Had an – immature – chuckle at this

more lumpy and lengthy

Just try it one weekend, do it as a loop. As said above, easy enough technically, just a bit of climbing (and descending).

I’d take a cross/xc bike, so I could ride down the Nail Trail into Balerno, would be a fun way to end your working day.

I thought this was just a rumour.

https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/whats-on/music-nightlife-news/oasis-fans-fury-tickets-double-29844918

Seems like pure greed to me.

Best Oasis tribute band names.

https://musicandbands.co.uk/news/top-oasis-tribute-bands-for-hire

My favourites are:

• Oasish
• Definitely MightBe

Will be considerably cheaper to see, more likely to turn up and probably sound better too.

Just seen this on Instagram, although I really like it, the build quality would be enough to make Nick break out in a cold sweat.

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His ceiling fan is both amazing and terrifying

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I do want to see if he ever gets his Penny Farming up and running

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When I dealt with Halfords before on a cycle to work bike, they were happy to buy whatever bike I wanted in, even got over £100 of free extras that I spent on a helmet and lights. Try asking them.

Would you not prefer a Cannondale Scalpel? I bet it’s a good bit lighter than an alloy Chisel FS.

https://www.sigmasports.com/item/Cannondale/Scalpel-4-mountain-Bike-2024/12MZ7

Definitely looks like the last Cannondale Scalpel (circa 2018) with the flex seat stay.

I wonder how it’s ride compares to a four bar design.

Odd that Specialized have moved to a single pivot/faux bar from a four bar, where Cannondale have done the opposite with their Scalpel design.

How about another Camino?

https://www.stevensbikes.de/en/de/gravel/carbon/camino/

Electric version, can’t see you getting much more than 100 miles are motorway speeds. Based on my Citroen EC4 which has the same motor and battery, which might matter to some, especially when motorway chargers are charging ~£1 a kW.

Torridon trip.

HT550 group start

Land’s End to John o’ Groats off-road.

Long travel full sus, along with time, weather and location to ride it.

It’d probably kill me, but what a way to go.

@tonycooke

Thanks for a great account. I hope that the cycling establishment in Wales and team GB has improved since your time dealing with them.

Edit: Nicole’s book sounds good too. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Breakaway-Nicole-Cooke/dp/1471130339

Deep space 9 was great. Also like Lower Decks, but that’s a parody, so not really star trek IMO.

Enterprise was pretty rubbish IMO.

Only saw the first couple of episodes of Picard and couldn’t be bothered watching anymore.

+14kg for an xc full sus bike sounds heavy to me.

I do like the engineering of the frame, but not light though for the travel.

Is getting an ebike when you’re not fit enough for a regular bike, like your granny getting a stanner stair lift?

Sounds like you’ve got plenty of bikes, just buy the DH play bike, you’ve already made this decision and are looking for validation.

@Kramer is a thread tease……

It’s a 2021 Citroen.

Bought another pair of Gore Exolore so know they’ll be decent and will fit, only green left though.  Also bought a pair of 7mesh Farside, in blue. Fingers crossed they’re decent.

Both go against my ethos of only grey/black shorts, but were bought together for less than £95 delivered, which is at least decent value.

@iainc cheers for the offer, but according to Endura’s size guide I’d need a size small.

If my kids refused to do something that is obviously a good thing for them like: brush their teeth or go to bed. I’d have the usual discussion with them and show them pictures online of people’s rotten teeth etc. if they persisted, I’d start to remove everything they enjoy, one thing at a time. Sounds harsh but I’m afraid if they are going to live under my roof, they’re going to do what I say, especially when it’s something that will genuinely be beneficial for them.

Best thing is to just speak with them, and explain things logically, I hated being told to do something as a kid without any proper reasoning behind it.

I’ve an old pair of 7mesh shorts that look very similar to the Farside, but are very baggy. They’re not in too bad a condition, so am contemplating having them altered, not sure how much it’d be though.

Looked at the Rab Cinder shorts but they look pretty baggy in their pics. I have had a pair of their walking shorts before that I used for biking, they were similar material as the 7mesh ones above but not a great cut on the bike, ok for an hour or two but not all day rides.

https://rab.equipment/uk/mens-cinder-crank-shorts

What’s the M&S or H&M shorts you have?

When my kidsl bicker and both come to me to sort it out, rather than listen to both cases and then passing judgement. I’d tell them that they needed to negotiate with other to come to a resolution by themselves. Seems to work, and also allows them to learn how to negotiate as well as understand that is life, there won’t always be a authoritive figure. who will sort things out for them. If one of them has done something genuinely wrong, then this would need to dealt with as a seperate issue.

