I’d be interested to hear what people are getting g out of their weight lifting aside from the numbers

I was doing a lot of long distance trail running, which I really enjoy (although I’m terrible at). This time last year I moved from somewhere with great trails from the doorstep (within 15 minutes of trail running from the door and I’d be in a nature reserve), to somewhere with no decent trails at all. I really can’t stand running on roads.

So I was on the lookout for something new to replace the running, and fancied trying out some strength training, to possibly help my singlespeeding. Turns out I really enjoy it!

I need something phys-related to keep the brain in the right place, and that’s my primary motivation. I really didn’t consider the prospect of gaining muscle / size, but it’s been quite noticeable (especially across the shoulders / back).

would it not be good practice to squat in a proper rack

That’s exactly my point; I do squat in a rack, but the thought of having to drop the bar still intimidates me. I’m getting close to 1.5xBW and I’ve never got stuck at the bottom yet. But that day must be coming!

Does anyone practice dumping the bar on the Squat? I’m always intimidated by the thought of getting stuck at the bottom and having to dump the bar.

There’s some suspicion that these interviews are not entirely legit.

Given that the interviewer was a German propagandist, that wouldn’t surprise me. [Edit – or perhaps the whole thing is a fake]. I’ll read the reviews.

Either way, I enjoyed it.

People often refer to the weight they lift in relation to their own Body Weight (BW). The numbers in isolation are not really relevant, as for example someone with a 50kg body weight lifting 100kg is much greater an achievement than someone with a 100kg body weight lifting the same.

It also makes it less about Willy waving…

OP, what did you do when you stalled? Just lift with bad form? Or did you de-load after the missed workouts?

I’ll admit to being a little ill-disciplined with the deloads. I don’t wait until I’ve failed a set three times, as the programme prescribes. I’ve never actually failed a rep on the SQ, as i train on my own and I’m worried about having to dump the bar (even in rack).

Instead i deload when my form breaks down; I’m limited by my ankle mobility (among other things) so i end up leaning forward too much. Once that happens i lower the weight and concentrate on the form.

Its been a slow process, but I’m getting somewhere now.

41 is too young…

I’ll admit that I’ve not listened to much of their new material, but their first two albums are brilliant.

Nunchuck.

RIAT this weekend.

Find anything with the word ‘coombe’ in its name, and ride it. You really can’t go wrong. Not even terrible weather can spoil that place.

Erm… no… I mean… it’s rubbish.

If we assume the aircraft was parked on the piano keys, then this woman will have been about 50m behind it. The jet blast from there will have been somewhere around 35mph; little more than a strong gust of [warm] wind. It really isn’t the suicide mission that people are making out.

She was taken by surprise, fell over, and banged her head.

How have you run out of leave in July? 😕

As a general tool to have in your pocket every day, you can’t get much better than a Wave. It should last forever, and even if you break it somehow then just send it back and they’ll often repair or replace it for nothing.

That said, as a tool purely for biking, there are better options.

Military style leaderhsip on expeditions: It’s my way or you leave’

There is a time and a place for that kind of leadership. When there are lives at risk is exactly the right time and place, in my opinion.

UKIP supporter. WTF?

No one is perfect. The £18+ million he’s raised for various charities makes the UKIP thing forgivable.

[Quote] Ooo, wish I’d known about that! [/quote]

Still a few dates left if you’re interested; Linky McLinkface.

You’re using chalk right?

No, I’ve never used chalk. I struggle keeping my fingers closed, rather than the bar slipping. Do you find chalk helps?

The DL was tough – first time I felt my grip beginning to slip.

I found that after a while. I switched to a mixed grip which helped loads (just make sure you maintain discipline though, or you can really injure your forwards-facing arm).

The other thing I did was work on my grip strength. With a moderately heavy bar, simply deadlift it with a normal grip, and hold on for as long as possible (usually start to cry after 10 seconds or so!)

I decided not to use straps. The whole reason I’m in the gym is to get stronger, so I don’t want to use straps to mask a grip weakness. If rather just develop the grip strength. Not everyone will agree obviously.

Well when I say ‘screwdriver’ it was only a broken fingernail, but it was a screwdriver to ME.

But you try and tell young people today that. They won’t believe you!

Step 1 – Insert gammon and a tin of pineapple slices.
Step 2 – ???
Step 3 – profit!

A Biro? You were lucky to have a Biro. I had to make do with the blade of a slotted screwdriver with a bit of grease on it to hold the ball bearing.

We used to dream of having a screwdriver! When I were a lad, we used to install bearings with a used teabag…

Objectively, I’m not sure that C&C is better than cartridge bearings. That’s why the mountain bike has Hope stuff.

The bikes I’ve been tinkering with are form the 1930s / 1940s.

Good point. Even if the book had stopped the round, with that force at that range, the book might still have killed him.

Almost tempted to crunch the numbers.

As I understand, the energy in the round would be equal and opposite to the recoil energy put back into the weapon. So I can’t imagine it’d have too much effect, even if the book would have stopped it dead (it would still be a shock, clearly).

Happy to be proved wrong if someone knows about the physics!

Anything that gets put under stress will be made stronger. So yes; bones, tendons, joints, muscles… Even the Central Nervous System, apparently (although I understand that even less than the rest).

(I am also not a biologist)

34/16 is about a 62″ gear; pretty tasty. Personally I aim for 52″ish, although I’ve not tried it on a fat bike.

They look glazed to me. You’ve sanded the glaze from the surface, so I suspect they’ll work much better now.

What size are the rotors? Larger diamater rotors will be less susceptible to overheating. Or you could try not dragging the brakes so much (If that’s the issue).

It looks brilliant! I’m most interested in the bars. What are they? They look inverted, but they’ve still got the rod brakes.

I’m currently tinkering with a 1936ish BSA, which I’m trying to get a different handlebar profile onto, but I can’t work out how the brakes would work. I’ve been thinking about a Bobby Dodger, but that’d leave me with no brake on the back… You seem to have solved my problem.

Tell us more about the “enclosed chainsaw’

Well you wouldn’t want an exposed chainsaw! Are you mad?! 😀

The iPlayer App lets you wake up to Radio 4. Which I can only assume is the same as ‘Ibiza Sonica’.

I’d give it 10 seconds of riding before those rear slung rifles swing around and clatter into their knees / wrists.

Hmmmm… starting to think it might be a Triumph…

Epicyclo – really interested in this bike:

[Edit] I can’t get the picture to work, but it’s the one you posted on page 2 [/edit]

It’s difficult to tell from that picture. Is it a BSA?

Great thread; I love these utility bikes.

I can’t believe so few people have recommended buying an old one. The technology hasn’t really changed in decades, so why not get an antique? I’ve got a 1947 Phillips which has dynamo lights, three speed SA hub, enclosed chainsaw, et cetera – perfect! It also cost practically nothing.

If it’s steep enough to have you walking, then your gear-equipped mates will be in the granny ring, so they’ll be going walking pace anyway.

There’s no shame in walking from time-to-time. Keep attacking the short climbs, and you’ll be sailing up them in no time.

Picture wise I love duffer’s Hercules.

Blown up in Helmand 10 years ago, unfortunately. Everyone got away safely though, which is the main thing.

Dakota

C47 Skytrain, strictly. As you were.

Tickets are in; March the 29th. Looking forward to it!

Right, that’s the local MP contacted, so we’ll have to see what happens!

I use my old desert smock a lot while walking the dog. As much as i like it, i’m not a fan of wearing something DPM, and I’ve been wondering about what to do with some old desert / DPM gear.

Google shows that they can be dyed, although its not easy. I think this looks pretty decent.

From this:

To this: