I find copper grease does the job well enough… Just keep it away from the gentlman’s sausage!

Am I allowed to acknowledge mountain bikers when on my road bike? It was a public flogging and the fitting of a frame sandwich bag for a month last time I checked..

Holy beanie hats batman… Call the fashion police..

In my defence I did try road specific shoes and pedals.. But it is impossible to look anything other than like you have crapped yourself when walking in road shoes to get to the shop for a mars bar… Or snickers if your posh!

I’ll do that Munrobiker.. Cheers. Always been friendly when I have been in, carry decent stock and always seems to be an offer or 2 on the go. Will see what helmets they have in on Saturday.

I thought the brakes looked a bit bargaintastic…

I’ll keep the een peeled for some swish new brakes. I did have the roadie law rule book but I must have binned it..

I have seen a nice Met helmet that matches bike actually… Ha ha! Can’t have a white bike and a white helmet tho.. What would Gok say?

I think I’ll see what the have in stock on Saturday.. I need to make a confession tho… Promise you won’t be mad!!!!

I intend to ride it with Crank brother candy C pedals as I like the feel of them..

You mean Skiach services Garry?

Ballinluig on the A9 is good aswell.. Although I think the waiting staff may carry knifes incase you upset them. I always feel like I’m troubling them in there..

I reckon the M&S, Greggs and McD’s In some has saved them. I just refuse to stop at some. I went go have a shower in Dartford (I think) and saw a wee jobbee floating in the undrained water.. I mean.. Really!

Who craps in the shower??? Swines charged me £28 to park overnight aswell! Never again!

Yeah that’s what sold it for me.. Kind of future proofed with the frame. Wheels look much better that the pics aswell and feels a good weight.

Whispers.. I have the Lycra already… But I ain’t shaving.. No sirreeeeee!

Now.. Is it acceptable to just remove the peak from my MTB helmet or do I need to get a roadie specific one? I don’t know the rule on this matter.. I could do with a new helmet anyway mind you. The twist loc is a bit guffed.

First upgrade will be carbon bars..

They are all fairly guff to be honest.. I spend most of my week touring the highways and byways in my rig so have visited most of them at some point.. The only one I’d happily stop at overnight is Tebay. The rest are overpriced cesspits!

People seem to loose the ability to go to the toilet like human beings in service stations… Don’t even get me started on the showers! I would rather go without (and have done) for a few days than shower In some of them!

Particular low lights are:
Charnock Richard
Rugby
Bothwell
Hamilton
Bolton
Burton in Kendal
Birch
Leeming Bar
Most of the ones on the M6
Everything on the M25..

However the accolade for worst service ever goes to Stracathro. Must be visited just for the experience!
Dry boke just thinking about it!

I don’t go that far South of Liverpool much now tho so there could be some improvements.

There are some good truck stops tho,

Wolverhampton
Ecclefechan
Dandy’s in Flint
Lets eat cafe on A49
Lockerbie
And J38 on M6.

I wouldn’t say so, perhaps trying to rush his sentences or trying to rush to start a particular word would leave him struggling to get it out.

Normally If he took a deep breath, calmed down and started again it would come out fine. I have had issues in the past aswell with getting certain words out… Especially the word “prescription”… God I bloody hate that word, every time I go to collect a prescription I seem to loose the ability to say it! Quite embarrassing.. So I usually say something like ” I believe you have a package for Mike Donald”… Usually they say “is it a prescription?” And I’ll say yes. Problem solved and I don’t look like a tube!

However avoiding certain words isn’t a good habit for your son to get into.

My Dad used to tell my brother to take a breath, calm down and think about why he going to say before he started.. This helped somewhat but the difference since he attended the McGuire programme is unbelievable. At the end of the course they can get up in a shopping centre or town centre and say a few words, they also go into the town centre and ask for directions to somewhere.. It’s all about confidence and not being afraid to speak to people incase you stammer.

Just off the phone to my brother and he said to get to your local speech therapist ASAP and dot make a big thing of it, if he sees you and your partner making a thing of it then he will do the same, he also said the worst thing is when people finish the words for you aswell.

Also found out he is in regular contact with the Scottish rugby captain Kelly Brown… A bit envious now if I’m honest! I think my brother was a mentor of some description for him, they are assigned them on the project to phone when they are struggling or feeling low or need some advice or technique help.

Yawn.. This boring old subject… Again.

Halfwits who indulge in this moronic behaviour both side of the border in my experience.

Yes the media is very English biased towards sport but they compete at a higher and more competitive level than Scotland. I enjoy watching England and don’t have a problem with them succeeding, however it does get a bit tiresome with talk of “66” and “can we do it again”… In reality I think we/they know they can’t and won’t do again in the near future. But the media like to hype them up. Which generates support but annoys alot of Scots.

The ABE thing is stupid and childish though. As for yesterday.. England played well all tournament so deserved the win prior to the game, Wales started the tournament badly and improved every game.. Then turned up yesterday and wanted it more.. The right team won on the day.

However comments like the ones posted on page 2 by Mrsmith (serious or not) are antagonistic, immature, uncalled for, moronic and nasty. I think people need to grow up on both sides of the border. Competitive banter is good but it can escalate quickly.

We suck at Football… Fact! … Deal with it!

My brother had a bad stammer, he went on a course called the McGuire programme and it has changed his life Id say. Gave him confidence to speak to people and speak in public.

Im not sure if it caters for people as young as your son but worth a look. It is all to do with slowing your speech down and breathing correctly before speaking.

My brother was master of ceremonies at my Wedding last year… He would never have had the confidence to do that prior to the course. He also did hospital radio down south and does toast masters speeches. Made a massive difference to his life.

Deal with it now and watch his confidence grow.

Faithless – Insomnia
Cream – Godskitchen edit
Ebeneezer Goode – Shamen
Greece2000 – Dave Pearce remix
Hot Chip – Over and Over
Matt Darey – Binary Finary
Rank 1 – Airwave

And for a different approach:

Republica – Drop dead Gorgeous

Done.

Serious wantage.com!

That is one nice bike, do you have any idea what it weighs? I sold my bike 2 months ago, away to buy a road bike but looking to build something like this later in year.. I’m after a short travel bike that is light enough to pedal all day, climb hills well and rip them up coming back down.

Always fancied one of those.. 18 bikes here I come!

Can I call dibs if u ever sell it? That is a great looking bike and just what I’m after.

Are the Giant road bikes not compact frames?

Ah.. Stumbled at the last hurdle.. I’ll phone tomorrow and ask the question though. I may even be down near Merlin with work so will see If that helps.

They say they are in stock Teetosugars so delivery should be 2 days.. Maybe you know different? (Genuine question, not being antagonistic).

I’d love the carbon one with 105 aswell but just to pricey for me just now. I could wait a month to 6 weeks and save the extra but to be honest I’m going insane without a bike.

Thanks for that..

Try these:

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/mekk-pinerolo-al-15-tiagra-2013/

http://www.merlincycles.com/bike-shop/bikes/road-bikes/merlin-road-bikes/merlin-malt-r-road-bike-2013.html

Yeah I have heard that.. Although when I asked for geometry and weight for the bikes I waited 3 days for the info.. I thought that was a bit long, somebody was meant to phone me back 3 or 4 times but never. It was on the run up to Christmas though so they must have been busy.

Are they up for a deal? I ask because they have a 10% discount offer when you buy the Merlin, it is for your next purchase, but I have everything I require apart from a bike so hoping they will post for free and save me £30..

I need that bike in my life… Seriously nice bike dude. Enjoy riding it.

Looks like a muscular brute with the straight bars.. Well jell.com!

Ha ha ha.. Nice one Alan..

Nice tip of the hat to Mr Elder there…

I’m fed up with it aswell.. I have never liked it. Makes my job alot harder and more dangerous!

I’m currently stuck on the A96 between Inverurie and Huntly.. Trying to get home to Dundee but stuck on the hill just outside Huntly.. Accident further up road caused by snow, depth of drifts and high winds. I now have very little chance of getting traction to get going now and it ain’t getting any better!

Been here 2 hours already.. Anybody nearby want to bring me a fish supper?? Bloody starving and down to my last cream egg and macaroon bar…

So yes I’m bloody sick of it!! Can’t stand it.. Never have and never will!

Rant over!

Thanks for that Mamadirt.. Well spotted. Think I’ll order that when I get home… I want it now!

Thanks for the info guys, great advice pickle.. I wasn’t aware of all the top tube gubbins.. I’m on a very tight budget of £150 which could be a problem judging by what I have seen.

Been looking online and found this..

http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/products.php?plid=m10b0s9p3391

Which is nice but a bit over budget..

