why?

Exactly why I got mine.

Got one about a couple of months ago. Brilliant. First time is a bit of a faff but its just practice. Carried road bike and a 29er. Had to let the tyres down on that one.

Best bit is the balance and wheels make it easy to handle through an airport. We go to Holland on a very regular basis and its made taking a bike a great deal easier.

Bought it out there as well which was a bonus. Same price in euros as £ here. With a bit of haggling got €40 of meaning I made 25/30% saving on UK price.

Thanks for that. Have to read it several times to sink in, but will help if I procede. Thing is I do tend to keep for along time so ultimate value is not crucial.

Current car for 7 years and 160k. Looked after and to be handed on to son when I’m ready so £13k ok for me. Might phone tomorrow but will only go for it if absolutely sure.

I get the principle but the car I was thinking about is £13k. What kind of light damage would be more than that?

Selling isn’t a worry as I tend to buy and keep for along time (5years+)

Isn’t Cat D the lightest level of damage?

Tough love is the right term – but I think used in the wrong direction by most here. Piemonster (now officially a STW sage) is right, be a good parent. Its going to be tough for you and importantly the ex. You need to agree what you do and stick to it. Not just for a couple of weeks either. He’s behaved like this for ages so you will have to put the effort in for ages/years. You need to show an example. And consistency is the key.

Plan events and discuss how you are saving for new bike/computer/holiday /etc so he sees the need to work to achieve. Talk about the new drum kit and how he will get it. Create his aspiration, not yours. He will have one somewhere. As others have said it may well take years to find though.

Give responsibility as much as possible. If he’s at home and you’re working tell him to get the evening meal sorted. Not just on the day though. Discuss the week ahead. A small amount of cash to get ingredients rather than a take-away. That means he also has to see you cooking and not just picking up a pizza.

If you don’t reject him but give a firm consistent patten of behaviour (you and ex mrs) with strong example of a life that you enjoy living he will respect you and recognise your love, eventually.
Good luck.

Mikkel – I thought it was only pensioners who went into post offices?

Gobalti – “Cleaned the bathroom floor, removed the bath and basin traps and cleaned out all the hairs and scummy smelly stuff (bleargh!)”

Now that is beyond the call of duty! Mrs Wingnuts is a psychopathic clearer but she’s never done that. Sure you’re not feeling guilty about something?

Got man flu myself so not been out but it’s the only thing that stops me.

Here in Holland as well. Not much use for the sledge though even if I had one here! Back in Blighty tomorrow so hope it lasts.

nealglover – Its not TAT I’m sure you’re like me and have carefully selected resources to cover every engineering eventuality!

This has got me thinking… how long does it take? Could I get it done in time to avoid the mother-in-law coming for Christmas?

It says hardly worn….. stretched a bit maybe!

The real question is not to have a TV in the bedroom or not….. but to have it mounted on the ceiling or not!

The car thing has to be thought about carefully. Most areas can be accessed on the Redways, so it nice to ride around. BUT its a big place! 15 minutes (even in rush hour) can get you almost anywhere in a car here; but that could be 15 miles. Where you work/live would have to be the determining factor. Most of the food supermarkets are on the edge and Tesco/Woburn Sands is a reasonable bike option. You only go to the centre for nightlife/clubs/films/theatre/clothes shopping, not daily supplies.

Lived here ages! Last 6 years in Stony Stratford. Can’t speak highly enough of it. Plenty of events, food, music, and beer. Even a bike shop. (Top end road though) Also like Great Linford. Depends what kind of house you’re looking for. Big road scene and lots of off road groups to suit all levels and times of the week. Several night riding and mid week bunches going out.

I think its a hard call in the UK as space monkey says. Where I’ve used it is as an adjunct to other work. Then it can really add value to a team as well as the individual. It always has to be seen as part of a solution: not the solution.

I think that successfully chasing the money Lance made is vital. That will be an important element in the process of deterring others from doping. It fraud (sponsors and public) and theft (from non dopers)

IHN – always get your excuses in early 🙂

Mel Brooks is my hero, not least for marrying Mrs Robbinson.

Average speed a bit high for me, but I’ll put some training in. Any MKers going want a lift?

I think its an important step to reassure the public, who are on side with British (Sky) riding at the moment. Glad its being done through all levels of personel. Very difficult to assess how far participation in, saw practises, awareness of availability, of team doping could stretch.
There are people (Sean Yates) who are very vulnerable. There are people who may have contact but refused and made a hasty exit (Hammond) and there will be plenty of innuendo (like I’ve just done) that will just feed the rumour mill.
I think people need to say what they knew about, but as importantly say how it could have been prevented.
Whilst I’m not sure about giving David Miller a position at the UCI or any other controlling body, he is articulate and thoughtful about new directions. These have to be developed so its not just hand wringing and crucifying wrong doers.
I’m also concern about how far this code will go with substance abuse as Team Sky would be in trouble if it extended to alcohol! Bye bye Geriant, bye bye Brad!

