you wont be needing those….

They were for the F/S. I have the S/S set up with trailrakers "just in case" …… but didn't need it last year so it must have been dry.

Back again for another solo attempt but this time have the g/f helping in the pits. As she's never been to an MTB event and in fact only rode off road for the first time last Sunday I'm not sure she really knows what she's let herself in for !!!! I'm just making sure I have the keys to the van so she can't drive off at 4 in the morning when I've lost the plot…..

So the same mud sections as last year with a few more new possibly muddy sections thrown in for good measure ??? Just had Rutland Cycles email me saying they're out of stock of 1.5" Mud Sharks 🙁

I've had this with JRA wheel milk a couple of times. The second was when fitting the tyre and I'd used CO2 to inflate the tyre the stuff turned into a ball. Not sure why it happens but not related to lenght of time it's been used.

I tried creatine three years ago and got cramp on longer rides – I seem to remember googling at the time and finding other's who'd had the same problem.

Whey protein – I sometimes drink it with skimmed milk after a long ride as part of the recovery. I think that people say it's better with water and you should avoid milk but I like it as a milkshake and it provides some quick and easy protein. Having said that a ready made bought product that doesn't have to be kept cold is good when you go away for a day ride. I buy it from Holland and Barratt when it's half price.

"You've put your point across in a logical, fair and well thought out manner"

"Does your mum know you're on here and not doing your homework?"

Not sure of the material but it's a standard race style jersey (from Endura I think). Not worn it since last year and didn't realise it was quite so brown !!!! Maybe I'll tie dye it ??

The extractor fan is ducted through the wall so in effect it's a sealed unit meaning they shouldn't get into the kitchen …. unless they eat through the ducting 😯 …. which they might do if the colony gets too big for the space they're in !!!

I'm in Stratford on Avon. I think they're bumble bees rather than honey bees so won't be usefull for breeding stock.

Tks for the replies and especially like the idea of the honey dispenser 😆

Think the hood is basically hooked over some brackets so might open the patio doors, lift off the hood and run like mad into the garden with it surrounded by a swarm of angry bees.

or phone the local bee keepers.

True, not been to Ettington Park for years as I'm not posh enough – saw some bands there in my youth and did get up on the roof once but that was a long time ago……

I've a standard mortgage with the Nationwide that allows me to overpay and then take the overpayment out if I need to. Don't think in the usual names that banks / building societies talk about but …..

mortgage = you are borrowing money from the bank
savings = you are lending money to the bank
Cash ISA = you are lending money to the bank

Traditionally people have had a mortgage (loan) from the bank at say 4% only to have a savings account (ie lend it back) @ 2%? They try to confuse you with different names and of course it's in the banks / BS interest for you to borrow money off them and then lend it back at a lowe rate.

And any interest saved on the mortgage is not subject to tax whereas savings are (usually) subject to tax. So in the above you'd have to save at 4% plus your rate of tax to be better than paying off the mortgage.

Of course it's strange times at the moment as my mortgage interest rate is LESS than I can get on a fixed rate ISA and it's normally the other way round. Same with some investments I've held for a few years.

Re offset mortgages – excellent idea but the interest rate is usually higher than a standard mortgage. All boils down to the sums involved.

Any decent riding to be had ….. We're from the peaks so used to rocks and hills what not, quite fancy trying some woodsy singletrack

Just picking myself up off the floor after falling off my chair laughing …. at least I didn't spill my wine.

Sheldon's "play area" / The Cotswolds can be fun in the dry if you know where to go – did 41 miles and 1800m of climbing at the weekend but the Peaks it is not.

RD – might not be "Ettington Park" which is in fact outside Newbold on Stour but could be "Ettington Chase" which is outside Ettington.

Ettington Park has a bridleway running behind it and you could have a quick blast in between courses – plenty of deer to see as well.

