Gnash

Sounds very much like the injury I got before Christmas. Don't go back running too early. I started running before I should have twice and each time it set back my recovery by at least a week. I would leave it 2 weeks after you don't feel it at all while walking.

Funnily enough I often feel the opposite - I'm the only one out to push myself (almost) as hard as possible. I think being able to see your speed, record best times and segment leads is great. When I'm riding with others I do take it easier, but when I'm on my own I enjoy it most when I'm riding as fast as I can. Nothing wrong at all with taking it easy and not worrying about speed or times, but it's not for me.

Will be very interesting to see how he gets on. He's way too good for us, but I don't think he's good enough to start for Hearts - yet. I would expect him to be used initially as an impact sub where his pace will wreak havoc in tiring defences.

Cheers, don't know them despite living just a couple of miles away but will give them a go.

Tyre levers, spare inner tube (the right size), pump / CO2 cannister (plus fitting) and an allan key / screwdriver set as a minimum I'd say. Just as importantly, know how to use them.

Can anyone recommend a bike shop that does great servicing? Preferably in the Stirling area, but willing to go as far as Glasgow or Edinburgh if it's really good. Cheers.

There isn't. He grew up in Kilburn. Not unreasonable to say you're from the place you grew up.

I suspect the true numbers of victims is far, far higher. If you think about it, 350 really isn't many at all, just 10 per year roughly since the 80s across the entire UK.

Correct, winning a double olympic gold in athletics would win the SPOTY in almost any year. Jason Kenny 3rd narrowly ahead of his wife and Max Whitlock.

You were sledging as well?!!

Exactly. If you think about it, the screen can be represented in the 3D shape of a torus (ring doughnut).

Yes, just like the shoot 'em up computer games of yore when you'd leave the left of the screen and immediately appear on the right, go off the top and you'd appear at the bottom. The universe is a 4 dimensional doughnut.

Mine is pretty good and it was only about £140. Tacx BlueMatic I think.

For me the trainer is essential to keep the fitness up during the winter. It's not too boring as I just watch telly that I would otherwise have watched sitting on the sofa. The great thing about it is you can monitor your progress really closely as you can replicate rides exactly without weather, traffic etc. affecting things.

Should have said that I did fit a new tube rather than repair the puncture. My failing was that I've never practiced before so basically had to make up from scratch how to actually do it. It didn't help that it wasn't a suitable place for changing a puncture (ie, a grass verge) and it was raining! Hoping to get the time down to 20 minutes next time though.

I had my first ever puncture while out riding yesterday, which took me 40 minutes to fix. What's the normal timescale for fixing a puncture at the roadside?

No, Callander the town rather than Callander Park. It's really a 10k with a 5k tacked on for schoolboys, middle aged women and men whose legs are still sore from running 2 days before. Two of the schoolboys beat me.

I did the Callander 5k this morning and I won! My age category. Out of 2 in that category.

The whole TUE episode reminds me of Paul Whitehouse on the Fast Show, playing a dutch policeman - "we don't have a problem with burglary anymore, since we made it legal".

Has anyone done the Aberfoyle and / or the Callander 10k races? How hilly are they?

Having climbed both, I'd say Great Dun Fell is marginally tougher, as the steep sections start much lower down the climb. Bealach Na Ba is a piece of piss for the first half. On the other hand, the excellent road surface and almost total lack of traffic on Great Dun Fell make it a little easier, or least more pleasant to ride.

Cheers, it's very close to the road you were on too, just a few miles over the hills.

Yeah, that's the one. Crazy road is a good description as well. Here it is:

Where's that? I did Great Dun Fell in the North Pennines a few weeks back, but that's almost 3000 feet.

A very confusing message from health professionals as my wife was told she should avoid driving for 6 weeks after her section.