Might be – I'll check with Mrs ddmonkey and report back!

Sfb "to no useful end" thats a moot point, do you mean the WWII Bombing? I suggest you read Bomber Boys by Patrick Bishop. Its a good read and gives all the arguments and evidence for both sides. In the end it hastened the defeat of Nazi Germany, but wasn't nice at all. The story of the whole campaign is fascinating.

Obviously in a wider sense it was all pointless but it wasn't as clear cut at the time.

Yes Hadge I have had the same thing this week, its probably Norovirus. Going round like wildfire at the moment. My head hurt so much on Monday I couldn't get out of bed. Still feeling the effects now. Its really infectious so only way around it is to lie low, clean everything and wash your hands like you've got OCD. Only bleach kills the virus by the way on hard surfaces.

2009 weather was glorious! Dust dust dust! Do it you'll love it.

I'd be very interested if I was in the market for a new bike. I wonder what the price of the frameset will be?

I've pretty much given up being embarrased, within reason. I'm getting to old for it and can't be bothered.

+ 1 for First Light amazing book

Also on that page "The Soldiers War" by Richard Van Emden, a very intersting and moving book. One story that stuck with me was the that of a Canadian soldier who was very tall and was forced to go everywhere bent over to avoid sticking out of the top of trenches. In the end he couldn't put up with it anymore and decided just to stand up straight all the time. Apparently he was hardly ever shot at, theory was he was mistaken for a decoy target to draw out sniper fire. In the end was killed by a shell, as were most people.

Australians call flipflops "thongs", it can't be that. I think you'll find it stands for Flowery T*t W*nk 😉

I have an SLX dual ring and bash set up with a standard old top swing LX front mech working normally (just don't shift up more thn once!) and a Blackpire stinger. Its as quiet as a mouse and works a treat.

while playing bassoons

Your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries

You Terry

I've had a few and they all tend to be pretty comfy for me, but some have fallen apart faster than others. The names are so confusing however that I really couldn't advise you at all…

Was that Swinley BMG? How did you get on?

ouch that hurt

Three wheels on that caravan, and its still rolling along…

Talking of rubber, is that a condom dangling off that tree stump? ^^^

Apparently temperature (v hot but not boiling) and patience (takes a long time)… 🙄

Its a dark art this, I can barley raise a little froth but Mrs ddmonkey can make her coffee look like an icecream… I'll ask her for a master class and pass on any tips I get.

Don't piss into the wind.

"the world is your lobster" are you sure? I thought the world was my hamster?

Service and experience is everything. I think shops will increasingly have to become places to go to hang out, have a coffee, maybe buy something or try something before buying online later. I have a LBS that I do anything to avoid buying from because I hate the experience of going in there, stricly emergencies only.

Oh dear I have been cying with laughter at this this morning thanks all 😆

Does the pope crap in the woods… 😆

Just remember, a stich in time is a friend indeed…

Brilliant – keep em coming… 😆

Mrs ddmonkey has offered her friend's "don't count your lucky chickens"

Knowing when to give up is a life skill.

Thanks I'll have a look.

I'd love to but I have been enslaved by the DIY Ogre…

You can keep Kyle – Rachel Riley!

Its amazing how uptight aussies can be…

If had to live in a world where I had to buy bike stuff from Asda I think I would die.

65mm on my FS, 80mm and 90mm on hardtails.

Yeah – you don't need anything particularly grippy, but its nice to feel a bit secure. If you feel comfortable riding around with them then they should be fine.

Whatever pedals you feel comfortable with normally, only you can know.

Far too sickly and yucky, +1 for caramel eggs (cos they aren't sticky and full of sugar at all… 🙂

What does a can service involve? Do you need any special tools?

Rough Ride by Paul Kimmage is an interesting if slightly bitter insight into the tour.

Hello! Rachel Riley….

Calpol can cause drowsiness in littlies.

Plus the forecast is for the Garston area, not the exact patch of ground you are standing on. It could be raining across the road…