disben, what lenses and which dust cover?

Need a new set of cranks, but the rest of the drive train is only a month old, so I’m not going to swap that out for some time.

When I worked in the trade (about 15 years ago), the best profit margins were around 35% on bikes and 40% on accessories and parts.
We closed half the bike shop down and turned it into a coffee shop as the mark up on food was about 90%.

Most big suppliers required you to take a number of units per year at various price levels, this meant taking a risk and holding a fair amount of stock. You have any of it left in September and the next years models arrive and it is viewed as old stock. Once you consider all the associated costs bike shops make very little profit.

Untitled by Tom Middleton[/url], on Flickr

Classic Singular Swift. Love it, had lots of Steel hardballs over the past 25 years, but it is by far the best. Only thing I would contemplate swapping it with, would be a Jones.

Everything.

Was very good. A true epic.

I’m tempted to pick the book up from the shelf and read it.

Thanks, food for thought. No votes for an Specialized helmets

Don’t do it, you should never mess with someones work place, she won’t be able to relax, especially when ambushed.

How did you lose 15kg?

rOcKeTdOg no, as I said anything. I’m torn between a fatback and a cx bike.

Been questioning this a lot lately after a dreadful 2015.
Calm contentment would be more than enough. I don’t want to be rich or famous. I would love to be able to take my daughter to school each morning and pick her up, work hard, both at work and in my private life. I have some amazing friends a true soul mate and best friend and a brilliant daughter, could I want anything more?

What sort of distances are you guys doing daily? I do a 70 mile round trip and have often though a van may be more practical than my Golf, but I’d lose out on the fuel economy.

Schwalbe Furious Freds I have them in 29×2.0 and I thought they would be rubbish in the wet, but have proved themselves very capable and fast both on and off road.
Last few weeks have seen them in the wet mud and sandy off road here in Norfolk and have managed amazingly well. On the road there is no buzz and they are so quick.

Where are you located in the summer. I always need employees through July working at graduation ceremonies. Drop me an email in profile with your details.

Edit its running Vista not XP. I’m not quite in the dark ages.

The part of this thread that is missing is where do people live.

I would love to cycle more, I have a Kona Ute and as of September when my daughter goes to school in the next village, I am sure that we will, but currently my work is 35 miles away and while I can cycle that distance, I would probably be killed within a week on one of the twisty country lanes as rural drives seem to be less aware of cyclists or that bit more arrogant/ UKIPpy than city drivers.
My partner works in Cambridge, which is about 45 miles away and she takes the train.
When I lived in the city I cycled and walked everywhere, I don’t want to give up the rural idel, but also would love to cycle more, but there is no work locally and with a small child the car gets used more than I would like.

Growing up in Cambridge I used to see a number of minor celebrities, I bought Stephen Hawking a pint in the Mill when I was under age.
When I worked in Sainsbury’s I used to serve Clive James, Rory McGrath and Terry Waite.

Loads of other run ins with minor celbes, Never really put a lot of weight in Celebrity, but most seem to be alright apart from McGrath who is a miserable git.

Aldi Merino base layer, £15.99 wear it for cycling, garnening, wood chopping. Kept it’s shape and still looks good, much better than my Endura Baa Baa.

Although talking of Endura I realised the other day when slipping on my Endura thermal tights, that I have had them more than 15 years and other than a bit of freying on the straps they are still in very good condition. Same with my 15 year old bib 3/4s.

Rab Microlight vest, bough it cheap in a sale and it has been amazing, wear it every day, keeps me warm, packs small, cannot fault it. I know have a Microlight Alpine jacket, I’ll report back on its performance in a couple of years, but I am sure it will be immense.

I live in rural Norfolk, I am the scariest thing on the streets. My greatest fear is being run over by a John Deer.
I lived in London and walked and cycled everywhere, I lived on a ‘rough’ estate and the people were amazing, there were gangs tht looked intimidating, but when you spoke to them and engaged with them, they were always alright. I was cautious, but never scared.

I have a North Face one, two bottle holders and bags of space. I rode the Bear Bones 200 in it the other year and all was good. I like to slacken it off when on the bike and I can even fit it to my Jones loops if necessary.
Cost me a tenner and has paid for itself time and again.

