If you are a Mac user (Mac Pro ?) then you will have digital optical output. You really need the Logitech 5500 speakers which have optical in and then handle the decoding for 5.1. You can input standard stero left and right but the upmix won’t be true surround.

Right now you have speakers which offer 5.1 channels but you don’t have a means to provide the discrete inputs required for each channel.

@ alwyn because you can’t prevent some accidents. if you could stop accidents then great but you can’t so instead adopt a defensive policy.

plenty of podcasts on itunes with specific bpm that in theory relate to your target 10k time.

I always run to music and anything too sluggish has a real effect on the time so get a good mix sorted. I have a load of mixes for 10k that work for me, there are also some Nike+ mixes on iTunes geared to 10k times as well.

My usual running playlist includes quite a lot of live stuff and I’d suggest you look at for a start:

Daft Punk 2007
Pendulum
Prodigy (latest album is great and the hits work)
Too many DJs and some of the Soulwax remixes are good.
These are not like The Cure but for running you need a sustained tempo across a lot of tracks and the agression of the Prodigy works well imho.

STATO, a danger in threads like this is assumptions: I stated my ignorance of a fact related to this – you stated you knew why I was ignorant and you are wrong. Three children and my Sunday homage to Peaslake means I am never NOT up at 07:00 on a Sunday and have seen many roadies on the drive to Peaslake.

If we start making these jumps from statements of fact to what seems like an emotional assertion, I think we lose the integrity required to put forward different ideas that can avoid such incidents in the future.

I travel public transport to the City every day, the standards of cyclists I see are usually terrible in terms of highway code standards – far worse than most drivers I witness.

Not nice when anyone dies prematurely, especially with a young family. The initial reaction from many on boards like this is anger towards the driver and cars in general. I am different in some respects as I really enjoy driving and cycling, it is easy to focus anger on the driver but clearly they will be having a terrible time and would not have deliberately caused something as tragic as this.

It looks as though the format for the TT needs a rethink to reflect changing traffic patterns. If any legacy from this could lead to a better way to manage the format with less risk it would at least mean a lesson had been learnt.

I was not aware TT stuff took place on open public roads like this, it does seem dangerous to me given the commitment and speeds TT guys reach, mixed with live traffic.

The planet is however many billions of years old. The last Ice Age was some thousands of years ago only. We are still in recovery from a geologically very recent Ice Age and the odd V8 isn’t going to make a bit of difference, especially with the Indians and Chinese polluting with impunity in their attempts to build super-economies in a short space of time.

My solution is simple and ingenious:

Cow farts are a big culprit, bigger than my Discovery it turns out. So, if we all replace beef with fish/whale – problem solved. Less polutants and I figure as we fish the living bejesus out of the ocean, it stands to reason we are converting fish/whale to poo which will pile up on the land. The resultant drop in ocean levels (coupled with less cow farts) will be balanced by my V8 and the odd sunnier day.

prove me wrong…

When I was young (and all this was fields), frames were steel – cheap mostly as well. My first real MTB was a Kona Explosif. I still have that frame as my turbo trainer bike and it could be built as a nice hardtail if I wanted.

At that time, aluminium was starting to make greater advances in MTB frames and the forum equivalents of the time were full of tales of life expectancy, cracks, failures and the like.

What was utter tosh, mostly spouted from opinionated people working on rumours and no knowledge has evolved from ally to carbon fibre.

I have three bikes I ride most, all their frames are carbon fibre. I bet my life that the carbon fibre won’t cause me to die. Poor riding might kill me but my choice of frame materials is low down on my risk table.

If you really want to worry about what might happen if you have some completely bizarre CF failure that then causes a crash etc. etc. then you need to try another sport. It makes more sense to wear a lot more body armour than worry about the CF failure. btw, CF is OK for body armour to ;-)

I’m not in a band, really I struggled with music if I am being honest.

High Rollers to me are like the Susan Boyle of MTB tyres: with gravity on their side they seem pretty quick (good in the Alps) but I think they struggle to roll well on the flat/climbs.

I’ll not continue the analogy but bascially High Rollers going down only. If I had a choice, the front.

doesn’t fit your expense limit but I have a Casco Viper MX and it works great, a lot better than a Parachute I think.

I am dubious about claims by people selling me helmets that I need a new one every couple of seasons. It would help if someone could explain to me why environmentalists tell me polystyrene is evil and takes x million years to rot away. It seems to me all we have to do is make bike helmets and it’s rotting like mad within 12 months.

I’m pretty sure there is sufficient strength in your average helmet that the odd knock is fine. I’ve not seen a picture of a broken lid that has failed along a previously innocuous looking bash. Of course if it’s clearly cracked in two then change it.

I saw Death Proof recently, Tarantino really on form and loads of great individual pieces with the smattering of good movie quotes you expect. Didn’t seem to get the press of his other films but I really enjoyed it, clever use of 70’s style TV movie graphics and post-processing to make the film have a level of “noise” to suit the genre.

