You'll barely notice a 750kg caravan on the back of a Passat. As per previous advice, pay attention to loading (heavy stuff over axle etc.) and noseweight, and you'll be fine.

We're on to our second caravan (wife's idea, her parents had them growing up). Off to France next weekend for 3 weeks with 4 bikes, surfboards etc. Lots of space with awning on the side.

Paul

Spent a week on my own with Joy Riders in June this year. They (and the other riders there that week) made me feel very welcome.

Paul

UPDATE:

Happy ending – guy just called me, very happy to have his bike back. He'd left it a couple of days, thinking that no-one would hand it in.

Fell out of the back of his pick-up. Was a Specialized Rockhopper Pro btw. Seemed like a nice bike.

Paul

Maxxis Advantage – seemed to get good reviews for the type of riding I'll be doing.

Just received my new wheels. Installed the Maxxis UST tyres with some Stans sealant and they just went up first time with a track pump. No faff at all. Think UST tyres was the right choice – thanks for the advice.

Well, the road is an unlit rural dual carriageway – notorious for accidents. Would be suicide at night without lights, and fairly dangerous with lights. I tend to avoid it on the bike .

Bike now with Police in Chester.

Paul

Went through this process myself, and was dead set on an S-Max. Looked at a few, and just couldn't bring myself to buy something with no spare wheel at all, not even a space saver – also thought my kids would destroy the interior of the S-Max. Eventually bought a new shape Hyundai Santa Fe with 7 seats.

Plus points:
Big, comfy, quiet, much better economy than my previous large petrol estate (only a 2.2 diesel, so low road tax compared to XC90 or Discovery), full size spare wheel, seats fold flat into floor, still has LW on the radio for the cricket, 5 year unlimited mileage warranty

Minus points:
Cabin a bit plastic, radio a bit rubbish (other than LW), need a step to get bikes onto roof, doesn't drive as well as a car, badge not the best (if you care)

Did cross my mind that someone may be injured. We checked around the area. No sign of anyone, and no lights on the bike. Will take it to the Police station in Chester this morning.

Bump for the morning crowd

Quite – hoping for a happy ending at least. Saddle and grips a bit damaged, but otherwise OK

Just donated – and let me know if you need anything in the Chester area – have sent a text.

Paul

Good luck with the ride (and everything else) – text just sent with offer of help in Chester.

Paul

For my 40th I went out to Joy Riders in Spain – excellent. No problem being by myself as well.

Paul

OK, thanks for the replies everyone. Looks like an order to CRC for UST tyres is on the way.

Neil – do you use any sealant in the UST tyres?

I was thinking that rather than bodge, I would go for UST. Not cheap though at £60 a pair.

Any suggestions on the tyre type?

They tend to owe me money every year – couple of hundred or so. It's always been within a couple of weeks.

Paul

I have a couple of the £15 black ones. Used them a lot and they seem fine. Word of caution, the inner lycra short is not designed for use on its own. Looks black, but transparent when on – not a good look.

Paul

No good reason that I can see. Our product area was 15% over target last year.

No – I have one, and I rather like it.

We did a three week roadtrip before we had kids, and the itinerary (if I remember correctly) was:

Las Vegas for a day or so (including Wet n Wild (waterpark – nothing filthy))
Grand Canyon (to make it really special, we stayed in the El Tovar Hotel on the rim (restaurant is right on the edge), and took a helicopter ride)
Lake Powell (think Grand Canyon full of water – excellent – Wahweap Lodge or rent a houseboat)
Bryce Canyon (Utah)
Zion Canyon (also Utah)
Death Valley
Lone Pine
Yosemite
Sequoia
San Francisco
Monterey (Cannery Row, aquarium)
Route 1
Santa Barbara
Morro Bay
Back to Las Vegas
Highly recommend Palm Springs as a place to go as well – cool rotating cable car from desert to high mountain

Paul

"6am in the morning". It's either 6am, or 6 in the morning.

Lou – just read your blog out loud to my wife – she agrees with absolutely everything you've written. The skills course I went on was a real mix of fitness – still fun, and allowed the fitter ones to have a nice breather.

If you want an MTB holiday, just been to Joyriders in Spain – which was a real inspiration to do more riding. Run by a lady, and one of the two guides was also female. She was fantastic with the ladies there at the same time as me. Gentle and encouraging – very impressed.

