Any question answered...

It's not about stiffness (at least it wouldn't be for me) - it's the fact that there are way more 31.8mm bars out there. If you've got an old 1" steerer frame and a bunch of 31.8mm bars it's an obvious solution. And it might be exceptionally ugly but it looks better than a 1" -> 1" 1/8 quill to ahead adapter I think

Get a negative shim and use a nice regular quill stem.

Bars too wide? Just mill that sucker right down.

how does one become a mystery shopper?

Nobody knows, its part of the mystery

What does OLD/O.L.D. stand for?

I know it refers to the distance between the dropouts of a frame/fork, but what is it an abbreviation of (I assume it is)?

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/gloss_n-o.html#old

Of course. Should've been the first place to look. Thanks!

No prob, I wanted to know as well!

"O.L.D." (Over-Lock-nut Distance)

https://www.sheldonbrown.com/frame-spacing.html

Anyone have any experience with this?

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/mobile/x-tools-pro-bottom-bracket-facing-tapping-set/rp-prod55943

Assuming your LBS charges £10 to face and £10 to chase, that's seven frames before you break even.

Without allowing for wear & tear on the cutting faces.

Unless you're particularly keen, or particularly well off, frame prep is best left to shops with the throughput to make it worth their while.

Have to agree with that :). To make sure your facing tool works you have to clean and chase out the threads first which can be a real pain as it's a big no-no to trash a BB lol.

good points as always, thanks. Part of me would want the tools just so I don’t have to lug a frame to an lbs every time I want a bb prepped.

The other reason I’m encouraged to get the tool, is that last time I had it done I later found that the faces weren’t parallel.. which was pretty frustrating. But I guess I wouldn’t necessarily do a better job myself.

I'd buy the tool, means I can go to my garage and face the shell whenever I want, and over the next 40 years I reckon I'd get my return out of it.

Where to buy Arundel Gecko Skin bar tape (black)?

Hargroves Cycles usually have it.

Nah. Found it on a German site actually. About €18 a roll inc. shipping for three (shipping is €10). Group buy anyone?

will the FSA PF30 bottom bracket work with SRAM Red BB30 cranks?

I was reading a thing about wheelbuilding and the old codger was saying that aluminium rims amd <36h were fads. Obviously he was wrong. However...

The main problem with steel rims was horrendous braking in the wet, right? Now that 90% of non-racing bikes have disc brakes are there any niche uses for steel rims? Maybe a touring wheel that'll last for a million km?

Maybe with caliper brake blocks made from disc brake material, as they seem to work OK on steel?

I was thinking more of a disc-brake-specific steel rim, but that's a good point. Presumably steel rims share some of the same advantages/drawbacks of steel frames.

In fact why no titanium rims?

Lol, those aren't ti rims!

Currently in Milan (free til Saturday am). Any recommendations I may not know about already?