lodious – Member
Naim Audio. That's an amusing hifi tale in itself
POSTED 1 HOUR AGO # REPORT-POST

Do you want to elaborate?

There's a lot of talk on here of going for HD or 1080p, but if you're not feeding it (or plan to feed it) with an HD source from either Freesat HD, SkyHD, Blueray or similar then it's completely pointless.

I've got a Panasonic HD plasma. It is excellent on Sky's HD channels (footie especially), and it does a decent job on regualr DVDs that I feed over component from my XBox, but regular TV and Sky feeds is pretty crappy. It doesn't matter really whether it's LCD or plasma, choose the one with the best picture and motion control and don't worry too much about the technology driving it.

If you're not a Sky subscriber, then I'd definitely be looking at getting one with FreesatHD built in and put a free dish up, otherwise you're paying for capability in the TV that you'll never use.

We stayed in the Lakes last week and the cottage we stayed in had this 20 year old, 24" Sony Trinitron TV/video combo thing in the lounge. We bashed a tape in to watch a movie and it reminded me again how good old TV's and videos were before we were sold this whole LCD/plasma thing…

I've read it all, in stages. But when I pick it up to re-read it, it all seems fresh!

Very little of it seems to have stuck in up there… Clearly, I'm a little bit thick.

Tickety tick (and bump)

Should that 'ouch' not be in capitals?! 😉

Quick update. Checking in as a temp patient at the local GPs, who spent some time listening to my story, prodding my ribs (thanks) and looking at the bruising.

Suspects ribs 7 and 8 are both broken, prescription given for diclofenacs…

Little walk today, but they feel more sore than previously so we're off to the pub with our books… Liquid therapy 🙂

Thanks all. General trend towards not going, so that's what I'll do. Ibuprofen and codine the way forward…

That's definitely what I'd be telling myself Peaches 😉

Wasn't really thinking of A&E, TJ. Just a walk in centre to get a prescription – I'm on holiday, so GP not an option.

Should add, I got hiccups last night. UNIMAGINABLE pain 😀

I've been thinking a visit was worth it just to get some stronger painkillers for sleeping. I'm knackered!

A light hike today shouldn't be an issue, should it? Last day in the Lakes today, and so far it's not raining.

In the Lakes for a week, lost signal since my last post…

I asked what size because I thought it looked short. I'm 5'11" too and I ride a 565mm top tube with a 110 stem, no layback on the post. If you stretch out a bi. More you might find you drop your saddle a touch anyway. Having said that, I can't tell for sure if your seat is too high – if you're not rocking your hips then it probably isn't. You do look cramped though…

How tall are you and what size is that bike? Might just be the picture but it looks tiny on you…

My hamstrings are terrible (can't get past mid shins when trying to touch my toes), but it never affects my cycling. But, when my lower back is tight, I get really uncomfortable on the road bike on longer rides which sometimes can make my hands go a bit numb too – I have no idea if that's really linked…

I tend to fix it by lying on my back and pull my knees up in to my stomach (legs bent), both together and alternatively. I can feel the stretch in my lower back and if definitely helps me. Might be worth a go if you don't do it already…

Sorry to hear it – not much to add other than how's your general flexibility? Could this be an issue?

Coffeeking. You've went from empathy with my post to asking how I pay for a car I hit…

This thread is full of sweeping generalisations (rare for STW, I know). In terms of issuing guidance as to what's safe, you can't. And nor do I want to.

I'm just saying that I jump red lights when I know (not think) it's safe to do so. I'm a reasonably bright bloke, and I refuse to hear from anyone on this thread that I'm not bright enough to know safe from dangerous, or reasonable or unreasonable.

You know, you're allowed to defend yourself with reasonable force. Bugger, how do you define reasonable? How about, in any given situation you use your nuggin?

Don't like no wind at all, feels like a headwind in all directions.

A light headwind around 5mph is perfect, but I'd take rain, sleet or snow over a really strong wind every time…

Kona Explosif has canti bosses, doesn't it?

Edit: Hang on, it's not on their site – have they dropped it?!

Just catching up too…

red lights are there to stop you making mistakes that impact others.

Just not true. Red lights are appearing in places where they never used to be, generally to facilitate traffic flow at busy times, when traffic joining a road is heavy. T-junctions and now, irritatingly, roundabouts appear to have lights springing up all the time on them for this very reason.

Traffic lights on relatively minor roundabouts are a pet hate of mine, especially when it's quiet and the lights aren't part-time. This leads me on to:there are virtually no instances where RLJing is safe. Bollocks. There are several roundabouts close to home I cycle acros. Big roundabouts, good visibility and as we know, traffic only coming from your right. On an evening, the road is very quiet but the lights are still turned on. Are you telling me that you think I'm irresponsible to RLJ at these lights when I can clearly see there are NO other road users close to me, when I can clearly see there's nothing coming? Really?

