Virgin 150Mb/s here. Normally get just over that when I test at the router.

WiFi isn’t the finest, but I use Powerline plugs to my office, desktop and networked printers. Really should get a better WiFi transmitter.

It’s pretty reliable, and it’s nice to know that the coax cable (rather than the OpenReach twisted pair copper) can support much higher speeds in the future.

Edit:
I have two teenagers, so it’s a fairly high demand environment on occasion.

I normally use Shimano M540 pedals on all my bikes, but swap to a pair of M424 pedals for my summer hols with the family (yes, I know – having summer holiday pedals is ridiculous) so I can nip to the shops in flip-flops for a baguette etc.

Dual sided with a plastic platform – seem to work OK

235 here as well. Use it almost every day for running and riding.

It syncs wirelessly through my phone to Garmin Connect and Strava. Sometimes I need to open up Garmin Connect and tell it to sync, but more often than not it just finds the phone and syncs without anything from me.

Edit:
The older 220 and 225 are great watches, but they don’t have a bike mode. Not a huge deal, but you need to manually change the activity type on the PC or phone after it syncs.

Sad news. A couple of friends have had contact in the past with Chris Boardman, and he’s a decent guy.

Currently about 7 miles. Have lived in many places around the UK, and up to 5000 miles away in my youth. Circumstances came together and we’re now living close to where I was born.

Yodel you say! Close-call that it arrived safely – it could have arrived all in bits!

Made me smile

I’m between 5’8″ and 5’9″ with a 29″ inside leg (yes, I know I’ve got short legs) and have just ordered a 54cm Specialized, which is just right for me.

I suspect the reach may be a bit far on a 54cm for you.

I’ve e-mailed Merida UK directly a couple of times, and they’ve responded promptly

I’ve got a Merida One Twenty 500 (the base model), but with better wheels (Hope Hoops running tubeless) and brakes (SLX). It’s my first full suspension bike, but it seems great to me. The only comparison I’ve done was to a older Specialized Pitch and an Orange Five. Seems a bit less wallowy than the Five, which is what I wanted.

I like it.

Ridden both, both excellent. Hence the quandry

It’s happened a couple of times to me. Bank phoned me to check some unusual transactions – most recent one was £750 at ao dot com

Sorted out with no drama. New card within a few days, but had to sign a statement saying the transactions weren’t mine. However, I was glad that I had an additional unrelated credit card to use in the meantime.

Edit: it’s also the reason I never use a debit card in shops. With a credit card, it’s not your money they’re stealing

I do both. Swerved the MTB ride this morning in favour of an early quick ride on the road bike. Nobody tried to kill me with their car, so I consider this a good ride…

Excellent fitness benefits riding the road bike as well. Much more concentrated workout

Did my first triathlon this year, and my running medals are sitting in a pile in my office, so this rather thoughtful present

Amongst people I know, it’s split largely along the lines of the chart on the previous page, although I was pleased to hear today that my Dad is voting to remain. He’s over 80, but well educated and has worked abroad.

FiL is voting Out to “protect the country for his grandchildren”, even though my children are strongly on the Remain side (and have debated this with him).

We’ve done the Novotel Rouen Sud about three times with bikes on the back – as mentioned secure gated car park (many cars have bikes on) and hotel is good for an overnight stay with family rooms.

Was going to write almost exactly that – stayed there when we had young kids and bikes. Other alternative (that we use now) is to take the overnight ferry to St Malo or Caen and drive to the Vendee from there. Wife not a huge fan of ferries, but we’ve only had one rough crossing in 10+ years

I do try to mention this to my teenage children as I ferry them around in reliable, modern cars with creature comforts like climate control. The cold, damp mornings spent pumping the accelerator, spraying WD40 on the HT leads/distributor cap and pulling the choke out etc.

They look at me with what I can only describe as pity. Ho hum

Had mine done a few years ago. All female team, which was nice. Just took my iPod and listened to some music whilst they got on with it. Worst bit – the small of bacon when they’re cauterising the ends of the tubes.

Little pain. Running after a week, (road) bike after 2 weeks. No regrets.

Just gone from a 661 Recon to one of the Specialized ones (S3 I think), and it’s way more vented. Was good in the heat on Saturday.

Gonzy – just a note to say thanks for the different perspective.

Like (I suspect) most on here, I’m a middle-aged white guy, so the different view is really interesting.

Thanks

Sorry mate, it’s actually enforced at the campsites we’ve been to. You could try the Daniel Craig look with the slightly longer shorts, but nothing baggy I’m afraid….

I’ve been looking at a Tom Tom with built in HRM recently too. Any issues with it talking to Strava?

One of our group uses a TomTom watch, and it seems to upload to Strava fine. I don’t know how she does this – direct to Strava or via the TomTom app.

If you want to track heart rate, then there’s a few options. Most Garmins will talk to a chest strap (needs to be ANT+ I think), or a wrist HR sensor like the Mio Link.

