Thanks 🙂

I had my Traser watch serviced and a new bezel fitted by Graham at
http://www.traserwatches.co.uk/

Service inc new battery and waterproof test was only £32 inc return post.

I had a Luminox before that and they serviced that as well.

Katusha rider busted for same drug in January as well…

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/katushas-eduard-vorganov-provisionally-suspended-by-uci-for-doping-violation/

Roper’s lair is the lighthouse across the bay from Port de Pollensa. I always thought is was owned by the military. But looking on google maps it is off the second hairpin up to the viewpoint if any of you have cycled there. I will check it out in April 😀

2/3 races are much more likely to NOT end in a bunch sprint compared to a 3/4 race. 2nd cats know how to race and understand that if you get in a break then your chances of a good placing are so much higher. The difference between the slower riders and the faster riders is more so breaks can be forced clear especially on hilly circuits.

I have been a 2nd cat for the last 4 years and as a former elite category rider I think the average 2nd cat is a very good rider these days with plenty of power meters and coaches around.

I only do a few races so I try and focus on them and really try for a good result. I only have to get 25 points to keep it. Don’t want to be a 3rd cat 😆

I must admit I always find it a bit hard to care about Clark Griswold’s Christmas bonus as he ‘needs’ it to pay for a swimming pool. His house is massive already! 🙂

About a year after I broke my arm I complained to my GP about it and he sent me to the local private hospital in Ashtead. Doctor there had a Wilier with Campag record etc in his office 8)

Bolt through on front, 9mm quick release at back.
Rear dropout has a slot for the wheel to fit in.
Specialized are apparently going to supply new drop outs for normal wheels.

Still a stock bike but Specialized mudguards not available yet so have bodged a set of SKS commuter guards on it using the rack mounts at the moment.

Well designed bike, but ride is not as compliant as my titanium bike that it replaced.

I have a Diverge Smartweld Comp 2016 and it is pretty good. Changing the stock Roubaix tyres for Continental GP 4 Seasons has improved the ride.

2016 bikes are fitted with the Specialized standard SCS hubs which will mean normal disc wheels will NOT fit as I understand it 👿

FS 29er fits into my Focus Estate.

Ford do a nifty mat that has carpet on one side and rubber on the other.
Goes all the way to the back of the front seats and has straps that attach to the headrests. When seats are upright the mat folds in half and you have carpet again. Comes with bumper protector as well.

Boot edge is flat and the inside is nice and square.

I recently fitted a set of Michelin Cross Climate tyres which is a Summer tyre that is rated for Winter use as well. Weather has been really mild since 😕

I bought them because I live in the South East and would probably not buy full on winter tyres.

So far they are quieter than the Continental Sport Contact 3 and don’t appear to tramline as much.

Zero credit interest is the only downside in my opinion.

Back in the 90s I used to ride fixed on a old track bike and did well. Came back for a few rides when I was 40 and rode my normal carbon road bike. Couldn’t be bothered to take anything off the bike at all and even put my computer in my back pocket so people wouldn’t moan at me! Did just as well in the end 😀

Made my own tubeless inflator yesterday with thanks to Nobby

http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/ghetto-tubeless-inflator-mk-vii

Got one of these at my local Halfords. It was on the counter for £15. Got 10% BC discount as well.

Went for a job interview which went really well. Talked about money and they said they would give me what I wanted.
Just as I leaving they said the big boss would like to see me. First thing he said quite rudely “We won’t start you on that salary no way”. I glazed over at that point.

I remember there was a scandal a few months later over rogue companies. Apparently the boss I talked to was interviewed by the police for locking a salesman in a cupboard because he dared asked for his account to be paid.

I really dodged a bullet there.

Best bit for me is when Mike comes in halfway through and says something like “Ed, what have you been doing? It looks exactly the same!”.

Ed has probably fixed the gearbox, changed the exhaust and refurbed the turbo 8)

Take the path directly opposite the Smith and Western. Generally keep right with a fence on your right and that should guide you in. Great track.

Most of the Golfs/Octavias/Leons have a rather budget torsion beam rear suspension which has been damned by faint praise by reviewers.

Every Ford Focus since launch has had a multi point rear suspension.

I meant that most people who are beaten on a KOM would take it on the chin and maybe go and try to take it back sometime in the future. I think someone whose first response is to flag the ride and cry ‘cheat’ is a bit odd.

I know it’s not a race. I joined to add another dimension to my rides.
I am a 2nd cat road racer, was elite for 10 years but just do enough races to keep my license now.

I don’t have many KOMs! And I bust a gut getting that one (26 mph) so I was very miffed when my honour was questioned.

