Junkyard …
Isle of man, my bike looking like a pack horse

Scotland 2011, two light weight boys and their sister with a bobyak trailer

Pictures failed again – will try and sort later from my computer

@junkyard – last year in the isle of man I carried most of the stuff but they carried their balloon beds, spare tubes and clothes on their bikes in frame and seat bags. They also had rucksacs with bladders in and room for waterproofs etc.

The year before in Scotland, myself and my daughter had trailers and the boys just had their little camelbacks

They did the iom when they were 7&8 good mix of terrain and did up to 25 a day (not including even riding for fun around where we camped

The rail and sail tickets meant it was a very cheap trip about 80 return for the 3 of us with a family rail card from Sheffield via liverpool

Did fort William to fort Augustus and back the year before with similar milage

To be fair we could probably all do the riding we do on more basic bikes, if I had the cash my two would have better bikes, and more types of bike.

The main thing is getting them hooked and enthusiastic – but like I say to my two as long as they are using what I buy them I don’t mind.

The already have summer gloves, winter gloves, waterproof riding jackets and padded shorts. Luca wants a king of the mountains jersey, Max wants nothing but a road bike at the moment and they both can’t wait until their feet are big enough to ride clipless.

Last year they did a 100mile bikepacking trip around the isle of man with me on the standard revolution 20″ mtbs, and we had no problems. When they show that kind of enthusiasm why not treat them to some nice stuff

Haven’t done much to their bikes – but have made them frame bags and seat bags for bikepacking trips 🙂

Yikes!! can you tell us what you look like and what you ride – will then avoid acknowledging anyone who fits that description

3 of my four learned on bikes with stabilisers – but never had the stabilisers on for that long. My other one learnt on his older sisters bike when he was about 4, by literally picking it up and trying until he could ride it. He was too small to pull the brakes or touch the floor whilst on the saddle but just wanted to ride a bike.

The sad bit is that whilst his sister carried on and still rides, has done a season in morzine and generally loves being on two wheels (has also done her cbt and is looking to get a bike). My eager 4 year old is now 20 and barely rides – even though he has use of my old orange. It makes me feel quite sad but I hope like many other teenage quirks it will be something he grows out of!

The youngest 2 are still very keen and are after road bikes atm . . . They are all different as has been said before

Caught a bit of nick cave at Glasto, appeals to me on some level but I dont listen often – but my sons were shocked by the lyrics – as you would expect at 8&10!

@karinofnine – I have posted a link to a charity ride ending in Winsor, let me know if you or anyone you know fancies it 🙂

‘They’re too stupid’ would look less ironic in that sentance 🙂

Edit: sorry I appear to have come over all STW, criticising grammar . . . I’ll be debating wheel sizes next.

So you’ll chat to strangers on a forum who share a common interest in bikes – but won’t consider saying hello to cyclists in the real world . . .

@bigblackshed – a substantial sports bra! But yes the floaty vest does make me look more girly than usual.

I have been riding my croix de fer about in the peaks and after years of riding a mtb and being ignored by most roadies they now say hello.

Tbh a bit too much really – didnt know how much I enjoyed the peace, although sometimes it bugged me as we are all cyclists after all.

Weirdly they also say hi when I ride my mtb in a vest I have which is a bit floaty and see through, it may work for you too – lovely pink chiffon type fabric I bet it would suit you 😉

No unfortunately not – I’m in sheffield.

Got on my bike with no idea of where id go or how far I wanted to do, but clocked up 50 miles – it was a bit warm though and I found myself hoping it would rain. Got excited at one point only to realise id ridden into a cloud of bits blown off a tree – not rain as id hoped!

Awesome day though 🙂

Well said karinofnine, wheres you social btw? Not for picking up boys but it would be good to meet some other women who ride

There are pictures of me on here somewhere junkyard – all quite scary tbh! 🙂

I just find its a time issue, I don’t have much free time and I already feel i dont ride as much as I’d want to, so if I was in a relationship where sharing that with someone wasn’t an option I really don’t think it would last long

I did find myself ignoring the advances of a nice chap I met in a bar a few weeks ago just because he looked totally confused when I said I ride bikes. Probably as bad as guys who switch off when I say I have kids but hey ho – we can all be blinkered!

You have revealed bits of yourself on here Tazzy so I appreciate that – may not look so arty after a dot to dot session
Im sure the donkeys are happy to know that . . .

Strange arrangement of metal work though!

You might look a bit interesting after a blind lady has attempted dot to dot on you . . .

Maybe it is me and not my children thats the problem then :-0

But I have honestly only had one guy who has really wanted to be involved with all aspects of my life (including kids) since I split up with my ex – and that was a while ago. Unfortunately I didnt fancy him enough so im probably not desperate enough.

