I’ve been a big user of Headspace.com for a few years. Great way to relax and if you can’t switch off keep practicing. I read a great book a few years back saying that irrespective of your form of meditation it is about training to mind to focus on one thing so it allows the mind to stop racing around.

Tricky – happy to discuss, email me on barnt at hotmail com

Back to normal but carry some scars. But the good thing is I’m loving riding again – just had a great quick hour over lunch :)

Found this post while looking for a thread on cutting down carbon bars (found cutting down gluten).

I could write loads about this having had CFS/ME/PVF or whatever acronym you want to use this week.

I struggled for a few years after either Swine flu or a tick bite – not sure which now I look back.

Really tough period of my life and felt like my life was over, couldn’t ride, was signed off work, couldn’t walk down the street, couldn’t socialise and withdrew from my family as I couldn’t cope.

I did everything I could to fight back and find a route out of the situation I was in.

Interesting that Dr Myhill is mentioned, now I have recovered (wasn’t easy) I believe the mitochondria is a symptom rather than the cause. I also think nutrition is part of the resolution but not the whole answer. I’d also say there is no silver bullet. You also need to speak to the doc to rule out any other issues.

I could ramble on about this for weeks having learnt a whole load about this. If the OP wants to discuss I’m happy to go into more detail.

My advice would be to speak to the Optimum Health Clinic ( http://www.theoptimumhealthclinic.com/ ) THey are doing some amazing work and were the ones I eventually turned to and gave me the tools I needed to get where I am today.

This winds me up as I see loads of poo bags around – some old and some new.

What I don’t understand is those who bag it up and then leave it… What’s the point? you’re better off not bagging it than letting it dissolve in a sealed environment.

Personally I’ve got a dog who comes out with me for ride – If she poo’s on a path/trail or near one I bag it up and put it in my backpack. If not near a trail/path I’ll “stick and flick” so it’s broken up. If I’m walking I’ll always pick it up and carry it around with me.

Good to hear – I’ve been experimenting and feels great riding along – had to add some HSC for drops bigger than 4ft as was bottoming out. Finding on some jumps the backend isn’t quite as I want it so thinking I still need to play.

Overall really pleased and loving it.

Quite happy with my Marzocchi 350 NCR

Look up Psoas – muscle which causes a lot of back pain in people who sit for long periods.

headstands

Not something I’ve had to worry about, but what sort of issues have you had?

Yeah, Dave’s a top bloke, massively helpful with my shock – took loads of time to discuss it with me.

All good, same pressure and sag

It’s good, damn good… So much better than the CTD it replaced.

Just about to test mine out. Will report back

Really?? You mean the whole new shock or the upgraded shocks?

I’ve sat on it in the kitchen so far, perhaps need to at least ride it round a car park before I give a verdict

Pure luck. Booked it in for the 6th expecting it to be delayed and happened to be the day the parts arrived. Plus only the parts for my size shock arrived, everything else is arriving later this month. Pure lucky

Fitted now (bike is dirty and well used)

I spoke to Dave at TFT and he was a wealth of knowledge on the Inline.

Yeah, one of the first although it’s not a totally brand new one as apparently they don’t arrive until later this month. Parts only arrived for the 190mm shock at TF Tuned on Monday.

It’s got the new seal heads, bigger inner and outer air cans to provide bigger positive and negative springs, new shape diaphragm and black shaft / climb lever.

Just got the Inline back from TF – looks so good, can’t wait to get it on the bike

What did you call her?

Mmm Falafels…

MalvernRider – Recipes are good!

If we’re getting onto ethics – what about arable farming which destroy’s the natural habitat of wild animals and also can endanger them through working the land. I’ve heard a number of stories off farming friends who have seen god knows what enter combine harvesters and other farming machinery.

Cheers for all the advice – some real food for thought.

She did slip last week with a burger when the rest of the family were getting one – but she’s back on the HMS Vegan now.

BTW – I purposely avoided the vegan debate – there are too many reasons for and against which can counter each argument. At the end of the day it’s her choice and like getting her piano lessons, a bike, a scooter, a hamster to look after or a trip to the beach – it’s about exposing her to as many different things to learn about what she likes and doesn’t. That’s as much an education as school in my eyes

Cheers

Some great ideas.

Just been chatting to her about some recipe ideas as she’s on the sofa ill. She tried to convince me Tofu was tasty… there are some places I won’t go!

Alex – just been on the Vegan society website and some interesting stuff. Will also google that too.

I blame the Vegan Hamster blogger!

Nettles – we had a big falling out on Monday night (had both on the phone in tears) – Daughter hasn’t kept her end of the bargain and wasn’t happy Mum had cooked her a veggie lasagne as she didn’t have time to do something from scratch.

Bloody Cheese!

rsmythe – Cheers for the support, we’re keen to support her. If I’m honest having to adapt to being vegan is really tough on us. We have enough going on in our lives and having to do this is like a Mike Tyson blow to the head. The initial daze will pass but at the moment it’s tough to change.

We could do with a guide on how to adapt as parents to a newly vegan child.

Bob – that’s her!

Poly, We’ve had loads of mature discussions around it and we’ve agreed that if she comes up with a “menu” of options we will work around it, but she hasn’t so my wife is pulling her hair out trying to find out what to cook (I’m away a lot for work otherwise I’d be more involved). My daughter says she will cook herself but there is a lot of pasta, rice cakes and crumpets and a little fruit and veg.

The meals we usually cook are quite balanced but have meat or fish at the heart of it and contain a lot of veg. We’ve considered not putting the meat in but it’s not always as easy as that – sausage and mash just becomes mash. But this thread has helped give me some inspiration – I cook a mean Thai Green curry – we can make it heavy on the veg and add the fish sauce at the end. :)

That’s good to hear on the shock to her system as it’s been stressing us out as she looks really ill.

We don’t eat out much but can build some of the recipes from Thai, Indian etc into the cycle. It’s been quite a shock adapting to it as it’s come out of know where and we know nothing.

She loves her hamsters…

Interesting post, I’m moving from a Pushed Fox CTD on my Spectral to a new shock. I was looking at a whole range including, RS Monarch Plus, DBInline, BOS, Fox Float X and Ohlins. I’ve ended up buying a secondhand Inline and is currently with TF Tuned being serviced and upgraded.

Can’t wait to get it back and see how it compares. I’ve never been overly impressed with the CTD so it will be good to see how different the Inline is. Setting it up could be fun and games though.

I suppose I’m going to take the bars off and wheels anyway so that could be the best option. Hadn’t even considered that. Doh!!!

You been on their website? I just checked and looks like only the Coil IL will fit the other two won’t. http://www.canecreek.com/store/suspension/double-barrel

The coil does look interesting

Have you got new internals for your inline?

Not considered the vorsprung option. Good shout, will investigate

I had seen a spectral with a coil fitted, looked badass.

The Push gave it more of a platform as I found it a bit wallowy (I’ve got the one without the piggyback) It is OK not but for fast repeated hits it doesn’t have great control and the range of rebound / compression on it isn’t great, I think mainly due to not having the piggyback chamber.

I’m running a Marzocchi 350NCR up front, previously had Fox 32 Talas which was flexy and never really used the adjustable travel. The Zocchi is plush and stable, been pleasantly surprised.

Considering a Float X or a Monarch Plus Debonair

Went out for a ride yesterday for an hour right at the end of the 16 hour fast on an empty stomach – got a little light headed and sketchy on the technical / fast bits.

Overall though I’ve been feeling the best I have for years. Which is great after having some health issues a few years back with PVF