Any question answered...

Oh question still stands: Which will give the most options fork options and future proofing? Tapered or straight

Better still, which will have the biggest balls?

44mm HT and a tapered fork like Hylix or something.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Hylix-Tapered-Rigid-Road-Bike-Full-Carbon-Fork-Disc-Brake-1-1-8-to-1-5-/191864943952?hash=item2cac0ab550:g:FL4AAOSw3mpXJfCw

Dunno where you're based so convenience will vary, but the Peaks has some really lovely old railway line trails that whilst a bit 'family day out' give amazing views and really stress-free enjoyable cycling experience for someone who's just starting out. Plus viaducts, obv. Can obviously combine with nice lanes/climbs/bridleway stuff. Loads of good camping too.

If you want somewhere easier from London there's beautiful camping and cycling in the cotswolds (and the charmingest of pubs). South Downs is also lovely in the right bits.

Or go to Dorset and visit the best pub in UK: http://www.squareandcompasspub.co.uk/

What a clusterfuck they've created.

The headset system is a bit of a mess, indeed.

Insert quote about the beauty of standards here.

Any non-awful recommendations for pubs in central London (meaning easy striking distance of Victoria) that would show football and allow me to book a table?

Howard in reply to @MultiGrooves
What a clusterfuck they've created.
The headset system is a bit of a mess, indeed.

Insert quote about the beauty of standards here.

It's the cynicism that boils my piss; they've gone out of their way to reduce choice for straight up 1 1/8" really winds me up.

Yeah from London, although not put off going futher afield to be fair.

We did a good ride around the national forest while staying in southampton a few weeks ago and ended hanging around on Lepe beach for an age. South downs could be a good shout for similar with added camping bonus...

Ha, my missus is always banging on about that pub. She goes there every time she goes climbing at the sea cliffs.

Well, the Peaks is definitely a top recommendation, not far on train and there's loads of good info in the Peak District Riding thread on here - was a real highlight of my LEJOG last year. I also love the Cotswolds and can suggest some nice spots to hit if you're interested in heading in that direction...

It's sensational. They sell two food options (pie, and potato pie), the home-brew cider is delicious and deadly, at the end of every night everyone still standing gets a tot of their choice on the house and there's a fossil museum attached with some awful taxidermy and most of the fossils labelled as 'dinosaur penis'.

We have a car hence the location not being toooo much of an issue, thanks for all the recs!

Nice off-road ride under the influence from there to one of my favourite non-local LBS, passing a few good campsites.

Is £300 a good price for a basically-new 6800 groupset, minus brakes? Out of the loop with 2nd hand prices

I just bought new and complete 6800 for £420. So...

I was disassembling my 2005 CAAD 8 last night for a plane ride - noticed the rear mech hanger/replaceable drop out was loose. Lucky as I'd just done a fast last 60k ride with a mate...

Anyway, the two bolts that hold the entire hanger on are tiny 2.5mm allen head bolts. The bolt heads are also a little rounded meaning correct tightening may not be possible.

So, when re-assembling happens should I use some kind of loctite on the bolts or just order new bolts/entire new hanger?

why won't the memes thread open in Firefox, but will work for me in Safari?

Germany?

I was disassembling my 2005 CAAD 8 last night for a plane ride - noticed the rear mech hanger/replaceable drop out was loose. Lucky as I'd just done a fast last 60k ride with a mate...

Anyway, the two bolts that hold the entire hanger on are tiny 2.5mm allen head bolts. The bolt heads are also a little rounded meaning correct tightening may not be possible.

So, when re-assembling happens should I use some kind of loctite on the bolts or just order new bolts/entire new hanger?

I'd use a little threadlock and then check after a couple of hundred K.

I've ridden the bridleway from that pub to a campsite ~3 miles away a number of times but can remember none of them! I woke up once covered in that sticky bastard plant. Where's the (n)LBS?

CtBM, Swanage.

Ah yeah, of course. Cheers.

Cheers, will do.

I need a 26mm socket with a completely flat face to rebuild my mountain bike forks, but the one made for the job is £20 (ouch) and out of stock:

http://www.jejamescycles.co.uk/fox-forx-beta-flat-socket-id82128.html

Reckon a grinding wheel or similar would make the edge of a normal (cheap, available) 26mm socket flat?

The nut it needs to take off only has a few mm to grab, and a normal socket has a chamfer that reduces that to just a mm or so - and you apparently just end of rounding it off.

Can you put it in a vice instead? That works well for BB cups that only have a small area to purchase.

Maybe. But I don't have one anymore (lent to a mate and never got it back) and also there's oil inside, so it'd be good for it not to be upside down when it comes off.