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by kylecycler
7 Jan 2024, 2:34am
Forum: On the road
Topic: Winter cycling photos and writeups
Replies: 205
Views: 24141

Re: Winter cycling photos and writeups

[vimeo][/vimeo]
Cowsham wrote: 6 Jan 2024, 8:57pm :lol: I had a black lab pup run beside me on the bike for about a mile and a half -- it seemed to be laughing at me all the way. Looking round with a smile on it's face. I did try talking to it telling it that it was a long way from home but it didn't work. I had to out pedal it -- that mutt could do 22MPH!
Reminds me of a similar (or, well, maybe not!) experience when I was cycling the back way to the town past a farm...

Out of the corner of my eye I saw a dark shadow that looked like maybe a dog bounding across the garden beside the farm then bursting through the hedge and coming after me...

I thought, 'Sh** - Rottweiler!!!'

But then I thought, don't be silly, it's just a big black lab.....

But then I did a double take and... it really was a Rottweiler! (I later learned its name was Jake, but that wasn't much use at the time.)

I tried to outrun it but that wasn't going to work, but I've had dogs all my life so I resorted to Plan B - I got off the bike, Jake stopped in his tracks and I shouted (hopefully the mods will allow this since it was a matter of life and death), "F*** OFF, YA F***IN' BAMPOT - GO HOME!!!"

Jake tilted his head to the side, thought for a bit then turned tail and headed for home - it worked!

Actually, though, I had a whippet called Josie who used to do what your wee lab pup did - run ahead of other dogs, jinking from side to side, looking over his shoulder as if to say, catch me if you can except he knew they couldn't.

He didn't really care whether he was chasing or being chased - he was like, running is life; anything before or after is just... waiting.
by kylecycler
7 Jan 2024, 1:56am
Forum: On the road
Topic: Winter cycling photos and writeups
Replies: 205
Views: 24141

Re: Winter cycling photos and writeups

Jon in Sweden wrote: 6 Jan 2024, 7:44pm
Cowsham wrote: 6 Jan 2024, 7:01pm
Have you ever met one ( moose ) while cycling and did it scare you?
Only once on the road ahead of me. A big bull, but it scarpered before I got within 100m of it.

I did have a juvenile run alongside the car in September. That wasn't ideal.
You may or may not be familiar with an Australian carbon repair expert on YouTube called Raoul Luescher, who has a very dry, deadpan sense of humour - he'll inspect a carbon steerer tube that's had its stem overtightened to the point where it's liable to fail and potentially kill its rider and describes that in his Australian accent as 'less then oideal...'

Also there's a French-Canadian cyclocross racer called Maghalie Rochette who told GCN's Manon Lloyd that she's never in her life seen a moose, which I thought was odd - I thought all Canadians would have seen a moose at some time in their life.

But then I'm Scottish and I've never seen a haggis, at least not a live one, so...
by kylecycler
2 Jan 2024, 12:43am
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: The passing of pop stars...
Replies: 106
Views: 7304

Re: The passing of pop stars...

Psamathe wrote: 1 Jan 2024, 11:52am Went to see Gryphon shortly before Christmas and mostly the original line-up and brilliant.
That's a blast from the past for me - I'd forgotten about Gryphon!

I bought their album after John Peel played 'Spring Song' on his show - he had eclectic tastes although in this case I think he was just being contrary and perverse. I've always been a sucker for drum rolls and I think that's why it appealed to me - the intro is all drum rolls, IIRC.
by kylecycler
1 Jan 2024, 12:38pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: First ride in four months
Replies: 130
Views: 19026

Re: First ride in four months

It's like the difference between the village where I live and the town where I used to live - in the village everybody says hello to everybody else even if you don't know each other, but if you say hello to someone you don't know in the town they're like, 'Do I know you?'. They don't say that but they don't tend to reply unless they know you - they're not so friendly. I don't know why that is.

What I've found when I've been getting back into the cycling is that I'm not expending any more or less effort than before, just going slower, and even then it's hard to tell since I'm just riding on my own. As I get fitter I'll go faster with the same effort, you just have to accept that either way - it won't get any easier, or not much anyway. My hybrid has a triple 48/38/28 chainset with an 11-32 cassette so I'm never running out of gears, even fully laden, which helps.

Staying warm can be a problem, right enough, especially my feet. I use flat pedals so I'll need to buy a pair of proper winter hiking shoes, maybe even one size bigger than I normally take to let me wear extra socks. I often go for a long walk before a ride - warms me up and lets me judge how many or few layers to wear on the ride. Sometimes if you aren't warm to begin with you never get warm and then you get cold.

Keep at it anyway, Mick. I think the only problem is if we try too soon to do the same as we were doing before. I've never stopped cycling because I cycle for transport - haven't run a car for years and don't use public transport - but I haven't done long rides since before Covid. I know if I build the rides up slowly, though, it'll come. Longest ride in recent weeks was about 40 miles.

