The reason they don’t post anymore I have no doubt is because of the extreme level of intolerance on what many clearly want to maintain as a echo chamber of like-minded people.

This in spades.

I was suggesting that they didn’t want to try and defend the shit the tory party gets up to, which is a shame as be good to see the thinking behind why they think what the tories do is good.

Most people aren’t interested in arguing politics on the Internet or in person. Their certainly not going to try and justify their choices to strangers on STW. None of the regular political posters on here would be swayed by any of their arguments they just want someone to attack and belittle.
Most of the people I’ve spoken to certainly from more humble backgrounds who vote tory do so because they have aspirations. It doesn’t matter that a Labour government might suit their current needs better, just that a tory government might help them fulfil their hopes and dreams better. Largely it stems from the belief that tories look after economy better. No amount of arguing will change that, people have different life experiences and different views, that’s just how it is.

Had one of those notices from car hire company saying they’d taken €40 if my CC to give my details to the Venice police. No details of alleged offence 🤷‍♂️. Got a fixed penalty notice a few weeks later, seemed I’d been speeding coming back over the causeway. Thought about not paying but did in the end. Didn’t want any worry when going back to Italy. The fine was €60 and payed through the police website. It was all in Italian but not difficult with a bit of help from Google translator.

Don’t understand how Jersey and Guernsey can field 5 riders in total but Wales managed 0. What’s that all about?

They had an “athlete nomination policy”
I’m guessing no welsh riders met Welsh cyclings overly ambitious standards. Big own goal IMHO.
The policy can be found here.

Welsh Cycling publish Athlete Nomination Policy for Commonwealth Games Birmingham 2022

As others have mentioned, don’t discount the fun factor in a light quick handling bike. My Boardman adv 9.0 with road tyres is about 19lbs the same as my custom 853 steel framed bike. Both a great bikes to ride, but by far the most fun is my Canyon cf ultimate slx. Just under 15lbs and despite only being fractionally faster against a stopwatch feels loads quicker and is a blast to ride. Mostly I ride for fun so it’s easily my most ridden bike.

Yes, I’d like to hear the cyclists version of events.

And for the three other incidents he’s apparently been involved

I’ve been mtb’ing since the mid 80’s and never had to kick any dogs or assault their owner 🤷‍♂️ Multiple incidents whatever his version of events suggests he’s most likely the problem not the dog walkers or their dogs.

Let someone else do it if you can’t face it. 

100% this, when we lost Mrs oldenough there was a million things I would have liked to have said, but I knew I’d never be able to hold it together enough to say anything. Our son put his hand up straight away and wrote a beautiful speech which he delivered flawlessly. Much better for everyone than me standing there a blubbering wreck. But if you feel up to it OP go for it, you’ll have nothing but support from everyone there.

Not prison, sadly.

He died of a heart attack 3 years into serving an 8 year prison sentence.

Yes it’s a fast trail tyre but for me noticeable slower than the Ralph, but not so much that it feels like an anchor. NN front RR rear is a good all round combination for just riding around summer use.

In the spirit of recommending what you have. I’ve a Vauxhall Insignia 1.6 cdti eco thing. Very much a bland as a bland thing but is comfortable, economical £20 a year road tax, and just gets on with things. Loads out there for not very much money. The crank problems have been solved with the newer engines, so don’t let stories about that put you of.

There’s nothing particularly sketchy about riding fixed that isn’t inherent to cycling in general.

Beg to differ on that, given it a go a few times on my S/S general duties bike. Feels awkward and dangerous around town to me. But some people cope 🤷‍♂️ Got a freewheel on the other side of my hub and when I use that it’s a revelation 😁. Obviously ride what you want but track riding aside I’ve never seen any advantage of riding fixie.

but this is just the sort of slow section on an otherwise faster road that I never filter past cars that have previously overtaken me. 

Likewise, it doesn’t gain much and stops potential problems. However not in any way condoning or excusing this drivers actions.

 I look at other riders who live in my area and they knock out 18mph over similar rides

That’s your problem, don’t look at other riders who you know nothing about and compare them with yourself. 14-15mph forr rides with 1000ft climbing per 10 miles is pretty decent for a recreational rider. 18mph average for the same amount of climbing is normally what the fast group in a club ride do.

You can’t polish a turd

Not true 😂

Interesting article about how top riders train. And yes they are finely honed athletes.

https://www.bikedekho.com/features-stories/how-do-motogp-riders-stay-fit-and-what-we-can-learn-from-them.htm

Obviously amateurs like every amateur do far less. But they won’t be at the front of the race.

I’m not sure you’d need to run a shorter chain either. The slackest it would be 42×11 is the same on both cassettes. Certainly try it first.