And yes, buzzlightyear until then there is definitely lots of riding to be done – no doubts about that whatsoever!

Do it!

Is it too early to nip out and buy a big hat??

@Houns – I don’t think you are allowed to ‘just like’ something round here – everything is a reflection of you and your personality traits/flaws you should know that by now . . . Did you forget which forum you were on 🙂

Wont let you what?!

Ha ha true – a good way to spot ones to avoid. But the age issue is also made worse by the fact that loads lie about their age anyway.

I guess its the same in real life, but it just makes the whole thing a bit more ridiculous when you cant even be straight from the start.

I am happy to admit my age – it doesn’t bother me, and to be fair I get complimented on not looking my age (but I think this is because lots of women who admit to being in their early 40s are actually in their early 50s – so I probably do look good next to them! 🙂 )

I think more direct dating sites should exist

Female
Brunette
5’6″
Mother of 4
Keen rider of bikes
Camps
Reads
Cooks
Can be forgetful
Grumpy if I dont get enough
Tells bad jokes
Tries to accept that there are many ways to skin a cat (but knows mine is the best way really)

What more do you need to know? And when they ask what are you lookibg for in someine else – well someone who can cope/get involved/tolerate the above qualities and hopefully share some mutual physical attraction with

See it seems so easy in principle 🙂

Being true to yourself is always important – even if you do lose sight of what that is occasionally it is crucial that you always take the time to find you again. And there is an added bonus with your hair as you have found yourself looking great 🙂

I am happy – and cringe slightly when I read my outpouring on the previous post!

Just the Friday night feeling of not having the energy to go out and be actively sociable – and missing there being someone around to ‘just be’ with.

Will woman the f up and go to the gym

I have given up, I try to get enthused and think I should start trawling dating sites but I have learned a few things that just make the small talk and chat a bit tiresome

1) men my age (41) seem to be looking for something much younger – so does that mean I should be looking for someone much older (but then I want someone who is fit and can keep up with me – so that narrows the field down)

2) admitting to having four children makes men run away faster that anything else I know – maybe they mistake ‘yes I have 4’ with ‘yes I need you to become dad and provider for my four children’ when they ask if I have children.

Some of my friends say I shouldnt mention them – but they are not something I am ashamed of or believe I should hide

I guess they do complicate issues and mean I am very busy at times, so I have pretty much put myself on the shelf. It is upsetting though as I think most people just want someone to unwind with at the end of the day

I hold a glimmer of hope that when the last has fledged the nest and I set off riund the world on my bike I will bump into some like minded soul and pedal happily ever after

Edit and I drink Pimms – so there really is no hope

😀

I wouldnt tell your boss or your mate, but if you have an overwhelming urge to tell someone I would annonymouly send a message to the husband briefly saying they were seen and maybe he wants to sort the situation out before anything else gets out. If he knows she isnt covering her tracks when texting too, it may be enough to make him think twice.

Risks dont seem so big when you are getting away with it

I quite like the idea of proxies . . . Can you specify who describes it to you!? Who needs audio books when you could have a blow by blow (snigger) description of porn by your chosen voice … there has to be a market for that surely

as much as i love bike packing i have to admit threshold sports (they also do the ride across britain) did a great job when we did the london revolution. really all we had to do was turn up ride, get off bike pick you bag up shower massage eat drink and sleep – no thought required which was a luxury compared to my usual events.

lovely break from the norm – can’t say i’d want to do such a mammoth event like lejog that way as i like to feel i’ve earned it properly, but maybe when i’m a bit older and more delicate i will appreciate stuff like that more often 🙂

@ stoner – thank you – i think, although not sure the world needed that bigger 🙂

And i’m not that scary in real life . . often

There was a baby sling seat available when I was looking (many moons ago) I thinknit was made by a company called weber

It fits a lot of trailers and takes babies from birth.

A suitably ladylike shot 🙂

Edit . . . i have no idea why it is so small – probably for the best!

I thought this thread would be about the rolling stones . . .

I’m a girl but I couldn’t be less interested in lampshades if I tried, the only two things I like shopping for are bikes and underware – not sure where that leaves me on the scoring scale but I do know it leaves me with a full garage and lots of frillies

Guess id be a 7.5

never have a problem = and i do ride long ditances and long durations.

@ eckinspain i take it those are the things you don’t wear pants under – the mind boggles and also comes up with some amusing mental images :-O

female

No, far from it – find it stops delicate bit getting rubbed up the wrong way to be fair.

Always – but a small thong only, doubt it’d work for boys!