Can make calls but not receive them and no data. Others at work with the same problem. http://status.o2.co.uk says they are working on it.

Conveniently the EE signal at home has recovered after 2 days of not working so at least my own phone is now back and it’s just the work one that’s not!

Stuff breaks occasionally. It always has and always will. Just glad I don’t have to fix it for once 🙂

I’m a definite no I’m afraid, the weekend has rapidly filled-up with various other commitments – shame as I’ve not been on my bike since last Saturday, still hoping to sneak a quick ride in at some point this weekend but it’s not looking good…

Enjoy the ride though!

As nobody had said they were coming by the time I was due to leave work, I stayed to finish up a few things so I’m not going to be there either. I think that means this week is off so don’t rush to try to meet anyone, Scandal!

Fathomer: just to satisfy my curiosity are you fat homer, or someone who fathoms? 🙂

Good ride on Saturday chaps, I usually ride that area solo so it was good to have some company for a change 🙂

Hidetherum – fair point, will be a little less specific in future. Although ‘national notoriety’ might be a bit strong, anyone who travels would be rather disappointed I suspect!

Danny – I’m going to have to give Saturday a miss. Shame as I would really like to come but it just doesn’t work out this weekend. Hopefully another time! I’d probably be interested if you’re doing a local evening ride anytime, by the way.

So, who’s up for the usual ride tomorrow? Pub at 7?

those using the tow path for its actual purpose

Now it’s not often I come across a horse-drawn narrowboat on my morning commute, but if I do I’ll be sure to give way 🙂

I get way more people apologising to me when their dog/child wanders in front of my bike than I do complaining or being awkward. But I’m always going slow enough to stop by that point so it’s not a problem and usually ends up with a bit of a competition to see who can be most apologetic and/or friendly.

The rare times that someone does complain (usually just a ‘tut’) I just reply with a cheery greeting.

I wonder if there is a correlation between the aggressiveness of drivers and walkers by area…

3.30 at the three bomb holes, by the slate pile, by the pool? Even better 🙂 (somehow I completely missed Danny suggesting a place to meet in the post before mine!)

Scandal: if it helps, drop me an email (in profile) and I’ll send you my number so you can catch up if you don’t quite make it.

After 3 would be perfect for me too – I’ll be riding there as it’s only about 3 miles from home so could meet you in the top car park closest to Woodhouse Eaves/Swithland? Say around 3:30, if that works for you both?

I’m not thinking of anything too strenuous by the way, after commuting today and motorbiking tomorrow morning my legs will probably start feeling it soon… in which case I’d be more than happy to retire to the pub for a pint 🙂

By the way rascal, don’t take my light-evangalising too seriously. The ones I have seem really good to me but I really have nothing to compare them to so the dual-led ones may well be better for all I know. We should have done some comparisons on Wednesday in the car park!

As discussed 🙂
This
and maybe this

Seem ok so far and plenty of others seem to think they’re good. The one above looks ok too but with only a 4000mah battery and 2 LEDs at a claimed 5000 lumens , I assume it won’t last as long? But I could be wrong 🙂

Yeah, really good ride last night. Great route with some fun little descents (and not-so-little ascents, by local standards at least!)

Shame you had to leave twonks, I’ve been at the back of groups often enough to know what you mean but nobody minds a bit of waiting, there’s always someone at the back (usually me tbh!). Hope you can join us another time anyway 🙂

Danny/Dom – will have to let you know about the 5th, hope to make it but I’d be going straight to a mate’s birthday afterwards so will have to find out plans/timings/shower availability – would definitely be up for it another time if not though!

I’ll probably be going for a quick play around swithland woods area on Saturday afternoon by the way, in case anyone’s interested.

I should’ve looked more closely at the clothing it seems!

Picked up a cheap toolkit for the bits I don’t yet have, some lightweight backup flashy lights and some gt85. £26 in total, not bad.

No problem, I’ll bring a spare rear light.

Good to see no last minute drop outs this week (yet!) 🙂

Count me in.

Wouldn’t want do miss slick greasy death stones, especially in the dark. 🙂

Good to hear the new bike was worth the hassle too, Danny!

Good luck getting it sorted Danny, what a nightmare! I’m sure you’ll get it built soon and it’ll be worth it in the end, but the offer is still there to borrow my old/commuter bike if it isn’t sorted by Weds (and if we can figure out how to get it there!)

Still, this is v1.0

Err… 7.0? 😉

Overall it seems ok, but I’m a bit underwhelmed. Basically they’ve just about caught up with the features on the Galaxy S3, which has been out for over a year. It is an improvement on iOS 6, but nothing more than a few display updates really. I’m sure I’ll get used to the generally brighter, whiter screen and mildly irritating animations soon!

