Having bought two houses for women I didn’t like I think I might have a view on this.
Let me say that ten years ago I bought a house for and married Mrs Wingnuts. And bloody happy that I did too.
Now I may be getting on abit but I think the thing to ask is not would you be prepared to change, but are you happy/comfortable with yourself? If you are you are much more able to try, tolerate or say no to things, and this surprisingly makes you far more attractive to potential partners. The second mortgage gobbler was probably a 20/20 match in terms of education, experience, interests whereas Mrs W might scrap a 12 out of 20 on these, but it is joy to live with her (and feel confident in each other to say you bog off and shop/gym while I get muddy/fettle). I think attitude is probably the key, because whilst you will share important things your partner can continually bring new things to help a relationship grow. Mrs W is a veg and I’m not. Never been an issue.
Just writing that has made me feel how lucky I am.

piedi di formaggio – Member
Can McMoonter’s tree not be used to repair it?

Just peed myself

anc – bars used to be like that but most now run flat into the hoods. Depends on the type of bend in your bars so its hard for us to comment. Also I’d start with the bottom of the bars angle fractionally up as a starting point as both and and clabber’s photos show, then move hoods. Sort overall position and then tweak is the way forward.

After last night the tree hasn’t moved so he’s using it as a gib crane to move the pool house to another locations my guess.

Position is far more critical on a road bike because you don’t move about as much as you do off road. Clubber’s looks like a good set up and is v similar to mine, so I’d echo the flat hoods from raised bars cause first. Even shorter stem perhaps, but defo keep your saddle level. I use a spirit level! All of this is conjecture as you may be an extremely odd shape in the length of limb department. The best decision is a proper bike fit or failing that an on line free one with somebody like this, http://www.competitivecyclist.com/za/CCY?PAGE=FIT_CALCULATOR_INTRO (sorry I don’t know how to do the linky or photo things)

I’ve got 240 sqm of EPDM and think its a good shout. Several of the houses here have it and nobody has complained. Some have already had it in for 10/12 years.
Although it looks thin it is very robust. We’ve had assorts over ours without problems. If the window cleaner worries you get an appropriately shaped bit of ply for him to rest his ladder on. You’ll have to be trying very deliberately to damage it.
The only thing with bay/parapits etc is the upstand and that is a quality of tradesman issue rather than product.

After the night we’ve had here, is it still at the same angle or has there been more movement?

Sleepless night here in Milton Keynes. Wife chucking up and then when I’d tenderly sorted her out the winds just got monumental. So noisy and gusty. Not seen this scale here before. What was getting me was we had only just finished, yesterday afternoon, putting the wind deflectors on the new solar panels and I scared about them lifting off and sailing away. All seems ok now though.

Regular flyer and never seen a rejection by easyjet. They’re a sight better than “don’t get me started on Ryanair”

They’ve been around for years. I remember 70’s Italian road teams on them. Were also big in cross.

Aren’t we all?

If you shite in your bibs you’re in good company. Greg Lemond did it during on of his winning Tour rides.

Done about 6 including the second ever running. Did it on a proper road with heavy tubs! Mainly hard tails since then. Great event but weather can be very changeable, snow to sun burn, but enjoyed every ride.

Overshoes. Wind proof gloves and a picture of a Flandria rider doing Paris Roubaix in the seventies as insperaintion before you go out. Cant paste up so have a look at Pez http://www.pezcyclingnews.com/cgi/gallerypicget.asp?pic=http://www.pezcyclingnews.com/photos/races12/classic12/rbx-godefroot.jpg

Go to holland if you want to see fire works. (See teenage terrorist and quiet on the forum threads) hours of spectacular aerial bombardment all done in the streets and paid for by middle aged schoolboys. Absolutely wonderful.

Great photo! Never warmed to him personally but well done to him for being one of those that did the groundwork to show Brits can ride. We always used to say you needed to keep clear of those who wore helmets cause they would be the ones to crash.

In holland with the out laws. Nice meal and then to some friends for a quiet party. More food and civilised drinking. Kids setting off small fireworks. I now understand that the bangers set off during the day and these supervised kids was just a prelude to the mans job that happens at midnight. I have seen good public displays of fireworks in my time but this was the blitz! Three unrelenting hours of ballistic vandalism. Each village was trying to out do the other. Now this isn’t a carefully orchestrated thing. Grown men open their garages a set of tons of stuff in the street. The house we were at put up 2hrs worth without a break. That’s 4 blokes loading lighting and drinking and giggling like naughty school kids. between them they had spent €1500! I of course show British reserve and stood back….., for about 2minutes! It was the best night I’ve had for years. Stunned that holland still exists and that thousands aren’t maimed. We’ll be back next year! With the (adult) kids and asbestos gloves.

You’re so right cranberry. Just come in for a rest. Street littered with spent remains. This isn’t sparklers and a couple of Catherine wheels. This is the blitz. It’s great but health and safety it’s not. Setting bloody great chest imploding stuff next to cars and next to houses and trees. Better get back out there and launch the Netherlands into orbit.

