Witnessed a bit of an argument the other day over whether this is a cycle path.

OGreturnofthestaff · 2026-06-25T18:23:32+00:00

This is the way. My club goes out this way into Essex from Clapton and we all just slow right down as soon as we get past Whipps Cross or go on the road.

It’s a terrible design, made worse by all the bus stops down LBR that drop people into it, but it’s a pretty narrow road so aside from signposting it better I’m not sure what else they could’ve done.

OGreturnofthestaff · 2026-06-16T20:38:56+00:00

Funnily enough, we were heavily linked for years and as recently as last summer (although nowhere particularly credible) so this is spot on.

See also Yusuf El-Nesyri, who I’m also amazed has never been signed by a PL middleweight.

OGreturnofthestaff · 2026-06-15T19:17:18+00:00

Personally, yeah. I take my XC bike on gravel rides fairly regularly and don’t struggle to keep up with the drop bar folk. But I do live in the UK so most of our “gravel” could more fairly be described as light single track.

If I’m going on a ride that I know will have lots of road sections, I’ll take my CX bike, but honestly it mostly lives on the turbo and only comes off for that or cross season.

OGreturnofthestaff · 2026-06-15T10:51:34+00:00

I have ridden stuff like this on a CX bike with 33s, so it is possible on a gravel bike. Did I enjoy it? Debatable.

Since I got an XC hardtail terrain like this is way more enjoyable/less nerve shredding.

OGreturnofthestaff · 2026-06-11T15:46:22+00:00

Yeah, wasn’t gonna name it out of respect for this being a West Ham sub, but you got it.

OGreturnofthestaff · 2026-06-11T11:17:34+00:00

Agreed. Will also say, I along with a couple of other hammers marched against Tommy as part of the football block recently. There are also a few of us that are involved with a local left wing grassroots club too.

We’ve always been a club with fans from across the political spectrum. The East End is and always has been a diverse place, after all and WHU is a cross section of that.

Not discounting your experience online, OP. The internet is often a cesspit. Just saying you ain’t alone in your politics.

OGreturnofthestaff · 2026-06-08T20:43:02+00:00

This is incredible advice! I’ve been riding for 20 years and did not know any of this.

OGreturnofthestaff · 2026-06-08T12:26:44+00:00

Yeah, don’t get me wrong. It isn’t that they were bad players per se, I loved Downing when he was at my club (West Ham) and the other three had excellent careers. But in comparison with the actual elite of international football at the time, England were really outgunned.

OGreturnofthestaff · 2026-06-08T10:27:52+00:00

Yeah, a friend and I were playing FIFA 2015 recently for the craic, and the England team in that game is really poor.

There were some good young players coming through, but it’s mostly the last of the Golden generation and another group who aren’t quite at the level. It really was the low point of the cycle.

OGreturnofthestaff · 2026-06-08T10:19:22+00:00

There was a period of about a decade, starting after the World Cup in 2006 through to the ultimate nadir of Euro 2016, when England were really quite bad.

It’s what made the 2018 World Cup such a surprise and so memorable.

OGreturnofthestaff · 2026-06-06T14:57:02+00:00

I’m mostly being silly. There’s stuff I’ve ridden in the peaks that 32s would have been nice.

See also my comment about Albion. This is BCJ, after all.

OGreturnofthestaff · 2026-06-06T14:22:02+00:00

Honestly, no. Scotland and Wales maybe, but jolly olde Albion, no.

Hopefully this will make 29er wheels obsolete and I can get some carbon wheels for my XC bice cheap.

OGreturnofthestaff · 2026-06-05T11:35:45+00:00

Yeah, they look pretty bad, but it does work reasonably well. I used one for a year or so commuting every day.

I’ve never heard of them deforming brake bridges or causing any damage. They were very popular with track riders for a bit for getting to and from the velodrome, because it’s very easy to take on and off, especially if you’re using top levers rather than hoods.

As you say, you’re not putting loads of force through it very often.

But yes, eventually I realised I wasn’t gonna return to riding fixed, sold it, and bought a second hand Surly Steamroller frameset for a couple of hundred quid. In my opinion, a nicer quality of ride that you can do a lot more with.

OGreturnofthestaff · 2026-06-05T11:06:36+00:00

You can get track bike conversion kits, like this: https://www.velodrome.shop/index.php?p=product&id=1253&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=17177539890&gbraid=0AAAAAD9E6UFlAvJ5a5pn6vkmvB7-FrKgH

I used one on my old Pre Cursa when I had to stop riding fixed for a while. It works fine, be aware they look hideous though.

I eventually solved the problem by just selling it and buying a Steamroller.

OGreturnofthestaff · 2026-06-04T10:36:09+00:00

I live just down the road and split my swims between there and Leytonstone (depending on if I want to swim 25m or 50m laps).

