They do work, but they don't last.

I tent to buy a pair of the endura mt500 ones each year and by the time the weather's warming up again towards spring they're always looking tatty…but combined with my normal shoes and either some thick merino socks (or the thermal sealskins socks) I can ride for hours in properly miserable winter weather for hours without my feet falling off

(everything else does, but not my feet)

I've started riding a bit further out from the kerb, which seems to stop 95% of dodgy overtaking moves (and when the other 5% drive like muppets I've got a nice bit of space to my left to help in avoiding wing mirrors etc)

Making lots of noise while the crappy overtake is happening seems to work quite well too – bellowing "Oyy! Watch it!" (or your own favourite combination of swear words) while they're alongside seems to wake them up (and often embarrass them, if everyone around looks to see what's happening)

ortlieb (again)

check the mounting bracket on it though – mine's currently 're-inforced' with a toe strap after it ejected itself while racing…

I've done the 3 peaks a couple of times and there's not much on the course that I've thought "Another roll of bar tape would make this nice and comfy" about 😉

The descents are so mental that your entire body'll be getting battered and your hands will be cramping up from hauling on the brakes soooo hard…

There was a thread about who's had/not had the confirmation email yesterday: http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/sits-details-who-has-had-their-email

I didn't get anything..but I'm on the list of riders on the pro-velo site, so that'll do 🙂

Yep, it starts at 2pm

NOT a Navman/Mio M600. It's idea of route planning is…well it's crap. 😕

I think most sat navs now, even the cheap ones have options about avoid unsurfaced/toll/etc roads.

(another ) +1

Good prices and fast delivery, top notch stuff 🙂

twinklydave , will a Ragley make me as fast as you??

Yep.
It might tear your legs off and explode your lungs in doing so, but it'll definitely make you uber fast 😀

*Polite, but slightly assertive, cough*[/url]

It's good at racing. Really good. 😀

Oh that brings it all back 🙂

(though most of it's been in a pile in the back garden after scraping it off the bike…)

Lovely and easy to set one up: try wordpress[/url], blogger (other blogging software is available…) for 5 minute start ups.

Can be free if you're happy with your blog being WHATVER-YOU-WANT.wordpress.com or WHATEVER-YOU-WANT.blogspot.com. It'll cost you to buy and host your own domain name, not a lot usually, but a bit, should you want something without advertising who it is that makes the software for your blog (like my site, for example)

Anything else? Erm…like everyone above has said, it'll flop on it's arse if you're dull. I don't mean 'dull' as in 'you're not a multi-millionaire spending all his dosh on hookers and holidays and blogging about it', everyday stuff can be interesting if you've a good way of describing it.
Samuri's[/url] blog is ace, even when he's just talking about a short road ride where some fool dared to get in his way, for example.
Apart from that, do what you like, some people'll probably like it, some will hate it and some won't give a toss either way, it's all good 🙂

Got a reply to my email to Hotlines offering to send a child back instead of the bike. She's not good enough at hoovering and tea-making, so the bike has to go back.

Surely she makes a better brew than a bicycle does?

Anything bigger than 38c (which is bigger than you're allowed to use at the 3 peaks and 'cross races now) pumped up will have to be squeezed past the brake pads – you just push the frame a bit and the wheel pops in fine.

I have no idea what that person is talking about regarding having to remove the QR…at all!

Thankyou for keeping on going long enough for me to do well at one of them 😉

You do have a knack for it, I can't imagine the stress and hassle that goes on behind the scenes; cos no-one sees it on race weekend, which shows how good at it you are

…and, as an aside, who's going to organise the Northern version of this now? 🙁

"Like an Uncle John, but lighter "

Uncle John is the triple butted and plenty light enough.

I know how light it is, I've got one…

…and the Rodwell is lighter, either would be "plenty light enough", but why wouldn't you want a lighter cross bike?

Ragley Rodwell

Like an Uncle John, but lighter (and 30mins faster over the 3 peaks route – FACT 😉 ). Got the bottle mounts you want and makes a nice road bike when slicked up (which I do with mine quite a lot) 🙂

Ah – but what do the numbers MEAN?

THAT'S NUMBERWANG!

There will be lots of new stuff coming out of the shed.
Lots.

Including mugs of wee 😆

Shiny bars and stems?

(Although they'll be available by August/September…like most 2011 bike bits!)

Wuss! 😛

It'll be refreshing…

I've ben wondering the same thing – my Berlingo's on it's way out and is getting to the point where fixing things will end up costing far more than it's worth (it cost me just under £3k 3 years ago, so it's done alright give the hard life it's had)…

…but I've struggled to find anything other than another Berlingo that would do everything as well.

I've looked at the Skoda Roomster, but that still seems too small, big 7 seater MPVs tend to be stupidly expensive for what's going to be, essentially, a bike transporter (but can't be a van as the missus won't drive a van). Other brands' versions of the Berlingo (Doblo, Kangoo etc) don't seem to offer anything the Citroen doesn't already have – and generally cost more

so..err…another Berlingo?!

Anyone else overthinking their drinks strategy?

Well, I'm thinking of drinking over (and over) at the bar afterwards, if that's what you mean?

As long as you're wearing something eh, that's the main thing. 😉

What Miketually said

pedal cars are ace. fact.

I've been riding one of the prototypes for 12 months or…oh bugger it, too slow 😀

(which is something you're unlikely to find yourself being, while riding one 😉 )

A 29er's going to win it, make of that what you will 😀

40psi.wordpress.com[/url]

http://www.twinklydave.com

both utterly awesome, absorbing blogs about ace things

he's singlespeeding/ed it as well, hasn't he?

he's quite tough for a short-arse 😀

Funnily enough there's a discussion about exactly that over on the 3 peaks forum

…though, after reading it, I'm none the wiser 😆

Does the freehub also have another spacer?

(Seriously, some Mavic wheels have a spacer IN ADDITION to the extra 105 spacer!)

Is the lockring moving on it's thread?

(Edit: DAMN, now I'm too slow!)

Did you forget to put the spacer 105 cassettes come with back on the freehub before the sprockets?

(I've done that before…)

Have a go at writing.

A knob (though obviously I thought I was fine)! 🙂

Voted, I learned a few years ago, "most likely to become a heroin addict by age 20" by the teachers!
Given the quality of classmates, that's a hell of a statement…

Aye, myself and terrahawk do it sometimes. Not in a 'timed' sort of way, it's just good training for races.

6th 2002, 3rd 2005, 2nd 2006.

You must have run up a lot of tower blocks as training 😉

Twinklydave, 3 Peaks specific in the flatlands of Bedfordshire, any ideas? I was just going to keep riding and stretch alot.

Find a tower block and run up and down the stairs with your bike on your shoulder.
(In fact, find 3, each about 20 minutes fast ride away from the previous and run up them!)

It's tough.

It's really quite tough!

A couple of months of good, 'proper', 3 peaks specific training will get you round. Maybe not in the top half of the field, but get you round (and even that can be an achievement!)

My prevous efforts:
first time
second, slightly wiser time

Looked like a good day for racing…wasn't a bad day for marshaling either!