I’m enjoying Graham Hancocks Ancient Apocolypse currently – fascinating.

It’s not really fascinating though is it?,

It sort of is.. Because it’s well filmed and shows some pretty incredible stuff really nicely. I’d never seen the temples on Malta or in Turkey, the buried chambers under the hilltop construction made of thousands of big rocks that were all carried up there is all fascinating and the underground complex is just jaw-dropping.

But yes, when he does his big reveal in the last episode it’s obviously junk. However I really liked that he encourages people to do their own research… and even a quick google on him and any of the subjects immediately brings up the other side of the story, not just from the “archeology establishment” that he wants to be against him, but from just about everyone else too. Interesting, educational and entertaining, but not in the way he intends!

Hi Doug, good luck with the new races this year !

Do you know anything about the bike and run courses at XTERRA Costa Brava and the new location for XTERRA Suisse ?

Thanks

Not bears, this guy only just got away

A Bear Is Ripping Off My Nipple

I think I’m most worried about animals that can run faster than me and/or climb trees. Actually that’s all of them..

Not sure how shipping will work out, but I’ve used https://www.momox-shop.fr/

Phew as well..

His much-awaited appearance on Richard Herring’s RHLSTP podcast lives in my memory as being peak Brian Blessed. Minutes of rambling yet fascinating stories veering all over the place and finishing with a mildly concerned ‘did that answer your question’.

Agree with keeping the 530. I have a 945 and a 530 and the two work really well together.

When riding it’s much, much better to have a larger screen on the bars, mostly for navigation but also for just displying al the data fields.

The optical HR sensor on the Forerunner works well for me so I never use a HR strap – when riding I broadcast the HR signal to the 530 and let it record everythign (as other saud, you get the Physio True-up working between the devices to share data afterwards).

Forerunner 945 and Fenix 6 are bascially the same s/w and sensors – and I think it’s the same between 955 and Fenix 7. Honestly the updates to the next generation are not interesting enough for me to want to upgrade. Most of the shiny new stuff is based on HRV and needs you to wear the watch whilst sleeping (yuk).

Choosing between Forerunner and Fenix is just going to be based on the look you want, and the small weight difference. For everyday use, the Forerunner doesn’t look as good, the more rugged Fenix looks a bit more watch-y.

If you wnt to get updates for longer and like the forerunner look/weight more than the fenix, then as someone else said the 255 is a good option – it’s more a replacement for the 735.

Well, after living in Australia for over a decade finally people that lived in the UK in the peak BSE risk era are allowed to donate blood products.

Just checked.. still not OK in France!
The questionnaire asks this: “Avez-vous séjourné plus d’un an cumulé au Royaume-Uni entre le 1er janvier 1980 et le 31 décembre 1996 ?”

For me, I can’t argue with the Stone Roses (even though I quite liked the second album)

There’s also The Fratellis – Costello Music was glorious, since then it’s a lot calmer.

Primal Scream.. Velocity Girl (from an EP I think) is such a wonderful archetype for 90s indie, then they found house and made Screamadelica… then it all went a bit rawk n rowl.

Does it ever go the other way? I’m struggling to think of a single band where I prefer the later stuff.

I can honestly say that I have never heard, or heard of any single one of that lot.

So all of them, obviously

First season was really good, second season got a bit vague, but the third season got better and better, and then finished really well. I was really glad they didn’t try to keep on going.

If you’re into extremely dark twisted violent superhero stuff. I think it’s probably the most twisted tv show I’ve ever seen.

I’m struggling to get into The Boys, maybe because reading the first comic book (also free on Amazon Prime Reading!) spoilt it a bit.

However, as Funkmasterp mentioned, Preacher is fantastic. Messy, dark, (even more?) twisted, chaotic and fabulous. It’s the only series where I’ve been impatient for the next season to arrive.

American Gods is in the same mold, but I didn’t enjoy it so much (despite Ian McShane being predictably rogue-ish)

I quite enjoyed the first couple of seasons of Bosch, but lost interest

It’s worth checking back every so often too. In my region they’ve just made the first three John Wick films available, so I’m catching up.