However, the new generation of Garmins also have the optical wrist sensor on the back. Garmin Forerunner 225 has this, as does the 235 that I’m currently using. I prefer the 235 as it has a bike mode as well (so I don’t need to change the activity type on Strava/Connect). If you’re only running or don’t mind the post-bike amendment (which is easy), then the 225 is great.

Err, how often do you think you have to bleed them?

OK, let me rephrase that. I’m a bit ham-fisted, and it’s easy to rebleed if it’s not quite right first time. Plus, got three bikes with similar brakes between the wife and me, so it’s a couple of times a year on average I reckon in total.

Epic way for me. Bought a huge bottle of Shimano mineral oil, so can do it as often as I wish. 10 minute job now I’ve learned the ropes.

Yes, not an issue. Couple of months of salary in the current account (which pays good interest), and plenty squirreled away elsewhere in ISAs and accounts for the children. Was not always like this, but have worked hard to get into a fairly comfortable position.

Just reminded me, other half did a hotel booking in Leicester on a new card. Within 24 hours the bank contacted her to say the card had been stopped. She went into the bank and they checked off the suspicious transactions for shops in Leicester – bloke in the bank was certainly interested in the hotel.

I was also curious about what happened when mine was done recently. I apparently tried to buy several washing machines from AO, and it wouldn’t have taken a lot of detective work to get the delivery address.

The wife has the 2015 version (I think) of the Merida that you’ve linked to, and it’s a lovely bike.

I think I may use my next CtW voucher on exactly the same to use as a winter road bike.

Edit: To answer a point above, it’s got a full set of mudguard eyelets

Last models of the Nissan Almera in petrol form?? Dull, dull, dull to look at, but quite nice to drive.

Wife had one for about 7 years, and it was almost comically reliable. One bulb and a section of exhaust in all that time.

A week for running (in tight pants), 2 weeks for riding.

No complications or infections for me (thankfully)

Well their current thinking is to just blame you!
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/personal-banking/current-accounts/banks-shouldnt-refund-online-fraud-victims-says-police-chief/
Enlightened thinking there…..

Don’t see how they could prove anything either way. I tend to use my work PC, which is always up to date on malware and anti-virus protection. I suspect this is aimed at phishing attacks rather than card cloning (which could easily be a suspect employee at a physical shop).

But – surely they shouldn’t be storing CC/bank account info? And unencrypted! It seems to be that info which was compromised, rather than account passwords (which were encrypted?)

Can’t say for sure that the card was compromised at SP. It’s my default card, so could have been done anywhere. However, I did order from SP a few weeks ago, so the coincidence factor is there.

Crap news cheshirecat I’ve Just cancelled my card to be safe.

Thanks, but not a big deal – the bank’s security protocols kicked in (Coop FWIW) and I had the automated call. New card issued, and I won’t lose any money. Have other cards, so the only inconvenience is changing the default card on Paypal.

Apparently I spent £700 at ao dot com; if there was some joined up thinking, the police would be round at the delivery address looking for cloned cards etc.

Interesting. Did an order with Sport Pursuit a couple of weeks ago, and my credit card was fraudulently used this week. Of course, I’ve used it elsewhere, so can’t say it’s definitely Sport Pursuit, but it’s a possible explanation.

Been here a couple of times. Same (nice) chain as the ones near me in the Glorious North:

Mill House[/url]

This will last you the rest of your daysSaw this car on Auto Trader’s Android App. Thought you might be interested. http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201603021554940

We had one of those Almeras for 8 years from almost new. Needed one bulb and a section of exhaust in all that time. Only sold it because we got bored. Surprisingly nice to drive and plenty of space.

Saw some extracts of the debate this morning. I think my children have a higher level of debate when they’re squabbling. Arguing about the size of their “gentlemens’ vegetables” FFS..

I keep thinking that Trump will stand up one day and say “OK, enough – joke’s over”, but I suspect he’s deadly serious.

Getting up / down stairs is also becoming an issue.

A classic symptom of Patellofemoral pain syndrome (runners’ knee). Something I have had for a few years and manage with a combination of foam rollering, stretching and periodic (and rather painful) sports massage.

PFPS on Wikipedia

Duomo?

Train to Bergamo to look around the old, walled city?

It depends what she wants it for. Fitbit (or similar step tracker) for step/sleep tracking, and GPS watch for training.

There are GPS watches with built in step tracking, like the Garmin Forerunner 235 (which my wife uses), but they’re fairly expensive.

DC Rainmaker site if you wish to lose a week of your life DC Rainmaker

It’s a legitimate site. The estimated delivery date should be next to the product you’re looking at. I just ordered some winter Helly Hansen tops – delivery date should be 18-20th March – just in time for summer :-)

His Desert Island Discs appearance was excellent.

Loved the bit where he (as a Navy pilot) flew his Spitfire underneath the Forth Rail Bridge, and everyone blamed the RAF because nobody knew the Navy had a few Spitfires.

A full life (to say the least).