Thanks for that.
I'll give it a go then.

Defending religion by accusing someone who opposes it it of "ignorance, narrow-mindedness and bigotry".
Oh, the irony.

Religion is a form of mental illness.
Trying to discuss religion with someone who's got an invisible friend is like trying to plan a picnic with an anorexic agoraphobic.
It's easier just to point and laugh.

So, that bit's made up as well then ?

And this bit about god making man in his own image.
What's that all about ?

Avoiding the argument about what is,or isn't, an enduro, I'd vote for any of the SPAM Biking events, but especially Set2Rise.
Avoid the Merida/CRC series if you think the words "enduro" or "marathon" imply some sort of competitive event. There's three different distances and all the results get lumped together, so there's no way of knowing your finishing position for your distance.

It doesn't need replacing.
You just need to get in to the habit of altering it by 20 seconds every day.

Or why not just keep it as it is so all our clocks on all our expensice electronic equipment don't have to be changed at huge cost?

Tsk, there's always some Luddite who wants to stand in the way of progress.

So, who has got the best imaginary friend then ?

Tell you what;WHY don't some of the above post some cartoons of the prophet on here,I will link them to one of the many Sharia websites in the UK.Surely since so many of you hate the fact some of us are religious you will want to make a stand against the fastest growing religion in the UK?

Why can't xtians make their own death threats ?

Wow, that Ladybower Reservoir picture. 8O
I can just imagine a canoeist paddling like mad while getting dragged slowly backwards towards it…

Not the sharpest bulb in the picnic.

Yes Minister was always good for these.
The only one I can remember at the moment is "This is a political hot potato. If we don't do something, we're going to end up with egg on our faces"

How is democracy supposed to work when half the electorate are below average intelligence ?

I got a book called "Create your own website in a weekend" for about £5 from a remainder shop and made this, http://www.aecmilitant.co.uk although, admittedly, it took a lot more than one weekend and I later picked up another cheap book on HTML.
There's a few good HTML tutor websites around for free now, so you don't even need to buy a book.
One of the best tricks I learned was to right click on a page and "View Source". This will show you the HTML code for that page. Pick a simple website that is something like what you want and us it as a template.

Most staunch vegans simply wouldn't take a job that involved handling meat if they felt strongly enough about it on ethical ground…

Not surprisingly, this subject gets discussed by vegans occasionally. :roll:
I worked for a truck dealer and would occasionally have to service and repair butcher's vans. It didn't seem worth making a fuss about it. If I had refused, someone else would have done the job anyway.

Most hobbies or sports take place at some distance from the participants house.
Unless you are going to leave your hang glider or kayak at the place where you use it, you are going to need a car to transport it.
I guess it depends on whether you see cycling as a hobby that you go somewhere else to do, or a means of transport that you do straight out of your front door.

Has it been "tagged" yet ? :roll:

My rigid 29er Rohloff is more niche than your rigid 29er 1×9.
So there. :P

OK, I'm thinking of polar bears. What now ?

Why is driving 10 miles to go mountain biking any less "eco-friendly" than driving 10 miles to go kayaking, rock climbing, hang gliding, shopping, or taking the kids to school ?

If you're a bloke and you register on Fitness Singles and mention in your profile that you ride a 29er, you will be inundated with replies from hot, fit babes wanting to meet you.

She's expecting a surprise.
Do nothing.
That will surprise her.

There's a proposal to make one here…
http://www.thorncycles.co.uk/forums/index.php?topic=2351.0
…but that's all it is at the moment.

I like the idea of electronic or hydraulic shifting. Do away with the cables altogether.

No replies for 2 days.
Can I take that to mean everyone is happy with Monday 5th ?

I'd be interested in electronic shifting for a Rohloff if anyone made it.
I've thought about trying to bodge something up myself using radio control car servos.

I've weighed a few loads in over the last couple of weeks.
£140 – £150 a tonne for light iron.

You've got me there.
I'm going to have to admit I couldn't use your diesel all through the bad weather this year, I had to use my own Land Rover.

Don't know about the waterworks bridge, never tried.
I would guess that as the road in to the waterworks crosses the bridge from the West bank, there is no access from the East bank. If you cross the bridge, you'll probably find yourself in a fenced compound with no exit. Worth a look though.
You definitely can't cross the pipeline bridge at Hawkbatch.

The route and date were just suggestions.
It turns out I'm supposed to be elsewhere on the 4th now, helping with the preparation for a local trailquest, [shameless plug] http://www.midlandtrailquests.co.uk/event_details.php?e=105 [/shameless plug].
If there's two other people who want to do it, but can't make the 4th because of Exmoor, how about Bank Holiday Monday 5th ?
I'm doing HONC on 11th and another trailquest on 18th

Defender 110 with a 3.9 EFI and tubular manifolds for the full V8 burble here.
Cheap insurance, room for two bikes, no need to carry a tent for weekends away, enough power to surprise or frighten most car drivers and cheap(ish) to run on LPG.

An old second hand Record vice will outlast a new one.
Get one with the little anvil bit on the back if you can.
And you don't realise how useful a swivel vice is until you go back to using a fixed one.

What tyres for a long distance picnic ?

Yes, let's make it a long distance picnic.
It's a sightseeing trip, not a training ride, so there will be plenty of stops to eat and look at the trains and scenery.

I pay my credit card off every month by direct debit.
Financial Rule #1. Never ever use the credit on your credit card.
I've had it refused in shops a few times for no apparent reason. I just used my debit card instead. It's always worked on line.

We really do need a thread from volunteers that can show us these incredible structures.

Consider it done. :wink:

I'd like to see skills sessions scientifically tested too.

There are old mountain bikers and there are bold mountain bikers, but there are no old, bold mountain bikers. :P

It's just about impossible to give written directions around the Wyre Forest as nothing is signposted.
Starting from the two car parks at Button Oak, just keep turning right whenever you can without actually leaving the forest. This will keep you following the perimeter, mostly on decent singletrack.
When you get to the railway, head for Bewdley. Look for two steep drops to the left close together, just past the family cycle route on the right.
Follow either one down to Cooper's Mill footbridge.
Over the bridge and turn right.
At the start of the concrete road there are two tracks on the left.
The first one, over the stream, is Camber.
The second one, which ends in a very steep drop, is Three Bears.
Both these are much better ridden downwards, so either struggle up them or circle your way round to the top.
If you're riding from Stourbridge, the canal makes a good off road route. Follow it almost to Stourport, then over Burlish top to the end of Bewdley bypass and in to Bewdley along the river.

The Severn Tunnel and the remarkable story of The Great Spring and the divers.
http://www.divernet.com/other_diving_topics/160544/the_strong_man_the_rebreather_and_the_tunnel.html