That’s now two mind boggling things I’ve seen on STW today. This and The Voyager mission thread.

Mind boggling.

Tried the old Shimano DX shoe and 5050’s and Gusset pedals. Both were a horrible combination and slipped off over anything rough.

For now, I’m out.

Where you staying Molgrips?

Belfast notably has the Titanic center and the bus/taxi tours are worth a shout of your interested in The Troubles. Outside Belfast, the North Coast has plenty on offer – Giants Causeway/Rope Bridge and stunning scenery. Further south you have the Mournes district, again stunning scenery with plenty of activities available. And of course, our 5 trail centres.

Don’t forget your flak jacket ;)

There wouldn’t be enough time in the day to type all of my odd OCD habits. I’d say there have been a dozen carried out already today.

2009 Vanilla RL 140mm QR. Still going strong.

Thanks Aleigh. It’s always good to know that something is working for people. My CBT starts at the end of next month.

Alpine Girl, welcome to the thread. I can understand about not being able to talk. I can write/type my thoughts no problem, but when it comes to actually talking to someone, I find it really difficult.

Yea, TFT have been great for me too. Which reminds me, my shock is due a service shortly….

Exile, welcome to the thread. Yes, new meds will take around 2-4 weeks approx to bed into your system. Just keep an eye on things if they don’t improve over time.

Hi Tom. Group sessions have been mentioned quite a few times to me.

Yesterday turned out to be a terrible day. Meds have been changed slightly after a visit to the doctor 2 days ago suffering from feeling very dizzy/lightheaded and not sleeping. I took a bad panic attack yesterday morning in work and ended up having to leave pretty sharpish before I broke down totally. It came on so sudden, and it lasted most of the morning. Felt helpless and out of control, scared and very very lonely.

Hope everyone else has been feeling better than this.

I don’t know how any of us managed to ride bikes years ago when 700mm probably seemed far too big and a waste of time. There’s much more to how a bike handles the terrain than just changing bars and stems. Yes, it does and can benefit. I have 700mm bars on a 60mm stem and really don’t think I need anything bigger and any trail I’ve ridden. And I’m like Peter Crouch in the arms and legs dept riding a large old style Meta.

Oh. Em. Gee.

Found a regular house spider in the bathroom last night – large brute. Went to get something in a girly attempt to kill it, came back, it had gone. I have a proper fear of spiders and didn’t sleep much last night.

Kill them. Kill them with fire.

Slightly off topic, rigid mtb with semi slick tyres (Conti Double Fighters), 50psi – 20 miles/15.3mph/1.21.46/783ft. Not sure I’d be much faster on a road bike?

Yea, second that. No real world performance difference. I’m running Deores and have ridden a bike with SLX’s. Pads/disc size will make more of a difference between them. Got my Deores for £40 an end on CRC.

I have a set of 2009 Vanilla RL’s. Two services – one including replacing the rebound adjust knob inner pin. No problems outside of that. Great small bump performance, stantions in great nick. Have heard these 34’s have issues. Old open bath tech FTW!

Was so close to buying one last week. I’m not sure a suspension seat post is really worth £200 ish. Can’t convince myself either way.

Great news Danny B.

Colin

Thanks AdamW. I’m on 112.5mg. Funny you should mention sleep. My sleeping pattern is terrible. This is a combination of a few things. I think I go to bed to early. My bed has been a refuge for me, somewhere I go to get away from it. I guess I get drawn to it in the evenings and I’m always worse at night. My gf also watches tv when we’re in bed, as it helps her sleep. And it doesn’t help me. Then I usually need to go to the toilet 2-3 times during the night too. I can’t remember the last time I managed 6-7 hours solid sleep.

Thanks purist/dubh.

This is a longer CBT course. I had attended the 6 NHS sessions about 4 years ago which didn’t help. I don’t believe I was in the right frame of mind for it. I’m feeling optimistic about this new course.

I don’t think I could do a group session, I wouldn’t have the confidence to openly talk to people about it face to face. This is why I have contributed here, for now.

With my body confidence, I have spent the last 24 hours basically degrading myself over every detail.

Talk gofaster…. Just type here how things are going, it will most likely help.

Just wanted to update this thread, apologies for bringing it up. Got a date for my first CBT appointment. My new medication seems to have stabilised me a bit, venlafaxine. However, all my demons remain, just not as strongly as before. Oddly, I’m having huge self-image problems at the minute. I’m always feeling slow on the bike, groggy before and after. I’ve started playing football again after about a year away from it and my fitness with that is pretty poor. I watched competitors at a local triathlon event and felt extremely inadequate afterwards making comparsion to the competitors and myself.

