David Millar was World TT champion (taken away from him after doping) and won stages in all major tours. Not a bad palmares.

It is on Sky and Virgin but not sure of channels, 212 rings a bell. I saw it on David Walsh’s Twitter feed anyway.

Not clicking on link either. Are DM not aware that Britain ‘invented’ concentration camps in the Boer war.

In happier days at Ronde van Vlaanderen 2009:

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IMG_1279[/url] by blackhound59[/url], on Flickr

Dani King to her right I think.

Heard Nicole was not so popular amongst the women racers but she got some great results and hope she has a long and happy retirement.

Did El-an-Back a bike-packing challenge in mid Wales. About 120km with a rather cold camp high up above Llanidloes. Frozen bladder hose and my heat-in-the-can hot chocolate failed to heat in the morning. Great couple of days.

Unable to order one to collect but had seen some in local store a few weeks ago. Popped in today and asked about them and they said they were out of stock – somebody reserved both last night and collected this morning.

However, the guy said he was off to another branch on Monday that had some in stock and he would get one for me at £4. Result if it comes off.

I am a landlord with a no pets / students / DHSS basic clause through the agent. So just people in work when they take on tenancy only.

We were asked once by a cat owner and we said yes. The tenant had to clean the carpets professionally at the end of the tenancy. It worked out ok but probably might still say no another time. Particularly for a dog, and me at MrsB like dogs. Just don’t want the smells and mess in the garden. We keep the property nice and don’t want to risk devaluing it.

Hotel SisPins is nice in PP, right on sea front with a balcony for a little extra.

Close to the bike hire place as well mentioned further above.

Went in 2011 in mid March and not a lot open as still early season.

Loads of hilly and flat rides near by.

Personally I would stop CB and find better ways to fund folks who need it, be it taxation or other benefits. Something not to expensive to administer as well.

It would stop all the ‘wealthy elite’ (tm by TJ;-)) spending it on safari’s and ski holidays:

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My order arrived this morning. Happy customer.

I am sure Jess Ennis is grateful for facilities in Sheffield and got her monies worth.
Always hard to spot full benefits. The new velodrome in Derby was under review after the May elections and a change in power. Decision was made during Olympics and BW’s TdF win and outcome is a new velodrome in 2014. Would we be getting a velodrome if not for Olympics? Hard to tell.

Got this on record tonight as Mrs B doesn’t have a tellybox. Enjoyed series 1.

The Danish PM’s – photo in OP – hubby was in The Killing II iirc, certainly one of the Scandi drama’s.

The only calls I get at home are these spammers or my mum. ANd being TPS registered really annoyed.

Just had my email to say my only item has been dispatched. Not bothered about delay. People were ordering when no staff were in over New Year, delay inevitable.

However, I also ordered something from Wiggle a day or two after the Evans order and it came yesterday. Always suspected Evans are not as slick as Wiggle/CRC/Merlin at dispatch and my expectations are therefore lower. So not surprised or particularly bothered. Got a bargain as far as I am concerned.

Just ordered some Madison Tempest 3/4s from Tredz and hoping they will work. Had some Endura ones but I got a large hole in my crotch and recently chucked them. Wore some water resistant Chrome’s but not impressed in rain. They dried quickly but the lycra shorts underneath remained wet all day.

The few Rapha bits I have has lasted very well, pride of place to a £20 jersey bought in a sample sale. Could not see a fault in it and still putting in the miles without shouting biker to much. Great for touring.

The ‘SKY’ logo (or any other for that matter) would put me off buying it as I prefer to be un-logoed these days. I wonder if they will do one in a reverse colour scheme or something later on because as has been said above black does not help with road safety.

Overall I see it as a positive thing. A British based team using a British brand of clothing that people can generally associate with is a good thing. Prefer it wasn’t Sky maybe.

How many tossers 3 years ago when DB said the aim was to win the TdF said there was no chance of that happening?

Mine is the first hand!

6,750 miles which was split 33%mtb / 67% road. Also 16 hours on turbo.

Poor weather knocked me back really, did more in 2011 and should do more in 2013. Also want to get mtb % up which should be easy as 3 planned rides are going to bag ~3,000 miles.

Can you not leave your day shoes at work? Depends on your job of course but I used to leave a pair under my desk and commuted in spd’s.
20l was fine in my experience.

