Many comments/responses predictably take a vindictive “well you’re not getting a congestion charge out of me. I’ll just take public transport! Ha! That’ll teach you!” approach. Same often happens with parking cost increases. “It’ll put people off driving!”. They seem oblivious that’s the point.

Forgive me for the privileged whiney #FirstWorldIssues post, but it is exhausting and demoralising having a hope, a dream, an opportunity, and being unable to start. I just want to ride my bike and see where it goes. I can’t even start yet. That’s all I wanted to say.

Trying to balance numerous frustrations- questionable success. But weights session this PM will round off biggest 10hr training week and highest 52 CTL in 2yrs. Get it done. An interesting project: cycling training when you currently only have one leg. Lots of stretching, Compex, and weights.

In a nutshell

Due to a spring rush of patients, next prosthetic appt is 20 March. That’s 3 weeks for Roger to hurry TF up and heal over. Needless to say, every plan I have has been pushed back and I am in the blackest of black moods. For the foreseeable. <back to radio silence>

To be absolutely clear: this is the lowest percentage of the vote in a by-election for the Conservatives or Tories since the party was founded at the time of the Glorious Revolution in 1689.

The strongest version of this illusion I’ve seen! Absolute head-wrecker!

Rounded out my biggest training week so far with 8 reps of 10kg bicep curls - lifetime PB. That’ll do, donkey, that’ll do. Good use of delayed prosthetic leg frustrations.

The craving to have a prosthetic leg and ride a bike is especially strong today. It is sunny. Everyone is training or racing. *forlorn sigh*

Last 4 weeks have been challenging - but think it’s safe to have a breather. Celebratory #fishnchips tonight. Roger making slow but steady progress. Words can’t express how much I want/need that prosthetic so I can start exploring the future.

Final RT of New Blog - I visit clothing sponsor, get a fancy kit design, get licked by an enthusiastic pup. What more could you want for a Saturday evening read?

Well the weather is miserable and my mood is distinctly weltschmerz but I did at least manage another bicep curl PB - 20 reps of 8kg. Time to attempt the 10kgs.

NEW BLOG: featuring puppy kisses and flash kit. No further encouragement needed

2026 kit. That’ll do. For this donkey, anyway.

The 2026 season has begun for some. Sadly, still waiting for Roger to heal and the arrival of my final prosthetic leg… but @teambottrill @nopinz kit is designed and looking awesome, complete with some personal additions. tomstaniford.substack.com/p/28-suits-y...

Even better: The Continuous Sidewalk. ​Instead of forcing people to step down into the street, we make the cars step up into the pedestrian space. It prioritizes the person walking or rolling, keeps the path level for accessibility, and physically forces drivers to slow down.

It would be good if people started to understand AI doesn’t “know” anything. It’s been programmed to show what looks like an answer.

I'm tired of saying "we told you so".

Let it be known that today I set a lifetime PB of 14 bicep curls with 8kg. I currently weigh 60kg. Ok, so cheating a bit with no legs, but still…

STUDY: “Results show that for every reported professional benefit that scientists once gained from Twitter, scientists can now gain that benefit more effectively on Bluesky than on Twitter.” Follow great scientists here like @michaelemann.bsky.social @peterhotezmdphd.bsky.social @katharinehayhoe.com

*insert whiney pity post about patience and waiting for amputation site to heal*

Wow! double distancing plus added passive voice in the nonpology event here! The judges will love this! Not only is he sorry you were offended, he's sorry that his language offended you. We haven't seen this level of avoidance of responsibility from a powerful man since at least yesterday evening

Oaks in a footpath leading to Sheepstor, last February, #Dartmoor, #Devon. #photography #blackandwhitephotography

On the road for 4am to be in Derby for @britishcycling.org.uk disability classification screening. Not the result we wanted, but optimistically under review by a more senior classifier so will hear more in next few days.

Mental and physical wellbeing are intrinsically linked, therefore #MentalHealth needs to be central to the conversations have this #RareDiseaseDay Insights from #RAREsummit25 panellists Kelly, Max & Tom @tomstaniford.bsky.social www.camraredisease.org/mental-wellb...

Last November I was privileged to speak at @camrare.bsky.social's #RAREsummit25 on a panel devoted to #MentalHealth for #RareDisease. You can now watch the full 30-min fireside chat over on their YouTube channel. www.youtube.com/watch?v=IyJx...

