The main problem is that the areas and paths that are ok (mud washed away to show the gravel) have massive bits of mud to get through before you reach them (you found the mud that had moved of the good bit:-)). So much so that I retreated to the roads only to find that there was mud on them and a load of rivers/puddles. Still it was good to see some sunshine for a 2 hour pootle.

My Lakes are definitely waterproof, but do need to be looked after more like a pair of walking boots. They are very warm as well. Have alook at them and make sure that you try them on if you can. the sizes did seem to be accurate for my small size 41 boots.

They are no different to any other tool. If you need to use one then you get the one that you need. If you have different uses (penknife for small cutting duties, skinning knife for dealing with game, woodcraft knife, etc.) then you will have different knives. If you don’t use them, but like them you can also collect them. You can insert any other tool in to this argument (drills, axes, planes, screwdrivers, etc.), but you will always get some nutjobs who get them because they think it makes them some way better.

A friend of ours has a son who has just made his first hunting knife. He has built a forge, made the handle, crafted a leather sheath and then uses it out when he is camping. That is a great range of skills for an 11 year old and he will use that when he needs it. Parents know he does not carry it as it is with the rest of his camping kit (stove, fire lighting kit…) so they are just impressed at what he has done. Is that wrong? Not in my view, but you may be different. It takes all sorts and I would trust somebody like that with as many knives as he likes.

Sorry, but I hoped that this thread would die the quiet death it deserved.

As somebody who has trained people in Water Safety for 10+ years, acts as a tester for water safety equipment and performed rescues in water the OP’s actions were reckless in the extreme. If you make an emotional reaction to an emergency situation you had better be very lucky. The floods recently always bring back memories of tragedies and lucky escapes that I have seen.

If you take the emotional responses to these situations, particularly those involving nearest and dearest, whatever species, we all know that we would think:

“I need to do something.”

However from bitter experience that thought, more often than not, involves the death of the person thinking it unless trained and resourced to do the job. You still need all the bravery and luck that you would to get in, but you would know how to change your actions as the situation develops. Very few people can sit by and watch events unfold without wanting to get involved. In cases such this a very small change in circumstances leads to a very different outcome.

So if you want to get in by all means do so, but think: think of the people that may then have to get you out of the situation if things go wrong; think of those you may leave behind if you do decide to get in; think what you can do with the least danger to yourself. Have a back up plan, make a call and be lucky.

Assos rainjacket that I picked up years ago. Always with me and packs up tight. Rarely used but ace when I have.

From what I have read elsewhere the importance of the correct torque setting has come from the use of carbon parts. Whilst over-tightening of anything has its own problems, I have seen some crushing of very expensive parts, especially handlebars, due to over-tightening.

Campag record hubs with Paris Roubaix rims, or some Abrosio if necessary with tubs. I have a pair of these and they still knock spots off a lot of new wheelsets. Royce hubs would also be a good shout.

You know what I have only been to a trail center once or twice. I used to ride 1.5 hours to get to Cannock Chase to get out in to the woods. Now that it has a trail center I don’t know if I would go back other than to the non trail center bits (given that covers a pretty big area). There is plenty of riding to be had wherever you are, even in and around cities. You have seen a bloke called Danny, I think it is, doing some stuff in towns on a mountain bike. I think he comes from Scotland and has his own documentary on Dave tonight. 😉

If this is a troll, well done, but having a go at a landowner that allows, even encourages, the like of us is a pretty low blow. As I said; well done.

My dad bought my mum (in no particular order):

– a weight lifting belt with happy birthday embossed on it. It was special so that she could help moving the 3×2 slabs around for his landscape business.
– a clothes prop with a small brass plaque saying “Happy Birthday”

Those are only two in a long list, but both would be quite memorable.

I just wish that they would stop with the double episode pish. I have enough trouble coping with concentrating properly for an hour without having to double up.

3/4 roubaix tights, winter boots and wool socks most of the time. Chuck on a pair of shorts (type dependent on personal preference) over the top to keep out the filth, or if you have a possibility of lots of falls. Generally this leaves very little to get cold. I generally find that if the boots are good then you are a lot warmer so that is where your investment should go.

Round of applause at the the end for this house. Well done BBC.

CG – let me know where abouts in Alresford it is and I may be able to get a direct contact with the landowner as we work with loads around that area.

I think you have my e.mail if you don’t want it on here.

Andy

Definitely. We get some of our fastest rides out in the deepest hardest frosts, preferably at night.

Got to record that, but had forgotten it was on. Cheers 🙂

I love the fact that it is described as:

New – other ! 😯

10,000 miles on a pair of rims is very good, but if they are concave I would replace them straight away. Modern rims have an indicator line in them to avoid having the weigh the rims/wheels, or use a micrometer. If you have ever has a rim blow up it rarely ends well.

You should be able to space the wheels off the Alan with no issues.

All you need to know about what tea means to some people. Not work safe because it is a bit sweary.

Doc Brown : Tea rap.

I like discs on any bike for one main reason: I am not deliberately wearing out a key structural element of the bike. A lot of the engineering of the rims goes in to mitigating this fact so the at the rims end up doing 2 key jobs.

I know that the stresses involved in braking have to be sorted elsewhere, but I just like the idea of separating these two issues. I have to admit I have just seen the ultimate lightweight brakes: a french kid on a racer with no brakes other than putting his flip flop coated foot on the the rear tyre. That is true minimalism…..

