MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
We will be in touch
Semi-slick tyres like the Rockrazor for proper riding. Just didn't think it'd work, then I didn't think it'd work for anyone that wasn't a biking god, then I thought it'd work sometimes, now I have one on the back of hte bike for a good chunk of the year and love it.
Though, I wish you could get a 2.6 29er Rockrazor 🙁
dubstep
Disney buying Lucasfilm. Wow, just wow.
Boeing 787 vs Airbus A380. Surely nobody would want to fly direct from say Newcastle to Los Angeles? Oh, apparently they do (well, did).
FAT skis on piste (>100 under foot). Hilarious. My god they can carve!?!?!
Snowboarding. Surely a fad?
Swapping to winter tyres in the UK.
Automatics – amazing invention, would never go back to manual now.
Until you have to drive an automatic Berlingo or Partner; the shift is so slow the damn things are like a nodding donkey. Of course, you can stick them into Manual and use the paddles, but they’re fixed on the column, so awkward to use. I’ve driven lots of them, familiarity has certainly bred contempt.
Otherwise, I’ve grown to love autos, I specifically looked for a semi-auto when I bought my new car - one-foot driving is so relaxing! 😁
Ok dubstep was a hilarious joke but this time I'm serious: Pairing socks, like your mummy used to do.
When you've got socks for all seasons stuffed into one drawer nearly overflowing they've got to be paired to spare you your sanity even just trying to find a pair of socks of matching yarn & texture nevermind colour/pattern. To accomplish this you need two sock drawers, one for odd socks, the other for paired socks. Every time you put them away pair them. Look for matches to the odd socks in the odd sock drawer. I'm now down to ~10 odd socks, I'm so happy.
I ran out of socks because of an 'odd sock' bag. The first odd sock went in, then its pair, and I had no idea.
The only sensible approach is a stockpile of identical socks and bin the rest.
Hoodies. 56 before I bought my first, harrumphed and thought why the **** does a sweatshirt need a hood that's as weatherproof as blotting paper which is mostly going to be worn indoors anyway? Now utterly convinced.
Chromebooks
mustard - used to hate the taste but now love it
dropper posts
full fat Greek yoghurt on museli
electric blankets in the winter
Edit:
Country music and bluegrass. Sneered at it for years, despite being a big folk music fan. Realised it's just American folk, ditched the snobbery and realised there's some incredible stuff out there. This realisation prompted me to be a lot more open minded and receptive to other stuff I'd previously ignored or unfairly dissed.
Spelling preventative preventive.
Fish (i thought it all tasted like the smell of smoked kipper until i was in my 20s)
Getting up at 4.45 to ride singletrack before work.
Keg beer.
Apple products. Always dismissed them as a 'lifestyle' thing until I got my first iPhone. Slowly switching stuff over as things break.
There is suspension on tractors?
When did that happen.
Lasagne Pies
egg boilers
Anchovies
Lasagne Pies
WHAT!! You're making that up surely?
What a time to be alive!
Things you were still completely skeptical about
E-bikes
Dropper posts.
As with many... dropper posts... I rarely used to even fit mine for rides, now i don't go out without it.
Cars - auto wipers and headlights. Thought it was a gimmick when I bought my curent car, now I'm so used to it that occasionally when driving my GF's car I am sat there wondering why everything is dark and my view blurry.
I'm yet to be convinced by auto boxes on low powered ICE cars, but cant wait to be able to afford an EV for one footed driving.
Bikes - full suspension, not helped by the first two I tried being terrible/not set up for me at all
Now think they are awesome in near every off road situation. (and no, not for seated comfort).
Ale, I was a lager yoof for too long.
WHAT!! You’re making that up surely?
Can confirm not. Changed jobs away from a shop that sold them, miss them dearly.
Strawberries. Why did I deny myself them for so many years?
Disney buying Lucasfilm. Wow, just wow.
Bit of a mixed bag IMO, they ballsed up the sequel trilogy if we're honest but The Mandalorian and Rogue One kind-of made up for it.
Watty
Full Member
Things you were still completely skeptical about
E-bikes
A very apt username for an ebike skeptic.
Lasagne pies from Forsythes are a highlight of any trip to the Tweed Valley.
A good Telecaster.
I never thought such a thing existed.
Merak
Free Member
I mean bumbag.
She lets you do THAT and Bumbag is the best nickname you can give her?. Tsk.
Planning a cuillins traverse soon, it may see action then.
Have you seen the latest about the TD Gap?
Potential hazard in TD Gap between the abseil and the Severe climb out.
"Myself and my partner have just been at the TD gap on the ridge. The two huge blocks that form a bridge across the gap that you step across after the abseil to get to the base of the severe have moved significantly. We went to step across and both huge blocks dislodged and started to collapse under our feet. They stopped moving but look really really loose and about to go again. We have bailed out of the gap but we think there is serious possibility of them dislodging further and the gap totally collapsing for the next party to cross, including the start of the Severe. This was definitely a near miss and we were fortunate enough to not commit our full body weight onto the blocks as they would of totally collapsed. We are aware that this dislodgement is very unusual so we are asking for you to post this information on your page to notify other climbing party's and guides about this.
