Scott Scale?

But late to offer advice but another review if anyone is interested:

They can on my Whyte 529. I find them entirely adequate, not exciting or remarkable, not grabby or sharp,  consistent, feel quite linear, not mega powerful but plenty to stop, not amazing feel but enough. Quite a boring brake really! The dimpled leavers are nice.  Seem quite heavy but I’d get another pair if in the market for good value stoppers.

I’ve a lefty pbr/opi (2013). I remember my first impression coming from a fork with a qr was how the front wheel was exactly where I thought it should be all the time because it was so much stiffer.

Compared to modern boost/through axles there isn’t much difference but at the time it was a notch above imo. I had mine serviced once. It’s long overdue another – the stansion has signs of wear. Quoted £400 to repair. It’s an 11 year old bike so I’ll just ride it into the ground.

Still the coolest thing out but way out my budget these days.

Oh I agree 100%. Morally they’ve got two really strong drivers, they should let them race. Logically; pick one for the no1 driver spot and they’ll win both drivers and constructors. It’s what RB/Merc have done, and there’s a reason they’ve been to two best teams recently. That used to be the McLaren way, they need to resolve that sharpish.

Logically yes, but that doesn’t take into account OP’s ego. He’ll not like the idea of being a #2. That needs to be managed carefully

I think there is a bit of needle starting between LN and OP. I feel Monza was a follow on from Hungary and OP has learned that he needs to assert himself strongly. I suspect Lando wants Oscar to play the diligent number 2 role but Piastri with some justification sees himself as an equal. Lando clearly trying to put Oscar in his place in Hungary certainly took the shine off his maiden win I think that will be remembered.

Am wondering now if I should have teied anyway, but I was pretty done in.

Same here. Managed 9, my 9th was 46 mins and I had about 47 mins before the cut off. At the time I was totally spent but now wondering if I should have given it a go… At the time I was convinced I couldn’t but from the comfort of the breakfast table I think I should have gone again. Easy to say now though.

Thought about it as a solo but swithered but now full. On the solo waiting list in case.

I’ve a PhD in Human Human Geography from 2012.

My advice is:

Take every opportunity for study abroad arrangements you can.

If you want an academic career get as much published as early as possible

Don’t expect a human geography PhD to open doors  outside of academia – from personal experience. Make sure you have good work experience if you plan to leave

I really enjoyed tutoring – worth doing that

I enjoyed the social side – too much it has to be said, but it was a great carry on

Pish, especially first thing in the morning man pish.

Needs re applying after rain. Also maybe not great for strawberries

I think you want us to tell you what you really want to do. Change the frame.

You’ve tried it, it’s not worked, cut your loses and get what you really want.

Try http://www.sandaya.co.uk

The Cycle Clinic wheels I have are bitex 106 hubs.

I ride a pair on a commuting bike through winter with nil maintenance over 2 years and seldom washed. The front perfect, no need for any attention. The rear eventually the feehub bearing died but it was a 5 minute job to replace and spares are easy to get.

They would be my go to if you are looking for reasonably light, good value, serviceable durable hubs.

I bought an xc bike at the end of last year.

Tbh I discounted the old trek xc hardtails on that basis.

I went from an old skool 29er xc bike to a trail hardtails with much more modern geo and it was a revelation.

Why would you not want that extra stability, confidence and speed on an XC bike? It’s free speed.

Short and steep has a place on cyclo-cross where the turns are slow and tight – but they are very slow and very steep and also mostly not rocky or technical.

“I’ll have it on in the background at work.’

I’ll be putting work on in the background

I feel your pain. Something similar happened last week to me. A bit easier as they were not especially close but people I increasingly liked. Not anymore, they are gone.

Everyone is selfish to a point. However I find it is when that selfishness is wielded to my direct detriment with no consideration of me that I cut loose.

I hear resentment from you OP, very understandable. You will explode or be eaten away at. Do you think they are capable of assimilating your feelings with their own?

As others have said it’s about priorities.

I’ve 2 kids under 10, oh and I work full time. I spend 5 hours a week coaching football as well. I’m out all Tuesday, Thursday evening, Sat pm riding, oh at the gym Monday, Wednesday evening, sat am.

What isn’t in the list is alcohol, friends, watching TV for any length of time. It’s either work, things with the kids, riding or housework. There’s really nothing else.

