The All New Megathread

[Bibio]

Highest new years day temperature on record today.
yeeehaww. bring on more global warming.

[garynortheast]

Evening all.

[garynortheast]

Good moaning Orgers.

[Craig380]

Evening Gary - today was a good day. 100 mile ride, didn't get frostbite anywhere, bike wasn't even dirty when I got home. That's not bad for January.

[garynortheast]

Morning org. What's everyone up to this weekend?

[Craig380]

Hi Gary - doing a bit of shopping in advance of a 2-day duty visit to the MiL to take her to a medical appt. Hopefully it will dry up enough this morning so I can get a quick spin out this afternoon.

The silver lining of staying with the MiL is that our daughter is working nearby so we're meeting up with her too.

What are you up to?

[Seeker]

Morning org. What's everyone up to this weekend?

I think I have finally found a painter :) not only has he given me a quote but he will work with me on dates. My bedroom furniture (fitted wardrobes/vanity unit/bedside cabinets) are being resprayed Mar25th - Apr11th and I wanted the bedroom redecorated in that time.

Since I'm impatient and he said he'll reduce the quote if I do some of the work I've started stripping wallpaper.

Then I remembered that the last wallpaper I stripped required the wall to be patched which required it to be sanded and I had to bodge a connection between my sander and the vacuum. On to ebay to order some hose and an adaptor...

[Bibio]

I think I have finally found a painter :) not only has he given me a quote but he will work with me on dates. My bedroom furniture (fitted wardrobes/vanity unit/bedside cabinets) are being resprayed Mar25th - Apr11th and I wanted the bedroom redecorated in that time.

Since I'm impatient and he said he'll reduce the quote if I do some of the work I've started stripping wallpaper.

Then I remembered that the last wallpaper I stripped required the wall to be patched which required it to be sanded and I had to bodge a connection between my sander and the vacuum. On to ebay to order some hose and an adaptor...

you'll need some of this then https://www.screwfix.com/p/zinsser-dif-wallpaper-stripper-concentrate-1ltr/8421j

[garynortheast]

Just taken Mabel for a few miles of walking. Getting ready to go and work at a Repair Cafe in Oswestry now.

[Seeker]

you'll need some of this then https://www.screwfix.com/p/zinsser-dif-wallpaper-stripper-concentrate-1ltr/8421j

I have the B&Q equivalent which seems to work well. Removing the ceiling paper should be pushing the fun to a whole new level.

Our local Co-op has dark chocolate Tunnocks caramel wafers and Mackies Scottish ice cream, neither of which I'd seen before so felt obliged to buy.

[Sir Trev]

Took the ebike up a very lllooonnnggg hill to get to a coffee roastery 5 miles away only to find my order has not been packaged yet and can I pop back on Monday? Nice ride I guess, although it rained rather on and off, and the local Audi drivers are SO impatient. And the ride back was so much easier.

[Bibio]

Our local Co-op has dark chocolate Tunnocks caramel wafers and Mackies Scottish ice cream, neither of which I'd seen before so felt obliged to buy.

thats a slippery slope to diabetes.. lol

[Bibio]

Took the ebike up a very lllooonnnggg hill to get to a coffee roastery 5 miles away only to find my order has not been packaged yet and can I pop back on Monday? Nice ride I guess, although it rained rather on and off, and the local Audi drivers are SO impatient. And the ride back was so much easier.

i do like a good coffee. enjoying the ebike are we :-)

[Sir Trev]

i do like a good coffee. enjoying the ebike are we :-)

One of the remaining nice things about working from home (everything else lost it's appeal a long time ago now) is taking ten minutes out in the middle of the morning to grind some beans and make a nice fresh coffee. Sometimes in the French press, sometimes the V60 depending on my mood. Trouble is I cannot drink instant any more as its so far off the flavour I'm now all too used to...

The ebike is fantastic. A half mile hill of a very steady 1 in 6 ish gradient was a doddle when you get into the right gear and keep up a steady unhurried cadence. I hopped on my old faithful manual Raleigh in the afternoon for a shopping trip in town and it was so uncomfortable compared to the new bike.

[Bibio]

i was seriously tempted by an ebike until i seen the price and availability. if fuel keep going at the rate it is now i might just think again.

