Flew Edinburgh to Carcassonne (South of France) last month for 15 return all in. If Id had a rare Visa Debit it would have been even less. Take it (and make their rules work for you) or leave it; which is O'Leary's point as well. The idiots that turn up late and/or over weight, expecting premium customer service deserve everything they get.

Edit: I think I mean Visa Electron

My '05 Pro has been round trailcentres, up Munroes, on overnight epics and down 4X tracks virtually every weekend for almost five years. I replaced the Conti tyres because worryingly they kept coming off the rims at high speed, and the bar and stem to make the cockpit more comparable to my DH bike. It's had new DU bushes on the shock, and TFT have given the forks and shock the once over – that's it. It may be a bit agricultural with it's single pivot, and bangs and rattles – but it flies.

I'm keen to build up a new 5" project in time for the spring, but in all honesty there's nothing wrong with the bike/frame I've got. Might get a Blood just to mix things up a bit.

VW Edinburgh told me last week no more factory T5 orders are being taken, the facelifted T5.5 (T6, whatever) will be on the roads soon. They also said all power outputs will be from the 2 litre, so perhaps it's 180PS. Anyway, time will tell, there's always a lot of rumours flying around about Transporters which I suppose reinforces how popular they are.

I've had similar thoughts. Had a 175 on demo for a week, got about 30mpg out of it, hilariously fast though. The T5 is now out of production, and the word is the T6 will have 180 from the 4 cyclinder 2.0l engine (rather than the 5 cylinder 2.5 in the T5).

They are very refined and easy to live with. My old man has a Caddy Maxi and there can't be much in it length wise, I prefer the Transporters driving position.

Only think stopping me is the other half who won't give up her hot hatch for it, and I can't make it fit my car policy at work. Got to be the ultimate biking wagon – just look in the team pits/trail centre car parks.

My Mum is pals with him and he said his formula for the contemporay fiction is plenty of sex, drugs and fast cars. Sounds alright.

Oops – ta

All the abuse on here is so predictable. There's no denying they went off the boil for a few years after What's The Story but there are few bands that can (could) still pull in the hundreds of thousands they have recently. Arena and stadia tours of past twelve months were awesome.

Out of interest what gigs do the above posters think I should have been spending my time/money recently if it's not Oasis?

Gutted

Go on to a DH forum and find some like minded folk. I've moved about a fair bit with work and never had any hassle finding folk of all levels to ride with.

On the subject of riding alone, I came off the FW freeride last weekend (yes on the boardwalk) and broke two fingers. My mates waited while I picked myself up, but due to a genuine misunderstanding thought I was okay and buggered off. A very sore and fairly intimidating half hour followed in horrendous weather , and that was only sore fingers. Even on a busy track like that, you could lie on your own for long enough if you were immobile – I don't think riding solo is a great idea if you are properly going for it.

Hmm, did hear some rumours…

Send me a photo of the security paint and I'll ask my Edbru colleaugues who's it is. rbryce at sgb dot co dot uk.

Cheers

They are also used regularly as scaffolder vans (more men than kit) and although that doesn't initially sound like a good thing, when you consider they are generally driven a short distance, then parked on a site all day, things seem mire promising. We run hundreds, leased from Newtown Vehicle Rental – try them as Im sure they have a glut at the moment due to construction industry slump and associated redundancies.

Got it – ta

"I know nobody agrees with me, but I don't see the point of this obsessive "lane discpline" thing. What happens is that you overtake, and pull over to the right (in France) and then you catch up to the car in front, and have to change lanes again. By this time, that lane is occupied so you either have to wait, or else (more likely) make a lane change into a space that is too small, creating a hazard. I'm not advocating tootling along getting in the way, but if you are generally travelling faster than cars in the slow lane, it makes sense (to me) to stay in the middle lane. If someone needs to pass you, he can use the fast lane.

OK – you can all hate me now"

And in one paragraph we have the reason every motorway in the UK is so awful regardless of size. I concede the continent's autoroutes are less busy, but every motorway in the UK, regardless of size is absolutely horrendous quiet or busy with a empty inside lanes and a 60mph procession in the outside.

As for lorries overatking each other at 56mph versus 55.8mph – don't even start me (also better controlled in France)!

Any idea what the one on the hill may be called folks? As you can imagine t'internet search throws up loads.

Thanks folks. Good bogs is a major requirement of the other half so one on hill sounds good!

