No way windyg.  Number board challenge for all! Aim to finish equal to or higher than the number on the board.  Mostly just smash it and enjoy it though

Hehe. That makes it sound even more fun!  Unfortunately my initial point of depression is the man flu that currently leaves me a hot/cold sweating shivering mess. The green card for racing has been revoked by the fun police. I won’ even get my favourite number board ’69’.

Just depressed myself that little bit more by looking at the gridding. Gridded 69/70 in the vets. Now I understand that I didn’t do any Nationals last year, but I finished 11th in the national rankings and 10th in the champs, how that netts me 69th I’ve no idea.

I won battle on the beach (vets race) and 6th overall on a Trek Top Fuel. You can’  get much flatter than that.  Would a ht have enabled me to position higher? Nope.

Turbo for me through the winter. Aside from giving me quality training time, it gives me time to watch trash on Netflix that the wife will not tolerate and means I don’t have to clean my bike.

Nice ride rollindoughnut!
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What Kryton says.  After hell of a time with my health last June – December I started training again in the last week of December.  This has been made up of 60-90min turbo sessions between 5-7 days/week.  Focus has been 100% on rebuilding my aerobic ‘engine’. I haven’t touched anything anaerobic. There has been a large focus on sweetspot sessions plus longer periods just below http://FTP.  I’m not sure what zwift does (never used it of bothered to investigate it); I write my plan first by populating the races I want to complete (fitting around work/family) and then build my training around that (periodization).  The question is; does zwift give you this or would you be better getting a coach to give you a 10-12 week plan?

Do you train on the mtb?  Yes, absolutely.  In the past this has been a massive failing for me.  As above, due to time constraints most of my training is on the turbo.  As the kids get older I am able to hit swinley for post work or early weekend rides (up to 2 laps).  I use these to my advantage; aim to hit technical sections at race pace (climbs, ascents and descents).  It helps develop the mtb specific muscles and reactions.  If I had my way I would ride/train on the mtb 100% of the time.

Does the bike matter?  Nope (to a degree).  A few years ago my sponsor couldn’t provide me my race bike until May.  I couldn’t afford my own high level bike (or mid level tbh) and instead was racing my wifes 2004 Specialised Rockhopper (yes, my wife’s bike).  End result was I got several top 5 placing in Gorricks and Southern xcs (elite).  I think a lot of people fell off laughing at me.  The only change had been my old race wheels (Hope Pro2 on Stans) and that is the one recommendation – upgrade the wheels.

Bit of a brain dump there.  Let me know if you want some detail / example of a training week (email in profile).

Wow, the race at Hadleigh was nails. I wasn’t gridded so started two rows from the back (in a massive vets field).  Start fun went and I tried to calmly make progress towards the pointy end, no point **** up yours and someone else’ race being silly, and on the big long climb I thought I had made it to 2nd.  I continued chasing (hr made above 160!) and bridged to Roger Fowkes who was storming.  I kept getting delayed when passing tail enders, wasting energy making up the lost 10s here and there. I attacked a few times but the legs weren’t responding. Eventually Roger dropped me heading into the final lap, my legs blew, and to add insult turns out there was some dude off the front I didn’ know about! So, 3rd it was. It’s progress and on reflection I’m happy. My breathing difficulties seem under control which means I’m on the right medication, though every day closer to summer I get a little more nervous that my asthma will kick off again.

Anyways, plenty of people have it worse. When’s the next race?

Fiskar.  Got an X11 which works great for splitting logs. Well balanced, good head, nice grip.

For the past two seasons I’ve sworn by Bontrager tyres. Xr2 on the front and xr1 rear. Or just xr2 pair if it’ soggy out. I haven’ punctured or ripped a tyre yet. Not the lightest but certainly the most reliable.

Kryton – could be the coach does not want to jeopardise the marathan focus. Could be he wants you to focus on regionals to build ranking points that will help gridding for Nationals. I would argue a National helps sharpen the form, gain valuable experience (especially useful if heading to some of the big euro marathons). Plus they are great fun.

