Liverpool office were good when I needed a second passport – had to have a (brief) interview and a letter saying why I needed a second. Never had any issues with the standard online process (no help really, sorry).

In a rare moment of joined-up thinking, they used my passport photo for my photocard driving license by just putting my passport number into the form.

Took advantage of the Wiggle £41.53 an end. Just arrived.

Merlin now offering £10 off Shimano orders over £75, so their £90 for both ends is now £80.

160/160 on hardtail
180/180 on full sus

75kg here. Never felt like I couldn’t lock the wheels.

You plug the charger in, it charges. If you are using the charger it came with, then it charges faster.

I like it, but mostly charge with “old” cables/plugs.

Have had it for a year or so.

TV – teenage daughter is the main user, and she much preferred Netflix
Music – I use this a lot, and really like it.
Fast delivery – way too convenient. Use it a lot.

Overall, I’m keeping it for another year.

Parrot[/url] was always my standard solution before they were built into cars. A few years ago, it was a couple of hundred for the kit and professional installation. No idea what it would be now though.

In a word yes. But I suggest you take it very easy to start with, much more so than you think. Maybe something like a couch to 5k program. This will feel ridiculous but it’s well worth spending a week or two getting your legs used to the different exercise.

Wise words

When we had this with our combi boiler and shower, it was a clogged heat exchanger. Cost of part was about £60, and took a couple of hours to fit (though on our contract we pay for parts, and the fitter’s time is covered by the contract, so I really didn’t pay attention).

Now toasty warm.

I have a pair and really like them (though I’ve never had any other boots to compare).

I tend to use tights over the winter, and don’t go wading, so my feet have stayed dry. They’re a revelation compared to standard shoes and SealSkinz.

Echo the comment about getting a size bigger.

Had a similar issue recently, and it turned out to be a clogged heat exchanger on the boiler. Back pressure switched off the heat, shower went cold, pressure then reduced, went warm, etc., etc.

Now piping hot.

Bose Soundlink Mini

Doesn’t charge by USB though – unless they have changed it since I got it.

New Bose Soundlink II does charge via USB – listening it now. Always been a bit wary of Bose, but happened to win a dollar gift card that I had to spend at the airport recently in the US. It’s impressive for the size, and feels very solid.

Don’t know any women using the chest straps, so can’t comment on the comfort or otherwise, but I have the wrist mounted heart rate monitor and it’s waaayy better than my previous chest straps (Suunto, Garmin, Polar). Had the Mio link for a year and it works pretty seamlessly with my Garmin watch.

It does need to be on the same wrist as the watch whilst running (I guess getting the signal through my body is tough). Whilst cycling, I use it on the opposite wrist.

Friend has Garmin 225 and likes it. Garmin 235 is released today (I think).

Just received my “personal invitation” to switch to BT Infinity, having been with Cable and Wireless/NTL/Virgin for 10 years plus. Was actually considering it.

Probably cheaper with BT, but I think I’ll just stay with the status quo. Virgin’s customer service has been a bit poor in the past (no broadband for 10 days, then 2 engineers turn up on the same day).

Thanks for the warning…

[/url]WP_20141208_003 by paulcheshirecat[/url], on Flickr[/img]

Was a set-up I’m afraid… we were actually allowed, so not even a mild rule break

Just had this discussion with our service guy whilst he was replacing a couple of bits on our Valiant boiler.

Their office is split 50/50 on who has Ideal and Valliant at home. They don’t fit WB, so no expertise here.

We are just about to swap from oil to gas, and the plumber has recommended Ideal. Apparently they were properly rubbish, but actually listened to their customers and produced a range of boilers that are excellent quality for a reasonable price.

is exactly what our service guy said. Apparently they produced a cheap boiler for some scheme or other and it came back to bite them.

I suspect we’ll go Valliant when ours finally goes. It’s been in about 17 years, so generally pretty happy.

Would have been so easy last night to not go out for a ride with my son. It was cold, I had lots to do etc.

However, he’ll never be 14 years and 100ish days again, so we went out for an hour with the lights. Beautiful evening, lights shining from the eyes of the monsters*, and the moon out and bright. Lovely.

Thoughts with Jenn’s family and friends x

*cats and foxes

20 months between my daughter and my son. They’re closer to each other than (I suspect) they’ll ever be to us, which is nice.

No special difficulties, probably due to them being different sexes. Having two in nappies (or one in nappies and one training) is not much fun.

Never went the double buggy route, just the buggy board:

I have an S6 Edge for work (because it was either that or an iPhone 6). Comparing it with a regular S6 – I don’t really see any point in the curved screen, except it looks like it doesn’t have a bezel.

Included charger is fast, not tried the inductive one. No SD card slot (as mentioned above), but 64GB version, so not a big deal for me.

EDIT: Phone is very fast compared to previous phones I’ve had. Overall, really like it (though wouldn’t shell out for the Edge if it was my money)

The customer service. Was legendarily bad, to the extent that there was a nthell site to moan about customer service set up by disgruntled customers. Site was bought out by NTL/Virgin a while ago.

Having said that I have their broadband and basic TV. Broadband is good – fast and reliable. Never use their TV; FreeView on a smart TV has a much better interface.

They once broke my internet service by upgrading it, and then telling me my box didn’t support the upgrade. Down for several days, and then two engineers turned up on the same day (who I couldn’t fault at all, good guys who knew their stuff). Haven’t called them for a while though.

Early 2000s for me. Got fat, bought a rigid Raleigh bike, got fitter, took it to Centre Parcs and did the “mountain bike session”.

Really enjoyed it, bought a much better bike and been riding ever since.

