I think McLaren have an identity issue. Their supposed raison d’être is F1 but their road car programme, ownership model etc means IMHO lack of identity, direction etc.

Now, Ron will try and address it so let’s wait and see.

I think in the coming years we will see the likes of VW, BMW, Nissan (under infinity) come to grid either through engines suppliers or works teams.

So, the likes of Sauber, Force India are prime candidates for buyouts by manufacturers. Thats the beauty of the new engines and drive train – it can be linked directly to road car development.

Im looking forward to a more ‘logical’ formula 1. 🙂

Williams won at Spain two years ago. McLaren last won in 2012, the Brazilian GP.
McLaren last won the drivers in 2008 and Constructors in 98.
Williams last won drivers & constructor in 97.

^this
+ I dont think Alonso will trust RD again. For Alonso, he needs to go to a team that is ready to win.

If I were Alonso, I would stick with Ferrari, they have James Allison who will design next years car, talented chap. hey have a lot of new technical staff they need to give time to produce the good – as Mercedes have done.

The biggest danger for McLaren – a Williams style slump.

The comms are really interesting, it shows he is maturing as a driver, analytical, always looking ahead.
I think Rosberg is doing him a favour, forcing him to look at the wider elements other than just racing flat out.

Buttons comments were interesting, he is struggling post Lewis in a McLaren as he dosent have a team mate who is quick/intelligent etc

I just cannot see Mercedes not having a German driver in the car. If Nico bottles it / has a bust up with Lewis I can see him going to McLaren / Ferrari / Redbull.

2015 could see:

Mercedes – Lewis / Nico Hulkenberg
Ferrari – Vettel / Raikonen
Redbull – Fernando / Daniel
McLaren – Nico Rosberg / Jenson

Unless the others improve this year promises to be even duller than the Vettel years.

1988 was pretty dull until the end.

I thought 1988 was a fascinating season, not a all dull as Senna and Prost raced wheel to wheel to the end.

If that does not excite you I suggest to you look at Touring cars or better still, stock cars!

Fernando will not go to McLaren if Ron is there and I don’t blame him.

However I do think he will get increasingly agitated and Luca Di Montezemelo will run out of patience with him. Could we see a parting of way like Prost left Ferrari in 91?

Lewis driving very well, appears to have the measure of Rosberg and it does feel like he is wearing him down. Whether he will succeed is another matter. Historical quotes from Lewis’s ex team mates (Alonso, Button, Heikki) would suggest he is a very tough character and his team mates need to be mentally tough to stand a chance. Great battle.

oh the merciful one, please save us!

On a serious note, have ridden carbon for years, no issues. My bike is now 80% carbon and the rest alu. A whole carbon bike (no alu in any components) cant come soon enough as far as i am concerned.

blimey, im amazed at some of the sugar consumption levels! 😯

I once ate a small Easter egg in one hit after coming back from a ride which ‘bonked’! I’m still horrified I did that, reading this thread makes me feel good again!

Hmmm, wireless, like the sound of that

as chunky said, will be fine.

Oh yes please! Please please please …..

depends on what defines ‘hard’ – during my time at Uni, I worked in a sheet metal factory, I couldn’t lift the sheets or get my arms around them but the pay was great and I stuck at it. That was physically hard.

Today, my job is mentally challenging, at the start the challenge was big but over the years, development and learning together with a great employer has meant my job, whilst challenging is also very satisfying.

The People’s Republic of United Kingdom according to the great wisdom of STW.

Hail the great Leaders!

oh please don’t mention the wolf! we will start a whole new debate about rights of dwarfs and how bankers take advantage of them!

What is this ‘bobbins’ – lots of mention in this thread!

11pm, up at 5am.

footflaps – what are the studies you refer to?

@jambalaya

Samurai cant hear you….. 😀

Samurai – if you have the time, read this

So all those in favour of wealth redistribution, put you hands in your pockets and start contributing to foreign aid, the things we use / consume on a daily basis come from asia, Africa so the things they produce for us to make us richer, we should donate a good portion of our wealth to them.

Just a thought for all, the global median salary is less than £1k per annum. There are 200m children affected by malnutrition in the world, 90% of which are located in the Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.

In the UK, the top 1% pay more than 25% of the total income tax to treasury. so contribution from the rich is vital to maintain the whole country’s way of life. So when people moan about others struggling on 120k, they are struggling because of the tax burden to maintain a certain standard of living now expected of a nation such as the UK.

So, we should thank our lucky stars we live in a country where poverty is till the exception rather than the norm. There are large parts of the world where this is the norm and not the exception. This is achieved by creating an economy which relies on taxation and wealth creation.

hmmm, thinking about this, i think he is not being entirely transparent, after tax, he is probably bringing home a net of £70k, after school fees that leaves him with £25k to service a mortgage of £350k on interest only which will be circa £1300 pcm, so thats circa 15k. Leaving him with 10k for the year.

Me thinks he gets a tidy bonus to top things up…..

he is paying fees for his sons schools so i suspect much of what is quoted is probably true. Also, he’s paying almost 45% tax on that 120k due to loss of personal allowance.

But lets not let facts get in the way of a good troll……

Good luck, our is currently sulking after I refused to share my dinner

Have to say as a Liverpool fan, the last 15 minutes was the worst I have seen Liverpool for a long time, I can rant about Sakho v agger all night but we have been struggling since Henderson got suspended.

I still say, if anyone gave us the option of being in this position at the start of the season, I would have bitten their hand off. Great season for a team that finished 7th last year.

Bigrich – I have seen a few cracked alu rims, the point here is the user and not the product. It’s like buying a glass hammer…….

What Tom said, im not sure this a carbon V aluminium issue, more a case of fit for purpose and it sounds like a XC / AM wheel is not fit for the purpose you intend.

I’m popping out for a spin. Back later to tell you all how many records I broke since switching to a 29er.
Laters

I will be putting new xtr on the scalpel, not worried about looks, prefer shimano over sram, nothing other than a personal preference.

Thanks. I have never ridden a 26er scalpel but the 29er goes like a train. I had a flash 29er before the scalpel and it’s just as quick with a little more comfort.

Thread resurrection

My scalpel, not strictly XX1 apart from he front ring, the rest is a mix of XTR rear mech and XX cassette.

Yes xx cassette, decided last night I will be changing to new xtr

They are brilliant, bought my lefty xlr from them over a year ago and the service has been superb

I’m running xtr 1×10 with an xx1 rear cassette, super light combo and I’m really happy with it. However I’m tempted to go new xtr setup…..

i so wish i had the time to play my PS3, since the little man arrived the PS3 has been collecting dust. 😥

bimey, two weeks ago i rode around the area and didnt bump into a single person, this makes it sound like a bad day in Beirut!

(I did ride at 7am on a dry, dusty Sat) 😀