We're past the shortest day now so the weather's bound to pick up - years are like that!
by kylecycler
1 Jan 2024, 11:51am
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: GCN+ closes What are the alternatives?
Replies: 96
Views: 24691

Re: GCN+ closes What are the alternatives?

rualexander wrote: 31 Dec 2023, 4:31pm I never received a discount code from them.
Got the refund but no email with discount code.
Tried contacting them, no response.
That's unfortunate. It was a fairly straightforward process. Still had to give payment details, of course, but the first three months are free. The player seems just the same as GCN+.

Actually I just checked back and the discount code wasn't in the refund notification but in a previous email dated 14/12/23 - 'Important Reminder About Your GCN+ Subscription Ending'. Sorry if I misled you - I got that wrong in the previous post.
by kylecycler
31 Dec 2023, 2:37pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: GCN+ closes What are the alternatives?
Replies: 96
Views: 24691

Re: GCN+ closes What are the alternatives?

kylecycler wrote: 30 Dec 2023, 9:50pm Just used the discount code sent by GCN+ on the 19th (with the refund notification). Followed the link in the email, entered the code, so that's the first three months free (applies to the Standard package so that includes the cycling plus motorsports except Moto GP). Will be £6.99 per month after the three months are up.

Had to be redeemed before midnight tonight, though, so if anyone still hasn't, they'll need to be quick (I nearly forgot!)..
Just re-quoting myself to point out that today is the last day to use your discount code if you have one and not yesterday, so there's still time.

Ok I'll fess up, I thought last night that yesterday was New Year's Eve and until now I thought today was New Year's Day - not only do I not know what day it is, I don't even know what year it is! :oops: :lol:
by kylecycler
31 Dec 2023, 1:02am
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: UFOs
Replies: 184
Views: 8056

Re: UFOs

Cowsham wrote: 30 Dec 2023, 11:48pm Maybe it has everything to do with UFO's. What if millions of years ago a UFO landed here but soon as the aliens open the hatch a T-Rex ate them. The one survivor takes off back to Zogg and warns the rest of the universe it's a dangerous hole of a place. That's why we haven't seen anymore of the blighters.
To boldly go where no Zoggian has gone before - and live (well, at least one) to tell the tale.
by kylecycler
30 Dec 2023, 10:54pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Are you "Infected by a remainer mind virus"?
Replies: 920
Views: 862618

Re: Are you "Infected by a remainer mind virus"?

roubaixtuesday wrote: 30 Dec 2023, 10:07pm
Jdsk wrote: 30 Dec 2023, 5:46pm Third anniversary of Leaving.


Screenshot 2023-12-30 at 17.44.54.png
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/20 ... nances-nhs

Jonathan
The contagion is spreading.

Compare and contrast reality with this description of post Brexit Britain from leading leave campaigner Daniel Hannan.

It’s 24 June, 2025, and Britain is marking its annual Independence Day celebration. As the fireworks stream through the summer sky, still not quite dark, we wonder why it took us so long to leave. The years that followed the 2016 referendum didn’t just reinvigorate our economy, our democracy and our liberty. They improved relations with our neighbours.

https://reaction.life/britain-looks-like-brexit/
Reads like the last hurrah of a loser (or even satire!) - seems unhinged or even detached from reality...

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/20 ... nances-nhs

(Yeah, I know that Guardian article isn't what anyone would necessarily call balanced, but it really is because there has to be a balance, and as far as Brexit goes I think the scales are just about broke.)
by kylecycler
30 Dec 2023, 10:25pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: GCN+ closes What are the alternatives?
Replies: 96
Views: 24691

Re: GCN+ closes What are the alternatives?

Paulatic wrote: 30 Dec 2023, 10:16pm
Pendodave wrote: 30 Dec 2023, 9:58pm It's a shame the cross season has been a little underwhelming tbh.
You’ve been watching a different feed to me 😀
Today alone …Lucinda, Ceylin battle and catching Puck underwhelming 🙄
I just caught up - Fem was winning with ease last time I watched and it was boring, but yeah, epic! :)
by kylecycler
30 Dec 2023, 10:11pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: GCN+ closes What are the alternatives?
Replies: 96
Views: 24691

Re: GCN+ closes What are the alternatives?

Pendodave wrote: 30 Dec 2023, 9:58pm It's a shame the cross season has been a little underwhelming tbh.
Hopefully, the new road season compensates.
Yeah, I don't think I've missed much since GCN+ ended (only a few races anyway). Looking forward to the Aussie races - Nationals, TDU, Cadel - even if it means sitting up through the night to watch them 'live'!
by kylecycler
30 Dec 2023, 9:50pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: GCN+ closes What are the alternatives?
Replies: 96
Views: 24691

Re: GCN+ closes What are the alternatives?

