I was riding a 1994 Kona Kilauea (as reviewed in Mtb Pro) which I still own. That summer I did ride the Berwyn’s ride in edition 1 just after foot and mouth restrictions. I remember some of the farmers ‘forgettng’ too remove the no admittance signs. Not sure if I have any pics that far back as I was still using film – and you did not need to prove you had been out.

I retired 10 years ago next week and am still loving it. Nice having time for a cuppa in the morning, sitting down for breakfast and a decent cup of coffee. Also going riding when roads, trails, cafe’s are quiet,tend to do less at the weekend now. I have also managed a couple of long breaks, Summer 2018 was two months up to the Arctic Circle and back in our ‘van for example.

What I did find out is you still need to have a bit of discipline as easy to stay up late and get up late. Also if you currently have a day off work you will fill the day with 10 jobs that need doing. You know if you don’t do it now it will be ages before you can do it again. When you are retired you will do one or two and leave the rest for another day and the list of jobs will last a week maybe more.

You still will not have time to learn a foreign language or to play an instrument and your messy garage / shed will still require sorting a decade from now.

Rum,Sodomy and the Lash – The Pogues
Ziggy Stardust – David Bowie
London Calling – The Clash
Gold – Ryan Adams
Car Wheels on a Gravel Road – Lucinda Williams

Decision on which album by the artist is tough enough.

I am assuming I would be alone on said island. If I had laydee company I would need to substitute in The Delfonics.

Purpley Jowett Javelin from early 1950’s is my earliest memory. Dad had an Austin 8 before that but I am not sure I recall that really, just from photo’s.

I had a look for a bit earlier in the year, late February to early March. Quote was £555 return for a T5 van and myself. Did some sums (I was looking to head to Costa Blanca and camping and I found it cheaper to fly and stay in a hotel on half board basis.

I had my rental property boiler installed for £1,600 a few months ago. The guy said a better Worcester one would be closer to £2k, just under I think, fitted. He is a qualified fitter (does my gas safety cert) and rides for same club as I do so hopefully a fair price.

He was about to fit a Worcester for himself at home as he felt they were most reliable. £2.5k sounds a lot though.

I raced in 2011 and toured as far as Hartsel in 2013 before riding back to Denver on the Colorado Trail and flying home. Touring was excellent and I did a couple of longer days than I managed when racing i.e. into Lima and Rawlings (no longer on route).

Still hope to go back in’19 and barely a day goes by that I don’t reflect on it.
If you can out there metalheart go for it. If you stop in Colorado you avoid the worst of the dogs!

I got good service from them, very helpful. Item I got was a bit rubbish but that was not there fault.

I was charged about £100 for a decent sized room a couple of years ago. Plus tea and biscuits but no cuddle.

Rob Heffernan (6th) went through 40km in 2h57m so just over 3hr for the marathon. Walking!

I have my VW done at a one man band setup in Derby. Been going there over 20 years for service with various vehicles. Good rates and uses genuine parts. CH Auto’s in Chaddesden 01332.670130

A homemade version of the above courtesy of Nigella. Half a number of cherry tomatoes into an oven proof dish and sprinkle over some salt, sugar, thyme and olive oil. Turn oven to maximum and when temp has been reached put the tomatoes in the oven and turn the oven off straight away. Leave overnight and the tomatoes are lovely in sandwiches, pasta or salads.

I am not well enough informed on the current performance levels of the track squads including Jess to comment on her ability to get a medal in Rio. So maybe Jess has stagnated and the belief is she will not improve in the next four years in Tokyo and lottery funding is best spent elsewhere. I understand that and that difficult decisions have to be made

What I find a bit odd is that her contract is up now. I would have expected it to cover the Olympic cycle and finish on say, 1st September not just a few months before Rio.

Besides all the above they had interesting tax arrangements – nothing to UK PLC. I left a few years ago and still paying less than I was. Went to Flow Energy who pay UK tax.

With a bit of care I think any will. In ’93 I bought a Clio which I kept for 10 years and swapped for a Berlingo which I kept for another 10 years. Neither gave me a spot of bother, one diesel, one petrol.

I only bought the Berlingo because I was doing more cycling and the Clio was a faff for fitting bikes in and only sold the Berlingo as Mrs B and I wanted a camper van (which is less practical then the Berlingo for bikes!). I expect to keep it 15-20 years.

I am. About 2-3 years now and a lot cheaper than nPower. And they pay UK tax if that is of importance.

I was in from issue 1 so got the 4 for 5 deal or whatever it was for subscribing early. Don’t recall any Tee’s back then. Never got the bottle for going on DD either – still in the post maybe.

Do I need another Tshirt? Not really.

The basic calculation is you have less people than bedrooms you will be better off. I live (alone) in a 3 bed house and the water rates were ~£500 when I moved in. Got a meter and now paying ~£230 on a meter.

£1,400 seems a lot, surely you will be better off even if you did have to pay for a meter (though it appears not from links above) if you are staying much over a year.

