Inspired by Brillo, my fitness training ....

[Old Hack]

Thank you, my MTB is actually a trek (6000), about 10 years old and still a fantastic bike. There is also the cycle to work scheme i was looking at, but the bike would be purely for personal use as i wouldn't like to leave an expensive bike chained up in London.

Don't take it then.

The best way to buy the bike, is through the company, as you save heaps of money, in the long run, through the assets depreciation and through VAT. I'd seriously recommend it.

[Mich the Tester]

It’s always been a family rule that we eat together all the time, regardless how many are at home. TV is only ever on as a treat, and is not the status quo.

Having said that, I managed to put away the first season of Banshee in the last week, but only while away. Now that does take the time away...

You know it wouldn't surprise me if a lot of marriage breakups can be traced back to TV dinners or eating at seperate times. Sitting down to dinner with each other, lighting a couple of candles, and putting in the 20 minutes or so of effort to cook something proper means you talk with each other, which is pretty damned important. OK, so I'm away 3 nights a week, but the other 4 nights we always sit down to dinner together, usually at home, sometimes in a restaurant. Amazes me how many people don't do that. Maybe we're just foodies though.

[Old Hack]

You know it wouldn't surprise me if a lot of marriage breakups can be traced back to TV dinners or eating at seperate times. Sitting down to dinner with each other, lighting a couple of candles, and putting in the 20 minutes or so of effort to cook something proper means you talk with each other, which is pretty damned important. OK, so I'm away 3 nights a week, but the other 4 nights we always sit down to dinner together, usually at home, sometimes in a restaurant. Amazes me how many people don't do that. Maybe we're just foodies though.

We just made a conscious decision to have all meals as a family, when we could, but if the kids eat early, for example, of a weekend, the wife and I will always eat together. I come from a very large family and used to love dinner time, as we’d all come together and have a crack taking the piss all the time, and it’s kept, in my opinion, the family close. Now, with my family, we all sit down, have a giggle and talk about the day. Dinner alone with my wife, I really do enjoy, as we can then cook a more flavoursome meal together, and chat, have a glass of wine or two. Like you, I am sure it’s beneficial to us as a couple, and us as a family.

[DimPrawn]

You know it wouldn't surprise me if a lot of marriage breakups can be traced back to TV dinners or eating at seperate times. Sitting down to dinner with each other, lighting a couple of candles, and putting in the 20 minutes or so of effort to cook something proper means you talk with each other, which is pretty damned important. OK, so I'm away 3 nights a week, but the other 4 nights we always sit down to dinner together, usually at home, sometimes in a restaurant. Amazes me how many people don't do that. Maybe we're just foodies though.

Don't worry Mitch, your missus doesn't dine alone on the other three nights.

[b0redom]

Sorry to bring this back on topic.

I used to do a lot of mountain biking when i was young and bit of downhill racing. This village i grew up in had an old gravel quarry in the woods which was quite famous with mountain bikers ("Treasure island" in Danbury). I wasn't sure whether the rolling resistance of a mountain bike and the more varied terrain could have meant it was better for calorie expenditure.

Any recommendations of an entry level road bike? I know very little about them, i have done a bit of research and the Specialized Allez seems a good place to start.

Prior to my expensive carbon bike I had a Specialized TriCross. You can put skinny tyres on it and it behaves pretty much like a road bike, or leave the standard ones on it and fly along canal tow paths. Because it's a cross bike the wheels are bomb proof too so they soak up the pot holes etc, and the carbon forks help with dampening the road buzz.

It also has mounting points for a panier rack if you decide to use it to commute with, and 'cheater' brakes for when you're riding on the tops instead of drops.

I had a Trek hybrid prior to that and although it was OK (the gearing wasn't high enough for going down hills fast) I didn't like the local Trek dealer.

As others have said, buy it through your company. It's a company vehicle then, but has no BIK as it's zero emission.

[minestrone]

I run about 90 miles a week just now, if you like pasta, bean bakes and farting it is the life.

ON the subject of TV I got rid of a big chunk of sky just there, looking at the on demand showcase this morning and seeing Die Hard as a pay to view movie brought out a "that is ****** enough, where is that phone" response.

[Ketchup]

Prior to my expensive carbon bike I had a Specialized TriCross. You can put skinny tyres on it and it behaves pretty much like a road bike, or leave the standard ones on it and fly along canal tow paths. Because it's a cross bike the wheels are bomb proof too so they soak up the pot holes etc, and the carbon forks help with dampening the road buzz.

It also has mounting points for a panier rack if you decide to use it to commute with, and 'cheater' brakes for when you're riding on the tops instead of drops.

I had a Trek hybrid prior to that and although it was OK (the gearing wasn't high enough for going down hills fast) I didn't like the local Trek dealer.

As others have said, buy it through your company. It's a company vehicle then, but has no BIK as it's zero emission.

thank you, debating a trek 1.5, or maybe spending a little mroe to get over the flat-rate threshold.

I grew up eating at the table every night, now i can't actually eat on a sofa, it doesn't seem correct. The problem with TV is the way people use it, most people just put the tv on and channel hop tryign to find something to watch, i will only watch TV if there is something specific i want to watch (except when im getting ready for work when i put the news on). I will never channel hop, too many people now think they have to spend the evening on the sofa watching the idiot-box, it becomes second-nature to get into the living room and turn the TV on.

[Old Hack]

thank you, debating a trek 1.5, or maybe spending a little mroe to get over the flat-rate threshold.

I grew up eating at the table every night, now i can't actually eat on a sofa, it doesn't seem correct. The problem with TV is the way people use it, most people just put the tv on and channel hop tryign to find something to watch, i will only watch TV if there is something specific i want to watch (except when im getting ready for work when i put the news on). I will never channel hop, too many people now think they have to spend the evening on the sofa watching the idiot-box, it becomes second-nature to get into the living room and turn the TV on.

A 2009/2010 Trek 1.5 had the same frame as the 1.9 and currently sells for about £300-400 on eBay. I would really recommend that; it was my first road bike, and excellent. The latter 1.5's had their own frame, which wasn't as good as the others. Go for a twin set too, not triple.

If you are looking at get over the £2k mark, your choice is a lot wider, but if you do want some advice, I'd be happy to advise, from my experience.

[b0redom]

Go for a twin set too, not triple.

Out of interest why?

Best thing to do is wander down to your local Evans/Cycle Surgery/ Specialized/Giant/Trek concept store and try a few out. I prefer to deal with Cycle Surgery as they'll price match everywhere (including online) and actually seem to be interested in bikes rather than just selling whatever they have to hand.

That being said - I bought my existing bike from the Giant concept store in Twickenham. I wandered in, and they measured me up, suggested a frame, ordered one in in my size, put me on a watt bike, built it up according to the measurements from the watt bike and let me take it around Richmond park for a couple of laps with no comittment to buy. I think Specialized in Kingston do the same, they certainly have loaners you can borrow.

Don't know where you are in the country though.

[Old Hack]

Out of interest why?

I don't think you ever need a triple set unless you're going to do l'etape, or some serious climbing. A twin set will provide ample gears for normal use, and a triple set is heavier, more cumbersome, imo.