Sure he didn’t say you ride like a prat?

Cut the stem or snap them off where the stalk joins the plant

Presumably you didn’t swallow it completely because you are veggie? On another rainy day of English summer, sympathy is low

What sort of riding are you into? The top end of the peak is rocky gritstone and suits those who like a bit of gnar in their rides, whereas the White Peak (southern half) is more suited to old school, epic xc type riding. Plenty of classics to choose from, most of which are in the guide books (VP Peak District guide recommended).

You say you have always been short tempered? If this a specific behaviour that is the root of your problem, I would suggest CBT to address how you react to situations. If however your irritability is just the outward manifestation of an underlying dissatisfaction then you need to deal with that.
Mufffin man, please see a doctor.
Good luc? both

Currently off the bike due to illness and have been for the past couple of months. This lay off reminds me of how much I love mountain biking. I’ll ride any bike with anybody and often do but the thing that excites me is mountain biking, whether local woodlands or Peak jaunts. This is how it’s been for the past 25 years and I still feel that frisson at the idea of flowing down a particular trail or clearing a tech section, but mostly just that “phwoar” when you get back from a day in a remote hilly area, lost in the moment and totally self reliant, and I don’t care how much money/time/maintenance it costs to give me that, it makes me feel alive. Writing this makes me want to grab my bike and go now, but one of the joys of ageing is getting more accepting, and I’ll just have to wait another fortnight

Wow that sounds really tough, OP, no wonder you are feeling down. Your situation is really difficult, it makes me feel really lucky as I recover from an operation. Not got anything helpful to suggest, just wanted to offer my sympathy. Good on you for trying to fight back by aiming to get out on a ride, sounds like it could be a lifeline. Good luck!

I’ve had this in the past, where you look forward to a season and the weather lets you down and before you know you are shouting at clouds. As others have suggested, it’s symptomatic of a deeper mental health issue. There’s no mileage in it mate, you gotta let it go. Forget looking for stats that validate how you feel, all you are doing is fueling your downward spiral. Jump off it and start looking after yourself in whatever way you need to. Good luck!

I quite often go on flower sniffing rides with my wife, and love to pootle around with my grandson, but for myself I always choose fast woodland blasts or gnar-fests. The idea of stopping at a pub never appeals to me because I hate the idea of riding under the influence. Did it once when I was young, got drunk and had a very scarey ride back home. Never mixed alcohol and bikes since

When I saw Valverde going into that corner I could see he was going way too fast, why did he feel the need to take such risks? Paid a high price. Like many I’m not a fan because of his past but can’t wish that on anyone

Nature innit. Parents will probably have another brood

It’s important you keep drinking despite regular loo visits. How clear/what colour is your urine? If darker than normal or pink (blood in it) then that could mean an infection and you need to get on antibiotics asap. I’ve just had an abcess drained from an infection, it’s a few weeks to recovery and no fun with daily visits from district nurse. Just had a catheter out a week ago and now all back to normal here.

Was meant to be ‘Sgt Pepper’s’ but cracked while I was saving up and got ‘Nice Enough To Eat’, a cheap Island sampler (14/6d). Sgt Pepper’s was next

Was showing Tuskaloosa of this parish around Chatsworth recently. Descending towards Bakewell I flew off a little lip only to notice mid air that my landing strip had eroded into a jagged foot deep rut. Popped both tyres and a chainring as well as some body damage…

Hold the front brake on and rock the bike back and forth. Go round all pivots and bushings, holding them in turn in your other hand/fingers. You will feel play, just like you can with a loose headset

Great news, so pleased she got her bike back. This happened to my son a few years back, he pretended to be a buyer and arranged to meet the thief and insisted the police turn up, which they did. It was so satisfying to not let them get away with it, you must feel exactly the same.

When you fit the cranks tap it in as snug as you can? Prob still won’t be enough to tension it though. Threaded bar through the axle, washers and nuts, finger tighten nuts?

