Only two things smell of fish.

(Nerds won’t get that one)

Out of your budget, but Oakley all day long. I’m a pilot and I can see things through my Oakleys that the naked eye can’t! I’ve given my shades to people to point things out and they’ve been ablke to see them! If you buy a set of Jawbones, you can change the lenses to suit your application. I’ve got vented clear lenses to keep crap out of my eyes on night rides.
I agree with ‘Crikey’, in that they do just work. AND the customer service really IS that good!

If you’re going from a hardtail to full-suss, I can highly recommend a Fuel EX. Less travel at 120 front/rear, but will cope with most things especially if your used to a hardtail…

Lots of stories about putting them into the dishwasher on a hot wash, but I’ve tried that and I’m not convinced.
A long hill and drag them? Alternatively, put up with the worse performance until they wear out and get some new ones!

[was thinking of putting 240 mains to the chain but i think that is going to the extreme and illegal.]

You’re the bad guy for hurting the tea-leaf!!! (I don’t think it’s extreme)

Try the motorbike security idea – lots of good stuff to look at at M&P.

http://www.mandp.co.uk/products/Security

Apart from getting a saddle that fits, I’m not sure. But if it does happen again, use Bepanthen. It’s supposed to be for nappy rash but it’ll obviously do the same repair job on your arse.

Are all the bearings in the freehub and wheels all good? If not then the cassette won’t stay in the same place and it will give you indexing issues.

EDIT – just read your post back. Ignore me….

I insist my kids (4yrs and 5 yrs) wear a helmet and I have to lead by example.
If any other kids want to ride in our group and they don’t have helmets they are simply told to f off.

They reduce clearance under overhead branches!!!! Do you cut down your bars so you can scythe through the forest too?

GW – saying you would never sue is a bold statement. Whilst in this case I think the bloke was a tool for not wearing a helmet and from the few fact we have, it seems like he choreographed his own demise. However if you have got a mortgage and kids to feed and you are injured totally because of someone elses negligence, then why wouldn’t you sue? To suggest that you’d let your house be repossessed because of something that completely wasn’t your fault is naive.

Surely your LBS would let you try before you buy?
Rather than spending all your wad on the brightest handlebar light, if money is tight, go for a cheaper handlebar light and a decent helmet mounted light like an Exposure Joystick so that you can see more than just where your bars are pointing. This is useful when going round tight corners, over brows, or just fixing punctures!

I’m not a rep but I love the Exposure lights and the fact that they are cable free. I’ve got an Enduro (now called a Toro) and a Jpoysick and ride all winter. Because they are cable free, you can use them as torches – you can buy a headband and use the Joystick for night running.

ACTiV Folkestone ride out twice a week on an ‘informal ride’. However, no helmet – no ride. We’re not H&S Nazis, nor fashion victims. There are novice riders to World Champ silver medalists, but the general census is it’s safer to wear one than not, (Trek bikes come with a sticker telling you to wear one).
If you turned up without a helmet then someone would pull an old one out for you to wear.
People who exercise their right to choice are welcome, but if you don’t have a lid then we’ll see you in the pub after the ride…

AFAN LODGE all day.
Good food (awesome breakfast), freindly and clean.

Blood clot on the brain and fractured skull – not good injuries, but I survived (just).
I always wear a helmet to protect my head. In the last 6 years I’ve had to rely on my helmet probably about 6 times, so roughly once a year, or less than 1% of the rides I do.

I have yet to plan and accident.

People are saying that they are exercising their rights not to wear a helmet – fair enough. But WHY wouldn’t you? WHY don’t you want to wear a helmet? I don’t get it…

Do it.
I love the Cable Free Design.
I’ve had various Exposures over the last 6 years and even when they do go wrong they just get sent away and returned fixed, while my LBS lend me spares.
The MaxxD is an awful lot of light you won’t be found wanting. The group that we ride with have had cars complaining about the fact that they’re too bright!!! 75% of us ride Exposure lights.

“It’s my own stupidity” is a refreshing thought but unfortunately not the way of the shite society we live in. People have jobs mortgages/kids etc and 3 months of work hurts nore than the ribs/collarbone etc. No win no fee adverts on TV don’t help and when the bills start to pile up, people look for an escape route and until the law is changed ‘No win, No Fee’ scumbags will continue to prey on the injured and employers (or in this case the FC) will be forced to take the hit. In the end though it is the increase in H&S and the dumbing down or closure of things like these trail centers that will result.
I like the idea that people are responsible for their own actions when they know the risk, but having been stung for £95k as an employer, you’ll forgive me for having a jaded view of this subject…

I’ve always had Defenders but now have an ’03 Discovery TD5 ES auto (facelif model) with everything on it apart from Sat Nav. I’d NEVER go back. I use it for work and it tows a 2.2ton trailer – it’s awesome. Leather, aircon, electric mirrors/heated screen etc. It does the same job as a Defender but in comfort!
Mine’s chipped (as were my last couple of Defenders) with a £450 plug in chip and it’s awesome. The self levelling air suspension keeps the car and trailer true no mattter which trailer I tow. Took it to Switzerland last year – just set the cruise control and go!

