Hebdencyclist – have a look at the OP’s previous posts on this.

Ah OK

how about frying my chips in red diesel?

Come to Yorkshire, lad. It’s standard practice.

Sounds like you have experienced narcissistic abuse

Hold on. We don’t have evidence of that from the OP so far.

“I went out with an immature and selfish person. Thank god I got away from them. I pity the poor sod who has to put up with them now.”

We’ve all done it, surely?

over-engineered, identitikit ego pram

😀

My girlfriend is getting a new company car so she’s been getting test drives of the options. Which means I’ve been driving them too. Mercedes, BMW, Audi, yeah very nice but they’re all basically Edwardian technology with a few trinkets added.

They all have far more in common with my Dacia Logan than they differ from it.

What thoughts are still in your head?

Well done, chaps.

Now: Strava also outputs “calories”, which I take to mean fuel burned. According to this, I burned 1473 calories on the ride. This is 6163KJ.

Strava:

Calories (or kcal) is a measure of the energy you’ve burned during your activity. Strava will calculate calorie data for your rides and runs. Calorie calculations are estimates based on power output and a coefficient for human efficiency.

Let’s work it out again with this figure:

Cycling: 6,163,000 Joules
Driving: 112,640,000 Joules

Now, cycling uses 18 times less energy than driving.

Cycling = 70,034 Joules per kilo
Driving = 100,841 Joules per kilo

Obvious flaws are: “energy consumed by driving” figure is an underestimate as it takes no account of elevation

Strava’s “calories” figure is an estimate. We have no way of knowing whether it’s a good estimate or not.

From Strava:

Energy Output measures the amount of work you’ve done during a ride, expressed in kilojoules (KJ). It is a factor of how much you’re pedaling, how fast you’re pedaling and how much force you’re exerting on the pedals (measured in W). Power output is most accurately taken from a power meter, but if you don’t have a power meter we give a rough approximation through our power estimator.

I’m not sure this helps…

Really superb portraits. Good luck with the competition.

I agree with the commentary comment – let the images stand on their own.

Yep. Cars are really, really inefficient.

I had a big diesel when I had a long motorway commute. I’ve just changed to a small turbo petrol engine because I now do more urban driving.

As in kisses and cuddles, and holding hands? No, none of that sort of thing. Just thinking about this today and realised it’s over 10 years since we’ve been out on a date and had a snog at the end (went out a few times between 5 and 3 years ago, but no more than holding hands, and the handful of times we’ve had sex in that time it’s been more of a standalone **** than making love after a romantic evening – which is so not what I want). It seems she isn’t interested in any of that sort of thing (or at least not with me)

Sorry for the hijack

Man you sound unhappy. Have you tried to talk to her about it?

From the perspective of a child of this kind of thing:don’t wait for an affair being discovered to force a decision. Make one. If things are that bad then leave, whilst still taking responsibility for your share of parenthood. Your conduct during this period is being watched by your children, so act like an adult even when they’re not in sight as there’s nowhere in a normal family house that the kids haven’t found a way to eavesdrop on.

Far too much of my image of me is defined by not being anything like my dad.
He acted like a spoiled child (whining that the synchronous affairs by his brothers hadn’t led to their children cutting them off) and though i appreciate more now that I’m older and have stepchildren how unwelcoming the family home must have been with surly teenaged me in it, the onus is on the leaver to cause the least disruption/damage they can. Because you’re a parent.

Realise that the children won’t understand your inner working-out, only assume that you love someone else more than them. Leave first, then do the new life. And if during the “your mum and I are splitting up” talk any of you feel like throwing in “this is a photo of my girlfriend” and then asking for a hug then I’ll happily come round and try for the kicking I was too scared to give my dad.

Aside from all my issues (sorry, my grandma died recently and I’ve not seen her since the 90s because of cutting off that side of the family, so I’m feeling a bastard), I wonder how this ending a broken relationship works for the wimmins. My partner has paused her professional life to scrape by while the children are young, it was pure luck that we met as she rarely had time to do anything but parent. Seeing recently how frazzled a friend is trying to work a 60 hour week and parent two young children, getting to live in the family home while her ex (my primary friend of the couple) moved back in with his parents and does two nights a week doesn’t really sound the sparkly end of the stick.