[Sir Trev]

i was seriously tempted by an ebike until i seen the price and availability. if fuel keep going at the rate it is now i might just think again.

Availability and price are both crazy, but I want to cut back on shorter journeys using petrol as well as have a way to visit nice countryside pubs for lunch without worrying too much about a second pint and the return journey when we retire in a few years.

Lady Poppy works 8 miles away and has seriously thought about ebiking her commute a few times.

[SV650rules]

Availability and price are both crazy, but I want to cut back on shorter journeys using petrol as well as have a way to visit nice countryside pubs for lunch without worrying too much about a second pint and the return journey when we retire in a few years.

Lady Poppy works 8 miles away and has seriously thought about ebiking her commute a few times.


Isn't it illegal to be drunk in charge of a powered 2 wheeler ?


.

[svenrico]

Isn't it illegal to be drunk in charge of a powered 2 wheeler ?


.

I think it can be an offence to be just drunk on a public highway ,and it could be an offence to be drunk in charge of any vehicle on a public road ,but I don't know how it would be punished in the case of an e bike when you don't need a licence to ride one, so presumably it couldn't be a ban from driving . I don't know but I wouldn't want to try it to find out ! No doubt we can all start Googling it.

[Bibio]

yes you can be done for drunk in charge of a pushbike as my mate had it but nothing became of it due to being on crown property :-)

you can also be done with drunk in charge of an animal e.g. horse on public highway, this includes leading them. if you stick to trails and fields your fine.

[garynortheast]

Well, what a storming gig. Brilliant show from Palaye Royale.

[garynortheast]

Back home after a couple of days in the Diff. saw bits of the city I've not been in before. Lots of pedestrianised bits and lots of gorgeous old buildings. I loved all the different Victorian and Edwardian arcades as well.

A bit of cabaret from some woman in an expensive looking car. She followed a police van down one of the paved areas of St Mary Street. The coppers obviously had a remote to operate the bollards that can be lowered and which automatically raise again. They lowered the bollards and drove over them, the woman in the expensive car then tried to drive over them too - just as they raised back up. A horrible crunching sound followed as they trashed the plastic on the front of the car and left it dangling on it's rear wheels with the front in the air. I looked round at the police van to the sight of one of the coppers trudging wearily back up the street towards the car, with a resigned expression on his face.

Absolutely cracking gig in the evening with Palaye Royale.

[redtrummy]

Drunk in charge yes - losing your license - no.
Did a week cycle tour in Poland years ago, had a beer at lunch time, 7% or so, the tour leader said that you can be thrown into gaol for riding a bike under the influence, did not believe him but he was right!

[Sir Trev]

Evening all. The everyday stresses of life, and wondering if WW3 is about to errupt around us, has been complicated by daughters boyfriend showing a faint fail line on the LFT he did this morning. They've been staying with us for the weekend and had what seemed to be an emerging cold that got worse, hence the test this morning. I had to take them back to Brighton in the car so they could WFH whilst isolating as there was no way they could take the train. Will find out in a week or so if I've got it I suppose...

[maviczap]

Evening all. The everyday stresses of life, and wondering if WW3 is about to errupt around us, has been complicated by daughters boyfriend showing a faint fail line on the LFT he did this morning. They've been staying with us for the weekend and had what seemed to be an emerging cold that got worse, hence the test this morning. I had to take them back to Brighton in the car so they could WFH whilst isolating as there was no way they could take the train. Will find out in a week or so if I've got it I suppose...

One of my team tested with a faint line, which got progressively darker the longer he was positive. His girlfriend didn't test positive for a couple of days, but did in the end

[Geodude]

Don't forget to raise an org glass for reeder today xGx

[maviczap]

Yes, raise a glass tonight. I was up that way yesterday, it's not somewhere I usually go, and it reminded me to check the date, as I knew it was round about this time of year we lost him.

Thanks Geo

[garynortheast]

Still remembered and still missed. It was a sad day for all when he left us.

[Sir Trev]

It was sad indeed [heads off to find the gin].

[garynortheast]

Evening orgers. We have snow!

[Luckypants]

We have an inch laying about here, but the roads are clear and no sign of more. Its bally cold for the time of year though! (burning my super expensive heating oil)

[Craig380]

A very light dusting on the hills here, and car windows are frosted. Bizarre to think I was out riding with summer gloves and no thermals at the weekend, and was quite comfortably warm.

[svenrico]

A very light dusting on the hills here, and car windows are frosted. Bizarre to think I was out riding with summer gloves and no thermals at the weekend, and was quite comfortably warm.
I was sitting in the garden in t shirt and shorts. Snow about gone here now.

[Kenzie]

A very light dusting on the hills here, and car windows are frosted. Bizarre to think I was out riding with summer gloves and no thermals at the weekend, and was quite comfortably warm.


Samer here, near 20c and sunny all last week. The difference a few days can make.

[munkygunn182]

Good Evening!

[garynortheast]

Good Evening!

Morning! How was the trip to Ireland?

[garynortheast]

Evening Orgers.

[Craig380]

Evening Gary. Looking forward to some better / warmer weather this week. Had a quick spin on the bike today and it was rather chilly ...

[garynortheast]

More to come next week by the look of it Craig!

[garynortheast]

Evening all.

[Sir Trev]

Evening Gary. I am so zonked out... My brother and family arrived in the UK from Sydney yesterday morning and after a night with us they've now headed off to our parents in Norfolk. Those two kids (11 and 14) just don't stop! They're exhausting just to watch. After 36 hours travelling they were somehow wide awake all day yesterday, which is bonkers. Here's a badminton set, go to the far end of the garden and tell us how many shots you can get in a rally. By this morning (lighter breeze) they were up to 21. They stay with us again on Wednesday next week too so I have a few days to get ready for round two.

Was so nice to see them after five years.

[Craig380]

Evening Gary. Dry and warmish bank holiday ahead :-)

[garynortheast]

Looks ok doesn't it Craig? Hope the forecast holds true - I'm having a few hours in the mountains walking with a friend on Saturday.

[Sir Trev]

Lovely day here in Bucks. Hope it holds as we're looking forward to a family cycle jaunt on Sunday. Even though Lady Poppy and I will on our electrics The Monkey will still be faster than us I'm sure, but then she has a very nice Fuji road road bike that's lighter than just the battery pack in my electric Cube...

[garynortheast]

Afternoon all.....

[garynortheast]

Morning orgers.

Heading to Cardiff on the train.

[Sir Trev]

Hope you enjoyed your day Gary. We went to Cardiff on the train once oddly enough, when were on holibobs in Llantwit Major a few years ago. Would have like to explore it some more as it had some lovely covered arcades and we barely scratched the surface of the place.

[garynortheast]

I'm down here with Eleri as she's considering it as a possible uni location. We've had a very pleasant day mooching about looking at the pedestrian part and all the lovely, covered Victorian arcades. Loads of very nice eateries too. Just finished the day in a pleasant pub on Heol Fair/Mary Street.

Some very impressive Victorian architecture here. I'll post some pictures when I get home.

[maviczap]

Evening :-)

[garynortheast]

Evening Mav, how's it going?

[maviczap]

Ok, just nursing my partner after she had a knee replacement three weeks ago. It's been hard work for both of us. But I haven't had the pain she's had to endure

[garynortheast]

Wow! Hope the new knee settles quickly and she's back up on her feet and pain free asap.

[Sir Trev]

Knees are not nice to have work done on. Hope the healing goes well.

[garynortheast]

Evening orgers......

[Sir Trev]

Morning all. T'was nice yesterday but it has started drizzling here now... I got very damp putting the second row of spuds in but nice and dry indoors with a pot of fresh filter coffee beside me now.

[garynortheast]

We've had some very welcome rain here too, just enough to perk things up a bit.

[Sir Trev]

Ours was only drizzle and lasted a scant hour or so. Could have done with a better soaking but we might get more midweek. Part of me has crossed fingers but not the bit of me that spent three hours this afternoon washing and waxing the cars!

[garynortheast]

Evening all. Hope everyone has made the most of the long weekend.

[Bibio]

Evening all. Hope everyone has made the most of the long weekend.

every weekend is a long weekend for me ;)

must be getting warmer as the central heating isn't kicking in as much.. roll on summer as i might just get out this year.. maybe.

[garynortheast]

I've had no heating on here for the last 3 weeks. I only use the wood stove anyway as my current abode is a fairly small annexe, so I just put a bit more clothing on if it gets cooler.

[munkygunn182]

Oi oi!

[garynortheast]

Evening MG.....

[munkygunn182]

Found myself disappearing down a black hole of trying to track down my old SV. Not been MOTd for almost 4 years so expect it is a goner, but I reckon if I could find it, I'd be inclined to take it back as a project. Finally got the honda done and dusted.

Edit: Curiosity got the better of me. HPI checked it and there was a new logbook issued in Dec 21, so likely someone's recently bought it I guess. Nice to know it's not a write off!

You well?

[garynortheast]

Found myself disappearing down a black hole of trying to track down my old SV. Not been MOTd for almost 4 years so expect it is a goner, but I reckon if I could find it, I'd be inclined to take it back as a project. Finally got the honda done and dusted.

Edit: Curiosity got the better of me. HPI checked it and there was a new logbook issued in Dec 21, so likely someone's recently bought it I guess. Nice to know it's not a write off!

You well?

Might be fun to get it back. I wonder where it is now?

I'm ok here, still trying to deal with some of the crap from the last couple of years. I'll get there in the end.....

[munkygunn182]

That is indeed the million dollar question. When I sold it years ago, it was sold to a dealer here. I seen it about two years later at a bike meet. It then went a while without an MOT (and still hasn't got one), but the V5 issued in December suggests there's probably a new owner.

Wouldn't mind buying it back for nostalgia reasons, and to stick a stupid grin on my face.

[garynortheast]

Evening all.....

[DarrenSV650S]

Hi Gary

[garynortheast]

Morning all. Sunny day here but I shall only see a bit of it. I'm indoors at Chester this afternoon, playing in a competition with the silver band of which I'm a member.

What's everyone else up to?

[Craig380]

What instrument are you playing, Gary? And what music?

We're away in the Yorks Dales for a few days, and the sun is out. The plans for today are walk, flop, pub, bed :)

[garynortheast]

I play euphonium (poorly!) with Porthywaen band Craig. I'm playing in three band pieces (Bandology, Hallelujah, and Strike up the Band) and two ensemble pieces (Bist du bei mir, and Frere Jaques Swing).

I feel singularly under rehearsed! :smt107

[Sir Trev]

On and off morning weather wise here at Trev Towers. Might well get out on Hugh later on to blow out the cobwebs.

Now I'm back in the office two times a week I need to get back into the routine of the odd trip into town to visit the dry cleaners. Made my first trip there in well over a year this morning and the way his face lit up when I walked was priceless. He then "told me off", while smiling, saying I should have gone back sooner. Daft sod. How he managed to keep going when so many people have been wearing athleisurewear for the last two years instead of smart or business casual is beyond me, but I was pleased to see him too as he always remembers my name and he does a good job.

Good luck in the competition Gary. For some reason I now have memories of Terry Wogan and The Floral Dance going round in my head...

[Craig380]

I play euphonium (poorly!) with Porthywaen band Craig. I'm playing in three band pieces (Bandology, Hallelujah, and Strike up the Band) and two ensemble pieces (Bist du bei mir, and Frere Jaques Swing).

I feel singularly under rehearsed! :smt107

Ooooh, that's big brass! How did it go, Gary?

[garynortheast]

Well, we won a shield and various certificates, but no thanks to my playing!

[garynortheast]

Morning orgers. A very wet morning here, rain like stair rods.

[Seeker]

Morning. We have rain here too (Humber estuary) but it's very light not enough to even form puddles.

[garynortheast]

Proper rain here Seeker. We did need it too, everything was very dry. I have a few trees in tubs and I can practically hear them sucking up the water.

Glad I managed to get out on the bike in the sun for a couple of hours yesterday though.

[Bibio]

yes its one of those Fridays where people hide away till its over.

[Sir Trev]

Bit chilly and overcast this morning in the central home counties but its flippin' glorious out there now. Just got back from a perambulation of the park with Lady P which has washed my rubbish working day mood clean away ready for the weekend. Time for a drinkie I think.

[Sir Trev]

If you don't go into the For Sale section very often I've chucked my V46 topbox in there if any of you might be interested.

https://forums.sv650.org/showthread.php?p=3136722#post3136722

I've not used it for a while and getting the space back would be nice.

[garynortheast]

Morning all.....

