management with entrenched views and resistance to the changes I’d been brought in to manage.

This is pretty much it for me, I can’t fathom why you’d take someone on to carry out a role and then when you don’t like the answers, ignore everything!

I have this, either side of the nose, sometimes around the lips and a bit on the forehead. (Don’t drink by the way either). Varies according to season but I use 1% hydrocortisone from the pharmacist over the counter. Put it on after a shower or wash. Only need a tiny amount. tends to keep it clear for a couple of days after application. Sometimes flares up worse if I’m stressed. A small tube of Hydrocortisone lasts for months and it’s only a few quid but makes a difference. The pharmacist asks where it’s for and I say my chest. I do have a small patch the appears in the middle of my chest every now and again, so not a complete lie. Although i don’t think they’re fans of it going on your face for some reason.

But soft suede? Really? And no straps, just normal laces? That doesn’t sound particularly effective for SPD pedalling. Last pair I had with just laces were pretty wobbly when pedalling circles.

Agreed, I’m not even sure I’d be wearing them in those conditions either, but each to their own!

That sums up the attitude of people I work with. They really believe they are working harder than people who earn less with no appreciation of any privilege/luck they have had in life.

This sums up my soon to be ex work colleague in a nutshell, although she’s only 40. On 42k a year and pretty much by accident. Has a bloody high opinion of herself and anyone on less doesn’t work hard enough, refers to them as goons, and sheltered and living in one of the most well off areas of Preston. Spends most of the day **** about on whatsapp and chatting to people rather than paying the damn business’s bills so the chasing letters are coming in and I’m covering and not doing my actual job. Only 15 days to go and I’m outta there!

Well I cancelled mine, as above numerous subscriptions to other services been a subscriver since 2013. Garmin Connect and Training Peaks do what I want it to. I find Garmins Route tools prefereable or I’ll just use Memory Map oh and this “so now segments tend to get dominated by incomparable times.”

Carol Vorderman laying it out on The Jeremy Vine show on Radio 2 right now!

Angel @ Hetton, Inn at Whitewell. Second Parkers Arms and Freemasons

Inn at Whitewell is a short ride from the Trough of Bowland an iconic local climb.

Our commercial manager has a habit of bringing loads of cakes and buscuits in, for no reason at all, and doesn’t eat them, they’re for “everyone else”. That would be me and the MD (who wants to loose weight) and I don’t bloody want them because I don’t have an off switch when it comes to cake and biscuits!

Commuting for nearly 20 years now and the best waterproof gear I’ve had is the Altura Nightvision stuff. Trousers are 50 quid and the jacket was about a hundred. It’s been pretty hardwearing. The Endura gear I had (stealth bibs for example) gave up within a couple of months of use.

I note however from some of the comments that the Normandy / Brittany border has shifted by quite a few miles while I wasn’t looking… 🙂

Haha if that comment was aimed at me guilty as charged! We took Brittany Ferries and yes we were in Normandy, equally as lovely as Brittany I’m led to believe. either way, Normandy or Brittany, there’s lots to do for everyone. I’d also reccomend not going with Eurocamp. Either book with a site directly or use one of the EU firms, such as Roan for a) some bargains and b) great service.

We stopped at Houlgate a couple of years on the trot. Lovely seaside town, fabulous beaches, lot’s to see and do in the area. Visit the Grand Bunker outside Caen for a bit of history. Festyland not too far for a bit of cheap theme park entertainment. Wonderful place. We’re going back to Picardy again this year at Easter, but we might be going back to Brittany next year.

@oldfart Yeah. There’s a nmumber of GR (grand randonnée) throughout France and Corsica, however, whilst they are primarily walking routes, they can be ridden with some hike-a-bike (primarily because it’s so steep). I certainly wouldn’t want to tackle it in poor weather. I wouldn’t say it’s fully suitable for bikes, although the downhills would certainly be fun! There was a write up on here a few years ago from a couple of guys who rode it. Will see if I can find the link.

Here’s the link. I’d absolutely love to do this, however, costs, time off work and family make it a bit tricky!

GR5 Geneva to Nice 2016 – Picture and Word heavy

Having walked the GR5, that’s a tough route, particulalry when the weather is grim. I did it in June and the snow was at 2500 meters.

@bjj.andy.w if I see you out tomorrrow morning you can tag along :P

After this mornings commute, 154 to go. Should get that done tonight on the way home and tomorrow. After that no chance as I’ll be stood in a field marshalling a CX race in Cheshire! :D That wind heading towards the cost this morning though ><

90 or 110 do you?

PINE 27.2 DROPPER POST
PNW Pine I’ve got 2 and they work fine.

@oldfart, I’ve been commuting all week in sub zero temps and actually enjoyed it, it was great. Roll on this morning went out at 7am, within 10 minutes of setting off it started to piss it down at 1C, I felt every bump, pothole etc in the road, it just wasn’t enjoyable. Cut it short because I thought there’s no poin if I’m not enjoying it and don’t want to set myself up grumpy for the rest of the day through having a shit ride. Some days are good, others, well you can’t win em all!

-8.5 on the way to work this morning on the CX bike and wearing my Northwave Arctic GTX XC and they were fine with a pair of thin merino socks. Not hot, not cold just right.

