was there with you Elf! Got bottles on ice. It can;t be long now? Can it? Please….

STATO – you’re so right on so many levels.

That’s a bloody good idea! Take her mind off things..

External drive purchased. iCloud on. Lectures listened to. Alphabet, thanks I’ll give them a try. Pictures, as they say priceless. Knowing her from now on she’ll be backing up 15 times a day.

All avenues explored. All lessons learnt. been in front of mirror for hours. She’s been very tidy and my entrails are in a bin liner waiting for the cats to rip open later. Surfing handbags now.

aracer I had them when they were the bizzz. Admittedly so long ago it was before indexing. The best bit was being able to flick someones lever and cripple them with an unexpected gear change on the hills.

I do actually have one on my new 3 speed fixed, so no doubt somebody will seek retribution after 30 years.

Don’t have a problem with the crap colour, or the angle of the saddle , which can be sorted quickly. The marmite bit is the handlebar gear change. No amount of polishing will make it acceptable to anyone outside the old guard of the CTC.

I think thats well done. I like mine to still be shuffling about on the plate. However you should adjust how you cook it depending on the cut. Basic rule of thumb is that if you’ve got fat in the meat, like a ribeye, cook it more to melt the fat and get the taste flowing through. If its a lean cut then much rarer as heat will make it tougher.

Don’t don’t don’t don’t get a beagle! They are lovely dogs and have many good traits, especially with kids. However in the situation the OP describes they would be a nightmare. We had one years ago when I was a sprog. I have no doubt that you would do two hours hard exercising and when you got back and slump in your chair it would come up to you, look up adoringly and say, “now we’ve done the warm up can we start the real run?” The other issue is food. They will go to any lengths to scavenge food. In the house you’ll need child locks on all the cupboards and never leave anything out. When off the lead no dustbin is save. They have a discerning pallet. They will try anything again and again just to make sure it’s crap. We have had loads of dogs and the beagle was a lovely character, but hell to live with. Couple round the corner from us ignored the advice and now look like zombies trailing around on the end of a lead.

Merckx

You’re all missing the point!! They only slow you down! Who wants that? I agree with JoB if you have to spend money start with the pads. I’ve got Dura-Ace, 105 and Tektro and whilst their are differences I’d be happy with 105 if I had to live with one for all seasons. Caliper length, crap cables, pad postioning etc can be a factor in making a brake feel spongy so routine maintance can sort alot of things before you need to spend on new brakes.

If you need to patch the inside I’d not bother because the structural integrity of the tyre is compromised. Does look on the large size and winter is when you need good tyres. Buggering about on the verge in the rain and frost is not on my list of favorite things.

I’ve used and recomend the superglue solution. Apply when the tyre is at proper pressure, or close to it. This prevents it cracking when you pump it up again. Then use sandpaper to make sure you have smooth service and no bumps.

And have a nice morning 🙂

I’ve thought about it in the past and talked to my optition. He said don’t. The reason he mainly offered was that your body changes with age and any operation on the lens of your eye will resolve the issue at that point in time. However in the future as the body and eye in particular change/degenerate then the shape of the lens will not be the correct shape. Took this with a pinch of salt as he might of been protecting his professional interest.

I didn’t go ahead mainly due to lack of funds! However the three people I know who did get done have all started to develop problems about three years down the line.

I’m using bifocal contacts now and it’s a good solution to my “blindness”

Gallery, outdoor art trail, theatre, snow dome etc in city centre but a walk round Stony is the best bet I’d think. Lots of sign posted history and good coffee and beer. Quality bike (roadie I’m afraid) and outdoor shop and a library that gained notoriety for not having any books. Think we’ve taken some back now.

£3400 Charlie. A lovely car. I’ve never had issue with AT. Just need space as got roofing works on the go. Another friend had success on eBay with a £10k Audi and was tempted.

It’s Stony Stratford! Home of the cock and bull story! Are you on the bike? Lots of interconnected parks to ride near MK city centre if you can’t get down and dirty at Woburn.

Can’t recomend Ambrosio hubs enough. Super smooth. Did 1500m in shite conditions under full load everyday in three weeks during July. (Novatec are the same but branded differently) Built into Rigida rims which are a good starting rim and half the price of the Mavics. They also have the double eyelets which is good at spreading the stress. Have kept them in for the local chain gang and others are thinking of this combo for winter as they are bomb proof over the potholes that seem to abound here.

Got some from SPA but also Byer Cycles. Now there is an old fashioned (as in touring and nothing else) bike shop, who are spot on in terms of customer service.

Basil! Just the same thoughts about my grandad and HER. Think we should start planning the party now. I’m prepared to buy an ice cream van and give free ‘laced’ cones out to the residents of Finchley who voted her in.

Be honest. Thats what mates are about. Having had a couple of these myself……… Its about people and not places.

First was in the days before they became events. Pub with mates and they’re still with me even though she isn’t.

The second was eight years ago and I was so scared that they and other mates would do I organised it myself. Told them what to bring and that everything else was covered. Passport and £100. We went to Boulogne to collect beer. Stayed in crap hotel and had a meal that cost more than everything else put together. People still talk about it including me drinking champagne from another custumers shoe. Tasted brilliant!

