Yeah – I was around 28ish MPG in the old L200 too, but I cart about 3/4 ton of gear most of the time. I did see 34mpg once…..

I ran an L200 for 3 years before changing to the Vito, so it would have been about the age you are looking at. It wasn’t bad once I got rid of the Bridgestone Deathmax tyres 😉

Previously ran a Navara for a bit, which was nice to drive, but broke down a lot. My Dad had the Isuzu and that was a much nicer place to be than the L200, though the turning circle on the Mitsubishi made it much easier to live with.

After this brief dalliance with a van I will be back to pickups I think. Like that Dacia above to be honest – that would be a cracking vehicle for my work! I have about 18 months until change over time though so I will be watching what comes along over the coming year or so with a lot of interest.

Rumours of a Wrangler pickup with a 3.0 V6 petrol engine in it are getting me a little excited at the moment 😉 Realistically it will probably be the Nissan/Renault/Mercedes family but there are a few wildcards that may come along before then to sway me (Tesla/Landrover/something else I don’t know about yet….)

The V7 is a lovely bike – brilliant first bike too. Plenty of power for someone new onto larger bikes and very forgiving.

I ride a bigger Guzzi 😉

7th October 2016 by Rob Sutherland[/url], on Flickr

Big brother riding some steps:

8th June 2016 by Rob Sutherland[/url], on Flickr

Little brother superman:

21st May 2016 by Rob Sutherland[/url], on Flickr

Both in the woods:

30th April 2016 by Rob Sutherland[/url], on Flickr

Need to get their big sister involved next…and start getting them out a whole lot more!

Not quite at the stage yet when I can take them out with me… but probably not that long now 🙂

I’ve been using Finishline Wet for the last 20 years… perhaps it is time to try something else 😉

I found them superb for confidence after running SPD for years. To be honest, I wouldn’t be going back to clipped in now!

I have got excessively broad feet – find that the Vaude ones I bought are brilliant. Mine are non-SPD but they seem to have SPD ones in the range too.

If you can find some near you they are worth checking out.

Among all the jokey replies that is genuinely lovely.

I entirely agree.

Although I am not joking, I genuinely intend to have Killed by Death as I go through the final curtain. So long as I go before most of my mates (the Goths and Bikers particularly) it will give them one last giggle 😉

Killed by Death

Edukator – because that is what I wanted when I was 10. A Les Paul Standard and a Marshall Bluesbreaker.

That was it.

Still the dream!

That said, I have a Swampash Studio, a Gordon Smith custom built jobby which is like a Les Paul Standard but “better” in every way except being a Les Paul Standard, a Hammer Archtop and a very, very tasteless Aria Pro (which I got when I was a little over 10!).

There are plenty of other guitars that I would love to own, most probably better… but… it’s kinda like the Ferrari dream, you know there are things that would do what you want/need better… but you still want the one you dreamed of as a kid 😉

Malvern Rider – that sounds like a fantastic dream to be working towards!

Much respect 🙂

Due to the number of bikers there last weekend – and you should see the state of the loos come Sunday morning – I don’t see why they would be worried by a bit of stray dog poo 😉

There is a reason I go to ‘Spoons for a Sunday morning offloading when we are there (we missed this years!)

This is, pretty much, the only thing I have ever *REALLY* wanted.

Fallen into my 40s and I still haven’t managed it. Got as far as

The only leccy I have working just now! by Rob Sutherland[/url], on Flickr

Keep your dreams small and reasonable 😉 Not that I can attain it anyway…

There is plenty of other stuff I have wanted, some of it I have managed to get… but a really nice Les Paul Standard alludes me. There is always something more pressing to spend the money on, and that money is always in very restrictive supply.

I think we are all going to get hit, and probably pretty hard… fuel duty rise alongside road tax for new vehicles is what I am expecting in the next budget.

I wouldn’t be buying anything diesel until I see if I am wrong! I have 18 months left on my Vito and am going to be looking hard at what the alternatives are when that comes up.

Oooh – 3 day weekend…

But then I think I have a grand total of 9 days work for April… perhaps an extra 1 or 2 with some repairs I have to get done.