Oh, the change in safari to only show the server name instead of the full address is annoying too, I’ve no idea which page of the stw forum I’m looking at now!

I always enjoy riding my bike, but being faster, smoother and safer is generally more fun for me. I suppose I was gradually improving in those respects anyway (with the occasional conflict between faster and safer!)

Since visiting Tony for a couple of public skills sessions this year I’m more aware of what I’m doing right and wrong, and I’ve been improving more quickly while taking fewer risks. For me, that was well worth the cost, and I will probably go back for a one-to-one at some point too. Maybe it’s not for everyone, but I enjoy my riding more since. The days themselves were good fun too, would definitely recommend one of the public days for anyone who’s not sure about paying for a full one-to-one session.

I’m not going to make it tonight I’m afraid – hopefully next week though!

Danny: Plus when his co-commentator tried to apologise for any offence caused. Warner’s reply was “It’s ok, I don’t think he’s listening” 🙂

Found the mtb hire place but it’s closed.

i found someone riding one in the hills to the east of the city, so naturally I knocked him off it and took it for a spin. He shouted something like ‘fu buddy i’m calling the police’ and 10 seconds later (just as i’d figured out how to move) I was being chased by two police cars. 10 seconds after that I was knocked off, shot and in the hospital. It seems bike theft is taken seriously in Los Santos!

bwfc: I’m not sure but I think someone mentioned Tesco… Worth a look anyway.

Yeah I found GTA4 lacked a lot of the more fun parts from previous games but having read through the review it does sound much more varied. Also, from the IGN review:

I bought an expensive mountain bike and cycled around in the hills, enjoying the view.

🙂

Some naughty retailers have shipped physical copies early though.

Including Amazon. Not my copy though 🙁

EDIT:
In the meantime, some fun facts about GTA V.[/url]

You’ll get used to it, and will make time for what’s important to you. As you can probably tell from the responses so far, it doesn’t get any easier but that’s life. The silver lining is that the less free time you have, the more you appreciate it. Finding a job you enjoy helps too! 🙂

Plus having a job means you can get better/more bikes. And lights!

Rascal: I’ve only had the light for a few weeks and probably used it about 4 or 5 times in varying degrees of dusk/dark so I can’t say much about reliability. I picked up a second one for my helmet (and as backup) too. They’re plenty bright enough – I usually have one or both on the medium power setting.

It’s the standard ‘cheap Chinese Cree light’ that is often discussed on here and is sold by various places at various prices (I think we talked about it last time we both rode on a Weds, just before I bought one?). I reckon about half of the weds night riders I’ve met so far are using the same!

The main complaint seems to be that it’s a bit spotty, so I got one of these for my bar-mounted one:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/SEEN-ANGLE-DIFFUSER-LUMEN-LIGHTS/dp/B00DQ5IGMU/ref=sr_1_4?s=sports&ie=UTF8&qid=1378968131&sr=1-4&keywords=C%26B+SEEN

Fits perfectly and widens the beam enough for me. I’m undecided whether to bother with one for my helmet light since that usually points further ahead and the spot hasn’t been a problem so far.

The battery doesn’t look very waterproof but I’ve fixed that with a freezer bag and rubber band…

Phil – we really must’ve just missed you, hopefully next week!

Good ride tonight Alan. Neither of us really knew where we were going but we managed to string a decent little route together. And find the pub, of course 🙂

It was quite fun to ride some damp trails for a change (yes, I know I’ll regret saying that in a few weeks/months!) There wasn’t really any mud, just the occasional slippery rock and root to keep things interesting.

7 is better for me too, means less of a rush and possibly even time to eat something first too! Pub car park also sounds good, it has lights which would make packing up in the dark a bit easier too.

Alan – this is the light I have:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B007WAAO70/ref=ox_ya_os_product

Mine have been thoroughly soaked through a few times and are still fine. They do take ages to dry though!

Danny – drop me an email and we’ll sort the bike out, I’ve put a (somewhat obfuscated) address in my profile. No spds on it, just flats. It does have a bell though. 🙂

Yes, you’re still welcome to borrow it 🙂

YMMV

I’ve had one a while now and don’t notice I’m wearing it. It’s survived a couple of minor crashes with no sign of damage, including one where I landed on it hard enough to break things inside. Oh, and no leaks yet either!

Maybe I’ve been lucky 🙂

Mostly just sunglasses when it’s sunny. I do have some clear lenses that I wear occasionally in the mud but they’re a bit scratched.