Don’t want to get even, but I agree that some people are a bit odd.
I did look at the ride of the guy and described it as 2-up time trial training with his mate so I beat them both!
Maybe his mate flagged it as well.

I do find some of the segments on real hills a bit strange. Especially the ones that finish before the top! Doing OK on the longer segments that cover the run in to the hill, the steep bit and then the bit after the top. Not doing great on the short segments on the steep bits as normally I am just riding fairly hard all the time.

Riding out of Epsom towards the downs there is

“Condover”

Maybe their house deal wasn’t quite the bargain they thought it was!

I have been commuting on various bikes with SKS mudguards for 25 years.
The metal brackets that go behind the rear brake do fail and the mudguards also tend to split across at right angles. I get several years out of a set but the rears don’t seem to last as long as the fronts.

Never bothered to claim on the warranty. Reckon I have had my monies worth over a few years.

Do not be tempted to get Race Guards by Crud. Worst cycling product ever, went in bin after 2 weeks.

I’m hoping to win the ITV tour de france compo this week.
Prize is a Rapha cycling holiday.
I will make sure I will be wearing my Sunday best Lidl cycling kit every day 😀

White men can’t jump.
But what is the link between the film and cycling?

Do you mean the guys standing at the side of the cobbled sections holding up wheels? They are team helpers.

If a rider gets a wheel from the Mavic neutral service then the team mechanic will have to take it back after the stage and get the team one back for repair.

Washer needed for both types. I used to swap between Campagnolo and Shimano freehubs quite often. If the washer was missing then it would all bind up when you do tighten the cassette.

Check the washer between the freehub body and the hub is fitted. Caught me out the first time I did it.

On the Honest John website there are quite a few stories of TSI engine problems. HJ says that it was down to VW using worn out tooling to make their chains.

http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/askhj/answer/58237/volkswagen-golf-needs-a-new-engine-after-cam-chain-failure—what-can-i-do-

Does anyone tweak their saddle height after moving the EBB? Can’t say I do, but I do notice it sometimes.

Had a thought riding home last night. There was a cycle lane on the pavement which I avoid because it crosses side turnings etc. Also, once you are on it, you normally can’t easily get back on the road without having to give way. So I stay on the road.

Will I be viewed as a kind of middle lane hogger to a driver behind. I do feel guilty sometimes and pick my speed up a bit.

Citron C5

Sounds like a right lemon 🙂

My creaking stem over a few weeks turned into a very weird feeling that the bike was fighting me when I applied the front brake. Got home and took the stem off. Looked OK. Then I took the spacers off and there was a horizontal crack across the front of the carbon steerer just where the bottom of the stem was resting. I could bend it with my fingers and it was just like a mouth opening and closing! 😯

Moral: Don’t ignore the creaks!

Got a new fork with an aluminium steerer for the bike now.

Thanks for the secret pro link. Lots of strong opinions there 😯

Riding a Surrey League Handicap road race as it’s only 5 miles from work.
Meeting the MTB club at pub afterwards 🙂

whats in Aru’s bottle?

I saw Contador had a similar bottle without a lid last week. I thought it was just while he had a bad shoulder to keep his snacks in without having to reach around to his back pockets.
Never seen them before in a race, but it does look like the ones you keep spares in! 🙂

Had an off on a steep downhill corner into a load of nettles in Chamonix. I did get up really quick and was gone before my mate came along. He did look at the squashed nettles and wondered.

Obviously Alpine nettles are a breed apart as I could still feel it 24 hours later 😯

I bought a damaged screw remover from Screwfix.

http://www.screwfix.com/p/trend-pro-grabit-screw-and-bolt-remover-2-pieces/21391?_requestid=266839

Used it on two sets of time shoe plates, a friend’s thomson stem bolt and the rusted screw holding my oven element. Never failed me yet!

I just flash my BC card and get 10% off on the spot.

Friend of mine chose a Boardman MTB which had 15% off at the time. They refused to give him another 10% off for his BC discount saying that it did not apply to sale items. He didn’t buy it. The manager was wrong as the BC website says you get 10% off everything and that includes sale items.

Thanks for the replies. I think I will try it as it is. I have a black bike so should not look too bad. I do agree that the hub one does look a bit odd. When I first saw it I thought it was a Knog type light in a daft place!

When I bought my new bike I wanted a new computer. Wireless one was £50 so guy in shop said why not get an Edge 200 for £90? So I thought why not. Plus £30 for K-edge bracket 😐

Now I have bought an Edge 510 for £200+ just to get the speed reading right! 🙂