This is more in my range

http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/products.php?plid=m10b0s8p3833

And I’d have it in yellow as bright coloured bike ARE faster…. FACT!

Yeah wall mounted display bikes is a great ice… I’m In!

I live in Dundee..

Ok sounding promising so far… I think I was a bit generous with the 2 miles.. It’s maybe a mile and a quarter upon further reflection..

That’s a great looking bike Charlie but just too expensive for me just now.. If it comes down in price again ; ) can you email me at mikedonald@hotmail.com

What kind of BMX is that mamadirt?

Berkshire carpets and blinds
Berkshire carpets and blinds

Had a van with a man who was a total swine..

Out on a job one day
Decided he had right of way

Nearly put a guy on a bike to an early grave..

(To the tune of 99 bottles of beer…ish)

Need to try harder.. Only comes up on the 3rd page when you google it.

Berkshire carpets and blinds
Berkshire carpets and blinds
Berkshire carpets and blinds.

Surely she doesn’t own you, and is not your boss..

Your cash, you decides how you spends it dude!

Buy the road bike and MTFU.. I really don’t get how people have to “justify” a bike to a partner.. It’s you hobby, would he/she rather you spent all you money in the pub and rolling In pished every night?

I assume you were biking before you got together? If so then she knows how much you enjoy it and surely she wants to see you happy and understands that hobbies cost money.. Would she rather you gave it up and turned into a big fatty? Don’t surrender to the guilt trip mate… Cycling was in your life before your lady friend.

Happy pedalling.

Deja-vu in Dundee… The club of legends for winners… :wink:

Or the sticky carpeted Mardi-Gras..

Oh the memories!

Yes.. This Mike sounds like a bloody nice bloke..

Shall we have a whip round for him so he can buy a road bike? I heard he is bikeless after selling a gorgeous Cotic Soul to make ends meet for a house purchase.

Start the kitty at £5…

I’ll second Fastest Indian.. Great film.

Sons of Anarchy is a must..

First proper mountain bike that was up to the job was a Trek 930, must have been about 1994/5. It was red and black in colour, Rockshox Indy (I think) forks, shimano XT gearing, LX cantilever brakes (got changed to XT v brakes) and silver Mavic rims on black LX hubs. I loved that bike and would buy another if I could find a goon one.

Progressed onto a Trek Y22.. I think I lived that bike a bit more.. Been looking for a good one for ages but still no joy.

Petty jealousy it ain’t mate..

But you go to a bike shop looking to spend £2k ish on a bike, then get bored looking.. I would have been like a kid in a sweet shop and I definitely would have visited more than 1 shop.

As is mentioned in alot of the replies it just seems you took “advice” (shoddy at best IMHO) from a mate in Spain after riding his bike off road, you couldn’t remember what it was called so it can’t have been that great. However if if was that great why not just buy that same bike? Or one from the same range that fits you budget?

I’m all up for bikes looking good, but going for the Rocky Mountain because you got bored is a cop out!

You may have considered the bike as a whole and I think it it a great looking bike and well specced.. But the statement is still a bit show off-ish.

And people may have made judgements about you based on scant information.. But that’s because all you have was scant information.

That’s rubbish mate.. All of the above useful advice I +1..

Sounds like this has been planned for a while though, get all the savings into the house, give it a month so it doesn’t look suspicious.. Then break up, which by your post sounds like her call.. Then ask YOU to leave, I don’t see how that is fair. Don’t leave.. As said above if she want’s to go then let her but you stay put.

It gets on my nerves how when people break up it is mainly the man that has to go and gets left financially ruined in some cases.. While the ladies get to stay in a house that they can’t always realistically afford!

I’m all for equal rights but it has to work both ways..

Anyway back on topic..

Good luck mate, stay strong for your child, they are the most important person in this situation. Make sure they are happy and loved, if it comes down to access make sure it is fun things they associate Dad with.. Swimming, cycling, parks, zoo’s etc..

Good luck mate.

I call troll..

If not then this statement makes you come across as a bit show off-ish..

” I got bored and in the end went for a Rocky Mountain Element”

I wish I could get bored spending £3100 in 1 visit to a bike shop. Then buying a Sirrus purely because it is nice and light… Then the furniture shopping comments, followed by the holiday comments.

A fool and his money…. As they say!

Enjoy riding the bikes under your bridge..

Why oh why oh why…

Just why!!’

What has happened to manhood??

Nah I’d be giving that a miss aswell.

As said above.. He is a mate so will understand.