I’ll also join if there is still space, thanks for organising.

I’ve followed you on Zwift, no problem sharing my n]Zwift name anyway you fancy 🙂

I’d say ignore everybody (I don’t mean on this thread) and make your own decisions, one at a time. You’ll get most of them right and that’ll do.

If you enjoy the first year or so, it’s a bonus. Most of my mates really didn’t enjoy early fatherhood and worried a lot about that – it worked out for all of them in the end.

I think it’s an uglier side of our society that people automatically assume people with money are bigger dicks than the rest of us.

Hard to comment without seeing the whole layout but if they hadn’t parked there, somebody else would have – looks well used.

It probably is insensitive parking, hard to tell for sure, but whoever rolled the rock back has a huge chip on their shoulder.

I’ve just measured. On a standard rim 22mm inside diameter or so, they measure 58mm across the widest point. The same size Fat Albert on the back wheel is even bigger, at 60mm.

There was also a light grey Marauder with side pull brakes, 87ish. 5 speed, I think. My first mountain bike, and I loved it – as long as I didn’t need to stop…

The failings of the systems and processes by all responsible are clearly not helping, but no matter how clear the rules are, how well they are understood by everybody, there is a significant proportion of the populace who will never follow them. They just don’t care.

I commute through Newcastle every day. In all of the common areas there are groups congregating (mostly 16-25 year olds); kids are playing in the streets/play parks as normal with their mates; and in retail there are people mixing indoors (all ages) from more than one household (unless same-sex relationships are now the majority).

It’s not a surprise to see Newcastle struggling with rising infection. I’m surprised it’s not higher.

No rule changes will change this behaviour for these people, apart from a total lockdown. I’m not qualified to know if that’s a good idea, but it’s the only option, based on what I see every day.

Three cars ago was a 135i: loved it, but handling was a bit low rent. Changed if for a Golf R: rapid, but zero enjoyment in driving it, too capable. Currently in a 340: rapid, but feels like a big heavy bus in the corners.

£25k to spend without any consideration towards practicalities would steer me away from anything heavy like I’ve had above (or elsewhere on the thread). I’d be buying a Cayman. Everytime.

I have spent some time on a track in a CTR though, and it’s astoundingly good for a practical, family car. Also quite like how gopping it looks.

Edit. Test drive a Tesla 3P yesterday. Stupidily quick, too quick really, and it cornered very flat and rode very well – I was really impressed. Can’t disguise the weight though, it feels like the big heavy car it is. It’s brilliant, but you wouldn’t call it a drivers car.

The 28mph limit is horrible to experience, but it’s not as bad as the small prayer you have to say each time you pull out of a junction/roundabout.

They accelerate like glaciers.

I understand all the reasons why a 50cc looks perfect on paper for the OPs circumstances, but I’d suggest trying to borrow one for a few hours before accepting a 125cc is a safer place to be.

I borrowed a Honda Vision 50cc a couple of years back to pop into town and it struggled to get up a modest incline, and that’s not exaggeration.

how do bike shops take to them getting them repaired or serviced and warranty claims

Repairs and servicing will be welcomed by pretty much all shops, because you’ll be paying. If they are busy, you might go to the back of the queue though…

Warranty won’t be handled by your LBS…

Don’t get why SC is loved/hated in equal measure. I don’t have one, but I am thinking about a Hightower to replace my Smuggler – looks bob on to me.

I’m clearly in a room of one. Still think Finish Line Wet is the quietest, nicest chain lube. Cassette and chain clean up like a shiny new thing every few rides in about two minutes, and it takes all of two minutes to relube.

Tried every thing else, never found anything better. All the ceramic stuff I’ve tried is noisy or not long lasting, Putoline is filthy (comparatively).

The only other lube I once loved was Phil’s Tenacious. It was about 25 years ago, but one drop per link lasted ages, it was very quiet and clean enough. Keep meaning to buy more, but 4x the cost of FL Wet in the UK.

I’ve never really had a problem once I started soaping the beads properly, usually that makes the whole thing painless.

On the one occasion lately (Chupacabras) where the bead just wouldn’t sit I fitted a tube, went for a ride and the extra whipped the tube out next day: the bead snapped straight in.

I don’t think there’s a more frustrating job than trying to fit a tubeless tyre when it doesn’t want to sit (although an non-guided internal hose has to be a close second)…

Friend is Triumph dealer.

Red GT Pro are October, black or white are November. Still some time off, but not quite summer 2021 – and it might shorten as they catch up on build as they respond to demand…

How’s he going to get back the 10 seconds it took him to find somebody less vacuous?

