Not just legal, they were some what exemplary as far as I can recall

MSP you are really bending over backwards here. If you go and say that people who take measures to avoid tax should be banned from standing for public office THEN DO EXACTLY THAT you can hardly be surprised that you get labeled as a hypocrite.

Oh and the Guardian must have felt a tad hot around the collar reporting that seeing as they pulled a similar trick when they sold Autotrader.

Lot of it comes down to serious dislike of Ken. I never voted vor him, but I dont think he was a terrible mayor. People forget how far he went to get on with business and central government so as to get things done for the city.

Once back in opposition it was back to the same old 1980s rhetoric trying to Balkanise London into ethnic groups and so on. I can tell you that in my circle of right thinking liberal Londoners, when he declared that he wanted to “turn London into a beacon of Islam” there was a collective answer of – No, actually thats not what we want thanks very much.

I reckon there is a window here for a political party to run with the housing debate.

Its the single biggest worry people have, a day never goes by on here without someone bringing up the lack of affordable housing. Have to be tied up up with serious investment in high speed rail so that we can get building in say the Midlands yet let people commute to their place of work.

And it probably means a lot of us are going to live in low-rise apartment blocks. Thing is we all want a garden and a garage right? Have to be some clever architects and urban planners out there who have plans on the board for something attractive and sustainable and which doesnt cost the earth.

I’m surprised people are voting against having elected Mayor. I think most people in London like having someone directly elected by them who has that moral authority to stand up to central government. God knows it needed it. Ken and Boris both been good at that, I’d have thought Birmingham would have benefited from the same. Labour had some good candidates for the job.

Happily TJ believes in self determination for the Falkland Islanders and the Scots.

Seems like a statement of the obvious. How many of us levered themselves up to buy the big house (me), or bought cars they couldnt really afford and stuck them on the mortgage. Foreign holidays on the credit card anyone?

Just for once can we not blame the politicians and the big bad banks?

Someone is going to be along with a good answer and it wont be bullsh1t.

STW can answer anything.

Bucks Off Road is a great event, did it last year with Mutant above. Its a long old way 135km but last year almost all the climbing was done by about 100km I think, then a nice run in to the finish.

Was bone dry but after a very busy first couple of miles we got going at a good lick. Still took us 7hrs…..if its wet (and it looks like it will be) I’m going to take the cut-off for 100km. You can decide that on the day out on the trail.

I just got some nice prescription sunglasses from http://www.eyewearbrands.com/ who are very good.

Also http://www.irisoptical.co.uk/ who do have some stores in London but are basically an online glasses maker.

If you know what you want it makes sense price wise.

Looks dry between now and Sunday at least. Maybe even a spot of sunshine on the day……

Guess thats another night of deluge at Swinley right?

I had a Boardman road bike which I’m already sorry I sold. Tremendous value for money, genuinly high quality bikes that get tarred a little by association with Halfords. Buy with confidence or maybe look at Canyon (mail order).

http://www.canyon.com/_uk/mountainbikes/bike.html?b=2537

I get a great view of it on my ride into the City, quite something. I predict the bar at the Shangrila hotel 40 floors up is going to be just the spot for a cocktail.

roady_tony – Member
hmm did London really need all the more officespace hotelspace and swanky 20 apts at 10million+ or however much it cost…

plus no mention of the environmental impact

1.6bn – most of it from Qatar, how about saving the 1.6bn loan and bringing down the price of oil

Moan moan moan. Youre worried about the environment AND you want cheaper oil? Make your mind up Bono.

Bangkok is great, just dont under any circumstances go anywhere nere the sex-tourist traps. Stay at the Conrad.

We’ve just come back from a glorious week in Phuket. Villa, beach club, great food not rough ot grotty at all. You just need to know which part to go to, and that part is the North-West coast at Surin and Bang Tao beaches. On honeymoon I’d def want to do a few days out on the little islands doing some diving.

We spent all day, every day here

http://www.blissbeachclub.com/galleries.html

I love Thailand. People are lovely, the country is beautiful and its still cheap.

and as for the nun typical i suppose spent her whole adult life in the church worked at a prison TRUELY believed they were all innocent perhaps the most striking/ compelling/ inspiring female i have ever met

What’s so inspiring about someone so credulous that they believe that everyone in prison is innocent?

