ir-bandito – not what I wanted to hear but thank you.

Paul4stones – yes, the plan is to descend down over Wildboar Scar down into Blencarn.

Your comments on Trout Beck may lead to a rethink. Do you mean that there are parts where you need to get off and walk, or that the whole leg down to where the path starts near the Tees is a no go?

Bike rack?

Lunge thank you for your note above. I have started looking locally but does not seem much out there that I am after.

In answer to your first question I am after a permanent post.

Your points are noted. I will aim to keep my contact under a short leash – I am sure easier said than done.

Pointers appreciated. I have one agent who I know personally, an acquaintance rather than a friend, though who is a one man band and a “specialist” in engineering fields.

I may go to him and stop there. Comments appreciated.

ok, any positive experiences out there or don’t touch with a sh*** stick.

All good from my end. Delivered as promised.

Another “my bike is great (and I have no idea what any other bikes are like” comment – I picked up a Trek Stache 8 the other week from the Bike Factory in Chester. Worth putting into the decision making mix.

I just piked up a stache 8 last week. I took it for its first outing this morning on Hexham Common and it was great. Being up to this point a 29er virgin I don’t have much to compare it to but it flew round.

I managed to find one reduced also which helped somewhat. The 120mm fork and tighter frame means it is a bit more do it all. The only limitation is my skill.

We found NF a most frustrating experience. Having joined and hoped for up to date films we found one or two, but the vast majority was just rubbish which should have never seen the light of day. We would waste our evenings trying to find something worth watching.

As to whether it is any better than LF I can’t comment having never joined. If you like some of the specific shows NG exclusively supplies then all good, but otherwise save your money and spend it on something else.

mikejd and big daddy, many thanks for those links, I will follow them up.

At this stage we are not looking for difficult placements, that may come at a later stage. I have a 11 yr old step daughter, 4 yr son and 2 yr daughter and would wish to control the disruption at this stage.

My understanding is that placed children are generally younger than ones own children. So allowing a couple of years for the process to work through we would only anticipating young children (2 or under) I would guess, initially.

Probably being a muppet but where can you find out about demo days for the treks. I am in the north east and would love the opportunity. Have these been put on through local shops or are they part of a national trek programme of demo days?

I was also a little unsure about the brakes on FF29, I have not come across them before, TEKTRO 2013 Gemini’s I think. how do they compare with the Avid/Shimano ranges?

ride don’t, will try steels

A civil engineer who helps design, procure and supervise construction of shipyards and container ports. More targets I guess . .. .

fantastic, sat crying at my desk

I nearly died the first day I used them.

Cycling into Newcastle I had managed to stop and start safely until I got 100m from my office where there was a set of traffic lights. I stopped immediately next to a bus, started to fall over, put my hand out to catch stop the fall and managed to prop myself off the bus. As soon as I put my hand on the bus it started to pull off. I then slid down the side of the bus and fell under it. I am only writing this today as I resting just behind the rear wheel of the bus. I sweat a little more than usual when I think about it.

Just watched Moon sat in a hotel room on my lap top. Sci-fi for adults. Not a life changer but well worth seeing. 8/10.

Trains don’t really do it for me but at 8am on Sunday morning I was there at Newcastle Central Station enjoying a hot chocolate with Baden jnr + another dad and son enjoying a hot chocolate watching trains. That was all before going to sit for a ride at the front of a metro train. A real train fest before 10.30am.

I worked in Turkmenistan for an extended period and also homesick for long periods. When I was there my life better when I drank less but also planed and cooked a meal for guests once a week. Hosting a meal gave a focus for meeting local people or colleagues alike. The reduced drinking meant that I was in a better frame of mind to speak to friends and family via Skype.

What tyres for Baku? I am here for a few days now. I have been out here about ten times in the last 18 months for short stints and was maybe planning to bring out my bike for a long weekend. mugsys_m8, have you brought the bike over or is free time in short supply?

I’m in from Monday