Ooh, lovely. Sketches are such a treat…

Hmm, Stoner, I have a bit of a later trait introduced by an immersive life drawing class I went to in London after I graduated. I keep trying to remember what school it was as – despite going for only one term and forgetting almost everything else about it – I still get cravings to draw using these techniques. Particularly a single line without lifting (nothing like anything I’d ever done before and looks unlike my original style).

If anyone can remind me I’d be grateful as I can’t find any notes on it. You had to bring a set of equipment – ink stone, brown, white and black pastels and pencils – and follow the teacher’s regime (i.e. changing material to their instruction). Part of it was about instilling an appreciation of practice into your work.

If anyone knows anything about it and can enlighten me I would be delighted!

Widening it out a bit, the worst portrayal of women in magazines is in “women’s magazines”, written by women for women.

Hmm, I feel guilty as I work in (a tiny way in) fashion. Just tried to strike a small blow for not bowing to the fashion orthodoxy that only skinny young models sell clothes. We’ll see whether it works.

I used to ride my bike in that London in merino tights and a crotch length skirt, anything longer got in the way. Oh and toe clips worked fine with any of my shoes…

It was before cycling was popular, I’d never heard of cycle clothing (or mountain bikes) and the only people to race on the way to work were the couriers.

Must be getting old!

I’ve not seen the Assos ad – but I do have a pair of Assos bib shorts (kind gift from OH). Is it referencing the fact that you have to take EVERY SINGLE piece of clothing off (including your helmet) in order to have a wee?

I tell you, discovering that on a 140km road ride in Belgium was hysterical.

*No pink clothes or bikes*

A sheep.

What no home-churned butter? Honestly, standards….

Moving away from the pot now.

Ooops, it’s empty already…. 8O

Aaagh, I had it down to Grozet.

But then you went and mentioned Tripel Karmaliet.

Doomed to a life of indecision.

I have a really nice but enormous Mission Workshop rucksack which balances nicely so I chuck everything in – laptop, lunch, spare clothes, shoes, shopping…. I did once pick up my bike in one hand and overstuffed bag in the other to find the bike was lighter (and it’s not carbon 8O ).

That was when I had a short commute – 15 miles total per day.

These days it’s 40 (not every day) with 1000m climb and I really cut down what I have to carry. Still do it with the laptop when unavoidable but, as I say, it’s not tenable every day.

Sorry, mugsys_m8 .Maybe someone else can help? All I can say is that there’ll be nearly 700 people out and even I didn’t get lost last year…

Yes, not sure how that works – might be some kind of other access equivalent to bridleway, though, which is slightly different. Sorry not an expert!

Water stop is a ruse to get you off the bike to walk the bit of bridleway you’re not allowed to ride (not allowed to race on bridleway).

Can you carry your bike with bottle in back pocket?

Two bottles – depends on the weather. Which is looking unsettlingly clement.

I have been thinking about stashing a couple at the bottom of Pen y Ghent lane as we also don’t have support.

mikewsmith – 16 mins Walsden to the motorway junction starting at 8.20 (there aren’t many junctions to snarl up). The M62 itself was, of course, stationary.

Avoid Bacup twinned with Bacup…

stumpyjon +1

Cliviger, Worsthorne (and similar) are suggestions for being nicer than Burnley but not far away.

We live about 15 mins from the M62 just out of Todmorden. Riding out the door, train station a couple of minutes walk away and road ok too. It is in Yorkshire though ;-)

Missing from Singletrack offices?

Was there a Cotic Rocket, Santa Cruz Nickel and a Lapierre with it?

I did the Bronte Mountain Bike Challenge on my ‘cross bike yesterday. Some mountain bikers don’t half get arsey when you overtake them.

Friend of mine is doing a post grad in osteopathy (can’t remember whether it’s an m phil , phd or what) but her dissertation topic is the relationship between back pain and stress/depression. She’s only just starting but I am very interested in reading it when she’s done.

Anecdotally from treating people she is expecting there to be a relationship but this will give her time to look at it more rigourously.

Awful, as are ill-informed comments.

Especially as Boulder, Colorado, had a referendum to convert to green energy. They’re currently struggling as the local power company tries to overturn the vote.

Anyone fancy supporting them?

“It’s utterly astonishing that this fragile artefact, based on 1970s technology, can signal its presence from this immense distance.”

