It does depend how far you want to go, but South America would rock. As would New Zealand come to that… ;-)

On the whole I like my workplace. My boss is based in the US but we have a genuinely good relationship, I can work from home occasionally and, as long as everything gets done, my boss is happy. There are fire drills, but similarly there are easy times.

My personal issue is that this job is not my career. I will do what I need to, but I won’t go above and beyond because I have other things I’d rather be doing and I intend to do a lot more, vastly different things in my working life yet.

I think when I find something that I believe in and genuinely want to succeed, *then* I will be giving it the all. The motivation for me is not there otherwise.

As a former (good) boss once said to me: “no-one in a company works as hard as the owner”

Not always true, but it was where he was concerned.

As an aside, like most people who volunteer, I am surprised at the number of people (normally parents) who are not prepared to assist with activities and then have a go at the people who do.

Yes, definitely. It’s always easier to point out what’s wrong than actually do something about it.

Ever worked in a shop? Somehow my bos always used to expect me to arrive 20minutes before the shop opened and leave 20min affter despite not being paid for that time. I told her to shove it as the shop made more money than I did so if it didn’t want to pay for my time I wasn’t going to stay there.

Depends on the shop in my experience. In large, town centre shops it’s part and parcel of the deal – you need to get everything tidy at the end of the day and have time in the morning so you’re ready and the shop floor is ready when the doors open.

In my experience retail is also a hard-work, low-paid trade that I have no wish to ever work in again. ;-)

The hours thing irks me a bit, I’m contracted for 37.5 hours but recognise there’s the odd tight deadline/additional workload that needs to get done so happy to work 45-50 hour weeks occasionally and as standard work around 40 hours. The problem comes though when this seems to be recognised as the norm by managers so firstly it’s expected (and no longer seen as the employee contributing more than they should) and then you get raised eyebrows/subtle digs on the occasions you do leave on time. I’ve been close to losing it a couple of times when someone’s made a remark (like “ah not busy then?”) about me leaving at 5pm on a Friday (normal time).

I think that’s half the problem though. We’ve adopted an almost America culture where we have contracted hours, but are expected to work beyond them.

Southern Spain/Morocco/Sicily/Canaries/Turkey/West Indies.

Riding in Northern Italy is some of my personal favourite, but the weather there will be on the turn now.

Personally I’d be looking at southern Spain at the moment for a warm break with good riding and a short flight.

I often walk out for a coffee in the afternoon as my ‘ciggie break’. However, I find it clears my head and helps me think, which I see as a positive thing.

I also do try and leave vaguely on time and often arrive late, but when the sh!t hits the fan I do (and have) work for as long as it takes to get a project finished.

All swings in roundabout.

I do marketing stuff for Aston Hill and was involved in a dig day there yesterday.

Sometimes it takes up an awful lot of time, but I do get a kick seeing the the races filling faster and people obviously getting a buzz from riding there. I genuinely believe that the Hill is an awesome venue and I love seeing people enjoying it. To me that makes it all very worthwhile.

I was going for a lunchtime spin, but the heavens opened and I store the bike in a flat that’s on the market, so opted for the drier side of caution.

Otherwise I am re-organising files. :-(

What unit are you in Willard?

Just got an Easton Vice to replace a borrowed Hope. Want to get a Thomson 50mm and a 70mm so I can switch them depending on where I’m riding (the 70 makes it a little more comfy when riding the flatter stuff locally or longer days in the saddle)

*dreams*

How do you make a small fortune in the bike trade?

Start with a large one. ;-)

I’m ex-TA and want to join up again, assuming I can shift my long-term running injuries.

If you’re Ipswich way then you’re near my old lot (formerly East of England Regt., now 3rd Battalion Royal Anglians) and the RAF Regt. over at RAF Honington, as well as various others in Colchester (although I don’t believe that there’s a TA Para unit there). I’d agree with all of the above – have a mooch round and see what takes your fancy.

I had a real love/hate relationship with it, which apparently is how it’s meant to be. I found the TA to be very professional and definitely a good thing to do; however, the chances are you will be asked to do a tour once fully trained. Friends in the RAF Regt. reserves were called up as soon as Iraq started and the Royal Anglians have been regulars in Afghanistan.

