I work away from home during the week and could drive or get the train.

Train wins for me as it’s less stressful, less tiring, I can work while travelling, usually less holdups (and when there are there’s nothing you can do) and I’m not out of pocket*.
People complain about crap service but to be fair I think it’s pretty good on the routes I use – Value for money is a different subject.

Downsides are that it takes longer (on a good day) and is less flexible.

* Work pay a massive 15p a mile for car travel which won’t cover petrol
(You can claim 25p back at the end of the year but I’m still out of pocket)

If I were paying the costs myself it may well be a different matter

I could rant about public transport being run by the private sector when it should be public but it just makes me angry …. and relax.

I started doing Tri’s a few years ago to give me some motivation to get a bit fitter.

First thing is to set yourself a goal – not easy but realistic.
Without a goal no coach can set you a plan and it needs to come from yourself, and be something you can fit into your life.

Some people want to just complete an Olympic distance, some a sprint – don’t try an IM – not without doing something shorter first to sort out your technique.

Personally I’ve been trying to do Sprints and aiming to get my time down. First sprint I did I set a time of 1hr30 to get about halfway in my age group. 3yrs on I’ve brought that down to 1hr10 and any other improvements are going to be difficult and require more training time than I can probably commit to.

Not sure what my next challenge is going to be – probably a move up to Olympic – but I’d want to do it in a competitive(ish) time rather than just get round. But without a goal it’s hard to train properly.

+1 for Sugru.
I can’t help but look at things with a view to improving them.

Latest improvements

Replacing rubber plugs with Sugru on front mud guard to make it fit better
Adding Sugru ‘wings’ to iphone charger plug as to make it easier to remove from wall
Making bottom of a mixing bowl ‘grippy’ with a thin roll of Sugru.

Magic stuff

How do manage to put a montana 6 up yourself?

OK a brief description, hopefully enough to get the idea.

Idea is to raise it from the rear, one section at a time – to about 60deg to start with. Then stretch the tent, adjust and peg out fully.

Prep.
Layout the tent and make sure the doors and windows are open to allow air to get in more easily. Slacken off the straps where the poles attach at the bottom. Untie the ropes.

Peg out only the rear corners of the tent

Build up the poles and feed them through the sleeves. Insert the pins into the bottom of the rear poles – you can do the others but need the rear one to start with the others you can do when it’s up.
Make sure the poles are all facing with the legs facing the front of the tent and are stretched out so there will be less weight on the rear part of the tent.

With a tent peg in hand, and rope untied, slowly pull up on the rear poles until you get it to about 45 to 60 degrees. That is not fully up. Do it slowly using your weight to allow the air to fill the tent. Peg it out at angle to hold the pole up. Nip around the other side and peg out the other pole.

If you haven’t already insert pole pins then, repeat for rear middle pole, should be easier as there is less weight and more air in the tent.

Then middle front – but use this to pull the rear two sections more vertical.
Before you do the front poles peg out the rear ropes at the back windows so you don’t pull the whole thing over.

When you get to the front poles you should be able to pull it vertical.

You can then easily pull it properly adjust pole straps peg out etc

Next time I do it I’ll take some photos.

I take a variety of food with me as there are times when you really can’t face pasta/gels etc. It’s quite important to eat and drink regularly.

Working out a lap time is difficult for the first time – most people reckon on an hour, but conditions and the course can make a big difference – also one persons idea of fitness can be rather different to someone else.

Training is easy – just ride as much as you can. It’ll hurt no matter how much you do , you’ll just be faster and do more laps – the pain is the same. It’s good to ride with the other people in the team beforehand to understand your relative fitness\ability etc. Makes lap timing a bit easier so you’re not hanging around for ages waiting for a handover.

Kit wise it’s nice to have dry, clean kit for each lap but it’s not essential – I’d say a comfy chair is.
Basically take everything you own and prepare for baking hot weather and a mud bath.

It’s only 9 miles a lap, rest for 3 hrs then do it again – how hard can it be? :-)

I have a Montana 6 and can put it up myself – it took a few go’s but it’s not that hard once you work out how.

