You can see the bubbles appear for five seconds, then cease, then appear, then cease

I’ve commuted in Nottingham a fair bit, and thankfully never had an experience as bad as that.

A few tips that work for me:

– follow the rules pretty much as if your were in a car ie. stop at lights, signal on a roundabout etc. You’re using a system that drivers are familiar with and they tend to respond in a better manner.

– watch the front wheels of the car. It gives you an early warning about whether they are pulling off, or what direction they are about to turn.

– don’t filter through moving traffic, and only filter for a sizeable gain. No point squeezing to the front of two stationary cars at a red light, only for them to overtake you again when green.

Apologies if this is stating the obvious on a cycling forum 🙂

I’ve done a little test – I have no equipment listed in Strava. I’ve done one ride recorded as ‘mountain biking’ on my Suunto watch, and another recorded as ‘basic cycling’ and that info matches the ride category on my Strava activities.

This year I have a decent variety but small batches.

In the greenhouse, tomato plants just starting to fruit. Also spinach, Iceberg gem, and chillies.

In the plots, rhubarb is like something from Jurassic Park. Two pumpkins, onions, corn, potatoes, broad beans (not many), carrots, pak choi, runner beans and beetroot.

I’m still learning, and have had poor germination numbers by planting outside and have killed many beetroot by moving them. I’ve planted a number of substitutions in pots in the greenhouse to make up the numbers. I’m also trying some lemon cucumbers and a pineapple plant.

I’m on 40×22 and it suits me pretty well. I can cope with most of the undulating terrain round here, although top out on roads pretty easily.

Llandegla. Trout lakes on the campsite and cycling from the ‘doorstep’

Also Maythorne, Notts (vans only) has fishing lakes right next to it

https://www.maythorneleisure.co.uk/

A great go round Watchwood yesterday (no pics) and Sherwood Pines this am to have a few runs on the downhill and jump parks.

Glass chopping boards

100 Years of Solitude

So many Ursulas! I remember enjoying it, but had to let go a bit and just enjoy its oneiric* style

*sorry, a word I discovered meaning ‘dreamlike’ that, now that I know it, I must use whenever appropriate, which is not often.

Currently reading The Cyberiad by Stanislaw Lem – delightfully funny and imaginative Sci fi short stories. I’ve been reading some bits out to the kids who are loving it too.

I love bossa nova

I tend to order Wolftooth bits when I’ve had a few beers. Some nice and functional (dropper trigger,  bar tape, cog), some just because they have the logo (stem cap, seatpost clamp, bottle cage)

Also, unnecessary anodised bolts on forks

A bit niche, but I have a selection of various width bamboo lengths from the garden, which often act as an emergency predrilled plug.

Get a decent diameter length of dowel eg 12mm and a matching bit.

Drill the stripped holes , glue the dowels in place and cut flush. Once cured, you should have a nice strong blank canvas to rehang your doors.

Edit, beaten to it!

@bigdean I’d be interested in that route if you could manage a GPX or fancy a ride sometime?

Rather than start a new thread, I thought I’d resurrect this one.

I saw an XL frame with dropper on Pinkbike and hatched a plan for a frame swap (meaning fork and crank swap also)

Big change from a Stanton Sherpa! The Sherpa was bought as an all rounder, but I’m increasingly riding the gravel bike on all XC and flattish routes, so thought I’d get something a bit more designed for steeper terrain.

Still getting used to it, but liking it a lot

Just a quick FYI for anyone trying red on a road bike – the rock garden section is ‘compulsory’ at the moment as the ridearound bit has been fenced off.

First ride out to get a feel for the new frame at Pines downhill bit. Snapped gear cable stops play early

I do the Kitchener quite often on the gravel bike. In places it resembles a rough pump track, but it’s still fine to do. As stated, the blue is much smoother and good for a gravel blast.

Mini fix this morning. I bought some MTB shorts, but the poppers were a bit weak (nothing to do with my girth) and popped when I bent over.

I spread the male part of the popper a bit with a hammer and an allen key. Sorted!

My cousin reported an accident to MIB. They just cleaned up all traces and then erased his memory.

WTB Rangers 2.25

Wordle 319 2/6

🟨⬜🟨🟨⬜
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

I’ll take the credit for lucking out on my first word

Here’s one

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/255504512930?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=74F8tUeuTgG&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=-uMXgd4fQ_6&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

Pushing the definition of ‘gravel’

Well, we did and we didn’t

I was teaching some cabinet making students, discussing different types of exotic woods, someone asked about ebony.

I Googled “ebony” on the big classroom smartboard to show some examples. That was a mistake.

My commuting trail is getting a bit brambly in places so I took the secateurs up this morning to trim the worst of it

Followed by an explore of some new nice routes

Up to the most disappointing “viewpoint” ever. Not even worth a photo

Not many! Eight

Kid: Raleigh Tomahawk, Aero Shark BMX

Adult: GT Performer BMX. Raleigh Mirage. Vitus Sentier, Stanton Sherpa, Pipedream Alice, Stif Squatch.

By tatty do you mean discoloured, or edges frayed and lifting?

If the former, veneer can take a certain amount of careful sanding, then a quick refinish (oil is easiest, lacquer if you know how) and it should be miles better. You can mix a stain with the finish to get a colour you like.

I know. Hanging my head in shame.

The rear brake cable was pretty generous, and I think it should just about be OK.

I applied online for my son’s renewal seven weeks before travelling, foolishly not fast tracked.

After many futile phonecalls and swelling panic, it arrived the evening before we flew.

Quick tip – even though TNT tracking may show as ‘not yet on our system’, you can search under the Passport Office PX1234567 number. Once on there, we were able to change delivery date to a day EARLIER. This stroke of luck saved my bacon.

I dip into the Ukraine thread to get new info and developments, and the Twitter links (which display fine) are a useful part of that.

TBH the ‘discussion’ on there has become more of a useless, if entertaining distraction.

A running belt is very handy for this, especially in the summer when just in a tshirt

Misty start in South Wilts.

Nice pictures, and even nicer bike

Sherwood Pines blue and red

we’re cutting it, weighing individual balls, adjusting the weight by cutting a bit more off the dough to make them all equal, and then we shape

No chance! Straight after kneading: handful, roll into ball, put down, next handful..

Gardening, cycling, pizza

My favourite so far is the WTB Ranger. I know it’s more of an XC than gravel tyre but works really well for me. I tried WTB Raddlers, an although they performed ok, the buggers kept going flat (tubeless). Rangers back on, no issues.

This may fit the bill

https://www.lordgunbicycles.co.uk/bluegrass-armour-bs-d3o-body-protection

The rib protection is like a stiff padding rather than hard

I have one but never use it, so PM me if interested

The swifts are all still here in Cyprus

Just managed to snap a couple: