I’m pretty good, back at work full time (desk job from home) but also getting randomly knackered / chest issues (best I can describe is it feels ‘hollow’ and each breath feels a little lacking in O2)

And getting that feeling you get the day before you come down with something but never actually coming down with it.

This seems to happen at random, other times I’m fine. Riding around 10-13 miles mostly around 120 bpm but wouldn’t want to push much further / harder. Agree with the earlier posts about feeling like I have an energy battery and need to keep within it.

Will be fascinating to get the antibody test and I’ll be confused / annoyed if it’s negative.

Suspension fork ;-)

Bossnut is a great bike for the money and a great intro to full suss. Saying that for XC rides on the downs the canyon probably makes more sense. Canyons are good too.

But you said about lakes / trail centres a so if you plan on that, I think the bossnut would be great. You could add a dropper later.

Both are decent bikes and you’ll have fun on either round here 😉.

My bikes are more capable than me. Despite having an aeris and having big alps plans I suck at jumping and manuals / drops.. better off on an xc bike.

I sometimes worry I like buying and planning new bikes more than riding them.

In winter I dump my muddy hardtail straight in the garage.

Wiggle / CR have the 12 speed groupset in stock. Looks like only the 175mm cranks.

I do have some sram, mainly because I like the Reba as a cheap comfy XC fork (I’m < 140 pound woman and the light tune works for me for mincing) and eagle was the only game in town for 12 speed. Also a shock got specced on one of my bikes. That said, I’ve been so frustrated with stuff too. Fork issues, breaking stuff, over engineering, marketing buzzwords, over priced at times. I’d like rid of it now that Shimano have some good drivetrains again, and I’m becoming a fan of the smaller sus companies like Manitou.

The reverb is a massive pita. It did bring posts to the masses but it’s a stupid design and I think they should move away from it. The only thing sram I really rate and will miss is that little thing that clicks in and holds the mech out of the way when you remove the rear wheel! I love it!

As said keep an eye out for sales. But Yes the game is great! (if you like RPGs with turn based tactical combat that is)

I’m pretty sure I’ve had it too (see the thread on here) and I’m 7-8 weeks since the start and only just able to ride recently without it knocking me back.

I found during the initial recovery even small exertions messed me and my chest up again. It was depressing. Take it super super easy and ease, flat rides as said and let your body ease back in is what’s worked for me.

New bikes are awesome and ‘better’ but not always better if that makes sense. Like I sold my 2009 orange 5 and I’ve never been quite as happy with my newer bikes as I was with that 5, which fit me like a glove and I learned to ride on.

Yes riding is fabulous!

Thanks for posting these again I really enjoyed them. I’m holding to do a trip for the first time soon, probably not half as epic as this!

Cheers.

is there a part 2?

Used to be, and still am for sport but these days I’m more embarrassed to be British. I hate what it’s become. I hate our press. I hate our politics. We could and should be so much better and it makes me sad.

Huzzah! Exactly what I’ve been waiting for. Well I was waiting for that Advent X but now I’ll go deore wide range 11 speed on my xc bike that’s currently 2×10 and replace the crappy slx brakes (wandering bite) on my Aeris with the 4 pots.

Huzzah!

I run butcher / purg on my big bike and ground controls on my smaller bike and I like them a lot and they are always good value. Both grid. I founds the controls to weep out stans fluid.

I’ve never ridden a minion in anger mind, maybe I’m missing out

I’ve had a pretty positive week. Lung pains have gone, heart rate coming down, O2 food, I’ve felt well in myself mostly (one blip) and have been able to start riding short distances at low effort without too much bother. I can take on some small local hills if I go gently.

Last week I rode 3 days on the trot but third day it set me back and I got ‘virusy’ again which was a few days on and off. I’m taking it pretty easy now but I’m very much on the mend (6? Weeks in)

Now to see if I can gain my fitness back, but honestly I’m just pleased to be alive and feel normal and able to get out, even if it is slow and steady.

Best wishes to all still suffering, I do believe you’ll get there.

Glad to hear it Scott. Best wishes.

I did some on the old pricing model which was much more reasonable. did they used to be subsidised before the government tuition fee introduction then?
Agreed they are not max price, 6k a year rather than 9.. still that ain’t cheap.

Agree with earlier posters though, it used to be one of the only real ways of getting a cheap, high quality education at home. Not the case now with the internet (unless you need the letters after your name but if it’s for fun or self improvement, do you really..?)

as an aside, when I switch location to Scotland, the course I’ve just signed up for which costs me £1500 in England is circa £500. That stings somewhat :-(

I also fancy this to replace the 2×10 on the xc full suss. Don’t want to buy a microspline hub and this gives a larger range than Shimano 1×11. I could go NX but it’s heavy and I’ve heard it a bit crap.

I’d like to do the Lon Las Cymru route I’ve been planning for a few years.

But any ride with friends would be good, with a pub garden half way round

Have to say, based purely on looks those vagabonds do look soooo pretty!

Awesome replies all, loads to dig into. Thanks! Lots of thinking to do…

Interesting I’ll look at that bokeh sounds good. Do the gravel bikes work well enough fully loaded up front and rear racks or am I missing out on something if I don’t get a full touring bike? Don’t know much about these bikes only ever had mtb.

The vagabond appealed in one part due to the fact it is steel and can probably take a beating, yes jack of all trades though.

I also looked at tour de fer and lose some capability off road… decisions… Definitely want something that’s happy for a couple of weeks touring with a tent as well as shorter trips.

Also had a couple of days of general tiredness and ill feeling, after a weekend of gentle riding. Raised hr too but better today.

Sorry to hear it’s getting to you scotroutes. It will get better!

Agreed, and when I spoke to the doctor at the Covid assessment centre on the phone, he asked me if my Fitbit could do pulse ox and seemed pleased when I told him I had one! Asked me about trends etc amongst other things.

Anyway for me I found it very useful to reassure myself in the week after my night in a&e, to help the sense of rising panic when I felt I couldn’t breathe, I knew that I was OK, and that contacting NHS again unless it got to low 90s or worse was not going to be useful.

So all in all I’m very glad I had it, although I do see that some common sense is needed too. Franksinatra potentially saved a dangerous situation by knowing his sats were too low and to go back to hospital (albeit with a GP wife to read the numbers, but still)

I was working from home when I first got ill and then isolated, so hopefully didn’t pass anything on.

I think the weird pains around the ribs / chest is pretty common.

For those worrying if they will ever get better, this is today, and what happiness looks like:

Again for balance, only ever had positive experiences with Rutland, including whole bikes on sale albeit pre-corona.

I’m getting there thanks CG. Up and down but definite upward trend. Might even try the bike at the weekend!

Condolences P-Jay. Sorry to hear about your ex CG.

Sorry to hear p-jay

Healing vibes to all

Yes also finding it a very long tail. Massively better than I was but yesterday I overdid it I think with work, then walk round park and shopping for parents. Got back and had some chest pain again and chest a bit tight this morning.

Week 5 I think. Good O2, always 98-99 and heart rate is coming down in general. Seen it back in the 50s at times although still a bit elevated overall. Rolled round on the bike the other day which felt great.

I’m able to do things and walk, sleep, enjoy stuff and can even walk up the 3 flights of stairs to my flat but pretty frustrated like everyone to not be able to ride properly in this weather but just having to take it easy and guessing this will many more weeks. Will start some stretching / resistance from today.

Just hope it’s not permanent

Similar to t1red and bwd, I suddenly started feeling ill on Tuesday in the conventional sense, like a normal cold / chest thing but without the weird chest tightness and breathing difficulties of the last few weeks. Shivery, achy. Cleared up next day and feeling OK now. still the odd chest pain / ache but breathing remains clear and sats 99%. Can go for walks and climb the stairs OK. Don’t feel up to bike rides yet, don’t want to push it. Still get tired in the afternoons.

About a month in.

Reckon I caught it from my friend who had a confirmed case at work, and who has tracked my timeline for symptoms, albeit much more mildy.

Glad to hear you’re out and on the mend franksinatra. Sounds like a terrifying time. I feel pretty lucky in comparison.

Totally! Glad you’re feeling better. To anyone else suffering, I had a couple of false dawns where I’d feel better for a day then crash again. Found this pretty soul-destroying as I started to think I’d never improve but there’s been a definite upward trend so hang in there!

I’ve had 3 days of feeling able to breathe much easier (not like I’m at altitude) and no chest pain. Some slight soreness in back of lungs. Fingers crossed I’m on the mend. Today is around day 25 or potentially 32 depending on what symptoms were the actual start. I’m leaning towards day 25.

Fair enough tj – just genuinely interested in the differences in approach in different countries but you’re right not the right thread.

As for mooman, I’m sure you’re having a very difficult time and everyone appreciates everything people are doing, but that doesn’t give you right to lash out like a nob at someone who’s only trying to offer some help in some way. Wind your neck in.

One story of am American doctor who tested positive outlined his symptoms, ct scan results and daily treatments. He prescribed himself both those drugs daily, amongst other things. Which seems to suggest something positive about them?

At the risk of sounding trump-esque, I’ve read that China, Italy, France and the US (and others) are using that malaria drug alongside some antibiotics as an early treatment, before people get really sick and also trying some antivirals on trial. I’ve not heard anything about the UK giving treatments like this, or anything at all. is there a reason why? Are we trying anything as treatment or is it only a ventilator / o2?

China seemed to have decent death rate stats so I wonder why are we not using their protocols?

I known nothing about medicine which is probably obvious from my post

Sorry to hear that cinnamon_girl.

I’ve got a 2016 Liv Lust which is pretty old-school xc (419mm reach, 70 degree head angle 74 seat). I love it round the woods and up on the south downs, it flys up along and nips through tight flat single track brilliantly.

I’ve also got a bird aeris 145 all long low and slack which I also love. But the lust is better locally, the aeris is for bigger days.

From what I read yesterday it seemed that even in London the facilities are holding up thus far so perhaps they’ve not had to start making decisions on who they can help yet – good news for your relative anyway, glad they are getting help. take care.