Jess is my local mp, gobby cowbag when she wants to but she goes generally have a point. Doubt will see her as leader but happy to be proved wrong.

Neighbour has just popped round to borrow a screwdriver, he thinks it’s the hot water tank so going to isolate it.

That has returned the gush to a drip, he has contacted his landlord who will send someone tomorrow. Apologised loads, as he knew he should of got the drip fixed but didn’t want the landlord round so it’s escalated to whatever has happened.

The house is pretty grim, one of those you see on the tv, damp walls, overgrown hedges and garden that’s a jungle, the guy works nights, his landlord neglects the house tbh I do feel a bit bad as I wouldn’t want to live like that.

Will see tomorrow if it’s all fixed.

Surprised tbh I got the feeling this would drag out a fair bit.

Would work on a drip but this is like a tap on full….

I tried to fix a mates after fixing my own, they had to get a plumber out afterwards so definitely no handy work for me! Will stick to a paint brush!

I’m not a plumber, barely fixed my own I was pleased when I fixed my own loo when it leaked after flushing!…I did offer to see if I could help first time I woke them up.

I had a test on a levo at Cannock this morning, borrowed a mates 2019 version had a blast round the dog, felt great very little difference to my stumpy just a little less effort needed. Like the fact there’s no screen on the handlebars.

Did a lap on my fuse after, sat on the train now a little broken….but smiling was a good ride out this morning!

Going to head to the fort see if they have a couple of sizes I can try.

I was going for a Trek Rail 7, but have been offered the 9.7 version for the same price as they both have 1 in stock now. If I take the 3 years interest free it’s the grey one, if I use my lbs they only offer 12 months interest free I can pick. Although prefer the grey tbh.

Argee that’s what I was thinking, build fitness and enjoy my time out on the bike more.

I’ve managed to find a bike and got a small discount. 2 bike shops have offered me the model up on the one I was interested in with a discount might sort it out tomorrow.

I was hoping short term tbh but it’s taking longer, I had a prolapsed disc in my lower back, this was just after Christmas last year. I’m doing the exercises the doctor recommended and been to some physio, tend to ride my stumpy with a little less air in the rear shock or run my plus bike with soft bouncy tyres but still get back lower back pain during and post ride. I find riding with no backpack helps massively but at this point still keep trying different things to keep on the bike.

Only recently started to join our group rides again.

Yep the bb needs to come out to loop the cable down and up, I fitted one to my old camber.

I got stopped just outside Birmingham, I had checked before I left Scotland all good, all working. Everything seemed ok, turns out the cable must of got loose and I dragged it 150 miles down the motorway, police understanding as they could see my indicators on the car and brake lights so just told to sort it ASAP. After seeing some accidents on the m6 recently I wouldn’t risk it.

We came up to Peebles Wednesday for a short break, didn’t realise this was on till sat in the cafe at glentress. Weather forecast is terrible for the weekend, raining now, hoping it passes overnight but forecast isn’t great.

The main aim was to keep fit, I have Cannock but it’s miles away, and tucked away in Solihull I have some great country roads so the road bike meant I can get a good ride in at speed and distance, a good 40 mile ride takes on Warwick, Stratford and back home in a good time. I won’t race at any point but I’m at the point I could ride between 15-20 mph average speed, want to keep up those speeds and distance.

Sorry should of said it’s my first ride on the road bike 🚴‍♀️ since hurting my back, I’ve had the bike for 8 years and until January rode 50-80 miles at least once a week, I had a bike fit a few years back so I know it was a perfect fit but being out on it this week while riding I felt fine but later that day just agony.

Ah diverge has forgotten about that, and can fit slicks, it’s a tad cheaper than the roubaix!

Currently have a canyon roadlite back to when it was a road bike, max tyre I think is 25mm which I have already, it came with 23mm will check to see if I can find specs from Canyon.

A couple of weeks on, bloods from doctors came back negative, although doctor seemed a bit perplexed as if he was expecting something he wants to do another batch next month, I did remind him I do cycle but im no blood transfusion cheat…..

Being more aggressive with my cycle home from work not to work as I wear my shirt trousers to cycle in as it’s only 3-5 miles route depending and no changing facilities at work. Cut out all snacking although proving tricky with my oh she just snacks all the time, it’s a bit cruel but I’ve moved one of my days off so we don’t have 2 days a week together. Did a road ride today 30miles and feel ok, although I’m not velo fit for next week which is disappointing.

