I did a photoshoot in Leeds on Saturday entirely with my F1.8 50mm lens. It was the only thing that could cope with the stage lighting. I want fast glass and a more sensitive camera. The cameras of the last couple of years have come on massively with high (usable!) ISO. Both Nikon and Canon and probably others are really developing this.
(My other lens is the 18-200 VR Nikon… a great no-brain lens).

big scott nanny talks sense and I think I am about there myself on the lens front.
Though the Nikon Creative lighting system is a joy. I have a SB600 and SB800 and it makes my ageing D80 work miracles. (D7000 or D90 successor on shopping list for next 12 months).

“OK”
Has many meanings to over 25 year olds,but to teens it’s an entire language.

crank bros = crap.

For me, it was worth it. Met my wife and would not have had the career I have had so far without it. I do think that a university with lower intake, higher standards and taxpayer funded it the way to go. Paid for by income tax skewed to higher rate earners.
My education was free (in fact I got £1800 a year grant in the early 90’s). Why should the current generation of students be stuffed over with massive charges and debts. Have a smaller system that enables the best talent to go regardless of propensity to incur massive debt.

I am voting yes. current system is broken. Really want PR but AV will be a step in the right direction.

mboy…not a rocklobster ti frame by any chance?

I am attracted to what I need. Currently that’s a titanium 29er with alfine/rohloff hub… why well I ride lots of Yorkshire mud and most of it is not through huge rock gardens. Long travel FS bikes are not the best for much of what I ride in UK.

Thule g5 with 4th bike adapter. now replaced with g6, best on the market.

Personally I never like to degrease (unless they are really filthy). I prefer to use lots of kitchen tissue to wipe out all the grease. With degreasers you have to make sure you get EVERY last scrap of it out before putting new grease in otherwise you have the perfect recipe for makeing the grease ineffective.
Mind you, my bearings never get that dirty because I do them regularly.

Had Merlin and Stif, both excellent wheels. Mind the Stif ones were 16 years ago and were knicked with my Orange Vitamin T.

Never said blindly worship, and clearly as with every walk of life there will be some “bad ‘un’s”. But those joining the military normally do so for with good intentions/motives (even if sometimes naive). If you accept that we need a military, then I suggest that the one we have is a good one and those individuals that make it up collectively deserve our gratitude. Of course if you think we should not have armed forces then there is no need for any gratitude.

Anyone who has done military service, whether it be for 20 weeks or 20 years, or be stacking shelves in a REME workshop or jumping out of planes for the SAS deserves our respect and gratitude. We have the best and most diciplined army in the world and to try to separate military personell into “real” soldiers and other is denegrating the whole army.
Also, military service is not required to have a valid opinion on such matters, it gives you a different perspective but its a slippery slope to call that opinion more valid than that of a civilians.

Anyhow, I have watched plenty of war movies, including True Lies (that has the Middle East in it), so I know what I am talking about.

Pity Blair didn’t watch more war movies. Maybe then he wouldn’t have invaded Iraq and maybe then he would have been at the wedding?

I reckon that someone simply did not realise what this would look like when they made up the guest list.

The last sentance is the one I don’t buy into as these lists are scrutinised many times over for such an event. If you are right then its on hell of a gaff.

TJ stop the thread Hijack. There are plenty threads out there to choose from if you want to propogate your mutually nullifying rants with the more gung ho members of STW.

Anyone have any views on why TB and GB are not at the wedding?

Shouldn’t it be “I shall” rather than “I’m going to have to”?

So TJ, why do you reckon Blair doesn’t have an invite? (Sorry CF, couldn’t resist).

capitain….wait till the Olympics when you have to tolerate all the joggers and jumpists and stuff “medalling”…. and not in the catholic priest sense. Reckon you might bludgeon someone to death with your leather bound copy of the OED.

markie….I thought that might be the case, but when you look at some of the representatives from tinpot dictatorships that ARE attending, not to invite two prominent recent prime ministers can’t be accidental in my view.

peterpoddy… you are right! I remember lusting after the original kona kula (£1100) in 1994ish it had alu frame and suspension and was a wow bike for me. That money now gets much more bike.

Ah, that’s credible also. Telegraph thinks it’s because of the way Blair used Dianas death to his political advantage.

Love a happy ending.

non story. Move along please.

If you have ever received a transfusion of blood or blood based product then you are no longer able to give blood. EVER! All because of CJD risk.

I did the northshore at Dixons Hollow (dalby) with my daughter and trailer bike on the back. Made some os the tight turns interesting!

silicone lube is good, but if your forks are half as knackered as they sound then getting them stripped is the only sensible answer.

This story had a happy ending. The labrador that Tim nearly had has been with us for 6 months now. She has settled in really well. She was a bit erm…chunky when we got her. She is now down from 34.6kg to 27.9kg and can run and fetch with the best of them!
Here is pic taken yesterday at Temple Newsham in the bluebells.

Hi Chris, congrats on being a grand daddy!
Things that I want in a light:
Bright, well made preferably in UK, upgradable, excellent service.
I like AA batteries as my sanyo eneloops are the mainstay on my battery ecosystem, used in everything from flashes to my numerous fenix torches.
I reckon your next light should be a custom cnc light with high IP rated conectors and using AA cells either internally or with an umbilical. This should be a lightweight model. Similar to the dinnote one, but brighter and made by a talented cumugeon in a shed in Yorkshire.

Payback – Mel Gibsons best film.

On one carbon with their bargain 29er tapered REBAS would be my choice. Would love one of those with an Alfine on the back.

I have a steel on one 29er and its my favourite bike for climbing.

Great news trout! If no sign of nipper you could always shine a troutlight up to see what the delay is ;-p

sorry to hear that.

I have a Planet x ti sportive with dura ace, I think I will never sell it and it would be fine as my only ever road bike. However a nice nano carbon with SRAM red looks mighty tempting for a bit of variety.

I used to get two bikes and two people into an Austin metro with zero problem. Any hatchback will fit 2 bikes in. Obviously wheels need to come off, but that’s about 30 seconds additional faffing.
Now driving a Volvo with thule euro bike rack….much better for muddy bikes. But if the bikes are going inside the car then most cars will do.

In any negotiation, always best if you can get the other party to name their range first.

Bishop munkton and burton leonard are supposed to be lovely.

Not had from this specific company, but get a folder, keep every letter (yes all 20 of them) and ignore. Even when they get to several hundred pounds. DO NOT CONTACT OR ACKNOWLEDGE ANY LETTERS. The feckers will go away. Still have my letters from maplin in leeds from a few years ago.

Nah, some great chippies near us with the best fish available anywhere. Chips from a couple of local chinese takeaways manage to look re-fried while managing to be crisp, tasty and generally great.

I had my first 2011 ride home from Harrogate to South Leeds on thursday, 23 miles. After a break from riding I find the full 46miles too much to do in one day so I ease myself into it for 2 or 3 weeks by doing Yuppie commuting…leave a car at work and cycle home. Use another car for 2-3 days then cycle back to work one morning and pick up the first car. Works for me and gives me plenty of space at work to store my stuff.
Doing the ride back into Harrogate tomorrow.
After a break off cycling this distance its a mental effort to get going again. I remind myself that its a treat to be out on a morning and being able to ride through sunrise. I also don’t set any speed targets for the first few rides. If you listen to your body then it will tell you the days it wants to go a bit faster.

Cardboard fettler and olefin laminate herder.