I use a pen every day. Difficult to use nice shiny electronic kit in the manufacturing environment I work in. Some of us still have jobs where we get our hands dirty – although I do take the point about this perhaps becoming less common.

Anyway back to the OP – I use a Rotring 600 3 in 1 as a day to day pen/automatic pencil. You’ll pick one up for £30 ish and they’re a nice ‘thing’ to hold (unless he has tiny hands). Also not the end of the world if you lose it or someone nicks it… Use the rest of the cash for any of the suggestions above 😀

Telegraph banner is a beauty! https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cw4ry74dkejo

’52mph in a 20mph zone – Lycra lout cyclists creating death traps all over Britain’

And even better – the picture is of a mountain bike. Good effort by that cyclist I say 😂

Culture war pricks.

I ride a medium Lux Trail. I’m 6ft – so I’m also right at the very top of the sizing recommendation.

It fits perfectly – I’m glad I went with the Canyon website rather than my own view that I’d need a large.

In the specific case of the Lux Trail, all the ‘bad’ reviews I’ve seen were from shorter riders than me riding a large…

@Twodogs – nah.

That piece is clearly written by centralist scum.

The mistake we all made was to not give Corbyn a third chance. Third time lucky and all that.

Ps – I don’t hate Corbyn – quite the opposite actually and I voted for him twice (unlike the idealogical purists who now can’t possibly bring themselves to vote for labour…). I just don’t think he is capable of winning a GE. This is the fundamental point for me. And until labour actually get into power we can’t change **** all.

My team gave me a ‘I’m the Gaffer’ mug (remember the old Tetley tea bag ads?). I’m still using it.

It’s quite possible they think I’m a ****…

Best humble brag ever? 🤣🤣🤣

Loved my Cinder Cone – it was (I think) a’96 in a gorgeous bronze colour.

Had a Paddy Wagon for commuting and I’ve still got an A-Ha frame hanging on the wall.

I hope there is an ‘innocent’ explanation for the stand disassembly 😟

Hmmm…..

Gotta love spaniels!

Maxda CX60 might be worth a look. I have one as a company car (I’m not a massive fan of SUV’s in all honesty but no suitable estates/hatchbacks were available). Similar size to a XC60 and not much slower. I’m realistically getting 25 miles on battery alone.

Overall mpg over 15000 miles has been around 58 (mine is always charged at home so all my journeys under 25 miles are electric powered). I use the hybrid mode for long journeys.

The only real downside is an incredibly overzealous driver assist…

He definitely didn’t like the old Canyon Lux Trail.

Admittedly I struggled with that review a bit as he seemed to be riding a size too big…

I run WTB saddles on all of my bikes   (road, CX, 2 x mountain) – I seem to get along with shape really well but as scotroutes says, saddles are a personal choice. What I think is great may not suit your backside!

Gotta love my home town…

Fair point convert. Some of the stuff from years ago wasn’t great but personally I found some of his commentary on CRC insightful and honest but what do I know. It didn’t come across as particularly gleeful to me.

Never really got the hate for UK based manufacturing. In my experience the products I used were spot on.

From comments on previous threads I think the owner simply diversified into more profitable manufacturing.

I’d forgotten ‘ol 30p had led calls for MP’s who change parties to face a by-election… The man is the definition of integrity 🤣

Happy because she found a bog…

Bontrager Race OR.

Oops – I broke your rule already.

I also have a Lux trail (previous generation). It’s a brilliant bike for what and where I ride. I live in the Lakes.

It is very much a quick XC bike – I’m 6ft and ride a medium. Reach is pretty much spot on for me. I don’t think I’ve ever used the lockout but it is reasonably rocky and rough up here so perhaps I would use it (the lockout) more elsewhere?

Like jonba, if it broke, I’d happily have another.

What a day to be alive – even the BBC is agreeing with rone!

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-68494168

Scroll to the bottom of the article for commentary on ‘maxing out credit cards’ 😃

I saw him in Workington last year – really enjoyed it (although the guy hosting was a bit ‘odd’).

We have a double wool duvet and it is absolutely brilliant – not too hot in summer and not too cold in summer BUT it is nowhere near the weight of my daughters single weighted blanket if that helps?

My daughter likes her weighted blanket – apparently it is ‘really snuggly’…

I actually know where the OP is coming from and have sometimes thought the same myself. In my case I do what sharkattack suggested.

I also feel a bit bloody minded – there is some good advice and camaraderie on here – so why I should I walk away and let the sea lions and dick heads win?

L should also be for Ling surely??

Had to smile at this – I’m a low A cat in Zwift which generally means I get smashed by a whole load of B cats…

Doing a flat TT in 15 mins so I’ll test the theory 🤣

I live on the outskirts of the Lakes (lucky me!). Midge problem is nothing like as bad as parts of Scotland (or Kielder…), however as others have said it gets really busy in August.

I’d bring a tick remover too – little feckers seem to be getting worse year on year 🤣

One of the reasons I chose a Mazda CX60 as my company car – it still has knobs…

Also 320hp and cheap BIK…

I thought this was going to about Iron Maiden. I’m out.

BBC have produced a ‘fact-checking’ guide if you fancy an alternative viewpoint @buttonmoon?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-68255302

Though I suppose it depends on whether or not you believe ‘mainstream media’ over Tucker.

@frankconway: Two check-ups, two scale and polishes and 10% off any treatment required.  No idea whether that is good or not – currently (NHS) we have one check-up per year. I’m also somewhat underwhelmed with a £8 one-off registration fee when I’ve been with same dentist for 20+ years. What more info could they need? 😀

PAYG would be approx £55 per check-up – I may go down that route yet but want to ensure I’m at least registered with a dentist because I really don’t like toothache…

Give it to my local dentist who has just given up on providing an NHS service and is now ‘only’ charging £17.50 a month with a 10% discount for any work that needs done. C’est la vie 😀

And yes – I do know who to blame.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder – I really like the look of my Canyon.

Having said that I also loved the look of the raw Turner Flux it replaced…

I live near Cockermouth – its a bloody excellent place to be from my perspective! Great riding from the door.

However not quite so good if you don’t drive and want to actually leave the place 😁 Happily I do drive.

Ryan van Duzer is worth a look. He is a really enthusiastic American – which you might find wearing or endearing… I think it was @matt_outandabout who originally recommended his YouTube channel on here.

Also have a look at the EF education Alt racing and Lachlan Morton YouTube content.

At least the ERS petition seems to be getting quite a few signatures (and yes – I know it probably won’t make any difference!)

Fair few turbo miles but nothing outside ☹️

Lots of dog walking miles outside though – I don’t mind getting wet as such – I just hate cleaning bikes! 

Having said that, cleaning a spaniel does seem to take a while too…

Not impressed – fence has just blown down – grr.

In fairness I do live in top of a hill and the fence has been on its way out for a few months – I was just being lazy and waiting for nicer weather to put new posts in.

Only real problem is the farmer has just filled the field with sheep so I’m gonna have to bodge something in the rain and wind. Probably a lesson to be learned there somewhere… 😁

I am a lucky man!

In-laws live next door and I really like them! They’ve been over already and we’re just taking dog out and then over to their house for Christmas lunch 😀

Einstein lived in Michelle Mone’s house in Glasgow.

Well according to Michelle anyway…

Another 13…

Captain Fall is worth a watch on Netflix – some real ‘wtf – did they just do/say that?’ moments 😂