KASABIAN!! Just offensive.

The way it was reported on BBC this morning made him sound much more bitter than appears to be the case. He’s just being pragmatic.

This. The headlines and selective quotes make him appear bitter, but watching the interview he just appears pragmatic and honest. Fair play.

Let me be the first to overshoot the brief and suggest cannondale super six 105 from Paul’s Cycles if available in his size. Got to be best value out there at £1.1k

I bought RS80s from Ribble on the same budget. Have been faultess so far (about 2,000 mainly dry miles), but not 11 speed compatible. If I was buying again I’d also be looking at something like the farsports carbon wheels or cero AR30s, but both are a little above your budget.

Lived in Cambridge now for 3 years. I’d say its not particularly cycle friendly from a planning / infrastructure p.o.v, but just has a massive amount of utilitarian bike use (i.e. people just getting from a to b), on a scale unlike anywhere else I’ve seen in the UK. This means most people who drive in the city also ride a bike, or their kids / other half / parents rides a bike, so there’s a bit more acceptance and, dare I say it, consideration, for 2 wheels. If we go anywhere in the city as a family, chances are we’ll go by bike, and so will our friends, and my parents in law. Not because we’re all right on sandal-wearing tofu-eating car haterz, just because its how people get around in the city, and always have done, and I love that about the place. Yes, you get your fair share of d1cks without lights, or jumping lights, or riding on the pavement, but not sure if its proportionally more than else where, and of course you get the sort that like to moan to the local paper about those ‘irresponsible bicyclists who pay no road tax’ (usually from the Tory villages around the city). You should see our school run in the morning – its a bling-fest of exotic dutch import child-carrying machines.

And yes, unfortunately if you live in Cambridge you better forget about MTB – its a rare treat for me now after having years of doorstep trails in Bristol, so I’ve been dragged to the darkside…

And Gardi’s is pure filth – perfect after a few beers in the Pint Shop.

Looks like Rowan Sorrells latest project. Sorry for your loss.

Prudhomme doesn’t let the riders roll out until RealMan’s got his thread up for the day. Glad to see these back as they are THE TdF threads. Thanks in advance for the next 3 weeks

25 and bank holidays here. Also get 10 or 11 Jewish holiday days a year as well, as the company owners are pretty devout Jews. They’re at fairly random times (for a non-Jew anyway!) but very much appreciated as extra days with kids or getting a decent length ride in 🙂

Really sad news. Thoughts go out to his family and friends.

Rode it last weekend for the first time – really impressed with it actually. Only criticism is that it seemed a bit short. Much more natural feeling than a lot of swoopy bmx tracks you get these days. There was one longish climb about 1/3 in. Descents definitely worth it. As others have said, you’ve got the DH tracks to mess about with as well, and it looks like there’s a load of off piste if you have time to explore or meet a local. Also it was pretty quiet for a sunny Saturday which I liked – no shop / cafe / go ape etc. No idea about anything else in the area though – I was visiting from Cambridge. Would like to try Long Mynd some time if I find myself back in those parts.

If you want people to wave back at you all the time, get a job in a panto

I think this sums it up nicely.

As has been said, even though there not keen on home working, I would push for 1 day from home. They may have given you the stock response, but if they want you enough perhaps you should push them on it. Tell them you love the role and if it was 30 miles closer it would be a no brainer, but you are concerned about 3+ hrs a day commuting (hopefully you haven’t told them you can do it in just over an hour each way!) impacting heavily on life with family / partner / goldfish, and 1 day a week where you’re not leaving at crack of dawn and getting home late would tip the balance to make it more bearable.

I have a 45 mile / 1hr 15 mins each way commute that would drive me mad if I had to do it 5 days a week. Business owners weren’t keen on me working from home a day a week (they’re Italian, and it isn’t really something they do there apparently), but I made it a condition of acceptance of the job. Turns out I probably do the commute 3 times a week on average, and if I haven’t done it for a while I perversely look forward to it as its some time alone with 6 music for company. Been doing it a yr and a half now and not going mad yet. Winters are noticeably harder though.

