that would take a lot of goals

2 and counting…
10-0 to Ivory Coast and 1-0 to Brazil, Portugal out…
It would be nice to see at least one African team in the next round.

A dog – every bike shop needs a nutty dog…

shake head vigorously from side to side for a few seconds, tilt head so affected ear is down, open mouth in a yawn, bash head with heel of hand just above ear. Repeat until water is gone.
Always works for me…

Al 2.7 g/cm3, 2.8 moh – lightest/g but softest
Ti 4.5 g/cm3, 6 moh – not as light/g but hardest
Fe 7.87 g/cm3, 4 moh – heaviest/g and not as hard

my XC700s have been just fine Windwave fixed and serviced them. I'd say definitely worth £60, even if you just keep them as spares.

snap!

Marin Mount Vision range* – the first full-suss bike to be accepted as a general XC-riding bike.

*Beard and sandals optional.

Out of the silent planet – Kings X (the whole album) 8)

I set off for a family ride on Saturday and turned back when I realised I left my helmet. It did feel nice, but I decided to set an example to my two kids. I was pretty certain mine wouldn't be needed, but young Master Dab needed his when he decided to race a train as it went past. He looked back, wobbled, collided with a wall and went OTB!

Donald – the last thing we need are career politicians, one of the new Labour MPs is barely out of nappies University. Let them get out and get a proper job first, experience the world outside Westminster, and then go into politics.
fwiw the LibDem cabinet ministers are also loaded after senior jobs in the City or industry.

oh and the smoking ban

How could I have forgotten that one. Very sad to see "cigarette pusher to kids" Ken Clarke back *shudder*

yeah yeah, someone else start a slagging off thread. I want to be positive today.
Keep the good ones coming…
You'll remember in the original scene it was the anti-Romans talking…

If I was a LibDem MP I'd want to go into government with the Conservatives. Not because I'd agree with them more, but because there would be an opportunity to form a new government, rather than propping up an old, tired one.
If I was a Labour MP, I would opt for honour and a spell on the opposition benches.
If I was a Conservative, I'd sell my Mother to get into power. 😈

My money's still on a Con-Lib deal.

If you listen carefully you can hear the right-wing wolves baying for Cameron's blood. He knows his neck is on the line and will do a deal at almost any cost.
Clegg also has to play it carefully with his MPs and grass roots (many who voted tactically anti-Tory), or we could have three new party leaders and a new election before the year is out.

I think everyone who voted libdem knew it could only govern in a coalition of some sort. Of course, a cons-lib coalition would have 59.1% (current figures). Either way the majority of the country get their choice of representation

As per the other thread. Cameron is the man who to use a football analogy, failed to score in front of an open goal, and now is hoping for a rebound to go in of everyone's favourites party the DUP. He has the support of 36.2% of the electorate, while a lib-lab coalition has 52.0% (on current figures).
I case you missed it this is creepy Blair and Cameron

Whereas Cameron is the man who to use a football analogy, failed to score in front of an open goal, and now is hoping for a rebound to go in of everyone's favourites party the DUP. He has the support of 36.2% of the electorate, while a lib-lab coalition has 52.0% (on current figures).

Adoption – yes! I have three friends who wouldn't have existed if there had been an easy alternative to adoption at the time (and one has two kids themselves). I also have friends who have adopted two kids and they are all very happy.

…and the consequences in a marriage of taking a decision like that as an individual, may be that it isn't just the pregnancy that is terminated…

-> ebygomm – the trouble they have isn't that they don't want kids, its that they unexpectedly have one on the way. The choice is not whether to have kids or not, but whether to terminate the pregnancy or not. The two are completely different questions.

Gnar – what a difficult and emotional time you must both be having. I can tell you that blokes do grieve for babies they want and then lose – I have been there. As I see it, you made the baby together, so you need to decide what to do together. I do believe that a life is hanging in the balance as you decide. It sounds like you and your wife definitely need some unbiased, professional counselling to help you make your choice. I hope it's a good one.

