Thanks, Law Cycles sounds the best bet. Northwind, cheers for the offer but almost certainly too small 🙁

Was there just over a week ago and it was surprisingly ok, the middle bit was ‘damp’ but easily ride-able.

I think that is next weekend but you are the second person who has mentioned it.

Yup -Moor of Feshie, never seen mud so deep. I don’t think my son or nephew will ever forgive me.
I had wondered about hiring a fat bike for a laugh, the only problem is I might enjoy it.

Glen Banchor sounds a good shout. Anyone know if the woods at Inshiriach are OK? Last time we were near there we got stuck in a mudfest due to logging lorries and I was not popular.

SMBO Day/Nighter around falkirk, could be chilly.

They are ok if you don’t have a problem or it is something very simple beyond that they are utterly hopeless. There initial support is all abroad, they work to a script and make it as hard as possible for you to leave. They were unable to port my number to a new phone and I spent hours trying to sort it with repeated promises it would be fixed in 48 hours and told I couldn’t leave after giving them 14 days to fix it. When eventually I spoke to someone in the UK ( who didn’t cut me off) I was able to leave in 5 mins. Also there shops seem to be completely separate from their on-line business.

I will never go near them again.

If it is a deore there is no spacer.

You have lost a spacer?. Happened to my wife’s wheel. According to Stif not the first.

Sibelius is worth a listen especially Tapiola, Swan of Tuonela, Finlandia and 5th Symphony.

A colleague at work has a lovely bearded dragon looking for a home – bought for christmas present for son age 9, who it turns out cant cope with all the live feeding of crickets etc! Dragon in penicuik – and comes with vivarium lights etc as well as cages for insects etc etc …email me if interested and I will give you more details – alimunro@sky.com

Any idea about Ae or Drumlanrig?

Becoming a Dr is massively oversubscribed but staying one in the UK isn’t. Why do you think there are so many vacancies? If you are keen on options to the NHS then have a look at proportion of GDP spent on health.
http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SH.XPD.TOTL.ZS

Exactly right, thanks. No idea where it has gone!

Thanks, that is what I thought.

Stuck at 61, is there something faint on the gable end brick work high up?

Owned a 2.0d for 6 years and taken it from 20 to >130k. The last year it has been kept for the kids and if something goes wrong with other half’s VW. It has been a great car if a little uninspiring. Computer says mid 50s but probably higher 40s mpg. Six hour journey in comfort yesterday. Also not bad in the snow. No major repair bills so far………

No and yes. Don’t notice it riding unless doing something really daft that a 120/100mm bike isn’t designed for. I have passed it to my son and have a Horsethief which is more substantial (and about 3-4x the price). Still occasionally take it out for longer rides in the hills though.

I got a little bored as above with Hell of a Journey.
Although a little older Hamish’s Mountain Walk I think is a better read and as it is done through the year rather than just winter is a bit more uplifting and inspiring.

GDs are great, reliable and super easy to service. However they are getting harder to find. I am looking for a 5′ 31.6 with no success even looking at the euro websites. My last service items cost pennies but I had to order them directly from GD in the US.

Have been to El Jardi a couple of times. Nice location, chilled atmosphere with good selection of tapas.

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g187497-d2219997-Reviews-El_Jardi-Barcelona_Catalonia.html

Thanks, will pop into Bothy Bikes and if we give it a go will let you know how we get on.

Happy with mine. Good fit, like the adjustable visor but a little warmer than the xc helmet it replaced. Lithos were around the same price on-line but I needed mine in a hurry.

Not sure about the jump route. Did a couple of runs down from the fireroad that curves round after the mast trail. We went back up after chatting to a couple of locals who pointed back up the fireroad and told us to keep turning right – seemed to work. Had a great final run including trying to take my head off on a fallen tree that I didn’t see because of the visor on my helmet. There seemed to be loads of trails in the lower section but we only seemed to find the end rather than the beginning.

Thanks for the map links. Great afternoon with only one wrong turning. The trail down from the mast was fab although the long grass in the top half made it interesting. Hopefully will make it back although I can imagine it is different in the wet!

Thanks, hopefully it stays dry and my map reading is up to scratch.

Doesn’t sound promising 🙁

Thanks for the suggestions. Phoned Mojo who arranged to look at them. Sent back within a week with new CSU and uppers.

I usually do the Sandwood track in the evening and even then it can be busy. There is no track north of Sandwood to Cape Wrath.The Arkle loop is a good day out with some pushing in the middle but mostly bikeable.

It is not a bad route if the weather is good otherwise most of the ride back from Loch Muick is a bit bleak. The more fun way from Sandy’s shed is to take the little path heading northeast rather than following the landrover track which runs along the ridge. The first path drops you at the west end of the loch and you can cycle round the north shore past the old hunting lodge and then join the Capel Mounth track.

I’ve used Craig Simpson before (simpsons@mypostoffice.co.uk). Don’t know if he is still active or if email correct. Sideways cycles possibly as well. Alternatively there is a guy in France that you can find via the MTBR Maverick forum.

What is it?

Had very similar problem recently with aluminium post and titanium frame. Tried most of the methods above including wd40, freeze spray, plusgas, caustic soda, hacksaw and a vice. In the end I sent it to the seatpost man as suggested on here. 24hrs after arrival it was on its way home with the seat tube like new. Highlly recommended and worth the price.

Anyone tell me where you can get GD multi for ~£130?

Thanks for all the replies. The Hudl2 looks popular, the only downside is the battery. I will need to find out more about the Linx8.

I know it sounds daft but I fancy doing a C2C. FW to Montrose sounds good as you don’t need to leave a car on the other side of the country.

Did a circuit of the Cairngorms previously which was fun but similar to
C2C 95% could easily have been done on a CX bike.

McMooter’s trip is pretty similar apart from a more interesting 1st day and going down Glen Tilt rather than Glen Feshie. Struggling to work out the route form Corran using the description.

Fasthaggis – do you have any info on alternatives from Fort William. Ideally we would be using train to get to start and finish from Glasgow and then Edinburgh.

Fasthaggis, did you stop at Laggan and Braemar only. I would have thought the Laggan to Braemar section would be ‘challenging’ on a CX bike especially if the weather had been a bit damp.

I bought a bike earlier this year. A bit of a delay due to my credit card company. Excellent communication and very well packaged. Would use them again if the price was right.

Rorschach, sounds promising, have you used him?