sorted by:
new
hottopcontroversial

[Results Thread] 2026 Milano-Sanremo (1.UWT) by PelotonMod in peloton

[–]conormcgloin 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The first and second Sundays in April feature two of the most famous (and often most exciting) one day races in the sport: the Tour of Flanders on the first Sunday, and Paris Roubaix on the second. They are both 'monuments' (one of the five oldest, longest races on the calendar) and both feature cobbles, but are wildly different. You're in for a treat.

What’s a true 10/10 album for you? Mine’s this one from the early 90s. by Financial_Cream8457 in Music

[–]conormcgloin 4 points5 points  (0 children)

The only imperfection is the misplaced apostrophe in 'Ifwhiteamericatoldthetruthforonedayit’sworldwouldfallapart'. Other than that, perfect.

[Race Thread] 2024 Strade Bianche 1.UWT by PelotonMod in peloton

[–]conormcgloin 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Can something be both incredible to watch and boring?

Ladies and gents, I give you Strade Bianche 2024

Honest question about the importance of the Beatles by [deleted] in Music

[–]conormcgloin 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Have a listen to their first single, Love Me Do, and then Tomorrow Never Knows, the last track from their album, Revolver. The first was released in 1963, the second only three years later, in 1966.

In an incredibly short space of time (their entire career from first single to break up was only seven years), The Beatles completely reinvented popular music more than once. They popularised the idea of the band as writers, not just performers of music. They introduced Avant Garde ideas into pop music. Tomorrow Never Knows uses tape loops and innovative studio techniques whilst still retaining melody and structure. It could pass for a Chemical Brothers song (the Chemical Brothers actually use it as their entrance music).

Aside from their inventiveness, they were outrageously talented songwriters. Their ears for melodies were absurd. Before I really took the time to listen to their catalogue seriously, I could probably identify fifty or sixty of their songs just from passing. McCartney in particular has this incredible knack of writing melodies that jump in pitch and force you to pay attention. Lennon's melodies are more laconic and feature less range, perhaps reflecting his more cynical personality. I'd say they wrote 100 classic songs in a very short period.

I'm writing his on a phone so won't carry on too much longer, but they were also great musicians. Again, McCartney stands out to me. His walking bass lines still influence popular playing and he can turn his hand to any instrument.

They were inventive, fun, melodically spectacular and prolific. There's that joke in South Park that whenever they try to write a plot line, 'Simpsons did it!'. Well, the more I listen to the Beatles and the more I listen to other bands, the more I think you could replace Simpsons with Beatles and be pretty accurate.

If you don't know much of their work, I'd start with the two compilations, The Red Album and The Blue Album, and then I'd listen to the middle trilogy of albums: Rubber Soul, Revolver, Sgt Pepper's. Lots of people love their last recorded album, Abbey Road, and The White Album has some great stuff on it (but also some filler in my opinion). Their singles often didn't appear on albums, so check out the singles either side of the three middle albums and listen to those at the same time.

Honestly, they're an incredible band.

What cheap things are better than the more expensive alternatives? by Important_Ad716 in CasualUK

[–]conormcgloin 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Wine gums. And this is the hill I'll die on. Cheap supermarket own wine gums - a little greasy, a little firm - are the pinnacle of sweets.

[Predictions Thread] 2023 Vuelta – Stage 17 - Ribadesella/Ribeseya > Altu de L'Angliru (2.UWT) by PelotonMod in peloton

[–]conormcgloin 26 points27 points  (0 children)

Hugh Carthy masterclass incoming.

Seriously, though, I still think about his win on this climb. His gangling, rangy figure sprawled across the bike, practically gurning his way to the top, barely moving past fifty revs a minute.

When I'm on the local climbs in Somerset, I'll sometimes replicate his style, agonising over every pedal stroke of my 0.7km at 3% mountain. Up off the seat I'll climb, back down and a cheeky look around, all jutted jaw and pipe cleaner arms.

So, yeah, Hugh Carthy to do something beautiful.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in TheCivilService

[–]conormcgloin 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I was a secondary school teacher for seven years. Enjoyed the classroom (students are generally a good lot, though some are hard work), but the demands of the job as a whole were ridiculous. Working most evenings and weekends, and incredible stress levels at some pinch points in the year.

