Any question answered...

I think what they're saying is the vittorias are great but not puncture resistant or too durable, major problem is NO wet grip whatsoever.

GP4000 is best all round.

GP4000 is best all round.

As long as you don't want to go fast

umop3pisdn: mostly longer distances (100k's etc) and alleycats. I do fun rides in the hills, longer "holland flat" trips etc. I'm going to try riding in crits and I got an appointment next month at the velodrome for a beginner session. I got about 1000 miles of fixed riding on my Rubino Pro tires. I'm going to place those on my road bike after I get new tires for my fixed because they look brand new (and I need better tires on my road bike anyway).

Dammit: What would you suggest in Autumn? I'd probably bring out the roadbike in Autumn instead of the fixed.

mdcc_tester: What is the reason behind that? I thought the GP4000S was a good race tire. Supposed to be one of the fastest clinchers.

I'd go for the GP4000s. They're certainly not one of the fastest clinchers, but they'll be an improvement on Rubinos and they'll still have decent puncture resistance.

Vittorias every time!

Yeah I'll try them out.

There might be faster tires out there, but I think most of them are race only tires and I don't think they last very long.

I'm not the best person to ask on this one, I run tubs on my road bike and my track bike, and Maxxis Refuse on the winter bike- which are advertised as training tyres.

They're great in Autumn and winter, but I suspect that they'd win no prizes for raw speed.

mdcc_tester: What is the reason behind that? I thought the GP4000S was a good race tire. Supposed to be one of the fastest clinchers.

GP4000S is a reasonably fast tyre considering you can use it all year round including on gravel and dirt roads, just not as fast as Open Corsa SL.

To me, the Diamante Radiale seems to be at least the equal of the GP4000S in every way, and it's cheaper.

System Ex front and rear hubs for £38
Rigida Sputnik rims for £40

Are there better options for the same price or cheaper? I can't seem to find a wider rim that's as cheap as the Sputniks, and I can't find any other decent hubs for the price that Kinoko are doing System Ex at the minute.

Is there a pre-built wheelset that will give similar quality for the same sort of price, and save the hassle of building them myself and getting the tensioned?

Grizzly is nicer than Sputnik if you don't need the absolute ground crushing solidity, it's still a sturdy touring rim but over 100g each lighter.

Which is the tested approved 10sp chain?

mdcc_tester: I read in reviews that the radial feels really scary when going into corners. I don't know the SL version. Good to hear I can use the GP4000S even when going on dirt roads and gravel. I don't think I will be doing that but good to know I can. I think I'm going to get another set of tires for winter use. Something that has at least some grip on really wet and snowy/icy roads.

Which is the tested approved 10sp chain?

I remember this from last time: 10S0

And the knowledge of the group grows.

Thanks.

This has got to be a daft question, but hey... I currently have a 70mm 6 degree rise stem with some Cinelli pepper bars and I am pretty happy with the setup. But I really fancy a Thomson stem and at 70mm, I think they either do 0 or 10 degree. Which one should I go for?

Zero get more aero.

-10 get more aero.

mdcc_tester: I read in reviews that the radial feels really scary when going into corners. I don't know the SL version.

You get used to the feel of the Radiale, it just feels squishy compared with a cross ply. If you were venturing off the tarmac, I'd take the GP4000S over the Diamante Radiale, I think it's probably a bit tougher in the both the casing and the breaker

Open Corsa SL is just the latest nomenclature for what was the Open Corsa Slick

This has got to be a daft question, but hey... I currently have a 70mm 6 degree rise stem with some Cinelli pepper bars and I am pretty happy with the setup. But I really fancy a Thomson stem and at 70mm, I think they either do 0 or 10 degree. Which one should I go for?

http://alex.phred.org/stemchart/Default.aspx

How can i safely get rid of a glass coffee table like the one below but with a massive crack in it?

One 'leg' is in two bits but held together under its own weight and has been for a year or 2. But if i lift it, it will fall apart. I'm particualrly worried that it will crack and split further, glass all over the place. Do i wrap it in masking tape and a sheet and smash it with a hammer then lift small bits into a box? Call in the experts? Who might they be?... #scared

Do i wrap it in masking tape and a sheet and smash it with a hammer

This. Smashing things is always fun.

Anyone know the quickest and most effective way of removing a square taper crankset without any specialised tools?

unscrew bolt, ride around until crank falls off. if that's too slow, hammer and wood.

Thanks, sorry another question; what should i do with the wood and hammer?

Thanks, sorry another question; what should i do with the wood and hammer?