mlteenie

As I have said before; nowadays, after providing quality ingredients, small-scale production labour, and a bit of profit, the price could well be justifed. I don't really know as I'm not in food production and p'raps the profit element is inflated due to the location but I bet not that much. Anyway, no I wouldn't pay that price. I make my own bread since the acquisition of a bread making machine (thanks CWALD). But if some people can, I say let them as there is still plenty of fairly decent bread to be had cheaper elsewhere. Edit: posted under wrong name! (work it out)

Hi Caron, What road in Sutton do you need? I would like to look the available routes. There is usually a way!

A good walk spoiled.

Yes, I am am mobile service around ED. Feel free to PM me for more info. If your chain is not replaced fairly early, it will cause excess wear to the casette and ultimately cause excess wear to the chainrings at the front. The question is whether to run the whole lot into the ground and replace it (can cost from ?150-200)or for better cashflow, to replace each part as it wears. Sounds like it wasn't a very good customer experience. They should have advised you. Hope your bike is good now tho'.

Might I add that any bike, if ridden regularly will soon have seen better days - the parts wear out! That's when you either buy new parts and fit them (or have them fitted using someone like me!), returning your bike to 'as new' or upgrade significantly and buy a better bike (to which eventually you will have to do the same anyway). More expensive machines have better frames/wheels/components, but when set up properly, basically all perform pretty much the same. The more expensive gear is mainly better made, lighter, shinier and takes longer to wear out (if looked after). To me, one of the joys of cycling is keeping things sustainable. My 30 year-old Claude Butler road bike was hanging up in a shed, rusting away in Croydon until I rescued it, had it resprayed and rebuilt it. Now it looks brand new, despite being built with fairly old (but quality) components, mainly from eBay. BTW, lightweight steel frames are much more comfortable and flexible than aluminium frames. Perhaps this is what some of you would prefer for the daily grind. There are always loads available on eBay and Gumtree, etc. Ramble over...

....Er, what?.......

I used to be a motorcyclist and one reason I haven't got one now is that I know I would never ride a bicycle and so get fat. Motorcycling ain't eco, either (engine size to person ratio). And you can position yourself in the road assertively on a push bike - that is what cycle training is all about. Getting rammed from behind is a risk with any vehicle, unfortunately - it is probably my worst nightmare, since you can't eliminate drunk/dangerous and bad drivers. So far so good tho'.

..... And that was nothing like a friendly driver! Glad you're alright, Unkle. I would be up for a ride one Sat morning, although I am busy each weekend till sometime after Christmas. Turns out I know a 'guy' in the Paragon bunch. See you sometime.

Yo're right, Incitatus. Nanette was singing BVs somewhere.

Are they as welcoming as Addiscombe?

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/5/5d/LetItBleed.jpg/200px-LetItBleed.jpg I always loved looking at this as a kid. Nanette Newman made the cake, I believe.

I like the idea of an easily identifiable ED rider's badge/sticker/ribbon(!?). Has to be good from the rear (fnarr fnarr).

Mattham, I don't bother with a lid any more. The debate is endless and is down to personal taste IMO. Off-road, definitely, tho.

Poor Cookie! I am really saddened to hear of your injuries. Good luck for the future and don't give in!

How hard do you pump 'em up? Do you ride heavily?

My most challenging recent commute was when I was working in a house at the top of Highgate Hill from Sept to Feb last winter. 10 miles door to door and Highgate Hill never got any easier. (Dog Kennel-Camberwell-Wally Rd-Elephant-Blackfriars-Angel-LiverpoolRd-Holloway Rd) At this time I was wearing a thin long-sleeved artificial base layer, a long-sleeved merino Icebreaker (warm but doesn't dry quickly) and a Freestyle XCR jacket (excellent - lightweight and no frills). Down below was Endura 3/4 or full-length bib longs (excellent) and Seal Skinz waterproof socks (definitely a secret weapon as long as the water doesn't get in over the top), with Specialized Carbon MTB shoes. I was very comfortable on my Kona Explosif, but have now learned the lesson of mudguards. After that winter my drivetrain (and even my glasses!) were worn out from the crud. Had to replace the lot and a new rear wheel from Condor, Gray's Inn Rd. Then I sold my Explosif frame (people are mad for old steel MTBs on eBay these days) and got a Kona Hei Hei (ti from back in the day), which I am too freaked to leave anywhere, so now I mostly ride my '77 Claude Butler Majestic which I had resprayed and 'adjusted' at Mario Vaz' place in Brockley. Very good value BTW. I commute most places and mainly stick to big roads to get there quick. I always tut at the red light runners, and am always amazed there aren't more accidents. God that all sounds really neeky. Hmm....

You got mail;-)

Kerri, perhaps you should try cycling to your varied locations. It may look daunting from the kerb, but is very different when actually on the road and gets better with practice - unlike driving. I am not totally anti-car - I have one that I use very occasionally but driving in London is a right royal pain in th'arse. Cyclng is far cheaper than owning a car: healthy, quick, journey times predictable, environmentally sound, safe and YOU are in control of your space, unlike public transport or being stuck in a car getting frustrated.

Any cyclist who feels afraid of riding on the road would benefit from cycle training which should endow confidence via assertive road positioning. Accidents can happen any time (that is part of the process - constant risk assessment and anticipation) but in my long cycling experience, they rarely have happened. My worst incident was colliding with a pedestrian who stepped out while I hurtled down Charing X Rd. I was shaken but fine, but she was hurt. I hope she didn't suffer too badly. It was entirely her fault. I am among the tiny number of riders who stop for red lights and obey the Highway Code. I always overtake the red light runners before the whole process is repeated at the next red light. I become increasingly frustrated by cyclists who ignore the rules and who in turn give cyclists a bad image. I was nearly hospitalised by an idiot undertaking me while I waited at the lights at the southbound side of Dog Kennel Hill. When I remonstrated later he seemed surprised that his action had been dangerous. If I had moved to the left six inches, it would have been very different. If you want to do something about conditions for cyclists, join LCC/CTC/Critical Mass/lobby your local councillors/MP and probably most of all, set a good bleedin' example!

Perhaps someone would like to recycle them via their walls? What types and colours are they?

There are some at the EDT, outside the HSBC, just up from SMBS, and ralings outside Nicolas. There ought to be more on LL.

We came home one day to find the council had cut down five lime trees (approx. 30 years old) outside our rear garden's boundary fence, about 30 feet away. That was quite a shock I can tell you. Now they have planted three Golden Rain Trees which have a mixed reputation. And on the subject of trees, I have phoned the council two or three times about a sapling planted outside JAGS (near the bus stop) which has been beautifully tarmacced around. F'crissakes it's gonna die of dehydration. Some workman who thought he was doing a good job has gone right up to it with his chocolate-crispie blatter and condemned the damn thing. Has the council done anything about it over the last two or three months!? Has it hell. Drives me mental! Rant over.

Funnily enough I met an Argentinian guy yesterday 'up West' who is a dancer (tango, I believe) and a sprinter. He is performing at the EDCC on Sunday. I think it may be a dance class. Anyone aware of this?

I have stood in the lane behind Olley's during the day watching rats scuttling up and down. This was about two or three years ago. Guess where Olley's apparently stores its batter mix (according to the mechanic who worked there)? Why, in one of the arches. Enjoy.

Ooops: logged on under wrong user! cancel that.