Thanks very much M8

I seem to recall Lance Armstrong stopped signing jerseys and books because then people would put them on ebay, at the same time as livestrong was selling signed jerseys for his livestrong charity.

How much would you get for a Wiggins signed Sky jersey on ebay…few quid I expect?

The columbus carbon frames from Paul Milnes cycles are very good. Also check out Zepnat cycles and Fossa frames.

i am not sure carbon is essential, I have raced a alu Empella for years and it’s fantastic, and very light. Can get these frames for you if you want.

If you rephrase the question to what is the hardest to achieve, it must be Wiggins TdF. Based on the number of competitors, the length of the race, possible crashes, illness and the time of activity per day.

(Based on how AC was going in the Vuelta, probably won’t win again, unless he can change styles and accelerate on the big climbs, and not just hang in there like Ullrich).

The traditional retail lbs business model is finished….the people in that sector need to move on to provide a different service/advice offer.

I never go the lbs because i don’t want to be charged £6 for an inner tube, to speak to a teenager who knows less than I do and which doesn’t stock my brand, or my size.

But I did travel miles to visit a shop run by an ex TdF rider, who advised me on bike fit and could not have been more helpful, I ended up spending +£1k and very very happy with outcome.

We have a border terrier and was bought in the hope she would run alongside the bike over hill and dale. The reality was very different. Our border terrier is very scent driven and will just take off after a squirrel, fox, pheasent, and we are forced to just wait for her until she returns. We have tried all the methods of food rewards etc and it doesn’t work so no riding alongside the bike.

Not suggesting this will be your experience and you may well find it Ok!

silicone taxis

I’ve done a lot over the years both here and abroad. Couple of points… it is important to set the bike up how your own bike is, not how they tell you in the class, otherwise you risk some knee damage. Also the environment is usually warm and gets warmer so take a heart-rate monitor to make sure you are working at the right level. Thirdly take a towel to drape over the bars and clean the machine afterwards. The exercises that some classes do can really helping core strength which is key to climbing ability so get stuck into those as well.

There is a massive range of quality. Different classes focus on different things, ask yourself do you really want to be stuck at the back of a class, of 21 year old women chatting, bobbing along to music 8O

+1 Butcher

I ride both MTB, and with a club on the road, and proud of it!

The OP makes a point that considers himself and his schedule to be of more importance than the roadies at the time. He must get past because he is in a car…All road users have equal rights, they were ahead.

2 of my regular ride buddies have had problems with the Garmin 800, due to water ingress.

I bought a Garmin Etrex 20 and use it for MTB, mainly downloading new routes and then navigating.

I have to say that I think the Garmin operating software is poor. We were all sitting in the cafe recently with Garmin 800’s trying to find out how to change the dashboard….the software is not intuitive and the manuals hopeless.

Did this recently, you also have to contend with over 100 gates that slow you down. My advice if you want to make that train is not to stop for any breaks except for the taps, and hold some energy in reserve for the last hills into Eastbourne. But enjoy, it really is a fabulous route, so lift your nose up from the stem and look around as you pass through!

Report it immediately. It will be discovered, if not now, perhaps during an end of year audit. If you don’t, it reeks of dishonesty and your reputation will suffer.

Let’s get back to the OP.

The question I have is whether the young irish traveller women have reduced life choices by being trapped in a lifestyle not of their own making. I believe the lack of education is in itself a form of subjugation and denial of human rights.

One final point, the ritual of ‘grabbing’…..that’s assault isn’t it?

We’ve got a 2008 170bhp 4 door model. Frankly it has too much unnecessary power (and this is from someone who races a Caterham!). I would go for the 140 model if I was to buy again.

We bought the car 1 year ago and then put it into a main dealer for the cambelt to avoid warranty issues as it was a vw approved car. They did the injectors free of charge. Also the cambelt change was as cheap as an independent garage.

These cars are very safe and very comfortable with leather, and high residuals but I don’t think they are as reliable as their reputation suggests.

Yes, you are right it does need a cherry picker and maybe 2 days! how much for all of that, is £200 a day plus £100 for the plant hire a good guess?

I’m doing it, but waiting for an update on local conditions…anyone?….the last time I went to this area it was pretty poorly drained on some sections…so i was thinking mud tyre on front and a faster tyre on rear…

+1 tron

Had a similar issue with a Mondeo. It was the coil packs. Changed in about 5 mins. Start with the cheapest solutions….

