Should have just shown him your Cannock Chase permit. He wouldn’t have known the difference.

Concentrating on the league. …..

The value is enormous, 150,000 euro! Doubt Vino could afford that out of wages and bonuses so unless the team paid it the value seems incredibly high, and why? I accept prestige comes into it but that is still a lot.

And if they now get £14m back for Borini it has not cost a lot other than wages.

I am another person uneasy with CR’s name plastered across the media when he has not been charged – or even interviewed if I have read reports correctly.

I heard a bit of an interview with Jim Davidson a week or two ago who also got caught up in similar accusations (over 16 though) and the cases have now been dropped. Whatever you think of his brand of comedy he had a rough year and he claims lost £500k income! Jimmy Tarbuck was cleared as well. Their careers are likely to suffer with the ‘no smoke without fire’ attitudes.

Some pics here:

http://www.wjst.de/images/index.php?pic=central/2014Transcontinental

Which include Richard and Josh Ibbett

Gaby and Ben struggling today with various elements, ‘only’ 300km!

A woman is to be loved not understood as Oscar Wilde once said

Was she in that C4 dogging programme? They all used to wear animal heads like that?

Remy could be a good buy scored a few goals at QPR and Newcastle in struggling teams so at Liverpool may do well. Doesn’t look like the type to work as hard as Suarez though.

If Rodgers gets £14m for Borini then I reckon he is already nailed on as manager of the year!

Had a Berlingo for 10 years and never put a foot wrong. I had it serviced annually.

Only sold it to buy a full size camper van otherwise would have kept it.

My worry concerning Nibali yesterday was that he made it look easy, he wasn’t breathing hard as he pulled away. Look at some of the riders behind him and the effort they are putting in. I did wonder if he was doing ‘just enough’.

Of course what doesn’t help Nibali is his DS, Vino, who has previous. Maybe not fair on Nibali but harder to have confidence in him.

Suspect it is cleaner but I really don’t know how much.

I have even toured Europe on mine and are now on my winter bike, audax general riding. All good, even got a pb on local tt on them back in the day.

I was talking to chap in Mercian who suggested they would be a bit harsh for touring and I would probably agree. Should have used the one’s they built for me in retrospect.

If the price is right go ahead.

An interesting comment by journalist David Walsh last night is that he believes Bertie is racing clean
Wonder what Kimmage makes of that;-)
Looks like a tough day out.

More with jameso on this. I first heard about Tori in 2011 between her Trans Africa ride and Tour Divide from some Canadians who knew and liked her. She past me when I was dozing near Seeley Lake and rode on from there. My mate met later in race and said she was nice so I am with the looking for something to do route.

I had wondered if the product was made out East somewhere as they have recently announced two distributors to my knowledge- maybe more.
Don’t forget Wildcat Gear as well made in Wales.

I know, that little lad in tears.

Had some Rapha touring shorts since 2009 or 2010. Still wearing well, got them in a sale but cost per wear is fine. Like them a lot.

Lovely tea and coffee shop in Silverthorne though. The mall does have a Pearl Izumi shop in it if anybody needs new socks.

Juliana Buhring is making good progress, in top ten now. I am also rooting for Joel Martinez (Barcelona)who I finished the last few days of the Tour Divide with. He is about my pace.

Togwatee Pass did not seem to difficult to me and I am a rubbish climber.

They were resurfacing the road into Rawlins last summer which was not very pleasant as we had little room. Should be nice for them this year.

Enjoying McM’s updates – nice to have some local knowledge.

Parking his road bike without a goatee:

Re Andy and Tom on singlespeeds; Last year Aidan and Ian B were 1st and second on s/s so actually Andy and Tom have let the side down;-)

Amazing effort to complete and the only advantage I can see of a s/s is less weight to push and carry.

I rarely lock bike up overnight if camping wild but take one for the cafe stop. Usually just a light one such as a Poundland one. I do a quick assessment of where I may have to leave the bike and make a decision. So far so good!

The ITT attempt was 8 days last year when the distance was ‘only’ 400 miles. Not sure if Alan has forgotten to add a bit of time for the extra distance or just making it tougher.

Gary T just shouted out at the cafe if anybody had a spare helmet and some guy next to him just handed him one. Whose second bottomed chamois is he riding in though? He wasn’t trying to blame anyone for his oversight. Not met him before but seemed a nice guy – if occasionally forgetful;-)

Gary had put all his riding kit in one box and then forgot to pick the box up before leaving home.

