Recently bought a Dyson V10 cordless. Works great, way better than anticipated.

Pricey but good, unlike the Vax we had before which was pricey but crap!

Riding a great Parlee Altum Disc. Ultegra Di2, Zipp 202’s and Garmin Vector pedals. Currently weights in at 7.3kg or 16.1lb – not too bad for disc brakes.

Parlee by Paul Evans[/url], on Flickr

I read somewhere quite recently that when a parent shouts at a young child all it does is evoke the child’s fight or flight mechanism – i.e. they don’t hear what your shouting, but the increased volume only makes them want to shout back louder or runaway and hide.

I’m not proud to say that I’ve shouted at the the top of my voice at my two on more than a couple of occasions and all it seems to do is make me feel crappy about my lack of tolerance and control. Nothing seems more able to push you to the edge than a kid at full chat, but as someone has said above, i now just try to walk away for a few moments and then deal with what ever is the matter when things have calmed down a tad.

We’re back off to Denmark again this summer for 2 1/2 weeks in the campervan. Catching the same ferry service as the OP and then driving up to Juelsminde on the Danish east coast with a night stop over on the way. We did this two years ago and given the choice of this again or Florida the kids chose Denmark again!

There’s a great campsite right by the harbour in Juelsminde, great beach and very safe cycling with kids.

We’ll probably go to Legoland again – the kids loved it last time. I’d like to go to Ribe and we’ll probably go up to Skagen for a couple of days to see where the two seas come together.

I live in Cumbria and the roads around here are in dreadful condition with some being beyond dangerous. A good friend of mine came off his bike before Christmas and is likely to loose the sight in one eye as a result!

I would say that the amount and severity of the potholes locally are having a depressing effect upon me – sounds stupid, but i think it is true.

Also, when did it become acceptable to have potholes on the motorway. Took a trip down the M6 recently and you have to swerve to avoid them. As mentioned above, some of them would have a motorcyclist off their bike!

With the state of the country’s finances at the moment it is hard to see when there will be sufficient funds available to repair even a fraction of the roads. I live in a tourist heavy town and i’m embarrassed by the state of the road network!

When I was a lot younger I had my parents house to myself one weekend. Ended up having a couple of mates around and, well one thing lead to another, we hit my dads wine collection. Started off with a nice white and swiftly moved onto a peculiar tasting red in a very dusty, strangely shaped bottle. Tasted rank so we throw it away.. Dad came back from a weekend away and noticed almost immediately that his prized 1765 bottle of Madeiran port had disappeared! We didn’t speak for a while after that.

I’m in on a deferred entry from last year. Did it last in 2014 and finished in 8hrs42mins which I was well pleased with.

Heart surgery in November 2016 put an end to my 2017 campaign and I wait to see what effect the beta blockers have on this years time.

In 2014 I rode most of the ride with a faster mate which really helped. To go any faster this year I’ll need to ride as part of a group.

The training has started now with a few Zwift sessions under my belt – just waiting for the weather to improve so I can get out on some longer road rides.

The Fred is a top event. It can be quite daunting, but if you treat it as a good days ride out you wont go far wrong.

I recently bought a standard Hightower, but am finding the rear end to be a little harsh. The bike came with a Monarch RT3 + in MM tune. I’m c.210lbs all tooled up and am having o run the shock at 270psi to achieve 30% sag. There are no volume spacers in the can. The rear shock just feels too harsh and I do t seem to be getting full travel.

Anyone have any thoughts? (Sorry to hijack)

Yes, the motor is just behind the truck cab – you can just make out the orange slide on/off switch. this powers the outriggers and tilts the truck-bed. It also powers a compressor to actuate the arm and bucket.

[/url]Untitled by Paul Evans[/url], on Flickr[/img]

Photo didn’t upload – Knock yourself out! I got this for Christmas and completely lost myself in its build.

Knock yourself out! I got this for Christmas and completely lost myself in its build.

Great Christmas this year. Kids have been a dream, Mrs PE calm and on good form ans presents – a Lego Mercedesl Arcos truck (bloody brill), Silca Ti Torque tool and a COZMO robot thing.

Timid wheeler – thanks. I’ll look further into Samoens.

Postie – what time of year did you go and what were the temps like? I followed your trip on FB – looked great. I’ve got to be careful to not make the trip too bike centric. Was there much else to do at Lake Garda?

Thanks for the replies guys, Samoens sounds interesting.

Unfitgeezer – it’s a newish VW California with a drive away awning. I’d be doing all the driving (most likely). Why do you ask?

A custom Parlee road bike! Had a bike fit first, but ride feel etc was all unknown.

Helsinki, Stockholm, Copenhagen, Tallin, Kraków. Not been to the last one but friends recommend it.

Not quite a 50th bling purchase, but more of a what has become known as a ‘not dead yet’ bling purchase. Following a bout of out of the blue coronary heart disease resulting in a stent back in November 2016 I bought myself a Parlee road bike with lovely Zipp wheels and Di2. Absolutely love it.

