Tonight the finest live rock and roll show I've seen in nearly 45 years hits Manchester. Show starts at 7.00 so we should be in for around 3.5 hours! So excited and a lot of friends who should know better feel the same. Great that we can take the whole family and all will have an equally good time. ....... bit worried we might miss the last train home.

You're welcome. Enjoy

Well I would!! Shoes are probably pushing it as that will £35-50 but certainly a computer. I'd get one with a cadence reading which is really useful. I have a Sigma 1609 which I find very adequate. Probably £20.

"cycle behind" is my shout for both two legs and four, though it's very rare for me to be off road. Followed by "thank you."

For those who don't know these are shorts with integral sewn in shoulder straps. As such they don't have a waist band Bib Shorts The benefits are generally said to be: They are specifically made to fit correctly when sat on the bike. It's true for all bikes but especially so for road bikes. The shorts follow the body contour from shoulder to just above the knee The lack of a waist band means this can't dig into your waist nor will shorts travel downwards dropping below the waist and cutting in more Bib shorts keep "everything" in place for men. Cough. They don't ride up into the crotch if you have the correct size Comfort is on a different level from standard shorts If you decide to try some do try them on and lean in to your usual riding position as they are designed to fit when on a bike not when standing up! I've only ever had Assos which are ferociously expensive but in my experience the size charts are very accurate and should be used. First time I bought the size I thought was correct, it wasn't and I had to sell the original pair and buy a smaller size. If you look at Assos the price will make you sweat, but then my previous pair lasted 5 years. BTW be aware when lycra wears out it goes almost transparent very quickly - so a lady cyclist in my club informed me from behind!!!

.......and buy the very best bib shorts you can afford. The most important bit of cycling kit. All the other clothing, except possibly a really good water and wind proof, you get in Aldi. Dead cheap.

I meant to mention pedals and forgot. You should definetley go "clipless" - which bizarrely means your feet are clipped on to the pedals. These systems are known as "clipless" because they replaced toe clips, hence clipless. There are two types, SPD (Shimano Pedal Dynamics) and LOOK (the name of the first manufacturer). I'm sure there are many technical differences but I'm not aware of them. For me the big difference is with SPD the cleat is recessed in the shoe and LOOK projects from the bottom. SPD's are much easier to walk in and there is a huge range of shoe styles available - good if your touring as you only need one pair of shoes. I use SPDs. I think the majority of roadies use LOOK. There must be a reason but I don't know what it is. For me SPDs are preferable because of the ease of walking in them. I have had roadies ask how I manage to "clip in" so quickly! You can buy single or double sided SPDs - I use double as it means clipping in is quick and it doesn't matter which side of the pedal is uppermost. When buying shoes many people, including me, buy one size larger. Your feet are locked to the pedal, you may wear extra socks in winter and this tightens the shoe. If the shoe is too tight or because your foot is locked in place you can get circulation problems leading to numb or cold feet. In my experience it is very important to have loose, comfortable fit. If you can't move yor foot around easily inside the shoe or wiggle your toes in my view the shoes are too small. With flat pedals you subconsciously adjust your foot position to the most comfortable. You can't do this with cleats. After the initial set up on your first few rides take an Allen key and marker pen. When a foot becomes uncomfortable stop, mark the cleat position, make a SMALL adjustment forward or back to the cleat and carry on riding. This way you will quickly find the best position. The discomfort from the wrong position can manifest itself in many ways, pins and needles, numbness, cramp and sore knees all indicate poor position. It only takes a couple of rides to sort out. You may find thd best position is marginally different for each foot. First few times you ride clipless you will have a "clipless moment." You try to stop, forget your feet are clipped in and immediately fall off! There is no graceful way to do this, just land in a heap with the bike on top of you - skin heals, paintwork doesn't. Find somewhere quiet to practice, preferably with a grass verge! I always unclip the left foot first so falling off is to the left. BTW I haven't fallen off for eight years, it soon becomes natural. Initially ride with pedal adjustment quite slack as this allows easy unclipping, as your confidence grows tighten the adjustment to keep your feet more firmly positioned. I ride with the left slacker than right to help unclipping and stopping. The two main benefits to clipless are you transfer power through the downstroke while the other foot pulls up to help the downstroke. It is a slightly different pedalling style to flats and you should aim to pedal in a circle rather than up and down. The other big benefit is on hills, the upward pull gives extra power and you don't have to concentrate on keeping your upward foot in contact with the pedal. TOP TIP - the shoes have a small whole in the sole where the cleat attaches. When it rains wrap your feet in plastic bags over your socks - an amazing amount of water gets in through the hole in wet weather, not in gentle rain though. Also keeps feet toasty warm, if somewhat sweaty, in winter!! Once you have clipless you won't go back to flats.

