I’ve tried lobsters on in a shop, and I’m not sure I could get used to them. I hadn’t considered the Spesh Deflect, might have to hunt some down and have a look…

G

These seems like a good excuse to show off my Argon… :)

G

When I say friendly, it’s all relative… Compared to road racers, testers are like long-lost relatives! :lol:

G

Another vote for second hand, you’ll find a lot of full set-ups minus wheels for sale – I bought an Argon 18 E-114 in this way and then added a set of Dengfu carbon wheels (80/60mm).

Total spend came closer to £1500 but I’ve got a fairly modern frame (bayonet steerer) with full Dura Ace and wheels that are pretty much as good as I need. I may upgrade to a rear disc eventually, but it’s minimal gains for maximum money with disc wheels, so quite a long way down the list of priorities.

Testers tend to be a very friendly bunch, and buying second hand will give you a chance to try the bike. This is important as most people need a size smaller than they think.

If you are going down the new/ebay route, you always see a lot of Planet Xs and Dolans at club 10s, and if you get chatting to the owners, they’ll usually offer you the chance to swing a leg over it – give you a much better idea of fit than trying to work it out from geometry diagrams!

G

It’s not like someone’s flown a plane into Big Ben, it’s a minor skirmish in an obscure African backwater that has little or no relevance to anyone on here.

G

What is this obsession with posting links to news stories like this on this website?

G

Distance relationships are great. The travel can be a bit of a drag but usually get to live the single life during the week, then have a relationship at the weekends. Is that not almost the best of both worlds?

Sounds hideous to me, I think you’ve got it the wrong way round! :D

G

More people should dish out Wasabi nuts, it might put a stop to the scourge of beggars going door-to-door.

G

Skillz have come on a long way! Seriously, they were struggling down some simple steps that most people would have no problem riding on a rigid.

I think brakes make the biggest difference, none looked remotely in control on that first descent, even though there was nothing particularly challenging about it.

And discs? Glad that fad didn’t stick!

G

I was born in Chorley, so technically, I’ve never been, but I have left.

Booths sent 10’s of thousands of fancy Christmas books out recently, must have cost £millions. But judging by the prices of their Christmas foods, they’re hoping to recoup that cost quite quickly!

G

They’re hoping you’ll blow your wad in-store…

G

Have you been… Ahem… y’know… checked out?

G

And you let her slip through the net Yunki?

She sounds like a proper keeper… ;)

G

My friend has a gift shop. Last week, I called in and she was making little felt discs out of Herdwick sheep’s wool which she sews together and embroiders snowmens’ faces on and sells as Christmas tree decorations.

It’s quite labour intensive, but she sells the for £4 each, and they’re flying out.

I commented that the felt discs look like what you might find in the plug-hole of an old-folks’ home shower.

So, you need to go round old folks’ homes and set up contracts to take away all the little felty pads of coarse, grey pubic hair that accumulate in the plug holes of all their baths and showers, make them into little snowmen, and bingo! You’ll be rich beyond your wildest dreams.

Can I have a prize?

G

Beef and butternut squash stew with stilton dumplings and some bread I got from an artisan baker next to Wheelbase in Staveley yesterday.

It’s treacle with apple and cinnamon, and my mouth is drooling at the thought!

G

Possibly reversing the green and black and using a brighter green.

This is why non-designers shouldn’t try to design; or they may design in the knowledge that they’re not designers and the results will generally be quite bad.

G

Your vegetables aren’t doing too well, momo…

G

I watched “All Is Lost” last week… Can’t stop thinking about it, simply brilliant!

G

I think you’ll find that they are called Dutch Arrows.

I used to be an archer and at club shoots, we’d decide our shooting order based on who could throw an arrow the furthest. I once hid a length of fishing line in my hand, looped round the nock of the arrow and cleared the100yd marker!

G

You should have offered her an Aussie kiss… Like a French kiss but down under…

Or you could have invited her to see your penal colony…

So many wasted opportunities.

G

…. But try lowering the nose of your saddle too, only by a very small amount. You’re spending prolonged periods ‘on the rivet’ whereas you probably train in a more relaxed position. Lowering the nose rotates the pelvis slightly which often helps.

