Beard

Thanks Chris! Im already seeing a dietitian and yes I fully agree, it does make a world of difference seeing what you are actually eating! Im pretty much the same on the morning rides as I dont want to arrive all sweaty to start the day... Luckily these winter mornings have been brisk so not looking too bad coming into the office... A huge improvement compared to when I started mid summer and I was sweating like a dog in a Chinese restaurant. Also my wife always comments that the days I don't ride I'm a grumpy sod... so she actively supports me to ride everyday

On a complete change of topic I remember when I started commuting about 4 and a bit months ago the challenge was becoming bike fit. The Idea to commute was to try lose some weight and get healthier as I was tipping the scales at about 130kg. My commute being only 4 km each direction was a warm up for regular riders but man did I struggle in the beginning... especially with those hills. Fork me! Ive steadily been getting fitter and adding little detours to my commute (mainly off-road single trail stuff as I still dont like the road and wayward drivers) plus the occasional commute home for lunch. This week alone Ive done just over 110km. I never thought id ever see the day that Id hit three figures never mind how much I love my rides these days. Slowly but surely getting there with the health bit... completely changing what and how much I eat has also made a huge difference but there still much to improve on. The biggest thing that really made my commute was getting a decent bike. WOW... what a difference a proper bike makes compared to a Makro Special. Its by no means fancy as I had no budget but managed to find an old Trek Xcaliber 9 at a bargain from someone who bought it and then realised biking is hard work and never rode it... it was basically new. It was life changing I tell you. I got that bike a month an a half ago and Ive already put about 350km on it... more than Ive ever ridden in my life before. Ive also been learning from the lessons on this forum a lot. - I keep clothes at the office to change into and usually drop them off over a weekend. - Ive perfected the sink wash in the mornings. - I pack the bare minimum with me for the ride itself. (Im loving my bum bag!) - Can even be midday or I could be off-road... im still lit up like a christmas tree. - when you ride your bike each day, you learn its sounds. Im still learning bike maintenance and can happily adjust/fix stuff and keep it in tip top shape along with regular cleaning and lubing. - I still and always will respect cars and assume every driver is a blind idiot on the phone while im on the roads with them.

Do I ever check grammar before I post?

Is whatever job your sitting in now reading this worth it?

Great suggestions, Ill give them all a go. I listen while I work on mindless stuff sometimes so I go through them rather quickly!

... One year later... Okay Im just about to start "My dad wrote a porno" Podcast. Are there any others that people have listened too lately that they would reccomend?

Lets just say if you lucky enough for SARS to use Lube, you will pay tax on that too!

Will we ever see a parallel answers only thread?

That is an excellent idea!! I think I have some spare tape lying around from a trailer refurb a while back.

Luckily I dont have to ride when its properly dark but I still light myself up like a christmas tree. One question though... on these chilly and sometimes damp commutes can any of you reccomend a good visible rain shell/jacket for commuting. Ive seen some cyclists wear bright lumo ones and then others where black ones but have reflective seams. What should I be looking out for?

Where the heck do christmas beetles go the other 11 months of the year?

It’s Tuesday... Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned![emoji15]

This is one build I am going to watch closely... Ive been wanting to get my hands on one of those procaliber frames for a while and do some adapting. Good luck with the build/adaption and keep us updated.

I am the bomb in my turtle neck and perfectly groomed hair... think of me as the ron burgundy of sensitivity. TGIF

Such a sweet job on that santa cruz! That is a hot bike!

I think she's basically stating that most female contraception is hormonal and as a result can lead depression, lack of libido and sometimes weight gain and skin problems along with a myriad of other risks resulting from long term use. You also get physical contraception that can be uncomfortable during sex and not great. The choice of no contraception is either no sex or running the risk of getting pregnant. Its also a rant generally that women seem to bare the sole responsibility for contraception as men are unreliable and dont have to live with the consequences should they choose so. I imagine her hope is that one day men would be willing to take the same level of measures as women such as reversible vasectomies which, apart from the discomfort of the procedures itself, have no other negative effects like the hormone based contraceptives that women are subjected to.

This is awesome, definitely following here and on insta!

Also whats the "k Thanx bye" for Ghost? I realise he is the most expensive CGI on the series but that was right up there with Bran(ch)s cheers to Meira Reid.

and in the books he is described with incredibly light hair and more looks of a Targaryen than lannister... and that the mad king supposedly raped Joanna Lannister. In the first season I thought they would make something of it since he we was rocking some sweet blond locks but the TV series never seemed to follow on with that. and then theres Tywins rant... “You are an ill-made, spiteful little creature, full of envy, lust, and low cunning,” Tywin tells Tyrion in season 3. “Men’s laws give you the right to bear my name and display my colors, since I cannot prove that you are not mine. And to teach me humility the gods have condemned me to watch you waddle about wearing that proud lion that was my father’s sigil and his father’s before him.”

Well maybe since the Lord of light made an appearance at the battle of winterfell, perhaps the drowned god could do his thing... What is dead may never die but only grow harder and stronger. I realise this is never going to happen but im all for wishful thinking right!

Just wondering as Ive never done it... is it safe to do the greenbelt section from the bottom of tokai plantation to firgrove on your own midday during the week? I know on weekends its busy and sometimes mornings and evenings during the week... just not sure if its safe for a lunchtime spin.