Well done, mcboo – at least you’re consistent.

Having just done a promo job for how wonderful and more efficient an even more marketised NHS would be, you now turn your attentions to education. Let the market rip, let the evil LEA bureaucrats wither and die in the cold light of consumer choice, and let’s have social darwinism in all our schools – but it’s a short step here from survival of the fittest to survival of the fattest wallets, and parentwise that’s what we will see as free schools take hold.

Still, the other side of ‘no state to hold back the enlightened wealthy’ is ‘strong state to pen in and criminalise the ungrateful proles’ – what’ll it be? Barbed wire around Brixton? Towers to watch over the good folk of Tower Hamlets? Night patrols and curfews to pick up any kids out in working class areas after 10pm?

What fun……………..

No doubt the next area of social policy you’ll pronounce upon is (while we’re on the subject of curfews) what the market can do for the criminal justice system. Private police forces anyone?

TooTall – last time you or your mate think about buying a bike from me!
The only thing worse than right wing biggots hiding behind the coat tails of the rich and powerful is right wing biggots who lack insight as to their own nature, not to mention their place in history.

RIP
C’mon Beeb,let’s have the sessions with Bert and Davey Graham – very talented pupil with the master (and now they’re both sadly dead.)

Hardtail – simplicity, rigour, honing skill;
FS – doing stuff I can’t do so easily on a hardtail.

Biggots, rich bastards who rule the world, Daily Mail readers……and all those who refuse to be realistic and demand the impossible.

Palestinian statehood?
I support their aspiration.

Couple of years ago I had the use of a Boardman HT Pro for a couple of days – hated it, rigid bone shaker, and didn’t even feel fast.

A few more years ago my wife, just getting into off roading, had a Giant Rock. What a pile of crap. Should have been an OK towpath bike, but it just never worked – a real Friday afternoon bike. Put me (and her) off Giants ever since!

TJ, let’s not bore the good people now, but sometime I’d really like to have this out with you properly – all this lofty medic arrogance which actually flies in the face of overwhelming evidence, both anecdotal and from the bulk of research, that wearing hats clearly helps reduce death and serious injury on the margins.

Yes, if it’s high velocity, then the hat don’t help, and yes, plenty of hat wearers still get serious injuries (but otherwise might have died), and yes, the bulk of traumatic brain injuries are not caused to cyclists whether on or off the mountain or with or without the lid – they happen to people in RTAs, falls, assaults, etc. However, even if the likelihood of TBI is only marginally less through wearing a helmet – why not just do it? The hat won’t harm you, or even your pride, or your gelled hair, let alone your ‘libertarian rights’. Seems like plain perverse behaviour to me.

4XSaab 900 T16 S’s – not all at the same time!
They were what got me through the 90s – rorty, so well designed, built and engineered – practical too (I once slept stretched out with rear seats down in one of mine – and I am/was 6’1″)

So sad about Saab’s demise into mediocrity and unreliability under the dreaded GM………..and now probably heading for extinct status.

I’ve still got one though!

Corr! Lust lust.

Got XC 430s on my Stumpie (that’s the one I bought instead of yours, Mark – sorry!) and boy, are they quick. Seem quite robust so far too, and very easy on the eye.

Coming up to 50, I discovered what I really wanted to do (brain injury rehab and creating new services for ABI people and their families.)

Now, 11 years later, I’m still loving it and I sure as hell don’t want to stop yet. Sure the money’s mainly rubbish to mediocre at best, and the defensive professional and managerial budgetary blikeredness and jobsworthiness is bol****s, and totally short sighted of course, but nonetheless you meet some amazing people who literally rise again from the ashes and inspire us all. I feel privileged…….honestly!

Great bikes – real do-it-all stuff.
Agree about them being built tall, though. Only just fits me at 6′ and 32.5″ inside leg……….which is why I’m selling mine (2008 size L, good kit, 28lb, all for £700 anyone ???)

My Superlight has GP1s and it is so easy on a long trip – easier than my other bikes. Ideally I would fit only Ergons.

Totally agree with the riding/exercise/yoga/even meditation points made by others………..but specifically on your GP and what the NHS can offer:

Over the last couple of years in most parts of the country the NHS mental health services have introduced ‘talking therapies’ – the front line of these go by the acronym of IAPT (Improving Access to Psychological Therapies), and after an initial assessment you may be referred on for CBT (Cognitive Behaviour Therapy) or some othet kind of talking therapy. This is often combined with continued medication, so don’t give up on that – but medication on its own is often (as you have discovered) not enough.

Why your GP hasn’t taken this route for you I don’t know, but GPs are a varied bunch – some are brilliant and inspired human beings and others are, well, crap! Be very direct and assertive in what you ask for and be very clear that what has been offered so far is NOT working. Don’t be fobbed off. If necessary take someone with you to help nail the GP down to effective action.

