We were never relevant. We just thought we were. . .

And it’s really unlikely that at any point anyone will ask you if you’re ok throughout the pregnancy/birth. Nobody cares. Even your mum will ring up and the first words out her mouth will be an enquiry as to the wellbeing of your partner.

This happened to me yesterday.

Mate, congratulations. Found out myself over Christmas – just changed profile for similar reasons.

For us it was very much hoped for, so am stoked. That being said its a pretty rocky road so far – she has been much more emotional and irritable – due to feeling sick and tired, as you would expect. You’ve just got to roll with it.

One thing I’ve noticed is that it has given me a deadline to put my house in order – pay off debts, lose a bit of weight, work harder at the job.

From now on copping-out isn’t an option.

I enjoyed this. Good spot. Thanks.

Haven’t done the ride, have done the route. If you have semi slick tyres or a cross bike it is a good idea. A lot of flat ex railway line action, so good to be able to blast it along with lower rolling resistance.

C&B seen are good and cheap. I now have one of those on the bars and an Exposure on the helmet.

You really want both – a broad beam plus a narrow beam to look around corners.

I think you can get away with a cheaper, heavier unit on the bars, but you don’t want to faff with cabling on your head, as it is distracting.

Thanks pleaderwilliams and Mike. Good clear answers.

Doesn’t sound like too much maintenance.

Nah, claro, but would substitute lack of suss. for bigger wheels – poor 30 something body needs the cushioning.

Seen some good 29er full suss. but if you are trading off on full suss. against weight, you probably don’t want heavier wheels too.

Dunno, quite a big guy, but no one wants a super heavy bike.

Ideally would like a short travel but tough FS – Transition 130mm bike looks good – but may need to econmise on time, maintenance and cash bcos of newly acquired family commitments

The following ->

* 4 litres of white spirit
* 2 plastic milk bottles
* A funnel
* Coffee filters
* Rock’n’roll lube

When dirty, take chain off, stick in bottle A, top up with spirit. Shake, leave, Shake again.

Pour dirty spirit into bottle B. Wash chain off in sink with hot water only.

Dry chain – e.g. oven on low heat. Lube up with rock’n’roll.

Refit chain

Clean funnel, insert filters, pour dirty spirit through filter into the spirit container.

Price about £4 a year.

Use the expensive cleaner for the bike. Also, Sh1t shifter is better than Muc off.

Alex

Can confirm rock’n’roll blue is awesome, albeit you end up putting a lot on. Lasts well when on, stay really clean. Win.

MPART are very good.

Good thread Paul. Looking at the finances and then thinking of bike expenditure makes for pretty grim reading for me.

Would be interested to hear any tips.

I’ve economised by sticking to 9 speed and rotating chains, plus white spirit and plastic bottle for cleaning.

Am thinking about getting an ISA to save up for the next bike, or draw on in case of JRA.

Smelly shirley nobeerinthefridge

SLX is 45 quid on Evans. Think I will bin and start again.

Nirvana aren’t the Californian have a nice day type shop, but they are very good mechanically.

Get your stuff fixed very quick, good prices no BS. Have spares in stock too.

Head for hills, Corridiori, Kingston Evans are always yeah, too busy, squeeze you in next week.

At Nirvana I came to drop my bike off for a brake service, did it there, went out for a quick ride.

Mudhugger. So good.

Hah! Slightly different geology up there! :wink: Sticky sandy central down here!

Surrey hills?

Glad to hear you are enjoying the scottoiler stuff thergreatape.

How is it in the rain / puddles?

Bought some rockn’roll blue. The quest for the holy grail continues. . .

Just looking that up Cloudnine. Seems to be just ‘better’.

Imagine its got boron, or ceramics wizardry in there. Probably not much real world benefit – Finish line white no better than finish line red or green – just halfway house.

Willing to be proved wrong mind.

AJT

Poor sealing. Look flash, but don’t last long.

Go Cane Creek – last well – plenty of spares.

Madison MPart also a bargain.