[/url][/img]

Now, my 50th is only a couple of years away and I’m already thinking of turning to the ‘E’ side – those Spesh Levo’s just look so right in my myopic eyes!!

I didn’t ride it this year, although had a place, but had to give it up due to having a heart stent fitted just before Christmas. Not wanting to miss out on all the fun, I camped with my silver VW Cali on the flats between Hardknott and Wrynose and watched the ride go by. Loads of passing riders saying they’d rather be where is was watching, but to be honest I’d rather have been riding.

My mate killed it with a 6hr 9min finish. Well done Pete!!

[/url]Goodbye hairdressers car, hello something completely less sane!! by Paul Evans[/url], on Flickr[/img]

Had this upto a few years ago. Great car. Swapped it for a Golf R for the 4wheel drive.

Thanks Frank, I’ll look them up.

Hi Mr Smith

The watch is all original. It’s been worn but is in very good order. I’ll have a look on the website you’ve mentioned.

Ta.

Another vote for The Armathwaite Hotel ans Spa. My misses supplies the spa with their massage oils and advise on the treatments. Another option would be the Gilpin, Windermere.. Mrs me was instrumental in setting up their Lake House spa and treatment rooms.

Neither option is cheap but your other half will forgive your next bike purchase.

Morning all.

I’ve been Zwifting on and off for over a year now and following a recent illness I’m giving it some more attention at the mo. There seem to be a few STW clubs on Zwift – which one are you guys on?

Thanks for the reassuring comments everyone.

When I had my angiogram the doc said that I was suffering from acute angina, given that the episodes were coming in without any exertion. Pre-stent I’ve been road riding between 80 and 140 miles per week up here in the Lakes, so most rides are a min of 3,000ft of climb. There are some flatter routes I can do to set me off slowly.

I’ll start off slow and steady and build up over time whilst listening to my body.

Thanks again all.

Middleage milestone? 2 angiograms last week resulting in a stent being inserted into my heart artery and 6 pills twice a day every day until the end of my day! Not quite the Porsche 911 I’d imagined for my midlife trying point!

Me thinks I’ll be giving tonight’s Zwift race a miss then!!

Thanks for all the advice guys (n’ gal)

Thanks alanf. Your experience is quite sobering! I had to stop for 5 mins on a recent shop ride due the pain in my chest and arm and not being able to grip the bars. The pain subsided and I carried on with no further issues.

I’ve had to use the trinitrate spray twice in the last two days. It clears the symptoms very quickly but with massive headache side effects.

I’ll be 47 in a couple of weeks. I ride fairly regularly and tend to cover between 80 and 130 miles per week, mainly on my road bike. I’m currently on Omeprazole for what was suspected to be heartburn.

.

Sorry, sensible suggestion:

Get the steamer in Ullswater to Howtown and hen walk he east shore lake trail back to Glenridding. Great walk. Stop at the Lowther Barn for coffee and cake.

Park at Finsthwaite and walk up and around High Dam. Not far from Lakeside at the southern end of Windermere.

Coffee and cake, again, at Chesters in Skelwith Bridge.

Don’t do what I did 10 years ago and went to Vegas for the weekend from Birmingham (or was it Manchester?). Great weekend but God, a long way to go for a weekend.

Hey Fatmax. Please count me in. Looking forward to it.

Cheers

Paul

No, but you should buy my Spesh Fatboy that’s on the for sae forum. 4.6″ tyres, Blutos, Reverb, SLX brakes. What’s not to like.

Mini hijack if I may be so bold.

We’ve got rough rendered elevations to our house that have been painted white. When we bought the house a couple years or so ago the walls were gleaming, but now the walls are going green with algae, in particular the elevations that face north west.

Any ideas on how best to clean the green and prevent it from coming back any time soon?

Ive had the aim of upping me power to weight this year. Since New Years I’ve been on the Harcombe diet whereby you don’t mix carbs and fats in the same meal. This has been particularly hard for me as I’m a sugar and carb junkie, but I’ve managed to stick to it pretty religiously since I started.

Jan 1st I was 14st 1lb and 24%. As of this norning 13st 4lb and 20%. Aiming for 13st.

This diet works for me as its not about calorie counting and as long as you stick to the rules you can eat the bulk. Just have to be mindful on riding days to eat enough carb – first couple of rides I bonked!

I’ve got a short sleeve Gabba and a convertible one too. The convertible is great for this time of year so long as you’ve got a decent base layer beneath it. A long sleeve may well be a little more comfortable, especially around the arm pits, but I doubt there is much in it.

Just make sure you buy the right size. I’m 13st 6lb and 6 feet and have XL for both. Try before you buy if you can.

James – Le Petite Mort

Right then, that’s my 3rd report of the last 2 days finished, bound and ready to post! Work now finished, but still got the wife’s presents to wrap!

Merry Christmas all

Konastoner – those TAL ones seem to be quite good value and thanks Idlejohn for the heads up on needing a motor drive if we’re looking to take photos.

There’s a few Celestron scopes on ebay at the moment that look tempting too.