On the subject of women's MTB gear, I wonder if anybody out there can help me. I have searched high and low for a pair of full-finger gloves in size women's small or men's xsmall, but I am repeatedly told nobody makes them, or they are not imported into the UK. I have even phoned the importers of Pearl Izumi, Cannondale and Specialized direct, but can't get a result. I don't want crappy kid's goves, just a nice pair of leather palm, mesh back, cross-country style full-finger gloves. Surely this is not too much to ask...

Does anyone know if this thread got a 1st Birthday card?

Looking for the oldest thread - now that's world class slacking and no mistake.

And yet another entry for the Lazarus award from the renowned "King of Slackers" Mr C.

I heartily appluad your actions in searching out this thread - why didn't I think of that first? Perhaps because we have an office full of guys over from the States (Hi Gaston) and my boss wouldn't be pleased to see me surfing...

Surfing? tsk, tsk.

It's not surfing it's Gaining Valuable Internet Searching Skills.

This improves your technique as well as saving the company money as your information retrievals are performed much more rapidly enabling you to concentrate on other areas of your role both from the angle of productivity and efficiency.

Ah Slacker C. Good to see a restriction of Internet access has done nothing to contain your forum frenzy. I'm thinking of asking Cullen (although his latest Photo has me wondering if it's a good idea) to post up the oldest/longest/most stupid/Dullest/whatever threads. You know what they say BM: Who says the Internet is a waste of time?

In no way or form should you be mistaken that I might have run out of ideas on this one, Alex - please be assured that I have.
Tell you what though, the most amusing news article of last week was one I heard on Thursday. Some American shrink was claiming that he could "cure" homosexuality. Laughable I know, but after seeing Cullen's picture, I now realise that tools for turning left-handed bowlers might really exist.

(The author wishes to let it be known that he is strictly not homophobic and apologises for any offence, either implied or caused, as it was purely incidental and that he does in fact, contrary to rumours otherwise, find Jeremy Clarkeson abhorant)

Actually Alex, Julians' digging up of this thread is if anything most timely.

I've heard that after a year of comptemplating, borrowing her boy friends bike (and my tyres) to go off-road shortly followed by breaking her own road bike, I believe that Maria is about to purchase a Spesh Rockhopper A1 FS.

This is spooky.

Why isn't this ground breaking headline of national importance not on the front page of the Forum then?

Surely, given Maria's status as the loin-stirring and active stimulator off mass debating within these pages, her potential aquisition of a "proper" bike would be of interest to all?

I most humbly apologise for my erroneous use of the word "surfing". Indeed, I find every visit to this forum and enlightening and uplifting experience.

And it makes me glad I'm not likely to meet some of the posters in the flesh.

Not really Liam. Clearly Julian is perfectly attuned to the forum and all the threads therein. This probably explains his picture - it's a reference so something going on behind a keyboard in the BM community.

Julian. Agreed. That picture. It's like "hey, we finally got the ugly machine working, Cullen step on up". Still, Slacker Beckley and I took some pictures yesterday at Aston hill and so prepare to be amazed at small chinks of light under our wheels as we soar over small buildings. Two things only will prevent this, a. we were crap and b. Mikes' camera was last used for recon in WWII. I keep telling him he needs to upgrade but old Mr.Rigid won't have any of it.

Only a real, real friend could get away with calling his mate Mr. Rigid.

So assured am I of my sexuality, that I'm not afraid to tell you I was fiddling around with my allen key near Mikes (somewhat moist it has to be said) rear end much to his amusement.

If he ever buys this new bike, I'll be calling him Mr. Hardtail. Is that worse?

Does that make you Mr Hydraulic Al

Just pump it up and go "Big Boy"

You obviously noticed my Pavlovian response when your hand came in contact with my padded lycra Al

Trust you three to drop the tone of this thread....

Just found this link in my inbox from Edinburgh Co-op, links thru to a Specialized M4 in ladies sizing (i think)
<http://www.edinburgh-bicycle.co.uk/catalogue/search.cfm?CID=4&Search=xxxsjm4wxxx>

My mum (i know its a bit odd) rides an old specialized that me and my brother built out of our left over bits, the only modification has been to fit a proper lady's saddle, can't remeber if its a Madison ladies or Terry.

No thread too aloft to be lowered by Chappell Beckley and Leigh (makes us sound like a firm of solicitors)....ooooh do you like soliciting Jullian

Happy Birthday to mythread,
Happy Birthday to mythread,
Happy Birthday Toooo myyyy Thread
Happy Birthday tomythread!

Goodness has it really been that long???
Yes, it's true, it has taken me a year, and a string of borrowed bikes, but I am now teetering on the brink of ownership.
Many thanks to Liam, Cullen, Julian, Tony et al, without whose kind words of encouragement I could not be here today, particularly Liam for never expecting his tyres back, Tony for the crash induction course and Julian for the puns.
I'd also like to thank my Dad for hours of bicycle maintenance classes that were promtly forgotten and nearly put me off for life, Father Christmas for that all-important red and blue tricycle, my Mum for first aid, my grandma, my dog Fido, my history teacher, the kids down the road...............

Thanks for that Mike; for the last hour I'd been wondering who the third man/woman/bear was.

Liam, it's all about knowing what level you best operate at. You then have to carefully and skillfully manipulate the thread to achieve this level. We don't, obviously, but there are skilled people out there.

Maria,
There's me coming to my climax and you get in there first - exceptional, my wife would say.
Maria - the astute bike purchaser who takes just over a year to assess and glean all relevent information to ensure that her bike is just right. I'm glad I don't have to go shopping with you as indeed you probably are.

Hell of a speech - well Julia Roberts.