Fair point about impressions though – he’s got to stop with the Macca one

I’ve really warmed to Keaveny. Nemone was sooo dull. Absolutely humourless. Listening to her doing small claims court was painful.

I’m loving that Old Empire pale ale at the mo, even at the comparatively extortionate £5 for 3 bottles from co-op. Think I’m gonna drive me a truck up that there M6 and clear the shelves – its too good for you northerners 😉

Continuing the ale theme – its Cambridge beer festival this week, conveniently situated a short walk from my house. Any STWs heading over (on their singlespeeds of course)?

Chris, I find your approach to what is to many of us an unimaginable situation both moving and inspirational. I can only hope I would be able to summon up that level of strength if I or someone close to me were faced with a similar situation. All I can add is I too wish you all the very best and will be thinking of you and your family.

And Retrogirl, I’m so sorry to hear what you had to go through. Thank you for sharing. I can’t begin to imagine how hard it was.

Be aware its the older model with lower spec processor and not retina display. Still looks a good price for what it is though

Durano 25s (think they are the dual compound Performance ones, not the Plus ones). Less than £20 an end from Germany, and massive improvement on the cheapo rubinos I had on before. Much better grip in wet and would happily leave on all year.

I don’t think it would do enough miles to justify the extra cost of a diesel, and the higher risk of something expensive going wrong in a high mileage diesel doing mainly shorter journeys. Honest John seems to like the 2l petrol (well, in comparison to the 1.7 anyway). Primary consideration is seating space and reliability – engine performance secondary. The few biking trips I get in would be in the civic! Looked at a Touran as well but Mrs was put off by reading lots of niggly issues. Thanks all for your comments.

Thanks folks – hadn’t heard they were particularly thirsty so good to know, although we’re lucky to get 30+ out of our old passat, and it’ll only do 7 – 8k a year. Accident prone is an interesting one – going to get the mrs to test drive it and make sure she’s comfortable with the extra girth (!) The one we are seeing has parking sensors which I hope should help.

re. Jazz – if it could carry 2 adults, 3 kids, a granny and all the associated crap then it might have made it on to the shortlist! I recently got a 2004 civic that I put almost 100 miles a day on and its been great – not the most refined driving experience but like you say nice and nimble. Back seats fold down flat and takes a large full susser with both wheels on. Always had hondas (6 i think? all with over 100k on the clock) – the passat was an anomoly, but has been great.

2 things from a recent work trip to LA

Thing 1. We were asked if we would fly out a day early (a Saturday) which would save the company almost £500 a head on flights by spanning a Saturday night. However, we were then told work wouldn’t pay the £60 hotel for said Saturday night as it was over a weekend and deemed to be our own time, as per company policy. I flew out on the Sunday.

Thing 2. Sat in a bar a colleague orders another round of beers – not a work event, we weren’t ‘team building’, no clients there etc. He asks for the receipt and I question whether he plans to to expense them – our umpteenth round. He was genuinely angry when I suggested it was unlikely work would subsidise our drinking for the week.

Thank the lord we didn’t have the lunch dilemma (taken out to nice restaurants every day) although I did wonder if I could expense my rather expensive daily mocha frappacinos 😉

Some relevant comment on a thread I started a few months ago here. (Ended up buying a petrol civic in the end!)

Thanks for the link. Best options look to be Swattesfield and Lings Meadow (which look nice). Thought there might be something closer than 15 miles away but anything closer looks pretty ropey tbh.

Bivvying will happen in due time johnny, but think we’ll get a couple of camping trips in first 🙂

Cheers – got it on to help pass the last hour at work. Loved Living in my Headphones Part 1 – wish he’d do a part 2 🙂

Great write up, and well done. Lots of respect due to you for doing it, and your family for supporting you 🙂

Got one last winter and worn on road only. Was great when it was proper cold, but couldn’t wear it much above +5 degrees C as too warm. Even then only needed a short sleeve base under it unless it was below freezing.