Well done for getting them to watch TV. My kids (7 and 10) rarely watch anything other than their favourite subjects (bikes, Minecraft, music, funny fails and Fortnite) on YouTube.

bear-uk
Member

You should be able to claim the profit vat back if you can get a vat receipt. But the dealer will not want you to know what that profit is.

The dealer pays VAT on the margin, but the car isn’t VAT qualifying and there won’t be VAT on the invoice that you can reclaim on input.

Well, I don’t know his circumstances but devils advocate would say his wife is his manager and they work together, and they have their children with them because again, like most of us with kids, the only option is to have your kids with you while you’re working.

I’m not sure what guidelines he’s breaking? Big and small groups of workers have been working together all the way through lockdown for work, north and south of the border since the 23rd March.

Some posters have said about stopping for fuel. How’s that any different from a delivery driver stopping for fuel? They are both at work?

I’m pretty envious he gets to do it to be honest, but I can’t really understand the outcry (not necessarily you, OP) on this thread).

He’s gone to work as far as I’m concerned, like a lot of us.

I could understand the gen pop not getting that a bloke on his bike could be at work, but I’m really surprised some people on here don’t think that. I realise I must be missing something but can’t figure out what?

One of my favourite rides of all is Borrowdale Bash with Back of Skiddaw – 47 miles, always well drained and a good mix of riding.

Not a fan of Whinlatter, and I generally quite like trail centres…

It’s a crush washer, leave it on 🙂

The other issue with doing pitching that the company could do it themselves is the capital, and exposure…

If you offer to one employee, you have to offer to all. If a company with 25 employees did it themselves with a £2k ex VAT limit then they could need to find up to £50k of capital to purchase the bikes – now more than ever that could be a lot to ask. Yes, i realise that will come down month by month but it’s still a considerable outlay for a lot of small businesses. Plus, once they’ve bought them, they are exposed to the purchase should the person leave before they’ve contributed the full amount; again right now, with restructures all over this could be a greater risk than it normally is.

I think that’s where schemes come in. No hassle of paperwork, and somebody else funds the capital. Depending on your employer, I’d look at options for operators covering the capital too before you pitch it.

I don’t wear hi-viz, although my current road Goretex jacket is flouro yellow which I wear only in the rain, mostly visibility is lower. Don’t like it at all, have always preferred black or white, but it is what it is.

I only use lights in the dark. I commute most days into Newcastle city centre. Hi viz or DRL make no difference in my experience.

I wear a helmet on the roads now because my wife tells my kids to and they think I’m a hypocrite otherwise. It’s not for protection from cars, but occasionally it crosses my mind if somebody steps out or if I have a mechanical failure it’s unlikely to be worse than a bare head.

Interestingly, lately I’ve been out on the fixie into Northumberland a few times without a helmet and I get almost zero waves/nods – which makes me want to go helmetless more often if I’m completely honest. Not trying to sound like a smart arse there, just suits my inner sociopath.

I wear one off road pretty much 100%, but mostly for branches, and to keep the rain or sun out of my eyes.

Bomb track, Little Green Bag and Get the Funk Out (guilty pleasure, memories of youth) all came to mind.

Don’t think I’ve seen anybody post this. Not sure I’m bothered if it’s too obvious… 😉

Seven Nation Army. Too hungover to get the link to embed.

I’ve paid £18.99 annually for a subscription option which has now gone, but the renewal in June is still at that price.

That’s about the right price for where I value it. I use it a lot, I should pay for it, but I don’t want another monthly subscription (far too many now).

If the number of non-paying subscribers is as big as it appears in my feed then I’d scrap the free tier entirely and have one that costs £10/year and one that costs £25 a year.

Don’t see why any user would expect to get it for free with no advertising/monetisation.

I’ve got one. I ride a Large Smuggler, went for a large Decoy (29/27.5). It’s a lot shorter reach, but obviously heavy in comparison and I was worried the front centre weight might be a bit much on an XL. 5’10 or 5’11 depending on if it’s raining – really I could have ridden either size YT and been happy.

They are a fantastic bike.

Paranoia remains mostly high in our house. We unpack take-aways, put the food in different dishes, which then go in the oven for ten mins or so at 100 degrees.

Delivery times seems longer, so the food benefits from a boost anyway 🙂

I always thought that smoked bacon was only bought after all the unsmoked had sold.

Another epididymis sufferer. Comes and goes every few years, normally for three or four weeks, currently coming towards the end of a stretch that starting in January. Once again had ultrasounds and blood tests, and three courses of doxycycline, which seems to achieve absolutely nothing other than making me nauseous and sensitive to sunlight. Sore balls are less of an inconvenience, although they’ve hurt a lot this time. A lot…

Very little seems to help, other than time. Pretty convinced 30 years of cycling have done them no favours – but it’s baseless.

