SNP marginal here. 1k lead over Conservatives.

Scot Tory pamphlets have been amusing. Basically “SNP bad”, but not a peep about Brexit.

The Scot Tory surge two years ago will recede the the absence of Ruth Davidson at the helm. She had a broad appeal that none of the current lot can match.

I also think that as Brexit opinions have become more entrenched/radicalised on both sides, floating voter Remainer Scots will be far less forgiving of the Conservatives now than they were in 2017.

Time Atac xc8 on gravel bike, because they’re cooler than spuds.

I wonder to what extent it only works because of the willingness of the UK and German governments to prop up the Common Agricultural Policy.

I’ve heard it said that of the big countries in the EU, the motivation for France was the agri-subsidies, for the UK it was the rebate (thus improving the cost/benifit) and for the Germans it was assuaging their war guilt.

It’s clearly not true (or at least it’s not the whole truth) but there is a pithiness to it which sticks in the mind.

Stanley, DR changed to a new route last year. Prior to that it was rougher and at a wild guess I’d have said lauf fork and c.42mm tyre would have been the dream machine. Last year’s was faster and slightly smoother and I felt that with 38mm rigid I was on an optimum configuration.

That said, there’s a wide range of participants and bikes. I was getting overtaken by single speed mtb, so as always it’s the rider who makes the difference.

@robbie can you maybe see if you can get on the reserve list for the 200? If there are any withdrawals then you’ll get a place?

I’d suggest that it’s pretty poor form just to do it without entering. If too many people try that then it screws up the logistics.

I’ll be on 38mm gravel kings, I can’t fit anything bigger without frame rub. They served me well last year.

As Dr Hutch once remarked, no one ever suffered from slipping seatposts until torque wrenches were invented.

Depending on quality of bike you’re hiring, I’d recommend taking your own tyres. I’ve been to Mallorca a few times and tyres have been the major weakness in each of the hire bikes I’ve had.

K1100t, it’s been 2 nights min at the campsite for a few years. I rationalise it that you’re paying for the convenience of being able to occupy your pitch until 5 or 6 o’clock on the Saturday evening, and take your tent down at your leisure. Rather that than a mad scramble pre-breakfast.

Quicker and less stressful just to download Firefox and entered no problem. Didn’t even have to fiddle about with privacy settings.

Cheers djFlex.

Those who got in: do you just have to keep spamming the big red “book event” button? It’s a shambles.

Prior to reading this post I’d have put the strike-through the other way round. What with increased mental health awareness I do now wince when I hear things described as “mad, mental, crazy, fruit-loop bonkers” etc.

However now you mention it, “bananas” is capable of being construed as racist rather than just purely “foolish” or “misguided”.

Four very good reasons for taking this seriously and watching your toungue: 1) you’re not sending a colleague home to their family in a state of distress, 2) you’re not getting harassed out of your job as per the OP, 3) it’s very easy to chop a few words out of your lexicon which as has previously been highlighted, you only use a few times a year anyway, 4) no matter how sincere you think you think you are you cannot count on being able to apologise your way out of the situation.

A cautionary tale. There but for the grace of God etc.

No one can say with any confidence that if only the apology had been more sincere, then it definitely wouldn’t have escalated.

After having read this thread and seen the consequences I definitely won’t be using the term any more, nor will I use any idiom which includes the word “jungle”. I don’t see that loss of linguistic expressiveness as a major problem.

I have two of their gilets (thermal and normal). Their L is very similar to Rapha L, i.e the cut is slim and long-ish. The gilets have a bit of stretch so never constricting. I think they’re great.

What do unions do when both the perpetrator and the victim are members? They can’t advocate for both sides?

Eurosport Player isn’t in the LG App Store. I could get it via Amazon Prime, but then it’s priced at an eye watering £84 pa rather than £20!

Please don’t go down the hundred quids route. It reeks of lowest common denominatorism. £100 will not generate esprit de corps.

weeksy, I’m in the same boat as you mtb and holidaying (even at my own expense) with workmates, but there are a lot of deeply impersonal and antagonistic/adversarial workplace environments out there. Agree that state of affairs (rather than the individuals trapped within it) is saddening.

It depends on the industry. I can understand if you are overstretched and underfunded frontline police, NHS, fire service etc busting your balls every shift, then being asked to attend unpaid “team building” would warrant a sharp rebuff.

However in johndoh’s example I’m assuming private sector, relatively successful small/medium sized business, everyone’s wages/bonus depends on the continued success of the business – such jollies are excellent management. It both rewards the team and generates cameraderie and is genuinely good fun.

