Go to second hand shop.
Buy a load of books.
Put in car.
When all books are read, take to S/H shop and swap for new ones.

Sorted!

See, I’ve saved you money, there.

100 riders? No chance. More like 20-30 max, I’d say. Less, if it’s very cold, or there’s a bit of moisture (IE, if it’s pissing with rain, and looking likely to rain all day, I won’t be schlepping all the way from London, I can tell you).

Conor, that’s interesting. Because it’s precisely those times, when it seems bad. Maybe that’s when the BBC do updates, or something, or it could be to do with work being done on the ADSL lines. My connection did seem slow last night, which was odd, but it’s happened before.

iPlayer doesn’t seem to work unless the current connection speed is above 1 meg, or so. My current ‘up to 8 meg’ service rarely hits 4, tbh. But it’s usually above 2, so I was a bit perplexed, last night.

Second-hand. She’ll get a much nicer bike; it’ll be lighter, have better components, and ride a lot nicer.

£200 should get you something decent on here. I myself might have something small, in that sort of price range, but not for a bit, unfortunately.

She should be prepared to spend extra on helmet, lights, etc.

Stick up a wanted ad!

The Badboy frame is fairly steep, as it’s designed for road use, so bunging a suspension fork on it won’t make it too unwieldy. I’d err more on the side of 80mm, more than longer, though. Something like a Reba set to 80-100mm would be fine. I’ve put a 100mm Marzocchi on a Marin Muirwoods frame, which is a similar type bike, and it was fine. If you run a good bit of sag, and have a lowish stack height for the stem, it won’t upset the head angle at all, really. And you can always lower things at the front, if required, by fitting a flattish stem, or low-rise/flat bars. The only issue with putting a suspension fork on a frame like this, is that it will raise the BB by a little bit, so obviously 140mm forks are not advisable.

With a short travel fork, the BB will be a fast, light XC bike. If he wants something more huckable, then he needs a new bike! The BB will be fine for good long rides cross country.

Can we separate the classifieds form the bike and chat forums? The main forum page sees to be half-full of classified ads. The fun and interesting stuff keeps getting pushed off the page.

Fair enough. Seems like you only really did the touristy stuff. there’s loads more than that. Non-Gaudi? Art galleries, museums, old churches/temples, the history of the Spanish Civil war, Columbus, the Gothic Quarter, the football stadium (rogerredhat; is Camp Nou awesome, or what?!), the markets, loads of stuff. And the countryside surrounding the city is a fantastic place to ride a bike. BarÁelona is also a centre for design, and architecture, and host several international film and music events every year. Very exciting and lively, yet relaxed as well.

And for a major city, it never seemed too crowded, even at rush-hour. Living in London, that’s something I really appreciated.

Last time I went, I stayed with a family. Got to see daily life from the perspective of residents. Perhaps gives a better insight. I can understand some of the animosity towards some tourists, who get drunk and lary, and cause grief, like in any touristy place. But most of the people I met were very friendly and helpful. I didn’t feel nearly as wary as I’ve done in some other big cities. On the whole, I’d say its a great place.

I’m sure it is, Van Halen. And the people I know, who’ve been there, have all said it was great.

All I was trying to do, was offer a bit of advice (that the OP seems to have appreciated), and I get accused of being a racist Daily Mail reader! FFS.

Read this bit again:

“You also have to consider things like Malaria, Dysentery and tropical diseases, which can be very dangerous for an infant. and you might not have immediate access to the right kind of medical care.”

I’d have thought that’s pretty much what any decent travel adviser would tell you.

Some information

The reactions alone, to some immunisations, can be a bit nasty. And doctors might advise against such a young child having them.

I’ll go back to my Daily Mail.

Hmm, better renew my BNP membership..

Why break the habit of a lifetime, eh, Hora? 😉

How long were you there for? What did you do/see?

It’s my fave city in Europe. Fantastic place. Great history, culture, style, food, people and climate!

That’s absolute bullshit, Hora, I’m afraid. Sounds like a bit of anti-orthodox propaganda, to me.

I know Jewish people here, who do business with people in Israel. Many of those are orthodox Jews. Many of whom are quite affluent.

And go take a walk round somewhere like Stamford Hill, where many businesses are Jewish-owned. Go and look at the houses people live in. And tell me they’re sitting around writing scriptures!

Trust me on this one (juan?) ok?

Think it was just a temporary blip. Might try it later.

Heroes of Telemark is not available for download. Boo! 😥

Apparently, something that sounds like ‘Gary Neville’ means bucket, in Moroccan.

Hello Glupton! (waves)

No, no, Juan. That’s not another Juan. That’s a play on words, the ‘Juan’ bit sounding like ‘Wan’. Wan-Kerr. See?

Very childish, actually.

Hora- still talking bollocks, I see!

And how will the increase in the numbers of orthodox Jews become a problem? Many orthodox Jews are actually opposed to Zionism, as the concept goes against their teachings. And Zionism itself is used as a veil for Western attempts at cultural and economic hegemony.

You’re right about their being decades of strife ahead, though. As long as there is conflict and struggle in the Middle East, the West can continue to impose it’s will on the rest of the World. And sell it’s guns and bombs.

Either illinformed opinion or closet racism.

