Any question answered...

Thanks, it's a Thomson, so it should be more than fine then... :-)

it's a Thomson

Thomson was certainly what came to mind and made me mention badly designed.

Is it? Why?

Is it? Why?

Too thick. The last thing you want in a band clamp is resistance to bending.

I see... might just stick to the plastic one tha comes with the frame for now then...

Where can I try on MET helmets in London?

http://content.met.police.uk/Site/jointhemet

Is there a #tester_approved clamp?

Evans sell them, at least they do on their website.

Was hoping to try before buy.

IIRC - The Evans on Mortimer street had a large wall of helmets available to try. Might be worth giving them a call to see if any of them are Mets.

So Andel cogs are off the same production line as... Phil?

Rad. Ta.

Surly, if memory serves.

Is there a #tester_approved clamp?

There are #tester_approved features:

Thin radial section on the band (minimal resistance to change of curvature)
Barrels on both ends of the screw (screw stays straight throughout travel)

You can check store stock from their website.

You can just order whichever ones you want from Evans / Halfords etc and choose click and collect. With Evans you'd have to pay in full but with Halfords you only pay when you actually buy the items you have reserved.

And if you decide you don't like the anything then just get a refund on the spot. Have done it a few times with Evans and never had any trouble with refunds etc.

Another question, so I have these new V brakes on my bike, and they are awesome, but the lack of experience with using them on the road means I won't have a clue what to do when I have a puncture. Is it better to undo the noodle to take the wheel out, risk messing with thre brake alignment, or better to deflate the inner tube completely when taking out / putting back the wheel?

edit: misread your comment - undo the noodle

Undo the noodle, that's the point of having a slot in the cradle that the noodle sits in. This shouldn't affect alignment at all when you reconnect it - any problems you do encounter probably have a different cause.

I thought that's the whole point of the noodle bit, but my only experience with v brakes few years back was not great, I just remember having undid the noodles and the brakes just wouldn't work then there was a screw driver and allen key involved, then I had to ride somewhere brakeless on a freewheel to get it sorted in the dark, not my finest moment... maybe they weren't installed properly to begin with?

Thanks, I will probably give it a quick go before I actually have to do any repair on the go. :-)

best black reflective tape for bikes?
The 'lightweights' gets good reviews but I can only find it on amazon for 37quid a roll in the uk...

Best cordless drill for under £100? (already got a mains drill for the really heavy stuff).....18v, li-ion?

Nine Elms Market have some second hand one for a lots less than that.

Which jobsworth is responsible for the rumble strips that have been put on the cycle path on Tooley Street/A200 by London Bridge Station? Almost spilled my beer everywhere