No one has started speculating yet about what will happen to Cameron if he fails to win a majority/form a government. My guess is that the right of the party will tear into him for snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. The party will then lurch back into UKIP territory and…

I thought about it, but found I couldn't stand the sight of sap…

Sorry – old joke…

I guarantee that no one ever looks at someone in the street and says "wow that person there is really good at walking, I expect they started really early!"
Relax – they all do it eventually…

Get there early and head as far from the exit first. The dragon is a good first rollercoaster. The queuebot is a good idea if you don't mind paying a bit extra and don't like queueing. The driving school and lego racers were also enjoyed by my son…

You could thank them for the warning and politely point out that anyone unable to tell the difference between a deer and a biker should return their firearms licence, as should anyone taking careless shots.

I hope it all goes well for you.
Remind the missus that the thing is to have a perfect baby delivered not a perfect delivery. Tear up the birth plan and take any pain relief you're offered.
Books – Secrets of the Baby Whisperer was a useful read.
Feeding – breast is best but bottles are a close second. The first few days breast milk is the most important. Despite what the health professionals tell you, you can do both.
Be kind to each other and yourselves as much as possible.

It's straightforward economics. There's inelastic supply – limited edition frame, and increased demand due to good reviews etc. In a barter economy (as you seem to suggest it should be) the price of said bike would go up not down.
If you want a discount go for a mass market frame that got bad reviews.

I took the pedals off and put pipe insulation over the cranks. A gentle slope helps to practise on. Once they can balance by steering, put the pedals back on. Be prepared to hold the bike and give a gentle push to start. Starting is the hardest bit. Grass unless it's a cricket wicket is going to make life harder for your little one. A nice big concrete or tarmac area is best.
Stay chilled – she'll get it eventually (maybe straight away).

Your dog is probably feeling the way you or I would after a long run, stiff and a bit sore. Rest and a treat sounds like the right answer. You'll know if you really over did it if she refuses to run with you again.
Our cocker spaniel got sore feet climbing Cairngorm, the rough granite sanded her pads pink 😳 . A day's rest did the trick.

The power of marketing increases exponentially when you add a little bit of science (1st year degree level in this case)!
I remember spending a 'fun' afternoon in the lab bouncing a ball bearing in a tube of different gasses to see how they behaved. N2 is the closest to a ideal gas and therefore it's expansion under heating is linear. Oxygen is less so, and CO2 and water are far from ideal under the gas laws. So for F1 tyres N2 filling makes sense.
Practically, you just need some fancy zeolite filters after a compressor to get your pure N2 feed (no bulk N2 so no safety worries), so for Kwik fit it is a few £1000 per garage for a new sales gimmick…

My wife's Nana always used to ask the Conservatives for a lift to the polling station. They always obliged, and she always voted Labour! Democracy in action…

Back in the old days no one had fridges so a few hours in a coolbag in the back of a car is nothing. Bearing in mind that if you've ridden over any dirt you'll already have ingested a fair few pathogens 😯 , so I'd doubt that a chicken or egg butty would kill you. I favour Muller Rice myself…

Definitely there quite a few times and usually back again…

Might work?

Mine was doing the same. LBS replaced top shock eyelet and bushes for £12 and it is as new again. Easy to remove shock yourself and check for rough bearings at the same time…

I did WTF Taekwondo to a reasonable standard in the past (black-tag). Plenty of sparring in sessions, and a good instructor will teach self defence techniques. I trained with Master Yoon in Ashtead.
Practically though, the best self-defence technique is walking/running away.

@action dan – I had fire XCs last year – they were horrible on the ups and downs *shudder*

Another great event. I had lots of sketchy moments. Glad to hear that those who ended up under bridges were OK and carried on. I really enjoyed the bits on the blue run. At 4.25 I think I was 72th in the MV40s. I must have chatted to a few of you along the way. Next year I need some more skills/courage to beat this year's time.

Why does it matter about the terrain?

It doesn't…