Got an infection a week ago which had me in hospital, now got 6 weeks shuffling between sofa and bed, so sofa and bed for me

Could be anything tbh. Creaks can be difficult to track and frustratingly only a gradual elimination of possibilities will cure them

Can’t see it makes much difference/depends on your priorities. We always start Edale because that’s most accessible and gives the highlight of the descent of Jacob’s to finish on. You are doing it clockwise aren’t you? We always see plenty of people going the other way, probably because many route guides send you the wrong way. Think it’s because in the nineties that was the accepted way but with modern bikes all the best descents are on the clockwise loop. Have a great day!

I remember doing a trailquest at Coed-y-Brenin back in the day. It had a special map which stupidly I have lost but there was a lot of excellent off-piste stuff around the forest

I remember a Mint Sauce calendar pic from the 90s with Mint and his mates lifting their bikes over a road like it was a river. Sums it up, I try to avoid road where possible and love the off road stuff. Mind you, road biking has it’s place, for me that’s mainly a way to get fit to improve my mtbing

Lots of people seem to want to vote tactically. I’m sick of tactical voting, I think you should vote for the party that best represents your views. For me that’s Green

Haven’t ridden this for a few years (ahem, 20), but when I did it was on a fully rigid mtb, all was fine apart from a short rocky section above Boot, so I’d think your hardtail would be best

@Saxon Rider; surely every model railway is a bit loopy?

Les Gorges de la Nesque is stunning, and if you do it from south to north it’s a shortish climb with a lovely flowy 20k descent through limestone tunnels with spectacular views. Ventoux is a given, difficult to recommend which route though as I don’t know your preferences. From Sault is longest but easiest, both the Bedoin and Malaucene route would be a bit tough fully laden.

Fitting an o ring is easier than reaping so I’d try that first

I have the same issue with the upper linkage bearings in my Bronson, one set were ruined by a very wet Lakes ride. When I spoke to Jungle they recommended removing the pivot axles and checking periodically, which I now do. It can be surprising how quickly they start to seize but by regular checks you can regrease and get them moving again

I too love paper maps and have a large collection. Some of my old ones are purely to memorialise my glory days of trail questing (ahem) with the day’s route/checkpoints highlighted. They do take ages to use though, when I did the Coast to Coast a couple of years ago, they added hours to each day. Nowadays I abdicate responsibility while sneering at my younger mates’ digital navigation, ready to step in with device – free skills when batteries fade etc. Whatever I use, reading glasses have become a necessary accessory these days. I do like and use OS Locate regularly too

Don’t they have spacers/washers to give a bit of play? They used to when I got some (years ago). Agree that they are horrible, and seem to remember they wear pretty quickly too. You could see that as a bonus

I think the lack of motivation/ability to do ordinary stuff is one of the worst symptoms of depression, and then we get into a cycle of beating ourselves up for being useless, and it goes on. I think it’s really important to recognise the symptoms and not beat ourselves up when we suffer them. Easier said than done, I’m really struggling at the moment, having heard that my younger brother, who has spent most of his life abusing his body with drink and drugs, has advanced lung cancer (he’s been ignoring coughing up blood for six months). I feel like I’ve been kicked in the guts by a horse and can’t do anything. Luckily I’m retired so don’t have to, but I feel so bad. Ironic that this news makes me want to go on a bender!

Yeah give it a rest for a short while is probably your best option initially. Take the week off and rest, you will hopefully come back fresh and stronger

Erm don’t wish to insult your intelligence but…you threading it in the right way?

Love the way you don’t want Wales so that is what most are suggesting. Here’s my 2 midge free coastal Wales suggestions. Newgale in Pembrokeshire is right on a lovely beach that’s good for bodyboarding and surfing and with some spectacular clifftop walks. There are also several sites in the Gower that overlook/are close to the beach/sea

Middlewood Farm has got quite big now with several fields in use. Still a good site with a lovely short walk across the fields to RHB. Took my grandson last year and we had a great time

I scratched my Pikes and only varnished them for cosmetic reasons. Kashima? Use gold if you gonna do it!

Springhill farm. Bloody autocorrect

Springhill farm. Bloody autocorrect

There’s one about half a mile inland from Seahouses, Springholm Farm. Stayed there a few years ago and it was ok

Yep, check your old inner tube mountain to see if any have removable cores. Quite a few quality brands do, including Schwalbe and Specialized