Currently 6 days in May and 7 in June…

I am starting to think I may need to find more work somewhere!

Donald Trump to lead Brexit negotiations.

Yep, thoroughly enjoying this, Vikings and Hell on Wheels was damn good too!

Just waiting for The Tick now 😉

Actually… I am quite liking the look of the Merc pickup 😉

But then I would be planning on abusing it horribly in actual 4×4 requiring places. My Vito, whilst great on perfect tarmac, is a bit of a nightmare when I fall off said tarmac.

I spent an hour digging myself out of the mud with a pointing trowel and using waterproofs as traction mats a couple of weeks back so have vowed to go back to something more offroad friendly. Also – walking across fields multiple times carrying heavy kit is getting old!!!!

I may change my mind before it is time to change vehicles though. The new Landrover may be out by then. Also the Tesla pickup. Probably some other stuff too….

Played there once.

It was epic!

The sound, the crowd – best venue ever 🙂

Also been to many a gig there through the 90’s and will always remember it with a special fondness!

Kinda hoping to play it again someday – trying to get the band back together so you never know 😉

Yeah – I thought the EX 8 was the sweet spot when I got one. I was having serious conversations with myself about blowing out on the 9.8, but it was too much money in the end. The cheaper ones are too compromised on spec, whilst the 8 just hits that workmanlike sweet spot.

It is good. Coming out of injury at the moment so I haven’t really been able to really put it through its paces as yet. Hope to get a good session in tomorrow or Thursday though 🙂

No idea as yet… waiting to see what comes down from the Sheriff before making any decisions. We were planning Orkney to take the kids home for the first time, but the original plan has fallen through so we are waiting to see what we get time wise with my daughter and will take it from there.

Abroad isn’t going to happen this year I suspect. Kinda hoping perhaps next summer though.

My brother’s (former) ride… which he had to sell recently.

NeilsWheels

It was a bit of a sleeper with this under the bonnet…

Mot

I can’t recall what the power output was, but it was… substantial (eating M series BMWs without breaking sweat off the lights)

Wet and muddy
Brakes are rubbing
Bike needs fixed.

Yep. As above.

The lower covers just drop out when you snip the cable ties… getting the new cable tie to go around all the cables/hoses in the frame however is a complete arse (from my attempts!).

I haven’t been out as much as I should since moving to the Lakes – life… kinda gets in the way sometimes. However one of my old favourites is Iron Keld – just memories of riding with my mate before he left for Australia.

It’s part of the problem with living here now I think, I used to ride a lot with said mate in the Lakes, now I go out solo and miss the banter… kinda puts a damper on things and makes me less inclined.

Perhaps it is time to ride some new trails. Or move back to Scotland 😉

The stock tyres on the plus are… disappointing. I usually quite like Bontrager tyres, but the plus ones are just too light on the tread, that said – they may be brilliant in the less gloopy weather 😉

Beyond wheels, tyres and brakes I haven’t actually changed anything else as yet – but some wider bars and fatter grips may come along sometime.

I didn’t get along to the demo, but have an EX 8 from there – although a plus size one which I swapped the wheels out for 29″ and then shod with a Magic Mary front/Hans Dampf rear. Absolute night and day – the whole bike feels really planted, seems to generate traction on climbs where it has no right to find any and descends like a monster.

I was considering a Slash, but given how rapidly out of control I can get on a lesser machine I am glad I didn’t go that way (and it cost a hellish lot more)… and that is with Hope E4s to pull everything back from the brink 😉

Mega 290 and Dune were both on my list too so interesting to see your thoughts on them!

Excellent 🙂

I think fox too – our front garden has been consistently decorated in them and the cats are not too keen on going out that way at night! The back garden is all fenced in so they are happy that way (and no fox poo).

I figured it probably was as there is a lot of calcium in it (bones etc). My dog used to love rolling in the stuff, made him smell alluring (he seemed to think) but now he is so old and arthritic he doesn’t seem overly interested!

Quite why the fox has his or her nightly movement by my front door I don’t know! I keep thinking of getting a night cam to catch them in the act – Wildlife Photographer of the Year here I come… with a crapping fox picture!

