Any question answered...

I suspect that the whole thing was an accountant's ruse dressed up in marketing bullshit to allow Giant to cut inventory by persuading us that only 3 frame sizes could fit everybody.

Replacing Ultratorque bearings, DIY or get a shop to do it?

You need the right tools, trying to bodge it will probably damage your axle or the new bearings or both. Of the cheap tools, the Superstar one looks to me to be both better and cheaper than the Park version.

That's gonna be £60 then once I've bought bearings, fiver less than the chainset cost me. Is it likely to be any cheaper at an LBS?

Is it likely to be any cheaper at an LBS?

The first one might be slightly cheaper, but once you do your second one you're ahead :-)

Buy the tool and then sell it for a few quid cheaper.

I've bodged a HT2 chain set before to work on my fixed TT setup, but is there anything on an Ultegra 6700 chain set that would prevent me from doing the same? From what I can see, the main difference with it is that the chainring bolts actually screw into the outer ring.

(Sorry for simple question, it was won on eBay and not in my hands yet)

SATA Airlines has changed our flights from direct ones to flights that now stop in Paris, adding 2.5 hours each way. They gave us less than a week's notice. The only reason we used these jokers is to get direct flights. Is there anything we can do or are we stuck with this bullshit?

I take it you still want to go to the final destination? If not I would imagine you could have a full refund as they have breached the original contract (if the boot was on the other foot you couldn't do it without some sort of penalty). However, if you still need to get where you were going you might just have to suck it up but ask them for an upgrade of some sort, if there are any to be had.

Check the terms is your original booking confirmation. There is usually a clause that will say they can change the booking at their discretion.

From what I can see, the main difference with it is that the chainring bolts actually screw into the outer ring.

You can fit normal rings to 6700/7900 with normal chainring bolts. Some of the aftermarket ring makers supply weirdly shaped nuts to replicate the look of the hollow Shimano outer rings, e.g. Praxis

Possibly but according to their own policy, we should be entitled to compensation, as the arrival now is now over 2hrs from originally scheduled:

http://www.sata.pt/en/travel-with-us/cancellation-notice

Then have at it!

Yes, yes you can...

Emailed them.

I look forward to a wad of cash and a nice meal in Paris airport... :)

yes you can

Is exactly what I said, and yes they do funky nuts for 9000 too if you want to blend that Fibrelyte ring into your spider arms.

But tester, where can I get hold of your funky nuts? :)

7900

http://beta.r2-bike.com/PRAXIS-WORKS-Chainring-Bolts-Plugs-for-Shimano-Dura-Ace-Kurbel-FC-7950-40g

where can I get hold of your funky nuts?

Any Rotor dealer for the 9000 version, I expect Praxis have a 9000 version too, probably others.

Nice one, I'll see if I can get some.

Thanks for responses.

BTW, loving the dics Hippy. Which bike polo team do you play for?

Can anyone recommend a road style looking shoe which takes a 2 bolt spd cleat. I was considering a pair of privateers.

I have a pair of the Shimano R088s, they've lasted a long time and i'm happy with them:

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/shimano/r088-road-shoe-ec050108

@hairnetnic has these http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/SHPXNYROS/planet-x-365x-composite-road-shoe
i reckon they look blurrrrr.

I have a pair of Shimano RT82s, very similar to the RO88s @Soul mentioned but designed for touring so with a recessed cleat so you walk a little further on them without wearing the cleat so fast.