Just noticed that Ben Fogle and James Cracknell are listed as ITT starters in August

Are the rules for the ITT the same as the divide – as in you must be self sufficient? Interesting to see how they do it, both ride together for moral support? camera crew along the way?

When I had a warranty issue with my Trek about five years ago I had to go via the LBS Trek dealer rather than direct even though I'd have rather of gone direct. Even though this was slower it was all sorted in the end.

Can't see the matching numbers for bike and rider working at an event like MM – a van is leaving and they say they have no bikes, you can't see in the back and they refuse to have the inside of the van checked. Are you going to insist they open the van or is every van / car going to be checked on the way out?

For some events you might be able to lock bikes up over night in a container and put guards on it and then permit holder gets bike in the morning. Or maybe we'll all have to fit GPS trackers into the frames but I think the weight might be as issue to racers.

The boiler scrappage scheme has closed as all the vouchers have been given out so no £400 cash back anymore.

IME it's more difficult to get plumbers in the winter as there is more work for them – whether their prices go up/down seasonaly I don't know. In the summer if it's a big job they can do it over a few days and the lack of heating won't matter – I had mine replaced this year and they did it in a day so it wasn't a problem. The quotes I got varied a lot – the firms local to me are very expensive so I got someone from further afield where the prices are cheaper but the work just as good.

Lots of variables such as future price of electricity, interest rates, are you borrowing money or using savings?, how much of the generated electric you'll use, if you sell the house how much will the house price be increased with the system, maintenance of the system – the panels might last 25 years but will the electrics?

But what most people forget is the fact that if you don't buy a system (say £10k) but invest the money then you'll have £10k plus interest at the end of year 1. If you buy the system then you have the FIT plus what energy you used yourself, say £800. Most genuine calculations I've seen have these two figures matching after 12 – 15 years (see variables above). After that then you're making more money from the PV panels. That's if you're still in the house of course.

From looking at some quotes people have got some of these companies have hyped the prices up due to big demand / limited supply and you have to use an accredited installer which reduces the companies which can fit them.

just noticed thats 47 riders on the start line

Getting a bit popular compared to a few years ago !!!!! It's on my list of things to do but I'll have to work on my mental toughness first….

I was at the Builth CRC at the weekend on the free taster session from CycleActive – after learning how to brake more efficiently one person said "I've been riding for 20 years and I've learnt something new already". Sometimes you don't know there's a better way and coaching is a way of finding out.

Did he ask at the event? They might have had all the categories on the PC they were using so could tell him then.

<EDIT> too slow …. just like my riding !!!!

I was looking for results by class and distance?

From web site – "Due to legal restrictions we are not able to give more details on the results than provided here" 'cos it's not a race as it's on bridleways / roads etc.

Look at the race numbers as that's the distance entered. But people then change distance and / or take short cuts which means the results don't mean a lot.

Main tool you need is the headset press to fit the cups. You could make one yourself they're not difficult. Or you could use the gentle tapping with a hammer. Going one step further you could get the headtube faced to make sure the bearings are parallel – I had one bike done and it was smoother but it's not important that you do it.

Soloing again this year but not got the miles in for various reasons so not expecting much. Probably my last at Mayhem – there are other races out there which have popped up in the last few years that provide something different.

Write down everything you spend money on for a month – no matter how small the amount. Then see where you're spending the cash and you might be surprised by how much more you spend on some things that you originally thought. You can then decide if you want to cut back on some things.

39.8 miles on GPS. Just over 40 miles on bike computer but that's set up with a generic 26 * 2.1 wheel circumferance as I can't be bothered to remeasure if I swap between different makes of 2.1 tyres.

If you're buying one of the over the counter remedies then look at the active ingredient and see if there's a cheaper non branded version of it – see here for more info …

Clocked the longer route at 40 miles but that was enough for me – had a long sit down in the shade at the last feed station 'cos the heat had got to me 😳 Ended up getting through 6.5 litres of fluids by the end !!!!

