I did my first half a couple of years ago. Only got up to 16km once in training, so don’t fret about training at full distance.

Do a practice day a few weeks before, to try out how much before the race you need breakfast etc.

I try for 2 – 3 hours before race start, and have a cereal bar in my pocket in the hour before the race and just take little nibbles to settle my stomach/provide re-assurance, normally I don’t eat it all.

Take a gel or two with you, maybe have one at an hour or so, and then one 20 mins later. Probably don’t need it, but it helps my head think that I will have some left for the last couple of miles. Train with gels to see what suits you.

For my first I walked through the aid station at 6 miles, to take a sip or two of water (goes up my nose if I try to drink whilst running) I’ll never be at the front so a few seconds here is fine.

I’ve also taken a bottle in a waist belt, which worked as I didn’t need to slow down to drink.

All been 1:50 or less using this strategy, and I didn’t start running until my late forties!

Oh….have a poo before you leave home or stop on the way…the bogs are always queued out of the door at the venue, and you don’t need that stress that close to start time.

I made mine.

A length of 5″ soil pipe (clean!, lying around from some work I’d been doing) wrapped in a single layer of foam sleeping mat held in place with gaffa tape.

Helped to sort a few niggles out, with advice from a physio, especially ITB band tightness.

It hurts to start with, but after a few weeks it gets easier.

Brussels sprouts and parsnips.

What an exciting life I lead :(

Thanks folks, will have a look at those.

@Mackem – Had a Retul fit a while back which set my saddle position relative to BB, and GD won’t go back far enough.

I-beam GD conversion sounds interesting.

Dead easy to replace the hose. You might need a new insert and olive for each end of each hose.

I think they are handed opposite to UK standard, i.e. left lever = front brake, so you can switch them round when you are replacing the hoses. It does mean that you can use the longer hose and cut it down to do the front and you only need to disconnect one end for that one and so only one olive and insert.

You will need a new length of hose and two olives and inserts when you come to do the rear.

Got an XL (62cm) Jake Frame and forks for sale if anyone is interested.

Can sort seatpost, clamp, cantis etc too.

How long are the laps? Looks maybe 8km from the map.

hora – Member
Mary Hinge YGM (in profile).

Replied with photos. Meant to say 1 1/8 steerer, 225mm long.

I’m just about to put a set of little used Sektor Coil forks on fleabay.

150mm with u-turn travel adjust. EDIT 15mm Maxle lite.

email in profile. I’ve sold a few bits on here, and I can point you to my ebay account for a bit of re-assurance. I’m near Derby and get to the Peaks from time to time if that’s any use.

And can provide you with my works email (Govt Dept).

Savings? Ha! What are they? Surplus savings? Never heard of them.

Would love to be overpaying on the mortgage, but my spare is currently paying the rent on my son’s house! helping them with their new baby costs! I am a proud grandad tho. :D

Like This.

I actually did it before I got the discs on there and was still using the cantis. Had to bend the stays around the disc mounts, and it turned out perfect when I got round to putting the caliper on :-)

SKS ChromoPlastics.

LoCo – will email now :-) Got another q for you anyway!

iain65 – Thanks, but they are 9mm QR :-(

Hmmmm……Merlin appear to have some Revelation RL and RLT in stock at the right money.

They don’y have the tech info up yet as they are 2013 models.

Anyone know the difference between RL and RLT

Sure I’e seen this on here somewhere but can’t find it!

Just before Christmas I had buy my son one of each as theirs had died and they have a new baby and no money!

Zanussi washing machine £250, Indesit dryer £150. Both from Currys, and got cashback from TopCashBack.

Both seem to do the job nicely for them and within your budget.

If you are staying with the same agent they should take your current references and standing without need for new ones and charges.

Speak to them nicely.

looks good McM.

I’ve just taken delivery of some clear perspex glazing sheets, so pretty similar, and that has re-assured me that it will look good.

@mcmoonter – what have you glazed that with? Good work for £600.

Mine’s a work in progress. Will be just a bit of outdoor undercover space, that we can use as on office if we fancy.

The black roof membrane is waiting for a living green roof doofer in the spring. I’ll be making the 2 pairs of bi-fold doors this weekend while snowed in!

Narrow side will have a window, two long sides along the fence will be double skinned and insulated, roof will be insulated too.

Probably put a nice li’l log burner in there for cosyness as well (and to satisfy STW pre-requisites).

Electric already installed.

