A low BB can be crippling, until I put shorter cranks and thinner pedals on my Rocky it was a pain trying to ride twisty singletrack.

Don’t be so obtuse

NSR500 with screamer engine (and a team of HRC mechanic’s to keep it running when I clog the plugs not having the bottle to ride it properly)

….and a DeLorean

and the 6 wheel drive Merc for going shopping and really fouling up the local school run (yes the white van man is very very angry as you have just stopped on a zebra crossing to let your little darling out!)

Elite

Miner 2049er

Xyrus

Mrs M has recently left teaching after 14 years due to the massive workload increase, unattainable targets and no management backup. At one point nearly half her school was running on supply teachers.

Even the “boil in the bag” teachers arriving off the production line are quitting, realising that the work/life balance is ridiculous.

Had to prime our 55 focus with the same engine, if I remember rightly I took off the fuel return hose which I think has green clips on the top LH of the engine and siphoned it through. Horrible engine.

Bad case of cat Ebola, your toast.

*That may not be true as I’m guessing BUT I think a trip to see a medical “grown-up” is in order.

Trout, Lib still going strong, 2 nights on the trott with it on max most of the way round. Fantastic bit of kit.

Yep, normally a few times a year where I want to lob me or the bike off a cliff/into a bog.

Rorschach, Mrs M and I both enjoyed JC of Mars so your not the only one.

Dune.

Hmm must have been that whole crate of lemons he’s been forced to suck on this morning! Don’t worry they’ll dredge up somebody else to blame the English!

Had it done in my late 20’s due to medical reasons and was rather sore for a few weeks but now in mid 40’s and glad I had it done.

Nothing in Friston at all, move along………
Email me if you want a tour of the non existent singletrack.

Take an enforced rest, one month off, no bikes on internet, don’t buy any bike bits, no maintenance, don’t even look at them.

Then see how you feel.

Crusade!

If we are “better” than them deny them publicity, but as we are not, do what the Soviets did back in the days when Terry Waite was kidnapped. It wasn’t very pleasant but it did drastically reduce the number of kidnapped Russians.

Yep, took ages to get in and now seems to be broken completely.

Easton Haven wheels, shite bearings, lasted 3 months with Easton/Importer refusing to admit there was a problem and dragged their heels on warranty.

Maverick Speedball, useless seat clamp.

Chicks dig scars, or is it giant robots?…….I can never remember.

Press fit BB’s. Utter utter shite.

Done the hot needle into nail thing a few times.

Painful but ohhh the relief as the blood blister lets go!

They’ve been going donkey’s years and always seem very busy when I go in, usually a bit of a wait to book it in (only from speaking to one of the staff who I go riding with). Never used them for work but always reasonable LBS prices for spares when I’ve needed them in a hurry.

It’s an interrociter!

So are we talking about Big Hitters or Big Hitlers? I’m confused…….

Bloody idiots, the pair of them! No idea of erosion and it’s variability, no idea about factoring access issues in which all the tender’s probably did. Hopeless & council should never have granted planning permission.

They could pay a visit to the special shower block in the forest as far as I’m concerned. My work is depressing enough without someone actually enjoying it! I work in Treblinsk Rubbish Tractor Production Facility No.1.

That last statement may not be true but it accurately describes where I really work.

Mrs M’s have arrived, they look very nice, as she hasn’t paid for them yet I think they might go on my bike instead.

no no dear put the frying pan down I was only joking………….

XTR clutch mech, thank you Cannock
XT clutch mech, thank you stupid double on Discovery in Friston
Giro Xen, Thank you stupid low branch Friston
Will to ride anywhere else, thank you Dartmoor!

Hmmm, insects, Replicators, Borg, never ends well in Sci-Fi, KILL THEM ALL!

Hmm initial symptoms of Cat Ebola, can I have your disinfected bike if you don’t make it! 😀

I have a cloaked Dreadnought in orbit………..

Craft Terminal (tough laptop)
various leads, 9 way d types, cat 5 straight and crossover and various adapter plugs.
DMM
Large adjustable
Rigging Knife
Krone Tool
side cutters
jumper wire
Butt
8mm spanner x 2
Needle nose pliers
Various screwdrivers, torx, crosshead, flat bladed etc
A magnet
13mm insulated spanner
Pens, including pink and purple inks to upset the log book auditors.

Nice scar, get well soon.

My Liberator is going into its 3rd winter now, still excellent, still gets comments along the lines of “WTF is that light/photon cannon?”.

Sorry to hear you’ve hung up your “rod of fire”.

Part of my job is too familiarise graduates on the company program with some of the more er heritage bits of our technology still in use in our organisation. Some of them are very good, willing to listen and ask questions and others are shocking in their I know everything attitude and won’t listen to even basic safety info.

One guy I took out for a few days was definately in the latter and I advised him wrap up warm and bring a flask of hot drink as we would be working outside all day in a cold valley bottom in January with no direct sunlight. He looked at me like I’d got three heads and sure enough he turned up the next day in jeans, t-shirt and a high vis jacket, no gloves, hat or warm socks! We started onsite at 0800 and by 1500hrs with his teeth chattering badly I told him to go home.

Conversely I had a female graduate who after two days was “flying” my radio test set as well as I could and helped lug all my test gear from the van to the site and back.

All must take the Ming “soldering iron test”, where I plug in the soldering iron leave it for 10 minutes to warm up and then ask them to pass it to me. If they pick it up by the hot bit then they are destined for Project Management and if the don’t burn themselves then they’ll end up in a technical role somewhere. Oh and if I really don’t like them I give them the solder reel with a bit of binding wire wound onto it and watch them get really frustrated when it wont melt!

Of course I am asking questions like “You have used a soldering iron before?” and “Didn’t they teach you anything practical at that university?”

Oh I’m a qualified Technician Engineer.

Do not bother to catch the train to Polegate outside Eastbourne and then ride to Friston Forest as there is absolutely NO singletrack in the forest at all along with NO spectacular downland riding towards Firle and Lewes.

What garden I see only Jungle! + is one of the chain rings invisible to justify the front mech?

I’m Telecoms as well and you really need a trade before working at height, also it’s fine on a nice day but when it’s cold and wet in February it can be really grim.

I’ve done Advanced Climber and Tower Rescue at both Total Access and TAG(now Capital Safety). I cannot fault the training at either just enjoyed the course at Capital Safety more.