Just because people go to take advantage of much cheaper medical procedures, does not mean the infrastructure is necessarily great. I for one, would not want to risk anything happening to a small child, when the nearest decent medical facilities are a long way away, and the place you’re in may not be particularly accessible.

A lot of Thailand’s excellent medical facilities are geared up to providing cheap operations; notably, ‘gender-reassignment’ and laser eye surgery. Not particularly useful, when your small child has picked up some nasty bug, been bitten by something poisonous, or has a nasty injury. Plus, most of these facilities are in the major cities, and you could be a long way from there.

It’s still very much a third-world country, and as such, possibly a bit of a risk, where a small child is concerned.

The OP will, I’m sure, be thinking of the health and safety of his family. That’s why I offered up my opinion.

Anyways, loads of nice, quiet family-friendly places in Europe.

Gave up with it. Watched Wall-E instead. What a brilliant film. I’m going to go to bed happy!

Don’t you snigger at me, Pastierich! 👿

My GP also reckons the ‘ideal weight’ thing is a load of tosh, anyway. If you’re healthy, you’re healthy! If you can do a good few miles off road, on a bike, you’re pretty ok, I would reckon.

I think it’s fair enough. The STW lot have worked bloody hard to get the forum up and running again, for us lot to bitch and whine at each other, so it’s only fair we all respect them.

You bunch of wallies!

Ooh, that felt soo rebellious!

My GP reckons I’m a perfect weight, and BMI. A few pounds below the ‘average’ ideal for the UK, but I’m of slender build, and have light bones. Spot on, for my body type.

So, I can actually be in this club!

5′ 4 1/2″: 9st/126lbs/57kg. BMI 20.9.

(Laughs at fattierich)

Glad you have, PK, ‘cos I’m clueless…

Ooh! Mememe!

(Jumps up and down with hand in the air)

Blimey, Alwyn! That’s 6 1/2″ taller than me, and only a litle bit heavier! You got worms?? 😯

FWIW I also respect Whargrider, whatever our differences may be. Takes some bottle to come on here, and fly in the face of popular opinion.

So….

What Pub For Swinley Ride?

I do hope someone comes and shuts this thread down soon.

I don’t. At least this is a forum where people can share/exchange ideas, and have a reasonably intelligent debate. And maybe some of us will be inspired to find out more, and learn something. And maybe, just maybe, use that knowledge for good.

There’s the obvious ones, like Condor, Cycle Surgery Spitalfields, erm…

All much of a muchness. Loads of Evans. All are staffed by underpaid bods with varying degrees of interest. Stocked with loads of gear at full RRP.

It’s a bike shop, what do you expect? I can’t imagine any bike shop is ‘not to be missed’.

Brick Lane Cycles is a nichetastic fixie/fakenger shop. Lots of decent second hand bits, mostly roadie, but some nice bargains to be found, if you look closely. It’s not actually on Brick Lane, but on Bethnal Green Road, at the top end of Brick Lane.

I’m in! I have to get up to 18st, by June, to be in Ton’s riding team.

Currently 9st wet through. I plan a regime of pies, cakes and beer. It’s going to be very hard, but I’ll just have to be strong.

Ton, if I lived with you for a month, a year, I tell you, you wouldn’t see any change. Been skinny all me life, no matter what I eat.

Ere, Chantelle, ain’t you a bit overdressed?

Well, it is January!

Yet you appear to condone the actions of your nation, and act as an apologist for it.

As for terrorism, ever heard of Mossad?

Anyway, I think CG is engaged, no?

Heh! What do you think???

I’d agree with djglover, about the long journey and climate bit, anyway!

For those reasons, I’d say it’s possibly not a good idea for such a young child. You also have to consider things like Malaria, Dysentery and tropical diseases, which can be very dangerous for an infant. and you might not have immediate access to the right kind of medical care.

And there are soooo many beautiful places in Europe, perfect for families with young children.

Save the Thailand one for a future holiday.

‘Cheapos’- sorry, I meant students!

Whetherspoons? It’s not full of cheapos and old winos, is it?

See, Whargrider, I could take you more seriously, if you actually bothered to consider why the Palestinians are so enraged against Israel. Do you seriously think they would attack Israel, a much more powerful military force, for no good reason? That is what you must ask of your society.

As for the rocket attacks, whilst not wishing to justify the actions of murderers, have you considered the informaiton that ernie lynch included in his post earlier, about the dropping of cluster anti-personel bombs in the West Bank? Have you any idea what devastation these devices cause? And have you no idea of the use of chemical and biological weapons, by your country’s military?
Use of nerve gas by Israel

You have to accept the fact, that your nation is seen as an evil agressor, by most of the World’s people. And with good reason. Israel has refused to sign up to any International agreements regarding the disclosure of weapons of mass destruction, something which even Iraq did. And there is proof of the use of weapons, as banned under the Geneva Convention, by Israel, in Lebanon and Palestine.

Your nation has forfeited the right to expect sympathy. If you want to know why, then look at the facts, and stop burying your head in the sand.

Hhm, well I’ve been to a place in I think it’s Windlesham, but what we want is somewhere where we can sit in the warm! It seemed friendly enough, and has a little car park next to it, and we saw Zammo out of Grange Hill in there.

Can’t say more than that, really. You can buy food there I think. I know you can get crisps.

The Beginning of the End……. 😥