Any question answered...

ridewithgps has been my routing tool of choice as of late, I'll have a look around and see if I can get it to work.

I have RWGPS premium membership (or had it, I may have cancelled it) - I would re-draw the whole route, I've never had a good experience of cropping/editing them using that site (or, indeed, any other GPX/TCX editing tool).

Why was Giant-Alpecin riding with a trispoke instead of the ~80mm rims everyone else was using?

Froome used the Pro trispoke too, I think it's largely personal preference for the slightly different handling, as there's next to no performance difference.

I've had a good read through the Velosolo site, and they fall just short of answering my question. I do have 130mm drop outs, but no chain set at all yet. I think a single speed chain set with your suggestion of a double chanring BB would lift the chain line wide enough. Theres not going to be a huge hurry to get running gears, it would just be good to have the option without getting a new wheel. Cheers!

Do any of the online routing websites allow you to import a gpx trace and plot a route over the top, using the trace as a guide?

http://www.gpxeditor.co.uk/ used to, but it's been through some changes recently (including moving to a Freemium model).

10 speed chain on 9 speed cassette. Firey imminent death or long and happy old age?

Better than a 9 speed chain on a 10 speed cassette...

It's the internal width that barely changed, whether the outer width differ massively from 7 to 11.

TL:DR you probably can even fit a 11 speed chain on an 7 speed bike and have O.K. shifting.

It's the internal width that barely changed, whether the outer width differ massively from 7 to 11

Not quite true. The inner width changed once, from 3/32" to 11/128", at the transition from 8-speed to 9-speed. Therefore, you can use 8-speed chain on anything from 3/32" single up to 8-speed, and on 9/10/11-speed you can use any chain with the same or higher speed rating.

TL;DR 10-speed chain on a 9-speed cassette is fine.

actually. why not get a road chainset, lose one of the chainrings by switching to single bolts, and then when wanting to go geared again just install second chainring back. because of wide chainline you wont have trouble with the inner tabs hitting the chainstay or something.

Is there any reason I can't use a road/mtb rear disc hub to use a bolt on fixed cog, and then in future use the other side to fit gears?

Chainline for a bolt-on sprocket on a 135mm OLN rear hub comes out at 54mm.That's too far out to work nicely with a road chainset, which will typically have the outer ring at about 47mm. The middle ring of an MTB triple is typically at about 51-52mm, which is close enough.

Thanks guys, this is pretty interesting. Especially as One-one have a SS MTB crankset on ridiculous offer. Am I right in thinking a SS MTB crankset would run about the middle ring of a triple?
Here's the link for anyone interested; http://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/CSOOTC/on-one-external-bearing-track-crankset

For alpine road riding does fitting a dinner plate 32t cassette make any practical difference over a 28t assuming you have a compact 34t up front? No luggage, 7kg bike, reasonably fit rider and we'll be avoiding the really silly stuff.

Basically I'm looking for someone to validate my decision not to fit an MTB mech and associated re-cabling to the other half's bike, and just check a 28t cassette on there and be done with it.

For alpine road riding does fitting a dinner plate 32t cassette make any practical difference over a 28t.

28t will be fine, I usually go 32/34 on a loaded touring bike.

I suspect so. I'm kinda of the thinking that if you can't get up it on 34/28 you aren't going to do it on 34/32 either, and walking would be quicker.

I rode all the way up Zoncolan on 34/27 and I was a) remarkably fat and b) very unfit.

Am I right in thinking a SS MTB crankset would run about the middle ring of a triple?

Not necessarily, e.g. SRAM general purpose 1×10/11 MTB cranks have a 49mm chainline. The product you linked to is a track crank, chainline will be about 42mm

There's a significantly noticeable difference between 32 and 28, however you make do with what you have, the girlfriend rode up a 7% average 15km climb on a 36/25 before and managed just fine.

Anyone know a supplier of melamine faced ply? I don't need much, just 2 x 350mm discs. Or offcuts I can cut to size.

I'll chuck the dinner plate, a new chain and the XO mech in the car anyway, in case.

What is the bit sticking out the back of the saddle on this bike?

What is the bit sticking out the back of the saddle on this bike?

GPS tracking receiver/transmitter, fitted to all TdF bikes this year for live tracking of every rider

http://www.dimensiondata.com/Global/Global-Events/Tour-de-France/Pages/Home.aspx

Short cage mechs from shimano will take a 30t.

XO

Oh. Not sure about SRAM.

According to reddit a beta will be online tomorrow :

http://letour-livetracking.dimensiondata.com/