Ramble ramble ramble, sorry

Absolutely 100% spot on. Give that man a cigar.

I know how to do that but I only have the route I want to load on Connect.

It’s only a short route – just plot it again in Strava or something.

Right.

1. what are the grounds for failing of NQT year? Which of the Teaching Standards has your partner allegedly not met?

2. When did your partner first find out that she was at risk of failing that Standard?

3. Was “at risk of failure” procedure invoked, along with the extra support that that entails? If so, when, and what was the result?

If this failure has come as a surprise to your partner then she has almost certainly not been given the support she has the right to expect.

If this has been a long drawn-out process of “you’re failing to meet this standard – you need to do x by x date and here’s how we’re supporting you” and your partner still hasn’t met the required standard then it may be that she’s not suited to a career in teaching.

SO…. What are the grounds for the appeal? What does the Head say your partner has not done, and does your partner have the evidence that yes, they HAVE done that?

Just a hunch, but your partner’s school isn’t in Special Measures by any chance, is it?

Can you tell me in very simple terms how I do this please?

1. Plot your route in any software that is not Garmin WontConnect. I use Strava.

2. Export the route as a .gpx file, give it a meaningful filename and save it to your desktop.

3. Plug in your Garmin.

4. Open Windows File Explorer and drag and drop the .gpx file into the New Files folder in the Garmin.

5. Sit back, light your pipe and admire your handiwork.

“A Group Ride”

Yes.

Currys?

Luxury cars. iPhones. iPads. Designer clothes. That **** programme where people bake cakes.

Buy him “Irrationality” by Stuart Sutherland – don’t underestimate your kids, if he doesn’t read it now then by 11 I reckon he might do.

Yeah. I might read it, but I’ll leave him with James and the Giant Peach for now!

My 8 year-old has been brainwashed by school into thinking alcohol is evil and he lectures me whenever he sees me with beer, and has no interest in tasting it.

He has also been brainwashed that cycling is dangerous unless you wear a day-glo tabbard, and that he should avoid any food with fat or sugar in it.

shifting weight, honking on the pedals, would be horrible if they were trying to shift the bike under them in different directions/ at different times.

This

apologies for musing out loud

Crack on – I think you raised good points.

@hebden tough for me to read that

I’m sorry man. I tried to make it a positive post but perhaps it pushed some buttons for some people.

Always thought about doing something similar running from Cambridge (easy to get to by train and huge cyclist population) out to one of the lovely coastal beaches in North Norfolk near me, such as Wells next the Sea or Holkham, simple AA route planner search makes it 75 miles by car, but taking the quiter back roads and adding in places of interest would be 100 miles easily, plus then it isn’t that far back to Kings Lynn for a train or a bit further on to Norwich.

+ points- good beer, cider yard, beautiful beach and cafe.
– points- not really an event for the climbers…

If you could get it to over 100 miles, sounds great. I’d definitely come.

I was already put off by the lack of cake

My friend, if you come, I will personally ensure that my partner and kids run a cake-and-tea stall at the half way point, just for you 🙂

Not sure about the “sweet shop” though… maybe you’re younger than me.

Sorry I didn’t mean to be offensive or sexist. What I was trying to say (whilst keeping it as brief as possible) is that the world is full of people looking for love and romance. The internet connects them. Some people are looking for marriage – some people are just looking for a shag – most people are looking for something in between. It doesn’t matter how old you are(I’m 40 and no looker) – you can date and have fun, romance and possibly love with others who are looking for the same thing. Strap yourself in though – when you put yourself out there “on the market” you will find out exactly what you’re worth!

what if you’re 100% sure that it would lead to one angry parent filling the children with hatred and blame for you whilst trying to be as obstructive as possible to access?

Even more reason to get the **** away from a person like that.

The courts are there to grant access if you really, really need them to. And as for the hatred and blame, just be nice and reasonable with the kids when you have them. They’ll work out for themselves what’s really going on.

This is why your idea won’t catch on.

Dunwich Dynamo = approx. 2000 riders
RTTC = approx. 800 riders registered this year
Exmouth Exodus = 100-300 riders (not bad considering the location and it’s a more challenging ride)

It’s caught on!

Whilst a novelty once in a while, it means a day ride ends up taking 3, because you can’t really work all Friday (you’ll want a lie in then need to drive to the start), then Saturday is wiped out sleeping and Sunday spent grumpy and getting your body clock sorted again.

