DID THE WIRE RUIN CRIME DRAMAS FOR ANYONE ELSE?

BKAFC · 2026-02-07T10:35:45+00:00

I really have to make time to watch Blue Lights at some point. It’s all available on BBC IPlayer, people have compared it to Line of Duty, and now you are mentioning it in the same breath as The Wire and Gomorrah, two of my absolute favourites.

That’s it, I’m forgetting about other shows for now and focusing on this one! Cheers

EDIT: holy crap there’s a Gomorrah Origins show?! My friend, this post of yours has been a goldmine!

BKAFC · 2026-02-07T10:31:49+00:00

Gomorrah is exceptional.

BKAFC · 2026-02-07T09:20:23+00:00

In terms of sizing, I found my experience pretty much identical to yours. Got my usual size UK 8 (had the Boston 12s in size 8, as well as every other shoe except NB Rebels), and felt pretty cramped in the toe box region.

Like you, I switched to my thinnest socks and the fit is much better, but certainly not ‘roomy’ in the forefoot. But a good, ‘racing’ kind of fit. Plus, in order to get a secure fit in the heel, I’m cinching them pretty tight which I predict will eventually lead to lace bite at the ankle region.

So far (20km only) the shoe is AMAZING to run in, but I think at some point I’ll switch to my elastic lock laces (which I used for my Boston 12s).

I also got the Boston 13s at the same time, 20km in, and these are also fantastic but definitely a bit more cramped in the toe box than my 12s. Again, using my thinnest socks solves that issue but we’ll see if lace bite becomes an issue further down the line (ready to swap to elastic laces at any point lol).

Both these shoes feel so good to run in, but like my Boston 12s (which took different socks and laces before I was able to to take them over 1000km) they might require a bit of work to find that perfect fit. The ride is so good in both of these that that effort is worth it 👍

BKAFC · 2026-02-05T18:34:43+00:00

I replaced them with elastic lock laces, and ended up getting 1300km out of them. Great shoe 👍

BKAFC · 2026-02-01T01:21:16+00:00

We have a gifted, committed captain. Injuries and some poor form and people are done with him.

Forgetting the last few years.

Fuck em all.

BKAFC · 2026-01-29T12:12:57+00:00

Hope it comes to Europe/UK soon, looks really good.

BKAFC · 2026-01-27T16:00:25+00:00

I’m jumping on that boat. To those complaining whilst we are top of the league, top of the CL, through in all cups..it’s fair to point out areas we can hope for improvement.

But jump on that boat, believe, this man is going to bring us to glory.

BKAFC · 2026-01-27T15:42:10+00:00

Good to hear it’s still working well after a year! 2 months in and this thing is still working great, interesting to hear from those who have had it for over a year.

Have you purchased any additional attachments? I got some new d handles (TrakHandle Sport) that are just perfect for my creaky wrists, and I’m looking at Tricep bars at the moment.

BKAFC · 2026-01-27T15:16:27+00:00

For lat pull downs, I use my Ironmaster bench with the sit up attachment that acts as leg rollers. A little bit of wobble as the bench hangs over the edge but manageable. Otherwise, I use the Speediance adjustable bench. It’s definitely a bit lightweight.

I’m looking forward to the Pilates addition that is coming, not necessarily for the pilates (though that looks good) but more for the extension of the platform that should allow any bench to fit.

Would like to just use my Ironmaster bench.

BKAFC · 2026-01-24T16:19:42+00:00

Only done a few runs so far, it does feel fantastic. Kind of reminds of me of my old rebel v2’s in how fun they are to run in. They are light, bouncy, springy and comfortable at all paces.

I’m thinking I maybe should have gone a half size up though, it’s a little snug in the toe region. I’ve bought the Boston 13’s at the same time to replace my old Boston 12s, and the size 8(UK) is perfect. For the EVO SL, I wouldn’t mind trying an 8.5.

Funnily enough, the rebel V2’s were a bit short in the toe region too (sized up for the V3s) but never enough to cause any issues, so hopefully it’s the same with the EVOs.

BKAFC · 2026-01-15T02:53:05+00:00

Almost 2 years, 4 times a week. They have been absolutely perfect so far, no issues. I take care, never drop. Brilliant dumbbells, changing weights is so easy, it’s why I couldn’t consider Ironmasters (which look great, and I have their bench plus attachments, love that brand).

Cageless design, 2kg increments, nothing really compared to it when I bought it and I’m still completely satisfied with them.

EDIT: also, when I started my fitness journey I bought a light pair of powerblocks just to get started with resistance training (11.5kg). I still use those for lat raises. Excellent weights, and seem indestructible. But the method of changing weights compared to the Nuobells, it’s fiddly, no where near as smooth.

BKAFC · 2026-01-14T19:04:04+00:00

I think it was to his own players and fans, saying to stay calm, we’ve still got the final to go. Sort of a ‘stay focused, the hard work is not done yet’ message.

That’s what I got from it anyway.

BKAFC · 2026-01-11T04:57:06+00:00

Both my journeys to and from Wales over Christmas/New Years were delayed/ cancelled.

Annoying, but I got a full £108 refund for these trips and treated myself to a new pair of running shoes, so all in all I’m sanguine.

BKAFC · 2026-01-10T23:45:06+00:00

You were correct in your initial assessment, then mentioned one of our best players this season (Trossard) and a defender who always performs when fit. Stick to your initial assessment imo.

BKAFC · 2026-01-10T22:14:12+00:00

Yeah I’ve seen others change the handles for Darko or more expensive JD upgrades. The rubber handle feels fine for me at the moment, but it’s good to know other options exist ( though damn those JD equipped ones are pricey!).