It is a beautiful looking machine! From what you've written this bike will only be used for road riding, your hybrid would be used for touring or knocking about town etc? Roamin's post made me think about this, you should get a double. Why? The range of useable gears on a double is not that much different from a triple especially as some combinations of front and rear on a triple are so close as to be almost identical. On a triple although in theory you have 30 gears available in practice you probably use 10-12 regularly. With a double you'll use about 10. On a double you get a better progression through the gears making your riding smoother and better. The gear change is simpler and smoother. A double will make you a better, stronger rider provided you ride mainly on the big ring. I'm not sure how to compare the gearing but most people ride a triple on the middle ring moving up and down the rear cassette. With a double if you ride on the small you won't get enough speed, using the big ring, which is a higher gear than the triple middle, increases your speed and quickly improves your strength. I doubt you would spend much time using the big ring on a triple. This approach means you have all of the gears on the small double ring in reserve. The last point would be you haven't had a triple road bike before so you probably won't be aware of the difference and therefore won't miss it. Initially I missed my granny ring but until writing this now realise I haven't needed it for months. The granny ring is really only used for brutally steep hills and perhaps the comfort of knowing it's there. I have yet to find a hill I can't climb on the double, Winter Hill near Chorley is the steepest I regularly go up without a problem. I'm not a good climber and haven't tested this on any brutal hills but then unless you're a rider who hunts out big hills to climb why worry? If you do want big hills you'll be good enough to get up anyway? Some riders don't like doubles because they have to make a "double change" under some circumstances, That is shifting from the big to small ring and changing the rear almost simultaneously. The argument is the drop from large to small is too great and interrupts the rider's rhythm. When I first heard of this I played around with it and what I found is there are few situations where it's really necessary. On relatively flat roads I use the big ring and when I get into hilly areas just stsy on the small. Get a double, it will be better!

Why would anyone want to ride a bike.................................... ..........because of 13 miles of closed Manchester roads, including the Mancunian Way, beautiful weather, 7000 like minded people and the sheer joy of the occassion. This is the finest organised mass ride in the country, next year do it, if you ride a bike without question do it. Thank you Manchester

At the risk of starting to sound like I know what I'm talking about, its more I know where to look, the Attempt was re-branded as the Peloton for 2012. http://www.cyclechat.net/threads/2012-cube-peloton.86372/ The link you posted said it was available as a triple. For real opinions on this, any other bike and a wealth of advice have a browse on http://www.cyclechat.net/. People on here really know their stuff and are more than willing to share that knowledge. Undoubtedly the best UK cycle forum, just don't stray into Commuting - all a touch aggressive in my view!! Good luck, let us know how you get on One other point. Are you aware bike prices drop significantly in the autumn as old ranges are cleared out in readiness for the spring?

We're going to Melrose for the Borders Book Festival on June 11th. I plan to get the train to somewhere nearby and cycle some of the way. David I've heard good reports of Broadgate as well, you may just have been unlucky?

Anyone do the Great Manchester Cycle yesterday? Fantastic event.

