Any question answered...

Can anybody recommend a good value turbo trainer to fit a fixed track frame? I've noticed that most of them are quite wide (I assume to fit geared bikes) and seem to be largely compatible with QR skewers...

Any help appreciated!

Marry a Russian.

This does not sound cheap.

What's the cheapest way to get a Russian tourist visa?

It's not cheap by any means but if you do decide to fork out the cash then Real Russia in Islington are quick and helpful. I think it's about a hundred quid but they sort everything... It's worth considering a professional service - if you're going to Moscow there's a high chance you'll be asked to produce your visa on the street and you really want to have that shit in order when the time comes...

Equity (stocks & shared) has historically outperformed all other instruments (ISAs / cash deposits, bonds / securities) over the longer-term (20 years plus).

Good post.

IMO the plus point is that (for the moment) it's tax free.

What about a stocks and shares ISA? A fund manager like Fidelity is good, because it take out a lot of the hard work on investigating specifics. Just pick the area you think is good, say Equity Funds > Emerging Markets > China = China Focus

If you do want to have a play on the stock market I think you'd need at least £3k... and I'm not sure that would deliver a great deal, in the short term, but you might beat inflation + interest rates and have some fun at the same time.

Can anybody recommend a good value turbo trainer to fit a fixed track frame? I've noticed that most of them are quite wide (I assume to fit geared bikes) and seem to be largely compatible with QR skewers...

Any help appreciated!

tacx satori and these
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/tacx-axle-nuts-10mm-for-non-qr-wheels/

Looking at QR for my new bike. Are they all the bloody same or is there something I should be looking for?

It's not cheap by any means but if you do decide to fork out the cash then Real Russia in Islington are quick and helpful. I think it's about a hundred quid but they sort everything... It's worth considering a professional service - if you're going to Moscow there's a high chance you'll be asked to produce your visa on the street and you really want to have that shit in order when the time comes...

Ah man, it's the same cost as the bloody flights! Thanks for your help though.

MArry a Russian

This does not sound cheap.

I thought they paid you when they get their GB Visa / Work Permits

Well thats what they said on
Sad.Bastards.looking.for.a " Wife " @ pervie old blokes.com

tacx satori and these
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/tacx-axle-nuts-10mm-for-non-qr-wheels/

Awesome. This could be exactly what I need! Cheers!

£17 for a pair of nuts. fuck me!

You can probably get them cheaper in some public lavatories...

On the subject of the above financial jibber jabber, are premium bonds of any worth? I.e. if I had say a thousand quid that I could afford to forget about - would it be worth buying some? Or even more?

It's 24,000 to 1 for a win isn't it? Which sounds alright to be honest, for tax free wonga.

With a maximum limit of 30k, do people really invest that much on a regular basis and see worthwhile results?

If you can forget about £1000 I'll PM you my bank details.

:)

Make sure you give me a receipt.

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/savings/premium-bonds-calculator/

^^Just been on that. It tells me I have zero chance of winning anything on that probability with that sum in the first year.

And about 100 quid over ten years. Which makes me 'lololol'.

And it also makes me think I should just spend ten grand on lottery tickets. I'm bound to win something.

A £554,676 win for a 40-year-old woman willing to take a risk on investments would be enough to earn an average wage every year until she died.
But for a 21-year-old man wanting a risk-free return, it could need just over £2m.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/8356669.stm

you... with your.... numbers

( . ) ( . )

Can I fit a 12-27 or even 12-28 cassette to my 2008 Campag Veloce set up without lengthening the chain? Currently 50/34, 11-25.

Maybe, put it in biggest sprocket and chainring and have a look how much your rear derailleur is sprung forward. If theres still a bit of travel for it then you will probably be able to get away with it.

Premium bonds are a bit of a waste, really. If you like the idea of having some, fine, but putting a large amount in isn't an efficient investment. A good ISA ticks a lot of boxes; instant access, tax free, potentially decent interest that will take you to within 2pc or so of inflation...

It's probably worth us having a financial chat thread, no? I'd start one, but Hippy would batter me.