Not really, seems pretty much spot-on to me. The only bit I might query is this :

“The batten will then pass back to the Conservatives”

Probably at some point but the nature of Western democracy is changing, nothing seems to be quite as predictable as was the case previously.

The political crisis in Western democracy appears to be more profound than its inevitable cyclic economic crises. In short bourgeois democracy after a hundred years or more has found to be wanting. What comes next is harder to predict.

You might be right. But I think Labour have weathered thier crisis (capture by the left) Labour I think will over the next 1/2 parliamentary terms try to a) finally put the left in the party to sleep and b) break the link with the unions decisively in order to be one more like the US democrats and decisively the party of UK plc, attempting to forge an alliance between big capital, cultural liberals but with a nationalistic flavour. It will have inbuilt instability in that regard and may be time limited – the cultural liberals and centerist types may lose patience.

The Tories have a problem that relates to the increasing mental quality of right wing politics – it’s untethered from it’s base and the big capital/small capital link is destroyed. Johnson’s destruction of the sensible Tories , the presence of Trussites is their ongoing crisis. Labour will try and capitalise as per the above on this and present as the sensible, moderate party of UK capital. Unless the Tories can get a grip

Nope, sounds pretty much spot on for England. Hopefully things will be different up here in Scotland

I live in Scotland. I work in local authority, my wife’s a teacher, my sister in law a nurse (in Scotland).

We’ve been shielded from the worst of it, but the pain is well and truly in the post.  Things are going to go down hill quickly from here on in. We can’t defy gravity forever and the nice words from Holyrood will increasingly be realised as symbolic rather than material

(but shush we’re not allowed to mention how well Starmer is doing in the polls cos he’s got it all wrong and being in government is meaningless anyway, it’s better to shout from the sidelines in opposition about how things could be so much better if only everyone else bought into the collective fever dream of sunlit uplands and unicorns for everyone).

Nobody is saying that. Starmer will win a very healthy majority. There will be austerity lite for the duration of the next parliament, growth will be slow, productivity will be low and the UK will lag behind comparable economies. We will not rejoin the EU. The solution to this will be more austerity and increased privatisation by stealth. Living standards will stagnate. The solution will be more austerity. Public services will be eroded more than already and the solution will be stealth privatisation. Foreign policy will be determined by the US. There will be some progressive measures but nothing that affects the hard architecture of the state. The above will be done in a well managed and an orderly fashion presented by serious career politicians and technocrats. The batton will then pass back to the Conservatives. In short, not a lot will change but it will be done better.

Anyone want to disagree with that assessment?

I like the pink colour more than the dark blue. Nearly bought one but gone for a Kinesis gx race (purple) instead

Brother cycles Stroma?

This is a real sair yin for the OP and I feel for you. A real kick in the cock.

I can understand why you are pissed off – she is being self centered and insensitive but not unreasonable. If I was in your shoes I’d feel I’d been used. Your previous role as confidant is now over as it’s been taken by new man and I fear you are now surplus.

There’s no good answer here. If it was me I’d  abandon this holiday, cut your loses and go somewhere else with people who really value you. If it was me I’d never speak to her again but I’m a cold like that.

Whatever you do, all the best

@ rocketdog I’m looking maybe for a 56. Also looking for reviews

I get the impression – by the cars and expensive but spotless outdoor gear – that the Highlands attracts an affluent group of travellers. I don’t know how it compares with the past and if in the old days there was a larger proportion of rough and ready outdoor types of more modest means.

And of this well off group I suspect it’s holiday 4,5,6 of the year. Maybe the b and b owners decided after looking at the £600pcm rental car and the £1k outfit standing before them “I could get a a slice of that income”

BMC alpenchallenge

Not much help but I nearly bought one – they look amazing. The 1st carbon model has a round post and the ones with a d shape post a believe ship with a shim for 27.2.

I went for an Orbea oiz in alloy in the end as it was the same price and I wanted something significantly different from the xc hardtail I already had. 

If I was looking for an xc hardtail it’s what I would go for as it has the most progressive geo of any I could find.

I’m a bit of a Whyte fan tbh but I’m going to chuck out that Whyte are a good example of a mid sized player in the UK market:

UK focused design, well priced, sensible spec, forward looking, widely available through lbs and online, ‘likeable’ brand but not trying too hard to be aspiration

I get the impression that Orange have been eaten from all angles. Not as boutique as SC, not as hi tech as spesh, too expensive V Whyte. Plus their core users have aged out.

