Thanks for the suggestions. I did submit an enquiry to Cycle Exchange (similar to we buy bike) as it did seem like a low effort option but their quote was laughable (even taking their overheads and potential margin into account).

Will give the other one a go though.

Not much of a stealth ad if I don’t give any specifics about the bike. 👍🏻

Throw them out, treat fungal foot problem then buy new shoes.

Thanks but I’m not on Facebook.

I would just build up more gradually. Despite what most cyclists think 50 miles is a bloody long way, particularly if you haven’t cycled that far in a while.

Try and get out and ride more and more often. You will soon be back to banging out long distances like it’s nothing.

Fuel well beforehand eat every hour and drink plenty during, and eat well after. It’s really pretty simple.

You don’t magic need creams and lotions and don’t believe everything you watch on Netflix – or read on a forum (🤔)

Yeah the Red wing soles do wear but they are replaceable by a cobbler (or Red Wing).

You want to get some nice Red wings moc toe work boots – nae cheap but so comfy and last for ever.

Define “knocked”

If you crashed into something soft like a grassy bank this could happen I suppose. Was it a hard impact?

Were they tightened to the correct torque? Could over tightening have contributed to this?

If there’s no obvious other level damage it’s worth a shot.

iCloud?

I haven’t plugged a phone into a computer in like 10 years.

To be fair a lot of Scottish trails (well in my part of Scotland at least) are covered in fallen trees at the moment so I probably wouldn’t bother for trying for quite a while.

Well deffo worth checking with your provider. With some the final payment is actually a guaranteed final valuation (for a given age/mileage) so it may not be possible to reduce perhaps.

sorry if that last response sounded blunt by the way – it wasn’t supposed to but it’s just that I imagine most providers have different Ts&Cs.

But I suppose I wonder what the point of overpaying would be? is the APR excessive on the current loan?

You are effectively renting the car – why would you want to pay more per month? Are you intending to keep the car (so you may be able to reduce the final balloon payment by overpaying) or are you just going to trade it in and get a new car (in which case I can’t see much point in paying more)?

Cars are generally retaining their value well at the moment so it may be that there is more equity in the car than you expect when the current contract ends.

I doubt you will be able to reduce the term of the contract by paying more.

Have you tried phoning or emailing your current provider to ask?

I rode a large Jeffsy 29 (current model) for a few years and really liked it. I had a Fox 38 on the front and a coil shock and it did everything I waned it to do really well. Great bike and great value (well not so much once I had upgraded all the parts but that was unnecessary). I had a 650B Capra before that and the Jeffsy outperformed it pretty much everywhere.

I am 5 ft 10 and found the reach and other angles just right. At your height you could perhaps go XL.

I am now on a large Deviate Highlander and its even better – primarily at descending. Its the 150mm version with a 170mm fork but that’s perfect for where I live and what I typically ride.

Jeffsy was my first 29er and I wouldn’t go back now.

I bought a Karcher k4 about a year ago and it’s broken twice already. Fragile piece of poorly designed crap.

So I recommend you don’t buy a Karcher.

It really depends on how hard and for how long you will be training and what you’re trying to achieve?

Are you trying to lose weight, get strong, build muscle?

Why are you training fasted? If I was looking to get the maximum impact out of a strength session I would be eating something, even just a banana and a protein shake about 30 mins prior to training.

Remember to factor in protein as well as carbs post-exercise to aid your recovery too.

I fly with bagged road bikes and mountain bikes regularly (until covid obvs) – multiple times per year – and always pad out the box with clothes, pads, helmets and other stuff etc.

Never exceeded the weight limit and not once had an issue.

I didn’t even realise that there was a rule about this.

I’ve been using High Roller 2s as a rear tyre for ages. It’s a solid all round aggressive tread that works well in many conditions.

Like you say fit and forget – dust, mud… works a treat.

I see one of the lead actors in that – Gaspard Ulliel – has just tragically died skiing in France. Very sad.

Amazing – you get paleo/keto zealots for dogs now! LOL

I shouldn’t be surprised – my Rabbits are totally raw/vegan – they don’t shut up about the benefits.

Their stools are like firm little bullets too – maybe you should try your dogs on a predominately Kale/carrot/banana based diet.

It’s a film reference

Yeah I know. But I’m never sure if people are joking or…

“Shirley” instead of “Surely”.

I’m never sure if people are joking or just stupid.

And “Dream Build” – it very rarely is…

Zara is currently selling Technics branded sweaters as per the 90s cause 90s fashion is so hot right low.

My wife still has her Dready hoody in theme wardrobe.

These are up there with BOSU balls…. waste of time. Just do press ups or suchlike

BruceWee

I lived there for a year or so back in 2006/2007.

