I accidentally went up the descent for ~20 metres, having joined where it meets the bottom of the last bit of fire road on the Spooky Wood climb through the trees. I was following the Tweedlove Gritopia route GPX

At my club, I’m a Ride Lead and Club Captain, so I’m one of those knobbers who ‘insists on strict adherence to club rules’, which are policies derived from the safety risk assessment, insurance requirements or just to promote the unity of the whole group. If you don’t agree with these, or me or others calling them out, just don’t join. Win win.

But these rules don’t mean it’s not an inclusive and supportive club, nor that me calling these out for safety considerations means I am deflecting from inclusiveness or supportiveness. 

“You have tried to access a web page which is in violation of the [place where I work] internet usage policy. The details of the site and why it has been blocked are shown below.
Based on your corporate access policies, access to this web site URL: http://www.blackteaonesugar.co.uk/ has been blocked because the Web Category: Unrated is not allowed. “

I make it regularly – It is really easy to do. Any old normal-sized cup is fine, not a huge SportsDirect mug. Exact amounts aren’t really important cos it’s fine as long as the PROPORTIONS are about right. Even then, there’s looooads of leeway with the measurements

Easy Maltloaf – uses cups as measurement

1.5 bran flakes
1 milk
0.5 sugar
0.5 sultanas
pinch cinnamon
1 or 2 (I forget without seeing my note) tsp baking powder
Leave to soak for 30+ mins

1 SR flour

Loaf tin, 170deg oven, 50 mins-ish

I use it in winter only as it isn’t as cool as my other helmets. It is ace in heavy rain or very muddy CX, like a car windscreen

no words if possible – pictures, talk about the pictures. That is guidance I try to use myself in any presentation now. If words are required, avoid bullet points:  use just a few key words and relationship diagrams, mind maps, etc

I used to know an Orthopaedic surgeon who also was involved as a physio for a Scottish football team. He would give saline injections for injuries that he didn’t think were injuries, which were very effective

thanks for confirming. I don’t know what spacer I need and google isn’t clarifying absolutely so I think I need to get this new GXP BB – new BB

I (5 of us) did 270 miles in 21 hours a fortnight ago. We didn’t TTT but we circulated every 2-5 minutes. This was essential – every individual had a dark moment, where they could tuck in the group and sort their head out while someone else who was feeling chipper did a turn. Solo would be much worse for the moments when you are having a bad time. We were going conservatively. This is the furthest any had been, as was the 210 miles we did the previous month. Knowing we could manage 210 miles helped – at that point there was ONLY 60 miles to go, and anyone can ride 60 miles so we are as good as finished.

cycling between Galloway forest and Edinburgh Saturday last afternoon/evening. Swarms of them

alpkit?

Aye, I go slightly shorter on CX too, and a shorter stem. The Shark (and Bowman Cycles Foots Cray frame) sizing recommends both of these things

Ive costed the Shark and will be building it for >£550 with some careful shopping Admittedly I already have a parts bin Sram Rival front and rear mechs

The Shark frame actually takes much wider tyres than 35mm stated in their blurb. Investigations suggest it is this repainted, which takes 2.1″ up front, I think I recall 1.9″ rear http://road.cc/content/tech-news/170201-bowman-cycles-footscray-cyclocross-frameset-first-look

Buy it! I did a few weeks ago. Actually makes cleaning bikes fun

the Shark frame, fork, wheels, headset, seatpost on ebay for £300 from Velo Champion

https://www.nms.ac.uk/explore-our-collections/stories/science-and-technology/made-in-scotland-changing-the-world/scottish-science-innovations/graeme-obrees-old-faithful-bicycle/ I thought OF was in Edinburgh

This weekend I have been looking at the other, roadie frame they’ve got on ebay, which is 99% probably a Hong Fu FM169 (R8 Avenger). Look on Hong Fu to see if the CX one looks familiar to do a bit of research

the problem with whatsapp is the err ‘interesting’ pics/vids that end up getting saved onto your phone and forgotten about until you show your Mum some pictures of your latest holiday

Uberbike race matrix

Dunno, they are fairly new. Butgive Lomo a try http://www.lomo.co.uk/acatalog/Cycling-gear-dry.html

I think Evans has something similar. Search ‘Pinnacle’ and sort price low to high. (I can’t do shopping websites on work PC)

Silly money. £9 bombers’ favourite would be my preference

In the cinema for Star Wars on Monday, the person next to me (fortunately a few seats across) unpacked a selection of dips and hummus, and shovelled it into his gob with pitta. Off-putting

I think I got this from Prof Richard Wiseman. When struggling to sleep, don’t think about trying to fall asleep (and the associated anxiety of thinking about not currently being asleep). Rather, think about trying to stay awake. Removes the focus of not being asleep while thinking about something specific occupies the mind to similar, necessary, levels as counting sheep. That, and listening to audiobooks

Ive the Rapha ones. Didn’t pay full price. They are lovely and work as expected but they aren’t waterproof. Worn with a merino liner sometimes.

I’ve the Dissent full, four glove system on order for an age, and an expecting great things given the wait. I like the idea of being able to wash and replace the two liners

I am not having any things. I have asked for entry fees for audaxs and a train ticket to do some cycle touring for a few days

Singleator so have the option of push up or down. I think I got a kit from Superstar, dunno if they still do them, a wide-based cog (wide, so it doesn’t chew the hub as much) and multiple sized spacers (to tinker with chain line

I’ve 2*11 on my XLS. Although it has since been swapped to 1*11 originally for racing on (with a narrow/wide chainring and non-operating left shifter, and a 32T only ranged mech). Does choosing one mean that you cant chop and change things in future like this? If I was gravel grinding, I’d swap back

One has always been unable to stack codes.

But there is something occurring with CRC limiting the use of BC codes: T&Cs have changed; last month, I couldn’t use the BC discount with an item denoted as a Black Friday offer.

the 1.0% bit dropped straight in so definitely time for a change.

Why change it? If it is that worn, won’t a new cassette soon be required too? I’d run into the ground over the winter and then change both in spring

My SRAM Rival ones end up being stripped and greased after every second ‘cross ride.
Waiting for the next 25% Uberbike discount code for a punt

most overshoes / oversocks called a size Small will be for a 3-5. I’d say those will fit. If unsure, try oversocks first, which will fit cos stretchy. Prendas do them for £8

Halfords here. No Slippage. Doesn’t leave flecks of worn tyre around the turbo.
But it doesn’t handle too well on the road when one forgets to swap the wheel back

Normal procedure for crisp eating:
open mouth
put crisp in mouth
close mouth
bite down on crisp [muffled crutch sound]
chew

Procedure for colleague opposite:
open mouth
put crisp in mouth
bite down on crisp [massive crutch sound]
close mouth
chew

He’s now also started bring these ****ish ‘healthy munchable snack box’ things ie a small, rattley box of middle-class nuts and seeds. They are even louder

Not particularly silly, but as well as buying road and ‘cross bikes soon after 40, I ended up buying from Gumtree, on two occasions, two Raleigh Burners. They were only £50 and £75. They weigh over 30kg. They are just parked up in the flat, I just look at them and smile

I commute by train*. I enthusiastically say hello to everyone as they get on, which seems to dissuade anyone from sitting next to me.

* I don’t, I cycle, but I don’t feel the need to greet everyone who is using the same mode of transport as I am

1mm of play. Happy with that as it seems normal and typically doesn’t get worse (according to long term use tests of the stealth version). No sag

a quality set of hex keys
coffee table book
waterproof phone/keys/cash wallet/pouch
merino leggings (for when camping)
lego star wars advent calendar