Any question answered...

specialized ones split down the seams

None of mine did.

Specialized tubes are thinner and so lighter. I've also experienced the splitting on the seams, my LBS won't stock them because of the failures their customers have had.

Aren't most standard butyl tubes OEM stuff? Do spesh really make spesh tubes?

Can you get different sized ear covers for headphones? If I'm going to ever spend £50+ on headphones I don't want them to squeeze my ears and be uncomfortable after quarter of an hour. The easy thing to do would be to remove the piercings I have but that's a faff.

just buy a pair of phillips she9700 - fantastic sound quality for £18.99 and in ear so no discomfort...

I've got some nice sennheiser in ear jobs, but I'd prefer a headphone for when I'm sat at the computer. Better bass.

Do spesh really make spesh tubes?

No, but they might choose a different specification from Cheng Shin

what is in your opinion the comfiest saddle for under about £30? i have a fairly upright riding position so something fatter rather than thinner probably? open-minded about this however. not really concerned about weight (within reason!). would prefer it to be black. am currently looking at; charge spoon (gazillions of good reviews, see loads about on all sorts of bikes, cheap); Selle Italia Shiver Kevlar (sounds fancy, currently reduced from £50 to £20 on planet x) and finally; Planet X Superlight Team Saddle (am told this is just a copy of a much more expensive and well reviewed Fizik one). What are your thoughts? thanks guys

not a spoon.

2nd hand san marco rolls.

might not suit your bike though.

What are your thoughts?

Nobody can tell you which saddle you will find comfortable

The wrong saddle will spoil your ride every time you get on the bike, so don't be led by price. If it takes a £150 saddle to get comfortable, that's a better use of your money than anything else on your bike.

thanks malaysian, that's interesting, i hadn't thought about getting a 2nd hand one. very slightly grossed out by the idea of it having absorbed years worth of somebody else's arse sweat, but i'm sure i'll get over that. why not a spoon do you reckon?

Works for many, didn't for me, neither did the arione shape. Both ended up with me suffering epididdmitis (although this may have been coincidence.)

Many 2nd hand rolls swap hands here for between £20-30

£30 will get you a barely used one, so minimal issues with grubbiness.

If you go for one, make sure it aint a rolls due, these are narrower and less comfortable.

yeah mdcc i am currently having my ride spoilt every time just like you said, i know the feeling! unfortunately price is an issue i can't avoid, i'm a student and every penny counts. my bike was only £200 second hand, so could never justify spending £150 on a saddle unfortunately. i'm tempted by the idea of buying a saddle or two or three from evans, trying them out very carefully for comfort and returning all of them except the winner. not sure if this is unethical or a bad idea for some other reason tho

wow i just looked up Epididymitis and that sounds horrible, hope you're fully recovered malaysian! cheers for the advice, i'll watch out for a rolls in the classifieds. the other thing is, at the moment i am constantly tweaking the position of it (forwards backwards-wise, and occasionally moving the seatpost very slightly up or down) in a vain effort to make it comfortable. not sure if this is helping or hindering though, maybe i need to grin and bear the discomfort for a while til i get used to it...

buy a 2nd hand rolls on here, try it, if you don't like it sell it on for what it cost you.

Or if you want a white titanium spoon, i'll post you a barely used one for £24.

Are you making sure to sit on your sit bones, rather than on the soft tissue?

check out articles such as this

http://www.jimlangley.net/crank/bicycleseats.html

there is an art to sitting comfortably.

And yes, latest bout of epididdmitis passed just in time for london brighton last saturday, comfortable on my rolls. I also had alot of joy with a the selle max flite saddle, of which I've just procured another for my winter bike.

A question for the computer music crowd:

What sequencer software do your recommend for someone with a very low/non existent budget. Wanting something for mac that can utilise midi controller knobs.

I was stoked with how decent Garageband was till I realised it cannot handle midi controller data (other than piano keys).

A question for the computer music crowd:

What sequencer software do your recommend for someone with a very low/non existent budget. Wanting something for mac that can utilise midi controller knobs.

I was stoked with how decent Garageband was till I realised it cannot handle midi controller data (other than piano keys).

Reaper. Can try it for free. Mac or PC. $60 for the license if you want to keep it after 30 days and that includes free upgrades up to verion 5.99, currently on 4.10

sounds like a good offer on the spoon but i am just about vain enough to turn it down because i want a black saddle not a white one. interesting article, will try out those tips. meanwhile i'll see if anyone offers up a rolls. cheers dude thanks for the advice

no worries... i would rather you bought a rolls than my spoon!! good luck finding comfort...

no worries... i would rather you bought a rolls than my spoon!! good luck finding comfort...

Currently pretty cheap on planet x

http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/i/q/SASMROLLS-STE-BLK/san-marco-rolls-saddle---steel---black

Lemonade I have a black Rolls you can have for 25 quid. Bought from this here forum in March (see thread): http://www.lfgss.com/thread60707.html . You are welcome to fit it and ride it round the block a couple of times too if you can collect - I'm in Mile End... It's in great nick. I've ridden it about 40 miles and changed it as I put it on a fairly 'upright' bike and it didn't feel right.

Don't want to post. I think someone will probably pick up for that price.

I'll PM you too.

Best place to purchase Nokon cables?

Probikekit.com are usually competitive on price and have good stock levels.

Is the burst water main at the bottom of Dammit's road a direct consequence of his efforts at plumbing?

Curious minds would like to know.

what is in your opinion the comfiest saddle for under about £30? i have a fairly upright riding position so something fatter rather than thinner probably? open-minded about this however. not really concerned about weight (within reason!). would prefer it to be black.

my favourite is the Specialized Windie XC, new less than £30, suits a variety of riding positions including fairly upright. but I am a 'lady'. mens' version has the slightly less stupid name of Indie XC.