Stanton Slackline? On One 456 Evo?

My mate’s girlfriend warned us off about talking about someone else behind their back because “they might have X-ray Hearing…”. That’s go to be a rubbish superpower…

Is this aggression towards cyclists just a Southern/Midlands thing? I can’t think when I’ve ever really had a bust up/run in with a cage driver here “Oop North”.

That said I do ride defensively and I tend to stay away from main thoroughfares wherever possible – I prefer looking for ways round the major choke points and junctions. Backstreets, subways, footbridges, and other sundry ginnels and rat-runs are all fair game for a push iron my book.

TBH the sooner he gets used to wet shaving the better, it’ll toughen his skin up. Get him a really good wet razor, some decent gel and a moisturiser to use afterwards. I used to hate wet shaving but it was because I was using disposable razors which took the top layer of skin off too. Something by Gilette or Wilkinson Sword should to the trick.

If you live near the sea, as soon as he turns 16 make him run down to the beach every morning and shave in sea water, like the marines do!

In that case, try some gentler grades, regularly until you get fitter. I live on the Calderdale side of Burnley which has some seriously steep climbs – I recently went 1 x 10 so my lowest gear is 32 x 36. It killed me at first but with a bit of practice and perseverence I can get up most things now that would have reduced me to 22 x 32.

And I am NOT the fittest person in the world either, it’s just about riding lots until you get better at it.

Well, a bad workman and all that…

But seriously, you’re finding your bottom gear too high??? I mean, if you sit and spin that on the flat you’d hardly be moving!!

24 x 36 is pretty flipping low, around 19 gear inches. How big are the hills?

As a mate of mine once said, “Worst case scenario, she’ll leave me. I’ll be upset for a few days, but you just get on with it after that, don’t you?”

Many a true word, etc.

TBH I’m shaking my head at this – the fact that you’re actually having to ask is a bit, erm, worrying for a start.

Do you honestly think that if it’s a scam they’ll be saying things that you DON’T want to hear?

I’m sorry but that couldn’t be more obvious if it had a big neon sign on the top with “SCAM” written all over it…

I’d go direct too. Speculative application to the employer, and if anyone says anything, deny all knowledge. Employers hate recruitment agencies too…

I have within the last few months replaced the bearings and these seem fine still.

You say this, but…

Any movement in the bearings will be amplified massively at the outer surface of the tyre.

I’ve often replaced my front wheel bearings and when I come to take they old ones out, very often they seem perfect because the amount of wear is miniscule.

Did you use branded bearings (e.g. SKF, Schaeffler, Toyo) or Wang-Min Tung Industrial Bearing Property Limited Company parts?

The surface of the Leeds-Liverpool canal is generally wet and doesn’t support the weight of a bicycle and rider well.

Oh, sorry – you meant the towpath surface???

Generally reasonable, can be muddy in places but given the recent weather I can’t see that happening. You’ll need dog-shit, condom and hypodermic needle-proof tyres for the urban sections, especially on the Blackburn – Colne run…

To get back to the OP, the answers are fairly simple –

– company car
– leasing
– having enough money to buy one, or if not a good credit rating
– prioritising spending (and thats the important one)

Look at me – I have two cars, a house, a dog, several bikes, shitloads of camera gear and a golf club membership. I eat well and live well. But I don’t have Sky TV and I don’t take holidays.

Priorities. It’s all about priorities…

Not technicaly a roadster but targa roof, bike friendy, toyota reliablity and 240bhp!

Braver man than me… 8O

No. Just pussy whipped.

^^This. MTFUFFS

yes

safer to link it to a credit card…..bit more protection

Sure about that? I’ve tried to pay for stuff in the past with no funds and been refused even though my bank account is linked to my PayPal account.

I know a bike being sold with a bell is a legal requirement but is it a legal requirement to ride with one?

No, as per my previous post. The Highway Code only recommends that you carry a bell.

See rule 66 HERE

It’s the overpriced/ugly argument that’s usually the killer. Personally, I love Oranges (I’m on my fourth if you count my road bike) although I’ve never had a Five.

My current Alpine 160 is probably about the only bike to which I’ve made upgrades because I wanted to rather than because I needed to – by which I’m saying if I had to go back to the bog-stock, off the shelf bike, it wouldn’t bother me. It’s all the bike I’ll ever need and I can see me not buying another all-rounder for quite some time – at least not until the wheel size issue has died down.