Very good luck!

EC70s, which I have on one bike, certainly feel excellent and probably slightly less jarring. Main problem I have with carbon bars is that most are so damn narrow. EC70s and Havens are the only ones I’ve found affordably second hand that are wider than 660mm.

So where are the 720mm+ carbon bars?

Spot on…….except that it’s a Fiat and therefore likely to be mechanically unreliable and have trim come away in your hand. Good for space though.

Back to Onza, the Kia Cee’d seems to be well made and good enough to drive – maybe Kia are the new Toyotas, and perhaps a tad less boring. The Focus should be OK mechanically too, and fun to drive.

Come on guys! Let’s raise our horizons a bit. Just because we have ended up with 2 (or is it 3?) sets of goat-humping capitalist managers whose real political differences are scarcely discernable to the naked eye doesn’t mean that it’s all we have to accept, or indeed that this is all there is.

It’s a big world out there.

In previous generations and centuries, people progressed by recognising that what they had to put up with was intolerable, and therefore developing political and economic theories and ideas to challenge the status quo. When they rose up, they had an alternative to strive for – not just mindless **** you-ism. Maybe that’s what we need to do again now, so that we can say ‘sod you’ to Tory, Labour, Lib-Dem and any other small minded self seeker who seeks to restrict our choices.

There’s an old anarchist (not that I am one) slogan that I rather like:

‘Be realistic – demand the impossible!’

Way to go…………

Blimey…………..

Like I can’t remember who, I’ve looked at this thread a couple of times over the last 24 hours, and am overwhelmed by the amount of time and energy some folk expend on establishing sometimes spurious points, then defending their honour, then slagging off others, then acting hurt, then doing it all over again.

Look – 2 points:

First, we are all adults here and should be used (or should become used) to dealing with outspoken points of view robustly expressed, especially if we dish it out. Acting hurt and offended is plain childish and irresponsible, but equally it’s stupid to set out to offend others by personally insulting them – just know that you will reap what you sow. I have encountered some comment in this thread and others which I consider simple minded, reactionary, or downright bigoted, but hey, if that where you’re coming from, then better to say it. Better out than in. That’s what debate is about. You might equally think what I say is outrageous, and that’s your right. Challenge me on what I say if you’d like. I’d prefer that it dealt with the points I make rather than being personal, but again, if you want to slag off, then remember what goes around…..etc. I’ve also at times felt patronised by those who seem to claim the intellectual and moral high ground (you know who you are if you have any insight) but again – if being patronising is your style then go ahead, but remember these things come back to bite you.

Second, on the riots – evidently there are lots of causes and no simple explanations, and the more insightful commentators in the media have made the point that simply blathering on about ‘crime pure and simple’ and making it a moral goodies vs evil ones crusade helps nothing, and infact further inflames the situation. For a whole heap of reasons, there are clearly a bunch of kids (some but by no means all black) who feel totally ****ed off with a system which institutionalises greed and double standards, and which has largely excluded them. We may or may not agree with them, but I think these events have forced us to acknowledge that they exist, and that one way or another, they will make their point. We have to deal with that, and start to work out where we all go from here. The random nihilistic violence against just about anyone that we have seen is actually symptomatic of a failure of politics. The old politics and the old left and right have no meaning at all to these kids (they hate it all and see it as part of the same self-serving system) and so it just comes out as blind rage. So maybe starting to build a new kind of politics which is based in real life experience and which can channel mindlessness into creative but conscious alternative activity might be a good thing to if you like to think you’re on the left……….and if you’re an apologist for the powers that be, then again – you reap what you sow.

That’s it – no more! Back to work now – we’re off to Brecon tomorrow and not before time!

Yesterday I saw a jet black rabbit, who casually hopped out of the way of my front wheel.

Yeti for me – I’ve never quite seen what all the fuss was about re 5 Spots. Mind you, I’ve never owned either, so what do I know?

Execution for all mis-spellers!

I live in Suffolk, not a native, have been here 3.5 years. Love it. Never want to move again. Think some have been a bit unfair about the coast and the N Sea. There is quite a lot of shingle, but some sandy beaches (eg Walberswick and Southwold.) The sea isn’t always uniformly brown – can be delightful and blue on a good day – and I frequently swim in it when I get to the coast. Orford, Aldeburgh, Snape, Woodbridge are other lovely coastal places. There is much late medieval architecture, from when the place was super rich from trading wool with Holland and Flanders.

There are also lots of pretty inland places – Debenham, Framlingham, Earl Soham, Cavendish, Clare, Lavenham – and a huge network of tiny lines and lots of bridleways within which you can get happily lost.