E4 Tech 3s here – on both bikes.

I am a big chap, and I tend to descend at a reasonable rate of knots (not due to skill, just gravitational effect). I have never had an issue with the Hopes lacking power! Love the feel of them, much more progressive than the Shimano brakes I have had (and I did like them, but these are just “better” in that I prefer the feel).

They do seem to be incredibly set-up dependent though. I had the first set fitted for me to the Whyte and they were brilliant, put them on a Stache recently and lucked out 😉 Fitted the set to my Fuel EX and never had them perfect! It’s just been in the shop for some fettling however and they seem spot on now 🙂 Going to take it for a proper test ride tomorrow (perhaps)!

I think the moral of this story is… unless you are really, really meticulous with set up (and good at it) get someone good to put them on for you 😀 I think I lack the necessary patience 😉

I have no problem with the way they drive – it’s been a long time since I have had a petrol car. If I were replacing mine right now though (company van) I would be having very, very serious thoughts about moving away from diesel.

As it stands I have a bit more than 18 months left on this one before change over so I will be watching the changes to the tax regime carefully, and keeping an eye on developments in alternatives. I am very conscious and uncomfortable about driving a diesel due to it’s impact on the environment and health of those breathing in my fumes.

You have my sympathy – I had something very ME/PVFish after several pretty hardcore bouts of malaria (Falciparum and Vivax flavours). I think it has more or less passed now, but to be honest it was that severe for a couple of years and gradually declined over the subsequent 20 years that I am not entirely sure one way or another.

It was horrible though.

Don’t really have any advice. I was a mess for a bit, and was at Uni at the time so found it very difficult to get through it (the course that was), between recurring bouts of malaria and the absolute physical and mental exhaustion that followed (and remained) it was pretty nasty. I just had to carry on and try to make my life work.

Good luck!

I hate cancer 🙁

There is nothing I can add other than Christie’s were brilliant with my Mum. I will be thinking of you tomorrow, and sending out whatever positive vibes I can for a “good” result.

Keep strong.

I loved my Forester – keep thinking about getting an STI import. The bills on the last one were bad enough though so I keep deciding against it!

At the moment I am waiting to see if there are any punitive measures set up against diesel engines before deciding what to do next. I have the Vito for just shy of another 2 years (which is pretty nippy for a van). I keep thinking I should get a private car again though for when the works vehicle is off the road (and cheaper to run when I need it too), but it would be very, very old and cheap so a Scooby is probably *not* the best idea!!!!

20th January 2017 by Rob Sutherland[/url], on Flickr

See… should have done it…

I very nearly went red on my Fuel EX8… since I threw red brake calipers and pedals on, but figured it may be a bit much.

Kind of regret not going that way now… 😉

lol – I wish they could make special editions of your own personal troll 😀

Sure mine would LOVE one!!!!

I am still trying to get out and find the routes around here! I moved just south of Coniston Water last year whilst injured and have just started finding what there is on my doorstep (slowly as I recover!)

Watching this with interest! I rode some of the classic BWs (many) years ago, but have probably forgotten more than I remember!

I’ve just joined too – I only ride mountain bikes… and judging by everyone else on the segments I have logged thus far I am depressingly slow!!!!

South Lakes btw 🙂

18th February 2017 by Rob Sutherland[/url], on Flickr

First time out on the B+ tyres today! I have had 29″ x 2.35″ on since getting the bike, but have been meaning to try it as the designer intended with it’s stock wheels and tyres on!

Just a little loop out from the house, over the tops to Bouth and back – simple South Lakes stuff – but I am not feeling hugely healthy or fit at the moment (resting heart rate has jumped up 10% this week!). The big tyres were draggy as hell on the road, slipped and slid all over the place on the mud and generally sapped my will to live.

Right up until the trail pointed down, and got rocky… and everything changed! Hugely entertaining!!!

That said – the 29ers will be back on tomorrow! It is a new route I have devised for trying to rebuild fitness and strength so I want to see how it feels on the other wheels, and then probably the hardtail later in the week.