No riding for me :-(

Had my 10 week old grand daughter for the day on Saturday – awwww, she is so cute :-)

Spent all day Sunday working on my son’s VW Golf, new wheel bearings, track rod ends, sump, shocks, brakes and radiator. Gorgeous weather tho, and it wasn’t too bad as I was in the warm sunshine pretty much all day. Could have been cold wet and horrible.

Would have been a great day for riding, but things need doing.

And now we have lots of snow!

Aye, a light dusting here in Belper. Will be spending today out in the cold replacing the radiator on my son’s Golf!

Us Belper boys ought to get a ride out together sometime!

Spent more than that on a meal for 4 last year!

Cut out bread, milk and alcohol, or at least moderate the latter. And drop the Pepsi max too!

Drink peppermint tea or black coffee.

Also swimming, proper front crawl type swimming for 30 mins 3 times a week will drop loads of weight too.

I’ve lost a stone in the last 9 months without trying, and by that I mean I had no intention or need to lose any weight. Currently 12st 12lb at 6′ 4″ and feeling (and looking :wink: ) great.

I’ve been on the no bread and milk thing to help “our Gert” lose a bit, and she has lost a stone too, and she does limited activities due to a neck injury and had been finding it difficult to lose any weight at all.

21:36 on a “rolling” out and back race on 27 Dec. PB so far, times are still falling.

I’m a grandad and only been running/triathlons for 2 years. So really happy with my time.

Will be aiming for 20:xx this year, and sub 20 at next christmas’s race :-)

I got a set of these too.

All I need now is a frame, wheels and forks, and probably a few other bits and bobs….think that means I didn’t need them but too much of a bargain to miss!

Like it….weight-weenying a Kaffenback :lol:

Might try it, then add my 10.5 kilo’s of sh1t in my panniers for my commute.

Got a 160 in mine, why not use one o’ them?

I bought a new car……9 years ago…….still got it :-)

Nope, Sorry, not had that. Manage to get most injuries, but not that one :-)

Good luck.

I’ve got a set of Kona Project 2 forks for sale.

They have canti bosses, which are the same as v bosses. Also mudguard/rack mounts.

They are the 700c version from a Kona Jake CX bike, but I’ve just tried a 26″ wheel with a 2.2 tyre and it fits like a normal 26″ fork (likely they are exactly the same!).

Immaculate virtually unused condition as I put disc forks on. Full length uncut steerer too. £35 posted if you are interested.

Mods – I’ll put an ad in the right place ;-) (or that’ll be twice this week I’ll get a telling off!)

Pics (edit: pic link not working well! Can email, mine in profile))

Do I include my £100 a month SKY package! 8O

I’ve recently joined the Marathon fanbois following advice from here.

So far am very happy with my Marathon Greenguards for £22 from CRC.

Spesh Defrosters are currently keeping my feet warm.

They are quite low, more shoe like, but keep water out as well as my previous MW80s. I went up a size too, to get more wiggle room.

On my 25 mile commute I wear overshoes too, and have been nice and warm even on the odd frosty days with a 6am start.

My MW80s were very good, but my feet seem to have got bigger so they didn’t have much room for other than thin socks, so still got cold on occasion.

All my cycling shoes are Spesh tho’, as they seem to fit me best.

Had a pair for about 4 years that have seen plenty abuse and are still good.

If it ain’t broke……oh! Jonba is a step ahead.

I’m 6’4″, long arms, slim build, and have a zip up cardi and the Element 320g long sleeve top.

Both size L and both fit a treat.

Wear the Element almost permanently :-)

My Auntie had “Return To Sender” :D

Quality first post Mr Starship, had me in tears laughing.

50 mile round trip with 640m of climbing. 370m on the way home just to add to the fatigue!

50% on road/50% off road, fully laden with panniers etc.

Normally do it once a week winter/summer/rain/shine.

Will be trying to do it twice a week as part of my triathlon training at various points throughout 2013 depending on when races are etc.

Also planning to catch the train in and run home once or twice through the summer for marathon training.

First ride in tomorrow :-)

Not gonna watch it.

I get grit in my eyes at the sad bits in Finding Nemo! So I avoid sad fillums.

Best: I became a grandad for the first time :D

Worst: Some of the rest of it, but on reflection it’s probably not too bad.

Had a great week in Cormayeur a while back. Had day trips to Chamonix (was very busy) and Pila (some really nice wide slopes plus some tight chutes).

And had a rest day(the day after my 40th birthday celebrations ;-) )taking the cable car up to the restaurant on Mont Blanc.