I saw http://www.frikart.no/ recommended for Garmin maps on a different forum. Looks like a way of selecting different osm layers. I haven’t tried it yet, need to properly compare current maps with the different options

As someone else said, a Couch to 5k android app will give you audio cues to run/walk and let you play music in the background – I used a free (with ads) one a few years ago that got me back into running : https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.c25k&hl=en&gl=US

If you want to use a watch, then Garmin have “Garmin Coach” interval training plans. These are more dynamic compared to the C25K plans, so adapt to keep your progress on track. The watch buzzes and displays text, and some models (maybe just the “music” watch versions??) will give voice prompts through bluetooth headphones. Cheapest compatible watch looks like the Forerunner 45 – about £95 I think : https://support.garmin.com/en-US/?faq=IkvWNeIoSd48GIYCjkhlo7&productID=73207&tab=topics

Seems that Putin has called for foreign volunteers to fight for him in Ukraine. That’s interesting, it sort of backs up the narcissist theory

I just assumed that it was advance justification for bringing in people borrowed from his allies armies, like Syria.

If you want interesting figures, then as an alternative you could hook up your Strava account to https://intervals.icu/

I’ve just done this today, and the analysis seems to be really very good.

Actually I think that’s normal. I have a 945, so I have the training load pages which show the Zwift/TR rides (seems bizarre that the 245 doesn’t support this, but seems to be due to licensing from FirstBeat). But I don’t have any training effect info on the watch for those activites. The overall Training Status definitely takes them into account, although it usually floats between Unproductive and Maintaining. So it’s possible that it is working, and your Training Status is up to date… just not very accurate!

Which Forerunner are you using? Pretty much all of them should support Garmin’s “Physio Trueup” https://support.garmin.com/en-US/?faq=EjPECQK58qA0xzJ5X74vm7

It’s easy to see when a Zwift (or TrainerRoad) activity has been synced to your watch, as you’ll see a bar for that day on the Training Load screen : “7d load” as shown here : https://support.garmin.com/en-US/?faq=SEkNpdGyhR917js0qQL3Q6

You should also see an Indoor Cycling activity pop up on Garmin Connect (website or mobile app) when Zwift has pushed to Connect.

However, you don’t mention how you are recording heartrate when Zwifting. If you’re not recording it at all this could throw things off. If you’re using a HR strap then ignore this, but you can set Forerunners to broadcast HR to your PC/tablet. I actually prefer this as I don’t like wearing chest straps, wrist optical HR works well for me and it means I’m using the same sensor indoors and outdoors. I tried recording on the watch in parallel with Zwift, but this meant that after everything sycned I had duplicate activites and double the training load.

So, if you don’t see activites pop up on Connect, try removing and re-adding the Zwift to Garmin connection.
If you see activites on Connect, but nothing on the 7d Load watch screen after syncing, check that Physio Trueup is on for your watch in the Garmin Connect settings.
If it still doesn’t work then you’ll have to ask Garmin support…

If you’re feeling extra stingy then completing this Strava challenge will give an extra 10% off DHB stuff – even if it’s in the sale : https://www.strava.com/challenges/dhb-12-Days-of-Christmas

I like the sound of the trunk mix..

Bit like this, that I eagerly await and download every year. http://djriko.com/mixmases.htm

I think I might actually have found out about it on this very forum. My kids hate it. I love it.

Saw it two days ago and have been mulling it over…
During the screening I was absolutely captivated, but have been up and down about it since.

Overall I liked it. Not as good as the original, but soooo much better than 2&3

Bad bits: Underused Morpheus and the other two big returning characters (not naming them just in case anyone hasn’t seen it yet..), change of pace when it becomes a standard story instead of just being odd, shaven headed Keanu Reeves looking EXACTLY like Christian Bale, poor kung fu

Good bits : funny, knowing, over-the-top meta opening, Morpheus and his suits, light-handed political allegories and the new human city, ignoring most of the events in 2&3 except the ending, more realistic kung fu… yes, I know I put that in the bad bits too, but it actually fits with the idea of Neo being (at least) 20 years older and struggling to refind his old powers in the new version of the matrix. The messy, confused fight scenes lack the deliberately unrealistic computer-game choreography of the original, but actually that fits the story.

