Can’t get enough boll roll around here. It’s pasta that’s in short supply!

Looks like surge testing in Manchester not far from me is taking place in the coming days for the Kent variant.

Not sure how I feel about this video.

I mean after seeing what he can do at Rampage, he can’t jump over a house?

Crikey. All I have is a handful of GCSEs.

Thanks again @Tired for your postings. Keeps me thinking forward in some way.

Yea, numbers do seem to look good. Although it certainly looks like it flattening now. Look at France, seems to have flat lined at around 15k cases a day. The weather will be having an impact at the moment, and testing seems to be down slightly.

I’m trying not to think about the SA variant right now. No point.

It’s a left philange.

Really don’t see the appeal of riding in snow. I absolutely detest it!

This guy has some ‘interesting’ tweets. I believe we discussed this guy before? Even reading every tweet you’d think the end of the world was nigh.

⚠️SURGING #B117 WITHIN US—growing 7% per day, doubling every 9.8 days nationally, & expected to become dominant by March 23rd. It is surging fastest in Florida—doubling every 9.1 days. Scientists are extremely worried: 35-45% more transmissible.?#COVID19 https://t.co/T3GV8anzYz pic.twitter.com/RFyifNq4QS

— Eric Feigl-Ding (@DrEricDing) February 7, 2021

Finally got out on my MTB since mid December. Didn’t feel guilty about the 12 mile trip to Marple from home. I got lost at the start of the ride for taking a couple of wrong turns. I’m still not 100% familiar with this area. But it was nice to be out. Very cold, the windchill must have been -5/6c.

Mellor Cross, Marple by Colin[/url], on Flickr

Long time sufferer here. L5/S1 double herniation over a period of about 18 months.

After many hours at the physio, all the lower back stiffness is rooted to stiff hip flexors, glutes, hamstrings and quads. Working on those will give some great relief. I’ve had a bit of a relapse from being sat in my office chair so much in the last year. Have also done some very basic Pilates stuff that helps with lower back mobility. Has been very good for me. First thing in the morning and then again in the evening.

I also got a new office chair with much better support.

Good luck. It’s a long road.

2007 Fiesta ST
2010 Focus ST
2006 Clio 182 FF

That’s the order I owned them. Miss the Clio most, closely followed by the Focus.

FR245 doesn’t have a barometric altimeter which is a shame. I might try and see the difference between it and my Edge 520plus on one of my standard road routes too see what the elevation difference is.

Ah the nifty fifty. Great lens. I have an old 30D which I tried to sell a couple of times. Still a very capable camera. It’s in the cupboard gathering dust at the moment.

Garmin is the hot topic today! I’ve always had issues with connecting the devices to the app on my phone. I’d say one in 6 activities requires a lot faffing switching things off etc. I think the screen tech is pretty poor. OLED has been around for a while on many smart watches, but Garmin still uses low MIP tech for the majority of their models. Also, the strap on my new FR245 seems like something I’d expect on a £10 special from the markets.

I’d never use the wrist HR for biking. It never rests on your wrist properly, especially mountain biking when you move a lot more.

I’ve just bought this watch. Upgrade from an old FR230. Not really bothered about the pulse ox meter. It is also widely accepted, I think, that wrist HRs are not that great. Probably 5-10% off what they really are. The FR245 has the latest V3.0 HR sensor. I used a chest strap HR on my FR230, will be interesting to see what this wrist based one is like when I start running again (this weekend hopefully).

@GlennQuagmire

What bike have you bought?

The new Triumph Trident 660. Don’t have a delivery date just yet, but slowly getting excited.

The sun is shining here today, I’ve been for a walk, and I’m feeling kind of alright compared to the last couple of days. The motorbike I ordered is starting to show up at dealers now so I’m starting to think more about spring time and getting out on it. Small wins, eh? It is also nice to see numbers falling everywhere at the moment.

An old Ford of some kind, probably a Cossie, or an RS Turbo at least.

I haven’t even thought about any events or races for 2021. Haven’t heard anything from the PMBA series which is what I have raced in before. I am booked on a long weekend stay in Glentress at the end of April which was postponed from last year. I’m guessing it will be moved again this year.

If I could get parts I’d be fettling… I do enjoy it, but find something very frustrating like bleeding brakes.

Got really lucky last week. My girlfriend was at her parents house in Carlisle helping her mum care for her dad and we had been signed up to every stock notification for a Tacx Flow Smart trainer. She got one from a local shop in Carlisle, went straight on and got it. Picked it up the following day and the guy in the shop said they weren’t supposed to receive it but it was on the delivery lorry. It was the only 1 and she got it. Shame I have to wait 2 months for an axle adapter, she can use it straight away as hers is QR.

Yes, the increase in daylight is a nice feeling. Having passed my motorbike tests at the end of last year, I’m excited to start my motorcycle journey in the spring, hopefully.

I’ve just bought the Wahl clipper set pictured above. First outing in a day or two. I was previously using a Philips trimmer unit and it was a bit of a struggle and not that great. I may never visit the barbers again if the Wahl clipper is good!

He did so much more than so many of us. Very sad news.

If I stand at my bike side on with the seat right up, it’s well below my hips. Seems to fit me okay. When I see the PB bike check photos at races, all the enduro bikes with their seats up are up beside their hips, sitting relatively much higher than mine. Go figure. I wish I had an ounce of her talent.

