Yes Garry. 4 year old girl. That’s my main concern. The room was sealed with plastic sheeting to stop dust getting into the rest of the house so I’m hoping that’s mitigated the risk to her.

Black boy is a must for many reasons.

Take a wander to the new cycle cafe at the bottom of st Catherine’s hill. It’s a nice walk along the water meadows and then up the hill.

Wykeham arms for old worldly.

Mucky duck for sport and burgers

Greens for cocktails

Roll n square sausage n tattie scone.

Yeh following him on Strava and Instagram. Despite everything he always seems up beat and positive. That’ll help him recover. Good luck to him.

Chase Cycles in Waltham Chase.

1 man (Aaron) set up.

He works his socks off to be fair and nothing has ever been a problem. He’s a whyte dealer so I get my bearings replaced yearly from him so just pay labour.

Also built my genesis longitude (He’s a genesis dealer too) from scratch to my spec.

Always happy for you to pop in for a chat and advice.

I’m terrible at putting links up but easy enough to Google.

I think me and Malvern went through the same thought process.

Was very keen on the vagabond but had never really used drops, so I borrowed my mates croix de fer for a week. At the end of the week I still wasn’t keen. Just felt more comfortable and in control with a flat bar so got the longitude.

Got 2.1 29er maxxis crossmark. With 40psi they roll really fast for commuting and pub visits.

Drop to 20psi and it’s worked well for cross country hacks and bike packing in the south downs.

I bought Meindle at the recommendation of my BiL. Absolutely bullet proof but the soles were like walking in clogs. Fine for soft ground with gaiters on though.

For all round use I bought Salomon GTX high boots. So comfortable and great ankle support which I need. I know they won’t last as long but I need comfort. It’s been a year now of long muddy dog walks, with peak district holidays throw in and my feet have been bone dry.

Can’t recommend them enough.

Every day is a purple day. 😁

I learned xc on tracks in Norway on army planks, so heavier kit. For me it was all about technique.

It helped with efficiency for ski touring which was the main goal.

I personally wouldn’t go on a full on xc holiday, maybe a day or 2 on the trails as part of a longer touring/alpine holiday.

Looking at the locals, it was like going out for a jog after work to them, so good fitness training.

All in we’re spending 3k for a family of 3 in the last week of Jan. Me the wife and our 4 year old daughter. That’s flights and passes too.

It’s expensive compared to the DIY trips we did before the little one came along but the benefits are almost too many to list. Time to ourselves, structured child care, no cooking etc.

Me and my wife clicked straight away as snow sports was a passion we had in common so we’re unlikely to compromise and will always do a winter trip.

We’re financially comfortable but even we find it bloomin expensive. We have family all around the UK so we usually spend our summer holidays travelling to meet them all so that’s cheap.

We’ve also warned off the school that she will be taken out of school for a ski trip once a year as I refuse to pay half term prices. Don’t know how well that went down…..

Rode into work this morning with Diablo in the helmet angled down and to the kerb on the 8hr setting so not bright.

Flashing cats eye on the back.

Lumo drybag rucksack.

Granted the Diablo can be overkill but I turn my head away whenever opposite traffic is there. My commute is country lanes with no urban. Never had a problem with anyone complaining.

Thanks. Not used my CTW voucher for this year yet, so might go down that route.

Thanks for the input. It’s a great hack for commuting on bridleways and lanes but if I was going to do a longer tour (I live in the south downs) a bit of cushioning would help!

Currently got 29×2.2 tyres but could get a 650b set for more volume and comfort.

One set for commuting, other for long off road hacks.

Ment to say, it’s a 2018.

It’s where the roof at the “head” of the vally meets the roof on the “side” of the valley. That gulley that feeds down into the valley bottom is where the leak appears to be. It’s soaking onto the beam underneath so I’m thinking some of the lead there has cracked.

All other wood under the valley appears to be bone dry thankfully!

Yes checked that as well as emergency cover with bank account. Unless it’s likely to damage further belongings or make the house unsafe, it’s a maintenance issue. Just packed it out with old towels for the time being.

Conveniently the roofer was coming next weekend anyway to fit a velux so we could access the valley to keep it clean. Can’t access it from the ground unless your spider man, which he is.

I can get into the roof space. I can see the wet beam that’s conducting the water down to the point above the ceiling.

I’ve got the camelbak repack for short rides and it’s a great bit if kit. I’d try one on if you have a waist of 38inch or greater though. It’s a bit “snug”. I have most of my tools and spares in a wee cog saddle bag as it’s easier to swap between bikes. I can get a thin waterproof and fleece jumper in the repack with keys wallet and a snack.

For longer rides I’ve got my 10 year old dakine heli pro that I use for ski touring. Its bullet proof. Just put a cheap bladder in it.

Just booking our 3rd visit to family ski in Ardent. Good ski area, close to Geneva and the little one absolutely loves the skiing/child care.

Had a blast with ESF on an off piste guided day last year so prob do that again.

Will also get an off piste Tellie lesson subject conditions. Happily drop the knee on any piste but just can’t seem to get weight distribution right in powder.

No new kit this year. Finally got a set up I love!

Watching now.

Wife at work, bairn in bed, beer in hand.

I won’t tar the village by name but it’s 6 miles from cumnock. It’s one of the nicer villages but I may be biased!

