Yup. About sums up this year so far for me as well! Have myself a budget for a new build and then blew it after just about everything else decided to go wrong with my other bike

PS in terms of pain relief for spinal nerves Amittriptyline even beats morphine (well, for me it did!), did make me a tad zombified though…

Ah sorry, didn’t realise you could pin it to a specific event. If the physio didnt pick up on the pain being directly related to a specific event then I’d probably not go back to them, been to one or two good ones and it’s been quite obvious from the off when they are vs the poor ones I’ve seen. If you get the feeling they were just ‘going through the motions’ with you it’s possibly not a good sign

Naproxen has no increased risk of vascular events, whereas Diclophenac raises risk by a third:

http://www.nhs.uk/news/2013/05May/Pages/high-dose-nsaid-painkiller-heart-risk-small-significant.aspx

Unless you’re planning on turning semi-pro or are obcessed with the close up detail and quality of your images (guilty

Diclophenac has recently been shown to cause heart failure in people with an underlying condition, and as the Dr won’t know if that’s you, Naproxen is now being given as standard instead. If you’ve been on it before chances are you’re safe but always worth checking before getting anymore…

Piriformis syndrome (muscles in the hip going a bit wonky) can cause sciatica, it’s a debated topic but seems to be common in cyclists/runners. All spinal causes need to be ruled out first, but if they are and there’s not an obvious cause, looking at bike set up can help. This may be why your physio was looking at what’s going on in your legs overall, might be worth asking? I recently bought a new saddle and within 3 rides I got the familiar stinging sciatic tingle starting down my left leg a few hours after riding. Swapped back to my old one and no problem since! Most of my sciatic episodes (bar a flare up from a rear DNS shunt) have been caused by muscle imbalance in my hips and were alleviated by stretching/binning the new saddle

Two spaniels and a ragdoll cat, roomba does pretty well. Needs the rollers cleaning every two weeks or so, and we use it 2-3 times a week. Means you can do the hoovering when you’re out! Not perfect but not far off :o)

Another vote for the Madison’s (fat birds can’t fly have them), machine washable is a bonus too! Great cut for those of us who actually have a bum and want to fit padded stuff underneath!

Shhh Nick!! Not yet!! Holding out for as long as we can on that little secret! I’m amazed Bupa Havnt disowned me yet ;o)

We pay £14 per dog per month on petplan, one of the few that insure for life and up to 4k for the year. Been worth its weight in gold the last few weeks, amazing how a few blood tests, an X-ray and fluids for a few days reached £1000 very quickly! Also now have a dog with a lifelong condition (Addisons) so good to know we are covered. Actually thinking about putting it up to the 7k limit given how quickly costs spiralled in less than a week!

This is the one:

http://m.gooutdoors.co.uk/paramo-ladies-mirada-waterproof-jacket-p290044

Other shops have them at around £170, if that’s in your price range

Have a look at the Paramo’s in go outdoors. Nicely cut (goes over my bum when very little else does!), long at the back and very comfortable as well as breathable. Can also be re proofed with nickwax. Around Christmas managed to get nearly £100 off a nice blue one, they do a price promise so if you can find the equivalent in the uk for less than they’re selling it for, they give you an extra 10% off. Best bit of clothing I’ve bought in a long time, worth paying a little extra for!

Can I ask what it is you’re trying to shoot? As a rule if it’s sports/action photography you’d use fine quality JPEG only, RAW won’t add a huge advantage over JPEG on action shots, vs missed opportunities. I used to use RAW for everything until the error of my ways was pointed out on a recent wildlife photography course. The switch to JPEG made a huge difference buffering wise with minimal loss of quality 🙂

Fforest Fawr by molgrips

Cheers, much appreciated 🙂

True. The puking over the side may not be attractive but I’d find it hilariously funny. The diced carrot would follow you down the river

Haha! Well, itd make it a day to remember at any rate…Im sure the local ducks would get a good feed as well 🙂

johnnystorm thanks for the info, will pop in on Friday and see what they say :o)

I can read a map, but its always helpful to have local knowledge when going somewhere new, bridleways are not always great to ride just because theyre on a map. I looked up some threads on here but most referenced the Beacons as being a better bet, but thought Id check anyway. Will check out Lord Herefords Knob and the gap route, ta for the suggestions :o)

We are quad biking with the birthday girl on the Friday, but canoeing is NOT an option, puking over the side will not be attractive for anyone elses viewing pleasure. Id rather visit the dentist for an extraction!! The birthday girl is clearly far more understanding than some of you lot :oP

I ride alone at night in local woods & other areas, but then I also run & walk the dogs alone at night too! Mostly I feel fine doing it, but every now & then I do get the jitters and abandon said walk/run/bike if I can’t calm myself down. Instincts are there for a reason sometimes!

People do seem to make comments that as a woman I probably should be more wary of doing these things, but as I’m mostly comfortable I’m not sure what there is to be scared of? I’m pretty sure a mugger or other criminal would be just as happy braining me in a lit lonely spot as a dark one. Besides, if I’m on the bike I think they’d be less likely to catch me! As for falling off, that’s more about manning up and being prepared ;o) I make sure if I’m on my own I carry dressings and a silver blanket. Then again I’m a tad used to damaging myself!!

Happy night riding everyone :o)

Ello Nevis. Sounds good thanks! We’re up 17th/18th August, will drop you a text, be good to see you & the fiery one if you’re about :o)

Brilliant, thank you :o)

This one, mucking about at my local res…

mrsflash: Yep, checking in on the mickey mouse hands after a good weekends biking :oD

Definately agree with the water pistol solution, not sure why you wouldnt? Youre not hurting the cat, its just an unpleasant sensation the cat will come to associate with you and your house. If youre worried about your own cat, remove it to another room, then administer the water pistol?

The new Juliana and Superlight ARE identical on the latest design when you compare the specs from Santa Cruz themselves. I went for the medium SL recently and theyre fantastic bikes. Like Mrs Flash said, great up and down hill, I feel like mine was made just for me. Love it :o)

eviljoe: cool strip :o)

I'm trying to work out if I can be done for shop lifting by Sainsbury's if I razor mint sauce out of MBUK and offer to pay £1 for it… I reckon it would be worth getting a record for….

Perhaps some of the more cramped and messier branches of WHSmith on a busy saturday might make this easier. Not that I would ever nick a mint cartoon that made me smile… ;o)

a sheep riding a bicycle doesn't stand a chance against sfb's relentless logic

Jo Burt, as ever, you are my hero :oD

On a day like today, where the real world gets in the way just a little too much and makes everything gloomy, all I have to do is sit and look at 'this is why'. Suddenly everything seems a litle better cause I know that when the weather gets a little better, I cant start having my own adventures again, seeing how good the real world can actually be from the seat of a bike, just like mint.

I think Im going to stop my own b*tching about it being in MBUK and just buy it anyway. Sod the price tag, for everything I get out of Mint personally, I think its worth supporting.

So, errr, yeah, I think I get it. I used to spend hours trawling through back issues after discovering mint in '95, its so great to have them all to look at again on 'this is why' now the paper copies are long gone.

Sit on my pace and tell me that you love me ;o)

You need to check with your Dr and the DVLA/insurance but doubt you can drive with a cast on. I wasnt allowed to drive with an uncast break and 3rd degree sprain (severed ligament, apparently you shouldnt be able to walk on it but I managed ok…) until the DVLA & insurance had confirmation from my physio I was fit.

I walked around on that for 3 weeks after a french hospital missed the break. I was given a strap on plastic cast and sent home, it wasnt till I got in to see a physio privately he had it xrayed with bupa and the diagnosis confirmed. In the UK it would have been operated on and Id have been stuffed for at least 6 months. As it was kept moving but immobilised in the correct way, with the help of physio I was pretty much normal after around 4. But then Im bloody minded, see being able to walk on something with bruising worse than anything else I could find on the internet ;oP

See a good physio. Tendonitis in my elbow turned out to be caused by all kinds of imbalances and a trapped nerve further up at the neck, apparently this isnt uncommon!

If it is straight tendonitis a physio will be able to help you avoid damaging it while still keeping it mobile. I was told not to rest for too long as this makes it worse, the best action seems to be being aware if what will aggrivate it and balancing it with exercises.

Cant comment on the scudo, but connect (IMHO) is the more comfortable when compared with the caddy. Also very reliable and hold price well. Even better if it has the heated windscreen, definately a bonus!

Another vote here for Moon. The models are def much better than CGI, kept the atmosphere of the film in tune.

I wasnt all that enamoured with sunshine, but the other half and his brother love it…

Denims ok, as long as its not faded, skinny, or the kind of grandad blue Clarkson would wear. Denim, leather or sheepskin jacket is defo a no.

Nothing wrong with hoodies and combats and skate shoes if you have the personality to pull it off.

I quite like hawiian shirts on some men, but again, something you need to be able to pull of ;o)

Smart casual: Nice shirt, dark jeans/casual trousers, no trainers.

I rode a bike as a teenager. Loved them, and Mint sauce. I thought bikes were way cool.

I also like star trek, red dwarf and graphic novels…. ummm 😕

The only wildlife in danger of even remotely being affected by our moggy seems to be moths. And even then she possibly decimates about three, a year. She seems to enjoy licking car bumpers more than hunting… 😳

It's foul disgusting and inedible imo, thanks largely to the fact that large quantities of pure sugar are included in it's ingredients.

Lol, very true. And they get sweeter as the acidity in the soup eats away at the laquer in the can. Yum!

Changed from SPD's to Egg beaters. Hated them within 3-4 rides, changed back. No problems with the pedals themselves, just didnt get on with them. In particular found it harder than Id like to clip in and out.

You can buy my eggbeaters off me cheap if you decide to change? ;o)

The only soup with added radioactive red dye. Cant beat that surely? ;o)

Sharapova has camel toe….

A veggie friend cooked me this the other day. Pretty good for a veggie meal:

http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/4724/pepper-red-onion-and-goats-cheese-frittata

Dont skimp on the seasoning….

Ah, Im just going off what the other half told me, being a technically inept girly, so calipers may well be post mount 😳

So are those the same type of mount (the H and J) or different?? Looks like we might already have one kicking about the garage.

Sorry to sound so blonde. Ok, I am, just want to get it right!!

Possibly be careful of the radiator. Major design fault on the engine of the more recent punto was that the drain point on the radiator doesnt allow the system to drain properly. This leads to air locks and the head gasket warping. Have a friend whos gasket just had to be skimmed cause of this, she was lucky it wasnt a new engine. That was on a 2000 model though so may have been fixed by 2004, might not. Worth checking that out before you buy one!!