veloman

This thread is ridiculous; this is far more intelligent :-

Apart from Sir Ian Bell (of Warwickshire)

I last took my daughter down to VP about 13 years ago. Now she is a teacher and took her class on a 'field trip' to VP the other week. The guide who showed them round asked if anyone had been to a Villa match and she could, rightfully, claim that she had. The guide asked who was in the team when she saw them and the 2 that sprang to mind were Ugo and Lee Hendrie. Apparently the guide said 'We don't have players like that now' ! What a state of affairs. PS I'm afraid she remembered those 2 'cos Hendrie reminded her of Robbie Williams :oops: and Ugo used a sports therapist that treated one of my cycling mates.

Yes I'm afraid you are right. I don't agree that scousers are 'fast talking, funny, straightforward' etc. In my encounters, I have found them ignorant, self-opinionated and boorish BUT that is just my opinion based on my experiences and probably does not apply to all scousers. Indeed, I may be the only one who holds those views; but they are not based on blind prejudice. In the prison where I worked, groups of Liverpudlians were always the loudest and most difficult to control. In my sport of bike racing in the 'bunch' in a road race, they invariably had the most to say most of which was garbage. A little story which hopefully takes the 'heat' out of the discussion. In c.1970 I played at the Cavern Club; we were the support band and when we finished our second spot we were keen to get away. We found the fire exit which was a concrete path leading to fire-doors. These were chained -up !! and when we asked for a key to the padlock,we were told 'we can't open them - all the kids outside will rush in' In many years of playing I have never come across that situation. So; I would conclude that if the tragedy that was Hillsborough was ever going to happen there is a fair chance Liverpool would be involved. I trust this post is not construed as 'disgraceful or nauseating' .

So really that should be the end of any argument(as opposed to discussion). But...surely there remain some 'difficult' questions. Why was it when Liverpool played at Hillsboro' this happened? I have only been there twice; once when we were promoted back to the First and I think there were more Villa fans than Sheffield fans that night (OWLS 0 - VILLA 4); it was not packed but a good boisterous atmosphere. The other time was in a League Cup replay v. Everton when it was rammed but no trouble. I only went to Anfield once c.1976 when we lost 2 -0 and was horrified at the way the Kop charged down onto the supporters below them; yet TV used to show it regularly - seemingly as evidence of Liverpool's wonderful support. So two of the worst tragedies relating to crowds involved Liverpool; surely there might be some correlation.

Thanks for that MJM and I fully acknowledge that it will probably be 'odd'. Pehaps I am just perverse; after all. I thought the invention of the wheel was just a passing phase !

Well despite advice given many pages ago, I would still like to read 'Atlas Shrugged' but is not in the library and I have never seen it in St Giles Hospice book shop ! (my usual source of reading material due to state of penury) I have recently finished a rather 'odd' book called 'The Coming Race' - very early sci-fi; anyone read that ? For anyone reading to help with insomnia; may I recommend anything by Spicer and Pegler ! (Anyone who has studied Accountancy will know what I mean) My favourite book at school - 'The Boys Book of Girls'

Not really my side of town so can't help but 40 miles would be good distance. Don't know if the old A34 (now A3400 ?) is quiet these days. Will you be doing it on that fixie thing and if so what gear ?

Any of you cycling fans see that Cavendish won the "semi-classic" Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne ? I don't think it was on Eurosport - but I was asleep anyway after hanging on to my mates for 51 mile ride in the morning Good start for Cav and, apparently, his Sky team did him proud - no Wiggins though - I don't think. Roll-on Milan-San Remo.

Indeed; and I give Marc Bolan as an example ! In fact it was rumoured that Bolan's first band, John's Children (only hit - 'Desdemona') was named after him. He did, however play 'Alright Now'(Free) and 'On the Road Again' (Canned Heat) well before anyone else.

Anyone been watching the Track Cycling from the Olympic Velodrome? If so, what did you think. Some Midlands involvement with Jess Varnish from the Halesown club and coach of the women's pursuit squad, Paul Manning, from Burntwood. I don't think Andy Tennant from Wolverhampton got a ride. Bodes well for the Olympics perhaps ?

