Thanks all, that’s helpful. Slightly odd that the Shimano website currently doesn’t mention a 105 mech with a max capacity beyond 16t yet there’s both a Tiagra and Ultegra one that does. Wonder if Shimano made a typo.

Hmmm, bit reluctant to buy from Superstar after hearing some negative stories about their warranties and them deleting off any reviews on their site that aren’t completely positive.

On-one do a nice looking set for £200, anyone have their On-One XC QR Wheelset?

Matching lights too in anodised blue and red.

Ok, I doubt that the chain outer plate profiling is standard across all chain manufactures though, sounds more like a marketing phrase to suggest a point of difference over Shimano’s rivals?

Oh the Edgar is already in the fridge for as soon as I put the chain on!

Good to know cheers guys. I do seem to remember pro downhill bikes a few years back with road rear mechs now that I think about it.

Not bad for an eleven year old…

Still does 52 mpg in winter, tax is £120. Tyres – cheaper than my bikes!

Bought an 02 model in 2007, my first car… still my first car. Can’t really fault it. Someone told me it was at the time the third most reliable car, touch wood it seems to be pretty reliable.. Only probs I’ve had are the gear box – it’s pretty notchey getting it into 1st sometimes and I’ve read that that is a Yaris issue but for a car that’s over 10 yrs old it’s not too bad. As with all small cars the seat is not inline with the steering wheel or pedals but I’ve seen far worse. It’s also quite nippy in the low gears too and the steering is nice and light.

As many are saying above, the sizes of boxes that some of the small items I’ve bought have been in is bizarre. With important stuff try and get a bike shop to price match, they often do.

Must ride horribly with those bars.

Inless you really want something light and thin, get the Pro. Yup crucial ram or kingston is best.

…”from the hardcore cross scene in Belgium”… grrrrr, real men’s bikes

Right well I’m glad I looked no further into finding one, they sound crap! Im looking at the Forme Hivers, seem a bargain as you say Mr EPO.

Yeah, shame, they seemed good for the money.

Fully rigid would be more interesting!

weeeeeeeird accents!

Should just need to measure the bottom bracket shell and refer to the instructions that came with it.

Sounds like it’s possibly something else but… SPD/cleat set up might be worth looking at?

Raindog – As I said it is just my two cents worth, if you think it’s ‘bullshit’ and are happy with your cheap carbon good for you.

Met Gee a while back and I was taller than him and I’m 6.2. Anyway… Obviously pretty much the only thing you can do is buy a long saddle with long rails, put it right back and get as long a stem as you can deal with before the handling feels odd.

If steel is your thing than stick with it but I wouldn’t completely rule out aluminium. If you don’t mind looking for a second hand one I’d consider a Cannondale Caad 9. Although aluminium, they are widely renowned for their comfort, some say that they are as comfy as quality carbon and obviously don’t carry the weight penalty of steel. Cannondale even make a Caad 10 (the CAAD 9s replacement), with Dura Ace components for those who consider the frame to be of equal quality to a carbon one.

Personally I like carbon for a road bike but I’ll throw my two cents in here and say it’s not worth buying cheap carbon at all, don’t be tempted by a full build carbon bike for a grand, you need to spend at least £1500 for a carbon bike with tiagra components to be getting a decent frame.

Thanks druidh, that looks a great option I will look into.

Thanks, yeah I was thinking a primaloft jacket would pack down far smaller and would be a good 200g lighter too but really what is important to me is warmth.

Thanks everyone! – Good advice. @crispedwheel – going to definitely try and find one to check the fit.

Yeah the alpkit doesn’t look amazing, I’d pay the extra for a more renowned brand. Just wondering if synthetic would be the way to go as it might be handy for going on to NZ and wet but cold/damp places in the future.

Thanks everyone.

@crispedwheel – yeah I was thinking the generator looks good but some shops (including climbers shop in Ambleside) seem to refer to it as a mid layer jacket. Is this just because it’s not too bulky to wear a waterproof on top of?

Thanks, weight isn’t a big issue. I’d certainly like to use it back here and again in other damper areas so yes a synthetic fill could well be better – Thanks Peter. Bulk is more of an issue though but I’m assuming a lot of modern synthetics are getting similar to the pack size of down these days?

STUMPY – click unlike afterwards then you get a set of option to report it and say why you are ‘unliking’ it.

Good stuff, lets hope they take it down. Some real idiots on there.

I’ve heard good things about the newer Shimano brakes. Depends what kind of bike you are wanting them for. Personally I like Avids – Elixr 5s are reliable. I’m still using Hayes HFX 9s though – so reliable and powerful if a little heavy.

Hope X2s are so easy to get parts for, designed beautifully but at the end of the day just aren’t that powerful.

YGM also – cheers!

I think the way the Tour went this year most of the riders were clean. It was so close and there was no insane sudden powerful breakaways at insane speeds (I don’t include Andy Schlecks breakaway in that term).

Evans is a good winner, I still have my doubts about Contador, I’m willing to believe he rode this Tour clean though.

Cheers folks

Anyone ever noticed the bear in the Toblerone? Look at a box end – bear is hidden in the mountain (Matterhorn I assume).

Get that Merc off the track!!!!

Ah, all that effort and expense will be worth it for that one day… or will it?! Best wedding I’ve been to was in a registry office where people wore what they liked and after guests bought along some food they’d made/bought and we all all had a party in their garden with a friends band. Far cheaper and personal than the usual hotel catering and disco that people resign themselves to and pay a fortune for.

SLAYER!

Anyone tried the Kenda Slant Six? http://www.kendausa.com/en/home/bicycle/mountain/slant-six.aspx

jontydewolfe –

I wouldn’t spend so much time worrying about spending more on bike tyres than my car tyres if I wasn’t going to use them!