It’s a cracking tent – a bit on the expensive side if you don’t use it a lot but worth it IMO. I got the extension and carpet which make quite a difference I’d recommend them if you can afford.

Past few weeks I’ve done the same local trails with both Medusa mud tyres and Ralphs.

Both move about and squirm – you just need to get used to it and keep your weight central. Medusa’s let you ride slower through mud and do have amazing grip, the ralphs require a full bore effort and better line choice to keep moving.

Don’t back off – it’s all a part of the fun of winter riding and will make you a better rider.

+1

If you’ve not been before I’d advise booking some lessons for while you’re out there.

We went for the first time last year and did just that – did our own lessons in the morning and met up with the others in the afternoon.

It meant I could learn properly with people of similar ability, the experienced people could do harder stuff in the morning and we did easier stuff together in the afternoon.

My skiing came on leaps and bounds with the lessons then practising it with the faster skiers. I found that having a MTB background helped a lot on the faster stuff as you’re used to being bumped around at speed and on the edge on control. The only odd thing was on skis you lean down hill to keep control and back on a bike.

Enjoy.

As others have said – I don’t regret anything I’ve done and rarely regret things I didn’t apart from …

I do slightly regret not pushing my wife to go travelling when we’d sold one house, were looking for another, had enough cash to live on the interest, both had jobs we didn’t like, daughter was young … all the stars aligned and pointed to buggering off for a year or so.

She agrees now we should have grasped that moment – I was (am ?) too nice to push her at the time.

I had a similar dilemma and ordered Hope Pro II Evo with Crests for my new build, unless my wife is reading in which case I’ll have some for sale. They looked to be the best value light wheels around. I don’t liek the bling look of American classics – not for this build anyway.

There’s been a delay in the hubs but they should be here soon so I’ll be heading over to PHC for the build and a ride on the Long Mynd in a couple of weeks

I was looking for a manual a few years ago, test drove an auto and have had it on the family car since. Had a small second car that was manual but we got rid of that as we hardly used it.
Can’t see me changing back to a manual on the big car.

It’s more relaxing to drive and if I want some fun I have the motorbike.

Just to add a bit of balance to this one sided discussion.

‘You’ll be fine, as long as it’s not gushing out why bother your doc – and while I’m here – I recommend a pair of Maxxis cross marks, a merino top, a pint of cold lager and a Mondeo estate.’

What was the question again ?

If you want to do something about it – start paying off a bit more of your mortgage so you can survive on a lower salary.

Sort out enough savings to give you 6mnths of living on essentials and you’re all set.

If you get made redundant you can cancel a lot of stuff, reduce what you spend, talk to the bank about interest only payments (or your mortgage might let you take holidays etc)

This will give you time to think about what you want to do.

What the previous replies said.
Stop worrying, get in the pool and swim a length. Then swim another.
Then build it up and set yourself goals.

Technique is rather important – I watched those people in the pool who looked efficient and tried to copy them – don’t thrash or try to swim quickly as you’ll demoralise yourself.
Once I built up to swimming 40 or so lengths without stopping I found it helped a lot to join a tri club and attend swim coaching where you swim 2 – 2.5k in an hour with someone coaching on technique.

Enter a sprint tri – it’ll give you the motivation and goal of swimming 400m – it’s only 16 lengths – easily achievable.

Good luck and keep us posted on progress

Very interesting thread.

Don’t often ride in areas where you get ticks but just bought a pair of tick removers for £5 from
http://www.bada-uk.org/products/tickremover.php
to add to my ride pack.

Hopefully the best £5 I’ll ever spend and never use.

GL with the recovery

I use a Garmin Forerunner 305 (watch type) and find it very useful mainly for an accurate speed/distance/heart rate/calories record.

Yes you could use a wireless cycle computer but I find it useful to look back over time to see how I’ve improved over particular sections and you can’t download data to a PC from a cycle computer.

It’s more accurate for calories than a cycle computer and it has the benefits of giving a backup if you get lost or unsure which way to go.

