This is my first Volvo and I’m quite besotted with it. 2007 XC70 D5, 160K.
Currently sporting some bigger AT tyres (235/65/17) and I’ve a 30mm lift kit to fit when I get some time off. It does get used off road occasionally…and it’s surprisingly good at it.

Untitled by Ally McMurdo[/url], on Flickr

My lad went missing one evening this week. He’s 9 years old, autistic , severely learning disabled and non verbal. But he know which key unlocks the front door. We keep all our keys in a locked safe….. we can only assume he used my mother in laws key, who was visiting at the time.
He left the house in heavy rain, no shoes, no coat….we live 5 mins walk from the coast. I was convinced our very worst fears were going to be realised.
We called 999 and they dispatched two vans , four officers and they were on the scene in 15mins.
He was found just over a mile away safe and well, if a little wet and upset. They gave my little girl a spin the police van to pick her brother up. I can’t fault them…they couldn’t have done any more for us. They were liaising with the coastguard to task a helicopter when they found him.
I don’t know what outcome we’d have had if he’d turned left out of the house towards the sea, instead of right but based on their actions, I’m completely indebted to them.

Just realised that the pics from my last post are AWOL so hopefully here they are…

image link hosting[/url]

And remembered the exhaust stubs at the last minute….

Built this for the old man this Christmas. It’s been in his attic for ten years, promising himself he’d get around to it.

I’ve been out of modelling since I was a kid. Had a few months off work earlier this year and started a kit to keep my mind busy.

Damn double post

I’ve just bought this Specialized Sequoia. Swapped to 650B as soon as it was out of the box, with 47c WTB Senderos. Steel, 70deg head angle.
It’s a blast to ride… Like a rigid MTB but still fast enough of the road. Billions of mounting points if you want to add racks etc.
Only thing missing of your list is dropper capability but that’s fairly easily fixed.

I’ve got a black Hope one, 34.9 if you are still interested. £10 posted?

That’s good enough me for me Malvern. Hopping to replace my FS and CX bikes with it. Will probably try to go the bar end route later on.

Not sure Vagitude is gonna work from a Marketing POV. It sounds a bit girl-power!

2020 Vagabond has just been released. I’m a little sad that it’s gone to STIs instead of bar end shifters. £200 dearer too.

Linky Linky

Just like Fudge, I’ve got Hope hubs with WTB STi TCS rims. Running tubeless with WTB nanos. I don’t think I could better them for the money.

They do indeed offer C2W direct. I emailed them earlier this month. Sadly they aren’t signed up to the scheme my employer offers so no Escapade for me 😢.

Drop them a line and Paul will sort you out.

Same here….did we all get the same ‘gift’? I got a Giro Synthe helmet..

I drive HSTs now…I don’t acknowledge anyone.

Does my previous employer count….as my current loses their shit over stuff like this as it tends to end up in the Daily Mail under headline of ‘Lazy f**king train driver not even pressing buttons for £50k’?

You can get to Clyne in 20 mins or so….All waymarked if you’re not familiar with it.

http://www.clyneriders.co.uk/home.php

As an aside……please don’t ever, ever use the trainline. com. They are, in my opinion, a complete den of c**ts if you pardon my tongue. You can use the booking system of any train operating company , regardless of which company you are travelling with an you won’t get charged booking fees or card fees. Standard post is usually free too if you are getting them posted out to you.

Yep, my Hope sits flush too.

I definitely didn’t see one depart from a small island off Oman whilst stood at the end of the runway of an airfield that I wasn’t working at during the initial stages of Afghan scuffle and it definitely wasn’t the loudest thing I’ve ever heard in my life. Honestly.

I really like the NRB. I just can’t get past the fact it’s not a lot of bike for £1600. Tiagra and Mechanical discs seem pretty much the norm for bikes costing £1000 or so.

Tubeless Nanos and 29er wheels on my Jake relegated my Mtb to trail centre use only. Gower to Cardiff on as few roads as possible is my next adventure.

Techniquest. Not that far from the Dr.Who Shizzle and it’s perfect for a six year old.

We’ve recently bought a Trek Mountain train tag a long and it’s flippin’ ace. We bought it for our 5 year who is autisc and isn’t able to balance a bike on his own. He took to it really easily and he absolutely loves it.

It’s usually attached to my wife’s bike and I take the toddler in a bike seat on my CX bike.