Depending on which rims you get will depend upon your tyre choice, but BFG AT are awesome. If you’ve got 18″ rims, you’ll be limited to Greneral Grabber AT2’s but they’re great alternative. It’s not that expensive to get a spare set of rims and tyres on eBay as people buy Vogues and RR Sports with 18″ rims as standard and pimp them up to 20″s or 22″s and with spigot rings they will fit a Discovery II. I recently bought a set of RR Sport rims with 2 brand new tyres (Goodyear Wranglers) and two at 6mm for £265!!! Why would you buy new?! If you go for proper off road tyres then you’ll suffer on the road with bad handling, noise and worse fuel economy so having two sets is a good idea.
Bad points –
Not cheap to run so find a reputable Land Rover specialist near you.
£130 to fill up – ouch! 25mpg means it’s not good for commuting!
2nd hand value plummets in the first 5 years but levels out later. Mine’s actually worth the same now as when I bought it 2 1/2 years ago due to two winters with decent snow!

See http://forum.landrovernet.com/forumdisplay.php/338-Discovery-Series-I-and-II for some useful advice.

I had an L-reg (’94 I think) Daytona.
Great sound out of the standard pipes! The triple engine is great. Not quite the gruff feel of a V-twin, but still with low down poke and it wants to rev a bit like an in-line 4.
Quite comfy – but a long stretch to the bars if you’re a short arse. Massive fuel tank, so great for mile eating/commuting.
Big seat and good for pillions too, (in case that might influence your purchase!!!!)
Very simple tech but also fairly bullet proof. The frame and handling are nothing like a modern sports bike but if ridden well it’ll still have enough to surprise a few ‘Sunday only riders’.
Sold mine a couple of years ago for £1000 as it needed new fork seals, and some tarting up. If your mint one is under £1250 I’d say it’s a bargain.

Virgin – Noooooooo!!!! Actually they aren’t too bad, but your flight and the quality of your experience will depend upon the pilot and their crew – they have loads of pilots some OK, some good and I can’t vouch for any in your area.
If you see “Go Ballooning” and you go with them (they area probably the cheapest) then good luck. Just like your bike – you get what you pay for!
Go with one of your local operators. I don’t know of any to be able to recommend in your area, but if the website is proffesional and the pack that they send out is well done (not a peice of photo-copied A4!) then the company should be good. Attention to detail in these areas should follow on to their flying and customer services.

Yes t-obias, you might get cancelled but there’s nothing that can be done about the weather – you may go on your first attempt, or it may take as many as 5/6 attempts. It’s pot luck.

As far as a VIP flight is concerned, they are great fun. I fly a 16 man balloon and also a 2-man VIP balloon (that one is the most fun!) and if I could make a living out of the 2-man VIP balloon, I’d sell everything else!!! It just depends upon your budget. £130-£150 for a weekend evening flight is the going rate (pp) and £550+ for a VIP is normal.
Good luck! If you are stuck between a couple of different companies and you want some advice, just let me know!
My site is kentballooning.com

I’ve got a Mule and I used it for about 5 years, but for adventure racing I bought an Octane. I prefer the Octane. It’s lighter, it’s got more room (it expands depending on how much kit you need to carry) and the side (waist) pockets are really useful. The Mule is now being used by my wife and is still going strong with no faults at all. It won’t be money wasted if you decide that’s the right sized pack for you. I agree with one of the previous posters though, when you fill up the 3l bladder it does take up some of the room of the main storage compartment and also it does change the shape of the pack slightly so you may need to adjust the straps.

I’ve yet to encounter a problem with CRC. However I’m not sure why I got a big box that would barely fit throught the letterbox for some quicklinks…

Bought one off eBay, paid about £50 + £25p&p from Germany. It attaches via the rear skewer, takes 2 kids etc. Love it and used it loads, now we’re on to tag-a-longs. I echo what TooTall says and wouldn’t put a child in one until it can sit up on it’s own unaided, you don’t want them slumping in the corner!
Also always use the mesh front cover, or the rain cover….. I see no end of people going along with the front open not realising that all the crap from their back wheel is heading straight for their kids faces…

Thule Ride on. A bit of a faff to get it to tilt (pack stuff better!!!) but a great rack for the money and I use mine all the time and it still looks good and hasn’t failed in the slightest.

I found Easton Carbon bars better than Bontrager. I have used bar ends on both types and after a spill, the thick laquer on the Bonty’s cracks and means that the bar ends will no longer grip, having essentially removed/reamed the outer layer of laquer.
The only answer was to cut off the affected area of the bars. After a few spills I ended up with REALLY skinny bars – perhaps the answer is to stay upright a bit more.
This didn’t happen with the Easton bars as they don’t seem to have this very thick layer of laquer – hence the recommendation for them.