My whole family is from cumnock or Auchinleck. Used to spend the summer holidays at my grans in netherthird when mum and dad were working.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s a great area and community on the whole but just like everywhere else it still has problems.

Sorry for hijacking the thread somafafunk. I’ve got family in CD too so have a soft spot for kirkudbrightshire. Prob spelt that wrong.

No worries nobeerinthefridge.

I get defensive of the shire too. It’ll always be my home.

I drove from South of England to calm my brother down. The village junkie was seen peaking over house fences on my mum and dad’s street then the house was broken into when they were away. It may have been coincidence but my sister in law told me to get home as my brother was driving the streets looking for him. We all new this junkies reputation and she was worried.

Ah ffs, I usually like your posts but now you’re just being argumentative.

It was just a heads up that some junkies are not afraid of carrying knives not too far away.

The 3 junkies that used to roam our village had knives, it was well known.

Local junkie up in Ayrshire must have fell from a great height and landed on his knee caps after local pub was broken into.

Glad you got your bike back. Small communities and the gossip circuit do have their benefits.

Just be aware, Ayrshire junkies are known for knives now as they’re sick of getting battered.

Ah, conveyance solicitors. Not a fan.

Mortgage company insisted on using one from an approved list at a big practice instead of the family run solicitors in the village who we used before.Great personal service and we like to keep money local but the mortgage company made us go with driver belcher.

They were so slow with everything. Big firm and terrible at updating us. We got together with our buyers and vendors solicitors, as well as the estate agent and hounded them relentlessly until things started moving quickly.

As for the searches, we had to take out indemnity because part of the search was incomplete due to lack of historical records. Use of adjacent land before 1980. Neighbour says it was a field cause he used to play in it as a kid but solicitors couldnt find anything.

Not knowing the area you are buying and the circumstances, I’d just go for the indemnity for peace of mind.

I fancy a coffee and a service on my trusty steed…….

I agree.

If it’s reinstated as a cycle path, the main line station gives access to Portsmouth, Southampton, winchester and Waterloo (1hr 20min).

No brainer, but there’ll be some against it no doubt.

Will do. It’d be a good shout. Duty rumour is the owners of the shoe have bought the hurdles. Even more reason to use the railway line!

From what I’ve seen of the line it’s being used by farmers (especially after the stretch from the roundabout at BW) and been appropriated by people bordering it (Calcot lane). I think thats where the problem is going to be.

The access to botley station may be an issue too as the small siding there is uses by the gravel company.

I’ll email the parish council and offer my help, then take it from there.

Thanks for the pointers.

My route to work is the back lanes through durley or curdridge to botley, then manor farm CP to swanwick just to avoid the b3055. With the new houses being built (unfortunately! But they will have cycle paths) On the burridge rd I would have an almost traffic free route if the railway line was a cycle path.

Thanks for the help everyone. I’ll email the parish council with the suggestions and an offer of help.

I miss driving DAF 4 tonners.

I bikepacked a massive 4 miles into the forest of Bere the other night. Know it well from dog walking so found a quiet spot.

A couple of beers, read my book then got my head down for 7hrs. Was back in time to get the little one ready for pre school.

I know (or think I do) most of the single track in a 6 mile radius. Now looking for good bivvy spots.

Any recommendations?

Awesome! Well done. That’s some challenge!

Mattbee,
When I did it the first time there were 2 guys sparked out at the bottom of that descent. Their mates were around them so I carried on.

I’ve ridden it a few times since and your right. The drainage there makes for a very tricky section at the bottom of a fast stretch.

I’m sunning it in Jersey at the moment but planning on doing it in a day at the end of August.

I’ve got the high tops Terrex. Bloody grippy on V12’s and very comfy. Put one of those chord grippers from an old jacket on the laces instead of knotting them. Tucks nicely under the little bungee and the ankle support is good.

Can’t compare them with 5/10s but they dry reasonably quickly too.

Good tips thanks. I’m a WW2 history buff so might slope off for a morning on my own.

Any good cycle hire places that could provide a mac ride type seat or trailer?

Just removed one from my thigh. Must have been there for a day and I didn’t notice it. Proper buried in there. Think I managed to get most of it out but a fair bit of blood. Put some antiseptic on it then a plaster. Just going to keep an eye on it.

That may be an old school culture thing but today, as in I’m on a break right now, not one of my colleagues will prioritise an airline based on nationality.

Aircraft may get shortcuts if it’s tactically possible and the traffic situation permits, but it will not be based on whether they speak with a british accent.

Sorry but it doesn’t happen. I’d rather put a Lufthansa A320 in front of a BA A380 to maximise vortex spacing. It’s about safety first then efficiency.

My father in law is ex BA 777 and he says we’re too nice because the bias abroad to home carriers used to be unbareable.

In the UK BA get no higher priority than anyone else when it comes to ATC actually controlling the aircraft. I’ve heard it may be different abroad but its not the case here.

Ryanair fly everywhere at 245 knots as an SOP it seems. Most others do 300ish.

I don’t know whether that is for economy reasons or for building in a buffer so they can speed up if they’re behind. It seems to work for them.

Expect a delay with them if you return to Stansted late evening. They’re whole fleet returns to roost then.