I bet that sounds nice with the Termi can.

I really like those Scramblers, apart from the dash.

Definitely buy the bike you want if you can afford it. I thought about buying second hand and riding something a bit beaten up for a year or two, but I’d saved long and hard for something really nice that I wanted to go out on every time.

Here is my Trident. Since this photo I’ve fitted a few more accessories including bar end mirrors that really set if off.

IMG_1559edit by Colin[/url], on Flickr

Well I splashed out on the new Triumph Trident for my first big bike, so what do I know?

But, I’d give the SV650 a proper shout. I learnt on one. Great bike, very forgiving and will just keep going. Has the retro look with the round headlight and trellis frame. Loads knocking about, and even buying new you can get some great deals. I’m sure plenty of dealers will have 2020 stock they will get rid of at bargain prices.

Good luck for the test, it’s a great feeling once you have passed and can ride back to the training school with no headpiece in :)

Second jab received yesterday morning. Very sore arm but nothing else. However, I have a raging cough, but no other symptoms at all. Best take another test.

I’ve been staying away from this thread recently and trying not to take notice of the numbers in the news, but it’s hard to be positive again. Who would have thought almost 18 months since it all began here people like me would be worrying at this stage of the pandemic.

Hope everyone is having a great weekend.

Second jab booked for just 1 day under 8 weeks since my first.

The numbers from that PHE document are encouraging!

I think it’s fair to say that normal life isn’t going to return in the next 12-18 months. Vaccination programs are not aligned globally, new variants will continue to pose a risk, and hospitals will continue to struggle the balance between COVID patients and backlogs.

About 20 years ago. Thinking about going makes me feel sick.

Do I win?

Thanks, I’ll try deleting the history.

I liken this to training. You cannot train at 90-100% all the time. You need to train at 50-70% with plenty of reserve to call on for events

Ben Cathro’s new series on PB touches on this. Actually, the guy he rides with mentions it. Basically he practices something to the point were is isn’t going to get frustrated. He leaves plenty in the tank for the next session. Makes sense actually.

I’m on Windows. It’s the official Garmin map through Garmin Express.

The device is only recognised as a ‘hard drive’ if plugged into a USB3.0 port. It has worked in the past with other map updates, but they took only a couple of attempts.

I haven’t done a factory reset yet. My understanding is that you are downloading the .img file to your computer and then it is installed to the device. This is issue seems to be related to the download of that file.

Yip, here too. Pre pandemic I was out seeing customers on site 2/3 times a week, now I’ve done about 8 visits this calendar year. Our job has been flipped upside down. And currently coupled with global shortages of raw materials, trying to complete projects to our customers is just impossible at the moment and looks to continue for the coming months. The days are very long at the moment.

I’m trying to find time for my hobbies, but it doesn’t come easy.

Surely we should be shielding the elderly/vunerable, and letting it rip through the rest of us?

Pretty much what is happening now. Elderley/vunerable are mostly vaccinated, young groups not and helping this new strain spread.

I’ve probably cried more since getting a dog than I have over the last 30 years, if you do get one, don’t get one that’s going to be sick and break your heart on as regular a basis as it can!

Sorry to hear that. I’m living with a 4 1/2 month old WCS and it’s been really stressful.

Tommy C hype-a-like videos

How you can even endure 2 minutes of him, is impressive.

I put a thread up a couple of days ago about my current stuff.

I got out on my road bike last night, and didn’t finish the ride feeling ruined, so I felt fairly positive after.

I can feel it all building back up again today though.

You know what, I love going shopping at night. It’s bliss. Never used to pre pandemic. I shop at the Tesco superstore in Stretford, and they enforced the shop alone rule after they had an outbreak and the store was closed for a few days last year. That lasted about a month. Most folk seem to wear masks though.

16000 cases yesterday. They predicted 15000 by the 21st June at the current rates? Not far off.

hire more nurses and doctors

Aye, right enough. There’s loads of them sitting around scratching their arses and fully trained on using ventilators for patients. You’re definitely onto something here.

I’m starting to wonder if we’ll ever get back to normal

I don’t think we will either. I feel pretty conditioned to how life is now. Not being able to go certain things anymore, mask wearing, limited numbers in places etc.

Yes, bottom of New Bury Road too. Real eye opener.