Thanks all. I quit skype and restarted and problem has gone…phew….I can now reach out for that friday glass of wine in relief. This forum is very helpful!

I’ve tried the above still no joy. Its now doing it on all my excel files!!!

tO explain further, If I click on copy, the formula shows, then when I try and paste, it will only paste as a number. If I click on paste special it only gives the option of “paste as unicode text” ot “text”

What the hell is going on? virus?

if you buy etymotic phones they come with a variety of interchangeable buds. Best sound as well imho…chrs

Another less well travelled route is Gradbach-macc forest-cat and fiddle-three shires-gradbach. I got a gps file if you need….chrs N

Epic day out on Saturday….Beautiful route, sublime riding!

Couple of observations…A good GPS file does help, even if you have maps….although it’s well signposted too.
Knowing where the taps are is also important. Despite warnings only one puncture..1 mile from Eastbourne!

Got to Eastbourne quite late on Saturday evening. Decided the return route on Sunday was a bridge too far bearing in mind the wind and we trained it back to Winchester. Now wondering when I can do it again!

return on Sunday? To Winchester, along the SDW?

Yep, attempting the ‘double’ over 2 days! Should be fun…….

Blimey, its going to be crowded!! There’s four of us doing SDW leaving Winchester at 7am on Sat to Eastbourne YHA, then return on Sunday. We are Yeti hardtail, Specialized hardtail and Specialized epic!! See you out there…anyone know of a good cafe about halfway along for massive carb upload to keep us going??

Very sorry to hear, thoughts are with you and family.

Thanks but the download link on that site doesn’t work. The file doesn’t download as a gps but as a text file!

Well, I got a Garmin etrex 20, for approx 140 quid. It has AA batteries so no worrying about being caught with no charge, just take a few spare with you on long trips, does lots of complicated things as well…

coincidentally was listening to Lucero’s cover of TVZ song colorado girl few minutes ago. Lucero are great band, check out “wasted”. Another fav of mine are Drag the River “live at the starlight”….

IMHO best riding is over Ticknall way, lots of good XC singletrack linkedto the technical riding in Robins wood where locals have built downhills and berms. There is a ride on Monday evenings from the John Thompson pub in Ingelby from 6.30pm to about 8.30, all very welcome….some stay for beers afterwards :D. Ride doesn’t go on bank holidays or if it’s a monsoon….otherwise we’ll be there

Toshiba satellite L730…..13″ screen…..Think I’ll go for a macbook next time….I just hope Apple are more reliable and have better customer services!

This is a great ride. I would recommend the published guide route,from IMBA with laminated notes! Around £6. There is a good pub, the miners arms IIRC halfway.

“into your arms” Nick Cave
“Martha” Tom Waits

and after refreshments…..”stand by you” pretenders

Such a shame………one of my all time top tracks……

my advice, change the cheapest parts first starting with the leads and coil pack. Check the voltage from the alternator as well.
Had a Ford Mondeo wiht really strange electrical faults….it was the coil pack……..

The best advice I ever got from a senior bod in Ernst and Young on starting a job or project was ‘establish the facts’. So agree with posts above, first days are about establishing the facts, building a rapport with team. understanding the capabilities in the team and forming a view on how to deliver the outcomes you are asked. Good luck!!

Well, I travel a lot on planes and trains….the best I’ve used is etymotic. Why…? as well as pure sound pleasure, also they take up almost no room, don’t need charging and can wear them walking down a busy london street without looking like a dork…I use them often on the bike, but because they don’t let in any ambient sound they are dangerous you need to keep your wits about you. They are not expensive for a reason….cheers

On a transfer from a long term car park to Gatwick, my 2 year old was sitting on my knee and the bus did an emergency stop and he hit his head on a metal pole. He was Ok but I sure held him tighter ever after.

If its had regular oil services and the required cam belt changes this is about 30% of its possible life.

I would avoid the cars that have had the long life service, where the oil is changed sometimes with 2 year intervals.

My audi with a 2.5TDI engine had done 170,000 miles…….(probably now will go bang tonight)

I read sometime back on ‘honest John’ in the ST of another way….If I remember correctly that you can report to the DVLA an abandoned car on your property give them the reg no and a nominal fee and they will supply the owners address. Whilst this isn’t quite the case here maybe there’s some similar method………..

Nazareth – Love Hurts
Persian Risk – Jane (check it out on youtube)
Blackfoot – Highway song (no words can describe….)
Motorhead – No class (only joking)