thanks xaotik.......

Quote from traxxion :

Hmm ok, like said I will pick up my new bike tomorrow, let's hope that saddle suits me better then!

Ok, that helps!

Darn you spotted that..

Quote from traxxion :

You know.. I still have that, even when my first ride is a long time ago! I just don't understand how these Tour de France guys can sit on their bikes for three weeks in a row. I have quite expensive padded shorts (lycra :shy but that doesn't make much difference... Any ideas on something else I can try?

If it is that bad, then a new seat might work. On my first road bike, I got myself a Specialized BG saddle which was fine, no problems there. However, when I went to the states and started riding over there I had lot of bother. I've been through 3/4 saddles. Currently just got a Fizik Airone, which has yet to be properly tested.

If you think your saddle is OK, then I'd start experimenting with chammy/ass cream! I use it....

Last edited by mrbogeyman, Fri, 18 Jul 2008 08:14.

If you want a real break through into cycling, try attending a couple of 'spin' classes at your local gym. Do at least 3 classes to see if you like it. If done properly you should be in a world of pain after 10min into the first session You should start to see/feel results after about 2 weeks if you do about 5 classes in that time.

Quote from traxxion :

make sure your saddle is set to hip height, and your legs should be almost (but not completely!) stretched when the pedal is in the lowest position.

At full length (i.e. pedeal at 6 o'clock) your leg should have a 155-65degree angle between your hamstings and calf i.e. slightly bent (ooo er!). Overstretch, under stretch will cause injuries!

Also, I bet 10GBP your arse will be in a world of pain after your first ride! Even if you do wear padded shorts - which in my opinion is a must. If you don't want to be a full blown lycra roadie, go to a mountain bike shop and get some baggy shorts with a padded liner underneath, otherwise get your sexy lycra out!

Quote from danowat :

I don't even know what that means

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/Cycle/7/Giant_SCR_4/5360031621/

That has a 'double'. e.g. Two chainrings/gears at the front.
A Triple will have three gears at the front. Easier on the hills, but not really essential once you reach proper road bike fitness. However, for a beginner, a triple _might_ be a good idea if you plan on tackling any BIG hills, I mean steep buggers.

Also, try and find yourself a GOOD local bike shop (LBS). If they are good, they should help you with all this. Unfortunately for a beginner like yourself it will be hard to know.

Quote from danowat :

The normal budget, cheap as possible!!!!.

I have found a Giant SCR 4 for £297, any good?

Same as this then? I guess it is perfectly OK for a beginner.

I'm just a bike snob! The most important thing is to have a properly setup bike that is both comfortable and reliable. I can't believe the amount of times I have seem people abandon perfectly good bikes because of tiny mechanical niggles that they can't seem to fix (not that they even tried to fix it!).

My first road bike was something like this. Now I have this.

It's honestly up to yourself. The main things I would consider is if you are going to keep doing these sports and participate more in future? e.g. get your money's worth out of the bike.

As a beginner I wouldn't bother with the Triathlon/Duathlon specific bikes that you are likely to see on the associated websites. They will charge more for extra bells and whistles they you may not necessarily want or be comfortable with, such as aero bars, with tri drinks holders etc etc.

I would just buy an entry level road bike. Most likely a Giant or Specialized to get best bang for buck. You will find a few other makes in there that will give more value for money, but I'm not in the market for them at the moment so I couldn't say. I'd be happy to comment on anything you do find.

For me, an entry level road bike that will not hold you back in a road race will cost you at the very least 400GBP. I would aim to spend 500GBP minimum. If you have a larger budget...then great. Remember you will probably want to buy stuff like a helmet, shorts/short, pedals (clip in cleats?) and the associated shoes.

Give me a budget and I'll start looking for you

Hey wooo, Cavendish get his 3rd stage win.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/h ... ports/cycling/7512297.stm

Something to cheer about for a change!

Quote from Töki (HUN) :

Wow, that must be a great job!

It's not too bad, it has it's moment. There are a few downsides to working on the other side of the planet, but you get used to it! The benefits seem to outweigh any problems though.

Quote from MINIz guy :

I just visited Kuala Lumpur on a tour. Seems like a nice place to live, besides the heat.

The heat....what heat I sweat on my way to work in the morning...and that's when it's cool. Just don't go ride your bike around midday....ooops, been there and done that!

Quote from Woz :

-1 to TBO on slicks it would kill the TBO class

I would prefer some RWD cars that would sit in the FXR,UFR class that had slick.

Come on, seriously... We would be FORCED to use slicks. Who uses road normals on TBO? People have to use supers or you don't stand a chance.