Yip, rode through there the other day. Quite the place!

left me considering taking up a different hobby

Exactly how I feel after riding there. I enjoy some of it, but mostly hanging on for dear life.

the easier Golfie trails, like NYNY, Repeat Offender

I found repeat offender much more difficult than NYNY, although it has a few jangy bits in the middle. Pretty much my limit. My first visit to Golfie I tried No Social. Nightmare. Spent it all on my arse.

Looks a lot like a YT Capra. That little extra guidewheel above the cranks, is that a Cannondale OEM part or SRAM/Shimano?

Yes I have a GP. They should have my history, even if my last visit was a few years ago. That was about my back injury. I did also talk to them about my anxiety during that visit and that was when they told me not to worry and to think about looking after my back.

I also need to then address my employer. Previous boss was very understanding, my current one not so much.

I’m a bit miffed at how I can find a GP that will be good for me. I can’t go around them interviewing them all. It stresses me out massively when I contact them. You’re just a number too them. They are likely overrun at the moment.

Very close to taking a few days off work this morning.

Thanks for the advice.

I haven’t been on medication for quite a few years, maybe 8/9 years. I only ever seemed to get unwanted side effects from them.

Yea, been on Citalopram before, amongst quite a few others.

Today has been a very long day, I feel like I’ve completely had the wind taken out of me. Of course, I wanted to do an hour on the turbo tonight…..

I’ve had 3/4 talking therapies over the years, none helped really. I’ve picked up one or two processes from CBT too, but largely ineffective.

I’m very aware of the waiting times at the moment, I know somebody who has been waiting months.

Yea, exhaustion. I slept over lunch today as I feel that wrecked. Will have an early night tonight.

Social media certainly does not help. I don’t even follow the pro stuff any longer. Strava is filled with people I know doing epic rides, big climbs, big miles.

I also get frustrated not knowing where to ride locally. Places like Hayfield, stuff on the west side of the Peak that I live 12-15 miles from. After 7 years here I can’t even manage a ride around Marple without getting lost.

Is this apathy or guilt?

I think it is a mixture of both.

But it’s much more complex than that. Stems from basically not feeling good enough, that I don’t deserve to go and do something I enjoy. I know I used to ride my bike for the shear enjoyment and fun, but I don’t feel that anymore. It’s now based around trying not to be slow and look like an idiot in front of others (if I ride in a group), or to disappoint myself. So more often than not, I decide not to go out.

Well I mean, I’m thick as champ, but even my first thought was ‘they’ll be spending their hard earned on something!’

I played a nice game of fetch in the back garden with our 4 month old WCS. He loves it, and is bringing the ball back all the time now. He is starting to have some effect on easing my anxiety. It’s really quite nice when we take 10 minutes to play a little game together.

Salad.

you’ve lost that bet.

Well aware of that statement. A month or so ago we were on track for 21st. Now we aren’t due to a variant. And they appear every few months. So, I’m sure another one will be along soon that causes enough concern to put a hold on our ‘freedoms’.

I have a bet with a friend that Parkrun would not happen in 2021. I think it’s a solid £20 bet. I’ve already spent it.

They were playing a very good team (World Cup finalists) so they did neutralise each other a bit but I would not have called that match a yawnfest. Are you sure you watched the correct game?

That was 3 years ago. Yes, it was the same game, I think ;)

I’ll give you the first 10/15 minutes, but it fizzled out pretty quickly.

Yip, Holland game last night was great. Ukraine just lacked a bit of polish with their passing. They play good football. Their first goal is going to be hard to beat, great build up play too.

Underwhelmed by England as usual. Such a yawnfest watching them. Apart from Sterling’s goal, he was dung. Some of his forward passes wouldn’t look out of place in a Sunday league game.

Anyone got the 1.5tsi with dsg, and if so what’s the real world mpg?

Yip, 1.5 DSG here in estate form. I get around 45mpg average. With no bike on the roof I can get mid 50s on long motorway runs. When I travelled to the Lakes a couple of weekends ago with one bike on the roof and a car full of camping gear, two humans and one dog, I got 44mpg. I wasn’t in a hurry though. Around 25% of that was on slow, windy Lakes roads.

Thanks stumpy. I’ll give that a go tonight. I know the limitations of the Flux, but not overly concerned about that. As I’m recovering from injury and not done much riding for 6 months, I was hoping that using an HRM will give me more accurate track of improving fitness.

Fair enough. I might just use the Tacx app, that picked it up no problem. Not sure why Zwift can’t take the HRM from the trainer like the Tacx app.