Thanks all, Uxbridge Road it is

Daniel and Isaac……great names.

Many congrats and welcome to the club. Before you know it you’ll be watching them play rugby and building them their first 26″ wheel mountain bikes.

Gav you’ve never been to London.

zactly right mt.

and I dont go to trail centres because they are a bit boring. multi-day mtb stage races across European mountain ranges are where it’s at. If you’re 30 and cant afford to do those it’s not because you are too young, it probably because you are lazy and stupid.

Steve….you are a Topgun.

pedalhead, put down that reefer.

edit : Steve…..can I get as far as Swakeleys from Hanger Lane on a seperate bike path?

Am I talking in Swahili?

Its just the bit from Hanger Lane out to the M25 I want to know about…..there’s an actual bike path thats many metres from the dual carriagway. Not going near the road, I just want to know if that cycle path is uninterupted (relatively) the whole way out of town?

I’m 14kg lighter at 41 than I was at 31 and am planning on being faster at 51 than I am now.

Anyone WHO ACTUALLY RACES knows that while you might get a few racing snakes amongst the young the lads, the Vets is full of loads of quick blokes.

I hate all this Mamil bullsh1t. 50% of the population is fat and horrible yet there’s this sneering about 40+yr olds getting fit doing something thats great in every way.

Ahem.

Shakespeare is history like Nescafe is coffee…

Wow

Yeh large sounds right. I’ve had one of them for years, it just keeps going. Gore still best bang for buck of the slightly more expensive brands I reckon.

Hmmm.
Have you met a kid?
Have you seen an xbox?

Defeatist!

My 9yr old lapped up The Hollow Crown last month, BBC at its best and worth the price of the license fee alone.

He also watches all kinds of cr4p on the Disney channel but in my limited experience, kids have a healthy appetite for history, especially the blood drenched sort.

Yeh had a look at that……I think they’ve got a bit of real world work to do……

I always see people on bikes when I’m driving out on the A40/M40, just really want to know does that route start at Hanger Lane and go all the way out of town? I can probably cut through the streets but be nice to sit on a dedicated bike lane all the way if its there.

Will there be enough 4g where you live?

London?

I’m due an upgrade, just gone out of contract and yes I’ve managed to crack the screen on my Iphone 4 again.

Question

– Any reason not to switch to Orange/EvEv and get nice fast 4g?
– Where should I sell my iphone 4?

Like you I’ve got no idea. I dont go making idle speculation though.

Oh FFS here we go with conspiracy theories. Ernie give it a rest.

American diplomats die at the hands of a baying mob of religious nuts. This is not the fault of America, still less the people who lost their lives.

And Lifer, what the hell are you on about. Malaya! What?

I’ve got a Genesis Vapour…..mostly for the commute for which its tremendous but I’d like to get it lighter and maybe have a race on it.

Frame and Fork
Frame 6061 Aluminium
Fork Carbon
Headset 1-1/8 Threadless
Colour Blood Orange

Transmission
Shifters Shimano Tiagra 10spd STi
Rear Derailleur Shimano Tiagra 10spd
Front Derailleur Shimano FD-CX70 Cyclocross
Chainset Shimano FC-CX50 Cyclocross 46/36
Bottom Bracket Hollowtech
Chain Shimano Tiagra 10spd
Freewheel Shimano Tiagra 10spd 12-28
Wheels
Hubs Shimano M475
Rims Alex XD-Lite
Spokes Stainless Black
Tyres Continental Cyclocross Race

Brakes
Brakes Avid BB-7
Brake Levers Shimano Tiagra Sti

Contact Zone
Handlebars Genesis 6061 Alloy Drop
Stem Genesis Alloy
Grips Microfibre Tape
Saddle Genesis Road CrMo Rail
Seat Post Genesis 6061 27.2mm
Pedals Shimano PDM-520

I guess there’s a fair bit on there I could work on to get the weight down but Captain tell me about wheels. Are your Hope/Crests regular 29er size? Have a 29er hardtail and would like to have a spare set around the place or on my CX bike. That what you’ve got?

Garmin Basecamp +1. I’ve had much frustration with gpx and tcx and dont honestly know what I’m doing half the time. Basecamp looks pretty industrial but it brings up the routes and lets you load them to your device flaw free.

From KX go have a mooch around Marylebone High Street…..one of the nicest neighborhoods in the city.

Greenwich I dont know but everyone says its nice. Likewise Dulwich, very close by.

Dont know what flicks your switch but you could do worse than just go explore places like Shoreditch/Hoxton, Notting Hill….or go for a big walk down the South Bank from Waterloo to Borough Market, is lovely.

His Richmond is a rather picturesque suburb of London on the Thames.

Your Richmond is nice too.