I’ve never really got on with the Zwift training plans – as the ones I tried didn’t have any rest days. Back to Fitness looks pretty good, as it starts with just 2 per week. But there’s still a couple of rather spicy intervals in there – 170% FTP for 20s is going to feel tough if your FTP is way off. I’d make sure this is close enough before starting a plan – spend a week or two doing group rides or routes to make sure that your setup is OK and the fan is strong enough, then do a ramp test or 20 minute FTP test before starting the plan.

Some of the group ride series are fun too – I think there’s a Garmin one on at the moment. They’re only around for a limited time so it pushes you to ride.

As well as group rides and the training plan, you can also start ticking off the Zwift route badges. Some of the routes (Paris/Yorkshire) are really short so you can choose the route for the time you have available. It gets harder once you’ve done all the short ones though.. There’s a list you can print out here https://zwiftinsider.com/route-ride-schedule/

Gloves. Can never have too much choice… winter, summer, xc, enduro, lairy, …

Garmin 530 seems to down to 160€ on Amazon.de

Also, Knog are in the camp of “don’t do it” with added World Bicycle Relief donations :
https://www.instagram.com/p/CWmdEikldnL/?utm_source=Knog+Updates&utm_campaign=4903fe0d77-Blinder_Mini_Launch_2021_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_91b0b3aead-4903fe0d77-68308273&mc_cid=4903fe0d77&mc_eid=f96ba8d54c

Is it actually rebooting?

Garmin forums can be quite useful for this, although no replies here https://forums.garmin.com/sports-fitness/running-multisport/f/forerunner-45-series/244972/device-rebooting-when-pressing-up

If something is wonky after an update, then a proper hard reset may fix it

I’ve only seen the spline pattern on one Cannondale crank arm – mine..

It only has lumps around the outside, not next to the arm itself. Like the pictures here https://r2-bike.com/CANNONDALE-Crank-Arm-Hollowgram-SiSL2-right

So the flats on chainrings can only go either side of the arm. Sorry can’t really help more than that

Nice and Ginger Nuts are abominations.

Gingernuts are much nicer when they’ve gone stale – like chewy gingerbread mmmmmm

Edukator
Free Member

The chains shortage is Europe wide. The only 11s chains on the European sites I use are Campangnolo or over 100e.

Not sure which sites you use, but a quick look at alltricks and bike24 show lots of stock, prices around 30 to 40€. Which is disappointing for me as I was hoping to be able to feel smug about the 2 spare chains in the garage that I accidentally double ordered last year

The flats are just to get the orientation right.

Oval 1x rings and Cannondale 2x spiderrings have them because you need the ovalisation or the shift ramps to be in the right places respectively, but round 1x rings can be mounted however you feel looks best.. because they’re round.

BTW be careful with the crank pullers, I nearly stripped the threads in the crank arm because the hard steel piece wasn’t deeply engaged enough in the soft alu crankarm. But if it’s too deep it won’t work.

I seem to remember that it’s not quite the same as the Synonym – different rear triangle.

There’s quite a lot of info on the chinertown forum about this, and quite a lot of people running 120mm forks.

If Vitus/chainreaction did a version of this with 120mm fork and a dropper post it’s be pretty much perfect for me. I saw something about a guy doing an enduro race on a modified version, but can only find a podcast https://www.mtb-tribe.com/198-vitus-first-tracks-enduro-race-1-review-with-glyn-obrien/ which I haven’t listened to so not sure what the details are

Even with higher-end garmin watches you need to give them some help with pools.

Don’t change stroke during a length
Don’t stop during a length
Don’t wave your hands about between lengths
Do push off hard at the start of a length

Some of the watches have auto-stop, which helps accuracy a lot for me (as I stop quite a lot)

Agree that riding on it should seal any remaining “normal” holes, but I recently had the same problem after struggling to get a tyre on – turned out I’d ripped the tape in one place and managed to peel it back in another.