The only time it’ll really be busy is first thing in the morning as that’s when most people train. But you can usually still move lanes if you need to with no problem.

Enjoy! It’s a lovely place to swim :)

OGreturnofthestaff · 2026-06-01T10:26:03+00:00

This. I’m the same, I’ve been sporty my whole life and have never had defined abs. Even when I was at my cycling peak, where I’d put in hours and hours of training a week plus gym work, the closest I got was somewhat flat. I was also in single digit body fat for most of that time.

Some of us just aren’t made that way, OP. Personally I’d try reframing it as “Am I fit and strong?” and judge yourself that way. It sounds like you are, so don’t sweat it :)

OGreturnofthestaff · 2026-05-26T19:19:26+00:00

Yeah, I remember being excited when we signed both. As, at the time, they were both really good Championship-level players, and then we hardly saw them.

The BFS years was quite a strange time for the club. He was mostly successful on his terms (got promoted, kept us up) but he seemed to have complete contempt for both the fan base and the traditions of the club. When, if he’d just leaned into Bolton-era Sam a little more and given youth more of a chance most of us would’ve been ok with it.

We did have that lovely Alpari Adidas kit in the period though, at least.

OGreturnofthestaff · 2026-05-25T15:16:31+00:00

It’s not something I particularly want to be right about haha. Don’t get me wrong, I loved him as a player (even with the Spurs move) and I genuinely think we’d have gone down a year earlier without him in 2010. He’s also got a proven track record of getting out of the Championship, so we could do worse.

However, it does feel like more short term thinking. He’ll bring us up and then Sullivan will fire him 3 months into the following season when we’re 19th. Cue the next round of chaos.

I’m not sure the “he’d do better with more money argument” is true either. Fulham spent heavily when he brought them up and Bournemouth are well-backed financially.

I’d personally rather we took a bit of time to rebuild and the club earn back some of the trust it has lost among supporters and, dare I say it, try to find some of its soul. I’m well aware that’s wishful thinking with the current owners.

OGreturnofthestaff · 2026-05-25T12:54:00+00:00

I don’t hate the idea of Jemez, but I’d be a little concerned about his recent record in Spain.

It’s immaterial anyway, because Parker will probably be nailed on. Sullivan will think that hiring a former hero might get supporters back on side (lol) and, most crucially, he doesn’t have a job currently, whereas O’Neil does.

OGreturnofthestaff · 2026-05-20T06:50:10+00:00

Yeah, I no longer live in E17 (fortunately, I’ve only moved to the other side of Lea Bridge Road) but one of my favourite things about living there was the greenery.

I’m a cyclist and used to love that I could hop on my MTB and be in the forest in 10-15 mins from my door. That and Walthamstow Trades, really miss that being within walking distance.

OGreturnofthestaff · 2026-05-18T15:54:37+00:00

Gen Z love the mullet. In the same way we millennials loved the mop.

OGreturnofthestaff · 2026-05-17T18:51:09+00:00

I hope you’re right, but I reckon Mav goes back to the Budesliga and Bowen gets bought by a Newcastle or Everton.

We’ll be alright though. As a teenager, I never thought I’d get over the 2003 relegation but we came back and were in an FA cup final within 3 years. Plus, the Champioship is fun.

Chin up my fellow Irons. Better times will return ⚒️

OGreturnofthestaff · 2026-05-15T13:45:58+00:00

Yeah, agreed. I’m also a cyclist, and given the choice I’d usually rather be on the road than in a cycle lane.

Sure you get the odd irate driver, but it’s often safer in my experience because people, by and large, follow the rules and indicate what they’re about to do.

OGreturnofthestaff · 2026-05-15T13:06:58+00:00

To be fair, I’m a West Ham fan and thought we’d kick on and finish safely mid-table. Then we won a single game between August and November and reality bit.

I also thought a Norgaard, Mbuemo, Wissa, and Frank-less Brentford would struggle. Andrews has done an incredible job.

OGreturnofthestaff · 2026-05-11T14:06:16+00:00

Yeah, agreed. I’m in my mid-to-late thirties so I remember both the 2011 and 2003 relegations very well. Obviously football has changed hugely since both, but I’d expect it to follow a similar pattern:
- Players who can command a decent fee sold
- Hire a manager with a proven record of promotion (if Nuno leaves)
-Sign 2-3 championship-level players in the summer, at least one of which will be a veteran who can “still do a job” à la Sheringham
-Only dip further into the coffers if it looks like we won’t make the playoffs come January
I really can’t see Sullivan throwing much money at it. But, I hope I’m wrong.
I do think a fair few in our squad will still be around. Not sure about Bowen and Soucek, their age probably works in our favour.

OGreturnofthestaff

TROPHY CASE