Oh God Yes ! My average training run is only between 50 -60 miles these days and it 's great to be 25 miles from home and start to get 'the knock' as cyclists call it. I tend to carry a banana for that ; what is you opinion of them ? Also where does protein come in all this ? I use CNP protein bars and was advised by a mate on the British Cycling Performance team to eat one when I get in from a ride. What is your opinion of that ? Thanks for your previous answer; this has really made me think.

This is all good stuff; so what do you mean by "target carbs around workouts" In bike racing there is a procedure called 'carbo-loading' which you would do (eating pasta, rice pudding etc) before a long event, probably +3 hours . Is that what you mean? Also, I knew nothing about the insulin involvement; so what do you mean by "spike insulin post workout" All advice gratefully received.

Watch out for the Women's 3000 metre pursuit - great chance of a gold medal - coached by local cyclist. Men's 4000 - got a nasty feeling the Aussies will win this.

This is similar to the Ken Dodd case - for those of us who have heard of him ! Similar result too and he did very well out of it by creating 2 new Diddymen - Diddy-do-it and Diddy-hell. Seriously - this must reflect very badly on HMRC and surely someone should be held to account (don't suppose they will be though) My own experience of this lot is that they are thoroughly incompetent; God knows what academic level they require to become a Tax Officer - not very high it would seem.

Well,as I see it, there are two possibilities :- 1) He is innocent ! 2) Whatever he took is so 'strong' that the whole pro-scene would be brought into disrepute with disastrous consequences for pro-cycling. I (seriously Paulo) have no idea of the truth. I don't know how he recovered from that terrible illness, I don't know how he altered his body-shape so dramatically. One must remember that he had been World Road Champ (Oslo) before his illness so obviously pretty damn good. Perhaps we will never know. PS. I still quite fancy his Mum !

Yep that's mine too. But my excuse is it has some great music in as the soundtrack !

Serious suggestion - take up cycling. Non weight bearing so might obviate those problems mentioned above. Anticipating adverse cycling weather, I bought some "proper" trainers from Bourne Sports and even some compression socks. Tried to do all the stretching but STILL kept pulling a muscle in my calf and having to limp home. That said , now off bike too with a bloody virus; am going to have to start racing later this year 'cos of inability to lose weight. Think about that bike though.

After a great deal of careful thought, I have decided to withdraw my claim to being one of the greatest cricket experts in the World. But Heskey might still get that hat-trick !!!!!!!

What did I say ! 6 for Monty. Am I not undoubtably one of the greatest cricket experts in the World ! Now, the batsman will see 'em off with Pieterson getting a duck and Ian Bell a swift 50; then Heskey will get a hat-trick tomorrow .............

" The general public are ignorant and meddlesome outsiders who must be put in their place. They are to be spectators of action not participants who must be regimented to abandon any ideas about controlling their own lives" Edward Bernays on "Propaganda" I think he was American ! (or from Walsall )

Yeah spot-on. I had one LP of hers called 'Rock The House' in the 60's but think it got knicked at a party (or my ex. took it !) Just out of interest, check out her version of 'I'd rather go blind'. This was covered by Midlands band 'Chicken Shack which featured an ace guitarist called Stan Webb but was sung by one Christine Perfect - her of Fleetwood Mac and came from Bearwood.

Have any of you cricket fans got any idea what England are up to. From what I have seen we have been comprehensively been outplayed and the result was no fluke. Even Sir Ian failed ! So what next ? Would you play two spinners, 'cos Swann didn't seem to get a lot so Panesar might add something; he seems to have been bowling well.

I played cricket too - but was never in long enough to get hit. However there is an equivalent in bike racing when you miss a gear and slip off the saddle onto the cross bar. I did this a couple of years ago and it still hurt next day; so I went to the doctors and asked him if he could leave the swelling but take away the pain. !

This sort of thing was mooted in the early 2000's at a place called Cliffe. My nipper had to do work about it for A Level Geography. That got chucked out but,I think, it was on environmental ground, wildlife habitats etc. Love that article re. projects skewed towards London. But we all know that it isn't true :shock: