I've been looking at the online offers on last years bikes... need a big frame, and wondered if anyone has experience of either the Claud buttler Cape wrath, or Gt Avalanche1 both of which come in budget as heavily discounted by Paul's cycles, and Chain Reaction cycles respectively at under £350. Low budget I know... but wasn't insured!

Sorry to hear about your loss Baz. It really sucks to have a bike pinched but keep the feelers out, you might still get it back. I know at least one person who was reunited with their bike after dropping flyers into local bike shops, when the unsuspecting new owner brought it in for a service. And as you say, there can't be many people out there who can ride a frame like that without being torn limb from limb!

Anyhoo, both of them are OK bikes and should get you round the trails. The Cape Wrath is meant to be a bit heavy but pretty strong. Don't really know about the Avalanche. And I know it's an outside chance but have you though about looking second hand? I know a couple of Herculean people who might have something suitable knocking about so I'll ask them what they've got spare.

Do you mean ripped appart from the exhertion of riding it... or from the embarrassment! I've never seen another bright yellow bike on the trails, though I expect it's mat black by now with lots of foul overspray on those lovely alloy bits... thankfully it was my hack bike, and I've still got the full susser which I never leave unattended, (even for a piss!)... the bloke who fixes bikes in St Nicks markets believes locks are a waste of time... though I draw the line at taking mine to bed. Cheers. Glad the dig and pig went well. will come and cheer at the weekend. BAZ

Alternative to One one geared Inbred which is out of stock....Anyone ridden a Rocklobster?
La-*test*-('") plan is to build a lovely steel hardtail using an 853 Rock lobster sale frame from Merlin. I do prefer hardtail bikes and am planning to strip the full susser for the winter to bring this about. Good winter bike?

I've not ridden one, but I know a guy who had one (a similar impulse bargain purchase) and he loved it. Very good frames by all accounts.

If you do decide to get it, let me know if you need any help or bits for the build.