And there are a lot of junctions around my way like this too…

EDIT: In case I haven't said this already, I don't jump every light. In fact, on balance, I probably stop at the vast majority. I'm just staggered on this thread that people can't accept that sometimes getting away while the lights on red before the rest of the traffic isn't a good idea when it's clearly safer to do so. I'm equally staggered that in situations when there is nobody around and the red light is pretty pointless, like I've described above, people on here are so well behaved that they'll stop and wait.

I'm guessing those people use a lot of coasters and doilies at home…

I've had a RLJ almost crash into the back of me because I had the audacity to stop at a red light, the idiot actually muttered under his breath as he went past…

He was clearly a knob. As I say, no impact on other road users…

So if you break the rules and it doesn't have any impact on anyone else then that's fine?

Yes, that's my point entirely. If is has no impact on anybody else, I don't see what business it is of theirs. I do not want to live in an Orwellian state.

So, yes, raises hand…

PS Ever cycled in France, Holland or Spain? Cyclist do what they want if it has no impact on other road users (or often if it does) and yet they are generally tollerated by other road users. We are not the problem on the roads…

It has no impact on their journey, but they see you breaking the law with little possibility of getting penalised

Exactly my point. Busy bodies basically then? Busy bodies who live themselves in very thinly paned glass houses. Pathetic.

BD – I assumed, as you'd quoted me directly above your point, that you were talking to me. Wouldn't say I'd taken umbridge, just now allowing that point to sit with me. No sweat.

Anyway, must do some work.

Roll on winter.

Bit patronising that BD, absolutely no need. I've been riding for 20 years, average about 6,000 miles a year through all seasons and weather. Not the biggest or the fittest, but experienced enough not to take that line from you.

And I'm sorry, but it is about the impact on their journey and their attitude towards the road, and our position or right to be on it. It's not their right to seek retribution for a wrong – that's what the police are for.

I see lots of wrong doing on the roads every day (sadly, I drive around 35k miles a year as part of my job). I rarely get upset with other road users unless it has a direct and obvious risk to me or somebody else. I'll leave crime detection and prosecution to the authorities.

Unless you think it's okay to live in a vigilante state…

Taxi drivers getting pissed off with RLJing. Oh the irony.

Can I ask again why car drivers get pissed off with RLJing?

What impact does it generally have on their own journey?

What does mcboo prove? That he's normal?

Why, exactly, does it piss so many road users off? I mean, to get pissed off with somebody who's actions are likely to have ZERO impact on their own journey is entirely pointless, surely.

So what really is the problem? Given that 5.5m drivers have penalty points on their licence (and many more, anecdotally, have just never been caught) for speeding, what right do they have to get pissed off with me for judging a light safe to jump?

BigJohn – Member
Does anybody know the correct grip for a chef's knife?

I usually have my index finger along the top of the blade, but for some reason when I notice myself holding it like that, I suspect it's wrong and change my grip to all four fingers around the handle.

For me, I hold either side of the blade between the thumb and forefinger – I don't really hold the handle at all, it's there to push down on with the palm. Does that make sense I wonder?!

nickc – Member
iamtheressurection, explain to me how an expensive kitchen knife makes any difference to the food on the plate at all. Not about how it feels, or what the "experience" is, just how it makes a difference to taste?

When did I say it makes it taste different? I said: I could cook everything that I cook now with a cheaper knife…[but a knife helps]…make the whole thing a nicer experience. You said it makes eff all difference, although you didn't make it clear whether you meant in the prep or the taste so I assumed you meant the former.

For what it's worth though, I'd say I can slice shallot far finer with a good knife that a cheap one. If I'm making a risotto or a Thai salad then that makes a difference to the dish…

I'm off to the lakes this weekend for a week, with the missus. I'll pack a good cooks knife and board, plus a couple of pans because that's what I'm used to cooking with. I don't get much pleasure from preparing food with a shitty knife and a crap board, or using crappy pans. Make of that what you will: I'll re-iterate that to say using a good knife makes eff all difference is ludicrous.

But hey, we're allowed to disagree – and clearly do. No sweat.

nickc – Member
Unless you're a professional chef, and have to chop all day every day, it makes less than eff all difference. You may as well get a bog standard kitchen knife, and spend the difference on decent ingredients.

I think that's bollocks – and I'd ask if you've ever spent money on a decent knife. If you have, I don't understand how you can draw that conclusion.

