It's all academic now; he's ordered one.

Exactly like a star-fangled doohicky, except that you can remove it easily and it's absolutely guaranteed to go in straight.

I might have been being sarcastic.

It'll probably explode. You need to look for an AM-specific brake.

Possibly an urban myth, but i think that KMC make shimano chains?

KMC manufacture Shimano chains with the exception of the Japanese-made XT and XTR/DuraAce. As far as I'm away, SRAM chains are made in Germany at the old Sachs/Sedis plant which SRAM Corp. took over when the bought the company at the beginning of their Empire builing exercise.

I use either XTR or KMC X9.93 and have been for the last three or four years. Longevity is too similar to separate and I'd give the KMC the nod over the XTR in terms of shifting, plus a bonus point for the Missing Link (Powerlink equivalent).

CRC do the X9.93 for £15 – absolutely the best value for money you're going to find when it comes to chains.

My '08 66 RC3 ended up being returned after needing three replacement uppers (awful creaking under load). The first fork had new lowers fitted too, to deal with excessive bushing slop. These are both problems which plagued the '08 and '09 66 range. The fork was a replacement for an '07 SL ATA which spent more time with Windwave than on the trails.

I'm now running an '09 Fox 36 RC2 which is an absolute dream.

EDIT to respond to your update: I don't know if either of those issues applies to the 55, so all that may be irrelevent.

so the questions is whats the point of spending £2k+ on a bike where the bike is soooooooooooo much better than the riders ability or the places people ride???

I always try to push my budget by another £500 or so just to piss off people like you.

Apart from the having to walk a total of about 50m across a few icebergs around the Boundary, the entire route is clear and rideable. I did it on Friday gone.

it looks something like this:

I'll mention this because of your username. The toilet at the studio I run has that type of syphon fitted. Rather than replace the whole unit when the diaphragm splits, I use a perfectly sized piece of twin-ply drum head. I suppose that any similar type plastic could be used instead to affect a much cheaper repair.

Read this. Wickes and/or B&Q should stock a replacement diaphragm/syphon; otherwise a proper plumber's merchant will. They're cheap – as in around a tenner – and easy to replace.

I use a Dakine Apex and would gladly recommend. Large main storage space (waterproof, DLSR and food); a google/valuables pouch; plus an good size secondary section with slot for pump, one open and and two zipped pouches for tools/gear/tube. It also has holder + strapping for standard or full-face helmet and straps for armour. The Hydrapak bag is reversable for easy cleaning/drying. It also has detachable waist straps. Pretty much everything I've ever wanted in a pack.

Probably the diaphragm in the cistern. What kind of toilet is it?

NE is great. Local trails are dry without being hard; makes for excellent riding.

They're not high maintenance at all. Quit fiddling with them and judge them by how they work when they're used as intended. If you find that you have problems with drag or noise, then check the operation of the seals. Like all Hopes, they are eminently serviceable.

To save me repeating myself, here's a link[/url] to the caliper overhaul, which begins with a short description of how to clean pistons and seals.

Anywhere except Ae. Drumlanrig would top my list for anyone getting into MTB. If that place doesn't inspire somebody to ride, nowhere will.

Just don't wash the bike down so often. If you've been out in slop and rain, just remove the pivot bolts and wipe the bearing seals with a cloth. You could even use a tyre pump to blow surface water out, but spraying any kind of displacement oil is, in my opinion, creating more problems than it solves.

At home, looking at trees.

B&Q for around 80p per meter.

so i cant just get 6mm braided hose and replace existing 6mm hose???

If you can find the 6mm standard hose, then you can reuse all of your current fittings. The problem is that it doesn't seem very easy to get hold of. The 6mm fittings (olive and shroud) won't (I don't believe) work with the easy-to-obtain 5mm hose. The more expensive 6mm braided hose can, it would appear, be used with either 6mm or 5mm fittings because the plastic coating can be removed for compatibility with the 5mm fittings. Clear?

But surely you can instal the 6mm hose on the Monos without trimming the outer hose back? Or does the olive crush the outer too much?

Not sure why that didn't occur to me. Yes, I suppose that the braided hose would work, untrimmed, with the old 6mm fittings. Possibly moot, though, as the braided hose would come supplied with new 5mm fittings!

BTW 6mm Hose is still available? Certainly braided is?

The braided uses the 5mm fittings as the plastic coating is trimmed back.

glad there are cocks here for me when I need them most

You need cock?

See if you can find a local drum teacher. First of all, it'll mean you don't have to buy a drum set straight away. It'll also mean that he can learn his rudiments while having somebody keep in check all the bad habits he could develop. If he sustains his enthusiasm, then look to get a set of his own. If you're fortunate enough to have understanding/tolerant neighbours, go for an acoustic set, with pads if necessary; if he gets into playing he's almost certainly going to want (need!) one eventually. Not an issue if you're happy to throw money at his interest, of course.

Shimano 10spd on XT and SLX link.

I delete stupid or offensive comments if posted on the Bog Trotters site without compunction.

So you only allow guilt-ridden comments? Weird…

At a guess, I'd say that you've been given a V2, X2 or Mono Trials piston. If it's not the same size as a Mono Mini caliper bore, then it's not a Mono Mini piston.

That downward-facing 9mm QR dropout set-up, on a bike intended for DH, looks like a recipe for disaster.

I'm totally baffled why people think it's OK to go through a red light when they're on a bike. I've had people whizz past me as I've stood in the ASL box and it would appear that they haven't even checked to see if there's anyone coming from either side. I doubt very much that they'd be able to stop if a vehicle was coming at the normal speed.

GT85 is the worst smell. It's worse than that shitty smell that ancient air from and inner tube has and it's worse than a fresh dog turd thrown in your face from the front tyre; although it probably tastes better. The smell of GT85 says "I hate my bike".

Frame-chainguide-spacer-bearing is the most likely from a fitment point of view. If it works better with the spacer between the frame and the chainguide, then do that.

Any tips for getting the non drive side crank off the spline?

Thread the end cap off a turn or two and give it a tap with a soft-headed mallet or with a cloth covered hammer. Once it breaks free from the seal at the other end it should slide out as normal.

SRAM X-series use 1:1 ratio for rear mechs; Shimano use 1:2. This leaves Shimano rear derailleurs incompatible with SRAM shifters; and vice versa.

No such issue exists with the front derailleur, so shifters and derailleurs are interchangeable between manufacturers.

I ride because I love it. I don't love riding in the pissing rain or on trails that resemble a pudding. With this in mind, I don't go out and ride when the weather is shyte and I don't ride trails that resemble puddings. It's not nothing to do with being soft, it's all about enjoying a pastime. If the weather turns on a ride, then I brace myself, get on with it and make the most of the rest of the day; but I 've never understood the folk who wander around with grim faces and grimly ride around the just because they have to ride or because it somehow represents a lack of passion. If somebody genuinely enjoys that kind of thing, great, but watching riders depart and return to Glentress car park in the sideays rain tells me that the vast majority of them do so with a grim face. That's not passion; that's obsession. No thanks…

There's a full range from Fox (link[/url] to MX1). Hard-wearing and comfotable. Try Pace Cycles (link) for breathable waterproofs.

dare to comprehend,

Whenever I'm feeling cool I just pop on a cardigan and perhaps a thicker pair of socks. I can be cool if a want; or not.

lodged in venison

There's you answer. Put it at 3 or 9 o'clock.

What about extreme side-winds?