Any question answered...

Thanks, will see if there's anywhere nearby that stocks them. Not sure if she needs 26" or not - the key thing though is having a wide enough range of sizes and the chance to try stuff in her size range, which is the bit she's generally found tricky.

If she has small hands Shimano is a no-go, @Scoot can testify. The Italia RC is £800 for the frameset alone, you'll have to get a fiver finger discount on a lot of stuff to bring the build in at under £1k.

i have yet to hear positive things about condor and bike fit. a friend who raced for a women's team they sponsored was "fitted" and given a frame that was two sizes too big.

@sumo - Well, yeah, Condor I think can do that with the Italia RC for a smidgen over a grand on a frame that fits her. And she's quite keen for the bike to be a proper racing bike as she wants to ride triathlons on it - once you get into the kids bike category the geo is often a bit slack.

@amey - yes exactly, Condor can spec it out without her having to geek out about it too much. I'm helping out a bit with advice but if she starts having to swap out the stock parts from an off-the-peg bike it gets very expensive because she'll pay an LBS to do it.

The bike they sold me fits well, in contrast.

If they can build her a bike that fits with parts that fit and is within her budget then great.

I managed to spec one out at a touch over a grand using the bike builder tool. They have a small frame discounted on sale as well, which helps. But yes, I'm asking people for alternative options precisely because the Condors are a little pricey.

I ve got some magnetic tool holders rails for my shed (Tk max c.£5-7 I think)

Is there any reason why I can't mount these next to an electric bits? Ie plugs, light switches, etc?

Will the magnetic pulse disrupt the flux capacitor or anything like that?

Cheers.

PS if anyones used them I'd be curious to know how youve found them.

How do they work? I'm intrigued.

Only problem would be if you're running Megavolts.

Megavolts

Okay. So I Googled but am none the wiser.

Screw them to the wall and then the magnets hold your metal tools to them.

Megavolts = A voltage in the millions.

You'll be fine with a domestic supply.

Cheers.

Mrs hell, being infinitely more talented (tho far less attractive) than myself is giving a talk in Brussels in feb. any recommends for somewhere not shit to stay for a couple of nights?

Rhode-Saint-Genèse is nice (posh) but out of town.

Saint Gilles is bohemian (hipster) and central.

Ixelles is central (skanky) and central.

Toe-curlingly good hash (and suicide bombers) around the Gare Du Midi .

Rick's Cafe on the Ave. Louise is the ex-pat (racist) haunt of choice.

[allinformationcorrectasat1995,orthereabouts:it'sabitofablur]

I have an xt chainset, external bb. Am I going to be able to get a 42mm chain line by not using any spacers on the bb and the outside ring position?

Went through this with a friend a couple of years ago. Condor are pretty unique in that they own the whole system and they aren't selling exclusively to the performance crowd. It's worth paying the small premium for a bike that will fit in a colour she likes. It's worth being on the ball when they size and spec the thing out because if you push them you can get a better set up - I don't think they think too much when doing stuff around the £1k mark.

Brixton Cycles might be worth a punt - I don't know if they have a jig but they could build up a Surly / Salsa or similar to spec. Call them.

Cloud 9 & fitzrovia might be able to do something with a Kinesis frame.

Swift cycles might be worth a punt too; Cannondale make women's specific stuff - shorter reach basically - and the caad optimo is looking like a very tidy and wallet friendly do-it-all.

Another good option is Sigma Sport out in Hampton Wick, they've lots of experience fitting bikes for women and, somewhat of a novelty, tend to have quite a lot of stock.

Any of their pubs.

hiccup

you had me at 'racist'.

thanks for the protipz

Their wrenching can be a bit hit and miss though so make sure things like handlebars are actually tightened before leaving.

I have an xt chainset, external bb. Am I going to be able to get a 42mm chain line by not using any spacers on the bb and the outside ring position?

I doubt it. If it has a 73mm BB and you're fitting it in a 68mm shell, then losing the spacer only moves the chainline in by 2.5mm (and makes the Q asymmetric, which your hips might not like) . There have been over 8000 different XT chainsets, but I don't think any of them started with the outer ring at 44.5mm :)

I suspected as much. Thanks!