I could cook everything that I cook now with a cheaper knife (but I'd then need a mandolin) I suppose, but I think a good knife and good basic, but quality stainless pans (Bourgeat are bombproof) make the whole thing a nicer experience.

I don't race professionally, but I still appreciate XT/XTR/Dura Ace, carbon/ti…

One good knife will do 99% of what you need, in my humble…

If you like Global (easily the most comfortable and balanced, at least in my hand and the way I hold the knife), then I think one of two options would make you happy. The GS-5 Veg Knife is a actually a great all-rounder: http://www.nisbets.co.uk/products/productdetail.asp?productCode=C069

…as is the 8" Cooks Knife http://www.nisbets.co.uk/products/productdetail.asp?productCode=C075

The G series is the standard, the GS are a bit lighter (although still weighted). I use this steel:http://www.nisbets.co.uk/products/productdetail.asp?productCode=C237

Don't forget a good wooden chopping board. I hate plastic personally, and find the wood the best for feel and blade life. My Globals need replacing now really (other than my brutal tomato knife, which I never use), but I've had them for over 12 years so I've had good value and a lot of use from them.

If you don't get on with Global, have a look at Wusthof Trident – lovely knives and more substantial in the hand if you prefer that…

Don't let it put you off the road. Something seems to happen every couple of years with me – I'm probably due one…

This is going to sound pretty sad…

I thought about buying a helmet camera this summer and recording a few short local loops in the sunshine. Then, playing them back over the winter while I was on the turbo and still sprinting for the same signs, hill tempos on the same hills and recovery spins on the downs – just like a normal ride.

I’ve never spent more than 60 minutes on a turbo and think 45-60 minutes of a hard mixed workout is enough to keep you topped up over winter weekdays – with one or two longer rides on a weekend.

Those masochists (you know who you are) who can do up to three hours on one really get my respect/revulsion.

If he does as well as Sheringham did…

hazeii – Member
Smart cookie; retire for a while (no testing!), get ‘fit’ and come back. Way to go – cycling salutes you, Lance Armstrong.

Posted 10 hours

Hazeii, you’re a numpty. I don’t know whether LA is clean or not, but if you really think that he looked particulary fit in Georgia or the Tour Down Under then you’re an idiot.

Can’t believe I took the bait on that…

brant – Member
Is it a hardtail? Tick.

Nothing else to it.

Well, it’s good to know you put a lot into your designs… 😉

You’re right, but sort of missing the point that the OP asked for some broad pointers.

I know where you’re coming from, but saying something completely general like try chardonnay, viognier, Sancerre, Loire etc is about as useful as saying, ‘try anything, some is good, some is not’. It doesn’t exactly narrow it down so I’m not sure it serves any purpose.

A good mate of mine hated Sancerre because all she ever bought was the ropey co-operative juice with a fancy label, which was only ever bought when it was on offer in Tesco. She was adamant that she didn’t like Sancerre because of it so I took round some Henri Bourgeois ‘Etienne Henri’, about as different as you can imagine (oak fermented). She hated that as well (!) but would never have believed it was from Sancerre… Completely different beast.

As some have done, I think it’s more helpful to suggest a producer as a starting point. Although I still think a mixed case from Oddbins or good local wine shop could be a better place to start.

Sorry, but not patriotic enough to agree on Nyetimber. Tonnes of sugar to hide the boat load of acid, in the hope it might balance out. It doesn’t.

Pol Roger White Foil is okay (if a bit short and malic last time I drank it) – Roederer, Taitt and Laurent-Perrier all out drink it.

[minirant] I get all antsy when people keep saying areas like Chablis or […]Montrachet and grapes like Albarino or Sauvignon are good. I don’t think it’s really helpful advice to give to somebody starting off. There is a lot of good, and frankly shit, Chablis out there and so on – a village or grape on its own means nothing. Whitout realising that you could be put off a whole commune and within it some excellent wine by one or two bad examples from poor producers.

You’ll get more reliable hits from producer recommendations (and although I know there’s variability here too, it’s a better place to start). [/minirant]

Ahem, all in my opinion – obviously… 😉

EDIT: I sound a bit of an arse there. If you like Nyetimber then great (or Pol for that matter). It’s all about opinions…

Unless you ride a Marin. I which case you’re just wrong.

Been with them for about 12 years! They had a problem about 12-18 months ago, I think when they were being bought by BT but it was short lived.

I’ve always found their tech guys pretty techie…

Honestly Luke, go to Oddbins with £50 and ask for a mixed, varied case so you can explore a bit.

I always say Oddbins cause the staff are really friendly and normally know a bargain when they see one. They’re practically working students…