It’s NOT flat, but undulates prettily! Accepting that, there’s lots of good riding – Thetford and Rendlesham Forests, Dunwich Heath, even Alton Water, plus loads of local tracks and trails. You’ll struggle to find much DH but fine for XC and twisty singletrack under trees – and a surprising number of short but very sharp hills.

Great beers (Adnams and various local brews) and v pleasant pubs.

I totally endorse most of the positive comments about Norfolk too (no rivalry here!) The North Norfolk coast is one of my favourite places in the world, and I take foreign friends there and they are amazed – Holkham beach has so much space and miles of sand and dunes, you can lose 10,000 people there. Then there are the seals at Blakeney Point, there’s Wells Next The Sea, Cley Next The Sea, Salthouse and tons of great seasidish places, as someone said, strangely stuck in another timewarp….and Norwich is a really individual city with lots going on.

Can’t fail really!

It’s not just your beer gut – head down arse in the air is not particularly good for either breathing, seeing where you are going, or for your neck. Yes, get some risers but make them wider, as this opens up your chest as well as making you better in corners – and change the stem to 80-90mm, which still gives you enough of an XC edge.

80s/90s Saab 900 – bulletproof engineering and build quality (which is why you still see so many around), a hoot to drive and oodles of space in the back of the hatch (I’ve slept in the back of one of my old 900s with the rear seats down, and I’m 6’+)

Great riding to be had locally, so long as you don’t mind chalk and what hapens when it gets wet, but Eastourne itself (I had it as my work base for 4 years) seems to be caught a bit between mindless oldie and yoof cultures, and just a bit too conservative (big C and small c.)

I lived in Hastings, which while it avoided the uber-trendiness of Brighton, had lots of serious eccenticities and a lower cost of living, plus more great local rides.

Agree with Ernie on the notion of the inherently repressive state, and the aspiration for ‘autonomous societies’…….but how backing the British state against the EU helps move in this direction I don’t get at all, so TJ is right to that degree.

However, ‘Fortress Europe’ is not much more attractive than little england/scotland/wherever. The man’s right – open the borders. Free movement of peoples as well as free movement of capital. That’s the way states start to get smashed, and internationalism is built. No more wrapping ourselves in the union jack or the EU stars. ‘Mad’, you say? Ultra-leftist? No, just knowing who our real friends are and who are our ultimate enemies.

And as well as being a prize little englander bigot, he really does resemble a wide mouthed frog with a hyperactive thyroid……

Coming late to this thread, after TJ has left the scene, it’s clear to me that the state is going to have to do more and fund more – and so yes we will have the pay higher taxes, and the tradiional loop holes the wealthy use will need to be plugged.

It’s just so ironic that on the day the ConDems launch their big ‘let’s privatise everything’ initiative, because they would have us believe that private is always better, the biggest player in the private care sector goes belly up, with others set to follow, while the biggest private media provider is so mired in scandal and corruption that even the traditional Tory and New Labour brown noses are running for cover.

And they say the market is efficient…………funny old world.

All power and support to you mate – and your wife.

In terms of her rehab and recovery, while she is still in hospital make sure they tell you and her exactly what they’re doing and why. Ask them what the rehab plan is and what the immediate goals are. Push to ensure that all the therapies she gets are from neuro-trained therapists, and that they focus on the cogntive, emotional and psychological side, as well as on her physical recovery.

When she comes home, make sure that she will still get input from a neuro-trained community rehab service. Don’t let them ditch her and say it’s now just down to social services – but also make sure social services do a full assessment, of your and your kids’ needs as well as hers (statutory requirement that they should do so) and do go about providing any equipment and adaptations that are needed, as well as any care and support. Tell them if there are financial issues, and make sure you get good benefits advice.

Things may take a while, especially the fatigue, but they will keep on changing and improving for months, even years. That’s typical in terms of strokes and brain injuries. As TJ says, the more positive her attitude and yours, the better things will go. Make sure you have time and support for you – very important…………and don’t let anyone bullshit you or fob you or her off!

Hope this helps. I work with people who have had brain injuries, haemorrhages and strokes, so if you have any questions or just want to sound off, my email is in my profile.

Good luck!

My feeling is that the BBC site clip is slightly old news – the stuff about not paying suppliers has gone on for several months, and I heard a couple of days that some additional Chinese cash has already been put into Saab. Fingers crossed!

Totally concur with the negative remarks about GM. Basically, they asset-stripped Saab of its good ideas and innovations (safety features, pollen filters, build quality, etc) while merely donating their rubbish parts bin. Result – Saabs start having major mechanical problems and breaking down well before 100K miles (something unknown in old 900s and 9000s) and parts last little more than 2 or 3 years and can’t stand up to hard wear. Also, abolition of hatchbacks and introduction of ‘sports saloons’….all of which contribute to an identity crisis for Saabs – not the quirky bulletproof cars they once were, now merely average, and as the commentators say, sadly unable to compete with BMW, Audi or even Volvo (who did massively better under Ford than Saab did under GM.)