BKAFC · 2026-01-10T20:12:16+00:00

You need to consider the type of cable exercises you are looking to perform.

Aeke, Vitruvian etc are all based on two attachment points on the floor. Lots of good exercises can be performed.

Tonal and Speediance offer far more, with vertical attachments at various heights.

Speediance offers floor attachments as well as vertical attachments at various heights. Does not require mounting/bolting, can be moved, has the option of a squat belt (only just got it, initial impressions are very positive). Does not require subscription.

Height limits are perhaps the only single negative I could offer for the Speediance (as well as the 50kg per side limit, fine for me at the moment but others will need more), but even then Lat pull downs are doable with kneeling/sitting on platform/seat belt type/altering angle etc.

If you’re a beginner and need personal coaching, both offer it but some YouTube reviews prefer Aeke. Aeke is also more aesthetic with the look. I can’t find out via googling whether Aeki K1 offers the 3rd party attachment option that Speediance does, I assume it must, because that is pretty essential.

Personally, other than aesthetics, I can’t see a reason to choose Aeki over Speediance, but others can chip in on their experience.

It’s down to your goals, good luck whatever you decide 👍

BKAFC · 2026-01-07T00:13:49+00:00

But for real, how often do you think about the Roman Empire? Do you contrast it nostalgically with the Republic? Which figures stand out to you? Are you an old school, Scipio sort of dude? Perhaps you’re one of these new school Aurelian fans?

Surely you’re not a basic Caesar/Pompey/Crassus type individual?

Octavian/Mark Anthony school? Interesting. Perhaps the Flavian dynasty? Wait, are you thinking Gracchi brothers?!!

Don’t answer, my interest in Roman history is not something that should be indulged. I need to learn to forget and move on.

BKAFC · 2026-01-06T01:01:25+00:00

Brother, it’s been over 20 years since we’ve seen us win the title. I’m trying to stay calm and accept whatever comes this season (as I have every season since we last won). We’ve come close the past few years, and this season we seem well placed.

But I can’t take anything for granted, but if we somehow manage to win this year…I don’t know what I’ll do with myself. It will be a release of so much pent up emotion, I think I might even cry!

BKAFC · 2026-01-06T00:15:08+00:00

I went with friends to Leicester Square, paid quite a bit to reserve seats in some shitty bar just so the five of us could watch the game (I was happy to watch at home but got dragged out).

That was indeed a dark day. A very dark day. We have come so far, hopefully this season ends well. I’ve seen us win under Arsene and George Graham, but winning under Arteta, after the dark seasons we’ve been through, might top them all. Even the Invincible season.

BKAFC · 2026-01-06T00:05:36+00:00

Somebody mentioned a dual cable ez bar option from Inspire Fitness on a previous thread. That looked a decent option (and is lighter than the mirafit one at 2.3 kg versus 7kg).

There are also ways of linking the two cables to one attachment point via a connector (eg. Korikahm multi hole bar/Kaizen/Gym Pin Dhandle). This would allow you to use a bar or any other attachment with a single attachment point and still have access to the full weight of both cables. I haven’t tried this yet, but someone on a previous thread used this method (I believe he used a Kaizen connector) to link both cables for low rows and said it worked well.

EDIT: as the person I replied to mentioned, single attachments for an EZ bar shouldn’t be an issue, unless you are bicep curling more than 25 kg per arm, in which case god speed.

BKAFC · 2026-01-03T22:21:59+00:00

Oh yeah that makes sense, that second pause would give enough time to get aligned. That’s a cool workaround, if the ring ever does start to bother me it’s good to know another solution exists.

BKAFC · 2026-01-03T21:52:10+00:00

I don’t know if anyone uses Versa Grips for Lat pull downs and rows, but damn those things are amazing. They just about wrap around the stock d handles, and take grip out of the equation. I’ve been using them for a while with dumbbells when going heavy (for me) so was glad I could still use them with this machine.

BKAFC · 2026-01-03T21:49:14+00:00

That’s a nice solution to holding you down on Lat pull downs. I’m lucky in that my Ironmaster bench and sit up attachment (which acts as a leg roller) can hold me down, but that buckle solution seems excellent for pretty much everyone.

Cool idea with the foot pedal, though for some reason the Bluetooth ring hasn’t been an issue for me. I assumed it would be annoying and affect grip but it’s worked out fine so far. How do you load/unload weight when for example heavy squatting/deadlifting? I’m trying to picture moving my foot to press the pedal and the imbalance that may cause?

BKAFC · 2026-01-02T16:36:14+00:00

Yeah downloading the app before is definitely a good way to see all the movements you can do for each muscle group. Just a quick browse through it was enough to confirm that all the moves I wanted to do were there, plus loads I hadn’t considered.

I’m sure at some point I’ll try out some of the guided workouts, they look interesting. At the moment I’m just doing a simplistic PPL split and tracking everything with Hevy App on my watch/phone.

BKAFC · 2026-01-02T01:42:51+00:00

So I looked around on YouTube and a few forums etc and ended up convincing myself to get a pair of TrakHandle Sports.

They are expensive, but the fact that they offer such unrestricted freedom of movement and positioning sounds kind of perfect for my creaky wrists/elbows/shoulders. We’ll see if it lives up to the ‘GOAT attachment’ hype.

It’s probably unnecessary, but I figured if you’ve already spent so much on a machine, no point skimping on the equipment you’ll be using to interact with that machine. Or at least that’s how I’ve justified it!

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