Any question answered...

Experimenting with fixing the existing one is a free exercise. How about we compromise here and let ML have a couple tries before forking out on the magical tool and stop scaring them into thinking this is going to cause explosions or getting eaten by wolves.

explosions or getting eaten by wolves

It's not quite as exciting as that. The usual outcome is that the hanger is weakened by being bent and then straightened, and it snaps off under gear-changing load at some inconvenient moment, dumping the RD into the spokes and wrecking the wheel, the RD and sometimes the whole frame. But yeah, apart from those things, nothing could possibly go wrong, and using the right tool won't affect any of them anyway.

Instead you want him to spend £60 on a tool...

No, I want him to go to a friendly LBS and pay a nice mechanic to do it for him. Depending on friendliness of LBS I imagine the job will cost between 1 x packet of jaffa cakes and 1 x £10 note.

you could just guess it. Must have done this around 30 times with no ill effects while working in lbs without the use of anything to check straightness.

@Murphys_Law just don't go to whichever LBS @DFP works in ;)

Legit jaffa cakes or own brand?

Legit jaffa cakes or own brand?

Polish ones are the best, and the best of those are the cherry ones

Own brand would be pushing it a bit. Legit would ensure your bike didn't receive Friday afternoon type level of concentration.

Correct, polish cherry "Delicje" jaffa cakes are served in many a Polish household with tea and coffee.

@M_V, @mdcc_tester, @Dammit, @DFP: Thanks for your advice.
I'll try straightening it myself. I have a vise and some proper big pliers that could to the trick. If that won't work, there's a friendly LBS that could help.

Got my first puncture with my Cosmic SLE and I pulled the tube out to find the valve stem is plastic and smooth. I had assumed I need to use a smooth stemmed tube to prevent damaging the carbon, but does it need to be plastic? I can't even find any for sale.

Someone on here did a 650b conversion to a Orlowski or Rychtarski or something similar, anyone care to point me in the direction of the thread? Can't find out for the life of me.

I pulled the tube out to find the valve stem is plastic and smooth. I had assumed I need to use a smooth stemmed tube to prevent damaging the carbon, but does it need to be plastic?

It's probably plastic to keep the rattling down. Carbon on Cosmic clinchers isn't structural, so I wouldn't worry about it, but you might want to put a wrap of PVC tape around the valve stem where it passes through the carbon to stop it rattling anyway.

@amey

What brand of inner tubes (for 700*23) come with a fixed valve core?

I've discovered that valve cores and lezyne screw-on chucks don't mix well, particularly when you're on a ride at the furthest point from home.

I've discovered that valve cores and lezyne screw-on chucks are a bit shit.

Ftfy.

Vittoria tubes have fixed votes but a tendency to go pop just beside the valve.

buy ones of these with pressure release and it won't happen again http://www.winstanleysbikes.co.uk/product/51777/Lezyne_Dirt_Floor_Drive_Replacement_ABS_Flip_Chuck

Are the valves on the tubes similar to the valves on their extenders? In which case, the lezyne chucks don't fit.

As I found out.

A long way from home.

Seriously, LBS please, I've seen lots of people who did this and end up weakling it so much it shape at the slightest pressure on the work stand.

I have that on my floor pump - it works a bit better than my hand pump, but then again it's not such a problem as I'll have access to a spanner when I have access to the floor pump.

Can anyone recommend somewhere in - or within easy train/bike distance from - London that does a falconry/birds of prey thing? It's for a birthday present.

Eagle Heights, Eynsford

Thanks for that. It'll save me some time

Isn't there a trick to use your front wheel to straighten a bent hanger and at the same time use the distance between both rims to check the straight'ness of the hanger?

realised you need a hub with a 10mm axle so another rear is required.
http://forum.ctc.org.uk/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=94293

Thanks, some more useful information!

I did it myself with a vise, adjustable pliers and a straight edge. Looks quite good on the bike, and shifting is back to normal.
I have a rear wheel lying around though, so I think I'll check the alignment with that.

Cheers - looks good!