I would never go back there. The biggest difference I’ve found between Glasgow and Aberdeen is that in Glasgow trouble is fairly easy to avoid. In Aberdeen it comes looking for you.

Well thats not my experience. I’ve lived in Aberdeen for 40 years and done my fair share of socializing in town and neither I nor any of my friends have ever ended up in a fight – even as yoofs.

As is the case with many places right now the city center is in a bit of a sorry state – perhaps exaggerated in Aberdeen because the main high street is a mile long straight line – but there is a plan to improve things and some green shoots of recovery on the way. It was a massive bummer to lose John Lewis and that has not helped the city center at all as it was such a destination shop.

There is no getting away from the fact that Aberdeen has been particularly hard hit by both Brexit and the O&G downturn but there is significant investment being pumped into the city and with its current workforce and infrastructure it is well placed to play a leading role in renewables, advanced manufacturing, new technologies and energy transitions. Lots of local organizations (business, education and 3rd sector) are pulling together to make sure Aberdeen has a bright and successful future..

There are some great neighborhoods and commuter towns with cycling from the doorstep and as others have said, if you enjoy the outdoors you are spoiled rotten. Mountain biking, road cycling, hillwalking, climbing, watersports, golf, horseriding etc are all available in abundance.

There are also some really great local bike shops (though most of the decent indys are in the shire).

FYI Re caffeine sources question – “If other please state”

No text box provided…

L’Occitaine do some nice ones. I think they start at about £50.

I got my wife one. She was delighted!

Buy “Plenty” from Yotam Ottolenghi.

So many fantastic veggie recipes. Cooked so much from this book.

Here’s a summary of some of the highlights:

Link to 10 recipes

2nd vote for a Deviate Highlander. I’ve been riding my Highlander 150 since June and it is by far the most versatile and well balanced bike that I have ever owned.

I put a Fox 38 170mm fork on mine for added shredability and it’s rad.

It handles everything from long rides in the mountains to uplifts and enduro racing.

I recently switched from DMR Deathgrips to Burgtec Minnaar bartender pros and I am liking them very much.

Just the right size and level of squishyness.

ESI chunkys are good too but I found that they are easily damaged (if your in the habit of crashing often).

I would be more concerned about the rampant and largely unnecessary rise of e-bikes than one off carbon trials bike…

Good luck.

I ended up buying an AXS upgrade kit as that’s all I could find after I twanged my rear mech the other week.🤷🏼

Why does it look like a stupid activity?

How is it any different than riding up a hill other than the skill set required is different?

There is inherent risk in many/most sports – horse riding, kayaking, rugby etc.

I was hospitalised playing golf for peat’s sake!

The risk is all relative and usually well assessed.

If you’ve never whooped with delight then you’ve probably never ridden down/off anything that truly scared you.

:-)

It’s a very natural reaction at times – particularly when you ride out of something gnarly that for a second it looked like you weren’t going to.

Flow is important. Just linking up features and picking a fun line down the trail is immensely satisfying to me.

I sometimes get just as much satisfaction from riding a relatively easy trail as I do a more technical one. Slow and steady is often as fun as flat out fast too. Depends on mood.

It is sometimes type 2 fun. I have definitely found myself riding down things that at the time weren’t 100% enjoyable but afterwards (once I’d survived) I did enjoy.

It’s good to push the envelope every so often. Reminds you that your alive.

Did Red Bull Road Rage not settle this debate? 🤔😆

“They gave me a lamp” and “white star liner” are great tunes.

I’ve been using an upride with my long and not light full suss bike for four months and it’s working well.

No noticeable movement or rocking this far.

Go into your phones setting’s – passwords – security recommendations to find out.

If you do use the same passwords across multiple websites then yes the chances are it has been compromised a few times.

If you have the password auto saved your phone will know.

Yes totally, I was zoning out in meetings at work and couldn’t concentrate. Had a headache for a month. It took me a while to realise it was my trap (and very tight pecs which compounded the issue). I thought it was all sorts of other things – opcitial neuralgia, tmj disorder etc. I had headaches, sore jaw and felt awful.

One session on my Trapezius and a few weeks of very specific stretches and exercises with 0.5kg dumbbells sorted me out.

I also bought one of those percussive massage guns which is really great for self management of tight traps/shoulders etc.

I’ve had similar too. Knocked me for six for over a month a few years ago. Turned out it was caused by a very tense upper trapezius muscle affecting my neck. Most likely caused by poor posture at work/computer and probs too much gym with no stretching.

Had all sorts of headaches, jaw ache and just felt terrible – couldn’t concentrate at work etc… Saw a specialist, had some massage, dry needling and did the exercises I was told to do and it cleared up.

Still a bit prone to tight traps but can manage it along with all my other aches and pains now.