650B is yet another 26 inch standard, this time a french one otherwise known as 26 x 1 1/2 😯

Crucial number is the ISO ( formerly ETRTO ) number which for 26″ MTB is 559

FWIW it took me the best part of a week some years ago to realise that Continental label its tubes for 29ers as 28ers – both 622 ISO – and therefore the tubes I needed were easily available after all.

See also 26″ MTB tyre and 26 X 1 3/8 tyre on 50s british bikes. If you want an answer to your question – or as good an answer as you are going to get – then try this article by Sheldon Brown.

in the early days of cycling, every country that manufactured bicycles developed its own system of marking the sizes. These different national sizing schemes created a situation in which the same size tire would be known by different numbers in different countries. Even worse, different-sized tires that were not interchangeable with one another were often marked with the same numbers!

Masquerading as my labrador Rata

And long ties trailing in everything and never being washed? Yuck

Quite a lot of evidence of bacterial infestation of doctors ties. Less evidence that they are the cause of patient infection but given what has been found on them I agree with the above statement and personally didn’t fancy continuing to wear one round my neck.

I have always hated ties, they always made me feel uncomfortable and I stopped wearing them about 8 years ago. Formal shirts with sleeves rolled up or short sleeves is not a terribly good look ( and bow ties frankly should be psychiatrists only ). Standard kit for me is now a polo shirt and chinos and nobody seems to feel that I am less useful as a result – indeed expressed opinion from the patients is universally in favour. Stethoscope does get cleaned regularly – alcohol wipes.

Problem with ties, suit jackets and white coats is that they tend to get washed/cleaned only rarely and they do reduce the likelihood of proper hand washing.

Mind you I do entirely agree that more important in reducing infection is not running at 100% bed occupancy and having a bed stock mainly or entirely consisting of single rooms, ideally ones which have the flexibility to manage patients regardless of how sick they are so they don’t have to be moved around from bed to bed and ward to ward. Plenty of evidence for that in the form of the movement for evidence based design. Always makes me despair that hospitals take the “cheap” option of multi bed spaces because it needs less nurses to care for the patients and it then costs them a packet in avoidable infections and increases in length of stay and readmission as a result.

I’d like to be Rowlf, some days I feel like Animal but my family seem to think Fozzie

I’d like to be Rowlf, some days I feel like Animal but my family seem to think Fozzie

A thread about a month ago discussed some of the options, try here. I have run a 29er Scandal both rigid – with a Salsa Cromoto fork – and with an RST M29. It is currently back to rigid while I wait for some replacement parts for the M29. I also have a FS 29er with a Reba 100mm QR up front.

I run the Scandal as a winter bike. I really like the Salsa fork. I haven’t tried carbon forks for reasons of expense and the fact that I am a Clydesdale but a recent WMB test[/url] went for the Salsa ahead of the carbon offerings anyway.

On tarmac and smooth bridleaway I don’t notice much difference between the Salsa and the M29 and any extra bumpiness is made up for by the weight advantage. Once things go downhill and a bit rougher the suspension does save my wrists from undue punishment.

On the full sus, I would have preferred to go for a Maxle Reba but just couldn’t easily find one with a straight steerer. May be easier now and there were some suggestions on possible sources for them in the other thread. Other than possible peace of mind, in reality for the XC stuff that I do round the NY Moors, I am not sure that I notice any issues with having the QR version instead.

Manitou Tower Pro gets good reviews but getting spare springs if you are not of standard weight seems problematical at the moment. Their 20mm axle design also appears a bit more faffy than the Maxle. There is a good review on one of the US 29er specific websites – here[/url] – but not unsurprisingly they didn’t have any issues getting the spring kits.

Haven’t tried the Cedric Garcia’s but have run Panaracer Rampages on one 29er. They are 2.35s and worth adding to your list.

Other 29er has Ardent 2.25 – not much experience other than in the dry so far but like them.

I personally wouldn’t want the hassle of such a tight tyre out on the trial, hence me giving up on them and going for something else. I just hope the new tyres fit!!

