I have a dilemma

[quote="Andrew G"][quote="Jon Hemming"][tightwad mode on]
Presumably before last weeks hiccup everything on the dead bike was working OK, and not everything got trashed in the crash? So just get a new frame and transfer the kit from the dead bike to the replacement.
[tightwad mode off]

[Mike I]

[quote="marco"]Im with Mike I on this - Chaterlea with Benelux gearing.

[Tony]

[quote="- Adam"]Given my ever increasing flexibility, and increasing drop from saddle to bars, I reckon the medium will work a treat.

[Snoop Doug]

And don't forget team ACC is here to help with our very own weekly pilates class

[-Adam-]

[quote="Tony"]How long do you spend working on your flexibility, Adam?

[Tony]

Throughout 2007, one Pound was worth typically about 220 Japanese Yen. In fact, at its strongest, it was worth about 250. Today's rate is 134. Assuming Shimano stuff is manufactured in Japan, the fact that pound is close to halving in value against the Yen will be a major factor behind the price variation.

No idea where Campag stuff is manufactured.....assuming it is in Europe, the Pound has weakened quite a lot against the Euro too, but not to such an extent.

[-Adam-]

I'm told Madison, the UK Importer of Shimano, has raised their prices by 40%. So there you go, it' quite a hike huh! Guess they've gotta pay for the Plowman Craven - Madison team's jolly up in Mallorca somehow. But I think the main reason, as Tony points out, is exchange rates.

For example, my team ordered our new kit in November. However, we were allowed to pay on delivery rather than at time of order. As collecting a shed load of cash from a bunch of cyclists aged between 12 and 24 is not an easy process. As a result, the total bill for the kit is now more than £1000 more than in November, as a result of the weakening pound against the euro...

[Andrew G]

A poor pound and associated greatly increased cost to import, the further away it's made and the stronger that currency the worse it'll be.

Prices may also have gone up to cover R&D if there are any new bits on the new version of DA. I haven't looked at Campag prices as I don't want 11 speed or the new huge ugly levers but it may have gone up to cover the 11 speed R&D. I think both have also been developing electronic systems for a while now so they may be trying to cover some of the cost of that.

By the way Adam 4 years doesn't sound long (even on high milage) for the groupset to be, erm as you put it. Any spec of any groupset should last that easily if well maintained - should've cleaned your bike more regularly . If it's for a training bike that is going to be out on all weather and conditions then it might be better to get 105 and sacrifice a few grams for a bit more durability/hardiness.

Regardless of any deal, or your increasing flexibility then I'd still put fit first on a new frame or any savings on the frame will just be spent on physios treating a dodgy back for years to come.
[quote="Adam"]Why not upgrade when the drivers insurance will be footing the bill?

[quote="Andrew G"]Regardless of any deal, or your increasing flexibility then I'd still put fit first on a new frame or any savings on the frame will just be spent on physios treating a dodgy back for years to come.

[Andrew G]

You took my comment too seriously Adam, it was the way you'd phrased your question, and I couldn't resist it.

If you have an injury and need treatment is it being done on the NHS? If you require physio treatment for it and don't have private medical cover then the insurance should pay for that.

[Tony]

I wouldn't worry too much about over-claiming.....the inurance company will doubtless be so slow to pay out, with the driver's story likely to change that you may as well seek a few £100,000s to start with. Don't forget to claim for the psychological trauma....plus your back problems.... Best to open negotiations at around £1Million, I reckon, for the damage to a potential star such as yourself.

In any case, taking too much money off an insurance company isn't theft. It's no different to helping yourself to stuff from work or from a big supermarket. They've got loads of money.

The only downside is the small risk that an excessive claim may be subject to public ridicule: [url]http://uk.news.yahoo.com/5/20090219/tuk-fat-chav-insurance-claim-form-leaked-45dbed5.html[/url]