That’s what I like – whether it’s useful for you is another matter.

Onewheelgood has one – an 09 X1 – He’ll be here soon as he’s away with work.

To pre-empt his response and from my one ride on it.

It’s a proper xc bike, very capable, very fast, amazing VFM.
Bearings lasted about 12-18mnths and proper replacements seems a tad expensive.

If you want long travel, slack angles, wide bars etc then it’s not for you.
If you want a fast, race orientated bike (that feels twitchy on first ride but telepathic once you get used to it) then it’s hard to beat.

Nothing wrong here.
Perfectly normal.

I spent many years riding a hardtail and while it’s just different.

2 or so years ago I bought a Yeti ASR and loved it as there are sections of our local route that I can ride so much faster – like a ploughed field, but I then re-rode the old hardtail and re-discovered the reconnected feel it has.

This has prompted me to buy a new HT frame and build it up. Some bits I’ll go faster on, some slower, some I’ll have to stand more. It’s just different and you need to adjust how you ride to the bike.

Either way you’ll end up a better rider.

Ooo I’ve got to add to this

Water is the common name for the chemical with the composition H2O in the same way that methane is the common name for CH4 etc
The properties of ‘water’ are exactly those exhibited by the molecule H20 – by definition.

and it’s not possible to give a definitive answer to “How many molecules of water are there in the Ocean” – It will be constantly changing to the point where it’s not possible to answer. The best you can do is give a rough estimate and even that will be extremely difficult to validate.

This leads to the only possible answer being as Sawyer eloquently put :

Lots.

Make sure the entry is in the post a week on Monday or deliver it by hand.

If it’s 1 or 2 laps it won’t really matter what you ride – There’ll be people on all sorts and a lap is only 9 miles or so.

The most important thing is to have the right attitude and fun.

It’s a cracking event so ignore those who complain about it not being hard enough/not as good as other events etc
I’m a relative newbie having done it 3 times and despite it hurting at the time it’s the first date on my calendar each year.

Having bought loads of pairs of shorts over the years, spending about £35 a time I’d highly recommend spending at least double that.

It really does make a difference, you get better quality shorts that are more comfortable and will last at least twice the time of the cheaper ones.

I also switched to bib shorts and find they make quite a difference to the comfort as well.

For the record I wear Endura FS260 bib shorts – Cost about £75 a year or so ago and look and feel new.

I only use cream when I’m riding Mayhem – never needed it for most of the rides I do.

Having done a few Tri’s and read around rather a lot if you’re after time savings per £ then I’d look first at getting a coach

She’d make improvements to technique in all 3 events and the key to a faster time is improving technique and efficiency together with improving fitness/stamina etc

A good coach should help with bike positioning and set a training schedule that will result in way more improvements than spending a couple of grand on a TT bike will.
I don’t think it’s that expensive to get a session in a wind tunnel where they measure your power output in a range of positions to find out what works for the individual – there’s no one single right position that works for everyone.

It is a rather addictive thing to get into and little surprise it’s one of the fastest growing sports.

AY-Ups tend to get great reviews, particularly value for money – I have some and they are rather good.

Now shipping from the UK as well

We stay in a nice cottage near Carningli most Easter Hols.
Last time I did a nice route by doing what you’re planning and sitting down with a map and working a nice circular route out. Was most pleasant and I’m planning more of the same this April.

There was an MTB race starting in Newport a week or so after we left and going up or over Carningli I think – as a part of the Newport Spring Festival – there might be a map of the route on t’initernet.

I just had a Vaillant combi fitted – Ecotec Exclusive 838 which is for bath, shower and 12 rads (3 small) and it’s been good.
2 weeks in and the pump started making loud noises. Vaillant couriered the part to our house and sent an engineer out to swap it out and it’s been fine since.
Apart from that it runs very quietly, hot water is quick to come through – easy controls which tell you what it’s doing.

I had all the rads changed as well and the tanks taken out (change of plan) and so just a boiler change would be in your price range.
Chaps who fitted it hadn’t done this model before but were very impressed compared to others. They also routed the condesate pipe to a sink waste.