Highly recommend a skills course. Did one last year, and when I see a steep slope, I now know I can do it rather than doubt myself. Having said that, I do still struggle on the boardwalk section of the Llandegla Red. No idea why, just don't like it.

Paul

I followed the shaving instructions (they did say no hair removal cream, no idea why) – just the (ahem) bits of interest. Mate who got the reverse hairy shorts treatment is a policeman, and I'm pretty sure he's telling the truth. I didn't check though, obviously.

Re: general anesthetic.
Have a friend who is a bit of a gorilla – hairy chest, back etc. He shaved as instructed, but when he woke up, he'd been shaved from chest to knee.

Local all the way here, at least you can keep an eye on what they're doing.

Had it done back in March – no pain, no infection. very minor bruising and discomfort afterwards. Worst part was the (careful) shaving beforehand. Oh, and the two ladies pulling my bits around, whilst trying to have a normal conversation – including an attractive nurse. The smell of burning flesh was a little odd as well (they cauterize the tubes to seal them).

Working from home a couple of hours later with cold pack attached. Running within 3-4 days, on the bike a week after.

Should have had it done 5 years ago.

Paul

One handy tip I heard before we went last year. You can buy a combined Forum/Coliseum ticket from the Forum; much quicker than queuing up at the Coliseum.

Paul

Blood and bone marrow here. Friend's wife had leukemia last year, which prompted the bone marrow bit.

Couldn't give for a while as I lived in Africa in my youth. They developed a test for malaria and all good now.

My kids like the "My Dad Gave Blood Today" stickers.

Paul

Gatthia mix from local health food shop

Taken this many times (including this August coming), always with a cabin. Suspect it would be miserable on the floor.

As an alternative, try the Portsmouth-Caen ferry (may have seats or cabins left). Maybe even the Poole-St. Malo fastcat if it's still running as it's much shorter, and you don't need a seat.

Paul

Colleague in mid-Wales has a similar problem – we have a corporate contract with Vodafone, but he can't get any signal.

He now has a Vodafone Femtocell – box is called "Sure Signal". He says it works well. If the house has semi-decent broadband, it's a solution.

Paul

Also between the two – Willaston – should set-up a local ride….

I really like Liverpool – ferry is great, dockside (especially Maritime Museum and Tate Modern), George Street and the Cathedrals (Anglican is a huge edifice, Catholic is amazing inside in the sunshine).

Chester also worth a visit, walk around the walls.

Paul

There is some decent riding in the Vendee – we've stayed near Lac du Jaunay, and there are some fun trails around the lake.

75km for me – looking like nice weather

I'd echo most of the positive comments about the day. I found that there was so much goodwill in the room that whatever I said went down well. Don't like to give advice, but I'd avoid the ale as much as you can (I didn't have any time to drink, it went so fast) – remember the day and take lots of photos, it will go past very, very quickly.

Have a great day – the worst wedding I went to was one where the bride's mother fussed over everything. It's also the only one where I had to call an ambulance (bridesmaid broke her ankle).

Paul (16 years and still happy)

Hello – just tried to call you, rather than publish my cellphone on the internet. Hopefully the number got stored. Otherwise, my e-mail address is in my profile.

Calais is marginally better for me if possible – smaller city. I'm going anyway, so no worries about inconveniencing me.

Paul

Not sure if this is going to be way too late, but if you can get to Brussels or Calais by Thursday (Brussels lunchtime, Calais afternoon), I'm coming back to the UK on the Eurotunnel with plenty of space in the car.

Paul

It is indeed free for Skype to Skype calls (including video) – use it all the time. Calls to a phone are cheap, but not free.

My in-laws use it, if that answers your technophobe questions.

Paul

And if anything breaks – ever, Thule will send you the bits for free. Just brilliant service. Never asked about age or warranty.

Hello Iain. I have the aerobars because a friend was selling them when I needed them so didn't look at the square bars.

The main reason I like them is because you can use the full width of the bars for bike racks, rather than the feet getting in the way of the U clips on square bars (I think, I haven't used square bars).

I only use the rubber strips when I'm using the roofbox – never bothered using them with bike racks – I didn't notice the extra noise (I figured there are four less than aerodynamic metal racks up there which cause some noise anyway). The racks do go into the T tracks easier with a bit of practice. Only takes me a couple of minutes now.

And I think they look better (and the aluminium seems to last well – on the third car with same bars – different feet).

Paul