Has this thread turned into a ‘nature vs nurture’ debate?

Anyhoo, IME, kids are just small people who haven’t learnt to control and suppress their raw emotions, wants and needs. Yeah, this can be annoying at times, but in the most part, it’s great. It makes us boring adults feel young again and makes us smile more.

Don’t underestimate how noisy they can be, don’t situate one near a bedroom or neighbours house if possible, you can get acoustic enclosures but they’re rather spendy. Apparently local authorities are doing away with gas boilers for schools in some areas. They’re the future, or so I’m told.

Totally normal, there isn’t really a good age with kids, they can be arseholes at any age. Obviously they are also incredibly good fun when they’re on form and are definitely worth weathering the storm for. Most rewarding thing I’ve ever done is have kids.

I’ve had my 14 year old daughter screaming at her 11 year old brother because he dared walk into the kitchen bare foot after football.

It’ll all smiles and rainbows tomorrow, and today will be just a memory.

Kids.

Maybe Victory Chimp ones?

Out There Unisex Gravel Cycling Shorts V2 (Slate)

Anyone had a pair, how they fit, perform and are lasting?

Cheers Rockerdog for the review of both the Chapeau and Stolen Goat shorts.

Had a pair of Sigr, lasted one winter until the rear wore through, nice whilst they lasted which wasn’t great for an ~£80 pair of shorts.

My Gore Explore are 4 years old, for comparison.

Not sure about the Sportful ones, they don’t look good in the photos, and sound too baggy from some of the above comments.

I’ve seen the Chapeau ones, they look a decent cut and tick a lot of boxes, especially on price. They do look more like a pair of chinos than a technical pair of shorts, but might be worth a punt.

I’d be all over the Galibier ones if they were in different colour to British racing green.

https://www.galibier.cc/product/liberte-gravel-shorts/

Why can’t Gore just make a more tailored version of my favourite C5 trail shorts? F@@@ing boo!

https://www.gorewear.com/en-uk/c5-shorts-100585

The Stolen Goat ones look pretty good, but they still look a liitle too baggy and are not that tapered in the leg. Anyone got a pair?

Mens Anthracite Gravel Shorts

I’ll give the Decathlon ones a look, and at least I’ll be able to try on before buying. Not 100% sure about the dangling pocket at the back, but looks like it can be removed.

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/fitted-mtb-shorts-rockrider-race-black/_/R-p-332411

Just in case people think I’m been picky (I am really), these shorts for example don’t even have pockets on the front, in the regular places, WTAF!

Jary Gravel Shorts

I did quite like the look of these Endura GV500 ones but immediately dismissed them for being Endura, anyone tried them?

https://www.endurasport.com/gv500-foyle-shorts-olive-green/12923521.html

Although I’ve been burnt numerous times by Endura products in the past, from their sporadic sizing, quality control & poor design but at £30 a pair, the bargain hunter in me is maybe willing to give them a go.

What’s the sizing like on Endura Singletrack light? According to Endura, I’d be a small (my waist is 31/32″).

What’s the sizing like on those Sportful ones? According to their guide I’d be a small (my waist is 31/32″), but don’t 100% trust Italian sizing.

Those Assos shorts seem to sold out in normal person sizes, they do look interesting but not convinced they’ll stay up without a fastner, especially when wet and with anything in the pockets. Thanks for the link though as I’d not seen them.

Can’t find any website or clothing from ‘The Overland’ brand either. Shame.

I’ve been in the construction industry for 30 years and can’t recall anyone with the white stuff on site. Plenty hungover, even a couple still drinking during work hours. Occasionally a bit of Mary Jane maybe. There are supposed to be drug tests but only ever seen a couple, and I’ve never been tested.

Ortlieb QR. Amazing piece if kit.

Edit: bit bigger than I thought at 13l

Expensive, heavy, can be fitted in seconds, well made and should last a long time.

Another one that the likes of Tesco etc do, is buy up the other potential supermarket sites around their stores, to stifle their rivals. These sites are often left derelict and neglected.

Another thing I’ve seen is, letting a listed building degrade to such a state that the local authority asks the owner to demolish it, on the grounds of safety. Much cheaper building new than renovating a listed building.

Buildings have moved from proactive maintenance to reactive maintenance for a while now. It’s like companies have never heard of “a stitch in time, saves nine”