Currently got one of their’s, working well after a year of riding.

Go and sit in the corner and think about what you’ve done.

:wink:

Like a poor-man’s Loaded for mountain bikers.

Consistent advertorial + the writing if terrible. Note how they used ‘though’ instead of ‘however’.

I think you have to accept that most humans are really not that intelligent and cannot be rationally reasoned with. They act selfishly and irrationally because they are too stupid to do otherwise.

More of less sums it up. I am self-consciously super-polite and thankful to pedestrians and equestrians who do the right thing – bit of good public relations and hope they will pass it on.

When faced with selfish / foolish individuals I usually come to a complete stop and give them a hard stare. Point made, but no need to get into pointless discussion. Does help that I’m a hairy ginger tank, mind.

Sorry to hear about your spot of bother.

Hmmmn, I’ll see what the wife thinks *checks respray prices online

Not sure about Ragley, turned into a bit of a ‘fun’ comedy brand now, for example the nasty seat stay bridges.

Don’t want a 19 inch, because of standover. Once made the mistake of getting a 20 inch. Reach has fine, could hardly get my legover.

How much do you want for the Honzo, sillyoldman? Why selling?

Gonna be a titus fireline, isn’t it.

Couldn’t agree more. Revolting.

Especially energy gels, for some reason. Infuriating.

Big pedals [Vaults] + 5tens for the win.

+1 for flat pedals.

DMR vaults are goof because:.

1. The big platformblets you find your speet spot.

2. They are the best flat pedals.

SLX are great.

Agree. Mountains of blackberries around here. Definately livening up my muesli!

Why would it be important to attend a red-brick if your aim was to work in software – games development?

Very few red-bricks will have the specialist courses, seems to me in this industry getting practical experience is more important.

Mrs AJT has a 1st class honours degree in film and theatre design and is incredibly talented. No one off her course is working in the field apart from a chap whose Mum is a film producer – Gurinda Chadha – and a chap who has a massive trust-fund and it able to work for free. She became a florist then an art teacher.

Conversely a mate has an English degree, but was very technically astute, boot-strapped himself to a 70k free-lancer.

Additionally, why the focus on games design? Why not software engineering in general? Is he being realistic. As a teacher I’m very sceptical of students who want to go for glamourous sectors.

Good luck. I’m sure he’ll get there in the end.

Yeah, although it was a few years ago. Stuff came on time, no worries.

Think the OP said he was looking to spend a max of £1k on the frame. Nowt wrong with recommending Honzo and the like (have just ordered the new 2015 Explosif frame) but to me that sounds as if he’s looking for something with a lot of quality. If it was my money, it would be going on the Chromag. Not sure how much the Chromag Surface is but the Samurai 65 which is built for them by Chris DeKerf is £1100 so must be in that price range. DeKerf builds some mighty fine machines but not sure if he builds the Surface for them. So it might be slightly cheaper but obviously still a quality frame. Plus you can choose any colour you want for your frame.

Thanks Haggis. I’m certainly not adverse to paying more for quality. This is going to be the last bike for some time – fingers crossed all my cash will be going on baby stuff.

chiefgrooveguru, I’m become more of an endurance rider as time goes on. Did Epsom to Brighton today, powering over the endless loose rocks was teeth-jarring and dead frustration – hard to make progress – easier on the grass tbh.

Some really good recommendations, cheers. Alex

Not that local Candodavid, but my wife’s family are down that way, very decent of your to offer. I give you a bell when we are next down that way, if that’s okay?

What a leg-end!

Surely a no brainier:(2 Souls Quarterhorse)

Not sure about the Quarter-horse. Very slack seat-angle.

Great responses here chaps, got lots to think about.

That Stanton Sherpa looks right up my street. Wish they did an 18″. The

Singular Buzzard looks nice. Shame 400 notes for 4130.

First fat bike I ever saw was on the SDW, so you probably aren’t far off.

Still, who would want to carry 20 kilos of mud on their wheels up Ditchling?