Went to the start and there were a lot of midges about this year. Gary Thomsett had forgotten all his riding kit including helmet. So my socks are travelling quicker than ever before! He got sorted with the rest of his kit as well, including a helmet.

Sunday morning was unpleasant where I was. Saw the Singletrack mag van North of Moffat as it came past me. Gave me plenty of room but I really needed a ‘sticky bottle’ ;-)

Just catching up as I toured back to England.

Some pics here of the start:

HTR550[/url]

I won’t be voting UKIP, and for no one else as it happens as I will be away.

I am 50+ and have some SAGA insurance. Today I got an online questionnaire to fill in. The results of the last one they did was included and was regarding voting intentions next week.

25% UKIP
22% Tory
13% Labour
7% Lib Dems

Note the sample type, no idea of size, and 33% must be voting elsewhere, don’t know or not intending to vote.

A bit surprised UKIP was so high, though less so at Tory vote perhaps.
As it is older people who tend to vote then UKIP could do ok.

I should say I would normally vote, I even voted for a Police Commissioner last year!

Yes, wondered what had happened. Thought it unlikely he ‘just’ slid out, surface appeared dry and he is experienced. Wasn’t sure if he could hang on but it would have been a decent defence of his title.

No panda’s this year.

A former boss ran the Comrades’s marathon in South Africa which is 54(?) miles long a few years ago. Saw him track past 47 miles but not at finish. Seems he had drunk to much water and was in a very bad way and did not finish. Carted off to the medics.

These are very good:

Ocelot

Come in different sizes and you can use bottle cages as well depending on frame size. Or use a tool bottle to get stuff out of Ocelot. I have also used a bladder in one as well to keep weight off my back.

My only source is BBC news like others and not heard all the evidence. But I reckon he lost his rag over something and wasted her, perhaps accidentally. I think he is remorseful in the cold light of day, just his temper got the better of him. Don’t think it was pre determined murder but might be manslaughter over here. Don’t know how SA courts deal with this.

CD? I still listen to vinyl!

And one of my bikes is so old it hasn’t got a derailleur on it….

I understand Bristol was not available but it was a bit small because of its success somewhere else was needed. aybe it is par tof the Olympic legacy putting it on in Stratford but somewhere else would have been good.

I am still hopeful that it will move to Derby when the velodrome is finished this year. I can hope, but not holding my breath. This will at least unite the Northerners and Southerners who say it is to far away and not central enough!

I switched to Flow Energy last June and happy with them and pricing. I was with nPower and they have still not sorted my bill out after 10 months due to a ‘technical issue’, Eejits!

I switched last year because nPower were avoiding paying tax in the UK but Flow are UK based and pay taxes here.

I am heading down on Friday. Meeting daughter in Stratford first and another guy for lunch. Hopefully have time for a look round in the afternoon.

As has been said a fault somewhere. I have Centaur on two bikes and use is as described above. Just push mouse ear down or lever inwards.

Being slow I find that after the light dims on a climb it takes a little while for the charge to pick up again. If the initial descent is a bit techy / rocky you have minimal light until speed picks up. This means carrying an extra light. Will depend on your intended use.

Note I am far slower than Mr May and Dean so they may not have the same issue.

I have been in March and May. Weather unpredictable. You will likely get some lovely days but also wet and windy. Short sleeves and arm warmers with a gilet and a light rain jacket should cover all the bases. Don’t forget something to cover your knees.

Have a good trip.

I can’t get over 40, stay in the 38/39 range! Maybe in summer when I have my light weight road bike in use I might smash that particular ceiling.

Enjoyed the series. I was reading Seigfried Sassoon’s biography at the time ( I read his Memoirs of a Military Man ~40 years ago) and he got a mention.

Since reading the above book 40 years ago I have held an interest in WW1. I saw a graveyard in Northern France in 2012 on a bike tour. A couple of months ago I went to the German cemetery on Cannock Chase. These are incredibly sadplaces and you wonder how people can just start yet more wars.

I was very surprised to learn about 2 years ago that my grand father was in WW1 as a chauffeur. He was born ~1892 and was part of a large family in the 1901 census. By 1911 only him and an elder sister remained and he was already in India driving from around 1909 becoming the first Irishman to hold a driving licence – so I have been told. As hostilities broke out he re-enlisted and was in France.

I also have a Dakota which I have used here and in Colorado. The link Chew refers to had US maps last summer for ~£25

Really like chain-l but was not aware of environmental impact mentioned above. Lasts really well. Need to find a supplier again though as not seen it for a long time. Any pointers?