@ogden, thanks for that saved me a bit on a new turdo.

Beach, just below the Lansdown hills, nr Bath.

Actually I used the wrong words, Ban, is a bit harsh Veganthrobber should be moderated 🤣

There was a chap at work, who I discovered through some chat was rabidly anti-vax, wouldn’t listen to any sensible argument’s and kept saying look at the Dr’s on Youtube etc! for the truth. I’m sure the reason why he raged against the machine was during the first lockdown his wife left him and probably blames covid for the failure of his marriage, so all these alternative protagonist’s have probably got skeletons in their closet, causing their wildly oppositional views.

Mods, can you please ban Veganrider AGAIN from this thread, as currently suffering from my first bout of C-19 , their opinion is not sitting too well and if I wanted to read loony theories I’d go onto Pistonheads!

I would take the DB scheme and maybe have a SIPP on the side, the DB scheme will give you financial certainty.

@dantsw13, apparently CETV’s have fallen by 50% !!

@thegeneralist, £2k for the frame, sold!

Thought that was the case, luckily can afford to wait till the spring, wonder if that will be a better time…

I think the Rise does the same thing with a low battery, if I recall, it’s below 6% and it restricts the power to ECO mode only.

How many years till fusion power is viable?

If it’s a V8/10 etc try a new filter, they sometimes get so clogged that even washing doesn’t sort it, well that what happens in my experience.

I’d join their local fb community selling page and out her on there.

Saw Doc, said it was soft tissue swelling, looks like no damage done and no bursitis, will give it a couple of weeks before getting back on the bike though.

it’s definitely not healthy, walking like John Wayne at the mo 🤣

It’s not a lump more of a large swelling on one side, not really the perineum, more where the thigh meets the arse, going to see the Doc and get it looked at.

I’ve noticed my hardtail which is Ti, is quite ‘bouncy’ when riding it sat down, hopefully it’s just constant hammering at my arse, still getting a Broken road to replace it, hopefully that rides a bit better.

I’m also absolutely fuming about the Tories plans, problem is my local MP is that Victorian throwback, Rees-Smog, so might as well go and piss into the wind.

Our local wildlife is starting to pick up quite nicely, saw a few kingfishers on the river the other day, Beavers are somewhere on the river too and the local Facebook group keeps moaning about Otters stealing their fish form their ponds, it makes me chuckle everytime I read that as I can imagine the look of satisfaction on an Otter’s face every time they find a pond stuffed full of fish, sort an Ottery fast food joint.

nice bike but the weight if correct is a bit off-putting, 15.9kg! My Ripmo is 2kg lighter.

Thanks all, probably going to get the BR as has the extra mounts etc and used to the geometry.

@Clink, thanks for that, how come you got rid of the Broken road? I’ll be using it mainly for bikepacking not racing.

Don’t want to sell the Tailfin, sorry Damascus! It was mounted using the axle as the lug mounts don’t look that beefy and what with riding off-road etc, Tailfin’s advice was to mount via the axle for best security.

I would love to change my username but unfortunately Boardman don’t make a lightweight XC frame, I guess.

If you’re riding the bike across the border, would you need a carnet?

I’m guessing no as you don’t need one for your car taking it abroad.

Don’t be afraid to vent here, having been through the same with my partner three years ago when she got diagnosed with stage 3 ovarian cancer. Talking about it is definitely the best way for you to cope with it, that’s what I found. You might find some of your colleagues will not want to talk about it though, that’s definitely been my experience.

Good luck and look after yourself and your Wife, it’s a rocky road ahead but be reassured that the NHS are experts at this.

Got a Showerspass apex merino tech tee, seems very comfortable and light, not cheap but currently on sale.

thanks @dove1 only rode the SDW from South Harting, before that it was the N.downs way and King Al’s.

Well, that was a great route and ride, almost all off road, so nice to not have to worry about cars etc.

Made a vid of it https://youtu.be/mAYTp2vxPLM

Rode over three days with my tailfin aeropack on the north downs, king al’s and South Downs way, did not fit the mini panniers as decided to glamp due to the thunderstorms forecast.

Aeropack was totally solid off road with some fast bumpy trails, so a recommendation from me.

Was wet today but not too slidey apart from a moment in a rut, hopefully make Eastbourne for some top gun wannabee action.

So rode the 57miles from Carshalton to just near Liss yesterday.

Pretty much 85% off road, Wet for the first two hours then dry after then.

North downs way was good and fast, apart from the deep sandy sections around Newlands corner and Guildford, then onto king Al’s way, Frensham common wasn’t too bad as the sand had compacted a bit, the devils punch bowl climb was a long slog!

Off onto the SDW today, fingers crossed it’s dried out after yesterday’s rain and we avoid any big thunderstorms!

Thanks, as Thunderstorms forecast now Tuesday and Wednesday, hopefully the sea breeze will kick in and push all the storms north of the South Downs, it regularly used to do that when I lived in Shoreham by sea.

Thanks Op, going to try some foundation bib shorts, probably not best to wear them without baggies though!

https://www.parktool.com/en-int/product/emergency-tire-boot-tb-2

or anything plastic like a £50note.

Rode it last year, probably the most scenic non-technical bike ride I’ve done!

If you’re fit’ish you can easily do it in 4 days, which is what we did but we did start from Keynsham, Nr Bristol via the Chepstow route. I agree Holyhead has no redeeming features at all!

Made a few videos about the trip too https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLslou6n54sNCwXKrhiGwf1E_boz6Qm8Zf

I rode on a Croix de Fer with 38mm gravelking slicks, which were perfect.

I’m riding it with a mate and his son, we are starting in London and riding the North downs way to Farnham, picking up King Al’s way, with a stop at Liss, to South Harting and then SDW to Eastbourne, will be camping at Truleigh hill above Shoreham on the Wednesday night. Welcome to hook up if you want some company.

I think my mate is a bit clueless about the SDW as his son will be riding his CX bike and I asked what tyres has he got suitable for the trip and the reply was Conti four seasons :-o
Hopefully a wind up!

good to hear about the new taps, will be riding it Wednesday and Thursday so will be fine looking at the weather.

That’s Skiathos in Greece, runway threshold is right by the road, if you didn’t land there, you’d all be swimming (at the beach at the other end of the runway)

I thought he mis-typed but running the SDW in 15 hours, double Chapeau!

Looks like the thread has jinxed the weather, ;-) now forecasting rain on the two days I’m on the SDW, best start another thread on what is the SDW like in the wet… :-)

problem with an overnighter is that the pubs are open then, rather rabid Badgers then feral Otters and white tailed eagles.

I will be riding the SDW over Wednesday and Thursday next week, forecasts have been all over the place but its looking like a slight cool down to about 25-28c and maybe some rain, so hopefully won’t be too hot but looks like its going to be humid though.

Thanks for the taps map, sounds like a bit of a challenge but I guess if I keep hydrated, should be ok.

Applegate lake is a nice ride round a lake but might be too far south for you, as its near Ashland.

What panniers?

The Tailfin mini panniers, they come in 5l and 10l sizes and apparently will fit other racks too.

I’m just about to take a hardtail fitted with a Tailfin aero pack and two 10l panniers on parts of the North downs, King Alfreds and South Downs way, will report back after.