Went out running this morning. Feel good so far, but the post-lunch crash is not going to be fun.

Good thing I have a 3 course meal planned for later tonight!

I’ve run my HDs on 26″ wheels at 9 and 10 PSI with no problems.

I’m 64kg wringing wet though!

How do those Exteondo bibs compare to mid range Sportful or higher end DHB stuff?

Apart from one pair of Nukeproof Electrons I’ve always used either V8s, V12s and now Vaults.

What’s wrong with the Electrons?

Thinking about some Saints myself. Say it isn’t so with the bearings. How can you tell? Do they suddenly begin to spin freely?

Take up middle/long distance running.

You will hate it so much that any kind of cycling will seem like a relief.

I used to run, then I found bikes. Now I just run if I’m bored of the bike and it all comes flooding back.

Why does the standover matter? Genuinely asking this as I have been thinking about this for a while. If the BB height is the same across frame sizes then it only matters when you dismount right?

Cheers!

How many walks/hours of training does it take for them to learn to walk to heel?

perhaps someone at the insurance co also rides bikes and would prefer the bike for himself ?

But why would you ride a Jones?

Joking aside, I’d write to them and make things formal. Either way you will know where you stand sharpish. It’s a 5k bike right? £50-£100 on a solicitor’s letter is worth it for your peace of mind.

Some good info here, thanks folks.

Are dual position forks ever ok to use for general riding in the lowered setting? Or is it a climbing only thing?

I used to run my 2012 Fox RLC FiTs locked out for climbing, but leave it open all times now and I’m pretty happy with how it climbs. Even for extended ones.

Does that mean you are storing their property for them? I’d pay a solicitor a few quid to write to them and say you will be charging them to store, and insure their property while they make their mind up and will subtract the costs from any amount they look to recover.

There’s some truth in the manufacturer blurb, but in tennis it’s a lot worse than cycling so I’d just stick with what you’ve already got if you’re comfortable with it and invest the money in lessons with a decent coach, and practice. In addition to the coaching you could consider paying someone to “hit” with you. I don’t mean going out and playing sets, but rallies focussed on a particular shot, or shot combo. For example, work on your down the line forehand/backhand, or my favourite session, my cross-court forehand/backhand to the other player’s down the line forehand/backhand. These are the sessions that will make you improve. This will buy you the best return in terms of real improvement because you will work on your strokeplay and your movement.

If you’ve not got time for this then I suggest you up your tennis specific fitness. Short sprints, side to side movements, back pedalling, skipping, flexibility training. Cheap, doable even in a small garden and they are time efficient.

Almost none of the pros play with what’s actually on the market. Their rackets are usually the ones they’ve played with since they were about 16 painted to look like what they’re currently flogging.

If you just want to buy a shiny new racket, then pick your favourite pro, go to a shop and buy the racket you think he/she is playing with, or ask for a club version of it. The latter will be lighter, and probably a larger head size to compensate for club players’ lack of technique and strength.

If you still want to just indulge in some retail therapy, the money is better invested in a good pair of shoes. This is one place where the manufacturer is not conning you. The shoes of today versus what I could buy 20 years ago are light years ahead. Lighter, more breathable and perhaps more durable too. Rackets haven’t changed much or at all.

Has he actually gotten it back yet? Reminds me, I should probably record the serial numbers on mine.

Aren’t Clermont’s football side the one that hired a female manager who promptly quit because the chairman turned out to be a sexist arsehole?

That is all I know about it.

Cheers gonzy.

Where are you getting a pair of SLX for just over £100?

I have e-mailed them.

OH THE HUMANITY!

Will this forever remain a mystery?

I know a guy. Pretty successful time triallist who had an Addict with Ultegra. He preferred the feel of 105 so much that he swapped the Ultegra for it!

This one for me please:

Only thing someone’s salary tells you is how good they are at negotiating remuneration for their services.

Don’t buy the “only the best contract” line. I’ve seen some pretty shocking ones. They get moved on quickly.

Perfect excuse to buy a new front wheel for the Whippet!

Give it to me, I can put it on my SS.

I’ve got a Trailstar/Pacestar front/rear HD combo. I have a new Pacestar, but the rear is looking a bit tatty.

At the price Handtec are doing the 500 for and assuming you do not need full mapping then I’d be going for one of those.

Prices seem to be ex-VAT. When you click on the product it mentiones a VAT and non-VAT price.

Thanks.

I also do this with my cameras and my phone. I take a photo of my contact details so if someone ever finds them they can return them to me if they’re so inclined.

I lost my Garmin after an OTB in the first week I had it. Thankfully an eagle eyed mate found it in a puddle, happily unscathed! You learn pretty fast after that. It has a tendency to come out of the mount if you crash so I now store it in my Camelbak/zipped jersey pocket if I’m riding somewhere new and I’m unsure of the terrain.

If you don’t need maps then a second hand Edge 500.

Not much consolation, but there is a text file you can edit on the filesystem that lets it display some custom text on boot. I have this set to my contact details in case it’s found by a good soul.

Yes, but they have to be TLD.

 despite seeing my mates a little more it didnt fill a hole

Sounds like you were unhappy before you got back in the relationship. Learn to be happy on your own perhaps mate?

Also, I’d not want someone to stay with me because they felt sorry for me.

Down and Out In Paris and London is worth a Billion 20 year old multimillionaire footballer/publicity whore/vacuous twunt autobiographies.

Yes. Read 1984.

My first proper MTB was a Claud Butler Cape Wrath. It had:

– My first disc brakes. Which I oiled when they began to squeal. Much hilarity ensued on the descents.
– Rockshox J1s(?) which had two settings. Locked out, or bottomed out.
– Quad brakes, which were pretty good until they went squidgy and I couldn’t figure out how to bleed them.
– Cup and cone wheels which wouldn’t turn after I tried to service them. Fixed that in the end.

I then spunked a load of money on new wheels and a few blingy parts. More than the bike was worth to be honest before flogging it for £150. The bloke who bought it was cannibalising it for the parts. 🙁

It was also a 21″. I now ride a 16″ Whippet!

Zero nostalgia, but I feel sad when I think that frame will get no more use. It could have been someone’s run around bike. We had some great times together and I learned a lot about riding and spannering with that bike.

Pop me an e-mail (in profile) if you want to try and sync up. Could be touch and go though.

I looked at that book and decided against it because:

– A lot of recipes are rice cakes. Just the flavours change.
– Stupid American measurements.

If you can wait till 4:45 then I could join you.

Something unsuitable that you spend way too much time and money trying to get right before giving up and selling in order to fund your first “proper” bike?

Peanut butter and jam, or jam and cream cheese bagel. Wrapped in foil so it doesn’t get sweaty.

Just finished baking a batch of Nigella’s breakfast cereal bars. Can add peanut butter to them if you want a bit more of a savoury taste. Keep better than a sandwich as well.

Mine’s a 2010 model.

.

Thanks to everyone for your advice! I’ve just bought myself a WTP Trust on eBay for less than £50.

Now I just need to wait a few weeks so I can get it. Really looking forward to this!

There’s nobody around before 11 at the weekend! I’ll check Source BMX as well. Cheers.

Cookeaa, how about I get a BMX and we can both go riding at Longhill BMX Park!