I think Woburn is a great XC venue. But do get a permit

http://www.greensandtrust.org/permits.html

Amen to that.

On topic,
You went to Pizza Hut for pizza.
In your car.
In Farnborough.

I did no such thing!

I’d never eat a pizza from Pizza Hut.

Canon S90 I have is nice, and shoots in RAW.

However, I’d still rather have my Fuji F20 back. Can’t find another decent one for love nor money at the moment.

I should clarify that by ‘overseas’ I mean outside the EU.

:lol:

Ever driven in rural France? It’s like a whole new world… (that crosses the road at random and on blind bends)

;-)

(The Periphique (sp?) at rush hour is pretty interesting too)

Most farmers I know drive Discoverys… :?

Regarding 20mm patents, I believe that it’s only the fastening systems that are patented, hence Magura paying to use Rock Shox’s, and Manitou and Fox each sporting their own take on it.

The vast majority of people of overseas origin who drive in the UK have learned and passed their test here in the UK.

This sounds like speculation to the same degree as Hora’s.

+1 Surrounded by Zulus.

Sums it up nicely.

Ooo, you little monkey!

:-D

Cool – thanks. I’ve not been over for a while and my membership has well and truly run out. I’ve been doing some work with Aston Hill though so appreciate the difficulties that Woburn is facing – there are soooo many factors involved in making somewhere legal to ride bikes.

I did hear the rumour of the Stokegrove Park trails as well, but nothing more.

Sleep more.

Move house.

Get some time in overseas.

Ride bike in nice places, also including overseas.

Discover the next big thing.

Donks – do you know what the current situation is with access to Woburn at the moment?

Spoilt for choice in Spain. I used to work near La Manga Club *spits* and there is some great riding round there and in nearby mountain ranges.

For guided rides companies like Switchbacks and Pure Mountains are reputed to be very good. I’m also keen to check out riding in the north with Basque MTB.

I like Spain! :-D

Not so keen on Swinley tho. I think scu98rkr is right – it suffers from sheer volume of riders.

Writing personal performance reviews for the past year.

It looks like it should be an interesting work of semi factual experience-based fiction.

Bizarrely, when I commuted by bike from Zone 4 into Zone 1, I found drivers far more aware from Zone 2 in.

I guess it’s because outside Zone 2 they have to concentrate less because there’s less happening they need to be aware of, which obviously means it’s fine to text and have a chinwag on the phone.

Woburn DHs are doable on a hardtail – most of them are only 20 secs long with a quick push back up. I rode there with James of Genesis on his proto Alpitude a few years back. Lots of little drops, hips and downwards snaking singletrack – a lot of trails to choose from as well, so something for everyone. There are a few biiiig drops, but they are all obvious.

Can’t comment on the XC at Chickie, but there are some nice loops around Woburn. I would tell you where, but I’ve only ridden XC there a few times and have been following a local…

Saw this earlier.

Such a shame. :-(

Such a great surfer.

It’s certainly the only place I’ve ever seen a car mount the pavement, in order to undertake a moving vehicle!

Sounds like Slough.

+1 Jamie. Definitely two different beasts, depending on what you want to do. The short DHs at Woburn are fun too.

Oh and lots of other forests around here with decent fireroad riding.

Don’t geddit…

:|

I swear the traffic would be fine if there weren’t so many idiots driving unnecessarily short journeys to get their fast food fix.

:twisted:

My understanding was that 15mm was aimed more as a QR replacement for travel XC and ‘trail’ forks (especially as they’re getting longer in travel), while 20mm was still a standard for ‘bigger’ riding?

I believe 20mm is stiffer and marginally heavier but it’s what I’m running, primarily to make switching wheels from bike to bike easier.

Woburn or Thetford (away from the over-used Black (sic) Run) are my winter venues of choice in the SE.

I’m blinkered. I’d love one. Especially one of the newer TDis – far better economy on the road, and not too sluggish.

Although according to a friend that owns a landscape gardening business, the 90 is a far better drive.

All this talk about corrosive properties is fine in theory but in practice is absolute nonsense.

Mr. Vanderspek, meet 7hz who may beg to differ.