Also our car is up to 175,000km and still purrs like new. Just std servicing done – could not be happier.

Not a wind up and mine has been very useful as a drinks table for xc races or food at 24hr races!!!
My Anthem 29er also fits in nicely with front wheel off, when you roll one back seat forward and up (you will see what I mean), diagonally in back. Very fast to do.

I san recommend the ground effect too – had some tops for 10 plus yrs and they are still going on.

Don’t you know boat shoes are coming back….(Nooo!!!)
Leather upmarket sandals/thongs(Aussie version!) do me for most of Summer (when not in the Specialized Shoes with cleats!)
Hint…no black socks though.

Won’t your wrists both stick to the magnetic pillow and under blanket that you should also be using to align all of your red blood cells overnight? Oh the dilemma…

Walk around Central Park – Moma and it’s shop.
Dean and Deluca Deli for coffee/lunch
Ultimate NY Deli – search Zabars.
Up the Rockefeller Centre for the fab view (go earlier for less people)
Look around and go “Wow – we saw this in …movie”!
Tiffany’s and Apple store for another wow..
…and have a coffee and a donut from a street cart and feel like a local.
Have fun!

Absolutely. 4000km on the clock….$5000 off the price – Honda CRV – what can you do to that…! Still going strong 150,000km later.

Follow that logic and buy a Roadie with 23C tyres then… 😯

You need the screen with the LCD as they are very firmly stuck together. Also as said, check youtube as there are quite a lot of steps to get it all apart. At the end of the procedure you will have an … electronic jigsaw successfully completed. You also need narrow double sided tape to stick it all back together. I got my glass and LCD for AUD$50 if that is a help – less then that and you do not get the LCD with it.

If family are unsure, maybe a quick visit to experience as a holiday? I live in Canberra (just a bit of mtb here…) and love it. When I come to the UK I love to visit relatives, but enjoy getting back to Australia – it has a completely different feel and pace. Have a look at rental costs etc as they can be steep – but as some have said – depends on where you choose to live. Commutes can be savage in Melb and Syd – I used to have a drive of 20 mins on a Sun afternoon take between 40 mins and 2 hours depending on the traffic/weather/idiots on freeway. Now live in Canberra and my commute is 15mins by car or 20 by bike – guess which I choose. You really need to find out where you will be working and it’s surrounds as this will influence where you live…and you may or may not want to live with the people who live there! Burbs can be very varied in residents. There are quite a range of people here – as in most places – best to inspect the area to see how many wrecked cars in the front yard!! Strange beasties really not that bad – just don’t pick up stuff without looking carefully and don’t poke fingers down holes! Sharks…I saw them at the aquarium a couple of times…but have enjoyed the beach many times. I love it here – do some homework and see if you do too (but don’t tell too many people 🙂 ) I’ll organise a spin if you want to come to Canberra – see the Berm website.

Excellent job by Police and Security…pity more are not caught.
I also like the video of thieves busted by Canadian Uni students and hammered by about 5 paintball guns – maybe they will think twice next time!

Valve comes out by removing collar on threaded side (i.e. spoke side of rim) and pushing valve out. You will then be able to use with a tube.
I am currently using this system as pictured plus Stans liquid inside a normal tyre and running tubeless…but that then opens up the whole tubeless debate.
Was very happy yesterday though – 7 hr race in a pair and saw lots of people changing tubes (Mt Stromlo eats them – lots of edges on the rocks 🙂 ) No stops for me though…
PS I paid about $60 for the system that you say came with your wheels – you scored!

Torpedo7 or Cell bikes are local (depending where they live), but frankly if you are in need of urgent parts get friendly with the LBS and gasp at the prices or wait a week or so and buy from Wiggle or CRC etc as they deliver to Aus. For some reason the bikes seem to be reasonably priced here but the spare parts are crazy prices – I’m told Aussie bike shops can buy Shimano gear from the UK cheaper than their wholesalers – makes for interesting discussions I would imagine!

As a commuter/mtb rider that always wears a helmet…not only because it is the law here in Canberra, I am very happy to have been wearing one last week. Usual commute on a bike path (2m wide concrete) at the bottom of a hill going 45-50km/h I came off a couple of weeks ago – don’t really know what happened but assume tyres skidded on damp/frosty/muddy/leafy section and I landed on my back and smacked my head into the ground. Helmet smashed and skin on the back of my head scraped off by inside of polystyrene of helmet. Dazed for a bit and had the day off work, but I would have had a fractured skull or worse had I not had a helmet on – of that I am sure. Happy to buy another one, very very happy.

