Using it on late 2009 iMac. No horror stories, but very slow to do some simple things like switch users. No major advantages I can see. If it weren’t for needing it to run some software I need I would not have bothered, so unless you have a compelling reason to switch I can’t see any reason to bother.

Got the 26 version on my Zesty. Best guard I ever used and nice to be dry to go to the pub etc. The front one is also good but nowt is 100% effective at the front in my experience.

They make terrible bread??? Blasphemy. A Panasonic and a decent recipe makes a perfectly decent loaf. Granted handmade is better, but if you’re pushed for time better than the rubbish in the supermarket.

Canyon Spectral 29er? Been spending too much time looking at the web page. N+1…

Life is too short for cheap cheese. Buy better and eat a bit less. You know it makes sense…

Duner – thanks for the offer but the store manager/staff were already helping. I went back today with the bank statement and an approval code after the manager tracked the store receipt from the original purchase by my brother. Of course in the days since this started they had sold out of the colour I had and so I had to take an alternative.

At all times the staff did their best. The chain is acting within the law. Of course people will try to steal stuff and “return” it. Same applies to all stores.

Bottom line – if you are an honest customer in an honest situation some stores are better to deal with than others. In my view (reading this lot plenty disagree) Evans do not treat customers well enough.

Happy new year to all contributors to the thread and to the Evans staff – who were not the problem.

In response to Scaredypants post, I can report that:

i) I am genuine, and not a crook. Self reported of course so accept some may not believe that.

2) I will not go back to buying from Evans – I am influencing them the only way I can by withdrawing my business (which was regular) and letting the world know (I have also told Evans directly). That way I hope to influence their policy to help others and eventually help Evans themselves. As a consumer that is the power I have.

3) With regard to the supposed cost of the exchange and the genuine reason for the policy, I want to make a like for like swap of one item for an another identical in all ways except size. They are priced identically, and more than likely the cost to Evans is also identical. The “cost” is therefore admin to change their stock record – up one on one size and down one on the other. We have already spent 40 minutes in the store with several staff and then the manager, who is now making further enquiries to finally allow the exchange to happen. Agreeing to it day one would have cost them considerably less, plus they would have my constant ongoing business (as they are my LBS). As the cliche goes, it is far cheaper to keep a loyal customer than to win a new one.

Back to the original point – in my opinion Evans exchange policy is not customer friendly and my experience of other stores is much better. I will therefore suggest to people I know that they do not buy gifts for me from there – that way I avoid the awkward situation of having to ask everyone for a receipt “just in case” which makes the whole gift giving process not the joy it should be.

Right – as they say on Dragon’s Den, I’m out. Readers can decide for themselves whether this exchange of views should change their shopping habits or not.

Interesting posts and I have a new found desire to buy some embrocation. As some have said, this will get sorted and after an indeterminate amount of unnecessary aggravation I will get a jersey that fits. However, bottom line is that if someone buys you a gift at Evans and you need to exchange it it is not straightforward and you need to ask the giver for a recipt which takes the edge off the giving for both parties. It is small minded and petty of the store to operate such a policy and it is no way to treat customers. They will reap what they sow – in my case by me not buying my next bike off them. And in case my beloved reads this, that in no way is to imply that at any point I have any desire whatsoever to replace my Zesty (bought at Evans) with a mid travel FS 29er. Hypothetically.
8O

Session with Jedi. I had no idea I couldn’t corner until I went on a public session. I think he has been hired in the past specifically to teach racers to corner…

Or practice with usual trial and error. Ouch.

Bumper year round Woburn way. I’m filling my boots. Hay while sun shines etc.

Just made mirabelle jam this afternoon from roadside trees – bloomin’ marvellous.

And lovely weather for a bike ride yesterday.

Top banana.

Islabikes Beinn 29. £449.

Voodoo. Cheap. As. Chips. If you can find one…

Fall rip off. Meh.

6music
Pitchfork
Spotify
Friends

I have a 2010 Zesty – bought it new from a big chain store type shop (end of year sale). It is completely stock except for saddle/grips (as white not too practical in the mud…) and tyres (which surely don’t count as a change?). It is only the basic model 214 but I don’t think I will change anything except when bits wear out (like the BB which has done so several times already). I’d like lighter wheels but not enough to do anything about it. I’d like the bike to be a bit lighter but not enough to spend a lot more money. For what I do and how good a rider I am (not very) it is just about perfect. Greased and adjusted the rear hub yesterday and as I was putting it back in the shed I was thinking to myself “what a great bike”. :D

Wonder how long it will last me?

Bolls contour glasses for biking. About 7 quid and do the job just fine. Got several pairs.

My first ever MTB event of any kind. Overall I enjoyed it – good to spend time with friends and the atmosphere on the course was good. I was passed by faster riders all the time but all were polite and usually said thank you. Was surprised at the empty arena area and general low numbers versus my expectations. Course was OK – for the fit whippits I am sure the climbs were a stern test but from what i saw 90% of people were pushing pretty much from the off. Surely a more rideable course for the majority would be better? More fun rather than more slog would make me more likely to return.

