Unfortunately he had left his lock on my road bike that he had borrowed earlier in the week.

My Kona Abra Cadabra is still my go to bike whether it’s a cross country bimble or trail centres or whatever.
It’s just so comfy to ride in all conditions. Climbs so well and never feels heavy.

Just don’t tell the wife as she will ask about the other four

Pictures of Jenn were from before she joined STW I’m sure.
I remember her working in my LBS for a while when she was training for the Great Divide. She sorted out a warranty replacement on my cracked Kona Le Roi.

For ever remembered.

I’m still running them on my single speed hardtail. Great for out of the saddle honking.
Do occasionally miss having a different hand position when riding with just riser bars as it feels a more natural position for my hands to rest in.

Last winter I headed out for a solo night ride to test my new Exposure light.
I was half way across a cattle grid when I had a brain fade and decided to steer to the side for a quick breather.
Suddenly I’m playing twister jammed between the cattle grid and my bike in the pitch black.
Took about 5 minutes to untangle myself enough to stand up and remove my bike from the depths of the cattle grid.
Luckily the only damage was to my pride and a massive bruise either side of my thigh from bring jammed between the handlebars and top tube.
Still shake my head every time I think about it.

I’m about to lose my forties, geez where did they go ?
After suffering 2 back operations I now rely on weekly pilates sessions to me flexible.
Has really helped with my core strength as well which makes a big difference when climbing.
Have also taken to doing a few short road rides when time doesn’t permit a full offroad ride and clean up operation. Just something to keep the legs moving.
Never tried gym work, would prefer to just go out and cycle somewhere however short the ride might be.

Cheers for that.
Any other feedback on them ?

I’m having the same thoughts.
Thinking it’s time to move my old Hei Hei on and splash the cash.
I fancy the lime green one

The tyre clearance was one of my concerns over an ‘adventure’ bike.
Think I need to go and try some.
The rest of the spec looked just what I wanted.

Cheers astormatt, what do you reckon is the max size tyres you could run on it ?
Did you look at others ?

I bought an Al-Ko last year, great on rough ground but it was about £350 I think.

uplink – correct, they use a graft to join the vertebra together. This does reduce the movement but it would be minimal.

Cheers Doctor Nick – the pain, the pain. Having been through it twice I’m hoping not to do it again ! Consultant has said it will be fusion next time.
However, at least the biking helps to take away the pain provided I can actually swing my leg over the bike in the first place.
Glad to hear your wife’s has lasted…..

I must admit I didn’t realise how common these things were. Guess I have lived a sheltered life after working for the same company for 17 years before this one !

johnners – Member

Unfortuntely people disappear in this company so you learn to keep your head down most of the time…

Are you off sick from Al Quaeda?

Erm it certainly feels like it at times. Can’t say I’ll be sorry to leave….

TJ – I will have been with the company for 3 years at the end of October.

One of the other big issues for me is a 6 month non-solication clause in the agreement but certainly nothing in my existing contract.

Well appointment bokked tomorrow morning to see the solicitor so hopefully the ball will be rolling in one direction or another shortly.

Just a pain I can’t get to interviews for another 3 weeks and have had to turn one down already :(

Mate, You’re coming across as taking the piss.

The original injury could be attributed to the time I spend in my car for work and also bad posture at work due to laptop etc.

The payoff money would go towards a nice shiney new bike for sure !

3 months…..so there offer of 2.5 months isn’t extactly generous.

Stressed – just a little bit, it won’t help with my depression either

From what I’ve read you’ve had plenty of paid time off sick, which many people don’t get, from an injury that, again from what I’ve read, sounds like it’s zip all to do with work. Now you’re trying to yank their chain for a bit more.

I’m sorry if I come across with a sense of humour ! Just the way I am but I guess when you spend up to 14 hours a day in a car as your place of work it drives you to things like that !

Well, solicitors booked for the morning :)

Nope – the offer is of 2.5 months tax free plus payment for outstanding holiday, ie less than my 3 months notice. Seems a strange offer to make but I’m not a legal eagle….