And they’re having a great time doing it. I’ve not been able to get out and play with them.

It’s all a plot!

Innes, we had a Meg that looked just like yours when I was a kid.
Ren is a good call.

Mine arrived yesterday. Well ahead of schedule. Away till Tuesday so will have shed time to sort for next weekend. Happy New Year everyone

A few years ago we had my mum’s 80th, my 50th, my daughter’s 21st and my son’s 18th. i’m just of for a lie down thinking about it.

Let her have it! My ex thought bikes were worth a fortune but they don’t consider the depreciation. We tend to spend far less on riding than they do on beauty treatments and glad rags particularly shoes and bags. Get onto those costs straight away. Remember that when all the accounting is done and you go for your first free ride it’ll feel great whatever you’re on.

You’ll notice it. As said in other threads concentrate on fit and wheels. I agree about 25mm tyres (particularly if your abit on the hefty side like me) I’ve got all sorts inc CX, steel and my fave ride is the Madone (6.9) with 25mm Michelin Pros.

OrangeChammy.. have you done the Aston Porsche thing? Ive done 911s to Berlin and was happy all the way 🙂

My Wahl ones are 20 years old and still fine. Now I don’t know if I’m bald cause its so blunt it pulls everything out or if its because they are a really fine cut. Will be able to judge as got a new set for my son. The party game of choice tomorrow will be to shave every body somewhere!

Mine’s ordered. With the extra 10% off as well. Arrives New Years Eve. Which is a pity as we’re in Holland, but has the advantage that I now have time to describe the necessity of having one to Mrs W.

IPad all the way. No issue using any of the 3 email accounts I have to access or with banking and ebay. My wife hated laptops and refused to hand my iPad back. I had to go and get another strangely enough.

Well done Mark and Megan! So what tyres for a one day old?

Good luck! It is a great life defining moment.
My first was 10 days early; the second 10 days late.
I think yossarian is being optimistic with a lie in by 2016. Mine are 28 and 25 but they still wake me early. “We were on the way back from the club and thought you would be doing breakfast”

Mine is Tim, although I was christened Timothy! my parents even when angry with me (hard to believe I know) never me by the full name. they told me it was because they were intimidated by the official who filled out the birth certificate into having the full version. Happy with Tim though!

Earlier mention of pretentious names reminds me of what my daughter said when she saw the names of a couple of brothers I know. One is called Marc, yes spelt with a c, and the other is Tarquin. They have a double barrelled surname and she commented that they were never going to be poor with names like that. How right she is.

On the train to the northern wastes and am the warmest have been all day. Not a you tube moment but I own up to falling off at 2 mph on the flattest piece of … Cough ..pavement we rode on all day. The choppers, foot soldiers were out in force early on but they gave up the chase quite soon. It was only thee boaty babalonians who kept trying.

Nice to meet you all. Hope the botty heals soon Elf!

On the train in 15. Colder than a cold thing!

This is tempting me to sign I have to say. If I keep weight neutral over the next 2 weeks I’ll do it. An STW peleton anyone?

If your carrying a bit of weight(like I do) then get the biggest tyres you can. I can get conti 28s in my Madone, but struggle with other makes. My faves are Michelin pros with a 25mm section. Ride high in the road if the crowds allow and attack the cobbles as fast as you can to fly over the tops! My preference is a compact so you can use the closer ratios on the cassette. Use your crosser if you are precious about your best bike.

Riding in big groups on the continent is so different. Some old boy (even older than me) giving you hell on some state of the art pinarello, or best of all getting on the back of some club train. If you do ask if you can sit in, but don’t disrupt their flow by jumping through or about.

DO Stay as omitn says. Brill times.

Hope it’s on, but as arriving by train from the wastelands of Milton Keynes need a decision by 9 as the bethnal green diversion has been cancelled and I’m under pressure not to come down! Not going to turn up as billy no mates and be crucified for not going shopping as well!

I love turkey. Mainly so I can have it cold in sandwiches with pickled red cabbage through till the end of January. So that will be a given on one of the holidays. However the kids are after lamb this year so I might do a crown.

iv) one cheese should have blue contained in its name

Nowt as strange as family relationships. I’m an only one and get on well with all sides of the family, although don’t bother getting in touch often. When we talk or meet we always enjoy ourselfs on many levels. But I don’t do more cause I have really close freinds who I value. I have been coloured by experience of the ex wife’s family who lived in each others pockets and fought like jealous cats in a bag. The current (and wonderful) Mrs wingnuts turned up to her Dad’s funeral to discover 8 … yes that is 8 brothers and sisters she didn’t know about. They were from 3 other women. Strangely she has become closer to 3 of these than her sister from her own mum. Her dad had made her executor but neglected to tell her about all his activity and resultant progeny, but that is another story.

The Gob in Blewdley.