I had mine out when I was 11. Hurt like hell to walk straight after the op. I remember being off school for a month but forget how long I was not able to exercise (it was 20 years ago).

Stourbridge based here, not to far from NW Alps.. I don’t ride enough recently but now the snows gone its game on. I usually ride clent/lickey and sometimes venture around Cannock all good fun.

Btw rocketdog just read your blog, you ride a lot of places near where I do, i will be sure to say hello if I see you out and about one day

Thanks for heads up Smartmonkey, hoping mine turn up with 1500mm rear hose. Anything has gotta be better than current Juicy 5’s!!

Watching this one with interest. I am waiting for mine to turn up in the post, but keeping my fingers crossed i have got a longer back hose.

Talking of CRC I ordered 3 things late last week and they have not arrived yet! Effing snow and Royal Mail!

Halo plain gauge if you want proper cheap spokes – 20p each with free shipping from winstanleys

http://www.winstanleysbikes.co.uk/product/5719/Halo_Plain_Gauge_Spokes

Any reports after a bit of use? Im looking at getting some budget brakes for the OH.s bike, currently has very worn Juicy 5’s, would these be an improvement?

Just started effing snowing again here in stourbridge. Annoying as I’m waiting on parcels from Royal Mail / crc and I know the bloody delivery van won’t drive down my street (mega incline) 😥

Ive limited my OH to 1×9 so I can keep up with her!

Sandwich – that’s where I got my inspiration from 8)

I tried a tweak on the fish finger sandwich last week – add 1 slice of cheese and a good helping of tartare sauce made it a winner.

For me a simple beans on toast with a mug of Yorkshire tea to wash down is my favourite comfort food.

A light covering here in Stourbridge, its forecast to start about 9am again and not stop all day.. so this could be interesting!

My car is a bit covered and its sticking on the road here in Stourbridge, i am secretly hoping it goes away, I have had enough snow after 3 weeks in Estonia as it is.

Many thanks… trying spds for first time, dont know it thats wise with the current cold climate ice/snow..! should be some comedy falling off moments ahead.

Ive been in a few times this week (I’m from Stourbridge), for a wheel true and picked up new nobby nic and racing ralph tyres. Friendly guys and yes they do stock some decent stuff, Hope etc. And there is a nice Cotic Soul in the middle of the show room.

Thanks for the tips..! I will be near the back I reckon, I am not the lightest/fittest of riders, but at least this gives me a bit of a challenge. I have been checking some of the previous Cannock Classic races on youtube this afternoon, I need to get some practice on roots/deep mud by the look of it! 🙂

p.s. Am I going to have to brave lycra for the first time and will I die if I don’t?

Signed up and bit the bullet, what have I let myself in for? I think bikewise I should be ok – Inbred with 100mm recons. Any other tips for a first timer in a race?

I am gonna have a crack at this, thanks for the heads up! Ive never rode a race before so I am def going for the first timer/fun option 🙂

Another recommendation for a med holiday would be formentera.. Island off the south of Ibiza. Beaches are beautiful and it is very quiet/chilled also a cool place to ride around on a bike.

I’d be tempted to go get yourself a 4/4s as they will be futures proofed for another year or so yet. My OH has a 3GS and it is getting quite slow in comparison to my newer iphone. A 4 can be had for just a little more that your friend wants for his 3GS

There was a good covering of snow here this morning here in stourbridge. Struggled to get my car up my road (steep hill, rear wheel drive and no winter tyres). All turned to mush now though with the rain that is coming down.

I liked Malta when I went, good for snorkelling, food, sunshine, beaches.

I recommend a little boat trip over to Comino if you like snorkelling. Also blue lagoon there (very pretty and crystal clear water where I managed to swim with a turtle.

The worlds largest Great White Shark was also caught off Malta.. not that you are likely to ever see one though.

I rode up and down my road to test out my new wheel build and thats as far as I got. Aiming to get up Clent tomorrow for a little ride if the rain/snow holds off.

26er 2012 On-one Inbred, replaced ageing Kona Koa

I got a spare brand new n-gear too if anyone’s looking for one – small size for inbred frame (28.6mm)

AbraCADabra

Print bots in Birmingham are who I use. Cheap and very helpful bunch and quality is very good.

Tallinn.. Old town is beautiful, cheap flights from uk and the cakes are very nice.

It’s at a science museum / centre in Tartu, Estonia. It’s effing cold over here at the moment hence the knitwear 😉

My facial expression is due to the fact anything with heights freaks me out but I could not pass down a ride across the wire and back.. Perfectly safe and lots of fun though.

Right I’m provisionally in. I’m gonna make the trip down from Stourbridge.

Sounds like my cup of tea this..

You can lock and do an ‘erase mac’ remotely on macbook pro via the ‘find my iPhone’ app. But if you were to do a fresh install of OSX and reset the default user to yourself it should be fine. I think.

Going on the savoury tip.. I ate a slice of savoury birthday cake yesterday here in Estonia. It was a tuna sandwich cake, and it looked impressive, tasted nice too. I wish i had got a few pictures of it.

Mind you, I am looking forward to getting home on wednesday. I am missing my bike, sponge cake and fast running out of Yorkshire tea bags.

Prodigy – Fire

I’ve just ordered spokes from them for my first wheel build, hope they turn up!

There are a few titty bars under the railway statin by the zoo so I hear..

I used to commute Birmingham to London once a week for work. I used to work in Birmingham City centre office and for some reason management thought it was a good idea for me to work in Covent Garden once a week to bond with the London team. I hated commuting silly hours. Luckily I now work for myself from home doing the same job and do not commute to any office!

I ate Carp for the first time this Christmas (not by choice – I was visiting girlfriends parents in Estonia), surprisingly nice to eat. Although I was freaked out at first eating something that used to catch out of the local canal as a kid.

A cup of Yorkshire Gold Tea

What Zulu said, this is my speciality/industry along with Patents and Designs