keswick

just tried an ixus900ti – pretty good panning video and compct too.
Any others worth a look?

GF1 – nice loking camera but not exactly compact is it?