Consider a slightly lower saddle height too as this causes back pain. Minor bike-fit issues often come to light when racing but not in training…

G

Haha, sorry Euro, couldn’t resist! :lol:

G

Lower the nose of your saddle…

G

You didn’t have her number

You know when someone texts you? That’s their phone number that is…

Sounds like you might struggle with the Times crossword as much as me Euro! :lol:

G

On a train to Manchester once, a Perfect 10 sat opposite me. I was reading the Times so it was a simple job to gaze at her over the top of the pages. We caught eye contact a couple of times… She blushed… She was beautiful.

I was getting off at Oxford Road, I guessed she was carrying on to the airport as she had a suitcase.

I got to the crossword page and started filling it in… I spent a bit of time making it look good – all the words crossing and joining in the correct fashion:

“I’M GATSBY, YOU’RE PERFECT. CALL ME. 07123 456790.”

When I got off the train, I smiled and pushed the newspaper across the table, knowing that nobody can see an unfinished crossword without completing it.

I hadn’t got as far as the Corner House when I got the text…

“I knew you were an arrogant bastard the moment I sat down. In Italy for next 4 weeks, call me when I get back”.

I never did call her, didn’t want to ruin a perfect relationship. ;)

G

his act is to confrontational with out the depreciating humour or intelligence of say a Graham Norton.

(sic)

I think it was his depreciating humour that got him in this mess! :lol:

G

Sorry Vader, I wasn’t tarring you with the Wiggo brush! But there are an awful lot of low mileage, budget/lower-mid-range road bikes sitting unloved and unused that the owners want to cash in.

I’m a roady and mountain biker in equal measure – probably more road over the last 3 years as I’ve been racing and time trialling – but unless you really need the cash, I’d keep it.

I love the fact that I can get a really intense 1hr workout on the roadbike with practically no maintenance/cleaning.

G

I’m not sure this is anything to feel good about. He was/is a complete twunt, but watching the decline of another just makes me feel a bit depressed.

It’s like those episodes of The Office when Brent works as a traveling rep and goes back to the office with his dog. :(

G

Yep, unfortunately you’re unlikely to recoup much of your investment. You’re competing against a lot of heavily discounted new old stock, and the latest models with 11 speed groupsets.

The market seems to be awash with these sort of bikes – the result of the Wiggo effect and Bike To Work schemes… Lots of bargains if you’re buying but not a good time to be selling.

Here’s a novel idea though, why don’t you ride it? ;)

G

Sam, my legs involuntarily cross at the very thought… 8O

G

Hat’s off Stu, If I had that on my knob, I’d think I’d grown a second bellend!

G

I got as far as “Apply this on your skin tags at least thrice a day” before deciding it all sounded a bit medieval.

G

Yep, before I started messing with it, it was like a rice crispy…

It only went purple when I throttled it.

G

Have you never played “What’s Hitting Me?”, the parlour game where someone is blindfolded and has to guess what they’re being hit with??

G

That’s not a skin tag, you’ve tied it round your scrotum!

Oh balls… :(

I’ll never watch certain adverts in the same way again.

Hopefully you’ll think of me every time you see MC Escher’s Reflecting Sphere…

G

The correct word for this is “Swaffeling” from the Dutch word “Swaffelen”.

In 2008, those crazy Dutch guys voted it “word of the year”.

It means to slap ones cock against someone or something.

G

It’s like a bollock, only bigger Frank. ;)

i did it to one on my lower back, took about a week

How the hell did you lassoo that??

G

I’m pretty sure the procedure is going to plan, notwithstanding the unanticipated pain caused by the location of the skin tag.

I was just wondering how long I would have to endure this throbbing before it drops off! (again, the skin tag that is.)

I’m living in constant fear of an erection… 8O

I wonder, does it’s location make it a fiveskin?

Possibly a oneskin… I think it was the removal of the snood that caused this little problem…

Skin tag? Sure. Just go to the GUM clinic.

It’s been with me for as long as I can remember – certainly long before I started exposing myself to genital warts! :lol: