I lost my front wheel right there once, just completely washed out and went on my arse

Elf
Take the picture at the top Of the thread
Looks nice doesn’t it, in a nice field?
Now transpose it to a rugged Scottish hillside, supposing you could actually build it up there without trashing the place to get materials in, does it look so nice, or is it more viaually intrusive than a spindly lattice structure?
Now if I told you that in order to gain sufficient electrical clearance at 400,000 volts the nice arc of those two masts at the point where the top conductors intersect would have to be about 15m across what would you say?
If that’s near the top imagine how wide it would be at midpoint
Now picture the dimensions of steel needed to achieve that and the height it would need to be, that’s purely electrical considerations where the cables pass through in a straight line, add in a bend and xlearance requirements and widths increase, now consider the size of members needed when considering 25 wires each of 700mm2 cross sectional area, span of upto 350m between towers fully loaded with ice and subjected to hurricane winds suddenly some wires give way and snap but only on one side of the tower, on an angle they are already pulling and twisting the tower in two directions, consider the stresses, along the line loads getting greater, a donimo effect
All of a sudden the nice concept sketch has turned from something that bears a passing resemblance to the spinnaker tower to something that practically needs to be the size of the spinnaker tower with foundations twice the size
Not so attractive now is it?
Now consider maintenance needs to be done, access is difficult, due to the cable configuration both the two electrical circuits need to be switched off, there is no back up (current designs allow for maintenance with one side still live) so suddenly your electric is cut off and your in the dark
Not so clever now is it?
And tahrs one of the better shortlisted entries
That’s a very basic analogy but maybe you start to understand, electricity pylons may look simple but they are amonst the most complex structures designed, the loads they have to be designed to carry are alot more complex than their ‘graceful’ nature would suggest

There’s nothing wrong with the picture, I reckon a pixelated bike should be pretty easy to spot

Elfin
It is true that the basic outline of the pylon from which the current ones descend was designed by an architect, in a post war era of posterity
That though was a long way from the pylons of today, they may look similar to you but that is testament to the greatness of the original design that little has changed, it is efficient, adaptable and economic, modern pylons may share the same basic silhouette but that’s where it ends. Did you know for example there is actually over 100 different types of pylon in use in the UK today? The fact most people probably don’t even notice different designs would ask me to question how ‘intrusive’ they actually are, or has the current design actually become accepted and people don’t acknowledge them until a proposal to build a new line comes around, do we actually need a new concept aimed at making these essential bits of infrastructure into artwork or would we prefer them to go un noticed? Non of these proposals seem any less intrusive
The whole competition I do know a fair bit about it, and the background of it, And the design brief, there is no jealousy at all, there doesn’t have to be I work in an industry that is thriving and going through the most exciting time since the construction of the original supergrid in the 1960’s, i enjoy being an engineer and helping provide and maintin vital infrastructure, there is a place for pretty things and a place for prctical engineering and sometimes the two are interchngeble, and I admire a good structure with function and form but sometimes they are not and something just needs to do a job efficiently and without fuss. Anyway the winner walks away with nice little cheque, and national grid get some publicity and maybe the odd idea on materials or something thT could be adapted into an existing design, both parties win but the designs themselves don’t hold your breath to see them in use

How d’you know this?

An engineering degree and over 13 years experience in the industry working with the UK’s two leading overhead line companies on everything from 440kV down to 11kV including pricing the design of the new tower suite currently under development for national grid for new nuclear connections as well as involvement with two new tower designs for use on a new build line that at £300million+ is currently the largest ever single overhead line contract in the UK 😉

You can indeed get an architect to design something that looks nice and the get it reverse engineered when it comes to things like buildings that are essentially an engineered core with a cosmetic skin but electricity pylons have quite different requirements and non of these designs would be practical on so many levels from cost of materials to installation, maintenance, security of supply and safety

Oh ffs don’t get me started
Agree with op it what happens when you let architects loose with an engineering problem then let architects judge it – there was not one industry professional with any sort of structural engineering background on the panel
None of them would support the loadings that are imposed on them none of them would be constructible in the terrain we have to deal with, without vast expense, only one seems to have kept remotely to the design brief, electrical clearances may be fine for the one example the competition covered but towers come in many sizes and none of these designs could be adapted for a heavy angle or junction tower (and they are the real big heavy ugly ones)
None could be maintained safely without completely switching off both circuits, no consideration given to access
None will ever see the light Of day thy are not practical in any way
The whole thing was just a marketing exercise to try and temporarily appease people against plans for new lines to support new wind and nuclear investment

Must be the first where they popped two kids out during the build though, one has been done a few times but two, not twins? How did he find the time with All the building And running a business?
Not impressed with the build either, agree with comments about visitor centre and budget
Can see my foot going though the tv hAlf way though next weeks as well

Oo-er missus user removed!

Stevede it is, there was no carbon rear end in 09 so it will be a 2011 model
I nearly had that off him a while ago but I had seen the 2012 meta and figured I’d wait for one of the new design
Now I’ve seen the frame only prices, and the weight of it I should have just got the cheap option but the money’s not still there now anyway

Crag
Issues with decade I think that took too long to get resolved
Not sure if he dwfinately given up or if he may still stock but think it’s unlikely at best at moment
Paulo give him a bell or email I think he has more stock he hasn’t advertised yet

Yeah prob go on the sat, was thinking of blacking trade day entry but am still on holiday so guess I’ll have to pay for my ticket!
I read the track is permanent too

Check real cycles. Steve is no longer dealing Commencal so selling off all his old stock dirt cheap
Some details his shop website or on http://www.commencalownersclub.com

Xtr V’s on my old voodoo, find them perfectly adequate most of the time

She would wear jeggings and 5-10 heels, with a buff fashioned as a burka, no helmet as her religion makes her exempt And she never rides on a saturday

The new Hyundai i40
Trust me that car is going to really shake up the company car market this next couple of years
Test drove it last weekend, very nice, and well specced compared to the Mondeo, VW and Mazda
Looks good inside and out too and diesel engine was very quiet
Very low company car tax
Had my i30 2 years now and not had one issue with it, would rate it higher on build quality, comfort and spec than the BMW company car i had previous, now debating the i40 or an ix35 as need something bigger but can see no sensible reason to not buy another hyundai

+2

Ive just found a slice of last nights pizza and a can of Stella in the fridge, can I put that inside a ciabatta, make myself a posh sandwich?

Oh you bugger I’m hungry now, and I’ve had one two many beers to drive the shop for corned beef

My wife signed up to graze a year or so go and shortly after cancelled (or thought she had) make sure you physically cancel any direct debit with your bank too
They also now send us a load of junk, personally I wouldn’t recommend them as a company no matter how good the rabbit food is

Cantis fine, but can you believe in years gone by people used to race downhill using them, offroad
Imagine that if you will, offroad downhill bumps and all on cantilever brakes, madness absolute sheer madness I tell you, can’t imagine Danny Hart being that stupid can you?!

from PP balance or bank transfer = no fee
from credit card = fee

which seems fair enough by paypal (did I really just say that??)

two years?
Some routes around the peak district have been in at least 4 times in 18 months not to mention also being in the route guide special magazine things they produce every year!
The Quantocks is another good one, think they have one ride they keep re-publishing twice a year

It may well note your ip when you vote, which would make a lunch time spent voting a bit of a waste!

I had nothing else to do, it was raining and I was stuck in the office, STW is blocked, it was that or porn and the latter gets a bit boring

Well that filled a lunch time at work today, anyone fancy a guess at how many times you can vote in 45 mins? 🙂

I’ve just used virgins sky switcher offer to move
Will get hd, TiVo box and multiroom for £100 a year cheaper than equivalent on sky, plus more reliable and faster Internet (sky internet is shite, dial up often faster) espn and more tv channels (even factoring in they haven’t charged me the extra £10 a month for unlimited broadband for about 18 months despite that being a 6 month deal originally)
Did think of doing the whole phone to cancel and see what the offered to stay thing but our sky plus box keeps crashing too so figured I’d just call it a day then virgin said I’d get an extra £30 credit if I cancelled sky using their form and it was a no brainer…..
After one call to virgin customer services yesterday though I’m already regretting it, they clearly haven’t changed from the old ntl days

Stans sale on at wiggle too

+1 scruff
Saw that tour at royal court in Liverpool
Rollins was superb, chilis even more, they where the days, just before blood sugar was released I think
That was 2nd time I saw them I think first time was in Manchester I seem to remember it might have been living colour supporting who where shite, I was about 14 or 15
Prob only surpassed in my best ever concerts by beastie boys with Jon Spencer blues explosion supporting in wolves a few years later

Looks like he has been banned again, no comments from him today, makes it a bit boring actually
Graham I reckon it’s time for you to quit now too, it’s pointless, how many times can you state the same VED and insurance comments, I’d let it die a natural death now if I was you, these people will never take anything you say in and there will be a similar article next month

UK prices are silly though, especially for the spec (SRAM x5 at nearly £3k?!)
Frame only prices silly too especially considering most People upgrading would need almost a bikes worth of new parts – bottom bracket and crank, direct mount mech, 142mm rear wheel tapered forks etc kind of prices a frame only upgrade out (although it would be pretty much future proof, but I thought that about current meta 3 years ago as it had interchangeable dropouts!)

I have 2 commies and love the brand and was keen to replace the meta with an AM or the meta SX but can’t see it happening at those prices, Depends too if decade continue madisons ‘devaluing’ of the brand by selling off at almost 50% after only half a season so think I’ll be waiting to see, by which time I will then be considering different brands 2013 models

There is a review in dirt magazine this month – mixed but all problems seem to be a poor shock tune so guess it depends on what shock was fitted to the la brese test bikes compared to what hits the shops

First half is pretty decent a few songs remind me of Blood sugar and some earlier stuff, after track 6 it falls away big time
Shame there is no John as he is a great guitarist but it does seem that flea has had a bit more influence, there are some bass lines driving the songs that are chilis of old
Prob 2 or 3 good songs (after 3rd listen after it’s grown on me a bit) rest is very samey
Main issue is the lyrics, they’re garbage, with exception of blood sugar which was a bit more from the heart they always have been and AK has openly admitted he’s not a great lyric writer but guess I’ve just grown up and now appreciate lyrics a bit more than just a bass riff
Shame as I’ve been into them since very early on, freaky styley days, used to get the piss taken at school for liking this band no one else had heard of, then came higher ground, and later blood sugar….
Have standing tickets to see them in Brum, will be 5th time and yes whilst they could sell out stadiums it is for them quite a small tour, looking forward to it still because chilis have always been better live than on record

Big up that man/woman proof there are still some nice people out there

Yeah you would at least bicker on here instead 😉
Loving his latest claims of speial ip tracking troll ousting software!
Thing is that’s my local news forum, I’ve been reading it for about 4 or 5 years in that time that same guy has had at least 6 different names each time it is obvious from his posts that it is same person, he just drives everyone mad and gets banned then comes back
This one though he is really loosing it
It’s quite amusing!

That ‘justice’ bloke needs a good slap
How can one person be so argumentative and disagreeable…….
Makes me ashamed to live in Derby

Pines is a good 90mins from Ashbourne through the old mining villages clogged with traffic, in terms of time peaks would be closer, or cannock, or go explore round Alton area park at the ramblers retreat cafe
Even the ticknall ride on the route guide on this site is closer and prob more interesting than pines which is prob not worth travelling too (I’m in derby and cba with it)

Should take 130 fine, quite a heavy frame

Because he is pulling a swift one over his employer? Instead of doing whatever they do with warranty returns (return to manufacturer or more likely write off and scrap) he pockets them and sells them on in this fashion?
Technically it could be theft (unless of course he has permission to get rid however) but if you get Cheap frame how bothered about it would you actually be?
EbY is full of people and companies legit selling on warranty returns / refurbished goods, personally I wouldn’t worry prob perfectly legit, just like i said earlier some numpties silly idea of how to avoid various selling fees by relishing ‘same’ item

Quickly change your name by deedpole and move house,it’s the only way unless you want to do time

Yep I’m retarded how silly of me to so obviously make a joke about bike industry marketing and the old perception of 29ers as clown bikes
Obviously some people believe absolutely everything they read (rolls eyes in traditional fashion without a fancy semi colon bracket keyboard symbol)

The chip will be in the dogs neck therefore She owns the front end and unfortunately you got short straw and own the rear end
joking obviously it’s an ID tag not an ownership certificate, if that was the case our dog would have been sold with the old house as fittings and fixtures as we have never updated the info with whoever holds the register of these tags!
YOu have to do whatever you jointly decide is in the best interest of the dog but remember it is a living creature not a possession

Because it’s all marketing bollocks and the bike companies know it’s harder to bluff a clown than it is a mountain biker 😉