2 x 29er HT here. Carbon best bike and an alloy one for abusing. Full sus too complicated for this bear of very little brain.

Completely in denial! As well as doing my own job, I am picking up all the pieces left by someone who’s left. Two jobs, one wage packet- nice!

The lughter was probably more about the stupid off but I didn’t look too closely at the wheel. It was a pretty big crash and, to be honest, I think being out of line may be the least of the wheel’s problems. I’ll see what they say.

Less out of true than the one I wrecked today- LBS had a good laugh at my expense then told me it was beyond repair. At a guess, mine was 5-10 mm out. I have a sore calf and elbow but fortunately no cracked ribs. Get well soon.

Preparing to commute into work in the nicer weather (that’s my excuse anyway), one Scott Solace Disc is now on order

I had a couple of days of feeling awful before Christmas and have been left with a bit of a cough but today I decided I had to get out and did a short road ride in frost, fog and winter sunshine. I’m coughing a bit but seem to have survived.

It’s pretty snowy and frozen up high at the moment. Take care.

M1 south through Derbyshire was Ok earlier this afternoon apart from two dickheads undertaking traffic at speed through the 50 limited roadworks. Both in Audis….. I hope the cameras were switched on.

Ooooh. You lot know how to cheer me up! Finished work until New Year, shiny demo bike to try out while I’m off, coughing, spluttering and feeling absolutely rubbish and, from the sound of it, not going to feel better any time soon.

Thanks all!

But as described there are far too many unknowns. I suspect tubing manufacturers would be similarly vague, if not more so since they probably wouldn’t want to risk something bad happening and the finger being pointed at them for giving advice.

If you can’t define the problem more precisely then there’s probably no alternative to doing an experiment as others have suggested.

Disastrous. I’ve made two batches of mince pies so far (40 in total) and they are all gone, and between being away for work and coming down with man-flu, I’ve done naff all riding for a couple of weeks.

Disposable contacts for me, in warmer weather with sunglasses to keep insects out. In colder weather the glasses steam up (for all that they are meant to be vetilated) and that’s no fun, so contacts only then. I don’t get too much crap in my eyes but I have a bike with guards and rarely ride behind someone who’s chucking mud into my face.

I’m no metallurgist but mild steel at 800 deg in air is likely to oxidise significantly, I’d have thought. Also, 2 mins really isn’t very long so I’d have thought you’d have very uneven heating of the frame. Thin bits and those in contact with hot surfaces would get much hotter than thick bits.

I hope your heading towards Oxford and not Birmingham
If not…unlucky

I am now in Birmingham, but fortunately about to leave for points North

A train between Oxford and Birmingham

Gearing will be about 10% harder on 29 vs 26 because the wheels you are turning are larger

If all this only happened on Friday, write down a note of the meeting while it is still fresh in your mind. These things still have value even if you don’t have an independent witness.

If you can be bothered, email the plant manager saying what your advice was and why, and that you understand that he proposes to disregard it. Ask him to tell you if your understanding is not correct. That forces him either to respond or to acknowledge your account is correct, and creates a record of the discussion.

Those trains can be rammed. Whenever I’ve done the journey they have been TransPennine’s diesel multiple units. Those don’t have a lot of bike space and can be very very busy.

Well as a regular player of Russian roulette cyclist down the A6, anything to make those rubbish, lethal roads better.

Not sure ACAS is right. Maybe Citizens Advice Bureau?

I got into trouble the other day. I looked at a potential left turner (64 plate Audi) who wasn’t indicating, started to walk across the road and, yes, you’ve guessed it, he swung round the corner. When he wound his window down to shout abuse, I asked him if he’d deliberately bought the cheap model without indicators, and that seemed to light the blue touchpaper. I really thought I was going to be brawling in the middle of the street.

I got quite excited because it said £ 0.00, which seemed very reasonable but then, tucked away, I saw “Call for price”, which looked much less attractive.