A friend had one of these at university. Bit of a shed, but looked, sounded and went amazingly.

Edit:
I’ve also always wanted one of these.

Tubeless on MTB
Tubes on road and hybrid

Got MW81s last winter, and it’s a revelation. Warm, dry feet all the time. I tend to wear roubaix type tights in winter, so the water doesn’t tend to get in the top.

Haven’t tried any others, but happy with what I have.

I’d do a regular 1-2 hour bike ride the next day, with the knowledge that I’ll be “a bit slower”. I wouldn’t do anything ridiculous for a few days.

My wife has the 2015 Merida Cross 500. It’s a lovely bike for the money. I’m somewhat jealous.

Came back from Geneva to Manchester a couple of weeks ago via Easyjet. I’ve also flown to Geneva from Liverpool in the past, but the last time was a couple of years ago, so don’t know if this is still running.

Never met her, but been a subscriber for a number of years. She sounds like a great person. All to best to her, her family and to her very clearly wide circle of friends.

Will be buying a mug or two and a t-shirt when they’re up on the site.

Paul

Got given one on Saturday by someone I was running with. He was hit by a car (head injuries, induced coma etc.), and he now keeps a few in his car to hand out. Would have helped him at the time.

It’s a great area to visit. Our itinerary (over a 3 week period) was:

Fly into Vegas, stay a couple of nights – plenty to do, even if you don’t gamble (which I don’t)
Grand Canyon for two days (stayed at the hotel on the south rim – needed booking well in advance and was $$$)
Hoover Dam
Lake Powell (on the advice of my American brother-in-law). Boat trip on the lake.
Bryce Canyon
Zion Canyon
Las Vegas for a night
Death Valley
Lone Pine
Yosemite National Park (Tioga pass may be closed in October – worth checking)
Sequoia National Park
Monterey
San Francisco
Route 1 down to Morro bay
Santa Barbara
Back to Vegas for a couple of days

Lots of driving, but a fantastic holiday. We didn’t have kids then, so were happy to do long days, and 1 night in a hotel. We’re doing it again next year and will swerve most of the cities, and will stay a few days in each location.

Keith, all the best for the future. You just reminded me to send the wife and kids a quick text to tell them I’m thinking of them.

In the grand STW tradition of recommending what you have. I’ve had two Hyundai Santa Fe seven seaters. 2007 model was good, but had a few niggles that they fixed in the 2010 onwards version with the updated engine. Took first one to almost 100k miles, current (2011 version) one is 90k miles, both autos. Nothing major has failed yet and the running costs are fine (approx 40mpg and front tyres every 25k miles or so). Service interval is 20k miles or one year.

Rearmost seats fold into the boot floor, and are fine for teenagers (my 14 year old used them last weekend). Not a great deal of space behind them (unlike the XC90), but it does have a full size spare wheel.

Looked at the XC90, but the auto seemed to have a bit of a reputation for lunching its auto gearbox – see Honest John Good/Bad XC90

2014-on Santa Fe seems really nice, with a much improved interior.

EDIT: Sound advice below. Two kids here, and seats 6 and 7 are only used occasionally

I really liked my Lumia phone, and I even liked the BlackBerry Z10 I had for work. Sadly the lack of apps just wore me down, and I now have Android for both home and work.

The only thing I miss is the BlackBerry seemed to help me file e-mails in the right place. Sony Z1 Compact and Samsung S6 Edge for home and work respectively.

Can’t disagree with the OP. The difference between Flo-Jo in 1987 at the World Champs in Rome (200m silver), and 1988 at the Seoul Olympics (100m and 200m golds), is incredible. Half a second improvement in a year over 100m.

I’ve had both Shimano RS10 and now RS30 wheels on my road bike (I’m not a seasoned roadie). RS10s were fairly basic and the spokes went after a year and a half. RS30s are way better and have been great for a couple of years.

Replaced by RS11 and RS31 respectively. RS31 available for £129 from CRC.
RS31

EDIT: RS31 not sub £100, sorry

Front crud guard and fork guard stay on all year. Just refitted the rear crud guard after a sodden ride on Saturday. Was only off for a month or two :-(

All subjective of course, but my favourite was my Saab 95. Big buttons (for use with gloves), fantastically tactile vents, dark panel button for night driving and the key where it should be – between the seats. Foldy out cupholder was awesome as well.

Edit: Just remembered that the speedometer wasn’t linear. Was linear up to 80mph or so (which was all you would ever use), and then compressed up to 140 or whatever – made it easier to read.

That Sony outlet site looks good (not just for phones). I’m rather impressed with the Z1 Compact I have (with a 64GB SD card). Wife has a Sony M2, and although it’s a cheap phone, it’s pretty nice.

To give some context, my work phone is a 64GB Samsung S6 Edge, which although lovely, isn’t 4x better than the Sony.

I only know this side, but there’s a 400 space car park at Hooton, with direct trains to central Liverpool. 80p a day if I remember correctly.

Edit: Not sure if there’s a height restriction. I don’t think so, but it’s worth a call to the station to check.

If you like your Garmin, but want optical heart rate, how about the Forerunner 225?

Garmin Link

I have a Forerunner 220 without the optical HR, and it’s used almost every day. It’s not perfect – the first one failed within a month. Second one has lasted over a year now.

Edit: My 220 syncs via my phone if I want it to, I assume the 225 will as well.

We’ve stayed really close to the Atlantic coast route for the last couple of years in the Vendee and Charente Maritime. From what I saw it seems really well signposted. Mostly quiet roads and graded/tarmac off road.

Nothing to add on accommodation, sorry. We’re taking the same ferry, also next month :-)