My best man wasn’t there! He was 16 at the time. We went to the pub and he (my son) carried me home.

All these have been great and its because of who was with me. If anybody can’t be there, if you value them, you will do something to include them one way or another.

Had some rich friends who got married last summer. £100k wedding!!!! Various things organised from Portugal and New York to the local pub. Nobody was made to feel poor or out of place cause they hadn’t been to one bit and not another. I was out of work at the time.

Now rusty you do need to sort a few things out!

Picture one – Its got Shimano kit on! Certainly the chainset and rear gear are suspect. The cables (apart from being to long) should run along the left hand side of the top tube.

Picture five (in the kitchen – sort those work surfaces) Gear lever right back but in smallest sprocket. No toe clips. Only two top tube clips. Three are required!

Report back when sorted please.

I got the 64GB with 3G but didn’t get the sim card. So when the coverage gets better, or need constant conection, I can take out the contract. Haven’t missed it as there is plenty of wifi access about. Wouldn’t bother next time as iphone is available when I’m desprate for a conection.

I had just got into the car to go between a couple of schools. Turned the radio on at 2.15 which is the time the afternoon play starts on Radio 4. It was 5 or so minutes before I realised it wasn’t a story like Orson Wells did with the War of the Worlds. All the traffic started going noticably slower. When I got to the next school nobody had heard about it and one of the office staff asked if I had been sick cause I was apparently so white.

Jamie’s on a health kick! Note the lack of butter.

Cp – where do you get you 48 chainring from?

cp – your winter gearing is a good set up but probably not readily or cheaply available. You can achieve close ratios on the compact by having a closer cassette. The deciding thing for black hat is what he wants to achieve. He says he wants to get fitter for next season but isn’t a strength rider. This suggests to me that he should improve his cadence and therefore his responsiveness so that he can be quicker and sliker off road.

Cobo rode 34 x 32 on the Angluri and Wiggins 38 x 32! Brad said if he was in the grupetto he would have had something easier! There’s alot of posturing about high ratios here. If you want to get fitter for next seasion then a compact with a cassette between 11/12 and 25/28 and you get everywhere by spinning at a higher and more effective cadence. if you want to put some strength work in don’t change down when you go up hills. A 50 x 11 gear is higher than Merckx used alot of the time.

So he’s in Conway to hammer the Welsh a la Edward 1st.

Of all the chains I use Costa and they have been very welcoming (at many sites). Plugged in for power and been there for hours, with regular coffee/cake intake. (once an hour perhaps)

In London I joined the Tate galleries some years ago. (About £80 a year) This allows me and a guest to use there members lounge (also in Liverpool and St Ives) These are excellent venues and value.

Got Ionos and whisper and both are excellent. Ionos lighter and one I use on road. If in the market I’d just go for the deal.

I know I’m getting on abit but no need for a new bladder yet! Had the old prostrate test and everything’s fine!

We fly lots of short haul weekend jobbies and are always trying to avoid putting cases in the hold so we can get away quickly.

We found a case at IKEA that is just perfect. Its exact size for max hand luggage and has wheels, extending handle with two strutts (so easy to rest other bags on) mesh dividers and straps. Had ours (about 6 cases spread accross family) for 4 years or so without any issues at all.

Only £30ish and can’t recomend highly enough for this size range, although probably not enough for weeks full on alpine kit.

Not a mini from Arthur Daley Esq Mini main agents!!!!!!

The wine was for her not even to calm me down!!!!!!!!!!!

Ride anything Carl. As above. Mildenhall is great fun. Will be out next Tuesday after how many years? Tim

Well… I’m going to be eating porridge for a while but the Mrs is going to be behaving very well for at least 5 years! All the above tips worked out well. Treated them as human ****** executives and was as good as my word with decisions immediately. Did all my prep and knew what was realistic to ask for and accept.

So what did I save (that should be not spend I suppose)? £600 if you include a full tank and tax. Ok but I’m still £15k lighter than this morning. If it had been for me I’d never have gone over £5k for anything with four wheels!

Thanks for the advice again.

The last few posts have been particulerly useful lads. Thanks. Just off to try to put them into practise.

Almost bought a Facel Vega in 1978. It was only £1500! About a years salary for me then. That and the weeds growing up through the floor plan didn’t put me off. It was the insurance. Could only get quote in blocks of three months and it amounted to £1400 a year for third party!!!!

We are doing an increasing number of miles and although the claim of 72mpg on the combined cycle is highly suspect the one we had four years ago was v economical.

If we can get ‘the right one’ we’ll keep it for a good while and resale is reasonable as I’m experiencing.

I think £1650 would be a world record for a Mini! I’m prepared to walk. And am doing the homework which is all sounding pretty discouraging. Most of the ones we’ve seen are fully specced and as we want diesel the comparable ones are scattered far and wide. However I will bash the phone and see if we can get it down to a couple of reasonable options. This would be so much more interesting if it was for me!

My soul went years ago!