Mike thats cool not even sure what bikes would be best at this point? A CX maybe but I just think it would be a great adventure especially if you throw in the 3 peaks which will add a few days.

I was looking at doint it between the May Bank Holidays.

That link is broke.

Anyone up for it next year, even thought of throwing a big twist in and doing the 3 Peaks along the way. Now that would be an epic, might take longer to plan as in 2014 but hey why the hell not, and I dont think its been done before.

Pretty sure we could get corporate sponsors for something like that, and it would get me fit!

Umm its worse trust me, Spesh Epic with CX tyres, looks really bad. I will not take a picture but my excuse is I have done it for a specific purpose.

Nearly brought me to tears.

Better be worth it and get my average mph up! Doing the whole stint in 2 days so didn’t want to be hanging about.

At least having a chat you can communicate your needs and expectations and assess are they playing silly beggars or not, ie are they having issues renting elsewhere? Do they only need to rent an additional mnth as they bought some place etc.

Its difficult to get the full picture through a middleman.

Usually easily sorted by going around and asking them nicely to vacate the property at there earliest convenience delivered in a stern manner. Some tennants are great others aren’t.

My deepest sympathies to his fiancee and family at this sad time.

Oh you had me worried, if its in the Mail it must be right!!!!!!!!

Don I don’t have an issue with yourself, I enjoy debate but not being attacked, you didn’t attack me, however TooTall did. As I say we are all entitled to an opinion. Unfortunately sometimes it blows up.

I assume there are some “personalities” on STW I need to get used to it as a Newbie!

After all I only wanted some bike advice?

Thinking of a do it all CX type bike for long distance training any ideas! Dont want a roady! Ooops wrong thread I guess!

(that was a difuse argument grenade)

Clucking Bell bwaarp, you doing the attack plans? Geez the only thing you haven’t got on there is the “kill zone”

Hey what happened to TooTall, he’s either adapting an RC or looking up new big words!

It would be alot easier if we could discuss, rather than attack, I know I would enjoy it more. After all, are we not entitled to our opinions and thoughts. Non in here I think would be privvy to the details of the breadth and depth of specific defenses. Though there are some interesting references here from some people most of what has been said is opinion and conjecture which we should simply agree to disagree on, if indeed we do disagree.

Its the athaletes and visitors I feel sorry fo, I’m meant to be working on the Olympic Park and its a bloody nightmare getting in, security at ground level is pretty good.

Ummm

TJ, not sure how to say this but ummm, it is rocket science! We are talking aboout missiles aka rockets!

I agree Don, don’t believe everything I read and I would assume that the weapons would be guarded by persons capable of defending them with enough force in relation to their value, in this case deadly force. Just throwing it out there that you can’t rely on the written word.

Cant be Ernie its not been “adapted”, it actually looks like they are thinking how it could be “adapted” though.

Just read this

“The defence system consists of a missile launcher, radar sensor and tracker and will be guarded by unarmed military police”

here

The missiles will be armed, but the guards won’t…

How cool is that, unarmed guards, so any fool with a gun or guns could literally almost walk up and get a SAM system. Our government at its best!

Why don’t they just print invitations!

Tootall rather that reverse engineer the captured drone maybe they should employ you to demonstrate how simple it is to adapt an RC aircraft to a drone? Wasnt that what you said. Surely someone in Iran must be as clever as you or do Argos not deliver to Iran?

Tootall I clearly stated I am not an authority therefore everything I have said is my opinion, however if you insist on calling it guff I will qualify what I have said, which I have done. So as you have made a sweeping statement that everything in my original post was guff I asked you what qualifies you to pull me apart or is it just that you deem me worthy of your bullying and belittling today after all that is what you are trying to do.

The leap from model aircraft to drone is a quantum leap. Power to weight ratio, purposing the aircraft, range.

Don I agree a quick Google and drones were being used in WW1. Its usually those that are obtuse that start throwing that metaphorical stone within the glass house.

Tootall how was it an example of how a model aircraft can be adapted as I did not see it being modified or indeed deploying a payload.

Or was it an exercise in the pathetic trying to rationalise their argument and ultimately looking foolish!

Well said Junkyard

TJ I would assume protocols are in place for shooting down aircraft these days and would not necessitate getting the PM out of bed. If such a tragedy were to occur I would assume those decisions could be made at a more operational level, indeed assuming the worst it would also be prudent to give the authority at an operational level for the games rather than bothering the PM with it. Equally it removes the level of dithering as they would rely on the advice of the military anyway.

Conversly the Bollickticians may be involved to assertain the collatoral damage. Either way its not a decision I would want to have to make. Especially if you get it wrong.

Well TooTall you obviously are not speaking to the average squadie! Its a case of following orders. But do note that I did say “does not need to understand politics”. They may indeed know what they are told, that is the reasons they may be there however they are scarcly more informed than the average Joe. So if you want to quote me make it accurate rather than a sweeping statment that I am talking Guff

Again I ask what makes you so qualified?

Also you say “First flown 5 years ago as someones hobby – makes you think:” is that suggesting drones have only been around for 5 years?