[Craig380]

Morning Gary. No biking today as it's raining, and I'm on top of bike tinkering too.

[garynortheast]

Rained hard here too this morning but sunny now. I'm tempted to get the bike out for a spin.

[Sir Trev]

We had hail and thunder in Cowley. Had quite a good view of it from the massive office windows on the third floor too. Bit noisy mind.

Nice now I'm back home. And it will have washed in the lawn fertiliser granuals I put down on Sunday so result.

[garynortheast]

Busy planning a two day hike and wildcamp in the mountains with friends and dogs. Getting quite excited about it now!

Although how excited I'll be halfway up the side of y Llethr while toting a heavy back pack is going to be open to speculation! :-D

[Craig380]

In Sweden and Norway the countryside and hills have loads of little free-to-use wooden wind-shelter huts, which have sleeping benches and fire pits. They're dotted around in much the same way that we have benches by beauty spots, often next to lakes or rivers, sometimes they even have saunas too. I never used them, but always thought they were a cool idea.

[garynortheast]

There are quite a few stone built bothys dotted about in the mountains in Wales too. People often leave tinned food and supplies in them for the next folks who stop overnight there.

[Luckypants]

Busy planning a two day hike and wildcamp in the mountains with friends and dogs. Getting quite excited about it now!

Although how excited I'll be halfway up the side of y Llethr while toting a heavy back pack is going to be open to speculation! :-DJust had a look on Google Earth and Streetview (uploaded panoramas rather than along the roads) and it looks a nice walk. Taking the dog?

[garynortheast]

Just had a look on Google Earth and Streetview (uploaded panoramas rather than along the roads) and it looks a nice walk. Taking the dog?

I am indeed Mike. There are four or five of us from local canicross groups doing it, so there will be four or five dogs going, each one attached to it's human.

[garynortheast]

Evening all

[Sir Trev]

Evening Gary. Currently enjoying the late afternoon warmth on the patio with something amber and American, as opposed to Scottish for a change.

Been out for a spin today to one of those pile them high sell it cheap bik kitwarehouses in Swindon. Thinking ahead to the Barmouth trip I could do with some waterproof summer gloves, just in case. Despite these guys having dozens of brands and models on display they were all oddly warm so the hunt goes on. Gives me an excuse to ride out to afew more outlets over the next few weekends which will help get me match fit so happy days.

[Craig380]

Evening Gary - waiting for the kicksport to start. Had a nice day pottering in the sun and a good spin out around the Derbs dales and Staffs moorlands too.

[garynortheast]

Evening both. Bark Run followed by marshalling at parkrun this morning. Lazy day aside from that.
Mabel and I are off to Birmingham on the train tomorrow to spend the day with daughter Sioned.

[svenrico]

So the champions league final was flooded with fake tickets . Who could possibly have had a grudge against the final being held in Paris to cause all that chaos ?

[maviczap]

So the champions league final was flooded with fake tickets . Who could possibly have had a grudge against the final being held in Paris to cause all that chaos ?

Currently sitting in a virtual queue for 3 hours for Springsteen tickets in Paris, the French are great at organising stuff aren't they.

[garynortheast]

Happy Subservience Day peasants.

[Craig380]

Indeed. Person with access to the best healthcare that money can buy, and a huge staff of servants to address all their needs, lives to be old. Big deal.

[garynortheast]

An island peopled in large part by gullible idiots.

[svenrico]

An island peopled in large part by gullible idiots.

?:confused:

[garynortheast]

Morning orgers. Doesn't feel much like June to me, it's bloody cold. Hope it warms up by Tuesday as I'm riding up to Cumbria for the day.

[Craig380]

Hi Gary, it's persisting down here too. Did have a nice day yesterday, though - stopped off and actually visited Valle Crucis abbey for the first time after riding past it for many years, which was lovely. Also tried to walk across the Pontcysyllte aqueduct, but only got about halfway before my balls went inside and I had to retrace my steps sharpish :)

[Sir Trev]

Oh Craig! I'd love to visit "that" viaduct one day (Gary, I'll need a hand learning to say it properly) partly because there is a village called Trevor very nearby. We kept saying we'd go when we were up in Shropshire on one of our visits to see FiL, but now he's left us it will have to be a dedicated trip. Any excuse to visit Wales works for us so we just need to find a free long weekend...