Next they’ll be telling you that there is a man in the sky who knows all your thoughts all the time, and who sent his son to be tortured to death so as to prove his existense……

Sniff

That hurts

I’m just glad you were wearing a helmet fella. Although who would be stupid enough to ride a mountain bike without one?

Hang on

The church also points out that in 1975, “no state or church guidelines for responding to allegations of child abuse existed in Ireland”.

Shocking arrogance. A human being with an ounce of decency and compassion wouldnt need “guidelines”. Is at least guilty of conspiracy. Arrest him, Cardinal or no Cardinal.

The best book on soldiering I have ever read (and I’ve read a few) is Matterhorn by Karl Marlantes.

Its a novel, but based on his own time in Vietnam as a highly decorated Marine infantry officer. Shocking and heartbreaking, took him 35yrs to write.

Ah the monster that is Swains Lane. great little climb, winning time on Strava is good going!

I wont be worrying the holder of KOM on that puppy anytime soon. I’m doing 8-10 laps once/twice a week in the evenings…..it adds upp to a fair bit of UP and Strava is great for letting you see yourself getting faster.

I’m 6’3 and 85kg – I’m reconciled to the fact that the laws of gravity mean I’m never going to be snapping at the heels of all you little guys on the hills. But at least I’m not a leprechaun.

Hah another Crouch End to City (Spitalfields) commuter here but I dont have Strava on the commute. Off to stalk brakes and flatboy.

Is great for getting PBs, I’m def getting a bit quicker stamping up Swains Lane.

Think I’m going to save the gucci race bike, ride 3 laps on the hardtail, 1×9 and mud tyres.

I tried measuring mine first thing before I get out of bed and keep getting 70-72. Thought that sounded high, when I put the HRM on before I get on the bike in the middle of the day and I have been walking around and drinking coffee, its 60. So, no idea.

I’m going, entered the 7 lap but if it is all cut up I’m going to drop that to 4-5.

Mud tyres or can I get away with Rocket Ron? And can I enter a shorter category on the day?

This is not a forum for hairdressers.

Another Perth native here. Whenever I go back I can never quite get over what a beautiful place it is. Doesnt quite chime with my memories of being chased around town in the mid-80s by soccer casuals and schemie minks from Hunters Crescent.

I’d love to live in East Lothian or maybe the borders proper, but you’d need your own car.

Rain already arrived in London, that’s it set for the whole weekend. Boooooooooooo.

Though I dont trust the police to be transparent on this, for the purposes of balance – Duggan wasnt unarmed. And can someone remind me what his occupation was?

I heard this on Today this morning. Could not quite believe my ears. Have submitted written accounts but can legally refuse to be interviewed. Totally appalling.

Anyone have one of their bike boxes? £180 for a solid box.

http://www.canyon.com/_uk/shop/?category=Z07&item=30375

I think he said if there an election tomorrow it would come back. But “not prepared to write the next election manifesto now”, which is fair enough.

Teej…..please cut it out.

This thread is just another little ray of sunshine……well done everyone.

I like properly posh people. They have nice manners.

Really. Someone made a stink about it last year so maybe they will hold their liberal noses and run up the red cross for one day a year. The rest of the time they fly the borough flag of Haringey.

Am a Scot living in England, you guys really ought to stop worrying about white-van Engerland, raise a glass to yourselves now and again.

This the day when Haringey Council “forget” to fly the cross of St George over the town hall in Crouch End, lest it upset all the BBC staff who live there.

Saturday morning 5hr road ride (maybe a bit wet)

Saturday night – Leftfield at Brixton Academy….till 0400.

Beat that

So……Interval Training.

I had my first spin on the road bike with a HR monitor. 2.4km loop with a 0.7km long climb at 8.6% gaining 73m. Am training for a very long multi-day mtb ride with endless climbs which I think I’m going to be doing at 70-80% maxHR. Did the climbs in that zone, felt comfortable, did 10 laps.

Question is should I be upping the HR to 85-90% when I’m doing these or should I stick to the zone I’m going to be climbing the big mountains at in the summer? I guess I get more out of my training if I beast myself right?