Came to say Butcher Eliminator combo works great for the riding you describe.

Wacaco Nanopresso user here have similar feelings to the picopresso user.

Good bit of kit either for at home or camping etc.  I have the nespresso capsule adaptor which helps a bit with clean up in the van.

If you’re happy with 1:50k mapping, try TopoGPS.  You can buy OS Map “squares” for very little money (most of Cairngorms was £1.99), overlay a GPX route and record an outing if you so desire.

I find the Landranger scale more than adequate for most stuff, particularly on the bike.

Yeti – cult following in the US (especially in the huntin’, fishin’, overlandin’ communities in the US where you’re outside and it’s hot AF), good products, with really good customer service.

I have a few bits of Yeti kit in daily use (bottles, tumblers, etc) and it’s been awesome.  One minor issues I (suspect it was a clumsy teenagers fault as much as anything) was sorted out megafast and free.

I don’t have a cooler – I have a fridge in my van that will run off 12V leisure battery and solar for a week in 25C weather without hookup – but if I needed one it would be a Yeti or Icey-Tek which the offshore fishermen seem to rate.

Turkeys don’t have teeth – they have beaks.

Beat me to it…

Jonas has that odd serial killer vibe that a lot of elite sportspeople have.

Ben O’Connor is a bit of a basket case, could really do with some quality time with a sports psychologist.

Pinot made ME cry…

Jasper and the rest of the Alpecin lot seem unpleasant.

Wout and Alaphillipe continue to be the coolest cats in the Peleton.

I believe Sir requires and Emotional Support Jacket.

Mine is an old-ish DHB minimalist Waterproof that packs down to the size of a couple of tennis balls, but I have also carried a Alpkit syntetic insulated jacket that compresses down quite small at the bottom of a bigger bag when riding/hiking at night/proper mountains/dodgy conditions.  Synthetic fill means it retains warmth when damp.

My dog actually is the best!

Mine too!

@BillOddie my Prime is better than yours btw

Banshees are like dogs, everyone thinks their one is the best and nobody is wrong…

Yeah, my understanding is it’s a similar tubeset but not the same front triangle. (Prime owner here too)

“We are better to adapt to warming, rather than pretend we can stop it”

They are going to be shocked at what happens when the parts of the world near the equator get even hotter/wetter/unliveable, you know the bits with the brown people…

So…  Babymetal with Electric Callboy…  Not sure what to make of this.

Certified Banger!

There’s a quandary…Conservative tactical vote? 🙂

**** that.

Best for Britain have published their tactical voting guide and latest polling. https://www.getvoting.org/

Just checked mine…Jesus **** Christ…

Not including the things that need to be chucked in landfill/recycling…

6 or so pairs of Vans

2 pairs of “work boots”

2 Pairs crocs

1 Pair Walking boots

1 Pair Wellies

2 pairs approach shoes/trail runners

2 Pairs flat pedal shoes

3 pairs SPD shoes

2 Pairs flip flops

2 Pairs Gym/crossfit shoes

1 Pair of wedding/posh office shoes

To be fair even in the last week trails have gone from “ooo thats a bit tight” to “how the **** are we getting down that nightmare of brambles and  stinging nettles”…

Huge amounts of rain plus warm winter plus warm (not hot weather) means a perfect storm of growth.

Banshee Titan (155mm) or Banshee Prime (135mm)?

Both punch above their travel number and like a longer fork.

I have a Prime and it’s good for all day pedalfests through to bike park laps.

£4.40 for the LARGE chips from our local.  Enough for 3-4 people though.

Grant Shapps says a super-majority would be bad for accountability.

It’s nonsense to be honest.

https://x.com/IanDunt/status/1800790479644324339

Ian Dunt has written a very good book on Westminster…

I have done the 0530 get up for the gym or to ride when the kids were small.

The issues for me was falling asleep on the sofa at 2000 and not waking the rest of the house up when i went down stairs and turned the house alarm off.

The Americans (and other countries) defo seem to get up earlier, most schools start at 0730 in the US and some kids have sports practice BEFORE school. 6am practices for Football are not uncommon, especially in the South when it’s by far the most pleasant/safe time to be active outside.

Ronnie Pickering?

What was the rack in question? Asking for a Thule owning friend….ahem…

Not gig per se but Gig adjacent, we missed Ghost on their tour last year but I’m taking the Metal Kid to see their “2 night only big concert film thing” Rite Hear, Rite Now in a couple of weeks.

Also can we mention the new and exciting way concert organizers have worked out to fleece fans?  The “Golden Circle” guaranteed STANDING space right down the front for circa double the price of General Admission. Except “right down the front” apparently extends 2/3rds of the way back down the floor of London’s O2 arena.  Though sometimes it makes for comedy…

https://www.theguardian.com/music/article/2024/jun/05/thirty-seconds-to-mars-review-jared-leto-gives-half-empty-arena-his-full-attention

The first sense that this might not be the busiest show in the O2 Arena’s history comes in the concourses: no one is having to queue at the bar before the show. Inside, the top tier is closed, and the arena floor is bizarre: a packed back third, of general admission, and a vast golden circle that is barely a third full. It looks awful, and visitors to the toilet during the show are accosted by arena staff trying to persuade them to take wristbands to go to the front. Thirty Seconds to Mars singer Jared Leto even appeals before the encore for people to go in search of wristbands to come and join the little throng at the front of the stage.

