I have had to start watching forign films what with the good lady being Italian. So, to add to the other good'uns mentioned already;

Science of Sleep
My Brother is an Only Child
Romanzo Criminale
and very old but too good not to mention La Haine

…they are not bad for films you have to read. Next on the list Gamorrah.

what is the seller doing with the 'shockers'?

ther'll be a big orange santa cruz on there next

Fu Manchu's latest offering's havent been as good as what they should have been – let's hope next week's new album will be…

wow, this thread has stirred

CaptJon's first post summed it up. As much as it is inefficient we are reliant on the public sector, screw with it too much and their will be consequences for us all. It's a bit like the banking sector except the handouts come in different ways i.e. less dramatic. We are all reliant on aspects of the public sector to some degree, whether it be directly or the fact it is propping up parts of the county. The private sector needs it, perhaps it is a beast that has grown too big but it's here now and we have to manage it. I think a year's pay freeze is not the end of the world and the inefficiency needs to be cleared up but those claiming they are all work shy wonders how many of you have complained when dealing with bohemoth private organisations (insurance companies, (non-privatised) utilities, supermarkets, trading websites, software manufacturers etc) and their incompetence.

the ice man

as a kid shotgun cartridges and also bottles. The former I'd find in fields and woods, the bottles my parents helped me with.

London commuter cycling is ace apart from this morning when I got incredibly wet feet. Common Boris sort it oooouuuuuuut. As much as I dislike his party and politics I have a horrible feeling the country will be seeing a lot more of him in the future, he ain't stupid, he's learning to make watchable speeches and my girlfriend likened him to Burlusconi. We could well be in trouble…

….I'll be onto my lawyer straight away the copiers

Belu – Intercept it before it reaches you

Steve Lamacq is raving about it already

….as above. Basically it sounds like he is taking the p**s, he doesn't have any of your benefits to account for. Unfortunately this sort of happened to me however as he won't commit to me I take full advantage by getting extra work on the side.

wheat beers are good, I quite like Kronenbourg Blanc – incredibly refreshing and a nice change if you're full of brown beer. My current favourite is Little Creatures, who knew the ozzies could make decent beer.

oomidamon – I am 6'5" and have the 20" frame (photo above). It also has a ti post and saddle. I wouldn't say it's too spring in the slightest. It's a fun bike and very comfy indeed which I needed because my Chameleon was crippling me. The only thing I notice is either the rims flexing or the tyres rolling but that's nothing to do with the frame so you'll be fine.

Kate Bush? oh no hang on, it's Bat for Lashes, nope it's Kate Bush, ahh

an erruption in Naples may benefit Italy by finally ridding it of the mafia

how about hips, does turning your hips to where you want to go help with cornering? Looking where I want to go has certainly helped, simple as it sounds. I still overshoot though.

Where is our GDP supposed to come from, the Banks

yep, that and "knowledge" by all accounts

An ignorant population is a controlled population

Ignorance is bliss

…not that the lib dems actually offer a real change. So, Revolution it is….

a change would be nice though wouldn't it, I'm with the OP on this and was thinking the recent economic situation may have changed things. I was wrong. I also want people to see beyond their family upbringings and vote because that's who they have thought about it rather than following, little chance of this. I realise my personal circumstances are more down to me (although interest on my supposed house deposit took a battering, the chances of me having a mortgage at the moment are very slim and being able to afford a house before they are all flooded or poisoned in a cloud of fog is also unlikely – these are not necessarily my doing, then again I should get a better job I suppose) but still, a change would be good, even just the option of change. Pity the lib dems did what they did to Charles Kennedy.

oh go on then, another 20"

Don't even know what forks I have – I've got 140mm maxle revs and as above work a treat, not wandery at all, quite fast direct steering infact coupled with 60mm stem and 711mm bars. Don't feel the need to wind them in ever to climb either.

i have the same as Keva above

it would be bad if you were on holiday but as it's only work then it's fine

excel 2007 does this too

i've never touched my toes (without bending my legs)…

i agree, i hope these people don't take their children to fireworks nights and bonfire parties. And I hope you don't drive there, or walk next to a road with all those fumes. And heaven forbid using electricity in your homes because that doesn't cause smells or pollution at all does it.

people yes, children no

i tend to keep mine apart from an old blue/silver (93) lavadome which I sold to a friend who still has it by all accounts – lovely bike that

agree with Tinsy – rubbish stuff does ruin rides, or lets say it can ruin rides.

There maybe an emphasis on kit but who cares – it's part of the hobby isn't it. I can spend hours trawling the internet for the perfect piece of kit at the perfect price – it isn't gonna make me any better but I enjoy knowing about stuff.

All sports, hobbies, daily pursuits require kit.

Kit is good.

the South African government are dishing out the 'racism' card quite freely at the moment what with the Canadian government and the Semenya thing. Are they racist acts or is the S. frican governemnt just a little sensitive (understandably so but I am sure it does no one any favours accusing people of racism)

tis not a chipper according to Google images. Trying to find Chipper/Chopper copies on Google other than the Stingray is difficult though. Good luck

how tall is a thomson stem? I know the Sunline stems are relatively short (about 38mm I think) and coupled with a short headset (Crank Bros maybe) then you may get away with it – an expensive solution though (I do have the aforementioned stem second hand if you're interested though 😉 )

what's with the Lansera-baiting?

I got a 705 and really quite like it, I managed to get it through work expenses though, not sure I'd have one otherwise.

Anyway – has anyone tried any open source mapping on there GPS (particularly the 705). I havent got round to it yet but there is quite a lot of stuff out there Free maps

I have recently started reading Dirt – I quite like it, I find it quite inspiing as I am not really a downhilling freeriding dirt jumping type – I can always dream though. Although the latest issue about Bristol really pi**ed me off (admittedy I was on a plane and airports do have the habit of making me easily annoyed), well just one article about Bristol bravely stating how they'd nick bikes off all-the-gear-no-idea riders and punch people. Hopefully it was toungue in cheek but even so – what a dik.

France is one of the few European countries that really does appear to be unified

well….France and the state of Paris

What is there to like about short days ?

low sun – good
orangey red leaves – good
bonfires – good
not guilty for sitting in and watching tele in the evening – good
pubs seem cosier – good
roast dinners back on – good

yep, I like this time of the year

i used to collect shotgun cartidges as a kid. Catalogued them and everything 😳

hello stumpy_dan – what day is this ride planned for (don't say this weekend, I'm off to wales). Anyway, if there is a group I really don't recommend Hamstead Heath – you're not really meant to cycle in there except on the cycle paths so you might as well be on the road. Spaniards Wood is great fun but I can guarentee some Hamstead snooty feckmook (learned that word on here yesterday) will start whinging about how bikes are not allowed in there. Which of course they are technically correct, morally they are not – however, I have found its just not worth the effort, especially at the weekend.