The tales of metal shards etc in this thread have made me reconsider though. Eyesight is pretty important come to think of it! I’ll be ordering some of this Bolle ones I think…

Danny – drop me an email and we’ll sort the bike out, I’ve put a (somewhat obfuscated) address in my profile. No spds on it, just flats. It does have a bell though. 🙂

Haydnw – yes, sorry about weds, was a really last minute thing that stopped me coming. Although I’d probably still have gotten us lost anyway! Hopefully catch you next week. I’ve never been to Hicks Lodge so can’t help there, sorry. Will be interested to hear what others say about it though…

Not me either. Not that I’d admit it anyway – everyone knows the rangers is much more gnarr to push down.

Just got home, I should know better than to say ‘definitely’ about anything which means leaving work at exactly 5.

I’m away this weekend so can’t do Ticknall but would be up for it another time, maybe the next weekend. But can sort something nearer the time if anyone’s up for it.

And yes, next Weds… Definitely! 🙂

I’m still stuck at work so not going to be able to make it on time. Such a lovely sunny evening too! 🙁

You lot need to stop breaking your bikes and/or yourselves! I suggest riding slowly and cautiously everywhere like I do. 😉
(I think that’s what’s know as tempting fate…)

I’m a deffo – as long as I’m not the only one anyway, would probably get lost in the woods!

No problem Danny, let me know how things are looking early next week and we can sort something out if needed.

The ‘Blair witch’ bit isn’t all that exciting, Susie, was just something quite different to the rest of the woods, especially in the dark. Not interesting to ride – the north shore bit was just a very short ramp with a big drop on the end. I couldn’t find it anyway but it probably wouldn’t be good to post the exact location in a public forum since someone’s obviously put a bit of effort into building so making it public might mean getting the wrong type of attention from whoever manages the woods.

Scandal lives really close though so might be willing to show you another day if you’re really curious!

Ouch that doesn’t sound good Danny! We were just talking about cracked frames last week too!

How tall are you? I’m 6’1″ and have an xc hardtail that isn’t exactly built for descending and has low-grip, fast-rolling tyres on, but you’re welcome to try it. I’ve made it round Cannock and Llandegla on it and only crashed once at each! 🙂

Let me know if you want to give it a try and we’ll sort something by email or whatever. Good luck with the warranty!

EDIT: oh and yes I should be able to make it tomorrow too, rascal.

I should’ve known better than to post in this thread 🙂

Just to clarify, my intended point was that if we (or the US/France/whoever) are in such a tiny minority then we should definitely not go it alone, and should wait until/if there is more of a consensus. No three countries alone should be able to decide on such action, whatever you or i may think and however big our country’s guns may be.

If we believe in democracy then 3 shouldn’t outweigh the other 190+. If others don’t agree then just like Mr Cameron in parliament last night we should recognise that we are in the minority and should take no action.

All IMO of course. Anyway, that’s me done on the subject.

Absolutely mattjg. Doesn’t make sense to me but we seem to find the phrase so emotive that it can be used to (try to) justify an attack.

Anyway, to answer the OP, let me know if he invades Czechoslovakia and we’ll talk. Perhaps then more than 3 of the 200ish countries in the world would show an interest in intervening too. Until then it will be just another in the long, long history of western attacks in the Middle East which will inevitably cause more problems than it solves.

I find the g forms very comfortable, and they stay put very well too. I can’t compare to the POC ones but they are much better in both respects than the 661 Evo D30 ones I used before (and I didn’t think they were bad at the time).

They are really lightweight and have no side padding though, which means less protection but I really don’t notice them except that my knees are unscathed from brambles and nettles at the end of a ride!

Give ‘CandBseen’ a look, decent lights, cheap price (in comparison) and uk backup!

They also sell a lens replacement for the cheap Cree light linked in the OP to make the beam wider. Very easy to fit and well worth a fiver.

I looked at the candbseen lights too but i thought they probably come from the same factory as the cheapo ones tbh – all the other bits in the box look identical in the pics, anyway.

Yeah, excellent ride last night with a bit of everything (except perhaps massive hip jumps and gapping huge rock sections – some of the climbs/descents were vertical enough for me though!).

My first properly dark ride, and the Blair Witch bit was indeed pretty spooky and a bit of a highlight – totally different to the rest of the woods. I’d never be able to find it again, but that applies to most of it except the car park and the pub really… and those were hard enough to find in the dark!

Thanks chaps, see you next week.

I should be there, hopefully on-time this week!

I’ll leave it up to you guys to decide on a route or a play in the woods since I don’t know my way around there anyway – either is good with me 🙂