Are you required to stand up?

Of course, to attention. It’s the national anthem.

Masturbating furiously to the national anthem

As ever on the internet things are not as easy as black/white or yes/no.

Armstrong survived a very aggressive cancer. He was already a bit of a shit. Yes and perhaps that helped in a weird way. He systematically doped. He built a team around him that systematically doped. He bullied and blackballed anyone who tried to speak out. His reward was 7 yellow jerseys. Is he even more a bit of a shit for doing that? Of course. Was he racing in an era when most of the peloton were involved to a greater or lesser extent? Yes. Was he better at it? Yup. People hate him for pissing on their dream as much as whacking up to win some races.

An interesting question I think is would how would a clean young Armstrong today rate against best at the moment. Assuming they are clean of course….

This is about felching isn’t it?

Can someone please summarise the ‘events of last night and today’ as a haiku? Ta.

Living in east Kent I’m totally spoilt for choice. There are microbreweries and micropubs everywhere. My favourite three brewers at the moment are Gadds, Goodies and the Hopdaemon.

Just polished off a big, steaming bowl of homemade bolognaise.

Cheapshitlager

One of my kids playing skyrim.

The more interesting early stuff isn’t so popular.

The pompous stadium dad rock stuff seems to still appeal to middle aged introverts.

5/10

It’s about priorities innit.

If you miss your mates and the outdoors ‘that’ much then arrange time to go and do that. Your missus will understand I’m sure. It won’t be for as long or as often unless you give up something else to make way for it. And no, it isn’t the same when your kids are old enough, it’s a completely new experience.

I get what Johndoh is saying, maybe I’m just saying the same thing in a nicer way.

A US marine’s helmet
A bust of Queen Victoria
Numerous road signs
A small dog
There’s plenty more but my memory appears to be unwilling to release the details at the minute.

My only excuses are beer and growing up in a small village with nothing to do.

Mine was a bit of an enigma. Much older than my mother and with a ‘history’. He spent most of his youth roaming Pakistan and India and was 19 in 1939. Signed up for the war and after many scrapes fought and was severely wounded at the battle of Imphal. He was very kind, perhaps to a fault and was away constantly. Which wasn’t good as it left my mother free to do her version of parenting. He died of liver failure in 1999. His drinking got a lot worse after he retired. I think he got bored.

Mine has suffered from mental issues throughout her life. That’s not her fault and it’s a pity that she wasn’t able to get any proper treatment when she was younger.

This doesn’t excuse the violence and neglect that both my sister and I suffered when we were young. The consequences of which has had a profound effect on us both. It’s only been in the last few years (I’m 44) that I’ve come to understand that it wasnt all my fault.

Ernie is better at this than cougar.

Skyrim

3.5k on a cove hustler frame and custom build back in 2006. Hated it. Don’t know why.

Next was a canyon carbon hardtail for 1800 in 2015. The spec on this is bloody excellent and I’d not have been able to build something similar for new for the same price.

If I ever manage to get the remortgage over the line the. I’ll be adding a road bike and transition scout or smuggler.

Then starting again in a few years time.

Bikes are disposable in my opinion.

A trumpet, a football or a lion.

I managed to watch it all. Probably because I didn’t have any beer due to manflu.

You could tell from the pats first td that they had properly found their rythmn. Still the falcons should have won. Atlanta failed to manage the clock, gave away 3 consecutive defensive holding penalties on 3 consecutive 3rd downs and totally bollocksed up a great field position.

I dislike Brady intensely but fair play.

Kind of on topic – has anyone taken a punt on the specialized riprock 24? Can’t decide if it’s a gimmick or a good idea.

Have followed the raiders since the mid 80s. But for ‘that’ play it could have been us this year.

Can’t stand the pats. Anyone but them.

Realistically they’ll win it by 12

My two lads have near enough the same thing every day.

Apple or pear
Tangerine or plum
A club -today’s is mint
A packet of plain popcorn
A container with chopped up cucumber, peppers, celery, carrots and cherry tomatoes
A big bottle of water

They view eating at lunchtime as something to get done quickly as it cuts into playtime. Minimum hassle, minimum mess and fast eating.

LDC make some nice, short cranks. Quite pricey new (70ish quid) but plenty of s/h options.

It’s just the new thing to hate.
No different to BITD when there was hate for suss forks, disc brakes, full suss bikes, singlespeeds,29ers, fatbikes. The list goes on…
Some people just love to hate and forums give them a platform for it.

I think it’s more than that. IMO a bicycle is powered by the rider, not a **** battery. Yes, it prolongs the riding lifespan of older/injured folk and who doesn’t want that? But they ain’t bicycles. What concerns/amuses me is the cycling media’s response to them….

Another vote for uniqlo.

Carhartt make nice stuff and there’s usually a sale on their website.

My experience of Chelsea fans is similar to binners.

More shitheads and racists per head than any other prem team by a country mile.

Having quit smoking recently I’m in no mood for alcohol or any of the associated NYE bollocks. :D

Nine til nine sleeping and walk in the woods will do for me.

Water.

Sausages, cheese, cured beef, cured pork, salami, bread.

Some French red.

Battlefield one.

Far cry – primal. The tension of not being at the top of the food chain is palpable, especially when the sun sets on the Mesolithic valley you live in and you are far from your village and the fire.

In terms of quals, the nebosh general cert then diploma is the most travelled route. It’s not cheap and the diploma particularly is not an easy course to pass if you are juggling study with other things in your life.

I’ve worked in h & s for 12 years (oil industry and FE) and I’m pretty sick of it now tbh. The constant battle to be heard and the default position of being the sole responsible person has been pretty stressful. Have recently moved into Estate management with less h & s responsibility and much prefer it!

Finding a good employer is as important as your qual route imo.

I’ve found a few ways to conquer the fear.

1. Drop your saddle a couple of inches
2. Go back to flats
3. Take a completely indestructible 8 year old with you. He spent large parts of our last ride sulking because I wouldn’t let him ride a treacherous drop in. He has bmx racing skillz and balls the size of Albania.

On one top tube

Going out for our big meal on Christmas Eve.

A Mexican Christmas banquet involving citrus and coriander stewed lamb, yucutan pork belly with spicy crackling, a variety of steaks, a huge range of chillies and lots of salsas.

And tequila. Lots of tequila. And Mezcal.

The holy day itself will be spent amidst vast amounts of cold meats, cheese and excellent bread.

Richard D James

Awesome thread!

Any which way but loose

Sheerness

E. – very spicy keema curry. The kids smashed it, along with several pints of milk.
D. – cheap shit lager
L. – Metallica.

Romney Marsh?

Interviews work both ways.

What if you are suitable for them but they aren’t suitable for you?

Ask the kinds of questions that will give you those kinds of insight.

Agree totally with being honest and being completely yourself. No point in bullshitting your way in and burning up during the probation.

Laugh and smile. It’s an interview. They WANT to know about you.

So tell them.

Taking the youngest to the BMX track for training this morning. His attitude to rain/cold is one of contempt.

Then drying out/defrosting on the sofa for the rest of the day

I’ll go a little higher – frame including headset, seat clamp and post in mint condition. £350-400.

Edit: I’m surprised you found it uncomfortable. I’ve got exactly the same bike albeit with a nice supple tubeless set up and it’s lovely. Can knock out 6 hours and feel fine, which for a 44 year old with a **** lower back ain’t bad. Mind you I don’t have a full suss to compare it to.