£5 if you do what sc-xc suggested.

I got it in the mid 70’s. We were encouraged to do just this, though no fancy name in my comprehensive!

Meant to add, one was custard the other was a coffee(?) coloured.

Samway’s in Derby have 2 in at £350. They may be the older, pre CEN, models though. They looked small or medium – did not get to close unless I got tempted.

That was Roy’s problem – a lack of quality when he took over.

Nice walk in a nice park. Don’t want to get to sweaty do you?

I would have thought the vast majority, if not all, riders in UCI sanctioned events are given there bikes anyway, the rest of us don’t need them.

Always a few who will want and can afford something with a fancy sticker on it. TJ maybe;-)

Not sure how it will effect 99% of riders really. A major company like Giant or Trek can spread the cost over a lot of bikes and you will not notice it. A small manufacturer can’t afford to fund UCI team so does not need the licence.

Writing this I did wonder if Cotic would be effected as Ms Potter has ridden UCI events off-road on a Cotic. Mebbe your soda or -X- is going up in price soon or she will be riding a re-badged Specialized….

It is Taylor, think it was on your to-do list at one time for 2011.

Markenduro can keep the East Midlands end up.

As discussed Stuart I can’t make it this year as I have bigger fish to fry:-)

Have a great weekend everybody.

About 75-80miles iirc. Climbs not to bad except for one quite late on. It is a very sharp left turn up a short, steep climb and you get no run at it. I had a car coming down as well so it was a bit of a grunt…

I bought a flat bar version because I rarely use the drops on my road bike.

It is fine off-road – I did HoNC a couple of years ago and it rode really well. Good for light touring as well with all the fixings.

Broom wagon to be in front to sweep up the tacks;-)

It is a beautiful area and imo was happier riding the route on my own then in an event. Really quiet and beautiful – and surprisingly not to difficult.

A nice quiet route, cafe stop or picnic somewhere and nice digs. In some ways you can’t go far wrong. Possibly pick up / drop off from rail station if required.

I was looking at one of these:

http://www.ewetsuits.com/acatalog/Dry-Boxes-dry-bags-uk.html

My dad took me to see the original with John Wayne when it was released 40+ years ago. Looking forward to this as I do like the Coen bros work. This will be closer to the original novel I understand.

Don’t know about The Cannibal but there was a number of similar pcs in the Rouleur photo album of 2007 of the current crop of pro’s. Timm Kolln was the photographer.

If you want a bikey book have a look at Jill Homer’s ‘Ghost Trails’ about the Iditarod race in 2009. Only £3 something.

Her blog is here if you want to have a root round before you buy:

http://arcticglass.blogspot.com/

All over the radio yesterday – whole programme about on R5L. Turned station over.

Its a tv programme so not real and made up. Mumsnet seem to have been the instigators of this nonsense.

Amazing Cakes (would appear near top of any alphabetical directory)

Eat Cake and be Happy

(I like the Cake District as well)

Best wishes to her. Starting up a business at the moment must be difficult but people always need cake!

She needs to send us some to try first…….

I would be tempted by a Niner SIR9 though I haven’t ridden one – always get good reviews. Charles would see you right:

http://www.charliethebikemonger.com/userimages/procart10.htm

(About half way down page)

First times I recall seeing him was in ‘In The Name Of tHe Father’ and as a nasty character in ‘Sharpe’ – excellent in both. Watched ‘Inception’ on New Years Eve where he had a small part as a dying man. RIP.

I use mine as a flat barred winter bike, 700cc ( some nice Easton Vista SL wheels currently) and v-brakes,

If you go by rail / ferry from Bristol to Rosslare or Birmingham to Dublin it will cost ~£60 per head return. You will need to factor in a car hire from the other end but may work out cheaper. Especially if a couple can share expense of a car and fuel. Would need to be more organised with ‘stuff’ though….

Cheers Taylor. Considering making my own, stumbled across a pattern but should it all go wrong may need to buy something.

Looks a good trip.

What tarp is that Taylor? Might be in market for one.

Already booked for week commencing 18th March unfortunately.

Take care John, make sure you still take your daily photo. Bruises are always good!

Meant to add – the book remains yours. So if in 5 years time you upgraded to a new swanky model then the books would just transfer. No idea how this actually works, something to do with your account I guess.

When you buy a Kindle you get an ‘account’. The first time you buy a book you provide details of your bank account and after that whenever you buy one they charge your debit/credit card. It is easy.

ebooks are cheaper than a paper one. If a book is out in hardback then it will undercut this price. Once out in paperback it undercuts this price, so still worth waiting.

Many classics are free like Tolstoy etc. Books download in a minute or so if you have the 3G version,not sure how quick on the cheaper Kindle.

(Currently reading The Secret Scripture by Sebastian Barry)

We were there late November, weather was poor the day before but sunny and a bit choppy the day we went out.

To offer an 80% refund if no whales are seen suggests we were just unlucky. Disappointing, but in no way spoiled a marvellous trip. The penguins were cute though…..

I have been on an Adventure Cycling trip on the East Coast and it was well organised and enjoyable and would recommend. They have trips all over USA and certainly a couple in Glacier NP area of Montana and Colorado and South Dakota (Deadwood area)

I did a great trip with Saddle Skedaddle back in 1998 but I have just checked and there is nothing on there website for 2011.

What we did in that timespan from Christchurch was get a train to Greymouth and then picked up a car, then South through Franz Josef / Fox glaciers, Queensland, Milford Sound, Dunedin, Omaru, Mount Cook area and then back to Christchurch.

The train journey was good and can be done as a return trip if that suits you better.

Kaikoura – we did not see any whales or dolphins but were refunded 80% of the boat ticket, we were clearly unlucky. North of the Island, Picton area, is supposed to be beautiful but we did not have time to get up here.

We travelled as two adults so did not have to consider little ones.

Bound to happen, I could have told you all. I got out of the stock market about 2 weeks ago with prices doing well – only one way they could go then…..

(I am not disappointed, stock market was good and I wanted to change my portfolio which was too high in the market and happy with what I got)

Will wait for a mini crash and probably dive back in again with a smaller input.

Keith, yes its me, still around but not been getting to Cannock on a Thursday night for a couple of years now. See you for a beer in Ballyhoura!

If people don’t fancy the train and ferry to Dublin or Rosslare then look at fly/drive. Again, usually cheaper than the ferry ( it is the summer holidays and BH in the UK) and split the cost of the car.

Cheers Keith!

I have received a mail saying:

‘Thank you for registering for SSWC 2011 IRELAND. We look forward to welcoming you to the land of Guinness and Leprechauns.’

That does mean my entry has been accepted doesn’t it?

Wasn’t most of the Liverpool team that won CL bought / developed by Houllier?

Last year Markenduro and I went by rail. He was charged about £50 return from Burton to Dublin for train & ferry. We then did a cycle tour from there.

Ferries are blimmin’ expensive, I can get them half price and still find it pricy. Will probably take the ferry / train again. My folks are all in the area for my cousin’s ordination the weekend before so can get bits transferred by them. Might just hire a car for a couple of days.