Thats a query to qualify your statement, or can we expect more pretty and meaningless videos or mdel aircraft as you seem to have them confused with drones. By your definition the video is irrelevant as the “model aircraft” is not carrying a lethal or non lethal payload. Whereas the dedfinition of a drone in the OED does not necessitate the carrying of a payload.

Tootall even if you disagree with me at least lets have a level playing field as I am sure as I have said above not everything you say is right and equally I did not claim everything I said is right but if you start italicising things as definitive please ensure that they are correct and not your vision of the world.

Really TooTall so what is your qualification.

And really do you think that the army/government would hesitate to shoot down a plane over a lightly populated area rather than have it reach its assumed target and then not claim their unparalled success in protecting us all!

There are too many paople on this site that think they know it all however DO NOT back it up. You state that all I wrote is guff. Well Ive read your posts what qualifies you?

Equally as its all guff are you therefore stating that the average squaddie has a deep understanding of the political situation in Iraq, Afgan Sudan etc or as I stated just following orders.

I am one of the uninformed..

However I do not believe that a microlight would have a big enough heat signature for a SAM to hit, I may be wrong.

Equally the militar, generally, are uninformed. The higher ranks mingle and decide with politicians variuos scenarios. The front line guys follow orders, thats how it works and always has. Your average squaddy follows orderd and generally does not need to understand the politics.

As for shooting down an airliner I am prett sure there are now protocls in place for just such an event after 9/11. Do we need to worry. Probably not as if there is an incident then it will be just as big a shock as 9/11 and 7/11.

Atttacking Iran, what are we now all Yanks. Thats what they do. Dont let anyone have a similar military capability to themselves and control the oil. Bigger issues in Africa but no oil therefore no “peace” keeping farce.

USA insisting on SAMs, maybe we definitly need to grow a pair at the higher levels.

Shooting down an aircraft of letting it crash into a stadium, wetehr its Olympics, football or other building. The aircraft will be shot down without a doubt. Without even doing the casualty count the government would love it as it shows they aare in control and we are safe. Let it crash then it looks like they failed no matter what they say.

Are there SAMs in London already. Allegedly. They are not very big and its rumoured that they are already there. All eyes will be on London and there are still very soft targets, another tube outrage. Choose another city. Security at the games it preety tight but it only takes one incident for the terrorists to claim success.

Personally I think its got bugger all to do with the amount of rain.

The south east is over populated, therefore too much water is being removed from the environment. You have to take a longer look at the environmental impact of building housing, more people taking more water.

We will see streams drying up and the water table dropping but then there will be a knock on environmental impact. Species migration or extinction. The only way for the the south east to survive it current growth and remedy the growth over the last 20 ears is to invest in desallination.

Oh and get thames Water to fix the bloody leaks.

Panurues biarmicus = bearded tit

Ha ha Grum I very much doubt you could!

Petplan, they may be a little more expensive but absolutly hassle free. I’ve made a few claims where the vet bills came over the excess and they just send a cheque, also premiums dont jump up like others when they hook you in.

Brilliant idea, anyone wanna volunteer to do this next year for Help for Heroes with me, need to plan and get support.

Look at May between the two bank holidays, need to start plotting the maps into Garmin etc.

Its not necessarily pollution just organic matter, fish p155 etc. Still bloody awful and wouldn’t go near it.

Blonde in car accident and the paramedic gets to her and checks her brething and pulse etc then checks for blurred vision holding two fingers in front of her says “How many fingers have I got up”
The blonde replies “Oh my God I’m paralysed”

I was accused of interfering with a kid in our street, got off with it because there are no cute kids in our street! (This is a joke by the way not a statement!)

I dont really have a budget but I am thinking get some cheap riser bars and get the geometry right before i spend anything too much on it. Dont want to get carbon risers at £100 and they’re crap!

Might see if the LBS can lend me some?

Top tips

Dont iron trousers naked, and apply steam! Only did it once was thrown across the room by the agonising jolt of pain coursing through my 83ll3nd!

Ironing pants, socks towels is a waste. Geez get a life.

Dawson who wears the pants in your gaff!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Only ever ironed trousers and shirts. Now Doris does it all. Its quite hilarious as I wanted to stay “independent” but she loves it. Love watching her iron curtains and sheets as they are just as creased when shes finished rolling them over the ironing board.

Epic Expert Carbon in medium about 25lbs out the box. Go tubless and new wheels you can knock a good pound off that. Some have got them in the 23lb bracket.

The stumpy hardtail is about 24lb, I chose the Epic as its a litlle more comfortable with some suspension.

The Stumpy FS completely different bike. Not sure of the weights but I rode them both and the Epic is rapid.

Found the Camber to be a confused bike. Nice but neither one thing or the other.

My Epic medium is OK for me and I am 6ft, specialized recommend a large but I felt too stretch on it so went for the medium and coudnt be happier, unless I could have afforded the S Works. I managed a 20% discount on a 2012 model from my lbs so ripped his arm off for the deal.

I doubt that there is a definition of “control” its very subjective.

