Any question answered...

the classifieds section?

Anyone know how long the Ribble site has been down for?

It periodically has a lie down- they've not paid enough for their hosting, which gives up beyond a certain load.

It'll be back later I expect.

I was under the impression that a spacer on top of the stem was desirable, yet Cannondale say here that this is forbidden.

I'm fitting a new fork- should I follow the Cannondale guide, and cut it down 2mm below the top of the stem, or just proud of the stem with a spacer, in contradiction of Cannondales specification?

Anyone used the 25c Schwalbe Ultremo double defence?
Thinking of swapping over from the gator I currently have on the rear, for commuting/winter riding.

Not the 25c but I did a recent review/slating of the 23c version with the 'supposed' DD extra protectionin the tyre review thread. Very nice tyre to ride but get punctures very regularly once scrubbed in, and I mean a lot. I did love how they rode and you could maybe get away with a front if you are a light fella but otherwise avoid, and definately not for the rear. My opinion anyway.

Cheers at £20, I thought it looked like a goer, maybe have a re-think then.

is it to be skiddud or is it for gears? fatbirds have hardshells for £24.14 with free postage anyway, you know it's right.

http://www.fatbirds.co.uk/495/products/Continental-GatorHardshell-700-x-25C-DuraSkin-tyre.aspx?utm_source=Froogle&utm_medium=PriceComp&utm_term=Froogle&utm_content=None&utm_campaign=PriceComp1

Can anyone recommend a 70mm O/S road stem with a large rise?

http://www.shinybikes.com/bbb-highrise-mtb-stem-35-x-31.8mm-70mm-2929732510.html

please don't show scoble new ways to uglify bikes

I was under the impression that a spacer on top of the stem was desirable, yet Cannondale say here that this is forbidden.

I'm fitting a new fork- should I follow the Cannondale guide, and cut it down 2mm below the top of the stem, or just proud of the stem with a spacer, in contradiction of Cannondales specification?

They are showing a star nut (eeeeek!), but also their weird super deep top cap which seems to be a reinforcing tube for the steerer, which would explain why they want it fully inserted into the stem.

I have purchased a Hope Head Doctor, shall I make a hybrid as so:

Poor design by Cannondale, they only needed to make the sleeve 5mm longer and you could have had the steerer all the way through the stem, which is the way to go for the reasons I've outlined previously.

If it were mine, I'd make a sleeve/nut combo and glue it in.

Ok, that's a fair point. I think for now I am going to go with the hybrid above, I can still play with the stem height that way (on the off-chance that I want to go lower at some point, I'd need an inverse steerer trim otherwise).

Anyone know how long the Ribble site has been down for?

It was working last night.. I ordered from it.

Cheers Hippy

I was / am going to e-mail the general address anyway but wondered if anyone had a personal contact? For this kind of thing I'd like to speak to a friend of a friend as it were.

My girlfriend has been involved in the charity for a while and often gets palmed off (yeah I know) from general addresses / websites.

Try a PM to winston on here.

should i invest all my savings in stocks and shares, leave it in the ISA, or blow it all on beer and holidays? serious question!

Boring, meh, win!

Back away from the savings accounts; making minimal interest is better than what most of the "first" world has seemingly done.

It all depends on how long you're leaving it there for. Markets are down at the moment, and in 5-10 years could provide good returns. But that's no good if you need it next year. Personally, I'm saving in the hope of one day buying a house and am leaving it in the best ISA I can find. It's actually shrinking slightly, but I know it will be there, safe and sound when I need it.

This does not constitute advice, don't do what I say, I might not know my arse from my elbow, etc, etc...

I saved for a house using mostly laundered drug money high interest term deposits and long hours. I had an ISA over here but couldn't be fucked filling in the form when it came time to renew. Stupid forms.. in this day and age!

There are no forms to fill in now, unless Aussies have extra paperwork. They're just like a normal bank account. Although you do tend to have to move banks every April in order to keep a competitive interest rate. I wish I could just phone up my bank and say 'match this rate, or I'm off'.

Just wait until the end of the financial year looms, then look at MoneySupermarket.com. In olden days they'd use to compete for business. Not sure they're that bothered at the moment.

I had a fixed term HSBC ISA, it finished. I waited too long to do something with it so they need forms filled out indicating I don't have any other ISA in use blah blah.. it's a standard hsbc form.. that I now can't find.

Ha HA! I kept their email..

*I notice from our records that you have not subscribed for Cash Preferential ISA for this financial year.

The HM Revenue and Customs states - as you have found in the Terms and Conditions - that if you do not pay into an ISA in any one tax year, you have to apply again. I understand this is because they assume you have opened an ISA at another institution.

In order to pay into your ISA you need to complete a new application form, as we are obliged to confirm that your details have not changed.

You also have to confirm that you have not opened or paid into an ISA elsewhere this tax year. However, the ISA account will not be closed, and the account number remains the same. You cannot pay into the ISA account until the application form has been received and processed.

There is no cost, and the funds in the account will continue to earn interest at the full current rate.

However, I have ordered an application form for you to reactivate your account. Please fill up the form and return it to any HSBC local branch or send it by post to your account holding branch at the address below:*

Shit, I guess I better fill that form in then.. that was 6 months ago.. oops.