What a very small world….

I was staying on the caravan site you ran through. Was down at the beach for a while watching. Fair play and great result.

My overall diet is shocking to say the least. I’m not as fussy as I once was, I eat a larger variety of food now, but just the wrong amounts and the wrong times and either too little or too much.

My biggest problem is fueling myself for bike rides. I’ve gone on too many 3-4 hour rides without having much more than nothing beforehand.

Yea, very much lost interest in the last couple of seasons. We’re an average side these days. I predict some panic buying in the last few days. Our great days are over I think. Wenger has lost the plot.

6 2″ About 80kg.

Okay….looks like I’ll need to spend a little more than I’d hoped. Will stick with 2×9 for now.

Thanks for all the replies, at least I know what do to when the time comes.

Colin

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=17282

BB mount type.

Thanks.

Okay, I assume that removing the granny ring moves the cranks closer to the BB shell? I have one spacer and the chain guide mount on the drive side.

STW never fails to impress :lol:

Every girl I’ve ‘dated’ was from online. I simply don’t have the balls to go up to a girl in real life as start a conversation. With my girlfriend now almost 2 years, met on POF.

Interesting. I recently tried my old black/white AM’s on flats (1st gen 5050’s) with not much luck. Partly due to being used to being slipped in and partly skill. I was losing my feet quite easily on easy terrain. I put it down to a combination of the stiff, non-sticky sole and short pins on the pedals. Undecided if I will save for 5 10’s and decent pedals.

How much of an improvement can be had?

Never watched any lengthy footage of the TDF. I’m in the middle of Wiggos book, so my interest is hightened somewhat by that. Might try and watch highlights by the day.

Just an update….

I’ve now been referred to the Mental Health Team. Ended up off work for a week, but I’ve now returned. Really struggling at the minute. How is everyone else doing?

I’m okay today. Still very anxious and restless.

I’ve been thinking about taking time off work, but I’m not sure that would be a good idea, or help at all.

I’m actually trying to stay off the likes of Facebook and other online places as I’m always comparing myself to others. A lot of my Facebook friends ride so I’m always looking at there videos and photos and comparing that to me.

The words I’ve been wanting to hear. I’ve been thinking I’ll never get the chance to compete properly. My urge to ride my bike is stronger than its ever been.

Just need to put that training plan into motion….

And I’ve been worrying i’m passed it at 30!

Yea, I’ve felt like that about every part of my body since I can remember. I hate it when it’s warm and sunny, because then it becomes uncomfortable to hide. I have learnt to deal with my legs which I hate. I wear 3/4 riding bottoms, or knee pads if I wear the shorts I want as I really hate my knees. I shudder at the thought of ever ending up on a sunshine holiday.

I finished my second spell of counselling a few weeks back. I also went through a basic CBT course a few years back. I don’t feel any different other than understanding my problem better.

Thanks. When I feel like this, I often look for answers. I’ll scour the web looking at threads on forums, or think to myself what I should actually do.

I feel very lathargic today and have done since the end of last week. My eating has been random, and mostly full of sugar – comfort eating I guess. Today though, I haven’t eaten yet. I have the belief that I actually have a pot/beer belly and I hate it, so I go through periods of not eating to see that if in some weird way, it’ll disappear. For the record, I’m just over 6ft and 12st 8lb. Any body fat I have has made its way to my belly. I’m always conscious of it. I sleep with a t-shirt on no matter how warm it is. I’ll wear two layers on my upper body when I go out becuase I don’t want people to see any detail.

Sorry for dragging this one up again….

Having a really horrible day today. My ‘mood’ starting taking a dive over the weekend. I didn’t get out on the bike or do any physical activity. There’s so many things going on in my head I just can’t make sense of them, sort them out in order and deal with them. I just feel overwhelmed by just being alive, dealing with absolutely every little thing. The drive t work, the shower this morning, my first contact with someone in work, it’s just all a huge anvil on me. I’m frightened to take action, fight it, or call someone, or whatever. Posting here seems the easiest option as nobody knows me really.

Running ’13 Deores. Upgraded from ’08 Deore LX’s. 180mm discs. Nicer lever feel, but stopping power is about the same. Solid build, easy to bleed and at £40 an end, great value for money.