If the owner says “get him Rover” I would assume its a whole different ball game. Thats probaly assault, dogs destrotyed etc.

But there are idiots out there that do indeed do this.

You ideally want your dog to be passive, sniffing around the bushes running etc but when others are around under finer control.

When I take mine out they are generally in the back of the car to the forrest and I go to a quiet area to let them exercise. That takes the excitement out of them as most dogs seem to get excited about going for their walk. Its their playtime as it were.

We then put them on leads and walk through busier areas. You can spot alot even when a dog is on a lead, is it pulling, has the owner got control. Many times you see people being walked by their dogs.

Body language is largely irrelevant as a dog will usually bark as it does not “generally” wish to bite. Again generally. Typically a dog will assume a territory or space. If it feels threatened it generally barks, growls etc. Most dog attacks “generally” however do not have this warning defence. Certainly being chased indicates that the person was not in the dogs space or territory. The dogs that simply bite, no posturing etc are dangerous as there are no precursors. Typically however the owner will have seen this behaviour before. I did actually own a very bad dof once and only ever walked it muzzled and on a lead. We had no history of the animal as it was a rescue but it was far too much of a risk to have it untethered or unmuzzled in public. It even scared the bejesus out of me on more than one occasion.

For the record it was almost definitly an abused family pet that the group I support were trying to a) train b)rehome. Unfortunatly neither was possible primarliy due to poor oownership. It was put down before it could do harm as it was simply far to big a liability for the charity.

If we refer to the OP he was bitten by a labrador, now not a cow, and I have owned labradors so feel I can comment. Its very unusual for a labrador to bite someone. Many dogs are more likely to bite than others. Labradors some of the most unlikely.

Any dog that chases a cyclist and bites them should be reported, or anyone else for that matter.

Dogs harassing, or bothering people should not happen. If people want to talk to me about my dogs when I am out they can but I dont let my dogs get in their faces.

We live in a shared space we need to be tollerant BUT there are standards that unfortunatly not everyone adheres to. Some indeed have a holier than though attitude that their dog, or bike or indeed themselves has a greater right than others. That will never change and very often its easier to turn the other cheek rather than try and educate others. As indeed they have lived most of their lives being muppets they will continue to do so. We unfortunately have to accept that.

If an animal is a menace or danger it should be destroyed. However there are exceptional circumstances to all situations and we can let the authorities decide on those situations.

We are not talking about cattle you fool we are talking about dogs! You made statements about cattle you are unable to substantiate.

My experience with my own dogs is what I put here and as far as I know and understand dog ownership. Continue with your farm dog, congrats a dog doing what it was designed for.

However allowing your “pet” dog to run around wild farm animals is a no no in every situation. Unless you are fleeing savage cattle which from the three samples earlier could have been [prevented by controlling their dogs.

Similarly with horses, I meet many many horses where I walk and cycle and treet them the same as every other animal. With respect, not invading its space nor allowing my animals to invade its space or harass it.

As you are a farmer, if you saw a dog running rampant through your cows you would probably shoot it and fair play. Most owners are not farmers with dogs used to cattle etc therefore they should not be running around fields full of cattle. Get real and stop being so bloody stupid.

Sorry AA I pointed out the following

That the three people trampled by dogs in three years does NOT constitute significant numbers.

That each of these incidents had a factor triggered by the dog.

That you still have not given figures

That yes you are wrong if you advocate the “average” dog owner lets their dog run around cattle.

In fact your a muppet.

Ah I see thanks Don.

Didn’t realise. Can’t say I will reach out and start “interacting” with cattle in new ways, as I am unaware of the culture my advances may appear clumbsy. I’ll let AA have all the fun in the fields.

All in all I try really hard and work with my dogs to avoid them being a nuisance. Unfortunately many if not most dog owners don’t do the same. I personally would be gutted if my dogs caused injury to anyone who was equally acting sensibly. Even if they were not being sensible I would try my best to ensure my dogs were not in that environment or removed from that danger.

Additionally should my dogs cause injury or damage to anyone they are fully and comprehensively insured. Part of that insurance is that they are not and never have been aggressive. If they ever were I can assure people here that it would be remedied as much as that in itself may ultimately cause me a great deal of distress. Part of my comittment is to the breed that I have and support.

Cattle sorry I will bounce any questions to AA. Unless its how to cook one, I can manage that.

AA how many people on here “regularly” interact with cattle. Besides a good steak.

Exactly where are your figures. Exactly no point at all.

Don

What I mean is exactly as you say almost, be able to control your dog at a distance wether its recall down, stay etc just so it does not present a danger, even as an obstacle never mind attcking or scaring. Be aware of others. I keep mine in sight, within reason, they disappear in the woods but return etc, not let out on th estreet and called in at dark.

If theres a cyclist or anyone its assess what will happen. Is my dog likely tp run after him, no, is he likely to walk across his path, possibly get him to stop and stay. Is he going to jump on someone, geez I hope not, shouldn’t etc etc so beeter to have control as you say either at a distance, always more difficult and I must say took me ages to get that working.

Most owners cant be arsed with the effort lets be honest.