Drooper

Okay, a couple of pints and a Double Decker and you're in

I've created my own road cycling club. I'm the only member, and I'm known as MABIL.... Middle-Aged Bawbag In Lycra. You can join if you like - the annual sub is only £200

I have the same problem. I intend to call the cooncil (or whoever deals with these things) and ask them to address it, but meantime I try to sit back from the stop line towards the right of the lane. Not sure how well this works, right enough, as the changing still takes an age, and is pretty erratic at best. ETA: your post prompted me to chase this up, so I called the local authority who referred me to AMEY. They say they'll be sorting it out, but I'm not holding my breath, as one cyclist probably doesn't score very highly on their priority list.

Christ! That's mightily impressive. I'm still thinking of signing up for the Lord of the Lochs sportive at the end of September, as my motivation is slipping without a clear goal. A lot of club riders have signed up, though, so I have some anxiety about being swept up by the broom wagon I say my motivation is slipping, but it is probably more to do with not having to get out there regardless of the shite weather. I tried the club malarky, but just couldn't get into it, TBH. There's no doubt that it would have improved my fitness and riding, but I like to do my own thing, and felt it was too regimented for my tastes.

TBH, if you're using the bike for a long ride over several days, it might be worth biting the bullet and getting your local shop to have a look at it. You might be right about the freehub seizing a bit, but it could be your bottom bracket (though that's less likely, as you'd have noticed that it was packing in with excess play/grinding etc). I'm less informed than many on here, but would think that something as fundamental as your cranking powering the bike is worth getting checked out before embarking on a big ride. ETA: best of luck on the ride - sounds a belter!

Dan Dan Dan! Dan!! Dan!!! Dan!!!! Dan!!!!!

I opted not to bother. I was hoping to sign up for a third sportive to round the year off, but don't know if I fancy the Glasgow 100 again this year. £50 seems a bit excessive, TBH, though the organisation and feed stops last year were of a high standard. I'm considering the Lord of the Lochs Sportive, but with only 37 people signed up so far, there is every likelihood I'd come last I had a look at this, but having done the Skye Mor in May, I thought I'd leave this challenge to next year. Have you done it before? If so, was it a good ride?

It says more about the mercenary arseholes who have agreed to sign for them than anything else, though. FFS, you really get the measure of a footballer when he is prepared to dirty himself by association with this reprehensible shower of shit (given that they are insisting that they retain their history, they'll be getting no clean slate from me), and drop to the bottom league on the basis of a few more sheckels.

Going out for a couple of hours tonight, as the weather has broken. I went out for a 35 mile ride last week - first time in a fortnight - and was blowing out my arse by the time I got home. It was a hilly route, but nothing that should have troubled me too much. The trick is to get out often or the fitness goes in the blink of an eye, and this is particularly true when you reach a certain age. The plan tonight its to take it easy and not scunner myself due to my fitness being below par. I reckon we sometimes forget to enjoy the ride and are too busy checking times and average speeds etc. I'll never be anything other than a recreational cyclist, and I reckon that'll do me just fine. ETA: enjoyed that last night. Funny how you just have good days and not so good days on the bike just like pretty much anything else we do in life. I was riding at a pretty fast pace, and felt good on it, but reckon that not putting myself under pressure, I was more relaxed. One other thing I tried was to ride on a smaller gear at higher cadence, and I think this made a significant difference in terms of my endurance levels. I've often thought I try to turn too big a gear at times, but never got round to experimenting a bit on it before now. On a final note, by way of a wee gear review, I'd bought a pair of Prendas socks when ordering some overshoes: Prendas Socks Prendas stuff has always impressed me, but these socks are a stand-out thus far. Very light, airy, and comfortable - and a great fit. They allowed the venting in my shoes to come into its own. Highly recommended (but make sure you don't snag them with your tonails!).

'Temporary membership' Jesus Fucking Christ! Can this get any more preposterous? On what grounds are they being granted temporary membership? Surely they either meet the required criteria or not. This has gone beyond laughable, and is now extremely irritating indeed.

Have you seen the new fencing on the bridge? Best of luck giving the corpulent oaf a punty-up so he can launch himself off.

Scottish football is a fucking shambles, and this situation demonstrates the fact perfectly.

FFS, it doesn't half get weirder. Queuing up to smear themselves in excrement. Who'd have thunk it?

Somewhere in the middle I'm guessing. As most folk have been commenting, the very fact that this is being discussed would indicate that the lube has been warming to room temperature for a while. It is absurd that there has been any negotiating going on at all. This mob ought to have been grateful to have secured a place in the SFL given all the dubiety surrounding their background and capacity to function as a proper football club at any level. For them to be in any position to negotiate terms demonstrates a woeful level of spinelessness and tawdry collusion on the part of the SFA.

Agreement imminent, according to the BBC

Could be any number of things, but not something you can afford to leave (obviously). If you aren't sure how to fiddle with them, ask a mate who does or take the bike to your local shop. Not worth taking any chances. Chances are your cable has snapped, come away from the lever or caliper, or siezed.

That's pretty much how I seen it. I think they were struggling to focus due the Tour win, and were trying to give it a very live, exciting feel on the back of that. With a more settled schedule, and tighter direction, it could improve.

Ach, it was low level snuff (not what Obree had snorted!). It did seem to be tagged together on the hoof, but I thought that was part of the appeal. Not too polished, and accessible enough for diddies like me. Obree suffers from bi-bolar disorder, so it is no surprise if he comes across as a little intense at times.

That actually makes me chuckle a bit, TBH. Stewart Gilmour was fucking raging that Hearts signed Beattie (we were apparently trying to bring him in ) whilst unable to pay their current players on time. I fear for his blood pressure should Beattie sign for the newco

Didn't catch this RB. Any good? ETA: caught it this morning on the ITV player thing: ITV4 Cycle Show I enjoyed it - nothing too serious or hardcore, but some good wee features and interviews - with two of my cycling heroes, Graeme Obree and Gary Fisher

Ladies and gentlemen, it appears we have a resident imbecile

Come on now, don't take all that bitterness surrounding your big team dying out on the good guys. Not all sportsmen are cheats.

I don't disagree with much of that (and particularly concur on BMC), but you have to look at Wiggin's season form. There's no way he could have been playing 2nd fiddle.