I did have one and as above “noodley” is an insult. Lively and perfectly balanced, imo. Lovely.

My year teacher told me on the day I left school that I would struggle to get a job cleaning the streets (a very uplifting man!).

I did an HND and then an engineering degree with his words always in my ears, and it still irritates me 25 years on. Mind you, maybe that was his aim, as I’m still wanting to do more things and prove him wrong. Perhaps I should just let it go now…….!!

I came late to the party (nothing unusual there, then!).

The West Drayton Black Park xc race last year. I was crap. Loved it!

CountZero, I salute your taste and memory!

Maria McKee
Florence
Debbie Harry

Up until now I’d only run (Lumi Halogen) bar lights. Bought some helmet lights a couple of weeks ago (Ay-ups), used them at the Ruthin night ride and again this week and I’m really impressed with the concept of helmet lights. I hadn’t realised how much I twisted my bars back and forwards to see on narrow stuff with just bar lights.

Plus helmet lights seem to confuse car drivers coming the other way when you’re on roads, so much so that many of them stop! Bonus!

As above – the secret is to learn to really get on with yourself, which many only really do when they’ve lived alone. Then you’re ready for a relationship – but only if you want.

Thanks for the comments so far. Rebas are top of the list, so that’s great.

Vile things! Salt’s too good for ’em!

I’m going to investigate those nematode things, just want to make sure it doesn’t wreak havoc on another unexpected part of the eco-system in the garden (eg kills all the bears or something).

You’re confusing us – it’s me that weighs 15 stone – she’s the dainty one!

No, want to make this a reasonably light one. She’s had too long on a heavy-ish build (hangs head in shame).

It was more bad experiences with some of the manufacturers’ components on there we’ve had in the past. (You know how one develops prejudices over the years but labels them “experiences”…….!)

Yes – also trying to decide – if we go the Juliana route – whether to buy just the frame and custom build or go with the “standard” Santa Cruz kits. A few components I’m not so sure about on there. Anyway, we’re going to try to get a demo ride this weekend.

Look forward to hearing from Bunnyhop!

Thanks again.

I used to get the neighbours’ smoke coming through under the joists in my old semi; drove me potty as they seemed to continually smoke and used to resort to leaving the window open all year round. They weren’t the type who would have understood a quiet word, so couldn’t do much. It only goes when you move, I’m afraid.

+1 for Gok Wan.

Jeremy Clarkson’s another.

Thanks hels. (Pretty much on 5′ then!).

Face what?

Taken by aliens somewhere over Putney?

Riding The Gap?

Agree with the comment above about unelectable oppostions, but that aside no longer care (I used to care passionately) as I no longer trust Labour after Iraq, civil liberties etc etc. Am very disillusioned indeed, and I suspect many are, which is when the lunatic fringe parties tend to pick up votes.

Shame you’re not really coming south. Would have liked to have had a look at the kit and could have shown you some good trails down here.

Just bought a set of Ay-Ups and used them for the first time at the Ruthin night ride. They were ace.

I’ve got a singlespeed rear with Flow rim which I’ve had for a few months. Has been fine so far, the only thing is that is was a little light on grease in the freehub. That was soon sorted and it seems fine now.

missingfrontallobe – yes, that was us. Thank you for your kind comments, that’s just made her day!

Great to meet you all and ride with you – thanks, guys! You were really good riding company. Cheers.

Also really enjoyed the ELBNO – as above, on your own but not. I will remember looking back near the final ridge at the string of lights working up the valley for a long time.

Also very proud of my mrs, first time doing one of this series and riding in N Wales, she not only climbed the road climb out of Ruthin but kept on even when she was really tired towards the end. Pretty good for only having learnt to ride a bike fairly recently. (Sorry, proud husband moment over!).

Missingfrontallobe, were we riding with you at the end? It was a really good group we ended up with.

Seeing my mrs coming down a really steep, filthy muddy descent with a huge grin on her face!

No, I just noted the words “it doesn’t matter” and relaxed…..!!

Thanks guys – very helpful, I thought it was more complicated.

Now to enjoy ordering things…..

Cheers

The heretic up there ^^ doesn't believe in magic cats nor celery! Burn him! For they are infallible and light the true path to headset smoothness and eternal steering and stuff.

Night ride thing on Saturday, for which I put my name down some time ago in a moment of foolish bravado. Anyone else in the same boat who would be up for riding / company with a numptyish clown rider at no very great speed?

Also Mrs Ononeorange and I will do either the 30k or 50k on the Sunday. Depends on the weather / whether I've survived Saturday night.

Great shots, but they just make me feel how crap I really am! Anybody else on here who doesn't ride like this?

Blast. I went through Oxford Circus station last night (not a metaphor), blissfully unaware of these matters.

Captain, could you please give advanced notice of ladies in unmentionables in the vicinity in future? This is your duty, y'know. I could have gone along to check just how outrageous and corrupting it was and remained there for a while, being righteously outraged. And corrupted.

Knacker's hole is priceless!

(Revert to teenager mode)

Never heard of it, but I am guessing that it's some sort of internet-based shenanigans……

^"Back in the day….Myspace…."!!!! Eh??

+1 for frowned on (heavily) at work. Sadly only for weekends for me.

YGM, nickf

Will do – will let you know if I get a response.

Just up the road from you, ride with a couple of people from Watford.

Best wishes to you. And thanks, Crikey's uncle.

Nick – conincidentally I'm also herts / Bucks – where are you bbased?

I bought somne s/h King hubs off here last year (which are excellent) and got them serviced by a chappie in Sheffield who posts on here under the name Eichler. Haven't seen him for a while on here though. Service was superb and hubs have been brilliant. I can try emailing him if you like and see if he's still doing it, if that helps?

Sorry only just noticed your question – I just used a light Lithium-based grease (largely as it was all I had to hand!).

I'm not going to plough through all those somewhat personalised debates above. My own view is that Maggie did royally screw the country in a number of ways for what appear to me to be totally ideological reasons – for that reason alone I refuse to contemplate voting Tory, as my strong suspicion is that most of them agree with what she did. I am therefore highly concerned that our friendly ex-wallpaper salesman of a chancellor has the same ideological "enthusiasm" as she did and that is what is driving the urge to cut the deficit at what can only be described as breakneck speed. It is (I believe) a faster rate of cutting spending than has been tried before almost anywhere (do correct me if I am wrong there) and will surely push the country back into recession or even depression. He seems to be happily ignoring the huge competitive threat to us from China and the Far East, cutting back on education and infrastructure and those things that might just make us compete again. Just my opinion though.

Just on Labour's dismal record of civil liberties mentioned above, I don't see many of their dreadful and paranoid rules being rolled back by the current government? A few weak mutterings perhaps, but no real action.

Made a huge marriage mistake. Wish I'd just given all my money away and gone travelling. Now married to the right one!