Any question answered...

There is some debate about that online. I don't want to throw a chain with my son on the back due to a badly timed gear change on my part. That's my rationale anyway. If you ever make southeast beers you're welcome to have a look at my setup.

Bit of a trek from Germany I'd have thought.

Am I allowed to carry over holiday from this year into the next? Can my contract state that I am not allowed to do this?

Should say in your contract how many days you can carry over if indeed that's the case?

You need to at least take the EU minimum per year (28 days I think, inc bank holidays). Then I would think it is down to the firm's discretion unless you can illustrate that they prevented you taking your full holiday allocation.

Thanks again, I'll have a read and then decide.

If you ever make southeast beers you're welcome to have a look at my setup.

If I ever...

Bit of a trek from Germany I'd have thought.

True dat. But there are plans for a longer trip to London next year...

Ah. Yeah. Sorry about that. Happy to share pics or more details if you're intetested. Just drop me a PM.

I'd UTFS but I don't know how in brave new LFGSS. What is the optimal cost-effective OTP fixed wheelset for commuting?

V-Sprint + 10% forum disco?

Shimano R501 + SPNK "fixxer"?

Bought the former for a friend's build: one year in and no complaints.

Using the latter myself: one year in and no complaints (@Vince had a kit for sale).

Nolobi (aka nologo) for stress-free commuting and locking. Available in black or garish. About £70 for a set of flip-flop wheels with rimtape, tubes, tyres and both free and fixed sprockets. Mine used Quando loose-bearing hubs.

I'd UTFS but I don't know how in brave new LFGSS. What is the optimal cost-effective OTP fixed wheelset for commuting?

I've been commuting on the shallower of the V-sprint wheels, they've been very good & have taken a battering.

+1 for shallower V-sprints.

Or if you're wanting a wider rim:
http://www.spacycles.co.uk/products.php?plid=m2b0s178p1817

my mtb has the same width and profile as a cx tire that I have laying around. The only actual difference is the size of the wheel (I think, haven't checked), the cockpit (flatbar) and probably the frame geometry. Can I join cx races with it? I can't afford a cx bike.

Yes - plenty of people race CX on MTB

Ahh ok thanks :)

Re. wheels, thanks all for the input. V-sprint looks good, although I might spring for something posher - Exal LX17 and 28c could be comfy.

Maybe.
Yes.

I've built two sets of LX17s so far, one set with Tensile LF flip flop hubs for GF's Pompino, the other with XT M760 hubs for her hybrid.

I'm happy with them.

Why is ale cheaper than lager in pubs/bars but the more expensive in shops?

Lager needs chilling equipment and a gas supply (CO2, N2 or a mix).

Ale needs a cellar.

Not fully satisfied but a good answer, thanks.
So why is it the other way round in shops?

The lager you buy in the shop is basically the same you buy in the pub.

Ale is not- it's had to go through a number of processes to remove the sediment, stabilise it and so forth.

#canofworms

But when they don't bother with any of that they'll just call it "bottle conditioned" and charge even more.

Still different in my opinion- a cask ale will only settle "properly" 3-4 times.

The bottle conditioned stuff needs to be able to settle many more than that.