I also like recently “the lives of others” a German film set in the Cold War, spot on for giving you a feel for the way people lived before the fall of communism.

In Bruges is brilliant.

Other little niche movies that I have seen in the last six months that are great:

The Darjeeling Limited, odd but cool. Children of Men. The Happening, really typical of M Night Shyamalan.

Of the mainstream stuff I thought Iron Man was great, bought it for my son and watched with him, he loved Iron Man, I loved Ms Paltrow, great film.

what sort of riding are you after ?

There is an alternative, I have a Casco Viper MX. Purchased it for a trip to the Alps and find the concept pretty good. It’s a regular XC lid, albiet tougher and a bit gnarly looking but the detachable chin section is a lot better than the Parachute. Once in place, the feeling is almost the same as a full face but with better airflow. You can detach just the chin piece on the fly pretty easily without taking the lid off so worked well for me.

she has a virus…

I think your shorts are too tight and preventing the natural “flow” until after you finish. I’d also try changing your saddle, possibly you are a victim of the ramjet effect common on roadie saddles from the 70’s and the air is actually getting into you from the other end.

haven’t had mine for too long but pleased so far. quality of build is good and nice having axle options up front.

Lupine for me, sell a kidney and get one. More candles than a pope’s funeral. Betty for the bars and Tesla on the helmet.

clearly, if you are shitting yourself, then surgical intervention can only be a good thing.

igmc…

I follow Lance on Twitter, he usually posts links to these stories himself – he knows the French are out for him and goads them a fair bit.

I can’t see he was clean given the way the sport was during his wins. The prospect of him nipping to the shower and using a catheter to introduce a supply of “clean” urine to his bladder is not a pretty thought but I am sure there are plenty of riders who have done just that and think nothing of it.

Shame if he does use drugs but really, given the whole field are the probably the same, it means his achievement is still the same really.

haven’t got the pics to hand but for me it would be the Kona Explosif c1996 – I still have this frame and the Trek Y33 which I was desperate to own in yellow carbon and never did – I’d buy one now if I could.

It must be partly a taste thing. I quite enjoy the odd 0.0% lager, the ability to make a decent alcohol-free lager seems to have improved and they are now free rather than just very low so OK for me (I won’t even have cough mixture which can be like 5%, or a sauce at a restaurant with wine).

I have really forgotten what lager tastes like now but the alcohol-free stuff is fine for me so might be an idea if you still enjoy the habit but want to lose the units.

There are a lot of people “limiting” themselves or “allowing” themselves a certain amount. Also some advice not to have drink in the house. The implication of all this is that you are not in control of yourself really, either you have to physically remove the alcohol from your house or you are placing a lower limit than you naturally would prefer.

This attitude places more strain than necessary on other people for what is your problem. I am an alcoholic but my wife isn’t. We have the odd crate of wine delivered as my wife is in a wine club and therefore we have plenty of alcohol in the house. I have no problem with this as I don’t drink. I don’t want my alcoholism to have any more impact on my wife or friends by imposing my addiction on them.

Ultimately, you need to be in control. Either give up or be comfortable with a lower amount without feeling you have missed out. I no longer feel I miss out by not having wine with a meal and I am happy to be at the table with others drinking (sometimes to excess).

Had to finish off one of our guinea pigs a while back. We have at any time 20-50 guinea pigs so %age wise this was not a big deal. That said, in the absence of Bear Grylls I was not 100% sure on the easiest means to kill it. I decided to opt for putting it in a rubbish bag first to avoid clearing up a mess afterwards, then I bashed it on the head with a rubber mallet. Job done.

The question is then, what is the lightest mallet to carry in your CamelBak ?

There is a second part to this: the local vets charge about £8 to “cremate” pets. My wife and children are happy for me to take dead pets (with the number we have there are deaths more regularly than most). Do you think I should pocket the cash and drive past vets to council tip or give vets money and then have them make the trip to the tip for me.

iPhone is fantastic, the touch is good but the one device simplicity of the iphone coupled with the GPS is the best gadget I have ever owned (and like messiahs, I’ve followed a few)

I should add that AA can be daunting and there are other alternatives to AA which might help, some are on-line based (google brighteye for example). I have issues with the religous side of AA so although I support the work and have attended meetings, I am more comfortable with secular support.

Sounds like a warning shot.

I have been sober for years, one thing about being an alcoholic is that really only you can make that judgement although others will most likely have already decided if you are. An easy test is whether anyone close to you has had any reason to question your excess drinking, if they have it’s a clear signal you need to make better choices.

Everyone is different, you might well be able to cut back and be OK. If you find that once you start drinking, there is no easy point to stop then you have to look at whether you should quit for good. Although it is difficult to think of not drinking at all, you might be a lot happier sober.

We have a smallish group riding late afternoon to evening so day to almost night, i.e probably need lights by the finish.

Our standard is pretty relaxed, easy pace on climbs, standing around at the top pretending we don’t need to get our breath back and then hell for leather (ish) on twisty bits depending on how fast you want to go.

lock-ons and carbon for all mine, I’m pretty sure any grip that uses a grub screw should be avoided anyway, it’s a pants way to tighten the grip.

