Yes in Ardent. Came out with them last year and the child care was superb, Our daughter loved it so it was a no brainer to come again.

I’m happy piste bashing this year but looks like a rise in temp and snow for next week. Fingers crossed.

Off to geneva tomorrow to stay with a mate until sat then up to PDS with family ski for the week. Can’t wait.

Got a longitude for winter trainer/commuter/pub bike.

Superb all rounder.

It’s 2×10 though but it covers all eventualities.

29er with maxis crossmarx 2.0. It’s pretty fast on road, averaging 24km/hr on my commute.

You could get 29er 2.8inch in there too I reckon, even bigger with 27.5.

The climb up to HMS mercury East bound on the SDW. Lots of flint,pebbles and step up roots.

I would say the last bit up to the top of old winch hill but I just push up now.

Platoon.

Am I the first to think that?

Watched dog soldiers last month and it hasn’t aged well, but that or Kajaki are the only films I’ve seen that nail squaddies humour on the head.

So we got to QE and the other half forgot her helmet. I went for 1 quick lap then gave her my helmet to have a go.

Bloody good job collective! The jump into the left hander gave me a wee fright but looking forward to commiting it memory!

Yay! I saw what I could from the top of the closed section and it looked good.

Going to pop by again this afternoon. Can’t see any updates on the Facebook page.

Could someone enlighten me?

Desperate to give it a go.

Thanks for the reminder Dan. Mats 1 has been in the loft for while and its hard enough trying to keep up with the changes over the past 2 years! We did get a briefing that min fuel was a statement of commitment to the designated airfield.

If only these people could see the safety implications they have caused…..

Singlettackmind, you make a good point about the diversion fields but out of all of that list they either can’t take the size of aircraft or close at night. Drone was reported at 9 and aircraft held until they no longer could and then diverted. I can’t remember the exact figures (Dan will) as it’s been a long time since I had the books open, but aircraft will load fuel for a hold and potential diversion but due to the volume of diversion requests and subsequent approval, sequencing and repositioning, most would have been holding for way longer than anticipated.

Last night, 43 aircraft were diverted away from Gatwick.

Of those, 20 declared min fuel en route to their diversion fields. That means the aircraft is committed to that field and cannot make it anywhere else.

1 declared a may day for fuel shortage.

I have nothing but contempt for whoever has done this although that Theresa May gif tickled me.

Pure speculation, but I reckon a bunch of locals wanted a good night’s sleep so came up with a plan to stop flights. Unlike Heathrow, Gatwick doesn’t have the same night time restrictions.

Looks like no early go for me later. I’ll be playing catch all day. I’ll find out who reported them this afternoon.

I may be tempted again. Done the BHF in a day twice on my t130. 14hrs first attempt, 12hrs the 2nd (last year).

My arse was in one piece both times so really, really wouldn’t like to try it on my longitude.

In fairness I leapfrogged someone on a cx for the first 20 miles. He’d breeze past me on the climbs and I’d barrel past him on the descents. Over took him on the descents into qecp then didn’t see him again.

Did the red descent and lapped the blue downhill that was open. It’s still quite grippy apart from the roots as usual. Having sausage baguette and beer now.

It’s all getting a bit sloppy but was going to do a couple of laps of the blue with the dog today. I’ll prob go anyway and report back later.

I won’t do any closed sections by the way!

I’ve got line prophets too.

I originally had 7tm bindings then switched to NTN. Different holes but ski Bartlett fitted both of them. Make sure the old holes are plugged.

Not noticed any difference in performance.

Someone came up with a great tip on here last winter. Instead of bike specific de greaser buy a 5l bottle of patio/mono block cleaner for about a fiver from screwfix.. Dilute it for 1/5 with water. Use in a spray bottle.

Every couple of rides I spray the chain set, leave it for 5 min, quick brush, hose it, dry it, then finish line wet lube.

Good recommendation. A very selfless man. Didnt have enough time to watch until the end last night but can guess what’s coming.

Having been attached to EOD for 6 months I’m amazed at the risks he took. Mind you, I watched a PSNI officer walk up to a suspicious package and slice it open with a leatherman.

No. We had issues with broadband cutting out when the phone went. They insisted it wasn’t a fault their end so we agreed for them to send an engineer to come out and if the fault was our end, it’d be a 150 fee.

He came out, changed the facing on the plug and it worked. Fair enough.

Internet worked but then there was static on the line afterwards. They insisted it was not their end and it must be our phone and they could send engineer out again but would be another 150 quid.

Now with talk talk. Significantly cheaper, internet doesn’t drop out at all and phone is ok.

Also, more my fault, after the offer period had ended we were getting charged 59 quid for line rental and standard broadband. I didn’t notice this for a couple of months. Oops.

I’ll always shop around now and never go back to BT.

I’ve just pulled the trigger on a Longitude for exactly what you describe, plus commuting.

I’ve went for a standard 29er set up with 2.1 tyres.