I entirely agree. I went for a combination of Maxxis Ardent and Aspen and had no problems

I am mightily cheered by this thread for I couldn’t get 29er SB8s onto 29er Flows for love nor money. They came up well short and then, to add insult to injury, the OP and I got given a degree of grief on this thread for having the temerity to suggest that they might be a little bit incompatible with the Stan’s profile.

Just a guess, but I reckon Ambulance Control will route the chopper appropriately.

IIRC Ambulance Control make the request for support, but YAA monitor what is going on and obviously make decisions on priority of different requests and between them they can mobilise a second heli/neighbouring Air Ambulance/SAR heli as needed so capacity really shouldn’t be an issue unless the shit has hit the fan in a major way.

Even if a fully qualified medical team had been on site they would have called the Air Ambulance out.

I entirely agree. I have done a fair bit of prehospital care work, mainly pulling people out of badly parked rally cars, and still respond locally for the ambulance service and therefore meet the Yorkshire Air Ambulance on scene every so often. In these circumstances I would be mobilising YAA as soon as I had checked that the casualty was still breathing. And for the record I would have had no issues about responding to that call and the idea that my time might have been better spent would never have crossed my mind.

Recently ordered fork and 4 or 5 other items and they arrived within 36 hours – Had quite a biot from them recentlly and no problems at all. Only Merlin currently as efficient. CRC and Wiggle way behind on delivery times at the moment.

YGM

No shrinkage issues on mine – all merino tends to go action man if you boil wash it!

+1 for Docrobster from me as well I am afraid.

This is far from off topic for me and whilst I am happy to acknowledge the existence of Addisons/Adrenal insufficiency I too have had a look at the info on Adrenal Fatigue ( and the author of the page I found claimed to have coined the phrase in the late 1990s and no earlier ) and my initial thoughts are much the same as the other medical professionals who have commented.

Adrenal insufficiency isn’t simply an on/off phenomenom but can clearly occur to differing degrees e.g. some people need steroid supplementation all the time and some only need it when they are ill for other reasons and the system is under stress. The Synacthen test which is done to assess adrenal function is open to interpretation, but one also has to bear in mind that long term treatment with steroids itself may well result in the adrenals switching off – so the diagnosis becomes a self fulfilling prophecy – and although if you need steroid replacement then the risks of side effects are minimal, because you are simply putting back what should be there, if you don’t need them you are increasing the risk of diabetes, infection and osteoporosis to name but a few.

The fact that the results of the tests are open to interpretation and most endocrinologists will want some proof to start/continue treatment long term, coupled with the fact that steroids have a mildly euphoric effect and are anti-inflammatory, which means that when you first take them any aches or pains you have may well disappear and you will feel “better”, means that this is one of the areas of endocrinology which has been open to alternative interpretation or exploitation depending on your viewpoint.

I am also in no doubt of the existence of Chronic Viral Syndrome and would agree that the NHS management of that is inadequate even by the standards of the NICE guidance of a few years back. NICE did look at all manner of remedies and did not find any useful evidence in support of most of them, indeed its recommendation came down in favour of the supportive management that not unreasonably winds up those who suffer from the problem and want it to go away now.

As to the medical profession being slow to accept change, an accusation traditionally levelled in these sorts of discussions, believe me that if there is clear evidence to show benefit in the face of an acceptable level of risk then the new treatment etc. will be adopted rapidly. In my time, I have seen medical practice change virtually overnight on occasion on the basis of clear published evidence. Arguably, we are sometimes too quick to adopt new treatments rather than the opposite.

I also currently have an open mind about gluten intolerance. Coeliac disease is well established but there is also some anecdotal evidence at least to support a wider, milder effect and as the increase in the consumption of wheat is a relatively recent phenomenon from an evolutionary perspective it isn’t unreasonable to suspect that some of us may be better able to cope with it than others.

Which finally leads on to my view that if you do find something that helps you, for which there is no risk of harm and which is, for want of a better term, cost effective, then I have no problem with that and wish you well.