I’m trying to develop the same level of invective when talking to my grown up kids. I adapted the school play review to debacles they had been in! So late on Sunday night this resulted in a re-enactment of frogs jumping of a log that they had been in a sketch when they where 5 and 7. The result benefited from 21 years of improved artistic interpretation and appropriate increased achohol consumption! Brill

Ask Sean Kelly.

For a second I thought you were getting courier curious. Then I saw that you’ve found the answer to all my performance prayers! Do they have clips for carbon frames? It’d look great on my Madone.

I have a 2003 and never had a service or bearing replaced. It’s used weekly and I’m not a gentle little thing. It’s working as well as the day I got it. A brill bit of kit. Going to sell soon as I’ve got the chance of a good deal on a 29re with the carbon frame. Will be sad to see it go!

This thread is so opportune. The Baxi in my money pit is on the blink. British Gas failed to sort it this morning on the annual service, and told me that parts are now being discontinued.
So what am I facing up to if I get a new WB, as seems to be the boiler of choice here, fitted?
I’m sitting down…..

Ok this is the dish of love (or care) It is simple to do…. honest. Have a go!

It has never failed. Stilton, pear and rocket tart.

Pack of puff pastry
2 or 3 ripe pears – peeled, cored and then cut in half. squeeze some lemon over them to stop them going brown
1 egg lightly beaten
100gr stilton
pepper
honey
packet of fresh rocket
virgin olive oil

Heat oven to 220C

Roll out pastry (on a surface that has been sprinkled with floor to stop it sticking)
Take 9 inch baking dish and put pastry in it. Trim excess
Put in fridge for 20 min – this is really important as it helps the pastry rise in the oven. (don’t ask me why but it does)
Cut the pear halfs into thin slices so that you can stack them on top of each other so that they look like they did before you cut them!
brush pastry with egg (not all of it!)
place pear slices on pastry
crumble stilton over pastry where there isn’t pear covering it
dribble honey over the top
put in oven for 15/20 min
remove and sprinkle rocket over tart and drizzle with olive oil

Sounds complicated now I’ve typed it but it is easy!!!!! and the result makes people think you went on master chef.

Went round to a mates several years ago and remembered him telling me to park in the car port so that it didn’t block the entrance to next door’s drive. Heard a bump and didn’t think any thing of it so reversed out a bit to straighten up and drove in AGAIN!!! Heard another bump, followed by a very nice bike with rather distorted forks slowly drooping down past my window. It was my bloody birthday as well!

I’d get out of there quick. Wasted two years of my live in Derby when I spent an afternoon there last week!

I had this on my touring bike and reassembled virtually every bit on a three week trip across France, to no avail. Just as you describe, only under peddling pressure. Drove me and my mates bonkers. Only when I got home and rode another bike did it become obvious it was the knackered SPD plates on my shoes.

A couple of the blokes who work for them came out on some ctc rides when they were training for a 100 miler. Kept up well but they were fit! Not sure that was because they were, or because of the machine. Along the flat it was fine but hills needed serious work. I wasn’t tempted and it’s a seriously large bit of metal. As a get fit machine perhaps but not as a ride.

This is producing lots of disturbing images of DIY doggy surgeons and bloodstained kitchen tables! Get a vet to do it please.

I’m from Kuwait now so when I’ve found my oil well I’ll go and get a Jaaaaag!

Had loads over the years and the Decathlon one is light years ahead. Stable and robust. Can’t recommend it enough.

Double post. Tired fingers!

The headwind on the return must have been a killer! Total respect damitamit! Will contact you about the frame and decals later. Got an idea. (always dangerous)

Agree about important to maintain the chill factor. Impormtue cafes to raise funds for gap year projects or new shops trying to help lent to a great atmoshpere.

Years ago I watched a stage finish in Cahors. Up the hill in the town centre. Won by Jean Paul van Popple if I recall correctly. Wide street with plenty of trees to shelter from the sun and that is something to consider if you’ve got alot of hanging about. Also in the town there will be easy access to drinks, food, toilets etc which might be useful. There might even be a big screen (but generally only at finishes). That’ll be balanced against grannys (viciously) fighting you for the best position and any water bottles thrown from the peloton. Having watch in the countryside and towns it’s great but as manoirdelourde says plan and go early.

Merckx, work ethic, grace in defeat, rode everything, attacked rather than followed