So far I’d recommend it. Things do go wrong and they sorted it pretty well.

Asking for bike bits is a dangerous thing – If I were to do that the wife would find out how much stuff costs. Cheap is a relative term and I’d rather not align our thinking.

Last year I asked for some cleaning stuff and this year a voucher for a skills day.

I’d just like to point out that I haven’t really just bought a Van Nic Tuareg, Ti seatpost and collar, XT chainset, hope PRO2 Evo hubs on crest rims, new fox FIT RLC forks and hope Tech X2 brakes with braided hose. It won’t be built up in Jan when all the bits would have arrived if I’d bought them.

Not me sir – I just don’t do things like that as I already have a bike.

If I had I’d be excited but as I haven’t I’m not.

I wear weekly disposables, take a spare pair with me at all time when riding although never needed them.

I always wear riding glasses though. clear, yellow or tinted and never had any problems.

I’ve just cancelled the AA as they, for the second year assumed I would allow a renewal for twice the amount of the previous year.

They have a good deal if you go through quidco and apply online

I’m going with AutoAid as we’ve never had a callout, can afford to pay and claim back and they get rave reviews.

It’s a simpler question to ask who isn’t irritating/annoying.

50-50 for me depending on time and tools.

Just had the shop replace the rear sus bearings as they charged me £10 labour and have all the tools etc to do it properly. Might help that I bought it from them and drop in a lot.

I also work away a lot so while I love tinkering myself, time at home is limited and being able to drop it off and get it a few days later all sorted often works.

Dr DaveRambo – AI in Analytical Chemistry

I’m on my second pair of Sidis – my first pair of Dragons lasted a ridiculous amount of time (as in a long time) – replaced them with another pair about 4 years ago and have recently replaced the sole grips for £30 (I think it’s the second time I’ve done it) and they look as good as new.

I can understand people not wanting to shell out the money for them s they aren’t cheap but IMHO are good value for money – great quality, last ages, most bits replaceable.

I went to Gran Canaria many years ago.
Went with a mate – just the 2 of us and we camped as the weather is usually pretty warm all year round.

We did a bit of touring, a bit of riding and a bit of hanging out.

The trails we rode were great, a lot of climbing of course as it’s volcanic but it was so long ago I guess a lot of things will have changed.

It was a fantastic trip – very cheap as we camped and something I’d love to do again.
We took a lot of spares with us as we weren’t sure of what would be available – glad we did.

I went to Gran Canaria many years ago.
Went with a mate – just the 2 of us and we camped as the weather is usually pretty warm all year round.

We did a bit of touring, a bit of riding and a bit of hanging out.

The trails we rode were great, a lot of climbing of course as it’s volcanic but it was so long ago I guess a lot of things will have changed.

It was a fantastic trip – very cheap as we camped and something I’d love to do again.
We took a lot of spares with us as we weren’t sure of what would be available – glad we did.

Another happy chappy here.

The rear does look flimsy – it’s fantastic, sculpted, engineered – a work of art.

Never had a problem and I love it.

As above – they do what it says on the tin.
Just before Mayhem I ordered 4 tyres and tubes at 5pm delivered 9.30 the next day.

Decent prices, reasonable range and great service – what more could you ask for.

I started doing tri’s a couple of years ago and the one thing you learn is that the actual race is the easy bit.
The hard bit is getting to the start line in a state that you know you can complete it in the time you want (or to just complete it).

The longer the distance the more time it takes to train.
If I were you I’d start of planning a year of shorter distances, sprints (400m swim, 14m ride, 5k run) or olympic (1500m, 25m, 10k) then look to do it the year after.
If you just want to get round then you need less training but given your comment of the marathon time I don’t think that would appeal.

It’s hard enough training for one event and putting enough in for a half ironman (70.3) takes some doing and just being able to do each distance is just the start – it’s a bit harder doing one after the other.

Either way it’s addictive – I do the races to give me motivation for the training which I love (and the toys as well)

For better info check out tritalk.co.uk – people with better and more info that I live there.