I don’t know of any low profile mount for the RAM system.
Obviously the wind gives the phone/holder more of a buffeting on a motorbike but I reckon that an MTB holder would need to be tougher due to the higher amplitude of the vibrations and the greater forces being applied in all directions.
I’m still going with the Dahon Biologic mount, IF I can find it in the UK! I’ve sent them an e-mail to inform me of a UK distributor but I’ve heard nothing yet.
To be continued…

“Can you post a picture?”
You have GOT to be taking the p1ss!

popartpoem – it would seem that Trek agree with you. My 9.9 Fuel EX has got full X0 apart from the front mech!
Having had XTR for in various incarnations over the last 5 years, I have to say, I love the SRAM kit, the push of the rear shifters seems much more positive.
As far as setting up the brakes is concerned, I can’t see where the problem is. Follow the instrustions (I have Elixir CR Mag) and you can set the lever/pads where you like. I’m now one finger braking (with the lever nice and close to the bar) with huge stopping power and I love it. The wife’s Juicy Carbons are a pain in the arse to change the pads, but I really rate my CR Mags.

Looks like the Dahon Biologic one is the one to go for as it’s weatherproof, but I can’t get the iphone4 specific version anywhere in the UK!!!

At this moment in time a £400 GPS is looking like a lot less hassle – apart from the fact that I’ll still have to carry my phone for emergency calls!

I think the replacement ones are about £25…. I fear your one will be knackered…
The good news is that the new T31 belts still work with the old watches.

[Why do you feel the need to stick a phone on your bars?]

I’ll be using it as a cycle computer and GPS.
I have Memory Map mapping software on my phone, also various other cycle computer apps. Even the basic compass function can be useful when riding new areas. The video function would also be handy sometimes for sharing certain trails.

I just want something that won’t shake the insides of my phone so that they end up outside my phone and will protect it from the elements a bit.

Alternatively if you want to fly in Kent, come and fly with me!
kentballooning.com If not then at least have a look at our video to see what to expect!

Hi I am the pilot for Kent Ballooning that Bear mentioned. The only company that I would whole-heartedly recommend would be British School of Ballooning (hotair.co.uk). Tell them Spice sent you (Judy Scaife is the boss and you may or may not get her on the phone) and they should look after you (I sometimes fly for them) and they take care of their customers and have loads of balloons to fly.
You get what you pay for and forchristsakes don’t go with Go Ballooning – you’ll regret it!!!

I’ve been taping Trek carbon frames for the last 5 years and I’ve had no issues with the laquer on the frame coming off or de-laminating. I guess any risk would come from whatever glue is used on the type of heli-tape you’re using. Lizard skins and standard issue RAF heli tape seems OK!

I have sausage fingers too! I find my Specialized BG gloves don’t give me pins and needles like previous Altura/Trek options…

Tag-a-long all the way. I did also buy an aluminium seatpost for when I attach the tag-a-long though, as I didn’t want it scoring my carbon post.
My kids (5 and3) have grown out of the trailer thing and now want to cycle themselves and this is the best way to cover ground. Both the wife and I ride with the tag-a-long.

Using ‘feel’ is OK when you know how much ‘feel’ to use, after buying a quality torque wrench, I found that I had been overtightening pretty much everything!
I’d be a bit nervous about the Aldi version. I bet it doesn’t come with a calibration certificate!

Luxor steak house. Las Vegas.
The fillet minion didn’t need chewing…

If it’s a U-lock get a Bic Biro and bite out the end. Pop th e’shaft’ of the pen into the shackle and you’ll be amazed how easy it is to open it up.

I've ridden the 2010 9.8 Remedy and whilst it's too much travel for my local riding a friend blitzed everyone on the run into Morzine (Passportes Du Soleil) a couple of weeks ago. It has it's place and I think that almost everyone on this forum spends up the limit that they can afford/justify for the riding that they do. Lets face it you're not going to by a Halfords special if you've got £2500 to spend are you?

£4000 for my bike. Ridden twice a week, 52x2x4 = 400, so £10 per ride. Green fees at the local golf club are £25-£45. Personally I think I get value for money. All of a sudden £6500 could be justified to the wife…. Perhaps…..

Seal Skins? Obviously they only stop water getting to your feet and your shoes will still be wet. Every pair of overshoes I've tried have fallen apart. Instead of buying more my LBS shop talked me into buying a new pair of Shimano Gortex winter boots (£110 I think). This saved me £30 for overshoes every October and they've lasted 3 years so far with loads of use left in them. Some of our riders wear them all year round, so my suggestion is to take a suck and buy another pair of shoes…. Overshoes suck, and as soon as they rip, you spend half the ride lukking the ends back over your toes.

I've had Sid World Cups – with the carbon steerer crown on my 110 Top Fuel (carbon frame) and although they flex (as they became famous/infamous for), they have taken lots of abuse and the odd crash just fine. I'm 14st 7lbs now but have been as much as 15st 10lbs which I think is overweight – for the forks!!!
Obviously if they have a recommended weight limit of 85kg, I'd steer clear as any warranty would be void…