So – fingers crossed indeed, and anyone who owns one, it’s worth joining the Saab Owners Club and looking at the Saabscene site.

Might it damage the frame? – possibly.
Is it a good combination? – no.
Why? – light agile XC trail frame being held back by heavy industrial forks, which unless they also are offset in the manner appropriate to the G2 geometry will totally wreck the balance and handling of the bike as well as possibly cause damage to frame and rider.

Robots – human brains and emotions surgically removed and replaced by chip technology. Look for the incision point – normally up their a**e.

However, these ‘folks’ are normally pretty predictable, and it pays to stay one step ahead of them by knowing who or what turns them on and provides the authorised script from which they read at any given time. The script will change pretty frequently, depending on who they’re crawling to and who they want to impress. Do not expect consistency, and beware – they normally inhabit an ethic-free zone. They will normally score highly on marketised gobbledigook too………..but so long as you start to learn what makes them tick, you’ll be able to handle them and feel smug too, because behind all the bullshit they’re normally as insecure as hell.

Good luck, and to thine own self be true.

– Trustee of local Headway group
– Committee member of UK Acquired Brain Injury Forum (UKABIF) with responsibility for developing regional groups.

………but the ‘big society’ notion is a pile of crap. We do these things because we believe in them and because they need to be done, but we need the state to provide the backdrop and the infrastructure of basic services. Without these we’re frankly pissing in the wind. Only millionaires like Dave and Georgie boy could be so blinkered as to think otherwise – but then we know their real agenda: snip snip snip at the public sector, give every chance to private business, because without private enterprise, how could they get so rich???

The Gap – quite long at 24 miles, and with some easier slow climbs but also a fair amount of steeper climbing and some techie challenges on the way up and deffo on the way down. Great ‘big mountains’ views. My wife and I did it on hardtails 3 years ago and she talks about it still!

March – mnnn, well you can’t get much flatter than that! Read ‘Waterlands’ (novel by Graham Swift) for a pretty accurate insight into the fenland mentality and what being surrounded by ultimate flatness does to people. Kind of beautiful in an eery way though. Look at the lights in the sky……..!

Re offroading, yes Thetford and Brandon have quite a lot to offer, so long as you don’t demand serious elevation – many tiny unofficial bits of twisty singletrack beneath the trees, as well as the marked routes. Been going there for 3 years and I’m still discovering new trails. Then there’s the bombholes (Madgett’s Pit, etc). Talk to the guys at Bike Art, the bike shop at High Lodge, for more tips.

As someone said, the only ‘hills’ are South of Cambridge – the Gog Magog Hills and Wandlebury. Lots of unofficial trails, but little which is legal. Likewise Linton to Haverhill and Saffron Walden.

You’ll live, and even have quite a bit of fun, but just don’t expect it to be laid on for you – you’ve got to go out and find hidden trails and green lanes.

Privatise the bu**ers – keep Dave and Boy George happy…..and all you jingoistic types can go wrap yourselves in the union jack, for all the good it may do you!

You can buy plenty of good 2nd hand ones on here for £15 or so – surely not too much of a financial risk?

Suffolk & good.

I work designing support packages and rehab pathways for people who have had brain injuries, some of which derive from trauma (that is, a blow or blows to the head.) I have dealt with a number of people whose traumatic injuries result from accidents involving bikes.

The first thing to say is that if the speed of impact is much more than 35-40mph, then a helmet will be of very little help. This is not just the case for cycle helmets – the same is true for motorbike helmets.

However, if the person falls or is knocked off the bike and hits their head with a combined velocity of less than 35mph, then the helmet will undoubtedly help to the extent that it is more likely to prevent mortal injuries (ie death.) That doesn’t mean there will not be injuries – indeed there will be. One of the paradoxes of greater protection is that less death is likely to mean more injuries, because more people survive who would not otherwise have survived at all. Equally, a severe injury for someone without a helmet will most likely result in a lesser injury in the same circumstances if the rider has a lid on – and in many cases a bump that might have caused a minor (but still significant)injury to someone not wearing a helmet will leave the helmet wearer a little dazed, perhaps with abrasions where the rim hits the forehead, but essentially uninjured. This happened to me a couple of years ago.

So a helmet is not a magic cloak, but it is likely to diminish the severity of what happens in an accident………and going back to Dr Elvik, the Norwegian academic, whether it diminishes it by 60%, 43%, or even just 4.3%, then any chance of preventing people die or having such serious injuries as they otherwise might have had is good enough for me. Surely that can’t be wrong, TJ?