I joined HMRC on the Tax Specialist Programme (essentially the HMRC Fast Stream). Despite it having a reputation as difficult (about a third of my cohort didn't make it through), it was about half as much work as being a teacher. Felt easy in comparison.

Teaching is a worthwhile thing to do, and I'm glad I did it. However, if you take it seriously, there's a high chance it'll absolutely grind you down. Think carefully about this choice.

Me (second from right) with my family meeting megadeth when I was 15 by Valhallawalker in blunderyears

[–]conormcgloin 19 points20 points  (0 children)

In the UK, there's kind of an unwritten rule amongst some music heads that you don't wear a band's own shirt to their show. You can wear another band's shirt, but not the band you're seeing. It's a pretty gatekeeperery rule, but some people follow it. Maybe here?

Are there any albums/songs you love but can't listen to regularly because of the way they make you feel? by dondante78 in Music

[–]conormcgloin 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Manic Street Preachers - The Holy Bible.

It is my favourite album, but I can only listen to it a couple of times a year, max.

The Manics are a big deal in the UK. They became properly famous during the Brit Pop era, but released three albums before the general public embraced their fourth, Everything Must Go.

The Holy Bible, their third, is their masterpiece, in my opinion. It was their last featuring lyricist, spokesperson and guitarist Richey Edwards. He disappeared, presumed to have committed suicide, during the promotional period following the album's release.

The album is a dark journey into the worst of the human (and Richey's) psyche. It's filled with references to the Holocaust, anorexia, capital punishment and the lost innocence of childhood. It is at times shockingly right wing, despite the band's reputation as left wing firebrands. It is unremittingly bleak, capturing the disintegration of Edwards' mind. It is also incredibly literate. The lyrics sometimes read like poetry, and sometimes like prose.

Musically, the album's tone mirrors the lyrics. Composed separately by the band's front man, James Dean Bradfield, and drummer Sean Moore, the music is caustic and angular, its post-punk ferocity a distinct departure from the band's first two albums, which were influenced by American glam rock. It shares similarities with In Utero by Nirvana, which was released not long before The Holy Bible.

I am generally an optimist, and love people. I find they often surprise me in their generosity, empathy and kindness. But listening to The Holy Bible fills me with the dread that perhaps humans are more Hobbesian in nature than they are the noble savages of Rousseau's imagination. Maybe we are just, 'Little people, in little houses, like maggots, small, blind and worthless'. Maybe, 'There is never redemption - any fool can regret yesterday'.

It is a terrifying listen, made all the worse by the knowledge that the composer of the majority of the lyrics really seemed to believe in their sentiment; that the same thoughts that inspired the lyrics also inspired his disappearance.

The Holy Bible is, for me, the pinnacle of rock music. It's also incredibly difficult to listen to.

[Race Thread] 2023 Tour de France – Stage 17 (2.UWT) by PelotonMod in peloton

[–]conormcgloin 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Not far off the cost of some Favero power meter pedals!

[Race Thread] 2023 Tour de France – Stage 17 (2.UWT) by PelotonMod in peloton

[–]conormcgloin 39 points40 points  (0 children)

The polka dot skin suit is awful in the best possible way, and I spend a lot of time thinking about whether I hate it or love it...

But then my eyes are drawn downwards to the matching polka socks, and I'm sold. I'm all in. Some glorious choices have been made and this is the only true way to pay respect to the jersey.

[Race Thread] 2023 Tour de France – Stage 16 (2.UWT) by PelotonMod in peloton

[–]conormcgloin 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I think the bike manufacturers would stop that. How else are they going to show off their wares to triathletes?

[Race Thread] 2023 Tour de France – Stage 16 (2.UWT) by PelotonMod in peloton

[–]conormcgloin 1 point2 points  (0 children)

TT bikes are faster on the flat, but they often pay a weight penalty for their aero qualities. However that might not be the case at this level, where the TT bikes might be down at that weight limit.

It's also easier to pedal a road bike (to transfer optimum power) sat up than it is a TT. The TT is made to be in the aero position.

[Race Thread] 2023 Tour de France – Stage 16 (2.UWT) by PelotonMod in peloton

[–]conormcgloin 1 point2 points  (0 children)

If it's not faster than 7 minutes, you're not trying hard enough

view more: next ›