You may well be able to ride it. Personally speaking I can ride some of it on a good day provided its dry and I don’t have an audience.

After last years event WMB put the circuit in as its Easy route in its ride guide for the NY Moors. Frankly, getting the trailerbike down Medusa’s drop was tricky and we lost granny in Worry Gill and haven’t seen her since.

The course exits the bottom right hand corner of Adderstone field ( as you look at it with your back to the tarmac forest road ) which is next to the Dixon’s Hollow car park. As well as the maps you can find on the web, freecaster have a complete ride through courtesy of the Scott team which you can see here. which gives you a good idea of what it looks like and where to go. Didn’t spot granny on the way past though.

Northwind +1

The Fox just wins ahead of good old Errol Flynn in my book.

Watched some of the womens elite race and got about 20 minutes at the beginning of the mens before the feed disappeared and has so far failed to return.

Of course you are all aware that according to the cycle industry importers and retailers of this fair land, there is no real market for 29ers in this country and therefore no need or indeed commercial benefit to them in importing forks or indeed in some cases frames and bikes in the aforementioned size.

🙄

If you want something slightly less hands on, we bought a new desktop from Chilliblast at the start of the year. Competitive in price, do well in the magazine surveys and very happy with the service.

I bought my El Rey in March and wasn’t sure at the time whether I was buying the old model or the new, or indeed if it was worth waiting. Riverside checked and told me that the new frames would not be available before June/July at the earliest.

+1 for the thudbuster and the neoprene cover, although more to keep the rubbish out than for its looks. Any bike with me sitting on it ain’t going to be a looker.

Good to hear.

We did have music. My other half being a Kiwi we had 2 tracks from ENZSO, an album of orchestral versions of Split Enz songs. So pop with a classical twist.

is it me or do some seem to have a “duller” finish than others ?

I don’t think it is you. I seem to remember that depending on the batch the Lynskey ones came in a number of different finishes – not sure about the newer Van Nicholas ones. I think the original batches were the standard bead blasted finish. Further information on the finishes available here

My daughter went straight from a 20 inch Kona to a 26 inch Beinn Small on the basis of the Islabikes size chart with no problems. Son aged 8 currently on the Kona but seat going up on a regular basis. Probably going to pass the 24″ by as well.

Citroen 2CV (Maroon & Black)

Started there myself, as a student, 2CV Charleston to give it its title, NTB906W – must have rusted long ago. Only cheap small car into which I easily fitted. At 6’4″ a mini was completely out and so were a number of other starter cars

1986 Citroen Visa Finally earning, 2CV becoming unreliable
?1988 Citroen AX GT Go kart, born to answer the question as to just how big an engine you could get in the front of an AX
?1990 Nother Citroen AXGT Another go kart
M reg Citroen ZX petrol Bit more space, only 3 doors, not as fun
Saab 9000 Turbo New family needs second car, after 100k started getting expensive and then did the decent thing and died in floods in Cambridge
L reg Citroen ZX TD Replaced first ZX, now have small children and 5 doors better than 3
S reg Subaru Legacy Estate Replaced insurance write off Saab
Skoda Fabia VRS Yep, the ZX was now worth less than its tyres and starting to rust. Stonking end of sales period deal and was in such demand 2nd hand at the time that it gained in price as I drove it off the forecourt. Current
Skoda Octavia 4×4 Scrappage scheme, replaced a bunch of pieces of subaru shaped rust flying in loose formation – Current

If anything a list united by a desire not to pay for the badge – Saab the only possible exception – and not to go for the routine, so no Fords or Vauxhalls. Went Citroen and saved a bundle on the very fashionable Peugeot equivalent, Subaru was a cheap Volvo V70, Skodas save a bundle on VW or Audi. Even the Saab was not very fashionable and so was bought at about 2 years old for about 40% of its list price, although overall was still by some distance the least economical motoring.

Brand loyalty to some extent dictated by finding a garage I trusted who were prepared to do a sensible deal.

