Here’s some reading for you, written by a man too:

http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2013/sep/08/underactive-thyroid-was-slowly-killing-me

If you had any idea how rubbish the NHS can be for this disease you wouldn’t be so judgemental.

See if you can spot my comment, my name is different but includes the word ‘bike’.

Lets be fair – the levels of obeseity in this country that can be attributed to a genuine medical problem must be very low in comparison to those who are obese through bad diet and no exercise.

In reality many people like to eat foods that are laden with sugar and fat and don’t like to do much exercise.

Yes, of course it is in the same way that it’s wrong to be judgemental of anyone. It’s neither big nor clever.

Does it make you feel good asking that question?

Surely everyone judges everyone on a daily basis don’t they? If they didn’t why would people bother fixing their hair, ironing clothes, shaving, etc.

Looks like you’ve even judged me with your leading question.

My commute is pretty similar and took 50 mins on a slick shod MTB, now takes 40 mins on a CX bike.

Time taken can vary, I have a rail crossing and a number of traffic lights to contend with – these can screw your average speeds quite easily, as can head winds.

I’ve had both types in a RS Recon, both fit fine. The new style is much easier to use.

I always fancied an inverted trike of some sort. Would be cool if it leaned into corners too…

rubberised cyanoacrylate

I could buy a new tyre for the price of a 50g bottle 😯

I’ll give superglue a go, but after a search ‘Shoegoo’ was also mentioned as an alternative.

I have a 2011 901 and a crud catcher fitted, it didn’t need any drilling?

It’s to see with. Worst case I’ll just go back to having it helmet mounted – it’s easy to dip the beam when it’s mounted on my head!

I’ve reported the specific section to the council (kent). They have quite a good reporting system using detailed GIS maps to pinpoint the location and it automatically gives you a reference number that you can track online too. I’ve used it before when trees have needed cutting back and it has been effictive.

I just wondered how glass gets on cycle paths so regularly – I see it so often! I have images of oiks throwing glasses out of car windows in a grenade toss fashion.

I could understand it on road level paths, but they always appear to be quite clean – presumably due to road sweepers. However raised cycle paths on pavement level seem to be covered in glass so often, it’s not like it’s easy to sweep glass up a 6″ curb!

In Scotland, in 2011, 95% of the accidents caused by ignoring traffic signals were attributed to motorists. Fact.

Aren’t there quite a few million more cars than bicycles on the roads though? It stands to reason that more accidents would be down to motorists doesn’t it?

That said, I do believe that (in my neck of the woods at least) cyclists are really not that badly behaved.

I don’t think what colours people chose to wear are that much of a problem (unless you really are trying to camouflage yourself). I think people just need to pay serious attention when negotiating the roads – stop seeing what they expect to see and start seeing what’s really there.

There are far too many people out there not focused on the act of driving/riding/walking/whatever on the roads and far too many people on their phones, concentrating on conversations, applying make up, thinking about work, family and 101 other things. Human nature I guess though, the brain can be a lazy sod with things it has to do regularly.

Yeah, I want to relive the time about 5 mins before my alarm went off at 4:50 this morning for another 3-4 hours.

That’s the one Crispy. The only thing that saddens me about it is the further enforcement that cyclists shouldn’t be on the road 🙁

I do like their carbon Threshold CX bikes.

Not in Nottingham – down south in Kent on the A20.

I can’t see why you’d change from the Kojak’s to be honest. I ran them last winter and I’ll run them this winter – excellent tyre.

What carriers have you tried? TNT have liability up to £15k on each consignment looking at their terms and conditions.

If I was using them (or any carrier) to send it though I think I’d use enough bubble wrap to ensure it was damage free even if a bomb went off beside it!

I had a similar problem and tried different clamps and carbon paste. Neither worked particularly well.

Later I changed the OE post to a Thomson – that slipped too. In the end I bought a Truvativ carbon post, couldn’t be happier – much better than the Thomson in every aspect and never slips. Even with very light clamping force.

I’m a dog walker and a cyclist, though rarely at the same time. My thoughts are that if you want to know what’s around you and avoid being spooked you should keep your ears open and take a look around you every so often. It’s not difficult.

In my opinion it’s just something else for ‘grumpy briton’ to complain about. What’s wrong with a silent bicycle? For me that’s part of the appeal. I’d rather that than those infernal ‘racing’ moped exhaust noises that I can hear coming.