Depends what you're doing. If it's going for that last bit of weight loss and speed then RR front and rear would be better. If not then stick with NN up front and RR on the rear. I'm currently using rocket ron up front and RR on the rear which is fine.

I'm just trying to break even

Is it because I'm asking £80 for it

Didn't it cost £65 to enter plus the cost of some stamps and envelopes?

Did the Dyfi in 2008 and it's rockier and more technical. Builth tends to be XC orientated but if it's this dry at the weekend it'll be a good fast course. The different distances usually, though not always, follow the same route until they diverge. This means you can choose at the half marathon split whether to carry on and do the full distance or only do the half. Doesn't matter what distance you've entered, you ride which ever one you like on the day.

Internet dating is like selling a car. Your profile is the advert to get someone interested in getting in touch. Email/text/phone is convincing them to come along on a date (view the car) to ask details about it's owners, service history and performance. If you're lucky they may take the car for a test drive and decide to keep it for a while before trading it in for a different model when it starts to show it's age and/or is replaced by a shinier model.

Leamington spa is on the grand union, lots of pubs, a few grotty clubs and some really quite attractive girls

Oh yes….I can recommend Rios – Leamingtons "premier" night spot for an interesting night out 😆 Or the Assembly on Cortina nights…..

and places to avoid like the plague

.
Urm, Coventry ??

The post codes used to identify flood areas change over time so that might be a factor.

NFU Mutual (not NFU, they're the Farming union!!!) cover bikes without being specified up to a set value (can't remember figure sorry) – above this they have to be specified. Both the flood and the specified bike(s) due to value might refer to an Underwriter for them to consider. Oh, and bikes aren't covered in racing or competition – if you want that ask as it used to be possible to extend cover. Google "NFU Mutual" for the UK call centre phone number – they don't have an internet quote engine.

An ex g/f was big into Spiritual Churches so sat through a few of them. The mediums are very good but even I could spot their fishing questions. "Any one know someone called <insert popular name life Alf> who died violently?" to an audience made up of pensioners who fought or were around in the Second World war. Surprise surprise someone did know someone called Alf or Alfie.

IMO these people were grieving for lost relatives and were looking for solice. What the mediums said was never malicious but usually along the lines of "he's happy where he is" or advice to how they could move on.

As for is there an after life? I've no evidence either way but am trying to enjoy this life on the basis that there isn't anything afterwards !!!!

Many years ago I was watching an episode of Frost – the baddy holed up hiding somewhere and not going anywhere. Back up on the way. So all Frost had to do was sit tight till the cavalry arrived and then wander in … "hello son you're nicked". But no, off he trots to confront the baddy on his won so they could have a chase scene.

Oh and Ashes to Ashes S3 is pants but I still watch it.

Found it OK in mainly dry conditions when off road touring as the chain kept clean and was therefore easy to relube at the end of the day but no good once it got wet.

I remember the first time I voted. I was so young and excited that I turned up a day early at the polling station. A case of premature election 😀

Just had a Worcester Bosch 28i Junior fitted after talking to a few plumbers. Not overly impressed with a combi but depends on your circumstances. Mine were 3 bedroom house, 1 bath/shower, 3 other hot/cold taps so combi does cope. So far points are ….

– this model doesn't have an adjustable water temperature but has it set to 55 degrees. Think it would be better to have gone up a model so I can adjust the temperature in Winter and Summer as the hot water at the furthest tap was only just OK for washing dishes in the Winter and now in the Summer I have to add cold water.

– it has reduced my gas usage with no heating by about 25%. Difficult to estimate central heating savings if any.

– length of warranties vary – some are 1 year, others are 5

– warranty relies on you getting it serviced

– modern boilers are not as reliable as older ones so better off paying more in the short term than maintenance in the longer.

<Edit>
Shop around for quotes and go for someone with a good reputation as the prices I was given varies a lot.