Highlight was shouting “on your right” going down the red bull section to pass two people even more knackered than me. Also the hot shower last night and the baked potato with veggie chilli at ten last night which was the nicest meal I ever ate…

Off for a lie down now. A bit tired.

+1 for breadmaker and home made soup. That’s my lunch at work tomorrow. Tastes better too…

Wasn’t much fussed. But now I have seen one on the road. Yes – it is expensive. Yes – the Porsche’s are probably “better”. But having seen it, I want one…

+1 for Knife. Just off to listen to Kurt Vile on Spotify – useful thread…

What tyres for listening to Spotify?

+1 for Bolle. I have plastic framed Contour safety glasses – you can find them for 6 or 7 quid on Amazon. Can’t fault them – wear them in preference to my “proper” cycling glasses…

Hyundai i10. Base model with skinny steel wheels, wind up windows and all. Retro-tastic. Ours has been bomb-proof and still had 3 yrs warranty when we bought it at 2 yrs old.Puls will not quicken when you drive it, or when you need to get it serviced…

Read a book? Just finished Reamde by Neal Stephenson. 8 hours should get you a few chapters in! (tok me a few days to finish it so there’s plenty to go at!) Can’t see how games alone would keep me going for 20 hours – fine for an hour here and there but for that long I’d need a bit more.

On my second Shimano BB in my Zesty, only because Hope hadn’t done one at the time I needed to replace the first failure. Next replacement will be a “fit and forget” from Hope (fingers crossed it wil last better than OEM and more to the point as long as I am expecting…)

In my experience BT and specifically BT Openwhatever are a shambles. I won’t deal with them any more on principle (other than having to use BT Openzombie due to their monopoly position). Plusnet for internet here and very happy with them – great to deal with over the phone and no issues with the service. Price was OK.

A good start. But I predict it will be a game if two halves, Brian.

The lads will give 110% all over again.

And CR will be wearing his own signature deodorant, featuring basenotes of cedar and patchouli. Available from all big stores. Now.

Man U out on penalties.

Try porthole for streaming other stuff from a Mac. Works for spotify so should do the trick?

From the “correspondence” I get the impression that English is not the vendor’s first language. Would love to know the backstory to these…

Do you have one of those modern portable telephones? If so, you could do worse than just use that? They are the work of the devil and so forth but they serve a purpose.

Of course if you don’t have one – Chapeau!

I’m using Superstar sintered. Seem to last well and no quality issues (e.g. pads dropping off backing plates) but they are quite noisy. I think all sintered would be similar. May try Kevlar next time.

About 3 inches in MK. an interesting drive to Heathrow this morning but arrived in one piece…

A mate turned up at the weekend on a new Triban3. I was astonished how good it looked. Very decent bike, and at the price little short of amazing. I’d buy one.

Isn’t that right Andy? (He’ll be reading this while pretending to be “working” or some such nonsense…)

My wife never wanted kids, but ended up pregnant.

We now have 2.

She hated kids, and still does – except ours whom she loves more than life itself.

We were 35 when we had our first, and loved the fact that we had travelled etc. and were “ready for it”.

If I had my time again I would change only one thing. I would have had kids earlier – about 30 would be perfect.

Seriously.

Whatever happens – good luck, and make the best of it. If you are trapped on the roller coaster it may be best just to enjoy the ride.

Another supporter for Panasonic. I have had a few bread machines, all failed and could not be repaired (can’t get spares) until I got a Panasonic. Much more reliable and if it does fail you can get spares. And makes very good bread – nearly as good as hand made but with much less hassle so can fit in with a busy life.

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
Inglorious Basterds

But especially Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. If you haven’t seen it – rent it NOW. Very funny.

There is a bit of trail in Woburn that I often ride. There was a nice rooty climb that always posed a challenge for hamfisted and unfit numpties like myself. Anyway, to get to it you go past a boggy area and there are now signs saying no bikes as it is an area of special scientific interest.

So – now I go round the bog and ride the top half of the climb where you can rejoin the trail. But I noticed in the recent snow LOTS of tyre tracks taking the short cut to the climb straight past the closure signs.

I know that those people will consider they are “not doing any harm” or possible are “not going near the boggy bit” and therefore clearly think it’s OK. I doubt however that they are scientists who know what is being studied and which bits matter.

I lost a little faith in my fellow man when I saw what people were doing. Happily the response to the recent bereavement thread on here was able to restore some of it.

Can’t help thinking that the world would be a better place if we all did our best to be “decent”. I must be getting old.

That Voodoo has an air fork. For 450 quid.

Just sayin’

Seems like a decent chap still vaguely in touch with reality and with some sense of humility. Fair enough. He’s no Cantona though…

Elliott Smith. Only listened after he died. Some great stuff.

I think you live the life you think is best for you. If you are lucky you will manage to be happy for much of it. I don’t think there is any component* that guarantees you happiness or satisfaction. Do what feels right.

FWIW my wife always said no to children, then changed her mind because she knew I wanted them (there was no pressure from me). It worked out OK for us.

* Not children anyway. Possibly a carbon framed Lapierre Zesty.