I like the Flux as it’s the same shape as a Spoon but the saddle rails creaked after a bit. Spoons I’ve had don’t do that. They just get trashed after too many crashes. I’d like to try a Knife as it looks narrower and could be more comfy. I’ll get one when one of my current Spoons gets too ratty.

Not the alps, but the alpujarras. Weather and hyper tech trails.

It’s perfectly ok to like quilting. My neighbours hobby is washing his car, sometimes with a toothbrush. Dull but ok. It’s not ok to be shocked that sport is enjoyed by people older than 25.

Do what you normally do, but more so. Except braking. Braking bad. Oh and FLAT PEDALS FOR MEDALS.

Spoons x3

Thus it ever was.

Attempting “self rescue”, aka being tough, resilient, self-reliant and resourceful, is just part of the mountain game. As is being careful enough to avoid objective risk and then knowing when and how to get help if it’s available.

Chapeau to the couple in question for being as tough as the hills themselves. I’d buy them a beer.

I’ve been totally avoiding it for years lest I lose my life entirely!

Musical instrument

Lindo

I have two

This is the one to get

https://lindoguitars.com/guitars/electro-acoustic-guitars/ldg-56ceq-master-of-tone-series-solid-engelmann-spruce-top-electro-acoustic-guitar-with-fishman-presys-pre-amp-hard-case.html

We all have prejudices. We have a choice as to whether we discriminate based on them.

It is indulging prejudice that is wrong. And we have a choice to re-educate ourselves to deal with our learned prejudices.

That one is concerned about racism is a good thing.

Apart from the white stuff, I think this looks very good

Bad news Alpin. Take care dude.

Yeah I saw that too. Mary is disconcerting. Sherlock knows she’s a liar, she has no family background and she plays them both too easily.

A fun-lovin’ HT that can take a few bad landings. Seriously, there are hardly any bumpy bits to slow down a HT.

I have no resentment toward people taking advantage of what opportunity exist for them. You do it all the time. She got “lucky” when her sis married someone famous, that’s all.

If you’re buying boutique, empty your wallet properly and get exactly the right build for you. Go to your LBS (the proper one) and get to know them. Get some test rides. Set a realistic budget then spend time with the builder eating biscuits and working out the build and taking their advice. Then get them to build it.

Be aware of some trail-segment closures due to forestry work; those nearest the centre itself. You can join the first segment part-way by taking the footpath the climbs up out of the car park and following that until it intersects the cycle trail. The loss of the final segment back to the centre is quite a loss IMO.

It’s perfect HT terrain – smooth with a narrower profile in places and lots of wiggles and flowy corners. Segments are linked by moorland doubletrack. Mark of Zorro is one of the nicest singletrack segments anywhere IMO. It’s not a techfest at all.

Sales, technical support, trainer, consultant.

It depends where you are at in your life. It’s a strain on family-life for sure. If you are are on your own or with a very independent partner then why not take the opportunity?

I need to stop thinking that it is just a break from us that she wants and that it will work out in the end

That’s it in a nutshell. It will happen naturally, and sooner if you take the good advice given here.

About self-esteem: it’s hard not to take rejection personally and that resentment is the main cause of your hurt. It’s not you, it’s not her; it’s the situation. This too will pass.

The main thing is not to worry about worrying; What has happened cannot unhappen or be undone. There is only the future. A vast, unwritten future of possibilities and adventures if you open yourself to it.

Soviet vs sino vs West world war would have happened before now without MAD, no? Would the Germans have tried to annex the rest of Europe twice? No.

War: Ever had an angry dispute over a garden fence? It’s like that with 100,000,000 indignant people egging you on. But mutually assured destruction tends to stop the egging on as people realise that it won’t just be foreign soldiers on remote battlefields who will be killed. Since sub launched ICBMs can’t effectively be defended against, they are the ultimate preventer of war because no one could ever “win”.

Horrible invention, but they seem to keep the peace.

I’m a “brunette” guy, but I’d make an exception for Lindsey Vonn if she want to date and maybe give me a ski lesson.

Very good as belaying jackets slipped on over your goretex as they don’t spoil when it rains but do keep you warm while your second is making a meal of it.

I’m too ill to ride. Coughing up my lungs! Else I would have ridden.

Have a chat with Box at Bad Ass Bikes. He knows Intense better than anyone in the UK.

Caving

From pics in the papers it looks like he was skiing the big couloir off Saulire. A good run that and not desperate. Rocks and holes are the big hazard on in-bound off-piste. Like biking and climbing, its never an entirely safe sport. A pal cracked his helmet in a high speed crash on an empty blue piste but was just stunned. Bad luck shue hope you pull through.

Assuming this chest infection eases up a little: Riding my bike in the woods until early evening. Getting my caving gear ready for the next day. Then playing instruments with a mate or two until late. To bed after midnight to get up for caving.

i find your glib remarks on a public forum rather irritating. i understand they have a facebook page. maybe before you drive down take a look at that for closure notices?

Fair enough. Humour can offend. As someone who just fixes trails myself I appreciate the work of others like yourself who are thanklessly committed to the sport for others. If I have a complaint (not entirely sure it was a complaint), it’s for for the folks who take the parking fees to help reopen the trails

I stopped en spec from Plymouth as I had my bike on me. None the closures presented an obstacle to me as I just clambered under tape and over deadfall on built and cheeky trails This neither put myself or the trails at any unusual risk. No, I was thinking of the families riding round who won’t do that.

Sorry, that was a joke. I posted a mild complaint about deadfall and closures at Haldon yesterday and got flamed. Peace.

They might work loose that way around. Keep a close eye on them.

Just ride them anyway; climb over the deadfall. Then post a complaint on the forum.

Haha well that’s what I get up to on Mendip trails. My patch, my problem.

I did abandon the long queue in the cafe, so a bacon sandwich would not go amiss.

Could I have my £4 for parking back then? ;-)

Due to lifestyle synesthesia, my top ride was a rock climb. Ciclo (see scienceofficer) was ace. I think the Mondraker gravity Enduro at Porlock slightly edges it though.

I vary between biking, mountaineering, snowboarding and women

A dream that combined these would be one I’d rather not wake up from!

Minced around to avoid this. Even the gravel was gripper!

there’s more effective ways to discipline a child

Do explain.

A smile from a lass

Love my bikes. I just NEED a sporty road bike.