Any question answered...

You should ask MrSmyth - I'm sure he'd know the same ones as everyone else.

singletrack or bikeradar.

I found Bikemagic to be quite good

Who has my shimano bottom bracket tool?
Who can I borrow one off this weekend so I can fix my beater?

Please thankyou?

You in hackney or Lambeth?

Just received an order from Ribble ... is it usual that they just send stuff sealed in plastic bags (that look like they've been heat-sealed or stapled in store)? I've received Campag and Time ATAC from other places and it has been sent in the original packaging boxes - if I'm buying new, I'd rather that it looked like it was originally packaged. How do I know it's not just a return?

Most of their stuff is OEM, hence the low prices. Retail packaging adds to the cost, and adds to the waste of resources and contents of your bin. If you want pretty boxes, buy from wiggle, who don't do much OEM kit and clearly state where they do.
e.g.
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/shimano-dura-ace-7900-10-speed-cassette/

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/shimano-dura-ace-7900-10-speed-oe-cassette/

Ta muchly for the explanation - I don't want pretty boxes, just inexperienced in buying as many parts as I have recently. Just curious as to whether it would be the same quality part, or a knock off re-badged imitation. So basically, it is exactly the same part, just wrapped up differently?

a few years ago there was a mail order catalog that had lost of nice things made of wood, metal and glass that i think was called 'manufactured' all sorts of well made things like stationary, tools and kitchen stuff, a lot of it was german and i remember some of the products were from Westphalia.
a lot of the stuff was well made but not over embellished a bit like an upmarket muji. an opinel knife or one of those coffee syphon things would be good examples of products from the catalog.

i can't find anything on the web. i may have got the name wrong? maybe they do not exist anymore? anyone know anything about this retailer?

So basically, it is exactly the same part, just wrapped up differently?

In nearly all cases, yes. There are one or two cases where OEM parts are not identical with aftermarket parts with the same name, but more with finishing kit (bars. stems, seatposts) than main groupset components, and at the bottom end of the market, which probably isn't the level you're shopping at.

happens with mtb suss forks. often the internals are not the same or they have steel instead of alloy steerers.
there have been a few cases when people have been caught out, marzocchi 888 downhill forks that had old junior-T damping in one leg only and rockshox without the motion control damping.

Thanks for the info mdcc - much appreciated. Just waiting for the frame to be built, then I'll post in 'current projects'.

How long should I give a Discogs seller the benefit of the doubt before leaving bad feedback and raising a paypal dispute?

a few years ago there was a mail order catalog that had lost of nice things made of wood, metal and glass that i think was called 'manufactured' all sorts of well made things like stationary, tools and kitchen stuff, a lot of it was german and i remember some of the products were from Westphalia.
a lot of the stuff was well made but not over embellished a bit like an upmarket muji. an opinel knife or one of those coffee syphon things would be good examples of products from the catalog.

i can't find anything on the web. i may have got the name wrong? maybe they do not exist anymore? anyone know anything about this retailer?

I got my Zassenhaus from a place called Manufactum. You had to pay via BACS. Hang on…

…http://www.manufactum.com/

?

^ gesundheit.

How long should I give a Discogs seller the benefit of the doubt before leaving bad feedback and raising a paypal dispute?

betwwen 10 and 15 days. I think in that time you can sort out your shit or contact the buyer to explain if something is going on that you need more time

Its been over 3 weeks, the only contact ive had from the seller was an email last week saying he's had to play a festival and he just got home (why that was relevant to the order i placed two weeks previously im not so sure)

I just raised a paypal dispute, I want my records dammit!

Fair enough

so i'm about to re-tape my bars. i've always started my bartape at the ends and worked towards the stem. Loic was saying t'other day that he starts in the centre and finishes at the bar plugs - wrapping over the top away from the rider and under the bottom towards the rider.

start or end at the bar plugs? ta

Loic is French.

The prosecution rests.

^^ brooks tape works best inside working out. fwiw

Ergo, Brooks tape is made from horses?

i'm just using cork tape

Do one side the French way, the other side the Rest of the World way, and see which you prefer, then.

haha! guess i'll stick with plugs and in

i always go from the stem to the ends its neater,

Or, start from either end and finish both under the shifter?

Be free of the tyranny of finding the roll of electrical tape, which has hidden again.