BBQ a Swan together

Cant the rain wait until Friday? Im going to Cranham on Thursday for the first time in ages…

Standish is good too! There has been some trail building going on at the end of the main track that leaves from near the car park. Its towards the end where the trail used to get boggy near the road. Someone has gone to the trouble to mark it and build some berms/ jump ; some woodchip put down too. Needs packing down but ace to see some new stuff!

Got the Wife a Card my 2 year old son and I made. She was absolutely chuffed. Just put the boy to bed so She can now continue her Mammoth lie -in until 13.00 where she will be delivered something awful from KFC 🙂

Luckily, I also have dog Duties so its up to the Woods for me with bike and Spaniels for a few hours!

For the record, the weather is LUSH here in Gloucester and Haresfield/ Standish has a new bit of trail built. Woohoo

Oh, MAN! wrong section faux pas. Sorry dudes

Right click on the taskbar and tick "lock the taskbar" and it wont happen again!

I spin up everything at 1 mph which is fine until I loose grip and come to a complete stop . If I cant disconnect, I inevitably fall off and if I do disconnect I cant bloody get going again.

Quite recently, I have been sticking it on the middle ring and trying to power up stuff which works a treat but leaves me really knackered! Fair play to you singlespeed nutters doing that all day 🙂

Leave the poor woman alone. She'll find out soon enough

agreed! Nothing can prepare you for it…but in a good way. I dont blame you for wanting to plan ahead but when that little dude is in your arms you really wont care about anything else; I certainly wouldnt leave my child with strangers so I can play on my bike!

Its good to get out riding though; the first 3 months can be hell for you and it is good to let off some steam – you might just have to take it in turns for a bit

very cheap build thanks to the STW classifieds and the bay! Cost 1/5th the price of my Meta and I love it just as much!

frame/ forks 86 quid ebay
wheels 20 quid ebay
brakes 38 quid stw forums
other bits stw forums / doner bike (also from stw forums- 50 quid)
new bits = rear mech, tyres, seatclamp, chain , bb 🙂

great dog walking bike and I can ride it to work. Trouble is I really like it and the meta isnt getting a look in!

It gives me something to do on a lazy afternoon

wow I remember those.. (before the little dude came along) damn sure I wouldnt waste one of those now watching football

Julie (then 27) watching the intro to tomorrow's world

"I think it amazing babies can breath under water"

People enjoy all sorts of sports and good luck to them
(I like to watch a test match myself)

Trouble is that football seems more rammed-down-your-throat than the others so If (like me) you hate it it can be pretty damn annoying. Its on the TV, its on my radio at work, its all over the papers and people are even arguing about the game in the locker room.

Did mine but had to take the screws out of the inner ring to get that out of the way (to get the angle of the dangle to get the middle one off)

This was on a Truvative Firex; 32/ 42 off 36 plus bash on

I just had a large "half and half" (1 side texas bbq one tandorri hot as you asked) 2 garlic breads were also consumed, as were 4 garlic and herb dips.

I can confirm the order didn't come with a crown race.

to be fair I read page 1 and skipped to 6 so Pizza/ Crown race discussion may have already been had

erm not quite

I knew it!

So could you teach anybody..even me.

joking aside is it one to one or do you do small groups? 3 of us might be interested…

dancake, even better. look out, as you approach and ride off it

its funny (and sad) really. 2 of my workmates are my ridiing partners who have much bigger balls than me and we have this same conversation.

I usually end up convinced that I am actually brilliant on my bike and walk around with my head held high knowing that TOMORROW is when it will happen for me.

why am I so scared.? I have never broken anything on my bike (ok maybe a rib) and only went over the bars once. That was going over a big jump I didnt know was there sat on a saddle at full extension.

These days the saddle is down and I move around a lot more. I will be fine, right? I dont have much of a technique..just squash the forks a bit and straighten my arms as the fron wheel comes off….simples?? 🙂

be settled before the root drop that you speak of and dont rush to land.

indeed. The problem with this one is that is goes uppishly first and you can only see sky infront of you until the last minute. This puts the willies up me. I can do a similar one with a downward approach and it doesnt bother me at all (the landing is at the same angle as the approach)

It is a relief to see others share my fear of flying.

Getting confident to take features in my stride has become an obsession and I watch this thread with interest to see how others get over it. Truth is that anything I cant ride straight off and demands a bit of commitment sends me hard on the brakes usually resorting in an hilarious spd topple (much to the annoyance of my riding chums who have lost all their flow because of me)

I am slowly building up confidence but it is really slow.
Tomorrow I am going to try AGAIN to build up the confidence to pop of a tiny root (about a foot drop onto a sleep run-off ). Each time I get to it I chicken out though and it is doing my head in. Going out tomorrow before work; wish me luck

I know if I do it a handful of times it will be on to the next one..then the next one. The holy grail is to take off the brakes, look ahead and just ride it!