Whyte had a range of what would be be called gravel bikes now in 2012 https://road.cc/content/review/60408-whyte-kings-cross

People were using CX bikes as winter hacks, commuters, forestry road bashers for a long time, the market caught up and started designing bikes to suit.

+1. Hopefully decathlon notice the gap in the market. The kit is certainly good enough, it’s just the designs that aren’t quite as good, sometimes anyway.

Plus 2

Decathlon have a terrible website – worse that the current wiggle one and often stuff isn’t in stock. Worse, search results are full of non decathlon stuff which has separate shipping. A shame as decathlon kit is decent.

Also a fan of dhb and to be fair wiggle based on how much I’ve used them. Dhb were always a bit of a reference in that paying anything more from another brand had to have a clear benefit as dhb was always solid. Maybe it was all just to good to be true.

Must admit I look at old cars being scrapped and sometimes think about all the resources and technology in them and wonder how it is they are not worth repairing and using rather than buying new. I totally get the non economic element in terms of parts and labour but still…. Seems a waste.

Good on you for keeping it going it and good luck with the project

Geraint Thomas, resident of Monaco, raising money for the NHS during COVID.

Oh, and new seals and pistons rebuild for both hope rx4s and a successful bleed first time.

Small beer to some on here but a major achievement for me!

My mech hanger snapped during a CX race due to mud clogging.

Replaced it but still bent way out – seemed to have twisted the frame where the hangar attached.

Got the molegips (sp?) out and sorted it.

Also pleased that because I didn’t cheap out on the tool like I usually do it was a satisfying job.

I see it’s now allowed that it can be virtual rides as well as real. I suppose you can do it how you like but doing it indoors removes the single biggest challenge and in so doing defeats the purpose.

Ordered yesterday, arriving today via evri I’ve been told (delivery to SW Scotland)

2014 and 2017 suggested that they will vote if they have something to vote for that they believe in.

Right now which mainstream party offers them anything?

I did the same as igm, but 1.95s on the Beinn. Worked fine.

There was an Isla tax but others closed the gap when I’ve looked.

I was one of the apparent few (a mug?) who bought a rothan, Beinn, and awaiting a creig (for £600, half price). My 2 kids got 4 and 5 years out of them per bike combined so once the sell on is calculated it’s a hell of a lot better all in value than the £300 I spent on a power meter crankset… (Replace ‘power meter crankset with any other bike component you want)

This place is the best 😂 ask a simple question and get told your kid is lazy/you are a crap parent/you are going to jail. Long may it continue.

Firstly, I was joking about me using it to get to work. I will have a wee shot mind.

Secondly, if it’s got wheels you need a helmet. Both of mine have destroyed 2 helmets each by using their heads and faces as brakes.

Thirdly, she’s not lazy, it’s endless exercise in this house, fret not. It’s just a bit of fun. If I was 9 I would be desperate for one.

Fourth, legality – it will be used in on quiet estate roads. Kids are out on hoverboards, e scooters all the time. The surfaces are good and it’s low traffic. Yes, strictly speaking it is illegal but I think the benefits (see below) outweigh the risks. The chances of being prosecuted are minimal in the real world as I see it in this context. She’s not a halfwit so I doubt she will be terrorising grannies down the precinct.

Filthy, yes, there is a risk of injury to self (had a few smashes on the bike) – but I think especially for girls getting into gadgets and tech, machines etc, personal mobility and independence is so much better than lots of other things they are drawn to. Injury to others is always a risk but its likely similar to a pedal cycle etc.

Lastly, thanks for the 2 people who offered helpful advice about wheel size, brands

I/we are members.

There are children I’m afraid (I have some of my own) but It’s mostly retired people

+ Better regulated that most sites – there are rules that wardens enforce

+ Clean and tidy

+ Easy to book

+ Never had any after hours noise

+ Seems to be enthusiast led

– some sites have small pitches

– some sites are basically in municipal parks

– downside of the rules is that it can be stuffy regards how you park etc

Regards riff raff at the last camc site we were at. We grassed them in to the warden. I get the feeling it’s taken seriously

Yes, I did check the rotors and they are fine thickness wise. The brakes were only 18 months old (brand new bike) and we’re still on the original pads which were maybe 40% worn. It’s a commuting/town bike do not subject to a huge amount of abrasive grit.

Must admit I’m very disappointed with the lack of longevity. I’ve put in a warranty claim but don’t fancy my chances