Get the discovr app for your iPod/Phone and search…don’t know they get all the info, but amazing application for music/band finding.

+1 for the Dualit.
Bought one the last time we were in the UK (as they are 2x more in Australia) and rellies thought we were mad! Have replaced 1 element in 10 years. Just taken the clockwork apart to oil as it was sticky – all good again. I also fix my bikes!
Looks good and makes great toast – I too like the comment re the elements fitting all toasters made after 1960’s! Very reassuring in a world of throw away electrical goods. Lovely inside too – all secured by little brass nuts and bolts. Makes my heart glad 🙂

Little bit of a discussion here…122pages worth! They are very popular here esp. for the enduro scene
Anthem 29er
Re the wheels – they are lighter than the previous XTC versions at 1800g for the set. I have not had any problems with mine and cannot really justify the spend to save 100g or so. Very happy with my just about a year of riding it 🙂

Have iffy back here too – problems with discs. I went to a physio after putting it off for too long and she gave me some stretches and exercises for support. All better in about 3 weeks.
This included a couple of sessions of twisting me around (which was rather interesting as I had not been that close to anyone stretched over me (except my wife) with my pants off for about 20 years – felt like I should have bought her a drink at least!)
Summary – find a cycling physio that will know why you have a sore back and still want to get out onto your bike.

I’m 46 and enjoying my new Anthem 29er…just completed a 24hr and one of the competitors putting in good lap times was 66 – so I figure that I’m good for another 20 years and a few bikes yet!

I have noticed the same thing on my Anthem 29er with the DT/Giant hub.
Pulled it apart a couple of times and re-greased after very muddy 24hr races. After clean and grease it gets quieter then gradually louder as the grease moves away from the teeth (I presume).
I just use it as a warning system for other riders/walkers that I am approaching!

Just looked up the Giant pricing at the above shops…I’m in shock – you guys get a rough deal on the complete bikes!
I just bought an Anthem 29er here and paid just a little bit more in dollars than you are paying in pounds! Guess you don’t get stung as much for spares as we do…but I use CRC and Wiggle too!
Thanks again for the recommendations.

Thanks wonderful people 🙂

Clean off the major muck first as has been pointed out…then it gets all of the hard to clean inside dirt off.

Bought one a few weeks ago when they were on sale in Australia. Works well and my XT long cage goes inside – but it’s not quite deep enough so you have to turn over and do a second time.
Oh and if you remember to clean the grease out…I’ve found it can be very useful in cleaning things like engagement rings to score major points…who’d have thought? 🙂
(I also had a bit of a laugh – you guys get the cheap bike bits, but I bought mine for $24.95)

Mt Stromlo with a borrowed GoProHD that I was testing. Chucked into iMovie that I used for the second time ever with one of the presets…It grabs bits for the transitions etc.
YouTube Link

Australian Choice Magazine Shonky awards 2010
http://www.choice.com.au/reviews-and-tests/money/shopping-and-legal/shopping/the-2010-shonky-awards/page/the-shonkiest-products.aspx

I am currently running an Ultegra chain on my 10speed DynaSys XT set up. This was because the Shimano chain broke in a race and that was what the owner of the LBS slapped on. Cannot tell the difference in shifting. I also now have the Wipperman link as I like to take the chain off to clean it.
Today I noticed another bent link (race gear change – a bit careless!) and I have replaced it with the Sram powerlink…but this is not removeable. Will see how this lot goes on the next ride!!! It shifts well but…overall, not too impressed with the 10 speed since I have only ridden about 500km and broken two chains.
I have only had one other problem in 10 years previously – using sram, shimano and kmc. (whatever is on special!)
Hmmm.

Very happy with mine…but just discovered that the chain tool (on the older model) does not quite work on a new Shinano 10 speed MTB chain. It does not push the pin through enough on the skinny chain before the tool bottoms out. Found out the hard way in a race and ended up finding a rock crystal, shoving it in at the end of the pin and using the extra length it provided to get the damaged bit of chain apart – McGyver watch out… Reassembly is OK though!