Just used the discount code sent by GCN+ on the 19th (with the refund notification). Followed the link in the email, entered the code, so that's the first three months free (applies to the Standard package so that includes the cycling plus motorsports except Moto GP). Will be £6.99 per month after the three months are up.

Had to be redeemed before midnight tonight, though, so if anyone still hasn't, they'll need to be quick (I nearly forgot!)..
by kylecycler
29 Dec 2023, 10:34am
Forum: On the road
Topic: Winter cycling photos and writeups
Replies: 205
Views: 24141

Re: Winter cycling photos and writeups

Cowsham wrote: 28 Dec 2023, 12:17pm Heading off to town on bike just now but pictures wouldn't be worth seeing as it's a windy and dreagh sort of a day ie dark grey skies if not spitting it's threatening heavy rain.
You've just shamed me - I was about to do the same around the same time yesterday but decided not to coz ^ (we tend to get the same weather in Ershur as in Norn Iron - IIRC that's where you're from - usually not long after you).

One of my many New Year's Resolutions (they pile up year on year) will be to follow the Dutchies' maxim: "We are not made of sugar," meaning they don't melt in the rain*. It's a good one, although I say it to other folk more than I apply it to myself. Saying that, though, the best club rides I've ever gone on were in torrential rain - as long as you stay warm it's great fun.

Had a good ride down to the town on Boxing Day - no rain for a change - filled my basket to the gunnels in Sainsbury's, headed for the checkout, then...

No money - debit card was in my rain jacket and it was a nice sunny day for once. No cash either - wrong trousers. :oops:

Took the basket to Customer Services; they put it in the chiller till I rode back up to the village for my card, a one hour round trip. They'd put it through the checkout when I got back so all I had to do was pay, plus they gave me a big complimentary bag of peanuts - their way of expressing sympathy for me being such an eejit, presumably, although they said it happens all the time. Enjoyed the day, though - two rides for the price of one! :)

*I learned the expression about not being made of sugar reading an interview with the legendary Dutch racing cyclist Annemiek van Vleuten - she used it to explain why she almost never in her career used an indoor trainer, just rollers to warm up and down at the races - the phenomenal training volume she built up to over the years was almost all on the bike (she kept quiet about that when she won the inaugural Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift last year - wouldn't have been good politics - but then I don't think anyone asked her!).
by kylecycler
22 Dec 2023, 10:24am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: 1/4 inch bearings in Quando Disc Hub - Worn Cones
Replies: 7
Views: 463

Re: 1/4 inch bearings in Quando Disc Hub - Worn Cones

rogerzilla wrote: 22 Dec 2023, 9:45am It might be easiest to buy a new hub of the same type and strip it for parts. Saves rebuilding the wheel.
Was just about to post this - last one left, only £14.99. Seller is away until 31 Dec, though, so estimated delivery is 10 Jan at the earliest.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/265826773989 ... R8Dr5KfcYQ

My Carrera Subway has these hubs. Haven't overhauled the front hub for a while but fairly sure it has 1/4 inch ball bearings, same as the rear.
by kylecycler
22 Dec 2023, 6:51am
Forum: Health and fitness
Topic: Are we monoexercisers?
Replies: 75
Views: 17180

Re: Are we monoexercisers?

Here's the answer, folks - the Twicycle...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y02_3Eal1l4&t=120s
by kylecycler
20 Dec 2023, 1:15pm
Forum: Health and fitness
Topic: Are we monoexercisers?
Replies: 75
Views: 17180

Re: Are we monoexercisers?

Cowsham wrote: 20 Dec 2023, 8:34am
kylecycler wrote: 20 Dec 2023, 1:10am I got half way to the town from the village but hit a stretch where the hawthorn hedge had just been freshly cut, couldn't avoid the thorns and my rear tyre punctured. It was getting dark, I had a spare tube but I was still 'only' 4 miles from home so I just hoofed it back up the road. There's always another day (well, until there isn't).
On my commute to town or work I often have to stop where the hedges have been cut, throw the bike onto my shoulder ( this is where the upper body strength comes in handy especially in winter as I prefer to use the mtb with panniers ) or walk the bike on the grass ( if it's not too flooded which it often is ) past the cut stretch of hedge. It's always faster than repairing a puncture. My eyes are always scanning the tops of the hedges to see how flat they look.
Pretty much what I usually do too, although I've never gone so far as to throw the bike on my shoulder (probably not as strong as you - got a typical cyclist's physique - legs like pistons, arms like pipe cleaners!), Sometimes even just turn back and find another route. Forever scanning the tops of hedges, though; I just wasn't paying attention yesterday until it was too late.

The other trick is to ride in the cars' tyre tracks - they've picked up the thorns on their tyres, their tyres are too thick to puncture (usually, although I got a puncture on a car tyre once from a hawthorn) - I've avoided many a puncture this year by carefully picking my way through like that.

P.S. Writing this to avoid fixing the puncture - can't be bloody bothered! :D