A lot of the female peloton have PHDs and are very bright. Sadly the same can’t be said for most male pro cyclists.

I have the Mavic Alpine XL and they are superb, I know the crossmax is a little different. Lots of great details and quality build. Sizing wise they are pretty spot on, I’m an 11 and they are a good fit.
I’ve got shoes from Shimano and Specialized as well and the Mavics are as good if not better.

I bought my Ute when CRC were doing electric Utes minus the electric part, a bargain at £500.

It rides great despite being only an 18″ frame. I’ve changes a few parts, stem is now a longer Thomson and the bars are Ragley Carnagys which are wider than the original Kona set. Also have the obligatory stokers stem and bar for tommid jr, she loves it.

I’d like to upgrade the front wheel to a disc and the rear brake from a BB5 to a BB7. Also think it would benefit from some knobblies. Other than that cannot fault it, apart from the rubbish colour and the messy big welds.

DrP seen a few complete bikes go really cheap on eBay lately. One went for about £170.

I have one too, they are ace.

There is a plastic extracysles deck on ebay and they guy has a hook up for a kids seat. Might be just what you’re looking for.

Carter USM’s Final ever gig tomorrow.
They were my first ever gig at 13. Look forward to one last time to rock out to them live.

Bought squash balls from them, I guess the reason, that many of the staff are there is for a share of the bonus’. Some shop staff got £100k last year.

http://www.theguardian.com/business/2013/jul/18/sports-direct-staff-bonus-profits

It was dropped by the BBC (yet they continue to air Mrs brown’s boys and other dog dirt). Good on Amazon for picking it up. I look forward to it.

Karate Monkey is not SS only it has a mech hanger and all the routing for gears and rack mounts.

Surly Karate Monkey!

Thread done.

Nice. I have a changed mine to a set of Carnagies on a 100mm Thomson, which has made it a more capable bike.
The rear BB5 is pants, but I love my BB7s on my other bike, so I may swap over to a BB7. I have a V brake on the fron, but may swap over to a full set of discs and build a new wheel for the front.
I also have a XTR BB and set of Hones with a two ring set up, that I may put on as well.
Loving it so far, its just the sketchy off road on the explorers.

Pickled onion. Or grab three packets of space raiders for less money. YUM

Are a set of tyres really going to make that much of a difference?
If she is nervous, you’d be better off spending the time building up her confidence.

Although I suggest never mixing cycling and partners. They don’t mix, unless you met through it.

This is ours been in about 6 months and has saved us a fortune in oil already.
With the stove which is an 11kw Parkray, the total cost for removing the old fire place making the hole bigger and the lintel was just over £2k.

http://www.ebuyer.com/614346-aves-diamond-wireless-bluetooth-speaker-with-ipod-dock-wood-veneer-diamond-wood

I have one of these. £28 bargain, they do a Bluetooth only version as well.

Great quality for the price.

Just sold my 56 plate saloon.
It was a 120 BHP. Not the quickest of cars off the mark, but held 80 on the motroway and returned 54mpg.

Gret size, but I wished I’d had an estate as the boot space was wasted due to the accessability.
Mine was pretty basic, but a nice comfy car and a good place to be.

Around the 100k mark look for a rattle in the clutch as that is an £800 job for a new clutch and dual Mass flywheel.
Otherwise its all thobvious, cambelt etc. Otherwise pretty bombproof. I’d certainly have another. Although if its a pre 57 plate they look a bit dated now.

I’m about 110KG and I load my bike up for bike packing and I run a set of Halo Freedom discs on Hope Pro2 and Alfine, with no issues. Wheels built 3 cross with dt double butted spokes.

http://activesport.co.uk/shop/article_FKSAV6K/Salsa-Vaya-Road-Fork-26%22-disc-only.html?pse=coa

I know there are some Euro shops that ship to the UK stocking them as well.

I rode out the other week at 5am and saw loads of french cars with Yellow head lights, until I stopped to wipe the lenses on my glasses and realised I had my yellow tints in…

Bye