I find if you have a really good bike shop on hand, you’ll use them. If not, not.

Here’s an example of why I tend to use CRC:

Popped into local bike shop to pick up a length of magura hose that they had (oem, not retail packed), asked how much it was and was first told “oooh it’ll be expensive” – I’m already losing interest.

Staff member then goes to find out the price by walking over to a laptop, bringing up CRC website, finding item and then simply doubling their price….

LBS’s are a bit like IKEA for me, seems like a good idea at the time – until I get there and swear to myself I am never going again.

On a positive note I have a newish LBS in Bath – “Cadence” which has had what I have needed in a hurry on both occasions (chainring spanner and something equally uninteresting) I’ve been in and at a reasonable price. So my faith is being restored.

I did a night ride a while back and in the middle of nowhere went past some guy just walking along and talking on his mobile, no torch or anything – got past him quite quick, must have been a nutter

thanks everyone – local bike shop said they can get me individual washers for……£8.59 EACH!! So I have caved in and ordered the full fitting kit online for 12 quid, giving me a replacement gear selector unit in case I ever break one.

No matter how hard I try to spend some money with the local bike shops, I never manage to do it

mostly tarmac with a bit of towpath – I just thought you couldn’t get slicks around the 1.9 size

just been reading this thread but as an aside, looking at that pic of the child carrier on page one, IS THAT SAFE????? Certainly doesn’t look it!

so, is that just the opposite way round to running the selector pointing along the chainstay?

Thanks Mr P, so if I found I missed the top end speed and started to feel a little less unfit, the first change would be to buy a slightly smaller rear sprocket, say an 18t?

Thanks, Tom

@ TheBrick – thanks for that, I suppose the ponce factor was playing a part for me, in that small/small does IMO look maybe a bit nicer?

forgot to add that I already have a chainset with a 36t single ring to use first up front.

I shouldn’t have spent this money really, so I’d like to try to get away with using the parts I currently have….initially, so 36t front & 20t alfine. What does that equate to top and bottom? or rather what can I compare that to in terms of cassettes/chainrings?

I have tried looking at sheldon brown, but the fog comes down too quick for me..

Of interest I popped into Cadence yesterday for the first time and was very pleasantly surprised. Owned/ran by ex Johns bikes guy. They seem to stock some nice bits and have a Yeti demo bike as well as some exotica like titus and ibis. Look forward to spending some money there at some point.

lifted from the DropOff Cafe website. I know Ian pretty well and can say he's a top bloke. well worth a look

————–

Looking for somewhere to stay? Try:

Drop Off House available for let……It’s a lovely ambient location, 2 minute bike ride from the MTB centre or 10 minute stumble back. It sleeps 6/8 people, three rooms upstairs. One Double room and two twins. Lots of room downstairs for the extra two if need be. Includes drying room, Bike storage, Great water pressure for showers (takes your skin off!). Welcome pack included which has the regular, milk, tea, coffee, a few munchies, beer/wine just to settle you in on your arrival. £25 should do it per person per night. Contact me for further info! 07815 202012 or email ian@dropoffcafe.com.

Macavity – Member

http://www.rivbike.com/article/clothing/the_shoes_ruse

I started reading this then abruptly stopped when the guy started talking about WEARING SANDALS AND SOCKS – he is obviously a wrongun

Out of interest for someone who's going to have a look this week (me) when riding down Pipehouse lane, is there a route that comes back round to the top/start?

Cheers

I must have reached new lows of boredom as I have just read three pages of this thread

"Your bike will catch fire and you'll die"

yeah I was afraid of that so I'll be wearing my fully flame & heatproof fire-fighting outfit when I get home & try fitting it after work…..

only problem with cycling on the road is you have to share it with cars

I find my LBS's (there's three in my town) all to be overpriced and ready to treat me like an idiot. Now there all supposed to be run by people into cycling but they never manage to give me that impression. My first experience of one of these shops was when I'd just moved to my town, popped passed the shop on a 3K+ bike and asked if I could borrow an allen to tighten something up, get me home – "sorry, fully booked today" never went back.

In another, I witnessed whilst in a queue, a mechanic selling a pair of deore level wheels to a guy for £250 fitted. When I asked same guy how much a length of hose for my maguras would be, first thing he did was suck teeth then say "that'll be really expensive", looked it up (on CRC, I could see the laptop from where I was, actual price 16.99) then said £39 never went back

I own a small shop (not bike) and know that rents need to be paid etc but there's a limit, past that limit I'll order online – if I need a specialist tool, I'll buy it, now I have tools to do all the jobs I need – find it more satisfying anyway

if any small shop or large wants to survive, they always need to remember SERVICE and PRICE and a possible 3rd option, "don't treat your customers like idiots". Oh and my town – BATH – I'll leave anyone who knows the place to guess which shops……

so would that have the rear mech pointing pretty much forward in lowest gear?

you can fatigue metal by applying chemicals like that – I don't think its a very good idea on a part like a handlebar……..

Ive had some spinergy xyclones for quite a while and found them to be pretty much indestructible. weightwise I think theyre ok too

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

out of interest, what's the clearance like between front tyre and shoe?

ah – is he the bearing guru?

caged pedals with double nylon straps pulled nice and tight

oh and OEM orange reflectors built in for safety

End. OF. Thread

egg beaters work fine for me – added bonus that a chav would find it extra hard to pedal away if nicked

take them to the top of something really really steep with no other option than straight down. They'll learn quicker that way and if the bikes snap they'll then have to get something newer/better

I cycle toured the whole of new zealand 4000km+ on a Rocky Mountain Element 100mm travel. Pulling a Bob Trailer. Just put plenty of air in the rear shock for the roads & you'll be fine

gf's nailvarnish remover for the sticky glue that is left

er, that people that spend all their time on forums are also experts on things that happen in the real world…..

shit happens to everyone at some point in life – lost limbs, lost loved ones, etc

humour is the most powerful tool to help people through that shit

Coffee/Tea – take a thermos if you don't like what is on offer

Parking Charges – Pay them or find somewhere else to ride, its pretty simple

Live locally – get involved, then make the most of what you are helping with

Used Northwaves for years – quality is very good and very comfy (for a rigid soled shoe)

I listen to music whilst riding

full length cable outers = a fighting chance of good shifting

Been riding bikes for 30 years on and off – had a singlespeed when I was a toddler. It was alright for getting about the kitchen and the living room.

Many years later I converted a mountainbike to singlespeed – possibly wanting to relive my toddler years. It was pretty good for getting around the kitchen and the living room again. For anything else my geared bike was far superior.

oh also @ anotherdeadhero – would you mind emailing me said suggestions? tomandlaura at hotmail dot com

Cheers.

I look forward to having the time to explore some of the above. Seem to be always working except on a Sunday! Given how hilly it is around Bath I was sure there should be some great trails, just a case of finding them or being shown….

I used to ride a lot around Cheltenham with Leckhampton Hill although being compact being able to entertain me four endless hours – looking forward to the lighter evenings allowing for some after work rides…..

Chris – where do you ride around Bath? I moved here from Cheltenham a while back and have really struggled to find any good routes. I basically follow a loop based on the skyline with some forays into the woods by the golf course but it is pretty dull. I tried to do a ride around Lansdown taken from the bath uni mtb website but that was even duller….
Cheers, Tom