Tomm

That's not right, in manual mode there is no exposure compensation. Onzamike - you just need to adjust the shutter speed (slower)/aperture(bigger number) and maybe ISO until you get something that looks right - the exposure meter should be in the middle if you want a 'perfectly' exposed shot. But then if you're just aiming for the middle, you may as well just use Tv or have mode as they will do some of the hard work for you.

Just take it back to where you got it from - they have to replace it if you say it's faulty, even if you can't demonstrate it.

Well I don't have any excuses then

Yeah but it's like comparing a £50 digital camera to a £700 DSLR. Yes, the £50 one will probably produce passable pictures but only an idiot would equate the two.

Ah, so the end of the axle actually makes up the 360 dropout insert. That's pretty clever actually. I'd still be slightly dubious about the strength, but it's a good idea anyway.

It doesn't really matter how good you are though, a skipping hub can always lead to teeth death. You have been warned Seriously though, sell the old wheel while it's still good

How does a staple one stay in?

Don't just turn up at the Apple store hoping to get a new one. You have to book an appointment with an Apple 'Genius', otherwise they won't even consider complaints. Completely ridiculous. I bought an iPod, got home to discover that one of the buttons (skip right) just plain didn't work. So I took it into the Apple shop and showed one of the shop floor guys and they agreed (it was obvious to anyone what was wrong) but said that I needed a 'Genius' to confirm it before they could replace it. But all the slots in the Genius bar were filled for that day, so I should come back another day. Of course I kicked up a fuss and I managed to see a genius (which took all of 30 seconds for him to say 'yeah, it's broken, have a new one'). But the system there is really stupid. But yeah, you're quite right about your customer rights - you should just be able to take it into Curries and get a new one if that one is faulty. You shouldn't even need a receipt but it's always handy. To be honest, I'd probably take it back and get a new one anyway - in case it decides to conk out again in a few months.

I reckon a short 24" is probably never going to be as good as a Zoo pogo stick for sidehops. But really, who cares? You'll probably lose an inch or two max, and if you're the kind of person that is worried about that then don't get a 24. You can put gears on a 24 but you are limited by the 20/22t front ring (unless you go bigger of course). I've got a 20:16 and a 20:12 which is still pretty slow for getting about. I guess you could get a 28t front ring or something (28:22 would give nearly the same ratio as 20:16 for trials, and you could have 28:12 for razzing about with). There's no real reason not to give it a try if you want to - except that it would me buying a whole new bike.

XTRs are fine on XC bikes (though I'm not quite sure why you would choose them instead of Hopes for the same money), but they're still the same bad design of freehub as all the other Shimano hubs. The design is OK for XC/road but it's terrible for trials - they break easily and skip badly. They also have pretty rubbish engagement (16 EPs if I remember rightly). I'm sure people have lost teeth due to Shimano freehubs and trials.

In all likelihood if they're £50 from ASDA, the video on them will be no better than a camera phone. Certainly nowhere near the quality of a £700 camera, but that goes without saying, doesn't it?

You live and learn, eh?

No I kinda agree with you here. Marrying someone who you met on the internet, who lives on the other side of the world seems a bit silly to me too. But to be honest, there doesn't seem to be that many other options. I guess it depends how serious you (both) consider marriage to be. Some people would see it as simply an easy way of getting into the country.

Why the hell did you take it apart?

Yeah. If you want, say, a dark teak for the legs and mahogany on top, it won't quite match, but it will look as though it's supposed to.

I'll bet they'll have something saying you 'must be smartly presented at all times' or similar. Which is of course entirely subjective. Obviously I don't know you synergy, but most young people with stubble look stupid, so I'm not surprised your boss wants you to change it.

I think we need a picture so we can decide

If it's a proper beard then I would argue your case. If it's a shit bumfluff scruffy thing then they're right, you should sort it out. As much for your own sake as theirs.

Can I just say that if you are going to use two different woods, it would be better to use two that are obviously different, than to try and get two that look the same-ish. Otherwise it'll look weird. I like the laminate idea of Janson.

Me? I don't want it, I have a sweet XC ride. I'm just saying it's a bargain.

Nope, go with the Juicy

Make another one, sell it (to me).

Trials ten commandments number 1) Thou shalt not spend any money on anything else until the bike is free from Shimano hubs

The first half is him, on the black zero. The second half has another guy, Joe (on the white zero, and a blue one in one clip) EDIT: What Cred said really. Missed that.

My Firefox spell checks in Windows. You need to turn it on first though. P.S. The irony of "spell shecks" was not lost on me