No I wouldn’t just ask the FIL first, but in my case after I’d popped the question we discussed it and the missus said her dad would be well chuffed if I did it the “old fashioned” way and asked him! I did, he was delighted, in fact he was genuinely happy and everybody was happy ever after 🙂

Aye lord it’s the 4motion one, which I need for work.

My van in working mode, for roadtrips I take the seats out and just “rough” it on the floor.
Not quite in the league of all these nice conversions, but it does me – when with the family we just use the space to throw a large tent, e-z-up, chairs, etc in and camp it.

crikey, I too have a lovely carbon framed road bike and yes it’s untouchable for speed, lightness, comfort, etc, etc, etc, but I had a bike frame like this once and I just would like to build up another one, just cos!
Oh and I like the chrome rear end!

No way is that too much for your age. At 17-18ish I was running xc for the county at Scottish level races, banging out big miles on the road bike with the local roadie club – Dundee Wheelers – hard nuts that bunch, racing road during the season and there always used to be a weds’ night TT. However, I still used to go out on Fri’ night, Sunday too and from my rose tinted memory REALLY enjoyed female company! Oh and to fund it all I was a labourer at a joinery firm, so that took care of the strength training! Jeezo man, live life like there’s no tomorrow, cos before you know it you’re married, two bairns, working hard and no spare time to play with all your bikes.

Did this recently, curry, Heineken and Blizzard of Aaaaahs.

None! I just cannae race or get in “the flow” of the trail plugged into the iPod. I use one on the road to alleviate the boredom and then it’s nine inch nails at the moment!

Old kit! Where do I begin; rucksack – Berghaus Roc from ’87, sleeping bag – North Face Purple Haze ’88, Mountain Equipment Pertex fleece also from ’88, an MSR stove – about 89/90 ish, two Flites from ’98 and these are all still – occasionally used! Stuff that’s lying around in the loft and back of the garage and not used – who knows!?

When I was 21 I treated myself to a Breitling diving watch and I have worn it virtually every day since – 20 plus years. I have a Polar for roadie/running stuff and was given a Gshock recently. However, I prefer an analogue display so the “posh” watch still gets abused as my daily watch.
I now don’t see the point in expensive “bling” when you can buy cheap, rugged, accurate watches.

Number one son

Number two son

£575! Jings, mind you have you seen the price increases in the pipeline for Shimano? XTR is going into orbit!

My version of looking after the baby!

Jings, I only wanted some advise! Stirred up a right hornets nest. Oh, and I do believe in legalised freqs for higher power, up in my neck of the woods “bumping” into the various other legit VHF users i.e. my friendly mountain rescue gang with a rogue transciever would be a BAD thing…

I’ve taken a Kona Jake the Snake round the reds at Laggan, yes it can be done, but…. I wouldn’t do it again!

40 and 42, kids now 1 and 3, ugh! I am glad I did a lot of things and travelling before this. But like some people have said here, having them late takes more out of you. IMO. Sleepless nights, two young’uns and both being self-employed means never a free moment and when spare time does come your way it is eagerly grabbed. Hard as it is I do love it though and the two boys are great fun. The elder is a keen rider already and this winter has been learning to ski, soon be ready for some real adventures!

I smashed mine rather convincingly after a nasty mtb crash and it was a good 3 months til I was mtbing again. But even more worrying was it has taken a lot longer to really go fast on the downs again.

Aye, good ride today, nice easy spin round the local singletrack, nothing too demanding, just flowing along real nice.

If it fits you then you’ll love it. I had an ML8, best rear end sus’ action ever for combination of pedalling feel and bump absorption, but I just couldn’t get the bugger to fit my long legs. Sold it.

I use a Mudman for work, generally ok for a digi (still prefer analogue) but when working hard in Scottish conditions i.e. normally cool, it steams up and is unreadable!

I’ve got one, ride it more than my 26er

Aaaah, Mint Sauce, memories of a simpler time when I “worked” in a bike shop reading MBUK all day, lusted after a Kona Explosif – it was 1994, and rode – A LOT!!! I must admit I’ve come over all misty eyed and the missus thinks I’m going through some sort of mid-life crisis………… could be right.

Aye, all the above. Cover on Cairngorm awesome at the mo’, but with half term it will be busy on the hill (and in ski-hire) However, there are a number of places to rent kit in the village.

CaptainMainwaring, actually I find that their softer compound dramatically helps in the subzero temps we have had through most of dec and jan. It’s not just about their snow performance.

Personally yes. The missus has an smax and it has been transformed from a well skittery drive into a very sure footed motor with the addition of winter Vredstiens. I also have winter tyres on steel wheels on my 4×4 and again it makes for a very confidence inspiring drive. Without these tyres the last 7-8 weeks would have been extremely difficult, both in getting the family around and me getting to remote work sites.

Never use camera, browsing excellent, touchscreen typing fine with me, as a phone excellent, e-mail / contact / calendar syncing excellent, all in all still a pleasure to use 6 months on. By now with my last few phones I’m bored and just using them when required rather than playing! Oh and using it with headphones under a safety helmet means I never miss a call.

Aviemore! Way better singletrack, but then I’m biased.

I’ve used google maps on my iphone to locate me and on 2g it even “knew” I was way out of the way up here in Aviemore-land. No good for “proper” navigation, but interesting to know how it did it?

Snowing again here in Aviemore – f*ckin luv it. Binned the biking weeks ago and have been skiing every day til my legs collapse. Will be happy to dust bike off in the spring when I’ll have thighs like steel….

Nokia E71 tried here, but found it’s reception poor?!

I went in for a Bold and walked out with an Iphone, I use it for business e-mails, calender updating, web browsing, etc, etc. It’s very good and has even survived being used in truly appalling conditions.

Eh! Gone! You joking! Theres got to be 2′ of the stuff here in Aviemore and 3+ on the hill. Bugger mtbing I’m in skiing mode.

Well, Cairngorm is no better. The other w/e the missus went up, huge queues at the ticket office – only 2 staff on in ticket office and sharing 1 switch/visa thingy!!!
This w/e will be even worse, just dinnea bother coming up, especially Sunday….

Weather update for you, it’s dumping snow and forecast to stay cold.MTBing could be a drag. Skiing good though!

No snow at the mo here, tracks aok. Forecast for snow, but even if it dumps still plenty of singletrack in the trees.

I’m using them on a 5″ full suss’ up here in the Cairngorms and happy so far. They grip well on most trails and roll fast enough. However on slippy rooty stuff I’ve put a soft High Roller on the front instead – now that’s a confidence inspiring tyre.

Mine have been fine (Marta SL’s, with no complaints for 3 years) but I have recently been using Formula The One brakes on my “burlier” bike and they now make the Martas feel like canti’s!

He loved his, got it at 2 then at 3 got this

No stopping him now!

Had my 3g since August and I love it, in fact the novelty still hasn’t worn off.

Kid duty today as Missus up skiing. Me off tomorrow and forecast looks pants for me so guess I’ll head off into the woods on mtb.

We have 3 excellent bike shops nearby; Bothy Bikes, Fat Tread Bikes and Mikes Bikes. All great LBS’s and all run and staffed by riders.