I swap wheels on my gravel bike all the time, never had a problem with indexing but the brakes normally need aligning. Slacken of the caliper pull the brake on, keep it on and regtighten the caliper. Takes less than a minute.

During the semi finals by all accounts.

https://www.euronews.com/culture/2022/05/16/eurovision-jury-results-of-six-countries-removed-after-voting-irregularities-identified

Only 40 miles out and back but well worth doing.

Check out my activity on Strava: https://strava.app.link/mIPSdfEzjqb

La Berarde

No for me as well, always end up buying new ones.

Australia, best vocal performance by a mile but the costume and staging………

Ukraine, not bad enjoyed it. Not sure it would win any other year but maybe 🤷‍♂️ Wouldn’t mind if it did 🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦

I don’t think they were even singing in French this time

Breton I believe.

Why would they? A business that turns down this sort of business won’t be in business as a business for long.

Fair enough, but let’s not hear anymore talk about clogging up the justice system and those more deserving not getting their time in court. Let the girls spend their money, makes no difference to me.

I’ve got one in my local woods from July 2013. That’s beatable but other one’s I have there will probably stand forever. They’ve put gravel paths in and turned part into a children’s statue walk thing. You can still ride the path but not pick a line through the trees on rock hard baked adobe.

After two weeks I’d just order one myself. Really though I’d have done that in the first place.

I’m not totally giving the Lawyers a free pass on this one. They have a choice whether to take this sort of case or not. They generally choose to take the money, they could say no 🤷‍♂️

Last time this happened to me the other driver just shrugged and said nothing happened, denied his car had touched mine. There was a small amount of paint exchanged which rubbed of. Nothing to prove anything happened 🤷‍♂️ You could do the same, your choice though.

thats where I’m going with this – the next gen of XC bikes (everything from angles to tyres) made for these courses will be the perfect machine for an amateur to ride on most normal trails.

Sort of already here with down country.
My Intense Sniper T is 11.9kg with pedals in a large. 120mm each end with 34mm forks. I’d bet it’s more than enough bike for 80% of riders.

All depends how fast you top out at and how hilly the area is. I run 40/12 and find it fine for up 25mph which is as fast as I can typically hold on the flat on the road but as mostly ride off-road I am never holding 25mph for long.

Most people (hardly anyone) won’t be holding 25mph on the flat, 100% agree. But on the road I’ll be putting power through the pedals on downhills as well. It’ll be 40mph or so before I stop pedalling. I’m not giving that speed/fun away by not having a double chainset on my gravel bike. But each to their own 🤷‍♂️

I would suggest not driving on the continent. 

Very much this. Spent two months in Spain earlier this year and it’s completely standard driving. Just carry on with your overtaking ( if your not why be in the overtaking lane ? ) and move over at the first opportunity.

If you are heading home along the M4 then St Fagans National Museum could fit the bill.

Definitely recommend this if you’ve never been, free to get in but there is a charge for parking.

Yes, but how are you expected to know this unless you actually follow politics and critically appraise what’s happening? Things that most people just don’t bother to do.

Indeed they don’t, many people feel, mostly wrongly all politicians are the same. Just in it to get their snouts in the trough. They’ll vote like they always have or on single issues like brexit. Some just vote for who they feel will mess the country up the least or just leave them alone. Apart from your vote and engaging in politics at a local level, the answer to the Op’s question is nothing.

Either you’re claiming you invented gravel bikes or treat yourself to a new bike 😉

😂😂

Either you’re trying to be funny or ironic or you don’t ride a gravel bike in the UK

62 year old gravel bike rider here. 700×38 for me. For how I use the bike that’s absolutely spot on, and yes that’s in the UK. I’ve got mtb’s for tougher trails. Not sure what’s funny or ironic for shortcut to voice his opinion 🤷‍♂️

Looking to do the full marathon Sunday, weather dependent, not going to pre enter, will take my chances on a late entry.

My first job was as a wages and costs clerk in an engineering company. And the toolmakers were very aloof and obviously thought themselves as the elites of the factory floor. But it was made clear to me by my older colleagues that us suit wearing office workers were a step above “all” the shop floor workers. I didn’t really get it, doing the wages I was aware they earned 3x my salary dirty hands or not.

I’ve only been aware of this site for awhile. And have just signed up, loads of great threads with plenty of interesting stuff and some obviously knowledgeable posters. I was a bit suprised at the tone of this thread, but after Poly’s last excellent post I thought that would be the end of it. I know emotions run high over incedent’s involving cyclists and motorists. And nobody would condone this drivers actions. But some of the comments are just out of the Daily Mail comments section but from a cycling perspective.
Sorry I won’t comment any more, just wanted to say this.

How exactly was the bike advertised ? A 20% discount in the present market suggests there was a reason. Perhaps a used but nearly new fork 🤷‍♂️