Sutra looks great, that and the Cinelli Hobo were the inspiration for this build. Body-coloured guards look nice as well actually.

It just isn’t as clear cut as that too. If nothing else, most 4th cat races are on very flat crit courses, so being a lithe climber with a low power output isn’t usually as advantageous as being a really strong roleur.

Very good point there.

Worth devising a flat-ish route to test yourself on.

Maybe worth throwing the occasional break/sprint/acceleration/moment of excitement in every 2-3 mins as well.

Previous dhb fan, now a Howies convert.

Howies look good, are very very comfortable and reasonably priced.

20mph? Wow, OK, that is a touch quicker than I was expecting for Cat 4. have a 37 mile, 1700 ft elevation ride home from work that I do in 2 hours dead if I’m pushing on. Am I even in the ball park?

18.5mph? You aren’t far off, cutting tohe route to 30miles should buy you 0.5 of a mph.

Some permanent tracks are available for practice which would be worth looking into.

Taking a generic say 30 mile route, some hills, flats, etc, what sort of speed would a soloist need to be getting on an average day to then go cat4 and not be a complete embarrassment ?

I think 20 mph would do you. Average speed for Cat 4 would be somewhere like 24-26, but you have the benefit of being in a nice drafty bunch then.

Good enough for me, I had wondered about these. Ordering shortly…

optimistic bump

Thats would do the job nicely (I only need to carry a few overnight bits), would that be ok?

A nappy deployed immediately cannot be beaten for this.

As others have said, RAC membership, a jacket etc.

Also some rose tinted glasses, also do’;t forget to set your watch back 40 years.

Just to clarify I am binning the toilet, it will have a washing machine in its place. The current soil seems to be concreted around so it doesn’t seem as though I can remove it, only add to it, there is no room for a strap on. Should I just ad a 90 to it, a length of pipe (with plug on end) then just add a strap on to that?

Stavro – good call.

Strap on looks good, but I don’t have enough pipe (grown up).

The soil comes out of a concrete floor and then just bends 90 degrees to meet the toilet. I almost need a cap which will take a 40mm waste pipe?

I suffered a lot for for 6-8 months. Tried to a chiropractor (total waste of money) and was also referred to an NHS physio. The later helped slightly, but taking it very easy eventually cured it, which at its worst was truly terrible.

Good stuff about sign on, looked on all websites (entry central, rapha, British cycling) but couldn’t see anything. Plan to get there about 2:30 (race at 3:30) so should be fine.

Just need to get some tequila shot training in now!

Bugger, missed this one on ebay last week: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/USED-Alpkit-Gourdon-20-Roll-top-lightweight-Rucksack-Backpack-Walking-Running-/121170212308?pt=UK_SportingGoods_BackpacksRucksacks_Bags_EH&hash=item1c364eb5d4&nma=true&si=V56D7bW5X57T%252BZbBQjVNkYYcBvo%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

I have a 30L gourdon, which is ok, but does lack compression straps (or loops for them like their dry bags). I was set to change to a 20L, which has these and a few pockets, but dawdled too long, and they are out of stock (and not he on the bloody lead-time list either).

A-ha, makes sense.

All in all it all looks like a lot of fun, I am going to have to try and blag a go in one I think!

I am not sure he touched the other chap, he got squiffy, over compensated and lost it all on his own.

Saw this yesterday. Quite shocked that they guy’s license wasn’t suspended for this, I have seen it done for a lot lot less.

Not helped by Croft being a relatively dangerous circuit. Its also a fairly rough championship, which is true of a lot of one-make or closely road-derived series (god knows why).

Hi Graham, sounds very interesting, can;t find your email in your profile?

Aha, thanks thepurist

He did actually make it to formula one, but made little progress with Minardi, which was fairly predictable. In some respects Wilson was a British Mark Webber, their early careers and results were very similar. I knew a guy who purchased £500 worth of shares, an investment akin to Ed Milliband buying furniture for No. 10.

The only chance that Di Resta ha has of getting his hands on a Red Bull will be in the Petrol Station fridge….

I hope Kimi goes, but fear they may play it safe with a Torro Rosso also-ran.

Absolutely gorgeous. What were those wheels you had in the mountains there?

Thanks guys. Its East Midlands 6am in the morning, I think we wont have any congestion to deal with!

Thats the balance to pay on the house (we have only paid a deposit), we knew about that part.

Not sure I follow here – Translated from english? so you must have the original text in English? So why translating it in french?

Aye?

Thanks guys, Thats perfect. Will try to get to the bottom of this towel business!

Fantastic.

Thanks guys, will look it up.

Bugger, too slow. Looks like there is only 3 left now (for £41 each).

**optimistic bump**

Thanks for the info, I might give it a shot!

Sounds good, can it also be used to process payments without customer present?

+1 smokey and the bandit. Also enjoyed dukes of Harvard, another hard-hitting doc.

Thanks everyone, good to know. Have said cash or bank transfer only!

I listen to loads, often lee child (Jack Reacher) and the like. Narrator does indeed make it, Dick Hill is particularly good. Currently listening to the pacific by Hugh Ambrose, very very good.

Once you have given your notice I feel it would be the decent thing to at least…..you know…..try…..and…..er

I checked the parcelforce tracking number. It says it was collected from St Johns and its first stop was Worcester.

As has been said before, St Johns is one of Worcester’s larger suburbs. Many students. There is one bike shoip also – the green bike company, May be worth callign Ian there to see if he could put the word out, as they are quite involved in the local scene, their number is 01905 426459. Contacting SJCC is also a good iea as has been said above.

I once chundered in a park in St Johns, and susequently fell asleep on the grass, waking at 6am. Likely to be unrelated to the miss-sending of this frame.

Excellent, thats what I wanted to hear, thanks chaps!

Thanks all (only those who agree with me of course).

Sugdenr – well put. I may actually use the modern day court system for this, I paid wih paypal…….

I just can’t believe they think its acceptable to hold on to our money for such a long period of time. Why not offer the three choices as the next three events? Am also surprised that they are not covered by their insurance for weather-related cancellations.

Was it in the new forest ?

There were 2 fords on the typical wiggle route that were impassable, one was taped-off by the police. I walked over the chicken-run bridges but hundreds couldn’t really have done so (and I did duck under the tape). Couple of flooded bits of road too.

Shame, but I guess if the earlier ones are full, …

Correct, Devil’s Punch Bowl. I don’t have a problem with them cancelling it.

The other events are not full, in fact none of them are!