Try and read TiReds postings

Yes, he has been a gent and a great help to me and everyone on here.

Thanks to everyone else who has taken some time to respond. Sorry for dragging it down as usual.

I’ve noticed the somewhat downbeat nature of your posts

Yes, sorry about that. I tend to let stuff out here too many times. Unfortunately when I’m stuck at home with very little to do, I go through spells of just going into a state of anxiety when I read what is online. Work is very very quiet. I’m reliant on manufacturing and that’s not doing so well these days. Losing my job is a real worry. I’m aware many have and I really feel for them. My job and background education is not common, so finding work would be very limited.

I’m not going to sound like a broken record, I’m aware that I do. Tried GPs over the years, never had anything positive. Lots of CBT, talking therapies etc. Currently my girlfriend is dealing with a very difficult situation with her mothers mental health, who has been told 2 months wait at least for any CBT/counselling appointment. I’ve seen her for 2 weeks out of the last month as she has had to travel home to help her. Have seen my own parents once in 15 months. So, I gave up on all that years ago and just bumble through life trying to manage by myself.

And I’m injured at the moment. Constant niggles with my knee that I’ve had for a couple of months mean that anything but the most gentle exercise is painful. So you put all that together with no outlet for yourself and you quickly spiral out of control.

As I get older I think more about the past. All the interests I had, football, mountain biking, aviation, cars, motorbikes, all now seem to have the best days well and truly behind them on a personal level. Everything I do with those interests is over. As I get closer to 40 even if the pandemic wasn’t around, I’d be trying hard to make more great memories with these interests. Going on MTB trips, playing more football, riding bikes et al. A year after this all started I feel like it’s all gone. Other than getting my motorbike license last year I have absolutely nothing to look forward too, or get excited about. A year long period of trying to find glimmers of hope is just completely gone now. Not even the vaccine roll out is doing anything for my spirits. Being able to maybe meet up with a few other people in the summer isn’t getting me worked up at all. To the point of wanting to sell everything I own, bikes, camera gear, to have some savings when the day comes.

why oh why don’t they do an HD quality stream?

Yea, this really annoys me too, especially when I wanted to watch F1 highlights. I thought I wasn’t selecting the right stream, turns out it’s all SD.

I still prefer the first Deadpool to the second, but both really enjoyable.

I have a deposit down on the new Triumph, my first big bike. The MT07 will be more fun, reading from all the reviews. Punchy feeling engine and fun geometry. I learned on an SV650 and loved it. Also briefly tried a Z650 and found the throttle and engine at low speeds very agricultural.

KTM 690/790 would be a great shout. I love the looks for the Husky 701s.

@DrP

i’ve a tacx Neo..it came with a bunch of adaptors… I’m only using the 135 QR.
If your machine is the same setup as mine, and they will fit, i can lend you my others until you get yours delivered to you?
Just post them back when you’re done?

Very kind offer :) I need the e-thru axle with the 1.5 thread is if you have it. If you do, very happy to borrow it to get me going. Garmin are quoting 3-5 weeks delivery if you are okay with that. Drop me a message.

Yes, I have a Hero7 Black and the app is turd. I tried to download a few videos to quickly make some short clipped videos and it was an absolute ball ache.

So, I got real lucky yesterday and got my hands on a new Tacx Flow Smart trainer. Got excited and was going to give Zwift a try and then realised I need an axle adapter for the trainer and it’s a 5 week lead time anywhere :(

I was really hoping this would be a great way start turning the wheels again. Hopefully see you all in 5 weeks!

I’ve had an Octavia Estate for almost 18 months now. Really like it. Loads of room in the back (don’t forget the split rear floor) and with the seats down it’s even better. I have my bikes on the roof anyway, so the boot gobbles up all my gear with plenty of room to spare. I have the 1.5 TSi engine with DSG (150bhp) and I’ve been really impressed with it. Long runs it can give you 48-50mpg or more, and I haven’t had it lower than 40mpg yet over a full tank.

So, great car, even if it does have a wiff of taxi driver/grandad about it.

I need to leave this forum for a while. The situation in Brazil in particular scares the s#*t out of me.

Look after yourselves.

At least a walk outside. Really helps.

Yea, I made it out at lunch time to clear my head. Being on my own at the moment as my partner has had to go to her parents to help care for them, isn’t helping. Work is very very slow at the moment, and I don’t see much changing for us soon as we rely heavily on manufacturing and projects which just aren’t happening.

Didn’t the article suggest it has been here for quite some time? I’m not seeing any light at the moment either, but trying to stay positive.

This thing really does seem like it is so far from over. Quick look at Isreal stats on worldometer show that cases are still rising pretty rapidly and deaths too. Going to be another few weeks before there is any effect if there even is one. I mean, it’s just not worth thinking about, but what if this just doesn’t really work? What if this Brazilian strain, or SA strain really does render vaccines much less effective? Feeling absolutely doom and gloom today. Maybe it’s the sh**ty weather. So grim recently :(

1000%. I need to drive at least 12 miles to get to the edge of the Peak District. Mid December was my last MTB ride. I hope the motivation returns at some point. I’m not holding out much hope.

Close work colleague is back off sick again. He and his wide tested positive around 7-8 days ago and he was starting to improve a lot. I hope this isn’t a bad sign. He is mid 50s, pretty fit, doesn’t smoke etc.