Sir Ian McKellen performing a monologue from Shakespeare’s Sir Thomas More on the Stephen Colbert show. Never have I heard this monologue performed with such a keen sense of prescience. Nor have I ever been in this exact historical moment.TY Sir Ian, for reaching us once again. #Pinks #ProudBlue

Solid few hours emailing and strategising done. Now to crash on the sofa in a miserable heap of spluttering malaise. I don’t think even coffee can save me now. #ManFlu #TheEnd

Sick as a dog. Coughing so aggressively that it feels like I’ve pulled something in my abs. Don’t send help. It’s too late for me. This is the end. Manflu has got me. #got #manflu #death

Are there any #rucking brands, or brands selling #WeightedRucksacks, which don't aspire to a military aesthetic? Huge respect for the Armed Forces, but have no desire to disrespectfully cosplay a squaddie, when hobbling along a bridleway trying not to fall over. Recommendations/contacts most welcome

I’m not an expert on American law, but do the seemingly extensive international aspects of recent Epstein file revelations (Israel, Russia, etc) justify a RICO warrant? @legalclaret.bsky.social @davidallengreen.bsky.social @richardmoorhead.bsky.social

Can we please never forget this. #ClimateCrisis #ClimateEmergency

February brings us closer to the return of bumblebees – you might be lucky enough to see some this month 🤞 Bumblebee queens emerge from hibernation in spring. Keep your eyes peeled this month for early emerging Tree and Buff-tailed bumblebees 👀 Have you spotted your first bumblebee of 2026?

The Great Burrow Fjord is now passable by small terriers. Sensible drivers may be ok. Pic and caption (c) 2026 the Sainted Alice

Pretty sure I’ve perfected my @voyagercoffee Trailblaze espresso. 20g in the basket, for a 40g yield in 29 secs. It’s a bit jam-packed and longer than their 18/40/25 recipe but the smoothness and depth can handle it. It is pretty intense and dark, though, so may not excite lighter palates.

Garage gym looking tidier and well-stocked. Calendar being researched. Coach is on board. Roger making steady but frustratingly slow progress. Every day feels largely the same, and I’m really not a fan. Guess I’ll practice some more “patience”.

We were glad to be welcomed into Parliament by @marykfoymp.bsky.social to present our latest co-produced research with @dusportexsci.bsky.social to MPs, Peers and decision makers on the impact of the Activity Trap. Disabled people are scared of losing benefits, so locked out of being active🧵

I have a rack at last.

Bit jealous of people cycling in Lanzarote and Mallorca currently. Actually, bit jealous of people cycling, full stop. But hopefully not long to go. *twiddles thumbs, looks out window, big sigh*

“Do not travel in Exeter, East and Mid Devon at this time unless you urgently need to”. All 3 of the approaches to our house are flooded - two of them the highest I’ve seen. 1 even has a current! Biggest flooding we’ve seen. Stay safe everyone. #stranded #flooding

There's a lot of work that goes on behind the scenes when it comes to categorising visually impaired cyclists and organising competitions.

Final RT of my latest blog. Tear yourself away from trawling eBay or doomscrolling IG - this is ideal Sunday reading.

Seriously, WHEREVER you are in the world, I recommend watching all of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s powerful & already famous speech at Davos. Can’t underestimate its leadership importance. Key line: “Middle powers must work together, because if we’re not at the table, we’re on the menu.”

Graft. Weight trolley settles in.

I’ve bought a weight trolley. I suppose that means I am skating dangerously close to gym bunny territory. This is what happens when cycling is curtailed. Bad things.

Some weekend reading for you. Big ambitions. Grateful for sponsors on this adventure.

It’s Friday night. Don’t go out for drinks. Be antisocial and grumpy, like me, and entertain yourself with my most recent ramblings.

“In London cyclists now outnumber cars in the City by 2 to 1. Paris, where they now outnumber motorists across the whole city, is catching up with Europe’s traditional bike capitals, Amsterdam & Copenhagen…In Copenhagen, bikes account for almost half of commuter trips to work/school.” @economist.com

“We’re committed to delivering funding that helps transform England, Scotland, and Wales into true nations of cyclists”

I love it when a plan comes together. Actually, much more to come, and much progress still to make, but 2026 has started well. Just don't call it a comeback. Comments, shares, likes very gratefully received as always. tomstaniford.substack.com/p/27-new-yea...