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Amazing that having complained about immigrants eating dogs, they've now got a certified dog killer running the immigration service. Never not bonkers.

Good to hear.

Just praying for the end of the clusterfuck that it is Putney bridge southbound now. Feels incredibly dangerous with three lanes smerging into one and cyclists everywhere trying to make some progress in a sea of buses and flashing indicators.

In general, I find city cycling with anyone else significantly more complicated. Trying to judge junctions and navigating filtering while also trying to stay with someone else can just lead to worse decisions for both. I've been doing Putney>Westminster and now Kingston>Westminster for 15 years I think. Have developed quite the sixth sense for what other road users are going to do at any given moment - so generally find the commute pretty chill. Riding through other bits of London without that deep road knowledge feels much harder.

I do this fairly regularly, but turn onto felsham and then cut through the housing estate next to the bricklayers arms. Puts you onto lower Richmond Road after the worst bits.

Think I spyed you and your misses today at Kingston Gate? Ebike and you in a blue jacket?

Some good stuff on freecycle here: https://www.lfgss.com/conversations/400504/#comment17567374

Just had my first of the season. Standard Sainsburys baked in store number, served warm with some cream drizzled on top. Just great to be back on the wagon tbh.

Maybe not. I'm just saying that I can see how it's ended up like it has. The closed section has a good road alternative (Kingston hill + A3), the park sections still open have the alternative route generally already being a traffic jam down streets that people live on.

I'd say the traffic in Richmond Park is mainly annoying to cyclists and other people in cars. As a pedestrian, the traffic is pretty irrelevant as the road is pretty easily crossed and then you're away. Most of Richmond park feels further from a road than anywhere else in London.

The wider traffic issue is a bit difficult. Ideally, no cars using it as a cut through, but the road network, particularly between Richmond and Kingston cannot handle the traffic. That's partly because the park combined with the river leaves room for only one normal road, which has to get through Petersham Village, which buses already struggle with. It's similar for Barnes> sheen>Richmond. I can see why those are the bits that still allow through traffic in the park, even though I'd prefer it wasn't the case.

I think Aggie was refering to Regents more than Richmond, but could be wrong.

I do think Regents has a bit of an issue with quite aggressive and intimidating riding. The lack of adherence to the red lights making it a less than pleasant road crossing IME.

Richmond is a fairly different vibe from a pedestrian point of view, though some of the full on chain gang stuff is probably a bit much.

I've got a 140mm trail bike and am very happy. If I was to have two mountain bikes, I'd get a 160mm climbable enduro machine and a 120mm slack trail bike for big days out.

Cathro has you covered with yesterdays upload.

https://youtu.be/nFhMjheU65s?si=5hAzt-O0FC1IbMPQ

You're up in the peaks right? I reckon if you bought a hardtail you'd kinda like it, but in a years time it would never leave the shed.

I was fully signed up to hardtail life...bought a modern trail bike and wouldn't be going back in a hurry.

And no planes to Rwanda.

However, the press would be celebrating how in touch "Swifty" Rishi is having taken his daughter's to her gig.

There is a Sony Bluetooth deck that gets five stars in what hifi. Looks pretty neat and just 200 notes. Agree that's the easiest way to start, then accrue phono stage, amp, speakers etc later. Most annoying thing about phono is you need three power plugs and two sets of audio leads just to play a record.

https://www.whathifi.com/reviews/sony-ps-lx310bt

Edit, actually that one has a built in phono stage you can toggle on and off, so can start with Bluetooth speakers, or buy a cheap little amp and some normal speakers and he's set. Loads of used bargains on the bay for that kind of thing.

From teamwork disaster to teamwork makes the dream work.

Don't see why it can't be a bit of everything. Biggest issue is the scoring. Get rid of that, and just give awards. Best run, best trick, spirit of freeride, best save. Make it more fun and less about exactly how many points anyone got. It's impossible to compare lots of it. Think they need a fresh hillside too. That'll mix it up.

Ah. Pond is by our bedroom window, so if I haven't posted in a while, can someone raise the alarm.

I think he'll be sad he wasn't graded higher in the comp - but for him, he remains a fan favourite. In terms of content creation, no one is even close to Bren, Olly and Deaks. And the mountain bike community lap it up. Sponsors dream. I'm sure he'll be doing ok when the contracts need renewing. Wouldn't be surprised if we see him back there next year.

Think it's more he is in a different competition to everyone else. Most other lines were pretty sculpted, but the tricks are nuts. That front flip drop was bonkers.

But bren is the only one going off the side of that cliff and you can't even see where his line is. Also, the jump onto the rock and the drop off it were not that 'hard'. The key was the insane building ability to first see it, and then craft the perfect near vertical kicker. Then add on that while not that hard, it's mega exposed and that should count for a lot more. And it just looks amazing and is different.

Rampage has become the biggest test for the slopestyle crowd - so that's still something, but it's a shame that true freeride has been priced out. If he doesn't get invited back next year (only the top 8 guaranteed) then freeride rampage is over I think.

What the fuck is that?

No, didn't use anything other than tap water. It was just empty for about a week, and apparently any nasties evaporate off. Lots of rain recently mean it is crystal clear. Not sure what happens in future as it will no doubt slowly fill with organic matter, which is the general enemy of clear water I think.

Right - update on this...

Got all the luminous green water out of the pond, cleaned it out and filled with hose water. Then left it a few days. Pretty quickly seemed to become a home to many mosquito larvae - but this seems an important first step as other stuff likes to eat them.

The game changer was getting some pond weed (elodea i think). I (probably illegally) scooped it from a pond in Richmond Park using our spaghetti scoop and brought it home in a dry bag. The King's pond weed is now thriving in our little garden in Ham and has kept the water crystal clear. On a sunny day you can see the streams of photosynthesis bubbles oxygenating the water. Very satisfying.

The pond is now home to all manner of creepy crawlies. Pretty sure there is a whole load of dragon fly larvae in there, plus lots of smaller crawly / swimming things. For a while we had a proper pond skater, which was lovely. The best bit though was finding a frog under one of the stones we put in. Success!

I'm over the moon with how well it's progressed through late summer and early autumn. Cant wait to see what the spring and summer bring considering the amount of creatures now bedding in for winter.

The one thing I cant identify is in the picture below. Two of these appeared looking like spidery things, under the water holding onto the weed. Since then they seem to have semi coccooned themselves / detached their legs? Whatever they are up to, it's taking days. Any ideas what on earth are they?

Only just seen this - but Aliexpress is well covered on short cranks. Got my daughter the "goldix" ones. Didnt pay more than 30 quid including chainring - and they're going strong a year on.

When life gives you chicken wire...

After taking a proper look at things today, the 12m fixed deal with Octopus is only marginally more expensive than today's tracker price. Prices are also already quite a bit above where the tracker was a year ago - so seems likely they will go higher still, even without the uncertainty in the middle east. I've fixed, but will try and get back on something else on the other side of the cold months.

The tracker has been great for me...got on in the early days and saved a small fortune compared to the various price caps.

Obviously there is no way to compare the tracker to any of the fixed deals...as the tracker changes every day...basically I'm gambling on the chances of world war 3 right?