I get the feel this sort of thread, like many others is just a cry for new content or some form of a change.

+1 Agreed, exactly my thoughts....saved me posting more

Quote from Bob Smith :

You're already playing his opinion.

So true, which is why I think Woz's opinion is even more valid. I don't think we will see either to be honest.

Quote from thisnameistaken :

I would laugh if McLaren win this year's championship purely because of how many races it rained at. That would be one up the arse for the FIA.

So eloquent!

Quote from The Very End :

Fe green and club are both amazing to race backwards. The club track in reverse mode offers you one damn challanging, yet great fun first corner with the S1 cars.

translated means - carnage

j/k: I've got some really good memories from races there.

Quote from chanoman315 :

I think that Fernbay Gold is designed to go in only 1 direction

Quote from mcintyrej :

What makes you think this? I think this is one of the tracks thats brilliant in both directions.

Agree with mcintyre. FE Gold is one of my all time favourites in the LX4 both backwards and forwards. I think I prefer reverse over the standard too. I'd say the same thing for FE Green.

I'm an Operations Engineer for Weatherford Liner Systems. Oilfield stuff!
Currently based in Kuala Lumpur

Hence why I am posting at silly o'clock.

Last edited by mrbogeyman, Wed, 16 Jul 2008 02:57.

you BOTH have too much time on your hands!

As long as they keep Martin Brundle then I'll be happy. The rest can take a long walk of a short pier.

+1

When reading test patch threads I simply search for Scawen's posts to see anything that might be remotely interesting, e.g. he actually replies to a legitimate question.

I'm not slagging the other mods, but I reckon they should at least be working together with Scawen to seriously prune those threads. It is blatantly obvious which posts are spam. It's a thankless task I know, but I reckon it should be done. It shouldn't HAVE to be done, but some people just ignore all the guidelines and rules for the Test Patch area on the forum. I'll save my thanks for the full patch when it is released in the General section.

Whilst reading up on the Silverstone testing on the ITV-F1 website, I noticed this comical typo...

Quote from Hamilton :

“I haven’t back-to-backed the new parts so I don’t have a benchmark, but the car feels strong around here and I can’t wait to be racing in front of my hoe crowd again.”

Dat boy strait fum da hood!

Found it here.

edit: They fixed it...

Last edited by mrbogeyman, Sat, 28 Jun 2008 03:54.

Quote from TV[cz] :

Who the feck cares.

OT: Is it my personal feeling or has this forum really recently turned into a place where people keep coming to voice their often strongly critical/negative opinion for the pure sake of nagging? Take a look at iRacing threads, it's beyond me how some individuals have continual need to post and dispute in matters they admit/pretend aren't interested in at all.

Exactly.

Why can't some people see a joke, bit of banter, when it stares them right in the face? duh...! OP made me laugh anyway! Even if I am a bit of a Hamilton fan! I do recognise and hate the media hype and smugness though.

Anyone here actually rational?

Last edited by mrbogeyman, Tue, 17 Jun 2008 11:43.

I'm in a similar boat. I'm 24 and working as an engineer for an oil services company.

Quite often I think about what it all 'means'. The trouble is, most jobs these days are very meaningless and it can often be hard to see the purpose or fruits of your labour.

Jobs that give you a real sense of enjoyment or achievement are hard to come by IMO, and are more a fantasy than anything else, unless you land your dream job!

For me, I am quite happy with my job & circumstance. I work in Malaysia just now, which is a great experience & opportunity, but at the same time I miss home. For now, I am happy to keep in this line of work. It keeps me busy, is quite varied and I get to travel around the Asia Pacific region. I see my time over here as an 'extended work period'. What I mean by this is that I'm over here to work, and I have to sacrifice a lot of the fun things I like to do. The upside is that I get good benefits and great chance to save for my future.

I intend to do this for a few years as a good way to learn and get valuable work experience. It should be a great stepping stone for my future career.

Last edited by mrbogeyman, Fri, 13 Jun 2008 03:50.

An electric shower is simply a shower that is heated in the shower cubicle with an element, rather than coming from the hot water tank in your house.

The shower will run off your cold water supply, meaning that you do not drain your hot water tank whilst having a shower.

So you basically have an electric shower unit that heats the cold water as it passes through the unit.

The isolation switch is just a separate ON/OFF switch placed away from the shower unit else where in the bathroom.

Clear as mud?

Quote from Hyperactive :

Electronic shower?

Where do you plug that oh never mind...

Into the mains supply..........water & electric

I could of posted correctly in here, but I couldn't be arsed.