You could go direct chinese carbon – but there’s a number of risks associated with that. You can reduce those risks by buying from one of the better known manufacturers/vendors. Something like a FM699 from TanTan (which I’ve been considering myself). Non-boost, PF92 and reasonably modern geometry (and a reputation as reliable)

More information that may or may not be accurate can be found by trawling through aliexpress, on various chinese carbon build threads on forums or on chinertown.com

I’ve been living in France long enough that I lost the right to vote in the UK just before the brexit referendum..

Application for an updated Carte de Séjour went in on Monday – it seemed a bit daft to have one before as it wasn’t an obligation before brexit, but I’m glad now as its made the process to request a new one very easy.

I have also applied for citizenship. Not being able to vote except in municipals was a big deal for me, and I actually feel just as French as British now. However, the dossier was literally an inch thick (actually 4cm..) and I’ve been waiting since last May for a reply.

I have a pair. They are quite commercially pushy .. even after you’ve bought some they keep trying to get you to buy more.

Got them last year, and although I’ve tried bigger mask-style goggles I keep coming back to the magic5s as they really are comfy. It did take a while to get used to them but that’s probably due to my inexperience with that type of goggles.

Support was good too. They sorted out a problem with the scan and order, and sent me a new pair really quickly (reprinted from the same scan) when the gasket broke on the first pair.

(disclaimer – I don’t have a powermeter, but have trained to power on Zwift so understand the utility)

As richard says, easiest/cheapest is probably a left crank meter.

Spider meters (like Quark) are about twice the price I think.

The SRM and IQ2 SPD pedal meters aren’t out yet.. but you could do this – and be able to swap between bikes !

Yep, keeps the wheel centered and moves the disc out to the right place. You can get centerlock ones too. You can get sets for the rear wheel too, but I think it’s going to put the cassette quite a way inboard.

It does mean that I’ve ended up with some really mismatched kit though – Boost fork, non-boost 15mm thru axle front wheel and 9×135 QR rear wheel.

I went for a boost SID and one of these : https://r2-bike.com/NOW8-Conversion-Kit-Boost-Adapter-Front-6-hole-15×110-Boost

Works ok, but I’m really paranoid about loosing the spacers every time I pull the thru axle out !

I’d definitely do a proper ftp test before starting a plan. All the intervals are based on percentage of ftp, so the closer you have it set to your actual capacity the better.

I did a few random workouts last winter and even with that learnt a lot about pacing and cadence. With the French lock down I’m back on zwift.. Don’t want to commit to one of the time heavy plans like Build Me Up, as I am also doing a few events and races (tour of watopia and cervelo gravel thing) so I’m working through the 4wk ftp builder. It isn’t a plan so you can pick workouts when you like.

I’m in confinement in France.. so the swimming and running has dropped right off, but I’m back on Zwift.

I’m doing the 4wk FP booster, but cautiously. Most workouts seem to be under an hour, which I guess is how they can be planned each day. I’ll add in extra rest days if I start to feel trashed, exactly to prevent being weakened. I’ll happily accept less or zero fitness gains from doing this; the main benefit isn’t getting fitter, it’s just keeping me sane!

BTW – if anyone is thinking of getting a trainer – Buy one now! All French/Spanish webshops are out of stock, and if the UK goes into lockdown, they’ll all sell out fast.

I did my first couple of triathlons last year. Someone suggested tri shorts to me, but when I actually looked for some, they were all pretty expensive and I ended up getting a discounted trisuit for less. I suspect that trishorts are mostly quite good quality so tend to cost more.
Those decathlon suits are supposedly great even at full price, and wiggle often have their own brand with big reductions.

Oh, and if you want to avoid too much wobbling when trying to get going on the bike, you can always do what I did and put spds on – running out of T1 in mtb shoes was a lot easier than learning how to get feet into road shoes on the go.