Moved to a new job and rented a converted coach house. SO was a lodger at the big house next door and when I found a place to buy she moved with me.

Merlin currently doing deals on a crossection of shimano shoes with an additional 10% off if you are registered on their website.

Just got some MT42 for less than 50ukp. Done well in reviews and seem fine.

Olympic Games have never been awarded to a country and always to cities

Why are people still wingeing about London putting in a bid ane winning?[/quote

Well, the rest of us are paying for it, if not in direct taxes then in lack of investment locally and lack of available lottery funding for other projects.

In fact my point was that I was happy to give my time and skills to the event in the understanding that I probably would not see much but got asked to pay more than I could afford for the privilege of working for free.

Er no. Thanks, but no.

Didn’t even look to be honest. The idea that this is an olympics for all of us is in my humble opinion complete twaddle. It’s an olympics for the London commuter belt and then only if you can afford it. I suspect that I will watch a lot of it on TV but it won’t mean anything more than it did when beamed from Sydney or Beijing. I lost interest in it as being relevant to me as a citizen about a year ago when I looked into applying to be a medical volunteer after hearing one of the organisers tout for pre hospital care doctors at a conference.

I got hold of the application form after some perseverance on my part, had the necessary experience/qualifications, could potentially take the leave and give them the 14 days they wanted although they couldn’t tell me which 14 days until much nearer the date. I expected to make my own way there and provide towards the cost of my keep but, on a final check through the small print, noticed that I would not only need to pay for my own accommodation in London during the Games but find it as well. Did a bit of research and found that already, 2 years out, I was looking at possibly a months salary for accommodation and that was assuming I knew which fortnight to book, which of course I did not and would not until a few months before.

Queried this with the LOCOG medical group who said that they totally understood and sympathised but that there would be no accommodation available through LOCOG. This is despite the fact that LOCOG has gained use of ?every student hall in London for officials and administrators. I know several other people from work who looked at volunteering in various capacities but don’t have a base or family in London and gave up for the same reason.

So, a UK Olympics? Inspiring all? For the whole country?

Pull the other one mate.

Had the same issues with an X9 rear although mine was second hand off ebay, Was definitely an issue with the pivots/return spring as still sticky off the bike. Noted that this years X7 which was bought as a replacement looks to be a modified design.

+1 for thunderbird – used it for 5 years plus on windows and linux.

gmail is web based and easily accessible from both web browser and android phone.

No experience of evolution but know people who speak well of it.

Houns and Mr Woppit are on the right lines I suspect. L5 disc herniation is the likeliest cause particularly if the pain in thigh gets worse with walking. Other option is strained muscles and tweaked facet joint in the spine but this tends not to give pain in thigh. Had the former 4 years back and the latter last week!

Needs proper assessment and if confirmed a trip to physio.

Got given a Rolex Oyster for my 21st and wore it for the next 25 years until bare below the elbows became the norm for the NHS. Still used as my days off watch and now use a Military Watch Company G10 for work.

On call from 9am this morning until 5pm Saturday. 4 phone calls this morning and then in on the wards from about 1300 till 1730 sorting out various problems. 2 more ward rounds tomorrow then off until Tuesday.

Can’t disappear off on the bike when on call in case I need to go in in a hurry but still nipped out at 0630 this morning and spent a couple of hours cycling along the edge of the Moors before my on call started.

My colleague who was on last night knew I was intending to go out early and sounded very relieved when he called up to handover and discovered I was safe back home. He didn’t know I cycled and clearly had visions of me being carried into our place of work feet first and having to do my on call himself.

+1 for my tracks.

Quo are also talking about finally doing an android version which potentially gives the OS maps, but not here yet.

Ooooh yes I did read the instructions. Ooooh yes I followed them. Ooooh yes I invested in Stan’s own rim tape at a small fortune a roll instead of my usual preference for velox

AND

Ooooh Noooo they were still impossible to get on – and would have been impossible to get off on a ride with anything short of a 3 foot screwdriver and a portable blow torch.

Dalby regulars can form an orderly queue at Scarborough General, YO12 6QL