Here (Switzerland) it’s just Saturday night the ‘bars’ are packed. Friday just a quick meet to plan sports the next day. There are festival days when the bars are crowded but these are rare – it’s just not in the culture.

I'm near to the train station.

Thanks jimbobrighton for the less 'dangerous' words, it’s properly organised for beginners. I bike here in the Alps so I reckon that could have an element of risk too.

I am going to Fuerteventura where here is a beginner’s school. My intension is just to do a non-office activity for the week – I am sure I will not be much better by the end of the week.
But i'd like to keep most of my body parts.

Well booked to go next week and get out of this snow but now having read the replies with the words 'dangerous sport' i am begininng to be slightly worried!

bloodbath

any 3 that is not rugby or football.

spacehopper, football and my first bike kept me fit for life.

Luzern, Switzerland. Huge lakes, and mountains on the door step, a biking culture; road and off-road trails everywhere. And when you get to know some of them the natives can be friendly.

Swiss Army knives are quite reasonably priced here

I thought it was one of those Christmas adverts for perfume, lots of moody models staring into the distance.

Golf and have tried to play it but got bored. All US sports.

That's odd i really miss Swinley and i live in Switzerland – been here a year and a half and still have homesickness.

excalibur

Second The Cure….student days ahhh

I second the exposures – i use the big daddy for my very dark commute and can out dazzle the undipped cars. Great through the forest too.

Forgot to add that I am a good swimmer and have surfed/skateboarded before though

Real beginner here. Just saw something fleetingly on the 'net about courses in Lanzarote and thought that would be good to do next month.

Insomnia – faithless

Went there about 5 years ago with GF too. Used LP and their website for recommendations. Thought Marreckesh an amazing place but tired of the contact haggling and battering. Also you cannot ask anyone directions without them wanting payment for it.
Caught a bus over the Atlas Mountains to Ait Benhaddou where they made Gladiator etc – awesome place a real tastes of the Sahara. The original inhabitants the Berber live there and they are much less pikey.

I second Jamaican Ginger Cake

Switzerland:

Best the alps and the feeling of safety
Worst Swiss ar a bit creepy and the bars are bland

Swimming, but this can be as dull as dishwater

Thanks beanum – i'll give them a call and see what deal i can get.

earlier it was warm and sunny now its cloudy.

I commuted from Reading to HW for a while and the drive is a nightmare. The A404 gets really clogged. If you could move to the north side of Reading there is a route through Henley which is fairly ok as you can keep moving and not stop.
There is a riding route but slightly elongated.

As for living in HW – not really it’s not that nice. Have you thought of Marlow? Or Wokingham which is nearer to Bagshot and on a London line?

Thanks Austen good advice there. I like the effiency they bring but having always used Azonic flats the twisting motion takes a bit of getting used to – in an emergency. JUst bought some spd 56 cleats which allow multi bail out.

Just spoke to a road rider here and he says that sometimes the movement is not natural or instinctive and he’s unable to bail out on the top of hills, dogs running across his path etc
Must be another stupid person I met this afternoon.

thanks

wear your bike gear.

er hem….Blancmange

I’m in Luzern

Its very rule driven here, some of which are invisible and implied, in terms of how should behave. It kinda reminds me of Britain in the 50’s (from heresy) or the Isle of Wight today.

I live out here (South of Zurich nearer the Alps) and speak very little German of any variety and, when I do try, people just answer me back in English.
Biking out here is great, although MTBing is takes a big second place to road and leisure biking but so many people use their bikes car drivers seem to give you a little more respect.
It’s a fundamentally different world from the UK – they are more serious here but you could walk the streets with your wallet on your head and you’d be fine and the trains are out of this world.

Yep it could be the time thing for me as i try to prolong bedtime.

Switzerland/Austria yo ucan swim in the lakes here and May can be quite hot.

WE had big snow over here at the weekend (Switzerland) and everyone just went skiing in the town or took no notice. Buses still ran and trains no problem. But they get it every year unlike the UK.

1069 km or 664 miles

Skiing at the moment as its too snowy to ride.

i need an implant as my tooth was knocked out as i went down some steps n my bike. I had a crown done on the NHS soem years ago and now this has failed thus the implant. So i am looking at the treament abroad option and its much cheaper than the UK private method.