Luckily my work pattern got worse but then better which seems to of helped, I feel less tired than I did but had no more weight loss which is disappointing hoping 2 weeks on things will be better!

I do know I need a more road comfy bike my road today was painful in the lower back at times, off to look for a cheap last years roubaix or similar bike..

Went to the doctors Thursday, bloods took but doctor has put it down to my hayfever meds, as they can cause tiredness and due to how bad it has been having to use everything the doctor had given me, eye drops, nasal spray and a stronger antihistamine.

Started to change diet slowly, moved away from breakfast in the canteen to cereals or porridge and fruit, no more cherry pie at lunch stuck to sandwiches for now but from next week will take my own. Started to sprint home on the bike rather than a slow steady ride. Small change in weight yesterday and today showing a few pounds less. Plan to enjoy the weather tomorrow out on the bike and avoiding the mountain of Easter eggs the oh has got…

Cut out cups of tea, down to 1 cup a day. I don’t feel any less tired but only first week in plenty of time to keep working on this!

Only 2 cups today, one before going to work and one mid afternoon, 11-9 shift today just grabbing some water, going to try a quicker pace cycling home. Had porridge for breakfast, tuna sweetcorn sandwich for lunch, no cherry pie purposely went for lunch after canteen closed, tea will see what oh has cooked/heated up/ordered I know it’s too late to be eating but too busy at work to get anything…try again tomorrow.

Work is tense/stressful currently restructuring my dept making all my good staff redundant this isn’t helping as I feel like I’ve let them down, but it’s out of hands.

My bmi is just within green, just….

I don’t look overweight but again lost leg muscle mass I had gained prior to injury, trying to be healthier today and take it day by day…

Lol no but only 5ft4 so short! When I said over 10 it’s closer to 11 than 10 tbh.

Canteen closing in 2 weeks more work cut backs so making own bread is a great idea. Thanks all some food for thought…

Diet varies…

A typical work day will have 2eggs on 1 dry toast for breakfast, lunch is a sandwich of some sort, cherry pie and custard (canteen cook it’s pretty much the only thing he makes that isn’t swimming in grease), evening meal can be anything from a curry or stir fry, homemade lasagne, sausages with salad and pasta, possibly not the healthiest. If I’m home alone that’s all, if my OH is home she snacks a lot, I try not to but a bowl of crisps or choc is often about.

I don’t drink coffee but tea about 5-8 cups a day depending on shifts, the early starts I drink more tea.

No I support Villa and we have been playing some cracking football lately!

I was off work all of Jan,feb and 2 weeks into March, did nothing physical except slowly walking and slow back exercises, prolapsed disc, trapped nerve, still have pains but doctor told me this could be 3 more months.

I do drink a lot of tea not so much water, I keep saying I will change that.

I’ve only recently started getting back on the bike and work I’m less active as I used to be but that’s more a risk of injury, work as a duty manager and stock control manager at a supermarket, so my job is more office based but I used to balance out 50/50 it’s more 20% physical due to being tired and 80% sat in the office which even my staff tell me it’s unlike me im normally flying round the shop pre-injury.

I have gained a little bit of weight all within normal limits as doctor thought I was under weight prior to injury. That does bother me as never been anything more than 9stone before, now just over 10stone which I’m told is healthy.

Only 41, still plenty of life left in me hopefully!

I’m with John Lewis, pedalcover came in more expensive this year, although I only have the most expensive and my road bike listed on the policy.

Been using orange seal in my plus bike, last full change was a year ago, I got a valve core remover and the refil bottle and every so often just top it up it’s held for 14 months so far..

Bonys always looks closed, heading up in June hopefully this year will give them a try, shorter walk than walking into pebbles every night for food. We always stay pretty much opposite glentress.

The cafe at the trail was trying to be posher than it should, I wanted a sausage egg bap or similar and they couldn’t offer it, I could have vegan cake, not great!

I have to have mine the front a little higher than the tow bar end, and it has to line up
just right, complete pita but once mastered it’s no problem.

My older one fitted regardless the new ones have to line up perfectly but they do feel more secure.