Dude don’t come 😀

how do we get back ?

You get the train. Or you ride back. Or you do what I do, and set your better half up in a hotel at the finish, then crawl in there at 6am for coffee, sexual intercourse, brunch, sightseeing and a lift home (roughly in that order):-)

If there was demand, it wouldn’t be the end of world to sort out a coach or two. That’s what the RTTC and the Exmouth Exodus do. The DD has grown over the years into a fleet of coaches and lorries.

Wow – this is a very frank and honest thread. Good work chaps.

I split from my wife 2 years ago now, after staying together for the sake of the kids for some time. I can say with absolute confidence that the kids are happier now we’re apart, because they have two happy parents instead of two miserable ones.

Me and my wife actually had better sex after we’d decided to separate, and none of the petty resentments and annoyances mattered any more. It was like we’d just met all over again :-)We are now friends and are more calm and tolerant of each other now we’re apart than we ever were together. We get on each others’ tits occasionally, but we always let it slide in order to be good parents to the kids.

Men deal with separation by feeling a sense of failure; they have “failed” at a really big part of life; they haven’t done what they’re “supposed to” do. Fellas, you have to fight through that shit. Failure is spending your whole life in a miserable home, putting your kids through the same, because you weren’t brave enough to call an end to it.

The other feeling that men often have is “I’ve worked hard to build a respectable life. If I leave, I’ll be starting again from scratch.” Yes. Yes. You might have to start again. **** it. Do it. It’s the most liberating thing. When I split from the wife, I rented a cottage on the moors (the type I’d always wanted but the wife wouldn’t consider) and grew veg, road my bike, read books, had the neighbours round, went on adventures with the kids (who loved Dad’s new house). That first night, away from the family home and in my own new bed, I felt a huge sense of relief. For the first time in years, I felt that the world was full of possibilities and choices, rather than a miserable slog with someone I didn’t like any more.

In time, I dated (if you haven’t done internet dating, get on it – it’s like a sweet shop) and had good times, romance and adventure again (remember that?) and eventually met someone special and now we’re setting up a life together.

If you’re in an unhappy marriage, and you’ve tried everything to make it work, but you think you “can’t leave” because of money, the kids, what other people will think, whatever; well, you *can* leave, and perhaps you should.

Don’t see much difference between sportives, audaxes and what you’re proposing, just levels of organisation.

What I’m proposing is free, doesn’t have any rules, is an overnight ride, doesn’t require registration, brevet cards or numbers, ends with a swim in the North Sea…

I realise it won’t appeal to all, but I think it’s worth putting it out there.

Yep – I found that earlier and I’m in 🙂

No but thanks for putting me onto it. I might do a couple of the Northern ones.

The rattling driveshaft of a bus as it passes me with six inches to spare.

Yep – publicise via internet, put a gpx out there…

…and if it ends up just me and a few mates then nothing lost. I just think it could be fun to have more DD/RTTS type rides throughout the year and in different parts of the country.

I don’t know, it was a hypothetical. But since you asked, let’s say, hypothetically, Hebden, Keighley, Harrogate, Easingwold, Malton…

Nice.

I’d say Audax satisfies your criteria (except for the thousands of participants). Most of the controls on Audax events I have ridden have been nice cafes, or village halls with good catering. You don’t have to get your card stamped if you don’t want to!

I wouldn’t underestimate the effort involved in organising even an informal event. I bet the volunteers behind these things put a lot of time in to them.

Yep I hear everything you say. A couple of questions – not as challenges to your points but as genuine enquiries…

1. Why do Audaxes get entries in double figures, while the DD and RTTS get hundreds and thousands?

2. If you or I were to write on this forum “Let’s all meet in Hebden Bridge on the second Saturday of September and ride to Scarborough”, what other organisation would be required?

The sound of my 8 year-old son laughing his head off as he picks up speed going downhill.

Wow. This happened to us. Didn’t realise it was a deliberate “thing”. Wish I’d cleared my cookies before booking.

I’ve given up even trying to use Garmin Connect. I always do a manual upload to Strava

Racist.

**** bitch.

😀

Thanks for the comments on the Rapha lightweight jersey. Going to Manchester tomorrow to try one in the flesh