Just upgraded from 11 to 14 so my kid could go from 8+ to 11.

I don’t think you need to go beyond 11.  Honestly, if it didn’t have a different colour case on it I couldn’t tell the difference.

We were there this spring, I would say Yes the tour is worth it.  I certainly found it pretty interesting.

All the Gaudi stuff is worth doing in my opinion.  We also did a bike tour with Steel Donkeys which was very good indeed.

Barca is great for “vibes”.  Not sure the pickpockets are any worse than any other city with the exception of Las Ramblas, which you feel lucky to get to the end of with all your phones and wallets…

Looks like a wider spaced Assguy.

burko73Full Member
You’ve got to have bf Goodrich all terrains fitted to your sprinter/ crafter/ ducato/ t6 and a YouTube channel to be a real #vanlifer it seems.

Guilty as charged!  No Youtube channel though.

Been a vanlifer (hate hat label) since before it was called that!  Did 6 months full time in Europe prekids with the Mrs in the old van which was a Japanese import Toyota Hiace that was apparently a factory conversion.  The van never missed a beat on that trip aside from the fridge dying.

Sold the old one when it was becoming a bit of MOT fail-prone liability and got a nice new shiny T6.1 with a Jack’s Shack conversion, solar, double leisure batteries, under slung gas, fridge with icebox, double hob, sink/tap, skyline pop top, etc

Just enough storage space…

Kit lockers and Muddy kit stash at the rear of the van…

Not cheap but I intend to keep it for the next decade plus…

It’s just big enough for the 4 full size humans plus the hound.  Feels luxurious when it’s myself and the boy/boys

I would have considered a Crafter or a Sprinter but a LWB Transporter was as long a vehicle as I could fit on the drive.

We have a big drive away awning which is fine if you are going away for a week to one place but for quick trips I much prefer the tarp.

The Skyline Aurora Pop top is ace as it gives the kids somewhere cool to hang out.

Off to Aviemore with my eldest in a couple of weeks for a post-GCSE trip – can’t wait!

From the Frog Faced C***:

We’re in economic decline in relative terms. Oh, sure. We’re doing better than our former partners in the European Union. But we’re massively behind America and many other parts of the world. We’re in social decline. And we’re actually in a form of moral decline. We’ve forgotten who we are as a country.

Bit rich seeing as you were prioritizing being at the front of  the queue to lick “34 Felonies and Proven Rapist” Donald Trumps boots a mere 11 days ago, I wonder what might have changed your mind…

Nala the Goldendoodle and certified Good Girl Adventure Dog.

chakapingFree Member
a Goldendoodle!
OMG what a cutie.

People suggesting sighthounds for riding with is hilarious.

Sounds like you need another lurcher OP.

In true STW fashion I’ll recommend what I have…[awaits flaming]…a Goldendoodle!  You will find them in rehoming centres now sadly.

Great round the house – easily trainable, great traildog – we hike with her but loads of people ride with them too, lovely temperament.

Welcome back!

Depends a bit on the casing but at a similar “svelte” weight I would find that a bit squirmy with the stock tyres which appear to be pretty lightweight and thin.

I’d start at 25 and adjust accordingly.  I run sluightly thicker casings for normal “trail” riding and have 26-28 out back and 22-25 out front depending on conditions.

I did have a Tenda, but moved to TP deco – way better – faster and rock solid even going through victorian brick

I found this too.  The Tenda was struggling to deal with 2 kids online gaming in disparate parts of the house simultaneously.  Since getting TP the whinging has ceased which is my metric for network usability.

Nope, that ain’t it Bill – covers have to be in the artists own style. Just not shit.

It’s in her/the producers own style, whether you enjoy it or not is entirely up to you.  Some people love a club banger, some people love Death Metal and some people like Jazz.  Music like all art is subjective.  Labelling music as “shit” is really reductive and makes you come across as either thick, judgmental or a music snob.

Old White(?) Male annoyed that Cover Version is “not quite like the original” shocker.

You can say what you like about MC but she certainly has range both vocally and stylistically.

If I had to :shudder: go back to the office, I’d be making coffee in the office.

I have a Wacaco Nanopresso that I use in the Camper, either with espresso ground coffee (lavazza works fine) or Nespresso pods for easier clean up.

Lovely bit of kit if verging on Coffee ****…

Stop putting human emotions and morals on nature.

They are incredibly impressive creatures just like Hyenas, Sharks, Crocs, etc etc i.e. the other “bad guys”.

Yep – standard ebike attire from what I have seen.  But if you’re not doing much (if any) work you will get cold.

https://x.com/implausibleblog/status/1791123815692431645?s=46&t=GT2enJNaj7otdO_U9K40nw

Tetchy titchy Rishi getting rattled on Loose Women wasn’t on my 2024 bingo card.

I still reckon it’ll be January, they’ve seen the polls, they know they’re toast.  They will be in full salt the earth and contracts for chums mode between now and then.