My plans for 2018? After a complete ‘mare of 2017 (from late June to November I spent a total of 24 days on antibiotics, 35 days on steroids, five trips to GP investigating breathing difficulties, one referral to respiratory clinic, and on fourth type of inhaler). From July I basically stopped training, racing was a massive struggle and a possibly health risk due to uncontrolled asthma and did my head in!

I’m back now and have been training for the last six weeks to try and get fit again. Racing the Gorrick this weekend to see where I’m at, but aim to complete in the Southerns, some Nationals, the Nat Champs, Torq 12, Big Dog and maybe Pivot 12 (team) or the Ride London again. I would like to ride a Midlands race as well, they always get rave reports. Also looking forward to riding my bike in the Lakes in late August (fell off at Big Dog smashing my legs which made riding very tricky).

I completed training through a College course, it taught me the safety side of things but also how to maintain a chain saw to ensure the critical safety aspects works. Most it all it taught be to always respect the chainsaw. As said previously:
Get full PPE
Stop when your getting tired
Know the safety features
Learn how to keep the chain sharp and oiled

I went on to work with a tree surgeon, very experienced etc but who almost lost his hand when the saw slipped. Only takes one incident that can result in life chaining consequences.

Someting that occured to me this week is: how accurate are inhalers? An inhaler hasn’t changed in any way, shape or form in the 25yrs I’ve been using them. Is a 100ng dose actually accurate? Or is there risk that a puff could be over/under dosing?
Couple of other questions:
1) How and who leaked the AAF?
2) What parameters set the limit (1000/1600?) – this appears to a figure set with no real scientific basis.

I’m nervous on this one. Their rail division (certainly the team based near Paddington) are good, very good. It Carillion go into administration I wonder what impact it will have on infrastructure schemes I.e. crossrail where key deliveries approach and there are interdependent milestones.

I’m a project manager for NR. I love my job for the range in problems (i mean challenges) encounter and best of all seeing my project being built and used. The best recently was biulding the stabling lines at Maidenhead for the crossrail trains. With NR there are a range of opportunities (workforce is ~35000 so there really is a job for everyone somewhere).within the train companies, the people in the roles seem to love it but yes, very hard to get there. The strikes over train guards, imo, are unions fighting a change that is coming hence why strikes are spreading to other tocs. Its only a matter of time before trains are doo (driver operated), its basically breaking the unions (again imo who are frigging it for so many and have probably lost the support of most of the public).

And on the flip side i had a custom etched USE stem that developed a wierd lump i.e. an area about 3mm bulged and split. I returned the stem and it was blamed on wrong bike cleaner. I work for network rail and have ready acces to many chartered engineers who called bs. USE refused to budge and even asked if i wanted to buy another off them.

I can only speak from personal experience: we have a victorian solid walled house. The best money we spent was for a positive input ventilation system, it did cost £700 for buy and install but removed condensation issues in 24hrs.

Scud, as Robbo has said.

My 6yo has very similar experiences to those listed by johndoh.
• First days/weeks back at school after holidays – nightmare YES
• The more tired she is, the worse it is
• Last days/weeks back at school after holidays – nightmare YES
• If she is struggling with something she gets worse – she’s a perfectionist, likes to do everything right first time so gets very nervous, frustrated and reclusive if she can’t.

We have used mindfulness CD’s (helped a bit) and now Yoga (helping a lot) to help her learn to deal with these things. She is very young for her school year (Aug birthday) which we don’t think helped, but we are confident she will grow out of it in time. Its good to hear others have similar experiences – reassures me we are not alone.

@jambalaya – I am certainly not an expert on this, but surely it is not certain that we will adopt grandfather rights to trade deals. Its a gamble and against WTO trade rules and any oppostiion from WTO members? To say “we will…” is presumptive unless supported on evidence. I guess we will wait and see.

Where’s Gee Budd when you need him?

On a more serious note; don’t even mention Euratom. TM, DD, BJ and MG have got a freeking clue when they signed the up the UK to leave Euratom. The incompetency is mind blowing. Even more so when they asked the Nuclear Inspectorate to write the risk impact after they said we were leaving.

Not paid by the hour and using the work computer, in your work office, whilst logged in, inbetween sending emails from your work acct.

Something stinks. On the plus, hasn’t Dave Davis said he would resign if the whitch hint of DG continues. Game on…

Like most of us on this forum; we would love to be paid to ride our bikes I.e. a professional cyclist.