We had a very similar experience years ago in the Alps, moving together on an easy ridge, stopped to resort gear on a huge bounder, the size of a grand piano. Had a bite to eat etc. then moved off. I was last. As I stepped off the rock onto the next bit of the ridge, the whole thing just slid off the ridge and crashed onto the Glacier below leaving me with one foot in mid air......
Erm.
Green Giant tinned sweetcorn, why??? Turns out it's amazing.
Gogglebox, "sorry, you want me to watch other people watching TV?" But I'm no over-playing it when I say it helped massively in the darkest days of Covid / Lockdown.
Automatics "BUT I'M A DRIVING GOD, IF I CAN'T HEAL AND TOE IN TRAFFIC MY BALLS WILL FALL OFF" turns out I'm not any sort of deity and driving is basically crap, if you have to do it, make it easy.
Things I'm still sceptical about:
27.5" wheels, it took a few years for them to look normal, and 26" to look small, but other than that, I don't think the small change wheel size made much of a difference, more that it gave designers more scope perhaps. According to Strava, some of my best times are still back when I was riding a 26" bike.
Tubeless, I've been tubeless for 2.5 years, I've had 1 puncture in that time, about the same rate I'd flat on tubes. I run about the same pressure, but tyres changes are more time consuming and faffy.
12sp. I think few people need 12sps, I like the range, but I'm sure we'd could still get away with 9sp 500% cassettes.
4K TV. Each leap in TV/Home Film has gotten smaller, VHS to DVD was massive, DVD to Bluray smaller, 1080 Bluray to 2160 Bluray even less. It looks great a couple of times, then it's just 'the norm' I couldn't watch a bit of TV or film at home in HD or 4K and confidently tell which is which.
Bike Park Wales, I live 20 mins away, I never go, haven't been in 2 years. It's not that I don't like man made stuff, I pretty much do all my riding in TCs in Winter, and it's not that I don't like 'gravity riding' I live to get down to the Alps or even Whistler whenever I can, but for some reason, I don't seem to want to go to BPW.
Garlic bread. It's the future.
Devils on horseback. Who knew??!
I was sceptical about tubeless, but I'm also open minded so I tried it anyway. Turns out that running 25psi instead of 45psi is actually pretty good. I was sold when I took the huge buffalo-hide inner tubes out of my Patriot and it made it far quicker.
Until last year I was convinced that politicians are not entirely selfish. Even if it was just a tenny weeny part of them that wanted to make things "better" and even if their view of how to make things "better" was arguable at best. If you dug down far enough into their flabby waffle you would find some altruistic principles.
I am now beginning to think that some people are entirely selfish.
but tyres changes are more time consuming and faffy.
So....go back to tubes? Or is there another reason?
Webber BBQ's - the STW recommendation Go Anywhere was a revelation - I was so impressed I bought a Kettle one for the garden.
but tyres changes are more time consuming and faffy.
So….go back to tubes? Or is there another reason?
But then I wouldn't be one of the cool kids!
Until last year I was convinced that politicians are not entirely selfish.
Some are, some aren't. They vary. This is the point a lot of people don't quite get.
Cars – auto wipers and headlights. Thought it was a gimmick when I bought my curent car, now I’m so used to it that occasionally when driving my GF’s car I am sat there wondering why everything is dark and my view blurry.
Good call. And add to that heated seats, radar guided cruise control and auto handbrakes. Just couldn't go back again. Would be like stepping back into a Model T Ford. Also impressed with the intelligent lights on my car...would never have paid for the option if I were speccing, from new, but they are brilliant. Modern day cars are just awesome.
Oh and a recent discovery for me....Hawaiin pizza. Think I dabbles many years ago and dismissed them, but my go-to flavour now....Assuming pizzas with anchovies on are not on the menu.
Until last year I was convinced that politicians are not entirely selfish. Even if it was just a tenny weeny part of them that wanted to make things “better” and even if their view of how to make things “better” was arguable at best. If you dug down far enough into their flabby waffle you would find some altruistic principles.
I am now beginning to think that some people are entirely selfish.
I'm convinced no one is entirely selfless, not even close, in fact most people are selfish side of the scale.
They might put their kids first, maybe their Partner, or Friends, but even then only to a limit, strangers, forget about it.
The reality of life is that, people, well Adults at least are selfish and we're getting worse.
Witness the state of shops last Spring, we all moaned, but everyone was grabbing whatever they could with both hands before the next guy did.
Houses / Homes, few people think house price rises in multiples of inflation / wages is a good thing for the public in general, but the moment it's time to sell they're transformed into Gordon Gekko.
Watch any 'merge in turn' on a road to see how people value 'fair play' and honesty.
I think in 2021 true selflessness is mostly limited to hypothetical situations, or times when there's some 'likes' to be had, which is of course not selfless at all.