Huge thread resurrection here, but here is the Budget 456 finished

Frame/ forks/ wheels cheap off the bay
Bits stolen off cheap hardtail I got from STW classifieds
Brakes from STW
(Got a new front/rear mech)
Black seatpost/ lockons coming (from here)

have not ridden it yet of course 🙂

rear hose needs shortening as does the chain…

Coffee. Watching the clock tick to 21.30 so I can leave for work.
Listening to My Wife commenting on Eastenders..

Bliss.

On a more positive note, got a seat in the Work's rugby box for a Glos game tomorrow (free beer/ food) and my New rear mech is turning up so I can complete my Budget 456 .

happy days

? dunno. these jobs?

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=710

dont take my word for it. Just got some tektros myself. Need some pads. Think a chap off here should be sending some..not arrived yet

Shimano 525 I think (or 515?)

Same as my old mishano cable pull jobs

She will be mine

ok she wont

Perfect opportunity to test the new old 456(if it is finished; some of the components are costing more than a fiver which isnt in the spirit of the build)

If Mrs Dancake has forgotton it is V-day then ill try to hot foot it to cleeve

My Boy is 22 Months old and we spent an ace Morning Stripping a Kona yesterday! (Ok I did the stripping and he hit my crankset with a mallet)

I try and get out for a ride once a week Around my shifts on weekdays so I can spend as much time as poss with my boy and the wife at weekends. (when im not working)

Now he is a bit bigger, cant wait to get him on his first balance bike and go out playing!

Mornings like I had yesterday are priceless and you will have them too; you can feel really handcuffed to the house sometimes but this stuff more than makes up for it.

By the same token, the first 3 months can be so stressful. It is important for you and Mum to let off steam. For me having a thrash on the bike was the perfect medicine.

Does this count? Arrived today 🙂

got a real bargain; building into a really budget fun 456

I have been running with a really high saddle since I started this buisiness intil recently. I am now "training" my legs to a lower saddle so I dont have to move it. It hurts like hell and Ill never be as efficient (probably) but god I feel happier now I can move around the bike without it getting in the way!

I went from 22, 32, 42 to a 22, 36 and a bash.

Love the new setup a lot . I never used the outer ring unless I was shifting into it by mistake and I had had a couple of cuts from the thing so removing it is all good.

Took a bit out of the chain, too so it all looks a bit neater and works well.

Harshness is not a bad thing !

I made a right mess of things but we get by ok I guess.

I mentioned "greed" in the original post. It all boils down to that I think. Thanks for all the comments. I know what I am doing which is what I am now!

cheers, Dudes

Not misfortune.

Went absolutely mental on credit from the Moment I started earning…

He talks about taking his son somewhere nice which I would read as an expensive holiday. Truth is most young kids will apreciate their parents spending time with them more than great scenery or exotic locations

sure I mean "expensive holiday" not just for my son, but for my wife who works her arse off every day. Any why shouldnt I show him something different? Our holidays are weekends away with all of us, dogs and all, and we have fantastic times every time .That said, I know my own Son; he would think it would be f**king brilliant.

I have had my best sucess with the 99p start and no reserve. Only one item has ever gone for 99p and thats probably what it was worth TBH

I used to have a starting price that reflected what I wanted; until I once tried to sell a guitar effects unit for 110 quid and got no bidders. Took the plunge and put it back in for 99p and it got bid all the way up to 130 odd quid!

I am always BRUTALLY honest, too (the punters seem to like that) I once sold a battered PS2 with a broken CD drawer for 62 quid when argos were doing them 99 quid new with a Steering wheel and loads of games. Madness.

I never set a reserve as it puts people off (I never give reserved auctions a second look) So far, I think I am "up" but you do loose out sometimes 🙂

edit, of course for the bigger money, I wouldnt do this! (I use other mediums for that; usully if something is worth 100 quid plus, ill do the classified's route)

edit, of course I dont own anything worth 100 quid plus (apart from me bke)

Cheers, guys.

I was kind of hoping no one would say, "its an ace idea" (!)

Downsizing isnt an option, so its a case of muddle through for the next 14 years or so. I guess it is the same for everybody.

I got us in this mess…even the bike was on credit.

Anyway, you need to go and see someone for advice, yhey see angles you may not.

you are quite right. To do it scares the poo out, and I would have to do lots of mulling first .

+1 for the choc cake

Remember you may want to have something to pass to your wee fella – a home may be just the thing.

this is my big argument..however If my wife and I live for ages he will have to wait a long time…maybe an investment for him that is available when he really needs it might be a better option?

Im doing the Marin Rough Ride[/url] . Its the first organised even I have done thus far.

Im trying to trim up and train for this (never done 75K in my life so should be a challenge)

I-drive

oh hang on GT have already done it

With ref to Alex my bike is sometimes called "**** this im diching these f**king SPDs"

I never do though

The battery packs aren't waterproof so I'd strip that down to start with & give it a good clean

+1 ; moisture on the protection circuit (running along the length of the pack) caused this on mine. Ripped the heatshrink off, dried and taped the hell out of it afterwards. Been ok since

Meta ?