Have looked at both in the past and unable to recall how close they are to each other just now. With time to prepare how about mix and match the two routes to avoid the wet SH bits onto other NCN routes.

Use your common sense. Depending on your ability and course profile you will be riding for 3-5 hours plus cafe time. If it might rain take a waterproof, if forecast is good don’t. Take a bit of food and depending on distances to controls 1 bottle of water should be sufficient. You can fill up at cafe’s or buy a bottle and keep a receipt if using a store. Usual tools and spares are enough.

I have decided to have a go at the 200/300/400/600km events this year which I will undertake in England, Wales, Scotland and a Ireland / Northern Ireland cross border one. Will need a sleep in the long one! Not been above a 300km before though.

Main thing is to enjoy it, the people are nice and a lot less knobbery than in sportives.

Advice I once received on stands was that it is cheaper to replace a seat post compared to a frame

For anybody after a bit of reading to go with there drinking I read this book by a guy who toured Scotland’s small breweries a couple of years ago:

http://www.amazon.co.k/Leaf-Paradox-Discovering-Beer-Whisky-ebook/dp/B00DP8S2JU

Austin Lucas; some lovely stuff on his ‘Stay Reckless’ album. (He has been doing some stuff with Chuck Ragen of late)

This is a live version of Alone In Memphis which has been around my head for the weeks since I saw him live a few weeks ago:

How about the Duke of Edinburgh as a replacement for Clarkson? About time he earned his keep.

1994 Kona Kilauea for geared duties and a 2007 Solitude for s/s spins.

3 arrested

So they have arrested 3 people for it. I heard about the incident from Mrs B who lives nearby. What surprised me about the cctv footage was that it was at a busy time with plenty of cars and people about. Initially assumed it was a quiet time. Hopefully they will go down for a long time.

Although I have heard East Midlands the earth has not moved for me in Derby.

We took the Harwich – Esjberg ferry to Denmark and onto Sweden at (Gothenburg) last year for 3 weeks in the camper van. We loved it.

We came back via Ystad (Wallender), The Bridge, and Copenhagen (Borgen / The Killing) and drove back via N Europe.

Had not heard the ferry had stopped, we said when we went again we would go both ways despite the cost. Much nicer way to go.

If you camp and cook looking after yourself it is not to expensive either. Waitrose prices rather than Tesco!

I have been using Simon Robinson on Nottingham Road for 23 years now. Always kept me on the bike. So good I moved next door.

Went to look at the place where they filmed a part of Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid a few years ago outside Zion NP. It was where Rain Drops Keep Falling On My Head was filmed.

Always smile when I visit my aunts and see signs for the ‘Braveheart’ drive. She lives at the foot of the Wicklow Gap!

Heard the same interview on R4 as Tang recently so all above board. They have sold some Vulpine, Finisterre and Exposure stuff that I have seen elsewhere at the same price.

I read somewhere that if Astana do not get a licence then Nibali can leave without breaking his contract- no idea if that is correct or not.

The thing is we are in December, which big team is looking for a leader at this stage? And on the salary Nibali and his team would command?

Another inspiring post Luke. The only reason to look forward to this time of year is this annual post!

Ms Swift can afford to avoid Spotify but it is a help for artists trying to establish themselves. I have listened to the odd artist I have heard of and if I like it will buy something and if not move on. The royalty for an artist is pretty poor, less than 1p iirc.

I have a nice hi-fi system (Linn / Naim fancy cables etc)and find music through computer pretty rubbish so still buy vinyl or cd.

I want to see artists paid for there work, maybe if other major artists also pulled from Spotify they could collectively bargain for a better royalty for all artists including the up and coming ones who need the financial help more. I recognise that is a bit naive from me, doubt major stars are thinking of the whole community.

Gwyneth Paltrow is a big fan of quinoa whatever that tells you.

Makes nice flap jacks with chia seeds and coconut.

Enjoying the series, quietly funny. Thought I recognised ‘Becky’ and googled her to see she was Diana Rigg’s daughter as mentioned above. Ms Rigg was my first tv crush when she was in The Avengers.

Well done, sub 3 is a good time. My 10 mile pb was 62.30 and I never felt that sub 3 was likely for me (lot of reasons for that), 3.15 being more likely.

It is great to put a lot of effort into something and get a reward at the end of it. Even if we know that others can achieve that with seemingly little effort. Congratulations, something to tell the grand children.

Was following Richard Dunnett’s ride. He was just inside top 40 when I went to bed and about 10th as I had my porridge. His last 4 laps were ~20 minutes faster each than Mark’s to get him on the podium. Very strong finish for the flatlander.

Read in a couple of books that it is a nice route, if not challenging. Alastair Humphrey’s was one and Tom Bruce was the other.

Something I hope to do sometime.

Friends from up in Bakewell reckon it is cheaper to go to the Dutch version of CP and prefer it as well.