Agree that both a dropper seatpost & ti spring would be the next things

Love the way you suggets it is done. We all know these things are never ‘done’ 😉

Nice bike BTW

When I broke my collar bone last night year I realised there were loads of reasons
De stressing from work
Sorting out work issues (generally without even realising it)
Time away from everyone / everything
Time with mates
Time with dog (sadly no more as he has a dodgy knee 🙁 )
Fitness
Weight control
Adrenaline rush

Priority varies all the time

thanks. I'm good with that

All tightens up fine and the stem all but maybe 2 mm is over the steerer / raised bung

Pretty sure the Flow requires a rim strip. Double check it on the no tubes website.

Most of the new ones (Alpine, Podium, Crest) use just the tape

Was a great event as always.

I was initailly disappointed at the cuts to the course but on the day I think it worked very well indeed.

The bridge exit does need some work. First time I pedalled accross the top and did not touch the brakes through the exit. Cue fork bottom out and near crash. It was fine at slower speeds though or if you manualled at the bottom.

Same here. 2 unprocessed wiggle orders both placed Monday. Well 3 but one item is out of stock and I knew that when i ordered ~ 1 week ago.

Very unlike them TBH

Just got back

Conditions not bad at all. Few muddy spots but largely avoidable. Bike needed just a brush down when I got back though the tyres were a lot muddier than most rides in April

Got to say Soup I am loving ridng there. Got to make the most of the favourable conditions though as I beliveabel it down not hols up well in the winter

Can't be that many cities with such good trails a ride away from the centre

Thanks Kingtut

Yes they are prety challenging bit of trail. Wet conditions add to the 'interest' factor!

Saxon Rider

When I lost a lot of weight I hit several 'plateau's'. My only advice is don't be a slave to the scales and remember as you get fitter you will generally burn fewer calories doing your daily stuff.

Keep watching what you eat, slowly up your volume & / or intensity of exercise and try to be consistent. Slow & steady progress is definitely the best way to go for the long term.

For me mixing my exercise regime up (MTB, bike commute, running, swimming, weights, touch rughy, squash) worked best. Mainly due to keeping me mentally fresh & keen to keep going.

Molgrips don't know if this will helps or hinders your point but it works for me.

When I was working to lose weight I restricted my 'calories in' all the time except the night before, during and immediately after my big w/e ride.

When I did that, coupled with a pretty strict diet through the week and shorter exercise session I made great progress (5 stone in around 18 months). I had the energy to exercise and work hard enough to make significant progress.

If I restricted the food in and around those big sessions I was a wreck (for days). Whether that was real or in my head is largely immaterial

Was thinking about doing some steps to start with and may well have to go that route but would prefer some off road natural stuff if I could

I started about 2 years ago after about a 20 year lay off (used to compete at school). I invested in a few lessons to get my technique back. That was well worth it.

Key benefits for me are
It is a great cross training tool for when your legs have been blasted the day before but you still want to get some exercise done.
Being asthmatic it helped me regulate my breathing
I do a fair bit of weight training so the upper body & core stuff was not as big a deal for me but ceratinly there are benefits
It burn calories so can help control weight
When travelling with work it is often an option for some exercise

The downsides
Skin irritation – drove me nuts initially
Boring! Some days I can zone out and time just passes. Other days it is a chore from first to last stroke.

Certainly give it a try.

.

Back hander as a neutral in the England / Wales debate I think your argument is at best weak.

I think in terms of winning head to heads (now – not over the last ~ 20 years) it could go either way but I would happily bet my money on a fully fit Welsh team and can say 100% that of the two they would easily be my preferred team to watch. Were any of the England games good spectacles? I did not see the Irish game so maybe that was? The others were dire.

It's a pity rugby was not played on paper as I think England could win that. Somehow MJ and co cannot make the sum of the parts work. As an English fan you must find that hugely frustrating?

My ending observations

France – easily the best team and real WC contenders. They sold them selves short yesterday but still won more comfortably than the 2 points would suggest

Ireland – Must be disappointed. Looked very stong coming in but somehow it just did not happen. If Sexton can improve his kicking (and I think he will) they are still capable of beating anyone

England – Truly, truly aweful at times. I am mystified by how a nation of such resources can be so poor. Johnson has to go. I actually think a humping in Paris may ultimately have served them better. ie MJ out and some new thinking in. Former strengths are now weaknesses (most of the pack!)

Wales – I love Welsh rugby, even if I hate the one eyed ness of much of the Welsh support. Some great moments in the 6N's and with a better lineout I think things may have been better for them. Potentially mouth watering back line.

Scotland – Coulda, shoulda, woulda yet again. Could and probably should have beaten England & Wales (Did not see the Italy game so cannot comment!). Some very promising signs if the limited resources are all fit. Best backrow since Calder, Jeffries & Turnbull

Italy – Get their clubs into the Magners. Beat Scotland, could have beaten England and did ok vs Ireland. Need a stronger feeder system (hence magners comment)

Duckman

Even in the Borders (former hotbed) the number of state schools playing rugby is diminishing. I think the SRU are missiing a serious opportunity to be out promoting the game across the country. Some effort now would pay dividends in the future.