I've seen a few of my mates get far too in to the K, but to suggest they lie about semi-conscious sawying each others legs off is nonsense. Actually what they do is sit up all night talking sh1t and spunking money on booze and more drugs. A waste of time, money and braincells; but not the scene from Trainspotting the high horse jockeys on here would suggest.

Mk 2 Astra (brown)
Mk 3 Escort (Ghia don't you know)
Montego (aka the Silver Bullet)
Land Rover Discovery Commercial
Mk2 Golf GTI
Mk1 Mondeo
Land Rover Freelander
Passat Tdi (previous shape)
Mk4 Golf GTTDI
Mk5 Golf GTI
Mk5 Golf GTI Edition 30 (still got)

But more importantly:

Raleigh Burner BMX
Raleigh Mirage
Kona Cindercone
Kona Manumanu
Gary Fisher Sugar
Orange 5 (still got)
Iron Horse 7point5
Commencal Supreme DH (still got)

Whew, so much squandered cash!

Mk5 Golf GTI Edition 30

My folks have got a 2.0litre TDI (140 hp) Sportline. It's based on the Mk5, and the new one mentioned above will be a facelift to give it the Mk6 look. It does what it says on the tin; well put together, comfortable, fast – an Octavia is an obvious and cheaper alternative. I like the look of the Golf though, folks' is red and suits it.

My other half has a Clio 197 and I miss badly miss that key when I'm back in my car. You can leave it in your wallet/handbag and never have to faff about while carrying shopping etc ever again.

Scirocco R is running big turbo 2.0litre out S3, Leon Cupra, and Gti Ed30 and is 270 odd, front wheel drive. Golf will be 4wd and should be more powerful…. Apparently.

I reckon the RS is stunning, but unfortunately once the novelty wears off and a few appear second hand will be unbearably chavtastic – look at the ST now. I'm holding out for Golf R20T (rumoured to be called the Golf R and 300ps) but suspect it will be grossly over priced by the time it's specced up.

-2. The only skid I saw was about 2 secs before the bottom of the chairlift, saw several high speed very impressive drifts though.

The guy is clearly absolutely on it, and is regularly heard shouting "pardon", "merci" etc. If the mincers are going to go down a track like that at that speed they've got to expect to be passed. I'd imagine those lot are the same ones that pay no attention to anyone behind them at the UK trailcentres, and sit at 70 in the outside lane of the motorway on their way there because "that's the speed limit".

Is it not next weekend?

Was just setting reminder there to phone them in the morning about cheap Boxxer 2010s on website….hmmm

Thanks folks

Bought Rab goosedown last winter, significantly cheaper than RRP and the high street, arrived the next day.

I reckon the whole sets of Blur, The Streets and White Lies were pretty special. Phenominal weekend and my best one yet. Gutted I missed Lady Gaga in Shangri La late on – some place that!

I wonder if the forward thinking Californian pioneers of our noble sport ever wonders whether there would be 50 posts devoted to splitting hairs on the categorisation of a purpose built gondola fed DH (freeride) track as they pushed their bikes up a dusty fireroad in their jeans? Unreal.

Ach, you’ll be fine. Positive mental attitude. Mine was an ’05 so one of the first on the road, and despite a few niggles here and there never missed a beat. Alps bound in mine also.

Funny you should say that, I got rid of my 90,000 miler GTI a few months a go and I couldn’t decide if it was slower or I was just used to it. Replaced it with this Ed30 DSG which is noticably gruntier – cracking car!

Scirrocos are closer to 20k with smaller engine, and a bit over otherwise.

Seconded – best car Ive ever had! You got one Waihiboy!

Mk 5 Golf GTI. Quality chassis, engine and interior.

Yep, looks good fun that. Is it actually open yet, that bit at the end by the digger looked unfinished?

Fitted a medium XT Shadow to my Five llast week (3 ring front) no issues at all.

Collie – Was going to ask if anyone had used VW bars instead of the Thule ones, will maybe try that.

Thanks Carl, but unfortunately the way the exhaust and rear valance sit it’s not possible on the Golf (mk5 Gti Edition 30). Same deal on the rear diffuser/exhaust of the Clio (RS197).

Really needs to be a roof or boot option (or new car of course).

Although she hasn’t signed the contract, as long as she hasn’t formally queried it, I reckon you could go down the performance route based on it’s contents as TJ says. Contracts of employment don’t need to be signed to have validity.

Same difference

The first assumption not to make is because she hasn’t signed a contract there’s nothing to break.