Assuming DG was tugging the one eyed snake on work time, does this make him a ‘professional w##ker’?

i thought the new 800 was much quieter than the older HSTs. When under electric prropulsion it gets even better

Two tubes plus using slime inner tubes (loss of glass/flint in my route). Slime tubes work well but tyres feel hard and heavy, very little comfort in them now

I found the Orange Seal lasted a lot longer than Stans. The initial sealing process when seating a tyre seemed faster than Stans (there wasn’t the continuous pissing out of sealant for hours). I’ve used OS all year and haven’t had any problems seating tyres or any punctures. Could be luck.

Ditch the Stans and use Orange Seal. I switched last year and haven’t looked back.

Had a superx a couple of years ago before ‘dale introduced the bespoke rear wheel. I loved it. Broke the frame in its first cx race (mech tore off and smashed the seat stay to bits). The team moved away from cannondale after numerous problems with lefties, the final straw being the change to bespoke wheels that would have resulted in a massive investment in new wheels. Fantastic bikes but big commitment required ref the wheels.

10yrs, but wow! Phenomenal.

Mavic have a UK service centre ub camberly, surrrey. Dig around on the website and you can figure nd the contact details. They are quick, efficient and pretty reasonably priced

Hello. I was the numb nut who tossed his cookies and had the leg in a splint. Despite the first responders, paramedics, and doctors being quite convinced my femur was broken it actually held up okay and my quad is at best very bruised and swollen or worst the quad has been torn from the knee cap (something like that). My Renvale team mates were fantastic, driving me home (bit of a detour from Suffolk). Few weeks off the bike now but I’ll be back on it soon.
Cheers
Ernie

Tyre choice: intermediates or days?

Yehaaaa! 3hr58min for 100miles. I’m mega happy with that (cheers njee)! This is my first such event; really impressed and will probably end up doing it again (or maybe Pivot 24). Won’t be drinking quite so much the night before though, I actually puked a little in the first 10miles…maybe not double talisker next time?
Well done to everyone who ride. I managed to raise just under 1k for Mind as well which is great.

Send them a message on Facebook. There is also an IOW cycling Facebook page which is active and I’m pretty sure you’ll get a response quickly. Last resort call wight Mountain (shop in Newport), their a cool bunch and will help out for sure

I should be committed, drive for 3hrs to ride the Welsh Champs. I finished 2nd vet which was okay, but felt terrible for the whole day. A long drive coupled with the heat?

It was a good race with Dan Lewis, I was a few seconds off him for the first couple of laps, then drifted back for a lap. I had a late charge on the last lap eventually finishing ~10s off. Good fun. I think this is one of those courses that if you ride it alone was boring, but actually races very well.

I saw the crash. I am at a loss to understand how the organisers thought changing the A lines between races was a good idea. This is where BC comms should be stepping. A recipe for disaster which now has a rider undergoing surgery on his back.

I would have alarm bells ringing : I had (poor) historic experience with a Citroen with air suspension. It did exactly what you have described. Fortunately we had the extended warranty that covered parts (£1250) and labour. The garage (main shitreon dealer) didn’t replace a part that they should of which subsequently failed with additional garage time and thankfully still under warranty. Total cost was over 2k. The car is now gone (thank any diety you want) and replaced with 59 plate Volvo v70 with 25k on the clock and full Volvo history. Buy with the head and I hope it works out for you.

Nice one weeksy and weeksy jnr. I’m sat in the car waiting for the start of my race and nursing a bad back. Bit dryer than round 1 isn’t it?

The biggest shock was the cost of the train ride home. From memory it was £200 way back in 1999/2000

If I had the choice I would directly replicate the position of the bike I race on.

I did lejog back in 1999 in possibly the most disorganized fashion possible. Took three weeks off work, did it in ten days.
Planned the route around where in could stay at friends houses with yha /b&b as a second resort (couple of 120m days)
Used a full suspension MTB as that was my only bike
Used a rucksack to carry kit
Did it in October
Training was riding 10m to work
Cut pages out of a road atlas as my route guide

But, it was bloody good fun and I would/will do it again one day.