On a personal note, our gas, electric, phone, broadband, 1 mobile was 100 quid this month. End terrace 2 adults 1 10 year old!

On a work related note my colleague seems to think having the fan heater on all the time is acceptable. It’s 27C in the office FFS and the heating is on! Doesn’t want to listen, when we ask her to turn it off!

Using Muc-Off Dry on the road bike and so far it’s been fine.

CX Bikes, mainly for racing, I’ve been using Morgan Blue. It’s actually quite good and doesn’t make a mess. For the short use they get it works well enough.

I have a Kinesis Aithein, really versatile, run it with 28mm tyres and Di2. Absolutely love it. It has calipers, however that’s hardly a game changer. It filled a gap when the headset cups gave up the ghost on my carbon frame. All the parts I already had fit it.

If anyone fancies trying out new areas, or areas they’ve not ridden for a while with a friendly atmosphere for a sensible price, why not try MBO Score. 3 -5 Hour events, all over the UK and (other than the travel) it won’t break the bank. (We’re not BC affiliated either)

https://www.bmbo.org.uk/calendar/

I also think that there’s a good number of participants (of any organised event) have no idea as to how much work goes into them. Particulalry when it comes to risk assessments, in large open outdoor areas, such as we use for orienteering events.

Well I bought the LEJOG by MTB offroad from the Singletrack store and left it on the coffee table. I’ve not been told I can’t do it..

You’re not being a knob, approach them, but pre-empt it with “I don’t mean to sound like a prick, but…”

Neoprene vvershoes over your boots. Sounds like it it’s a bit counterintuitive, however the disconnect between the boots and overshoes make a difference with the wind chill. Making sure your core is warm also helps massively. Start of with your boots glvoes etc. warm, your body isn’t then having to try and warm your clothing up which may be acting as a bit of a heatsink.

Commuting in at -5 this morning, I’d reccomend https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CLCARULCRG/carnac-waterproof-crab-hand-winter-gloves?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIkdSjr8np-wIVk8vtCh16VQjwEAQYASABEgJVnvD_BwE#CLCARULCRG-MED-BLK

Worked well for me for the last few years.

Pennine Bridleway? :D

She didn’t commit the cardinal sin though. Hearing someone with a ‘northern’ accent and asking them if they’re from Lancashire when they’re from Yorkshire, or vice versa

Christ, that would have been horrific. Imagine the fallout!

Reign in Blood.

Northwave winter boots and Grip Grab Cylin’ Gaiters, work a treat.

I’ve been using the same knives from Russums for 25 years. My sister bought them when she studied catering in the 90’s and then passed them on to me when I studied catering. I’ve been using them on a daily basis, as long as they’re kept shape and an looked after (i.e. not used for prying things open they’re fine and the tips don’t get snapped. If someone else is going to use your expensive Global knives, don’t have expensive Global knives. Hygiplas ones from Nisbets are fine and I’ve never had a problem with them in a food production environment. Oh and they’re cheap if someone uses them to open paint tins.

@johnx2

Jesus he’s only 53? Saw that on my youtube feed and assumed he’d be about 70. Sorry if I’m being unkind but clearly life has been too… That said I probably look like Iggy Pop’s gray bearded left testicle. I think it’s after 55/56 the serious decay has started setting in for me. But we battle on…

That’s not Nick Craig, that’s an older digitised image of Simon Richardson (the GCN host)

It’s funny as you’d expect CX racing to be require an awful lot of training requiring HIIT but in reality following (and racing against Nick Craig) and other top riders in our league and the UK, they do a lot of base miles riding. Unfortunately sadly lacking for me at the moment is any sort of time to get rides of more than an hour or 2 in. I found at the weekend that I really struggled with the pace at a CX race, partly down to lack of aerobic fitness from not doing longer rides, bad fueling, 2 bad nights sleep and recovering from covid and still having a cold. The proverbial wheels fell off. Might just have to get up earlier to get those base miles in!
Oh and proud dad moment when Nick awarded my daughter the Under 10 NWCCA league trophy last year!

Coughing too much nowadays due to working in a dusty environment, this really worries me.

Surely you’re employer should be providing sufficient PPE or reducing the risk if a risk assessment has been carried out.

I have one that does it and one that doesn’t, on the same bike. It’s a bit annoying and I’ve put up with it for the last 7 years. Might put something else on it 1 day when I’ve got some spare cash!

@dc1988 that’s pretty much it, yes.

Not tried the 12 speeds, however the 11 speeds and 9 speeds have been absolutely bob on for the price.

I kind of wonder if the way people got in the habit of using their local parks during the lockdowns (which is obviously a good thing), has made finding CX venues harder.

The venue thing is frustrating, one we used last year want £3k which is ludicrous and ain’t gonna happen, another wanted £5k.

Muddy, there’s usually a quagmire through the woods and round the back of the course. Won’t be there myself as I’m on a BC Coaching course in Marple. Good luck!

It’s officially my favourite spin off series.

vSo not only is an established company with a good reputation now having an IT nightmare but they are also having to sift through and cancel dozens of orders trying to work out which ones have genuine purchases on, refund customers, send out cancellation orders etc – all because you lot think you might scam a crank you don’t need. Its not like they have loads of staff on hand to do this.

Well done you – very proud.

Yep, I second this. Nice work folks …