To answer the OP, I have a Zephyros 1. It was cheap and is a good, solid, reasonably light (1.5kg IIRC) and stable 1 man tent. I like that its made more robust (although heavier) than the Lasers. Its seen some strong wind and heavy rain and been faultless. However, it IS small. I’m 6’2 and at the limit of its size – kind of wished I’d gone for the Z2. Thinking about it, I should just flog the Z1 and go for a Z2! If anyones interested in a Z1, drop me a mail. I won’t sell it to anyone over 6′ though 🙂

@ Simon – updated end of last week. Android v 4.1. The app icons for maps and Navigation disappeared from my home screen, so I downloaded the new version from the Play store. Not sure if this was a forced update from Google, or I somehow accidentally deleted the old icons.

I’ve just un-installed all updates for Maps which has given me the older version (with My Maps) back, but get the feeling they are going to force the new version on me again soon. The new version also deleted my cache of offline maps.

6’2 on a large. As said the top tubes come up a bit short – mine is good but wouldn’t want it any shorter. Depending on your proportions (do you like longer or shorter tt’s?) I’d say you might be knocking on the door of an XL.

Nah, he was just “attempting to contact the gentleman directly to give him a second opportunity to pass on his insurance details and to remind him of his legal obligation to report the accident to the police”.

Perfect! Carry on as you were OP 🙂

Am I the only one who thinks OPs done himself no favours following the guy to work and having a barny with him? Totally understand why (hope you got picks of damage to his car), but in the unlikely event the old bill do follow this up, the OP is open to all sorts of allegations of harrasment and intimidation which will weaken his position, and the guy DOES have witnesses. Obviously the guy is a complete tool and should be shown the error of his ways for the rest of us on 2 wheels, but I’d have followed due process first giving the police as much info as possible. Then, if that doesn’t work, feel free to pursue ‘other options’…

Thanks all – some good tips there – will check more thoroughly when I go to see again. Checked electrics / air con / windows and all fine. Should the DMF have been replaced when the clutch was done? Will check anyway. They’re asking £2.4k which is a couple of hundred more than the max I’d go to. Its carrying a bit of a premium for the service record and recent work done. Was nice to drive – made my petrol passat feel like a barge when I got back in.

Didn’t see Mad Men mentioned – best of the lot imo. Other half hooked on house but I can’t stand it.

Whats the fit of the pakajak like? Am thinking of one for road use.

Thetford or Epping Forset. Or a road bike – nice roads / countryside in that area.

There is the roman road (bridleway) which I did once from just outside Cambridge that comes out on top of the hill at Linton – was about 10 miles each way. Looking at google maps it runs NW from top of Borley Wood above Linton, through Worsted Lodge, along top of the Gogs golf course, coming out on to Worts Causeway. I did it as an out and back. Not the most exciting off-road adventure though I’m afraid 🙂

Golf and rover on the list now. I know I said I wasn’t averse to high miles, but with the Corolla a quick scan of autotrader says you’re looking at 150k +. Also now considering <£1k citroen xsara. Thanks all! Any more feedback on 93’s, 147s and v40s?

Cheers all for comments so far

I’m good with french engines, just not the cars :D. Father in laws espace develops a random fault a week which puts me off a bit. Happy to be corrected as my prejudice is based on a very small sample size!

I’d had a quick look at octavias, but they just seemed expensive for the age / mileage compared to the others. Same with golfs (what I was originally going to go for). I’m still keeping an eye on these though.

The comment about the 1.9 saab being a lemon came from a thread I saw on here a while ago (can’t find it now) that was then backed up by a look on honest john

Watched it on a flight to LA a few weeks ago, which gave it added impact for me. Great film. Very powerful,, and a massive contrast to the LA I actually saw thankfully!

DSpyglass defo ticks your boxes. I’d you want a walk park up at the botanics and walk down.

Lots of great advice on here that could help, but until you know the underlying cause some of these solutions could aggravate your problem or even cause injury. Seek help and check your position on the bike.

OK, now thats been said, I’ve started doing a bit of yoga first thing and its helped me massively. Nothing major – just 10-15 mins most days. I started with the core-focused exercises on road.cc’s yoga for cyclists (suprisingly good) and added a couple of other moves I picked up. Works for me.