Our Accord has electric boot issues. It’s a pain in the butt and from what I read very, very expensive to fix. Problem not helped by not being able to open the boot manually from the outside!

I’m shocked that another ‘fellow’ cyclist acted the way the van driver did in the first place!!

Fair enough we all make mistakes, but anyone who’s ridden a few miles on the roads should know just how frickin’ scary and life threatening it can be.

It’s really not us and them. It’s me, me, me and everyone else can **** off out there.

fourbanger Get rid of your helmet, easy 5% there.

You sir, have obviously not seen my afro.

First dance was Tom Baxter – Better. Second song was Jackie Wilson – Higher and Higher.

I’ve generally been removing ivy from fences and trees over the last week. Not had anything like it until yesterday though when I was cutting down a couple of trees.

I’m guessing it wasn’t the ivy as I’ve been exposed to that all week without issue. I would be surprised if it was the trees?

I know this is a bit old, but I have been bitten twice now in the last week and they have both swollen heavily and have caused the surrounding skin to go hard. I’ve been assuming it’s an allergic reaction, but would like to know wtf is going on as it’s not my normal reaction!

Are you sure it’s single skin built from thermalites or similar?

Pretty much – looks like breeze blocks with rendering outside. I’m going to be using the building as a bike shed come workshop and want it to be nice inside – i.e. I want to stop the creepy crawlies getting in!

I’m open to suggestions!

It’s a single wall outbuilding – I’ve been led to believe that if I were to dot and dab it I would probably end up with moisture transferring from outside.

Application is to join this ABS spring clip to this tecnopolymer Zefal mudguard. Combining the two to allow the mudguard to be clipped to the brake bridge.

What is technoplastic?

My bad. Should have typed tecnopolymer. Tired!

A quick hit from Google:

Technopolymer
With increasing temperature and once the softening point is exceeded, this group of technopolymer melts, can be heat distorted and solidifies again after cooling. This process can be repeated any number of times. Unlike Duroplast, there is no chemical reaction during processing.
Technopolymer materials can be subdivided into amorphous and partially crystalline plastics. The disordered structure of amorphous materials allows the production of transparent components by injection molding right through to crystal-clear parts. Partially crystalline thermoplastics have a structure resulting in enhanced mechanical properties and temperatures of use.
The wide variety of different technopolymers and the options of modifications allow the production of “tailor-made” construction tools with respect to mechanical properties, chemical resistance, temperature resistance and different colors.

Fiat Panda 100hp would be where my money went 🙂

You placed your order in time and you paid the additional cost – of course you should complain. Why offer the service if they can’t deliver? I had it happen to me with some brake pads I needed urgently for the commuter. Complained and was happy with their response.

For the record I find their normal delivery quicker and more reliable than the next day. Won’t use that service again!

what kind of reward scheme? bonus? recognition? flex? benefits? employee discounts?

Benefits and employee discounts.

Looking for internal company names for schemes. Need a catchy name for our scheme. First part of the name will be a rather un-catchy ‘CS’.

I went for these, I found them much better than the Endura socks I had previously. I like thicker socks though.

http://www.sockshop.co.uk/products/nike_dri_fit_half_cushion_quarter_socks/index.html

I don’t know the answer to any of your questions, but these may help…

http://www.merlincycles.com/bike-shop/road-parts/transmission/gear-sti-ergo-levers/shimano-105-5700-gear-kit.html

http://www.merlincycles.com/bike-shop/road-parts/transmission/gear-sti-ergo-levers/shimano-105-5700-gear-kit-black.html

Thanks gents. The Shimano spec for the short cage says total capacity of 33T, max front difference of 16T, max sprocket 28T and min sprocket 11T.

So my current 50/34 difference is 16T and should be fine. And if I went for a 11-28 cassette the difference would be 17T. 16 + 17 = 33T total capacity and all should be well?

I’m very happy with my James Nova Sport and it’s well under your budget, so room for upgrades.

Schwalbe Kojak 26 x 2.0 – very fast, probably be fine off road in the dry, but I wouldn’t fancy using them in the wet away from tarmac.

Will try the cable replacement route first – thanks for that advice!

The bike is a Jamis Nova Sport – my new commuter. I’ve changed the calipers from the standard Tektro to BB7 roads.

Both bikes are new – mine is only two weeks old.