I think the mutual incomprehension on this thread maybe down to this differing perspective.

People being people, you then you get the outliers who chuck a spanner in the works.

My sympathies johndoh. No good deed goes unpunished.

Why would it be moronic for a Remainer to vote for the only remain party on offer?

Ref. first past the post, wasted votes etc.

UKIP never had more than one or two MPs, but despite that, they have had a massive influence due to the popular vote they stirred up over the years.

Key was that GE map from I think 2015 which showed second placers, and outwith Scotland & NI it was overwhelmingly purple.

If you’re a Remainer in Eng and Wal, vote Liberal. It’s as simple as that.

Sorry Rusty I missed your edit, you have restated my point 4, which obviously I agree with.

Agree 100%, which is what I was referring to when I said other things had to happen.

Rusty, how do you address point.2?

1. It’s a very emotive subject.
2. The range of standards within the state system is huge.
3. Private schools are little or no better than the very best state schools.
4. It would be highly desirable if all schools could be as good as the best schools.
5. Until that happens, parents who have the means can’t be blamed for playing the hand they’re dealt and prioritising their children’s education.
6. Abolishing private schools is an admirable end, but it is not the means by which we address inequality. Lots of other things have to happen first, otherwise we’re just achieving equality by levelling down. No one wants that.

Does anyone disagree with any of this?

I thought only Garmins had these wee quirks. Seems not.

Labour going further left allows Conservatives to go further right while still managing their margin over Labour.

Don’t think this is a good thing.

Question from a Scottish perspective: my understanding is that all teachers used to be expected to engage in extra-curricular sports/societies etc, but after the mid-80s strikes this arrangement broke down in the state sector and now only continues in the private sector (despite private teachers being paid pretty much the same). Was that the dynamic and is this still the case? If, all else being equal, private schools were abolished/nationalised I guess extra-curricular would cease across the board?

Twas Wolf 359 actually.

Which also features in the Blur song “Far Out” along with a bunch of other stars.

Illegal aliens?
**** you Gomez!

It was Hudson who accused Vasquez of being an illegal alien.

You should think more about the opportunity cost. If you weren’t spending on the car what would you spend it on? And actually would you prefer to spend it on that instead?

Pension/investments? Retire a few years earlier?
Holidays? See the world, ski, bike, scuba?
School/university fees for junior or potential future junior?
House redecoration/extension? Add value to an investment and get some enjoyment from it too?

^^^ this, and seat post and collar too.

Thanks, that’s clear.

Next q; why didn’t Eng start with night Watchmen given low light, cold, only 10 overs etc?

Newb question: when Denly and Burns were padded-up in the pavilion awaiting the Aussie declaration, does that mean that England were two short in the field?

I’ve got one.

Great fit as you say. Properly waterproof and windproof. As with all these things if you put in an effort it gets sweaty. Doesn’t have pit-zips. It rolls up a bit bulky, but can be squeezed into a jersey pocket.

The green eyed monster thinks the shakedry would be better, but at twice the price.

USA, UK, EU and Ireland all agree open border is necessary under GF agreement.

I think you can take it as read. Not sure why swivel-eyed Singletrack forumites are trying to pick it apart!

@ElShalimo

Is basic criminality not pretty straightforward to deal with when it’s not underpinned by civil rights issues/community support?

A ‘new’ Ireland won’t be able to keep much of its identity – national flag, national anthem, health service, police service, government infrastructure.

That much is evident. NI would only ever vote for UI with their wallet, not because they’ve suddenly become GAA supporting leprechaun enthusiasts.

There will be untold civil unrest if a UI happens. Regardless of the majority who vote in favour of it.

See this I don’t quite get. After a UI Loyalist terrorists wouldn’t be a) reacting against Republican terrorism, b) be state sponsored/supported by the UK as they were during the troubles, and c) they won’t be railing against any civil rights injustice (unless Dublin seriously drops the ball). When you say “untold” you make it sound like it would be worse than the troubles, but I just don’t see that the ingredients are there.

Ethno-fascist tropes such as catholics outbreeding protestants really has no bearing on the prospects for UI. In the noughties we saw that the wealthier catholic middle class were quite happy to vote moderate unionism. On the other side of the coin, self-interested protestant middle class will go for UI if, as is happening, it starts to look like a better economic prospect.

Joining Ireland really holds no fears. It is not the economically moribund, stifling theocracy (relatively speaking) it used to be. The roles have quite startlingly reversed.

You could do a remake of Blue Thunder

Read this and had an instant flashback to:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1Jb9aTSoSchttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1Jb9aTSoSchttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1Jb9aTSoSc