Felt like just cutting the ******* off some days.

The big advantage of the Apple stuff with the H1 chip is how easily you can swap them between Apple devices, without having to unpair them from a previous device.

The new Beats Powerbeats are £129, water resistant, 15 hours listening time and connected to each other with a cable – my kids, a bit younger, would definitely lose an Airpod so this is a good feature for me.

The Cambridge Audio pair sound great, mind…

Also seen a fair bit of fly tipping, also in Newcastle. The spot just past the turn off to Blagdon Cheese Farm, and then later on the same road in the lay-by just before the bridge over the burn, there was a lot.

Just back from 20 miles or so up to Tranwell, so many cyclists – I preferred it when it was niche sport, but hey.

Four pairs riding two abreast, they could have just caught up I suppose, no way of knowing if they’d set off together. Interestingly, two of the two abreast stayed on my side of the road as I came towards them, keeping a distance from each other but not me (narrow country road, no markings).

Everyone was polite, but way too many cyclists on the roads for me to feel like I’m escaping… Meldrew, I know.

What butter and whisky won’t cure, there’s no cure for… *

Margarine is the work of the devil.

* probably not the best time to test that proverb.

Really sorry, DT78. Charlie sounded lovely, nobeer. 🙁

Both my wife and I are flat out with work – I’ve never known a harder period. I suspect that’s true for many who haven’t been furloughed and can work from home.

My two boys, 7 and 10, have read a bit, done a bit of writing each day and played a lot of Minecraft. Thank goodness they have each other, because they barely have us from 7 until 7. 🙁 Feel like the worst parent in the world.

We have done, in a week, less than 30 minutes supervised home schooling. What has been done, is all on their own. It just has to wait, and I don’t think it’ll make a great deal of difference at this age.

Edit: they are both doing online maths questions too, set by the school, which taken about 20 mins each per day. They are desperate to get back to school, the eldest especially.

I’m on a Decoy, which I love. Probably spending 50/50 between that and my Smuggler, I still enjoy riding both.

I’d have another Decoy, it’s a great bike at a great price – although I accept there’s a greater risk with ebikes for issues, and YT’s turnaround on returns could be frustrating if I need them…

The only thing I find really frustrating is how heavy they feel once the assistance runs out at 16mph, which is a LOT of the time on singletrack, and which I’m generally faster on riding the Smuggler. Somewhere between Eco and Trail is perfect for me for the climbs, something lighter and less powerful than the current generation would be perfect on the flat and downhills. The Turbo Levo SL looks good – but I’d never pay that sort of money for a bike.

^ At 48 I’d say it’s a great time to get on a bike. There’s still 30 years of riding ahead of you – that’s a long time…

Can’t believe as a club rider you’re even thinking about needing a refresher if I’m honest. By all means do one, but it’s just a motorbike, and you’ll just get on and ride it.

ZZR1400s are still one of my all time favourite bikes. They are too fast, maybe a bit heavy on the wrists on a slow, twisty country road if you’re just plotting along, but they are a lovely thing to ride – and this one has sentimental value, so it’s obviously better.

But if you had a high powered pedal assist bike you could use the adjacent canal to get to and from the bings increasing the likelihood of clashes with walkers.

It’s just an ebike. No faster on the canal path than any other ebike, and slower along a canal path than most normal mountain bikes.

There’s no justification for the ST to exist though, is there- just the same as the SUV, it’s a waste of resources

What isn’t a waste? Pretty much every bike owned on here is a waste of resources. Of course, we like them, so they are okay. These threads only ever push the problem to somebody else’s back yard.

One son is into Minecraft, and my younger son is into Fortnite.

The great thing about Minecraft, for us at least, is just how chilled they are playing it. Mostly they are just building (pretty epic) buildings and features in creative.

Fortnite, on the other hand, certainly gets the adrenaline going – I’ve seen some pretty excited behaviour off the back of it and it needs keeping in check.

DanTDM and Prestonplays on Youtube are valuable resources for Minecraft. Stampy’s language can be mildly fruity, depending on how old your kids are, and he has THE most annoying laugh so he’s banned in our house…

Two types of mud rider:
1 Those who think they are going to crash and therefore ride trying not to, badly. Probably me.
2 Those who know they are going to crash and just relax. They rarely crash.

Member
If you cant sell your product you go bust. Thats business really.

Selling them – and taking customers money – wasn’t their issue: building and delivering them was.

Plenty rumours going around, and many customers and staff alike who were taken in by the charm and gravitas of Stuart Garner who feel a bit stupid, with hindsight.

Search Twitter for @notnorton_moto, and be prepared to need a few mugs of tea to read it all…

Any BMW dealer will be able to read and repatriate…