Even the premier league teams are struggling. When I was playing at Currie we frequently fielded 6 XV's on a Saturday. They stuggle to get 3 out now 🙁

Bankhander your comments re-inforce mine.

England are doing something very wrong.

Part of the issue is that football will almost always get the cream of the athletes, whereas in NZ rugby will attract more. That said England should be top country by some margin with only France able to compete in terms of sheer mass of players

IdelJon
I think what it proves is that England are seriously underperfoming and the whole system needs a shake up (has done for years).

To have 66 times the playing resources of Scotland and yet only be 'competing' with them is embarassing.

I know player numbers are not the only consideration but still it is a big one

The great thing for you is that there is still a chance of winning the championship outright!

Not anymore!

Think They have secured 3rd place though!

In fairness I feel a few more attempts may well be on the way!

Not yet I guess

Can I claim page 16?

Awful game today.

Italy looked the better side in the second half though never really looked like scoring a try. That critical offload was just not there.

A trip to Rome was always going to be a bit tricky. In the end a good result for England and it keeps them marching on. They could well be on a 3rd victory with a deflated Ireland at Twickers.

A depleted Scotland will not be looking forward to a trip to Rome 🙁

First of all – looks like good news on Thom Evans. Got to be the most important thing!

France look great. They beat (or at least matched) Ireland in every facet of the game. They will probably have a bad game at some point (they generally do!). That aside I cannot see them not getting a Grand Slam!

Truly gutted after the Scotland / Wales game.

I was screaming for Blair to kick it out. No idea why he did not. With 13 men and Wales buoyant it was the only senible choice.

Never seen a game thrown away like that

Sigh…….

Robbo almost definitely will have asked for the roof to remain open to wind the Welsh camp up.

No doubt it makes a big difference to the noise levels. So that way it helps level things a bit.

Think the game could go either way. Surely Wales can not be that bad again????

Interesting he backs Wales & France. I hope he is wrong on both fronts.

Will be interesting in both games that is for sure.

Nursing a cold so it will be feet up, fire on, beer in hand for a large chunk of this w/e.

Good call

I'll give them guys a shout see what they recommend

Thanks all. That helps

Looking at new 2010 models

Getting pretty excited now.

I think both of Saturday's games could be crackers. Hope we get some have a go, heads up rugby for a change!

Scotland will miss Hines but not really at the line out. Around the park he is a notch above Hamilton but not at the set piece IMO.

I am concrened at the break down. Wales (Williams) are awesome there. Think we could see a few turn overs!

I'm just saying that England aren't as good of a side as they think they are

A phrase that pretty much cuts across all sports and all timeframes 😆

Scotland have got to take a chance on someone new at stand off. I would have Parks on the bench for his 10 man rugby / control the game option. But if we want to be ready for the RWC now is the time to be blooding someone

Think the fixtures are all looking interesting this w/e

England, Scotland & Ireland would be my favourites for the w/e.

The last 2 in particular could easily be wrong. I don't think an Italian victory would be a shock. Surprise maybe but not a shock

Darcy – Ireland are an awesome side. Part of me wants them to get back to back grand slams. The fact that I want Scotland to win the head to head somewhat contardicts that 😀

Williams is the best open side from the NH in a long time. He also had a good game on Saturday (it's all relative I guess)

I think France and Ireland will steam roller both Wales and England.

If Scotland could find even a half decent stand off and play to a schedule that fits with Murray's religious beliefs I think that Scotland would be noticably better than both of them also

England were definitely the better side. They wre not good though but i predict a building of momenetum as they beat (comforatbly?) Italy

I think Wales have went significantly backwards in the last few months which is a real pity. The backline has the potential to be mouth watering.

What the heck has happened to Byrne????? Arguably best in the world to should be dropped!

Bankhander, I always think people underestimate the role of a solid front row (as an ex prop I may be biased 😀 ). It is a platform on which everything is built and Murray is one of the world's best scrummagers. He would not have won the game fro Scotland but his effect would have been pronounced

France were very good today and Scotland did ok. The reality is Scotland may beat Engalnd / Wales / Italy. They could also lose all 3. My guess is they will win 2 of the 3 but cannot see them beating Ireland

The good thing about this 6 nations is not a lot of certainties.

England thoroughly desreved the win

My take aways

Borthwick had a great game. Best I can remember from him

Welsh backs were awful – truly awful.

Tait. The great white hope remains a hope . Starting to doubt he will ever move beyond that

AWJ – muppet. Silliest 10 mins ever

Neither team looked great but with Italy next I can see an English momentum building.

Worseley was awesome against Wales last year. He did the job he was given and did it superbly

The same will not happen tomorrow.

My confidence in a Wales win has dropped now that Gethin is out (best British loose head since Tom Smith!). Still think Wales will win though. Think they are stonger through the whole 3/4 line and upfront will be nip and tuck.

Fingers crossed for a Celtic clean sweep 😉

Wales will beat England. England are truly awful at the moment and Wales have too much class.

Ireland will hump Italy

Scotland and France could go either way. Depends if France turn up really. Scotland to edge it though I could be sooooo wrong on that one!

I'll be there.

Was great 2 years ago and despite the issues last year it was also pretty good.

The closed roads are great