What he was doing was trying to ingratiate himself with his target audience in well healed Richmond. He’s assuming they’re all ruddy faced, toffs in Range Rovers who hate cyclists.

He probably had a short career in the City followed by a stint as an estate agent in Fulham. He couldnt cut the mustard there so he’s wound up the editor of some desperate freesheet. Don’t hate him, pity him.

He’s not exactly Cary Grant

maybe he was talking about critical mass?

as a proper cyclist who speaks for all cyclists I agree with him

I’ve never felt more part of the national cycling tribe than I do now yet have a burning hatred of those dicks on Critical Mass.

I’m all for a bit of a debate…..what’s the question?

I hardly rode the forest last winter, did a couple of nice rides up the canal to Hertford on the CX bike, will likely do that again.

How are the Chilterns in winter…..equally gloopy?

Me me me me me me……..theocb how old are you?

see now I agree with this. Whether or not you agree with CM, or Mike or whatever this thread ,and the previous on,e have not reflected well on this forum.

No he hasnt. He’s been a self important arse. And a troll.

mikeoconner

As a taxi driver, he should be aware that CM happenes the same time once a month, so perhaps he should look for another job is driving in a congested city is too much for him.

What a self riteous, sanctimonious attitude. Like lots of people on here I ride my bike in London every day. I also drive, walk, get the train, the bus and use taxis.

Stop trying to Balkanise us, its you that isnt welcome.

We’ve got 2 x Beinn 20 and a Beinn 26 in our shed, much loved. Am going to take great pleasure in having a new headset fitted to the little Beinn 20, has provided years of pleasure to my tribe, deserves some tlc.

Justin is a pleasure to deal with.

+1

He’s been building steel frames himself for years, listens to what you want then suggests some ideas. I gave him the geometry of my old 26″ bikes, he came up with 29er geometry for the type of riding I want. Couldnt be happier.

Another Burls Ti29er owner. Had it a couple of months and very very happy. I looked at Kent Erikson etc for bespoke but couldnt justify the money. Couldnt get excited about Lynskey, stumbled upon Justin Burls……£1050 bespoke.

When I saw Rapha were sponsoring Sky Pro Cycling I got a warm glow all over my body but especially down there.

I’m such a tart my water bottles match my Ti hardtail frame. And I just ordered a new chain……in gold. I’m already regretting that purchase but I actually, truthfully could not stop myself.

This is going on a mountain bike.

I just sold my beloved Ti456 and short travel susser for a Ti 29er. Wouldnt suggest its the right bike for a week of Alpine downhill but for everything I do (racy XC, Surrey Hills, Lakes) it feels like plenty of bike. If I lived in Scotland I’d maybe have stronger wheels and a 120mm fork but otherwise its plenty…….and fast.

edit – just seen you want to stick with full suss. Either ignore what I said or get a Ti 29er anyway as its still the right bike.

I’ve had mine a couple of months now 29er ti hardtail. Done technical twisty singletrack, 5hr mile munching, big day in the Highlands, mud and dry. I’m faster on everything and a whole lot more relaxed on the bike. I’m way faster on the downhills.

I did a big loop from Leatherhead during the day yesterday…….getting to the Surrey Hills in the rain was a bit of a slog over the top (I was beat after an hour) but have to say once I got to Barrys, then up behind the Church and back down (sorry I dont know the names), YP etc I thought it was all in pretty good nick considering the rain. Barry’s is bone dry (thank you trail fairies) and SL is dry with big shallow puddles. 55km and I was shagged, the bike and me were covered in slurry so it isnt dry but its all very rideable.

You should try riding Epping right now, you guys are lucky to have Surrey Hills close to you believe me.

Might go back on Monday late morning if anyone fancies a spin.

Weldtite kit was a winner btw…….

will ask apple cheers. expensive ride today, lost my arm warmers and smashed my phone.

2yrs old, Iphone 4…..second time i’ve done it this year

Realise its OK to feel hungry sometimes

This is key. Once you get used to not eating a huge bag of crips when you start to get peckish you will find you are cutting the daily calories significantly. See above for the details but 3 balanced meals a day and some fruit and nuts for snacks worked for me. Fish, chicken, loads of veg……you already know what the crap is so don’t eat it!

I’ve stayed pretty thin this year for the first time by having regular events in the calendar. Sportive here, odd XC race there…am going to race once a month through the winter to stop me piling on the weight again. Doesn’t have to be stellar competitive, just something that you know you won’t enjoy if you have let yourself go.

+1 find a PTI……they’ll be there and they love helping people with this type of thing.

And do you guys go equipped for all eventualities (tube, tyre repair kit, pump, co2 etc) or do you find you really do get a lot less punctures and therefore wing it with less kit? Big days out will stick everything in a pack but on most rides I’m using bottles and pockets so less is better.