Happy new year my Arse.

[My_Teenage_Self]

2020 was a shitshow.

Covid made my job hellish (related to the Oxford vaccine development) and is a LONG way from getting better.

Our dog was diagnosed with an inoperable tumor - we'll be losing him shortly.

Brexit means my wifes job is likely to vanish.


2021 looks to be just as crappy for us.


Happy new year indeed.


[/rant]

 

[Stressed]

Re:

I hear ya.
Total shite!
Happy new year though!

 

[jonnyboy666]

Re:

yeah, have to be honest, i'm not optimistic about 2021.

while i think brexit will just become the new reality, whatever form that takes, i think it will be bad for some, not much different for others, but i have already noticed increased issues with my shop, prices are definitely going up, and i assume other trades will have similar issues. thanks nigel, thanks boris :roll:

the pandemic is not by any means over, and at the rate we are going as a country i think they'll be another 40 to 50 thousand more dead before we have a proper handle on it. it's affected everything in 2020 and will have effects for a quite a while yet. as a by product of the pandemic in my shop if you want basic bike parts like chainrings and cassettes, inner tubes and tyres you might want to think in advance, some of shimano's lead times are 10 months long, i try to hold as much stock as i can but you can't carry everything. certain bikes that i ordered on 9th of september 2020 have due dates in october 2021.

outside of the bike trade in my personal life, my mum has developed dementia which is steadily getting worse, this has caused a huge amount of stress on my dad, both in their 80's, i'm worried about both obviously, mum can be so harsh now as a result of a personality change and constantly pokes the bear (my dad) which gets him so stressed, and he has a heart issue, frankly i'm expecting the worst with one or both of them this coming year. it's very hard to see happening.

i did get lucky with travel in the early part of the year with 6 weeks in NZ, coming home and 2 weeks later the lockdown started, technically i have seen more of my NZ friends than i have any of my UK friends this year. i also got lucky with my summer holiday, when the death figures etc were at their lowest we had the chance to go to the alpes, a holiday booked the previous november. other than that i have seen literally none of my friends and have barely been outside of my postcode area since march. my life has literally been, home/work/tescos/postoffice with all my riding (what little there has been due to work) been within 15 miles of home/work and on my own.

looking to 2021, i see more issues at work, more death reported every night on tv, and possibly issues at home.

so no, i am not optimistic about the coming year. apologies for being a downer.

:|

 

[greencat]

20 was interesting. I lost my mum. Not great, but you get through it. Worked bloody hard for the first half and then tried out part-time working/getting furloughed for part of the second half. One of my side gigs in the fitness industry was very much affected by covid.

I'm relatively optimistic about 21.

The vaccines are here and I know people who've already had their first shot. They together with other measures like masks/social distancing etc will make a difference. It may take much of the year though before we see the curve turn. Spring is very optimistic, late summer might be closer. I think we will see a roaring 20s like bounce back from 22/23 onwards. Keep my head up and prep for it will be my plan.

Digital will continue to be big. If you have the right thing to sell online, it'll do very well. I got rid of a lot of stuff online in 20.

Brexit will likely bring a mixture of good, bad and indifferent. There are always opportunities in change.

I like part-time and will try to lock in that change.

I suspect there will be plenty of cheap second hand bikes later this year. The intersection of depressed economy, lots of bikes sold in 20 and people realising they don't have that much time/interest in cycling can hardly lead to anything else. That might be an opportunity.

 

[Captain Stupido]

20 was interesting. I lost my mum. Not great, but you get through it. Worked bloody hard for the first half and then tried out part-time working/getting furloughed for part of the second half. One of my side gigs in the fitness industry was very much affected by covid.

I'm relatively optimistic about 21.

The vaccines are here and I know people who've already had their first shot. They together with other measures like masks/social distancing etc will make a difference. It may take much of the year though before we see the curve turn. Spring is very optimistic, late summer might be closer. I think we will see a roaring 20s like bounce back from 22/23 onwards. Keep my head up and prep for it will be my plan.

Digital will continue to be big. If you have the right thing to sell online, it'll do very well. I got rid of a lot of stuff online in 20.

Brexit will likely bring a mixture of good, bad and indifferent. There are always opportunities in change.

I like part-time and will try to lock in that change.

I suspect there will be plenty of cheap second hand bikes later this year. The intersection of depressed economy, lots of bikes sold in 20 and people realising they don't have that much time/interest in cycling can hardly lead to anything else. That might be an opportunity.

Good post. Staying positive and looking out for the opportunities is the right plan ImO.

 

[CTK]

Will Brexit mean German bike shops are taxed out of the UK market?

 

[longun]

Re:

I'm still sat on the fence observing the world trying not to get involved. Deleted facebook as it was affecting my anxiety issues and I dont miss it, but do miss the ease of contact with folk.

2021 as a calendar date wont change much if anything, the past is history or his story, Brexit will undoubtedly have new challenges and possibly new opportunities, I dont know.

What I do know is that I've missed socialising with people, riding at events, making new friends, telling tall stories at shows etc. I've always ridden on my own aswell as groups but this year I did realise how lucky I am with the local trails and networks. Its not Whistler or wales but good enough for me and makes me smile.....and strain at times still.

Works been different, trying to educate about construction online and very limited practical time will have a knock on effect to the industry eventually, steep learning curve and tbh the college I'm at have been fantastic at letting me develop my own ways.

My/our/the local trail centre is presently closed and there are a few issues there that I'm struggling to focus any passion back into but you never know....

I do know one thing, this place and cycling has helped me more than words can explain and I'm more thankful for that than anything (other than work, family and health) as its helps me mentally, kinda physically and I've something to tinker with.

Anyway, happy new bike ninja calendar day

 

[jimo746]

Re:

Will Brexit mean German bike shops are taxed out of the UK market?

Unlikely, but some, like Rose Bikes, wont sell/ship to the UK as it is anyway! So not impossible.

2020 was weird and pretty shite all round, yet I was able to do more miles on my bike than ever before, partly due to lockdown, although I wasnt furloughed.
Fortunately I visited my parents just before the lockdown, but haven't had chance to travel down to visit them since.
Cancelled holidays were disappointing, we've made no plans for 2021 yet either.

I'm just taking the new year as it comes, at least riding bikes is one thing I can still do, albeit locally at the moment.

 

[The History Man]

Re:

Do I have to get out of bed yet?

 

[CassidyAce]

Re:

. . .
outside of the bike trade in my personal life, my mum has developed dementia which is steadily getting worse, this has caused a huge amount of stress on my dad, both in their 80's, i'm worried about both obviously, mum can be so harsh now as a result of a personality change . . .

My mother has it too, and we've been caring for her for the last four years: it seems to be a slowly developing form of Alzheimer's. Two things have helped a lot: (1) power of attorney has enabled me to sort out all the practical matters, from bills and property to medical appointments; (2) a prescription for Memantine, which helps to reduce that harshness you mentioned. It isn't easy, though. Good luck.

The worst cycling news story I saw last year was this one from the US: https://www.outsideonline.com/2419837/2 ... obituaries. If we're here, at least we're still alive. Enjoy while you can.