SIS GO in your water bottle, for the electrolytes. Even on an all day event it stops cramping. Alternatively if you want to do it on the cheap, mix water with some orange juice 50/50 with a teaspoon of salt – as recommended by a former member of the British Triathalon Team!

Sound to me like the car driver was at fault. He should have been more patient and not overtaken you so as to endanger you by not leaving you enough stopping distance. I bloody hate it when cars overtake you and then indicate left into a side turn…. This normally results in abuse! Just 5 seconds of patience is all it takes FFS.
Did you get his number plate?

I bought a £4k bike 4 years ago (a 110 Top Fuel) and I think I've had value for money out of it. But now it's sarting to get very tired and I am no longer replacing bits with XTR. I've even chucked on an SLX rear mech and to be honest, it works! If I wasn't poor, I'd love a Whyte E-120 team, but reality means I'll probably get the XT version. THe XT version is still a lot of money (especially if you haven't got much) but if you use it lots or £6500 isn't much to you, then why not!

It could easily be a tiny bit of dirt in the stem/handlebar. Take it apart and clean it. You only need the tiniest spec in an interface (seatpost, stem, BB etc) to make quite a loud creak that will resonnate through your frame.

I shy away from WD-40….. It dissolves grease. Go for GT-85 instead.

Rotor Cleaning

I go to Boots (the chemist) and buy sterelising alcohol wipes, (the ones that the nurse uses before jabbing a needle into your arm) they're about 4p each. They're easy to carry (I keep a couple in my Camelbak) and get all the crap off your rotors.

I've put contaminated pads in the dishwasher before and it doesn't do them any harm. I'd worry about the salt in cleaning product degrading a chain though… As for pouring boiling water on rotors, I'd take them off the wheel first because of melting and rinsing any grease out of hub bearings.

Have you chucked in a different rotor? Perhaps your pads AND disc are contaminated? Try new pads and rotor (beg or borrow) and see if you are still having issues…

I have 5 year old XTR dual lever brakes. I love them although they are in need of new fluid and are getting a bit rattly… I'd buy them againa and having used the new XTR brakes, I think they're awesome.

My wife has Juicy brakes and personally I think the pad change on the XTR is easier and it's also easier to move the pistons on the XTR calipers as preventative maintenance.

Saltwood, near Hythe in Kent. I've lived in Canada, California and Australia, but I keep coming back and now I've got sprogs I'm staying here. Beaches for windsurfing, some pretty good trails for biking and a pub on the village Green (and an awesome school for the kids) – what's not to like?