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My wife works in reinsurance. I still don't understand it.

When something is too big for one insurance company to insure, they'll place some of the risk elsewhere.

I.e Insurance company A can afford to lose £100million
A Tower is worth 200 million. Insurance company A will insure it, but then sell on everything over their £100 million to another company.

It's a hell of a lot more complicated than this, but that's the essence of it. Well it's not, but it'll do.

Cheers for the advice. I read and read and read loads of threads on here before I made my choice. Your OTP thread especially was a great help. I tried a couple of bikes out for size, and the Xsml Plug fitted best. My budget wasn't huge. I also looked at the Mongoose Maurice (suspect parts, didn't like the colour scheme) Fuji Track (no brakes!) and a couple of others. I didn't really want dropped handlebars so that discounted a lot of 'better' bikes. Unfortunately the Dolan was out of my price range. If I had the money I'd have gone for a custom frame!

I didn't actually think to read to see if there were any threads about bikes for shorter chaps- I was primarily concerned with build quality and value-for-money. Still, guess I'll learn for next time!

All in all I'm more than happy with the Charge. It's a thousand times nicer than my previous hybrid, I think once I'm used to the different positioning it will be fine.

yep, rode BMX & MTB from an early age right through till early 20's. Last few years in London been riding a hybrid, but wanted to try fixed now I'm living in a flatter part of the city.

Look a bit small for you, and worth looking in some foot retention to take full advantage of it.

if you've tighten the chain, make sure it's not too tight, my grandfather gave me a good advice that if the chain feel a bit slack but appear straight, then it's perfect).

I'm really fucking short. It's the bane of my life! It's an Xsml sized frame, I tried the small, but it was too big. Lame, eh?

Foot retention is next on my list, then maybe some riser bars as the current ones seem a bit too low.

My Plug Griffin.
Changes from standard

Charge Spoon saddle in White
MKS Sylvan Track pedals in blue/silver
Anodised Blue 16T fixed cog and lockring
Back brake removed.

The chain's a little slack in these pics, but I've tightened it up now.

It is but if you leave Mountfitchet by Church road is crosses over the top of the motorway, then turn right and it brings you round to the airport. Less traffic for sure.

This maybe seems a better option.

I've been told at Liverpool St before that bicycles aren't permitted on the Stansted Express, but the National Express East Anglia website here says that it's fine if they're packed.

Stansted Express (London Liverpool Street – Stansted Airport)

Only fully folded cycles and cycles that have been flat packed in preparation for air travel can be conveyed on Stansted Express services at any time.
Folding bicycles should be transported in a protective carrying case.
Free of charge.
Reservations not required.

I'm not actually going on holiday, just picking a car up at the drop-off point and then chucking the bike in the boot, so don't want to pack it up!

http://i27.tinypic.com/35jl65x.jpg

http://i32.tinypic.com/wrxp4.jpg

Leicester Square today, not the most nickable bike but certainly one of the shitest locks I've seen.

Is the yellow one behind yours? Sure I saw that locked up down a small road* in SE1 earlier

*location witheld for obvious reasons...

That's what I was thinking, I know the back route into the airport, but like you say, will add unnecessary mileage onto the journey. Audley End is a bit too far for me to go (there's a number of stops inbetween Stortford and Audley End that I could get off at, although none serve the airport by train) and Stansted Mountfitchet is the same side of the motorway as Stortford so the same problem exists.

Cheers for the help though, but it looks like I'll be hot-footing it to Liverpool Street Friday morning.

I'm picking my parents car up from Stansted Airport on Friday, but you can't take a bike on the Stansted Express unless it's packed for Air Travel.

The alternative route is to Go from Liverpool Street>Audley End, then catch a different train company back to the Airport, although this seems like a bit of a bollocks route.

Does anyone know if it's possible to cycle from Bishops Stortford to the Airport? It's only a few miles, but the A120 is a pretty big fast road, and might even be designated as a Motorway.

The alternative would be to walk to Liverpool Street, and get the Stansted Express straight there, but I'm not sure I can be bothered with that.

Bury St Edmunds is a dump. It's where I went to skool.

best comment so far...

I was at a local basketball court in Philadelphia and some friends and I were playing a game. A couple of guys came down the street and they were listening to headphones. They were talking crazy and started fighting. Turns out, they were "dosing." My mom was so upset she sent me to live with my aunt and uncle here in California.

• F Prince, Belair, US, 21/7/2010 13:17
  

London Bike Repair Shop, just off the cut. Dropped my bike in for a pedal change the other day, last minute "Sorry mate, we don't do on the spot work, but come back in an hour and it should be done" was far better than the answer I was expecting, 60 minutes and a Starbucks later, it was ready to go, all for £7.50.
Two thumbs up.

Boxer was my first too, but I had red handlebars, and no front mudguard.
The rear one made it sound like a motorbike too, although I eventually burnt away a crescent shape in it and it wouldn't do so anymore :(

Hi.

Been lurking a while picking up tips, and decided to take the plunge into the world of singlespeed.
Purchased a Charge Plug Griffin, which although seems to be criticised for it's weight, is a great deal lighter than my previous Carrera hybrid.
Love it to bits, makes my commute much quicker, and I was surprised to find, easier.
Already swapped out the dodgy pinkish Camo saddle and nasty plastic pedals for some nicer items.

I'm 5'5 and ride an Xsml. It still comes up pretty big. But I am a shortarse.
Changed the saddle out for a Charge Spoon, which is hard but comfy-ish.