I’m never bothered about damage under the grips, it seems to me that I rarely look under my grips when I’m riding anyway.

a sensible diet is fine, it’s just a good balance and not an excess of calories. If you think that is awful then go ahead and have the excess of calories and deal with the consequences.

I try and eat sensibly but still have take out/KFC now and then – just not all the time. If I let it slide then Mrs Count might too and to my mind that really doesn’t sound like much fun.

Exercise is addictive but you need to get the addicted point to really enjoy it. The gym for the first few times is going to seem a bit odd and probably a bit intimidating. I would suggest you set yourself a mtfu target and decide to go to the gym at least 2-4 times a week for the next 6 weeks. Coupled with a sensible diet, that is enough time to see and feel a difference. It’s also enough time to adapt to a new routine and feel comfortable with the surroundings.

If you still hate it, quit and do something else. Chances are though, by then you’ll enjoy the gym and end up a regular.

On any CV machines, I have to have some music but don’t use an iPod for weights, it trashes form and loses concentration imho. I have been a regular at the gym for ages and would say I am hooked but I still find motivation hard on the odd time.

There are some real lycra bunnies in my place lunchtimes so that helps, nothing like a sweaty whale tail to keep you coming back for more…

I have Shure earphones, really great isolation is as much a benefit as the sound quality with them.

I have the E5Cs at the top end but also use the E2Cs for running and these are still great quality and a world apart from the standard ipod issue.

I think you need to eat small portions regularly, not avoid any meals – that’s miserable. You need a regime you can stick with all the time, so you are not “on a diet” and then normal, it is the normal state that obviously has surplus calories that led to the extra weight.

Just think 9,000 calories to lose a kilo. If you run for 30 minutes that’s maybe 500 calories. Go 500 less than maintenance calories for the day and the result is 1kg lost every 9 days if you run every day. Not practical but with a few rides etc. it should be possible to drop a kilo in a fortnight and be working with a healthy regime that feels good.

aggghhh ffs

the word “lose” has one (1) “o”.

the word “loose” as in “moose” is used to describe the opposite of “tight”.

anyway, add running to your biking – weight control is a lot easier.

Hannah Montana, it’s default viewing with my daughters.

Ben 10, it’s default viewing with my son.

Miami Ink, until I get my own tattoo…

I should add, the “thousands” on the streets as reported so far were mainly like me – City workers out for an enjoyable spot of entertainment in the sun over lunch. Take away the spectators and this is not a big protest thus far. I would say the majority of people I saw were just people out for a look and dressed down for the day. My company advised no suits for the day but there were plenty of suits around and plenty of dressed down types – blazers from Ede & Ravenscroft, Calvin Klein chinos and a Gant shirt..

I was down at the Bank of England to check it out, nothing really exciting. A bunch of ninja types all in black did a sort of charge that created some momentary excitement. I took photos on my iphone (you have to call it an iphone – see other thread) and posted them to facebook.

The best thing was the gay and tranvestite protestors with the “Trannys against Tyranny” banner – respect!

The climate crusties were trying to pitch tents on tarmac just up the road. I didn’t see any real trouble and we suspected the RBS branch was vulnerable given it is right next to the Bank of England and wasn’t boarded up. Why these losers think stealing from a bank branch and causing damage is in any way helpful I don’t know. Anyway, I bought Pilkington shares ahead of the protests so hopefully that will at least help a bit with their market value.

I think the police were doing a good job of allowing legitimate protest without being agressive, lots of press and TV around and the police were taking a lot of photos.

Public servants are usually paid less than the private sector for more senior positions. The salaries for MPs is a lot less than most successful business people of the same calibre.

It doesn’t matter what people on here earn, that’s just a straw poll and not related to whether MPs are overpaid or not. I think the issue is that people on less than MPs ignore the transparency of MPs pay and (now) expenses. If you feel irritated that your local MP earns more than you it might be just because you actually have that information available to you. Most people don’t really know how much their dentist/GP/local shop owner earn and therefore treat them normally.

I am sat in my office in Cornhill, just walked towards the Bank of England to get a coffee and saw a largish groups of cyclists riding from the bank up Cornhill towards Bishopsgate.

No decent bikes on display.

Quite a lot of press boys about and we ditched the chalk stripes for jeans today.

Nothing to report otherwise, I’m going to the gym lunchtime and expect it to be quieter – not exactly a riot thus far.

The sad obsession with a few MPs by so many people is laughable. There is a democratic way to remove MPs from power if you don’t like them. If you don’t like an of them, you can always stand yourself. In the interim, moaning like hell about their hours etc is daft. MPs work until very late at night, the parliamentary hours have traditionally been anti-social anyway but you rarely hear anyone mentioning that.

The vitriolic remarks about them all being “scum” is ridiculous, most MPs are paid a lot less than people on this forum and most of them give a lot more back than the people having a pop.