Sat down for 20 minutes with a cup of tea to play catchup in this thread. Impossible to respond to all that I would want to!
@y2blade - great pics! Makes me want to get an off roader too but I would get horribly lost and probably end up in a MoD test range.
@Goonerobes - Well done on the New Forest Sportive. That was my first one last year and is such a beautiful area to cycle in. Was it windy on the open sections? Shame about what I've heard about the tacks, there are some witless morons about the place alas that have no clue as to the consequences of their idiotic actions. Some 15 cyclists were hurt were they not?
@Stonechat - brilliant ride you got in there, taking in Leith Hill. I've still not managed it all without stopping unlike you. Nearly did it on RideLondon but clipped a guys back wheel as he slowed suddenly and that did it for me.
All this lovely weather and for the last 7 days I've been down with a chest infection that I caught from my dear wife. Looking outside the window today wanted to go but think its best to get myself right first.
My friend who did the No Excuses sportive with me on her titanic mountain bike (well, we did 20 miles of it....) took delivery on her new steed today, one I (quite proudly) investigated and offered to her as an higher spec option to the Triban we looked at.
Sensa Romagna Special
Full Shimano 105 group and calipers, Supra RA rims, 9.1kg in a 'lady version' they make to order, with different saddle and thinner bar thickness all for £749.99. Oh and a British manufacturer!
Going to fix pedals to it and put some Kool Stops in the calipers tonight.