Stressed – just a little bit, it won’t help with my depression either ;)

Well waiting to hear back from a couple of solicitors now. The MD has just emailed me to say there is no need for me to continue working so I’m assuming I’m back on full pay.

Time to start the negotiations. My current terms are I have to give one month but they have to give me 3 months…..so there offer of 2.5 months isn’t extactly generous.
Guess I won’t get my 100% attendance certificate and £10 bonus this year like I did last year !

geetee – I’ll look the thread up. I’m in a grey area I guess in that I’ve been signed back to limited work by the doctor but not allowed full duties until middle of next month.

Bigjohn – after the initial problem I made the company aware of it but they refused to do anything. I also made them aware of their requirements to carry out assessments but again they refused. There is only so much effort you can put into these things before you say sod-it and just get on with life !
Unfortuntely people disappear in this company so you learn to keep your head down most of the time….

Ho hum – you are correct that that the agreement has a clause about not being able to claim against them. Also has a non-solictation clause in it that I wouldn’t be happy about either.

Just going to phone a couple of local firms and see what they say on an initial free consultation.

The payoff money would go towards a nice shiney new bike for sure !

The original injury could be attributed to the time I spend in my car for work and also bad posture at work due to laptop etc.

Just looking up details for a loca employment lawyer. The agreement would have to be signed by a lawyer anyway and the company will cover up to £200 for this.

I am keen to get away but I can get out to interviews due to not being able to drive or indeed sit down.

It must be an update issue I’m sure as I could also see them for a few days when they first appeared. Grrrrr

I have the same issue. Any one have any more news on a solution ?

Munqe – exactly – I just don’t get it why people are so precious about this information that is so widely available anyway !!

As mentioned above, Bank Transfers are pretty much instant now so that is my preferred option.

As above really. Never say never with cats. One of mine went missing fora number of weeks as well. Was about to get another and she turned up right as rain !
However, several years later she disappeared for good. Never seen again. She was micro-chipped so we called the Council, the local vets and the animal protection groups but nobody ever found her body :(
They are known to go and hide when they are on the way out. Check under bushes behind scheds etc incase the worst has happened :(

< Shakes head wildly in disbelief >

How the hell could you go for a month without realising that your brakes have been reserved ??? I think I would have noticed the first time I grabbed a lever.
So what LBS do you use ?????

Always try and use a half link if you can get the magic length. However, once the chain starts to stretch you will have slack anyway.
Might as well just use the tensioner.

Slidey drop outs for me ;)

TJ – not sure the budget would stretch to ensuites but I would certainly have the bike wash and secure storage sorted out :)

surf-mat, my experience with Kwik Fit has been more along the lines of that of bristolbiker. Take it or leave it type reply, at which point I have left…….

Already had thoughts on the heating and hot water. As much as I have hated combi boilers in the past they do have advantages.

The bedding is certainly an issue. Sleeping bags would make it easy but duvets etc so much nicer but would add to cleaning costs etc.

I totally agree with tron – a fridge of cold beer on arrival is a must !

You are right that you can get cheap budget tyres at the locals but I have always found them expensive for premium tyres.
Doing 30k a year I would stay at the premium end of the market for the extra life I will get out of them.

Get a half link to take some slack out of the chain.
Sorry but I just hate tensioners on SS bikes – yuk !

(Slidey dropouts for me all the way…)

Cheers guys, give me a few ideas for when the time comes.
Now where did I put the piggy bank………….

I just love being able to get 3 bikes, 3 people, 3 sets of weekend gear all inside my car :)

Gives me a nice warm fuzzy feeling……or that might be something else….

Schwinn Stingray ?

edit – beaten to it..

Well the link from RR sort of gives a big clue to the user…..

…and of course it doesn’t matter if you get normal rise or rapid rise either.
Just means the rapid rise mech will move in the opposite direction of the normal rise for a given lever shift.

Does this help complicate things ?