I thought they were talking about me, on T-mobile, in Hebden Bridge.

I am 5’8″ and ride just about any medium frame I can lay my hands on… don’t worry too much about WSD, just get something nice and as light as you can manage.

Currently riding an Ibis mojo, (it’s so very pretty). Had a go on a Trek Lush once and would rather have lightweight than WSD. Hauling a heavy bike around is no fun and could put you right off.

Merino base layers really help limit stinkyness.

Apart from that everything else is covered.

(40 miles one way, train other way, twice a week)

Their Facebook and proper website.

Take a bible and pray….

I’ve done the MT loop a few times and the last time there was a storm that got me three times. Just sort of circled round firing doom, hailstones and deluges whenever it spotted me. I was prepared with a change of waterproof socks but they were a mere temporary glimmer of comfort between onslaughts. I’m sure it will be ace.

Brownbacks racing at Lee Quarry. Hurray! Brilliant event.

Although attempting mid-race amateur cosmetic surgery on my face with a rock was not my best idea.

You can race CX on a mountain bike…. apart from the three peaks where you can’t and your tyres will be scrutinised and found wanting if over 35mm.

I have a Jake the Snake though and he’s very jolly (do they do them with discs yet? That’s his only let down).

:( sorry to hear that … set up a search on ebay, check gumtree, keep an eye on cashconverters and don’t give up, this forum has a good history of reuniting bikes with owners.

You’re handlebars were too wide???? 8O

Having had many lodgers and house shares over the years, I have observed the 90% rule in action. Everyone does 90% of their washing up. Overlooking approximately 10% of washing up created. After a couple of days, this mounts up until it impinges on my consciousness and I either mention or glower (techniques vary according to lodger) or crack and do all the oddments in one washing up spree.

Even with just me and him, cafetieres seem to be invisible to the washer-upper, only to reappear when the next person goes to the sink…

That was ace. Thanks!

Despite strava feed I still have no idea where I was at any point. In the lost kingdom to the west of Yorkshire. where even strava puts dragons on the map.

Anyway, must have been good as my legs were a bit broken by the time I got to work this morning.

Happy Birthday MrSparkle!

Free butties and beer? We’re in!

How CX bike friendly btw? Just pondering lack of 3px training…

Yes! A week of no cycling due to having to drive to work every day for various reasons and I am rubbish, fat and lethargic.

However, I clocked my best QOM after a week off so I am trying to keep optimistic about tomorrow’s race and the absolute lack of preparation this week.

I follow him on Twitter… does that count? ;-)

Sorry to hear about funerals. My bf has a collection of funeral orders of service whereas my friends are boring and don’t ride motorcycles so I get to keep them.

My family seems to be learning lessons about living: We had a decent gathering for my mum’s birthday recently with my cousins coming on the grounds that they ‘didn’t only want to see us at funerals’.

Cheers!

Old friends? Yes, I guess it would. Help! I’ve just realised that some of them are in biscuit tins… you shouldn’t put your old friends in biscuit tins should you?

Like. Simple website, all works very smoothly like a nicely oiled bureau.

Love the couples on bikes! All inspired now.

Can I have a FB like back please? My illustrations are not in your league and I haven’t got round to putting my other work online or building a proper website but maybe I should… it looks really satisfying.

There have already been culls – articles like this[/url] by researchers who have already tried culling.

Culling is a ‘we have to do something no matter how rubbish it is’ response. It won’t work very well overall, it’ll make things worse in the short term.

The science says that culling increases TB initially as badger populations shift.

It also says that the cull will have an impact in 9 years, bringing about a 16% reduction.

It’s not exactly a panacea.

Although vaccination sounds like a more intensive approach it doesn’t have the initial increase effect and will bring down the number of badgers able to catch and transmit TB.

I like the work the Wildlife Trusts are doing - if you’re bothered.

I keep sheep and have huge sympathy for farmers seeing their herds destroyed, but I can’t see that the cull will help.

Sardinia looks gorgeous – a friend sent photos from staying here:

http://www.seakayaksardinia.com/

She was mainly raving about the food but the kayaking sounds great too.

At work. In my shop.

Call in if you have any essential bank holiday knitwear needs.

And are in Buxton.

At work. In my shop.

Call in if you have any essential bank holiday knitwear needs.

And are in Buxton.

Ooh, can I vote for frozen Canadian lake? Then we can make you a knitted woollen dress…. :D