Well, phoned Halfords and asked them eventually – the bloke in the bike hut reckoned I needed a 31.8mm clamp (!?!). Just one of life’s little mysteries I reckon….

Ordered from WHS and hopefully with me before Inners / GT this Friday.

If it’s any help, the seatpost itself says 27.2 – does that mean I should be buying a 28.6mm clamp do you think? Just had a quick look at the wife’s seatclamp which has the same basic Halford’s seat clamp. It also has 34 stamped on it, so I’m wondering if this might be a part number rather than a size (blushes..).

Cheers for the responses dooge – it’s an ’08 Boardman MB Pro frame – I’ll take it (the clamp) into work with me tonight and borrow the fitter’s calipers.

Also – no offence to nickc for advice given in good faith – just me being unlucky (and or daft…).

Hmmmm – further advice required please – bought a shiny, gold, 34.9mm Hope quick release clamp as advised above and the bl00dy thing is way too big. I’ve screwed it down as far as possible with the wee knurled nut but it’s just plain too big – the clamp closes at the back of the seatpost but doesn’t hold it securely.

The old 34mm one sits very snugly so I reckon the 33mm one would be too small. Does anyone know where I can find a quality 34mm quick release clamp? Or want to buy a slightly scratched 34.9mm one…..?!

Sunderland City Council just don’t want to know about the bike to work scheme. I still work about six hours a week at a local leisure centre. Quite a few of the staff cycle to work and enquiries have been made several times, to the relevant person / people. Don’t know if it’s a council-wide policy.

Sorry for the mildly off topic hijack….

Grand. Cheers man – off to spend some hard-earned……

Bin it – done this many times in Europe. On the way back, get it wrapped in shrink wrap – sometimes it’s free, sometimes some enterprising soul will have bought the machine and will charge a tenner for wrapping it. No protection, but easier than faffing about trying to find a bike shop with a spare box, in an unfamiliar city.

+1 for the ‘go to last post’ function and / or ‘go to page xxx’.

Would be good to have a little more info in profiles too – I like to know who I’m talking to.

My first was a 2nd hand thing called a Pavemaster. Cr@p, but fine for buzzing about on Somerset lanes. First proper bike was a Grifter XL, just like the black one a few posts back.

Yes, it did have grip shift, but only two of the three gears were ever available at any one time. I also bent my forks doing ‘Phantom Riders’ (pedal along as fast as possible, jump off, and watch your steed being ridden by a phantom – you could get it to go a good hundred yards by itself downhill!).

Only had one incident which scared me, though it was also quite a comedy moment too. Riding what used to be my local loop up the Dee, out of Aberdeen.

Managed to come off very narrow singletrack, fall through a gorse bush and ended up hanging upside down over a 30 foot drop into the Dee. I’d somehow managed to tangle my legs up through the frame too, which was good as the bike was the only thing stopping a headfirst descent, stuck as it was, in the bush. Barely dared to breath, let alone move.

Hung there for what seemed like ages (prolly 10 mins or so) and then swallowed my pride and started yelling. Eventually some kids showed up and they fetched their big bros to come have a laugh before hauling me back up to the path.

Got away with bruised legs, and sad to say, I’m no more cautious now!

Aah! Jubilee clip – good one! I’ve been putting off cutting mine down purely down to fear of c0cking it up! (Strides off to find hacksaw…).

Aye, chucking it down in Sunderland – about an inch here too. New bike pleading with me to go and play….. Might just go out with the camera and the dog though – safer!

Af’noon all. Too late! Got the Boardman Pro yesterday, and am (tentatively) happy with it.

Didn’t go for the Voodoo as it’s just so much heavier. And I mean noticeably. This may be partly due to the coil fork and wheelset.

Munqe-chick, yup, I checked and double checked. They were at first reluctant to admit they could do anything other than replace the bike with exactly the same model, which is now worth about £200 less. When pressed, they admitted I could have any bike I wanted, as long as Leisure Lakes Cycles could source it.

Anyway, big up Barclays home insurance – bike pinched Friday and (with a bit of hustle) I’m sitting looking at my new bike as I type. Guys at Halfords very, very helpful too – beyong the call of duty methinks. I reckon they were just pleased to be selling a proper bike :-)

Sorry for the slight off topic hijack, but does anyone know if it’s the same story at Ae Forest?

For anyone who cares, I roadtripped it down to York today and got a hold of one of the last few 2008 Boardman MB Pro bikes. Looking forward to the A Line this Saturday – anyone likely to be there?

Depends where you are in your ride. If you’re stoked, half way through your day, you’re likely to plant your muddy bum down without thinking twice. If you’ve just got changed into clean gear, you’ll get the hump at others doing the same.

Should be in the pub after a ride anyway.

Cheers all for advice – all soaked up and considered. Looks like I may still be able to get me hands on a 2008 Boardman MB Pro at £850. Decided against the Cannondale for sure – the fork travel just ain’t up to my ropey landings. That Voodoo’s still tempting though…

Swadey – the Merlins are out due to buying constraints mentioned earlier, unfortunately.

I use a Freestyle goretex paclite jacket which seems to be exactly what it claims to be. Water doesn’t get in, even when it’s lashing, but sweat does disappear quite nicely.

Only problem is, it’s the super-fluo version, bought heavily discounted at Wiggle (like, less than half price). It’s truly hideous to look at but I couldn’t afford one in a stylish colour :-)

Expensive, but effective.

Thanks for that Steve. I was a little worried about the weight of the Voodoo – I picked one up in Halfords. I was comparing it to the Boardman though, which is superlight…

Just waiting to hear back from the insurance folk now. Visited Halfords this morning (insurance co go through them) as I’m interested in the Boardman Pro bikes. I was going on the assumption that ‘new for old’ meant that I’d get the same value as I paid for the stolen bike – it was a Halfords GT I-drive and cost £880. The lastest I-drive is just shy of £1000.

The guy in bike hut said that they’d probably just offer me the same I-drive as they’ve still got plenty of them, although they’re now worth only £694. That’s rubbish isn’t it?!

Cheers man – I’ll do the usual trawl down Hylton Road dodgy shops (been here before…) but not holding my breath.

Thank the Lord, this time we were insured – lesson learnt a few years back!