Pretty sure theyre out of production now but usually a few on eBay. We paid £50 for it and it’s mint

I’m not in the market for a hardtail (N+2 was flatly refused by the minister for war and finance) but those printer colours!!!!
I really wanted an Escapade frame to replace my Kona Jake but really dislike the Fast Red but a trip to the powder coaters and some custom decals could definitely be on the cards.

There aren’t any prices on the website but the bikes are starting to appear at retailers

New Roves and Jakes released

http://www.konaworld.com/bikes_road.cfm

Like the look of the new Rove NRB but £1600 for aluminium, Tiagra and mechanical discs?

Another ghastly Peugeot thing here. Must have been 92/93. Then I inherited my Dads Diamond Back Apex….It was the greatest bike in the world in my opinion. Onza Stubbies, brake lever grips, pink Avenir computer and Shocktech elastomer forks.

You should have called in for a brew. I live literally two minutes from there.

I too am 5’7, 29″ leg. I’m on a medium scout with a 35mm stem/760mm bars. It fits perfectly. And it’s also bloody amazing. The rear feels like it has way more than 125mm travel. Running 150mm Fox 34s up front and it’s really plush.

Quite surprised too. I’ve ordered a fair bit from them and it’s always turned up quickly. Nothing too obscure mind, just pedals, stems, NW chain rings etc.

Yeah it’s tested during the medical. It’s usually tested via ishihara plates. Obviously each person is different but usually its no go if they’re colour blind…. Laser eye surgery is also banned but there on-going trials within the industry

Having worked both pass and freight, they are poles apart. Freight drivers usually find out there shifts on the friday before. Pass drivers will know at least 6 months in advance.

Ive been a driver for 11 years. Started on commuter services, then freight and now I work high speed services Between Paddington and Swansea.
Its a job like no ever. Its different every single day.
You’ll learn the routes inside out… Depending on where you work you could be expected to be able to drive in the pitch black at 125mph in 50 yard fog and still know exactly where you are.
You’ll be taught all of the mechanical aspects (traction) and fault finding procedures. You cant just pull over and wait for the AA when it goers wrong…your expected to muck in and diagnose faults and rectify if possible.

Its a 35hour week on average, but in reality at my depot, its 40-44hrs. But…… that’s a 5 day week plus you get every 5th week off – paid. 32 days leave on top of that.
Pension is probably as good as it gets now. Final salary, company usually match way above whatever you pay into it.

Shifts are a bit of a culture shock. Our earliest start is 02.16am. But Im home at 09.30. Latest finish is 3am from a 17.30 start.
Its a fantastic job though, I wouldnt do anything else now. Its quite tough to get into these days though.
Have a look at the forums at RailUK for application advice

http://www.railforums.co.uk/forumdisplay.php?f=122

Age wont be an issue. There were lad in their late 50s on my trainin course

We got a Specialized small-fry for our 18 month old. She seems comfortable in it and wears it without any grumbles.

My Dad’s got a nice little layout coming along. Started as a 6×4 oval but it’s slowly been extended.

I’ve got a couple of locos. Would love to build my own layout in the garage but the wife says I spend enough time playing with the real ones

First time I’ve ever voted Labour…
Local MP is Tory and quite a decent guy but the current Conservative government is a den of c**ts

40c Nanos here too, on WTB i19s. Lovely tyres and an absolute breeze to set up tubeless.

Not much artistic merit….I was just impressed by the fact it was landing on a local beach.

Two pairs of medium Humvees picked and packed. One black one came. Although came as separate emails for each one…15 hours apart.

I cant help with the book….but Ive beena train driver for the past 11 years. Feel free to have browse through my Flickr page. Might keep him occupied for 10 mins!

https://www.flickr.com/photos/88406088@N02/

There are couple shots of HSTs (intercity 125s) that I drive now. I believe they have a cab of one at the NRM.

We rented a house with gravel drive after the house we were about to complete on fell through. We needed a house urgently though and had some strict requirements. No gravel driveways is now added to the requirements.

It’s awful. It ends up in the house, in the car, on the pavement, on the road, on the lawn. If you need to kneel on the drive its guaranteed to be the exact size to fit between your knee joint and socket. If you drop anything small ie bolts, screws etc then they are gone forever.
Its also loud as hell and the whole house can hear me walking up the drive when I leave for work at 2am. **** Gravel!