I’ve always found Orange reasonable to deal with on the odd occasion when I’ve had to contact them (twice in eight years or so which may count for something) so no problems for me there either.

you can get a roof rack for the MR2 MK2 so 2 bikes, 2 riders plus gear is easily done….

Always assuming it’s not a GT (targa top = all glass = no roof bars).

I’ve just bought a 15-year-old MR2 Mk2 GT for £1100 and it’s an absolute HOOT!

Reasonable sized boot too, although big silly spoiler ( :D ) precludes bike rack fitment. But that’s what my V70’s for in any case so not really an issue.

Mr2 doesn’t really have a boot but the old mk2 turbo was a fab car

Big enough to get a weeks shopping in!!

Ghost poos can leave physical evidence, usual on wiping.

The ones that DON’T leave evidence are known as “Perfect Crimes”.

Utter twunt. Serves him right the helmet.

Wouldn’t buying one also be giving money to the charity?…

Yes it would – get one bought. After all, cancer is something none of us are immune to and we all may need MacMillan one day…

You could do an out-and-back on the old railway line – jump on it near the Station Hotel and head up to Threlkeld, then back again. Traffic free good surfaces, easy gradients.

After all its what the majority of people think (the money is being wasted)

Just because it is what you think that does not mean the majority do.

But it’s not the majority who are heard in most cases, just the ones who shout loudest.

i was shocked….is this true?

Yes. 95% water, the rest cellulose.

The answer is very simple – don’t spend more than a) you earn, and b) you can afford.

Judging your own standard of living by looking at other peoples’ is pointless.

Hmm. Let’s think about this.

Lost in the wilderness – the alternatives are a) certain death from (indecent?) exposure, or b) head for Rochdale.

Doesn’t need much thinking about really, does it?

A mate of mine who’s a welder/fabricator says the corrosion is probably caused by moisture getting into a faulty weld on the cable guide.

And how is this going to cause corrosion on an aluminium frame, unless it’s salt water?

Talk to Orange. Best bet.

If you shouted ‘bike up’ at me, you could get anything from me rolling me eyes or telling you to Foxtrot Oscar.

Bells are for winners weiners

.

Threaded bar, a few nuts, washers plus a couple of skateboard wheels.

^^ This

What I would do would be build a temporary secondary fence/barricade ,

Sod that, it just wants some flashing tape to seal to the gap up. Or expanding foam. Or just cement.

**** me, Yorkshire Watches…I’ve seen everything now… 8O

I thought the Scouse unit of weight was the alloy wheel?

It is, abbreviated to “A”

The odd thing is, they don’t have a plural version of the “A”, so if they need to enumerate several alloy wheels, they have to say “A! A! A!”

Invest in some lightweight protective gear? Ride more within your limits?

Again, don’t go for cheap-and-cheerful Chinese tat. All the mainstream brands (Honda/Yamaha/Piaggio/Gilera/Benelli/Peugeot/Aprilia) are the best bet.

Make it a condition of him having one that he gets proper training – he’ll have to do a CBT too to entitle him to ride on the road with L-plates.

Then seal the deal by insisting that he pays for his own insurance. That’ll kill it in one fell swoop.

IMO, shouting from a distance to give adequate warning will usually sound aggressive

Depends how you phrase it. Never had a problem yet.

Fats Domino has been known to eat “a chaque-load of Gumbo” on occasion.

Correct. And Napoleon Bonaparte, before he became Emperor, suggetsed during the Reign of Terror that the Sans Coulotte be dispersed “avec un chaque-load du grape-shot, squire. Ricky tick!”

If you are on a public right of way, there is no legal requirement to carry a bell, horn, or any other form of warning device on a bicycle. The Highway Code recommends that you do, but it isn’t enforceable.

The only legal requirement is that a complete bicycle must be sold with an audible warning device.

I find that a large set of lungs, functioning vocal chords and a big mouth, employed in the formation of the words “bike up!” in an authoratative yet friendly manner to be adequate.

the Yanks still use shack-loads…

Uh, no, that’s a provincial term, confined to Alabama and the northeastern fringes of Kentucky. I’m surprised I have to tell you this.

Apologies, my mistake – I’m getting it mixed up with the old Louisiana chaque-load which was based on the pre-Napoleonic French measure of the same name…