If it is the new DynaSys 10 speed HG-X set up – see big ring on crank , Shimano recommend their HG X chain only (with special ramps/chamfers etc) – of course they would…not sure if there has been much comment with people using other chains on this system as it is new. I have the new HG-X XT group 10 speed but have been using SRAM chains on previous bikes. Not sure what to do either as have only replaced one chain so far (with “proper” Shimano)

Can’t help you with a direct referral, but I too would recommend a sports physio that is interested nay obsessed with cycling. There are a couple here in Canberra that do bike fits…so there must be some in the UK. That way you can get the check out and the bike fit in one place from someone that knows the issues and how to resolve them.

Can be a bit of travel involved as Sydney is quite a sprawling (travel wise) city – ie commute can be a hassle – I had a 45 min drive on a good day that could be 90 plus mins if there was a crash on the freeway. Eastern Suburbs nice to live in as is the Northern Beaches…house prices correspondingly high. Better if you can live close to work. We started out living in Coogee at the beach, moved inland slightly, then into Blue Mountains (great MTB) and now in Canberra. About to ride in the World Solo 24hr at Mt Stromlo next weekend. I have been in Australia since 1978 (13yold) and the UK is a nice place to visit the rellies…but you have a decision to make. It will be expensive to move, but will the company be assisting? You can always move back if it does not work out and will have had the experience of some real sunlight 🙂 But I am a bit biased!

Rorschach – Come to Aus – free holiday with up-speced bike! I can introduce you to a great LBS! And you get Mt Stromlo to ride around…! 🙂
I agree – your UK price does seem a bit steep.

Re popularity – about 20% of XC racers in Canberra already have them according to my LBS. All 10 of the Anthem 29ers alloted to the shop were sold 2 weeks before any stock hit the floor. Next delivery Christmas! Only a slight problem…had them for 3 days and then they were recalled. Giant has provided me with a nice 26er Anthem X2 as a loaner in the meantime…hopefully 29er to be back in time for the 24hr Solo Worlds in 2 weeks. It will be interesting to see how many of the 400 racers there have 29ers! (and the 2000 team riders) I guess that will tell someone something about popularity.

Come for a holiday…buy a bike and ride…take the bike back home. All for the cost of a bike in the UK! The $3499 includes tax (maybe you can get back the 10% GST if you take it back to the UK…) I have noticed that some things are silly cheap and some silly expensive here and in the UK…try buying spare parts here in Australia – most keen people shop with internet from the UK – so maybe everything can’t be cheap for you guys!
29er seems good value here – Anthem X1 is $500 more.

I have an Airport express plugged into the back of my amp and I just stream straight to that from the computer…that gives me access to everything already on the computer.

I had an Anthem 29er in my hands for 3 days before it was recalled. Apparently they found an issue with the testing of the production run frames. Giant has given me an Anthem 2 to ride in the meantime, but I'm really looking forward to getting the 29er back as I loved the ride over the rutted trails. I could really feel the difference – esp for enduro type events. Two weeks now but still no news yet on the return – still the X2 is fun!

Dilithium crystals…(now I'm worried skidartist!!!)
Still I can remember getting really upset years ago when my Gran came to visit and we had to watch Coronation St instead of Star Trek before bedtime 🙁

Mtber? CRC or wiggle credit? Heaps less than LBS here (I'm in Canberra!)
There is not an Amazon here (not enough people! – but that's why we're here…don't tell anyone how good it is!)
David Jones or Myer are stores that are all around the country. Store credit?
JB HiFi for electronics too…
Maybe wine delivery from of the many online merchants…make sure that they are sending from here – don't need any of the high carbon miles French muck when we have lots of the nice Aussie wine 🙂

As has been said – right angled triangle 10cm at top – 100cm high Tan Ratio gives Tan Angle = 10/100 thus angle = 5.7degrees from vertical.

Glass is actually a ceramic – either made in Germany or Japan. Careful of it as it is pretty expensive! Damp newspaper dipped in ash is not a bad cleaner…the muck on the glass is from "dirty" burning wood or other stuff eg coal (products of incomplete combustion). There are products that you can buy to put into the stove (packet of chemicals tossed in to burn) whilst on to help get rid of the coating, but clean burning wood at the high temps will help. Glass is pretty tough and should not crack due to temp variation, but will still break with impact if you close door on wood sticking out…have fun and enjoy the fire and heat. Also good to make sure Flue is clean…