Great thanks for the replys. I may look at the car seat option as she’s about 4 months old. How do you get the straps to work on the car seat? Is it easy?

I’ve got a Specialized Diverge Elite on order at LBS at the moment as I had the same brief as OP.

they’ll be back. There’s a lot of it going around. Can you keep the bikes inside longer term, say 3 months or so till it dies down and they move on to somebody else?

Any good suggestions?

…aye, nearly 3 pages of them in this thread !

yep I know that but after something for dark country lanes, not off road MTB riding. Getting the balance between brightness, visibility and beam spread is different for this kind of riding unless you want to blind everybody.

I need to get some lights for an unlit road commute of 1 hr each way. Any good recommendations. Was thinking to get a helmet and bar combo to maximise visibility and not leave me stranded if one dies on the way home. I need good lights without spending hundreds. Any good suggestions?

I’m 5’6 and was going to go for a small? I had a small Covert before and was at the top end of the limit for that size bike but then a covert comes up small as well. Any idea if a small Capra seems right??

Well if you find any sneaky trails let me know as I come from there and don’t know of any!
Get yourself down the beach.

Not really anything around the immediate area that I’m aware of. You need to travel – exmoor, dartmoor, bodmin unless you make something up with as OS map and some bridleways?

Thanks lucas for the code. Brought some much overdue SPD’s as my current ones are worn out. Really appreciated. Thanks +++++

Wow. I’m overwhelmed by all of the responses. Wasn’t expecting so much help.
To answer some points. I’m planning to commute by bike at least 4 days a week. I’m now set on disk brakes as well. I haven’t had time to look at all suggestions yet but will do. I’ve already got a summer road bike which I may use on dry long summer days but it won’t take guards or panniers so it’s not a long term option.
I’ve never ridden a CX bike in my life. How much slower will it be than my road bike??
I’m also thinking now that I’ll keep an eye out for something on sale or second hand giving me more cash to put towards an all mountain bike 🙂

Just had a quick look and don’t think the Synapse will take panniers though 🙁

That synapse 105 looks pretty decent bet. It is 100% road commute so may be a faster bet than a CX?
I may also swing my leg over a Genesis CdF as a shop down the road is a dealer.

Don’t think my legs would cope with 40 miles a day on a fixed wheel.
Tonyd – thanks for the offer but unfortunately I’m in Bristol. Will look at a pompetamine though.

Any more ideas? It looks like I may be able to get what II need for less than a grand which is good.

Roadrat looks too long to me and is flat bars? Think I need drops for a decent turn of speed.

Thanks for the ideas. That Dolan looks quite good.
Buzz – I’ll work my way down that list. Are they disk then? Should I go for disk over rim brakes?

I run 1.2″ slicks on my old MTB commuter. Works well for me. Cost peanuts and although not as quick as my roadie its plenty good enough for my commute and way better than running wider tyres.

Anybody know if multipla’s are any good. They may be ugly but that makes them cheap! If they aren’t a money pit I may throw some money at one just to carry the bikes in. Anybody got one? What’s it like. Also can you get bikes in the back without taking the wheels off if I took out the back seats. 3 up front is a great advantage as well.

Was about to plum for a RT57 myself. What else should I be looking at for this kind of money?? I can’t find anything else that comes close?

Brant. I’ve sent a email about order SO0455319 but haven’t had a response as you are well busy but was hoping to change the xxs frame for an XS before it’s dispatched? Any chance 🙂

I have some brand new black ESI grips if you are interested. They are the chunky ones. Email in profile if interested.

I have a set of those hopes. Really comfortable so far.

I have a plus saddle in white. I used it to get a decent comfortable fit on my road bike but put the standard saddle back on before I sold it. I haven’t replaced it so have the saddle spare. I can’t offer a 6 month trial though! I agree it can get expensive and the trouble is that everybody is different so whats good for one is not for the next person.

I was. Do you want to buy a white one in VGC?

HT for sure.
Crisp choice – a bit more tricky!

Can somebody point me in the right direction to find these Dowies trails? Where should I park and how do I find them?

Wheres cheapest?

£9.99 from On-One. Not sure if they are cheaper elsewhere??

I had soem dual position revalation RLT Ti’s with a straight steerer …….. until they got nicked 🙁
20mm maxle lite as well.

I’m interested in the brakes if anybodys after the rest (depending on the price). Email in profile.

Chin up. There is a way forward, its just finding it. Once you get the correct meds you will feel a whole load better with it under control. Talk to your doc about different medication. Once you’ve found the key, all the problems will unlock.

Still haven’t found my bikes 🙁

Hi W,
Cheers for the offer. I’ll work something out, got a couple of offers in the short term. Hope you are good and keeping active?
Cheers
R

Thanks for the post. I thought the ad link said medium??
Do you have pics?

No showers last year and it was hot!

Thanks folks. On the other hand if anybody knows of a good deal (new or 2nd hand) on a small (I’m 5″6) AM bike let me know. I haven’t had time to see whats out there as I didn’t think I was in the market for a new bike. The problem is I’m booked on a biking holiday in 7 days time and at the moment I’m not going 🙁
I’m still fuming.

My immediate worry now is they’ll come back.

Up and over door. Just plain forced it. I live near Brislington.

How do I find MrA??

what year / shock?

Really sad to hear. They were a top LBS. I used the Beddy and Park Street stores regularly. Don’t know where I will head now in my time of need??
Really nice and helpful staff.
🙁

eeek. Just ordered a tick twister as well.