Any question answered...

Planet X liquidation sale says I can get these for £80-odd quid.
Are they worth having?

I've used them and they've been fine.

Here's an even cheaper option though:
http://www.grahamweighcycles.com/gwcshop/product.php?id_product=143

Does anyone know if there is free motorcycle parking near the BFI / South Bank? A quick Google says no. But I can't believe that.

Does anyone go to BPP Waterloo? Can you still get away with cheeky parking in the access to the bicycle parking?

This does depend to an extent on frame and hanger geometry as well as derailleur "take up".
My 105 works ok with an 11-32 on my Ribble but on my specialized the upper jockey wheel hits the 32 sprocket and no amount of b screw adjustment can prevent it.

£75 to remove a bottom bracket?

Jeez!

Cheers. So technically it should work but it might not. Hmm, decisions, decisions.

But presumably you will not be spending too much time in the 34/32 combination? It is usable but annoying as I can hear them running together.

Does anyone know if there is free motorcycle parking near the BFI / South Bank?

Just behind the Hayward Gallery there is (50 yards from the BFI): https://goo.gl/maps/UgPyUJMMUFN2

shortcage 10 speed 105 mech, specs say...

Maximum low sprocket 32T

What makes you think that? The Shimano SI says 28T max for both RD-5700-SS and RD-5700-GS, and total capacity of 33T/39T for the SS/GS. The 11-speed RD-5800-GS can handle a 32T sprocket but oddly they have reduced the total capacity to 37T.

Ah, I thought you meant it wouldn't shift into it. It's only anticipated as a gear for loaded bike and steep hill so hopefully not that common.

Although going by ^ maybe not. It's a 10 speed.

Must have been looking at the wrong numbers somewhere. Will edit to reflect.

it should just work...

You might want to edit this bit too. With a 10-speed 105, a 32T big sprocket is quite a stretch from the nominal 28T max. There might be some frames where it would work.

Any big uk distributors stock Paul components or have a relationship to be able to order through them?

Heh, should have just deleted the post... Thanks for pointing out though, will take a bit more time with responses in the future.

BLB/Bigmama are the UK distributors.

Paging @biarittz

Cheers all, looks like I'll just have to go with option 2 - get fitter.

will take a bit more time with responses in the future

Or @aggi could spend a bit more time on google before asking questions, because all the info he needed is on the Shimano website.

@Heldring I don't think it is. I run the Kaff 2 fork on my pompino because it was £5 cheaper or something and I recall it's either 5mm longer or shorter.

I know the 2010 Trek Madone came with a tapered steerer.
https://www.evanscycles.com/trek-madone-4-5-compact-2010-road-bike-00126107
but just wanting to double check if it 1.5" to 1 1/8 (or 1.25 to 1 1/8). I think 1.5 is correct.

Asking for a friend of a friend who needs new forks. Am I right in thinking any tapered forks (1.5" to 1 1/8) will do? or do they have to be a specific type? (built in crown race, integrated/semi integrated etc....).

just wanting to double check if it 1.5" to 1 1/8 (or 1.25 to 1 1/8)

You could always try looking on the Trek website
http://archive.trekbikes.com/uk/en/2010/trek/madone45#/uk/en/2010/trek/madone45/details

How right you are. Thanks.

So 1.5 it is.

So, any tapered 1.5" fork?

Are reducer headsets a massive no-no on road bikes? I know a few MTBers who use them so presummably not too bad. Although might look a bit shit. He's just trying to resurrect his crashed bike as a shopping bike now he has a new one. (I've told him the frame may be toast but he's convinced its fine, I've not seen it). So looks are unimportant, plus I have some standard forks he can have.

He's just trying to resurrect his crashed bike

He crashed a carbon bike hard enough to wreck the fork and he's confident that the frame is OK? Trek don't seem to agree.

I know. I think he knows this too. I don't know the details of the crash. Not sure I'd risk it but, as mentioned, it'll only be used as a shopping bike.

Apparently he's not just confident, he's convinced.

I've used a reducer headset shim thing to use a fork with a 1 1/8" steerer on a frame designed for a 1 1/2" inch tapered fork. Works fine, but it's on a Lefty fork on a 29er frame, so aesthetics aren't such an issue. I think it looks great anyway...

Anyone know what bartape is on this?