First you might like to read this link which is a good review of many bikes in and around your budget http://m.bikeradar.com/gear/article/best-road-bikes-under-1000-29719/ I've never ridden Cannondale but know they have a great reputation. The bike you're interested in has very good reviews. If you live in Blackburn I suggest a visit to Ewood Bikes. Ian and his guys are really good and will guide you to the right decision. They stock Cannondale. You might pay a touch more but the advice and support is worth every extra penny. The key is to work out what you want to achieve and find a good shop to give the right advice. A good, local independent cycle shop is a mine if information. Most cyclists will refer to their LBS - Local Bike Shop - important to support these guys. As regards the gearing it really depends on the climbing you wish to do. If you're new to road bikes you might consider a triple instead of this double. The double will make you a better rider overall but the triple will get you up anything. My Dolan is 50/34 and 11/26 and you'll be on 50/34 and 12/28. I think I'd be happy with that. If you can find another £200 you could get a Dolan Dual with a carbon frame http://www.dolan-bikes.com/road-bikes/Carbon/Sram%20Op/Dual%20Road%20Bike?product_id=447 I have the top one but the frame is the same. I can thoroughly recommend the bike. Comfy, fast, absorbs a lot of road shock and is very versatile. I use mine to commute, tour, club rides and sportives. One unusual feature for a carbon frame is it will take a rack and panniers.

Wasted an hour of my life watching Minority Report after getting home last night. Switched off and went to bed, further evidence if Spielberg's ability to make terrible films and Tom Cruise's ability to appear in them - I've deliberately not used the word "act."

Another great, and very sociable way to do this, is to start a film club. We've been running one for around five years. Each household takes it in turn to host the monthly film on a Sunday night. Everyone turns up with whatever they happen to be drinking at the time and we watch a movie together. The choice is always the host's and no one knows the film till its started. An invite is sent round each house which may or may not contain clues as to what we will be watching. Sometimes we end up with a long discussion on the film, others we don't. Always a good evening, try it.

A few years ago I read a book A Short History of Tractors in Ukranian, about the same time I became aware of but never read another called Salmon Fishing in the Yemen which I assumed was just another bizarre book title. Last night my wife took me to the cinema and it actually is about Salmon Fishing in the Yemen!!! Really enjoyed this funny and moving film in which Ewan MacGregor gives what I felt was a fantastic character performance. British cinema at its best - sadly of course only about ten people interested enough to view it. Recently I've seen K-Pax with Kevin Spacey making a rather good job of playing an alien committed to psychiatric hospital. It's knocking about on Film 4 at the moment. For a Hollywood film it was both funny and thought provoking. Cloverfield I found very interesting. It's a sci-fi based in New York as a group of friends look for another friend lost after a giant alien attacks the city. Sounds preposterous but it's cleverly shot so the entire film appears to be made using a hand held home video camera. Also on Film4 at present.

I always enjoyed Springsteen albums but I wasn't a great fan till I first saw him live about 15 years ago. For me the E Street band is simply the greatest live rock and roll band I've seen in more than forty years. Plus I'm a huge Nils Lofgren fan. I think I saw every major band plus a lot of smaller ones that came out of the sixties, early seventies and I can't think of any that were better. Seen some fantastic bands but for sheer good time rock and roll he is The Boss. The one I always regret missing was Cream.

www.gigsandtours.com has them available at face value for all three Heaton Park gigs. Seems quite legit as it links from both the official site and Facebook page. Got two for the Sunday last night. Also only one booking fee applied for both tickets so one up on Ticketmaster. Saw Joan Baez at Bridgewater Hall a few weeks back. I thought she was excellent but I know another MBer felt differently. Really pleased to get tickets to see Bellowhead at the Lowry in November. Wanted a standing gig, not really a sit down band, but all the other gigs were too far away. Check them on YouTube. ......... and then the small matter of Mr Springsteen in Manchester this June. Can't wait for that one. We're thinking about flying to Barcelona for the gig there, not sure about that yet. if you want to try something new Cineworld in Bolton now shows live streams of opera from around the world. Good night but take a picnic ..... usually long and the food is the usual very expensive junk!

Big Brother and the Holding Company - Turtle Blues

Queen - Radio Ga Ga

Very good!

She appears in the opening scenes and then the final scene. Yep Ricky that's good going for 250. My eldest boy's class of 8 produced Tom Smith the Lancashire cricketer. The rest await fame ........

Stevie Nicks - Planets of the Universe

Woman in Black - excellent film, just don't go on your own. There were moments tonight when I swear the audience stopped breathing. Very good.

Steppenwolf - Born to be Wild