I used to work for Prodrive/Subaru WRC, good to see some old faces and brought back a few memories. It’s a tragedy that both Colin McRae & Richard Burns are no longer with us.

Nice bargain Ultegra upgrade :)

I emailed On One to ask if the 9mm QR tugs were supplied as a pair. Had an email back saying that they were supplied individually and just one on the drive side would be ok.

Shimano should do as they do on the road – just not include a BB (and drop the price accordingly).

Agree with that, just got a new XT chainset that came with a BB… just not the press fit one I needed :(

I’m on the verge of placing an order too.

Not sure whether to go for a 56 or 58 (I’m 5’11” with 32′ inseam)?

Not done many winter miles to be honest but still very happy with the bike.

Stayed with the Conti X-Kings, fitted a 24/38 XT chainset and swapped the bars for Niner Flat Tops.

Also fited a Thomson seatpost clamp to stop the post from continually sinking…

Lots of fun in the south of the Island, the coastal path between Port St Mary and Port Erin is stunning…

…and there’s a good LBS in Port Erin (Erin Bike Hut) for post ride coffee & bike chat etc.

‘His GF told him to ebay it’? Pathetic, strike him off your mates list and look for another bike.

+1 Duck tape over the vents, makes a big difference!

14 miles on the road bike, got a KOM so a good start to the year!

I’ve been told that it’s important to have a bit of initial free travel in the brake lever to allow for fluid expansion from the heat transferred through the brake pads under hard or sustained braking?

I’ll be doing the Isle of Man End2End and the Isle of Man Lighthouse Challenge[/url]

I’ve got a 2011 Allez 16 and still love it after nearly 2 years – great bike!

On holiday in Las Vegas, hired a bike and went for a guided ride in Red Rock Canyon…

(I used these guys and they were really good – recommended)

Yes – my Kona Unit’s a whole lot of fun :-)

Interested depending on the date as I have to book a ferry!

Pashley & Brompton?

94,605ft since 1st Jan 2012

That’s ‘perspective’ for you :-)

Christmas present you say?

40psi front and rear (Conti X-King 2.2) with a 95kg rider

I used a Gusset Double Six kit and a Surly Singleator

Baby Wipes are good for cleaning chains/drivetrain as they don’t tear and they’re cheap, warm water and a sponge for the rest.

Sorry Taff, one more here but hopefully my ‘cycle cellar’ might make you feel a bit better about your brick box!

Went on Friday and thought it was marginally better than last year although no Bianchi or Pearson who were both there in 2011 with some nice stuff.

Anyone notice that seat stay/seatpost clamp arrangement on the Pinarello Dogma XC 29er?

Called into Coventry Transport Museum on the way there to see their Pedals to Medals exhibition which was really good :D

How I Won The Yellow Jumper (by Ned Boulting)

Tag Heuer ‘Monaco’

Another vote for Specialized Allez, I’m 5’11” and a 56cm fits me perfectly.

I use these: Gul Winter Glove

Designed for sailing so they’re windproof, tough and very comfy. There’s extra material across the palm and around the inside of the thumb (for pulling ropes and all that nautical stuff) which makes them perfect for gripping handlebars :-)

I have a similar XT set up on my hardtail and switched from a triple to a double. I can still use the same shifter but I had to change the (direct mount) front mech to double specific.

Kept the long-cage rear mech and it’s fine.

Finished 641st in 6hr 6mins 40secs.

Normally I’d be very disappointed with that but having been advised not to start (left knee injury) I was pleased to make it over the line.

Got caught in the ‘M25’ Ballaugh Plantation bottleneck and the zero-visibility at the top of Eary Cushlin (pedalling blindly into the mist on the wrong side of the road) was interesting!

Credit to the guys who were out there working on the Cronk Ny Arrey Laa / Sloc trail for most of last week to make sure it was rideable.

My XT 10 speed chain only lasted a few rides, SRAM PC1091 chain solved the problem for me and works fine with XT drive train.

This may be useful: Sale of Goods Act 1979 (search for the term ‘merchantable quality‘)

52.9mph (according to the Garmin) on a road bike.

Conti X-King RaceSport 2.2

I’ll second that!

Still faster than anything else I’ve ridden off road

Yep, definitely agree with that!

Also removed the shifter indicators.
Just switching to 2×10.
Sram PC1091 Chain.
Swapped the Scwhalbe’s for Conti X-King 2.2’s.
Swapped the seatpost clamp to stop the post sliding down.
On the second set of brake pads.

Still love the bike, it’s a weapon!

At the risk of asking a silly question, will this fit straight in the existing press-fit bottom bracket?

2013 Shimano XT 38-24 10 Speed Crank