It’s the average paid by the top 100 or so blue chip graduate employers and is skewed by the likes of Goldman Sachs who pay you your own weight in Faberge eggs.

+1

Got a few mates who strolled out of Uni into 50k+ positions a few years ago. Most of us didn’t get half that though in London/SE.

The STW salary does seem about right in the current climate, most design and engineering grads have f-all practical experience and take a good while before they can earn their employers any money.

That Clarke bloke is hardly an “athlete”.

proper LOLs, especially @Rob Hilton

Generally BC races are run under UCI regs – so for road racing at least they could get fussy about it. Doubt they will though, seems ridiculous!

Some of the more strict technical regs only apply to UCI ranked races. eg fat tyres on cross bikes: not allowed greater than 33mm at a UCI race, but you can have whatever tyre you want at a BC race.

Apparently this also applies to the minimum weight rule, which is handy for me…

my tune road BB axle sheared and they refused to warranty it as I had taken it out of the bike before they could inspect it… tune = crap, poshbikes = crapper

don’t feed the troll

Wondered what Gary Record was up to

Gary (Axl) has been racing london/SE cyclocrosses but I haven’t seen him at the last few. Nice bloke

Thanks, it is a hard question! Looks like I’ll have a day on the slopes on 2nd Jan in that case whilst visiting family 🙂

Stop being so petulant Teej, ’tis the season to be merry!

Mugboo basically answered the question here:

Wouldn’t mind so much but if you want material for a feature then why dig it out of the trail itself..

He wouldn’t mind modifications, but

dug sodding great holes in the line and created mantraps

isn’t quite the same is it?

@BIGMAN yeah, leggyblonde is only an alias 😉

that is quite a bit cheaper than the TRP parabox which I wasn’t expecting

I did one of the first ever crosses at Hillingdon years ago and vowed never to return but yesterday I did as I’ve entered the nationals and don’t want to come last so need the racing.
I actually quite enjoyed the course, mix of power and tech but I would agree that 4 sets of dead turns was too much. They did make the lap take a long time though which meant there weren’t any problems with lapped riders. Quite pleased with 5th place and teh fact my bikes were’t covered in mud at the end 🙂

Really disappointed to see the forecast change from dry to rain in the last day! I’ll be heading to Hillingdon to do a ‘cross there for the first time but I’m worried about my rear mechs.

I’ve only scan-read this thread but if the full survey was supposed to be structural, why was it done by

Mr Surveyor MRICS MSc.

rather than a structural engineer?

Equally, without seeing a photo it’s very hard to judge, but lintels over small openings are very rare on pre war buildings. Arching action (not nec in the shape of an arch) was used and the steel strap is very common on flat arches. Which leads me to copy this from waswas:

They can’t put every construction technique used in the past in their report – if it looked ‘ok’ (ie. no external signs of a problem) then, tbh, it woudl probably have lasted another 50 years inany event.

it’s only when people start hacking about with stuff that the problems start.

Southern Alps look good

yeah, Isola 2000 looks like it has a good natural depth higher up and plenty of cannon made snow down to resort

(the baggy stock wheels offering a good inch of suspension might have helped)

😀

My crux frames don’t feel harsh, but they are 58s and I’m a sucker for old school tub rims and dugasts…

@JoB I was too dead climbing that hill 8 times to want to try the pro6 after Stanmer. I’ll have to save the phat skidz for another time!

I bought two specialized crux frames at the start of the season because they’re they’re the raciest frame for that price. Reasonably light, tapered head tube, fork mounted cable hanger, tight racing angles and short stays. If they’re good enough for Ian Field, Jody Crawforth and Todd Wells, they’re good enough for me, especially as they can be had for £500.
They ride really nicely and have stood up to my abuse without a problem.

Specialized deflect. Has their normal palms but with a thicker back.

New course at Stanmer Park was great. Hilly as ever at that venue but a real mix of grass, paths and woodland that led to some great close racing with various riders shining on various sections. Only disappointment was that it completely rideable.
I find gridding and the start makes a huge difference. Called up 2nd row, I was riding around in the group for 4th for a lot of the race and ended up 8th after the group split equalling my best results so far this season 🙂

Who said anyone had any intention of raceing on it? If I had one I’d just use it for training on fireroads away from traffic.

They have tubs so it’s reasonable to assume they’re for racing.

If you’re a pro you’ll be told which bike to race, if you’re not then ride what you enjoy

Only up to a point, In cross loads of the pros have custom geometry, one-off tyres not made by their sponsors etc etc.

Steel race bikes? FAIL, this isn’t 1987….

As soon as Nys adopts discs, all the pros will follow

I think it’s more to do with the fact that 100 000 people are expected for the champs so there might only be space left in Dunkerque! any recommendations on the costa then?

I only use the drops when sprinting or cornering hard (ie crits). I’ll often do a cross or road race without using the drops once

If you want a sore, bruised arse and broken wrists, give snowboarding a go. If you prefer a good old fashioned broken leg and some ruptured knee ligaments then perhaps skiing is more your thing?

NorthernStar speaks da troof.

my road bikes have Campagnolo

Goone Ti rings are for chavs. Get a fibrelyte carbon ring with custom machining 😀

Also you NEED a KMC kool 910sl with the TiNi coating

shut up with your logic Clubber, it’s got nothing to do with preference, purple is the better colour!

want want want want.

I like the idea of the positive shift clicks, for me that’s one of the major appeals of campag.

I draft strangers, often on my BMX because it makes the flat bits so much easier. I don’t think it’s any more dodgy than when I’m in the middle of a bunch of 100+ riders.
I do drop back a few lengths going into junctions/stationary traffic etc though and would expect someone else to do the same.

I should have travelled the 15km to watch but it’s better on TV

I want one of those TVs with beers tents 😆

Yea not bad for a Tuesday afternoon!

Bank Holiday though innit. Saying that there were 21000 spectators at Zonhoven on Sunday apparently!

Big shame about Ian Field, great to see him hanging on to the Albert group coat tails but he rolled a tub after a few laps whilst in 12th.

in that case, what about MohawkVember from the Vicious velo lot?

blog link

cancer research giving link

get some lo-pro cantis. More powerful than froglegs and more clearance and less prone to wheel rub than mini vs.

girlfriend. Partner sounds to me either same-sex or over 50 divorcee

that kayak pic is fantastic!

a bit closer to home, a couple of unusual cyclocross pics from Muddy Hell:

“How much does your building weigh Mr. Foster?”

surely that’s a question for the structural engineer?!

*storms off muttering about artichokes getting all the praise*

I was too hung over to even think about ally pally! pleased with how it went this year, keeps getting better i think. nice to meet you too aP.

it’s pretty damn solid, trust me! that pic doesn’t show the amount of props and bracing in the background.

Are there 2 comms due to it being a cat B race aP? Either way we’ll try and make the day as easy as poss for you (us!) not fair if we miss out on all the fun!

lippy. works well on clothes!