Can’t give you a full response but can give you this.

I went through this late last year, sold an Evil Following that was never getting ridden and a Tarmac SL6 I was using regularly.

Now own an Open UP – with carbon wheels and 30c tyres it’s feels pretty similar in speed to the Tarmac and is more comfortable. Just swapped from SPD SL to SPD and found that a bigger jump in feel than the bike. Have got knobblies ready for when I can be bothered to get around to ordering a second set of wheels.

What I would ask is; why is your road bike not getting ridden? If you’re riding MTB instead then not convinced what you’re solving for (ie will a gravel bike with road wheels make you ride more road than a road bike? Probably not).

change groupset for sram axs

Why bother with the half measures – buy two new bikes and two new trainers and leave them on there. If you don’t have space, buy a new house too.

I found Muc Off to be useless, it never sealed. Replaced with Stans and it worked immediately – binned the Muc Off.

I like bifold doors, good for parties.

Also like grey framed windows on old houses, but not new.

Those doors are naff and live laugh love is atrocious. Also not a fan of woodburners, novelty that wears off after a week.

I’ve got a TP Link one with one node, it’s average, struggles to reach from the front of the house to the back – all on the same floor – even though the square footage quoted is significantly bigger. Just end up using the power line most of the time (Virgin 350 net).

Cool Runnings?

👰👰👰👰⚰️

Basically deploy Hattertsleys rule. When in a hole stop digging. Its an increased risk and its unquantifiable.

Quite quantifiable my friend. Stop being condescending you are in no position.

Imperceptible as in, the cleaner prior to entry would have to have it, it would have to transmit to a surface, live on that surface, transmit to the family, the family would then have to have a highly unlikely severely negative reaction to it for it to be of note.

I’m a numbers guy so for me it is all based on probability, which is very very low I this scenario. Depends on your view of risk I guess.

Not trying to incite an argument anyway, completely take onboard what you and others have said TJ. My view was very black and white before so not time wasted. Also get why you’re emotive, but trying to insult my intelligence is misguided.

Increased as in remaining imperceptible? Correct.

Watch out for branches on that high horse.

Bit of an attack TJ, I could quite easily call out your intelligence, but you are right that very very very small does not mean none.

A very fair challenge well put Allan.

Clearly you do not.

I get it TJ, you’re a health worker so you’re on a crusade because you’re pissed at people’s behaviour. I do appreciate that.

The reality here is, a family that live together, go to another house with no one in, do not leave (as per my original statement), then go home. No change to risk.

Do you actually believe what you’ve written here?

I do mate, I’m an adult and can read medical journals/articles myself to understand how it transmits.

I’m with Rik on this one – zero change to risk for anyone if you are still just staying in with the same people but in another house. If you’re out buying food or bumping into others then Drac has a point.

If it was me, I’d go, but I’d take the supplies I need with me.

Jono is a complete bellend.

That is all.

I would imagine the range of the battery would be about 100,000 miles.

This is excellent and I feel it was missed.

Too much grip is good, I’ve got a 330bhp RWD BMW and it’s shit off the lights.

I started the trial, forgot to cancel it and ended up with the annual payment coming out. Can’t say I noticed it, but do notice the better functionality in Strava. As above, route planning is great.

I’ve got fairly new machine (2070 Super etc) so will do what I always do; play it for 5 hours then realise single player games end up being a bit of a chore and give up on it.

I know I don’t know the whole story, but from what you’ve posted I feel you need to get out of that relationship ASAP.

From reading the behaviour I’d assumed it was an ex? Not sure why anyone would put up with that.

I do agree there’s lots of crap out there, but if someone thinks paying 2/3/4 times the price for something equivalent will get you better quality then you’ve missed the ‘they all get made in the same factories’ comments that have been a constant

Interesting comment from someone that knows more than most (nearly all on here to be frank). I got a lot of “oh but Hambini doesn’t like it” comments on my post about my new Open Up the other day. I literally couldn’t care about anyone’s opinion besides my own on inanimate objects.

In my view, Open frames are massively overpriced for units from the same factory as frames half the price, but I got a frame I have an affinity to and want to ride and really, that’s the only difference. I think the nuances between frames are so small that 9 times out of 10 it’s a placebo anyway (new bike effect etc).

If you can afford something expensive and like it, great. If you can’t, don’t worry, you’re missing nothing.

I’m not so sure about it being overpriced.

I’ll remain skeptical, but if it’s worth it for you then it’s a good purchase. For me, I’m convinced the only thing that makes a difference to an amateur rider is how much you like the bike; you like it more you ride it more.

Watched the Hambini review and didn’t like what I heard but then had to tell myself that he seems to have had it in for them since the cervelo days

As long as it doesn’t snap, it really doesn’t bear any relevance whatsoever to the rider to be honest. Frame is massively overpriced for what it is, but was the only thing out there that looks good and has the geo I wanted (also didn’t want a load of ugly mounting points, given my intended use).

Thanks Sweepy, will give that a go in Spring.

Must have been really difficult to mask the gravel when you painted that wall. Respect.

Looks a mess, needs redoing every six months because it turns green after one!

Don’t watch the Hambini review

Saw it before purchase, didn’t change my opinion in any way. Negligible difference between frames anyway let’s be honest.

If I was a student I’d just go home anyway to be honest.

Looks great – glad to hear the recovery is going well.

The North, nice place but fk all there. I’ll stick to the South East where we can comfortably ignore other peoples’ existence.

How much money do I have access to, without altering my current way of life

This is the correct answer. Nearly 10 years ago I rode a Cotic Soul with second hand parts for 3 years; I’m currently building an Open UP with AXS that will cost >4x the amount, will it make the riding experience any better or more enjoyable? No.

Pressure washer is completely fine for bikes, done it many many times on a full suss. Just don’t go 5cm away from bearings, pretty simple.

Isn’t there some pretty good new stuff for that sort of money?

Some low end stuff, when you’re talking ‘enduro’. Much better buying second hand, I just sold an immaculate Evil Following MB I spent just shy of £5k on 18 months ago for £2.3k.

I got bored of it half way through. Agree with a lot of the OPs points mind. I still don’t care what ‘they’ do with my data in the slightest.

The sales pitch is real Frank

Can’t disagree with what you’ve written Frank, but for me, my commentary remains. Would also say that just because an engine can run to 400k miles, it doesn’t mean the car doesn’t have issues in the process.

I have a low tolerance for potentially sitting at the side of the road, so wouldn’t entertain bangernomics at all. Not your target audience to be fair.

I’ll go against the grain and say I wouldn’t touch the Merc – I’d end up concerned it wouldn’t make the journey.

Hard to judge.

Underrated

Banks are busy, lending money at cost and making nothing. Before anyone far left loses their sht.

Serco. Making millions out of failing to provide their contracted services.

They’re pretty much making nothing and the government don’t have the ability to mobilise at scale. Not sure what the solution is tbh.

What Hob Nob said, except the Orange Seal bit, it’s crap

Both correct chaps, just get Stan’s.

210mm drop is really not needed, 200mm should’ve been the cap, MTBs are starting to look like BMXs with huge pots.

I had the same experience with Muc Off, binned it. I’ll stick with Stan’s.