Agree with Del up there really. And Evans have come on here to explain themselves which they didn’t need to do. Looking forward to receiving my rear light I don’t *really* need.
Maybe they will re-introduce the code when they are sorted after New Year for one use only once IT are back in.

Like Spud I backed Rob Dean’s book ‘Endurance Within’ and the Reveal The Path movie.

It may have been a risk but not that much, can’t remember but maybe £50 for both, and happy enough with how it turned out. Got a nice signed book from Rob and dvd/cd from RTP.

I had seen Mike Dion filming in Banff in 2011 and he had previous with the Ride The Divide film so was fairly confident it would be ok. Rob? he could have been a charlaton but turned out he isn’t;-)

I suppose it is a bit of a gamble, I would only send money I was prepared to lose. And only something I was interested in.

Exposure Red Eye 2 and some ever useful lube for £23! Good spot that man.

Go onto Twitter and abuse him there. Think that is the modern way of doing things when you have been banned;-)

2012 feels a bit of a let down after 2011 and I did ride 10,800km.

On the road I cycled in The Alps including 2 ascents of Alpe d’Huez one of which was from the back end as will be seen in 2013 TdF.
Off road I managed an overnighter every month and I did enjoy the Bearbones 200 event in mid Wales in October. I also managed about 2km cycling in Bhutan.

Big plans for 2013 so hopefully more to report.

*Edit – A weeks touring in France, Belgium, Luxembourg & Germany sleeping rough was most excellent.

2 of us did a 3 day ride from Derby to Crowden YHA and then followed Transpennine route to Worksop, through Sherwood forest to Edwinstowe YHA and then back to Derby. 290km in 3 days on loaded mtb’s. Was good but now have a cold so having a quiet night in.

Entered El-n-back in January, Highland Trail Race in May and Mike Hall’s Informal 200(mile) in March. Also riding Spanish/French border in May and about 1,800 miles of Tour Divide in July/August. Bearbones 200 in October will be on list.

To train for these plan on SDW, Trans Cambrian and Pennine Bridleway attempts.

Other than that it depends on what MrsB will allow, I guess not a lot!

Is it for a job as a spy?

Got some in the fridge but not sure what to do with it. Maybe I need to buy a kayak or slippy phone;-)

They are not bad routes at all. Option one I often do from Derby, without the Cromford connector.
Via Gellia is a mild gradient and Beeley Moor is a bit steeper.

Option 2 I know most of as well. Between Youlgreave and Over Haddon is a short steep climb, hope your breakfast has settled! After Ashford in the Water the road you are suggesting is just fine. I would be inclined to take the slightly further Western option up to Monsal Head along Ashford Lane. Bit more climbing though, not steep, just nice.

Loads of good roads around there, can’t go far wrong but avoid A6 if you can. Enjoy.

zippykona. Are you sure it was a lady in chippy? Not Elvis;-)

Seen a comment that the bloke is Ricky Wilde, brother? They do seem a boring bunch.

Only fly in the ointment is the poor kids in USA (Connecticut) today;-(

Often use a coffee filter for pouring ws back into original jar to stop dirt getting through. Something I read here some time ago.

Saw a Niner frame at a good price at a shop near CtBM and asked Charlie if he could roughly price match as he advertises and I had spoke to him at ss events. He told me that it was a cracking price and I should buy it as he couldn’t compete at that price. Then he sold me set of matching Niner forks for it I didn’t even need! Whats not to like?

Shatfest – you were still at your school! Degree, job & wifey now! But still enjoying riding. Result.

Some great shots and adventures there Luke. Congratulations on your marriage as well. More in 2013, don’t let marriage stop you.

And they allow gay marriage. What could possibly go wrong?

Yes, since my post earlier it has been announced that he has been charged on 3 counts of indecent assault.

No women at all in calendar. Maybe none do proper mountain biking;-)

What I find interesting is that his name is all over the media. Afaik he has not even been charged at this stage, just answering questions, so should his name be public?

Not comfortable about that. I have no idea if allegations are correct are not. So how does that work then?

Who’d have thought it would be Hugh Grant who is trying to clean it all up for us?

One for sale here:

Siltarp

Saw a bunch of them hanging up in Portland last summer. Was a bit tempted to try and squeeze one into the bike box. Managed to resist.

STW gave it a good review. The Ritchey is nice in the flesh as well.