If they are creaky then it could be the bearings. They are pretty easy to service as well, regrease, tighten them up again and then I tend not to touch them for at least a couple of years.

Just been for a walk down the road and fond that Park tyre levers don’t make the grade either. Will go further down and see if they realised how bad the helmet was as well.

If you have a split in the tyre the sealant will not necessarily do the trick long term. You can plug the hole with a rubber repair strip that a couple of people make (like this[/url] from Panaracer) and the hole is then properly fixed.

For reference when my last pair of High Rollers wore out after 4 lots of sealant top up and the tread wearing out I stopped counting at 60 thorns poking in to the inside of the tyre. That was a lot of faff saved so I guess it is worth it.

That is worth £1000 of anybody’s money. If only I could play……

I have had this on a few bikes and after doing everything on the list I remembered the rear axle. Take whatever you have (QR maxle, etc) and lube it. I never thought that a rear QR axle could creak so much, but they do.

Dragging the thread back a bit: we mangaed to make a profit on ours. We paid for it all ourselves using the woods around our rented cottage as camping and mates helping out with everything. We had a ceremony at the local registry office with immediate family a meal at the pub and off ot a hotel fo the night. We then spent a day organising the big party and hog roast when we had about 200 mates/family for the big ceilidh. Parents insisted on chipping in so by the time we got back from honeymoon (camping around Cape Wrath) we came out about £300 up. Anybody else manage that?

I know Jo B gets a bit of a bad press round here sometimes, but this sums up the current weather beautifully :

Over the years of doing lots of different endurance events you have to try different things and find what suits you. If you have a look at the attached brochure from Matt Hart at Torq it will give you the basics of what you are trying to get your body to do on pages 18 and 19. It does give you all of the products that they produce, but the basic strategy for refuelling is all in there. If you approach it systematically then you can work on a strategy of when to eat and drink. Please note I am in no way associated with Matt, but have used some of his products he does know what he is on about.

I have just done an 8 hour event on Saturday and am back training today so it seems to work for me.

Strategies for refuelling on page 18/19

You need to look at this and introduce the school to a new way of thinking.

No Fear ; growing up in a risk averse society.

What they are actually doing is the opposite of what they think they are doing. Unfortunately we all need educating, especially after we leave school. 🙂

How about a Christopher Ward watch like the C90 Power Reserve?

C90

I have a classic Trident, but would like another one. 🙂

My uncle, Michael, did the same thing and this is possibly the first thread that I have read here that has had me in tears (well apart from the picolax thread, but that is very, very different).

As for the offer of speaking at the funeral that is something that everybody will appreciate. They all want to say goodbye and to remember your friend. As has already been said you should include happy and funny moments. Just pick one moment, or thing that happened that you think illustrates what made him your mate. It may be a well known anecdote, or something that you two never shared with anybody else and you can start to build from there.

Best of luck and keep riding (one of the things that keeps me sane and makes me remember my uncle every time I am out).

Andy

My all time favourite is the guy in Alaska that too 4 years to set this up.Volcano

The gmail one was good. Just occasionally the big companies show that they don’t take themselves too seriously.

Loads of good covers, but the absolute pits was this:

I have to go and watch the New Order version to cleanse my head after even searching for this….

Edit: if the video link doesn’t work don’t bother as George Micheal should have been ashamed of himself for that, even if it was for charity.

Recording it so that the kids can watch their stuff and I can catch up later.

I do not want sick people at work me or the team, but you are the sort of person I would send home if you turned up with that tale. Others that bleat like lambs all the time will get sent out to a remote site to do a proper days work. Or that is how it should be when I am in charge…… 😉

Had to resort to road bike this weekend. One 22 mile ride was on back roads that were in worse condition than the trails. That will serve me right then. 😉 The track was a combination of frozen mud snow combo and the road was flooded with potholes. Should have brought the full suss.

Oldgit – the workout in terms of effort can be similar, but there is a lot of core stability that goes in to off road stuff especially if it is muddy/slippy/icy, etc. That is why it makes a good all round session, whereas a road session tends to concentrate on the legs a lot more. I know there are exceptions, but I am limited to my turbo at the moment (dislocated kneecap) dreaming of just getting out.

Lotto trade team top from 1987.
Patagonia reversible high-vis wind proof top 1989
Full set of Mint Sauce team jerseys

Not in to retro, but I just don’t change shape and have looked after my kit. That said the amount of bib shorts I have been through does not bare thinking about, especially when you started on real chamois inserts. 🙂

I’ve pulled people out of that bit of road before. There is a socking great gauge board telling people how deep it is and they still go through!!! No accounting for stupidity I suppose and that site is not flowing as it is more of a pond so we just get the dry bags out and haul them out.

I have one of and these and it is an absolutely amazing knife to use. However I also have a bog standard Victorinox paring knife and an old Sabatier in the drawer, but the Kaji is what is used most of the time. I know it is sad, but this will last a very long time, probably longer than me. It is also a work of art as well as a knife, but perhaps I have to go and get a life………

If you treat them like a hammer/tool of choice then there is not much that you can do to stop them being broken. If you treat them with respect, keep the bungs in and do not throw them around then they will work. We use ours out in all weathers, including rain so heavy that I had to keep tipping the water off to read it, and they do what we need them to. They are the only thing that we can use in such circumstances and are much better than the previous tough laptops that we used to use.

The CF18 are well out of date though.