Lots of good advice here. 6Ps- proper preparation prevents piss-poor performance. Practice aloud against the clock, and recording yourself is good.

You need to take some account of the purpose of the lecture. If you are expecting the audience to take proper notes then you need to go a good bit slower than if you are just giving a general interest talk.

Will you be using Powerpoint or just talking? If the latter, then you need to be very careful to get your ideas across. I more or less use Powerpoint for pictures only and spend my time explaining the pictures.

Another vote for Asgard. I bought their 1-bike locker recently and it will happily accommodate two 29ers. They delivered when they said they would and, for some extra cash, their lads put it all together for me.

I am slowly falling in love with the Wilier GTS Disc. My bank balance is afraid, very afraid

….she’s basically a ballbag

I hope to God she doesn’t know your username

I’m sad- I can remember the registration numbers

Vauxhall Viva GHG 240N
VW Jetta KEO 12Y
VW Golf GTi C808 VWK
VW Golf GTi D834 KEC
VW Golf GTi 16V E787 JCR
VW Polo F139 AEC
Renault 5 G266 WMO
Rover 214 K723 EHP
Rover 214 R184 ODK
VW Golf MF03 XAA
VW Golf ML59 LRN
VW Golf MF64 LSU

The MW is indeed wrong. Trouble is hydrogen (or indeed deuterium) gas is a total pain to contain. It’ll be out of your tyres before you’ve gone half a mile.

I have the single bike Asgard one, which could actually hold both my 29ers easily enough if I wanted. It is tucked away quietly round the side of the house.

The single bike shelter needs a padlock and the hasp is 12.5 mm which means that it is just too small to take a Sold Secure Gold padlock, which all seem to have larger hasps, but which are required by many (most?) insurers. So if that’s all you do, an insurer probably won’t cover you. You could always have a ground anchor inside with a SS Gold lock but I can’t be bothered.

The 2-bike shelter has the same footprint as the single bike one, but has 2 compartments and a door at each end, so it’s effectively two independent shelters. It also has proper locks in the doors which meet insurers’ requirements, as do all the larger Asgard shelters.

Lead time on an Asgard shelter is a few weeks so you need to take that into account. I also paid for installation, which two very efficient lads completed in about half an hour.

Getting home with toad guts dried on to the down tube was a pretty low point….

I guess this might be the accident referred to earlier. Sounds nasty

Runners talk about the ‘neck test’

If your symptoms are above the neck- sore throat, headache, snotty, sneezing- it’s OK to run. If they are below the neck- chest infection, mucle aches- then lay off for a few days

I suspect the difference in rolling resistance is probably greater. At the higher speed of the road bike you’ll be expending more energy to overcome air resistance, and that’s not lineraly related to speed.

I’m probably guilty of MTB Lite but I absolutely love my Whyte 29 CS. It doesn’t half cover the ground.

Tre Ysgawen is very good (if you can find the bloody place!)

I thought both sides looked like the mid table ones they are.

I chatted today to someone who went to Sarries last week- we’re a fair way below their standard.

Turned out OK this afternoon then, Muddy, but I was pleased we had our usual dose of squeaky bum time. It would be so dull if we just won comfortably week after week…..

I am very happy indeed with my new Whyte 29CS. I think it is very bored with me as a rider though- I suspect I don’t ride to its limits, or even close to them, but it’s a fabulous boy’s toy

Give yourself a break. I suspect most of us have ‘Can’t be arsed’ days. I was near Buxton today, but off road and it was a bit windy (not kidding, it can be a lot worse up there). Oddly, I couldn’t really be bothered when I set off, but actually quite enjoyed myself. You can’t tell sometimes how you’ll feel, but if you cut a ride short, don’t beat yourself up about it. Forget it, but get back out soon. It’s meant to be fun, not some form of self-inflicted misery.

I have no idea if it’s of interest but EDF Energy are screaming for people in advance of building Hinkley C power station and there’s been a big investment in engineering training at Bridgwater College in Somerset?