I try to think of times I've done something for someone else's benefit for no reason other than 'because' and it's been rare, I've given my SIL some money when he's struggling, but she's my SIL, I wouldn't if I didn't know her. I gave a homeless Women £5 a few weeks ago, but really I was feeling guilty about blagging a slightly early covid vaccine and wanted to buy that guilt away. I'll talk to people who look upset or lost, but I know there's is a ruthless, almost vicious side to my character, and if push comes to shove, it comes out.
As for Politicians, who said the last people that should be Politicians are people who want to be Politicians, or words to that effect?
I know a lot of them, there are some who genuinely want to help people, but you might not agree with the way they want to help them, because they're driven by some kind of dogma or other, be it a Tory who thinks the unemployed just need a kick up the arse, someone from Labour that thinks everyone should get paid same no matter what the job or how good they are at it or some religious nut who thinks Gays can be cured. Frankly most just want to tell others what to do, and they're the ones who rise through the ranks to get their name on a polling card you might actually care about. People might get into Politics to help others, but they have to be Egotistical and Power Driven, to actually get near the top, we just get to pick which one we think we look after our interests and hope for the best.
I try to think of times I’ve done something for someone else’s benefit for no reason other than ‘because’ and it’s been rare, I’ve given my SIL some money when he’s struggling, but she’s my SIL, I wouldn’t if I didn’t know her. I gave a homeless Women £5 a few weeks ago, but really I was feeling guilty about blagging a slightly early covid vaccine and wanted to buy that guilt away. I’ll talk to people who look upset or lost, but I know there’s is a ruthless, almost vicious side to my character, and if push comes to shove, it comes out.
Don't be too hard on yourself. Civilisation is about taming our animal instincts - we have very little control of our thoughts but we have some control on how we on act on them. The fact that you are fighting that internal battle is commendable.
Gas BBQs - recent convert here, it's ace!
Dropper - took mine off as it needed bleeding. Put it on as my only MTB is rigid and the group I ride with are on hardtails or sussers. Put the dropper back on, has had a huge increase in speed/comfort/confidence.
Vans - wasn't necessarily a sceptic but should've bought one years ago. Complete game changer for family car duties
AR15's - they really are a genuinely useful thing to have about the house.
More seriously - varifocals. Been putting off going to the opticians and being officially old by convincing myself they are not really all they're cracked up to be and my reading vision was just fine. Now, having been shown what a varifocal prescription will do for my eyesight... Really is astonishing. Shame they're so bloody expensive.
I normally listen to ABBA, The Carpenter, Bee Gees but then while testing new £16 speakers (and cheap big headphone discounted from £25 to £5) I stumbled up some really good music. I mean honestly I like it very much.
AR15’s – they really are a genuinely useful thing to have about the house.
Don't forget Glock 19.
Rapha - always thought it was overpriced & over styled (which it is) but damn is it really good kit & same with Apple products.
+1 to guns never understood them then went to Florida and shot AR15, Glocks & shotguuurns.
blokeuptheroad
Free MemberWHAT!! You’re making that up surely?
What a time to be alive!
Used to be a chip shop near me that would put anything they had in a pie case for you. Lasagne, macaroni, chili, kebab meat, chips... I asked for a piepie, without hesitation they squeezed a pie into a pie case and I had a double glazed pie. Next time I asked for a pie case of pie case, and they broke up another pie case and put it in mine, mmmmmmm.
The only sensible approach is a stockpile of identical socks and bin the rest.
A sockpile, surely?
+1 on toilets in campervans. I was totally against the idea but with COVID shutting everything I gave in. Total freedom (though I have strict rules!).
Dishwashers, 29ers, Marmite peanut butter.
God aye, dishwashers, 100%!
Is "Marmite peanut butter" much different from Marmite and peanut butter?
Only, I love Marmite, and I love peanut butter, and combining the two often crops up on here in various "food combination" threads. And I tried it and it was ****ing rank.
Watty
Full Member
Things you were still completely skeptical about
E-bikesA very apt username for an ebike skeptic.
Boom tish 😃
As I stepped off the rock onto the next bit of the ridge, the whole thing just slid off the ridge and crashed onto the Glacier below leaving me with one foot in mid air……
@footflaps - You, sir, are Joe Simpson in disguise, and I claim my £5.
DE Shaving.
Thought I'd rip my face apart, but 3 weeks in and not a single nick.
Bye, bye plastic disposable multi-head blades. Hello shiny Merkur loveliness! 🙂
footflaps – You, sir, are Joe Simpson in disguise, and I claim my £5.
If only, I was a truly mediocre climber. I had aspirations to be a UIAGM guide many years ago, but turned out you needed to far better than I'd ever manage. Had several near death experiences and climbed (badly) a load of classic routes, so have all the anecdotes necessary for an after dinner speaking career. Like the time a friend, Jasper, was rapelling off a multi-pitch route in the Alps and I had to point out to him that he'd attached the belay device to a gear loop on his harness (at the bottom of the first rapel). Turns out they can take body weight. Oh how we laughed 450m up the blank face...