Been commuting for 4 years now, work is 4 miles away, somewhere dry to store bike while I’m at work. I do shifts so early shift it’s quicker by car, any other shift it’s half the time by bike. Work not far from jag/landrover so they clog up the road at there shift patterns, there’s a religous building so Friday at 1-2pm the roads are full, the bike is the most sensible.

I had a cheap specialized crosstrail first year, somehow when moved it didn’t survive, got another better spec one lasted 3 years that’s just been retired and replaced with an orange speedwork. I have a better bike to encourage me to ride further after work. On those nice sunny days it does the trick.

Only rode it round the block at the lbs so far but found it quicker than expected, next week in the commute will be the test.

I do prefer full mudguards, but might clean up my crosstrail, new cassette and once the rain season starts again will swap back to using this in the winter months.

Picked up the orange today, such a good looking bike and fun, seriously fun to ride…but disappointed I can’t hook up mudguards so hoping the ass savers will do the job on the commute.

Also reduced again to £899, got a new lid and few other bits, overall happy, next ride will be a blast down the canals can’t wait!

I got some snow trousers in the Superdry sales, stupidly priced low and I thought whats the worse that could happen..used them 3 times so far commuting and nice and warm and waterproof too! Struggled with sizes from other brands so this was a punt but happy with them.

Sorry to piggy back, has the speedwork got the screw in ports for mudguards? And what mudguards would suit? Still waiting for my bike to get to the lbs to try for size but as it will primary be used as a commuter really need mudguards…

I really wouldn’t, the theft rate is high on those, Ford take no responsibility that there cars can be gone in 60 seconds…

I used to enjoy my job, I don’t anymore…I work in a supermarket, management job. I’ve just had long term sick, returned 3 weeks ago and have struggled to get back into a routine. Shift patterns can be 4am starts or midnight finishes which can be great if the weathers good, can be a bit depressing when it’s raining all day and your knackered at 2pm having done 3 on the bounce 4am starts. Was on late till midnight Saturday collecting trollies in the dark as the lad had called in sick thinking to myself is it worth it anymore….

Last 4 years I’ve had to change jobs and go through redundancy process, I should of left, this year it’s not me for a change but my team so it going to be another difficult year possibly losing half my staff.

I really need to get out and do something different but I have no idea what, mid 40’s useless degree, have good admin management skills, fairly good at people stuff and work place health and safety, need to sort myself out this year!

Asked my lbs to get the speedwork s in as they have one available will try for size, priced at £999 will see if they will match the other price…

Next thing to think about is selling my crosstrail, eBay seems flooded with hybrids, ex c2w bikes, might be tricky to sell.

I can’t see the difference in the 2018 and 2019 model?? Looks like no difference except £100…

Having done some more searching, the Saracen Levarg FB is very tempting, I’ve also found an Orange Speedworks in the sale at £989, all MTB kit, anyone on here have one or experience of the orange that’s close to being ordered….

I was just looking at the whyte…under budget so I can get a few other bits with my voucher, local store has one in stock, will pop by and see what it’s like.

Just found this from Saracen…

https://www.cyclerepublic.com/saracen-levarg-fb-mens-hybrid-bike-2019.html

I know, just wanted something a bit less but more….

After running 1×10 on my current work hybrid and on my MTBs, I’m used to having no front mech to tinker with.

The actual trails are built maintained by volunteers no paid labour to help, on the odd occasion I’ve met with the guys doing this it’s only been 2-3 people, no one turns up anymore yet we all expect amazing trails to ride…

I wonder if the commonwealth games will change this and some real investment again, I remember when giant came on board and we had some great new stuff to ride.

I get the irony I don’t help to build, but I used to, there’s a corner of high voltage I helped build, for me it’s distance to Cannock vs the time I actually have, would love to have a spare day to help.

The rollers the FC have held up the opening for whatever reason.

This might be overkill but I’ve had tons of punctures on the way to/from work and it was driving me nuts. I have replaced my tyres supposedly puncture resistant I’ve added tyre liner into the tyres, it’s a thin plastic strip and then added some slime tubeless liquid to the tubes, that was 4 months ago and haven’t had a puncture since.

It’s heavy handed I know but I cycle past 2 pubs on way to work and the glass in the road is shocking, through an industrial estate and previously picked up bits of metal etc…this so far has solved the problem.

The final straw for me was walking back him one day with double punctures front and rear and I had used both my spare tubes.