Once CTW vouchers are released at work I’ll get 27.5+ setup for a dabble into bike packing.

I did think of Vagabond or CDF but I really couldn’t get on with drop bars.

Enjoyed it on the whole.

The weather along the Ridgeway was a squalish headwind. Did not enjoy that bit. At all. Not in the slightest. Terrible.

3hr41min for the long route so not bad considering the aforementioned slog.

I left the Army after 9 years and it was a massive culture shock. I found the Army was a complete bubble with it’s own culture that didn’t translate well to civvy street. I still have problems not swearing and speaking my mind in a professional environment.

Good advice earlier about not constantly speaking about your previous job. Your new workmates won’t appreciate it after a week or 2. I was called uncle Albert for a while!

I’ve found my new job (ATCO) has the same team work, if not more, element as the forces. I’m sure you’ll find a strong team wherever you move to.

The best thing though is keep in touch with your old workmates. I’m the first to slag off Facebook but have to admit, it’s a great way of keeping in touch. Be pro active and arrange to meet up for drinks, rides etc.

Lastly, embrace the change. It’s exciting creating a new path!

Just signed up for the long distance.

Just explained it to some work mates. Apparently only ex squaddies call fluff between your toes, toe jam cause none of my current colleagues have a clue about it. The mums must have just been laughing at her cleaning her toes.

On a better note, every time she farts, she giggles and says, “I just did a Donald trump”

Waiting to go into gym tots, I had taken my 3 year old daughter’s trainers and socks off. I turned round a moment later and asked her what she was doing as she was picking at her toes.

“Just getting rid of my toe jam daddy”

Cue embarrassed dad and half a dozen mothers trying to hold their giggles in.

I was thinking my exposure was draining it’s battery and the lumen was getting lower.

Sent it back and they did a full work up on it.

Came back as good as new and I only paid for postage.

Best customer service I’ve experienced.

Ski Bartlett fitted my Tellie boots and new NTN bindings last year.

Young lad fitted the boots and knew his stuff, even although they’re a bit if a niche product.

The bloke from the workshop who fitted my bindings was great. Could’ve spent all day blethering with him. Spent 20min explaining set up and maintenance and gave me good hints and tips for servicing.

Met Jenny Jones whilst she was picking up all her new picture gear.

Going to.Ardent for the 2nd year in a row.with family ski. Their child care set up is 2nd to none and it’s a great spot for getting up into the ski area before the hordes arrive from morzine! Probably my 10th trip to PDS in 6 years.

I think it must be a temperature thing. I’m leaving it up when it’s in the shed so it should be fine.

Got back home and the bloomin thing was working. It was at 200psi so topped it up and adjusted the speed and worked well without bleeding.

Thanks folks. LBS has phoned and said he’s found some Shimano mineral fluid I can have. Might buy some 2.5wt to keep in the shed anyway.

thanks folks. The gym do provide pads but in his words their almost past it and he’d like his own.

My LBS were kitting out my bike with new forks and hubs which were boost. I wanted to keep the old wheels as a commuting set but the front was non boost.

LBS had a mate who manufactured a non disc side spacer and re aligned the wheel. Works a treat.

Didn’t look into buying a set as the LBS wanted to see if it could be manufactured so let him try.

That’s true. I work a 10 day shift pattern so I can choose when I go that way!

Like previously stated, lots of new builds going up in hedge end and Whitley.

I’ve got a lot of friends live in both but hedge end pips it for me as it has a railway station with good access to most of the South coast. It’s a bit suburbia though.

I know it budget dependant but plenty of  nice villages north of the m27.

Used to live in Hamble but like gosport it’s 1 road in 1 road out and is bloody expensive.

QECP has some really good official and unofficial trails. I’m there most weeks and can easily spend 3 or 4 hours exploring. Lordswood is easy access from the m27 for a pootle but the best bit about the area is the South downs NP. I never get bored of getting the OS map out and exploring.

Thanks variflex, I’ll look them up.

I’ve got the 2015 T130s and been up grading as I go along. 1×11, hubs, stem etc.

What’s the max rear tyre clearance? Only asking because I know 2016 onwards they increased it.

I’ve got 2.25 Nobby nics on the back but would like 2.35 for winter.

Meon valley trail is a good shout.

Manor farm country park would be ok for a short blast.

Cycle from hedge end down to royal Victoria country park then follow the Solent to hamble. Pink ferry to Warsaw then follow the Solent trail to fareham. Train back to hedge end.

I’m bishops Waltham so pretty local. From hedge end head up through durley to upham. (Good pub the brushmakers). Carry on north following bridleway to cheesefoot head. Head east along SDW.

Your best bet is check out the OS map for the area and most of the bridleway are dried out so good for a gravel bike. Josies, the anvil or the natural Delhi in BW are good pot stops.

I’m not a competitive person so looking at it as a challenge and a focus for fitness training.

What would be the best bike option? I’ve done the SDW  in a day a couple of times on my T130 but think it would struggle on this.

I’ve been through this over the past 3 years and most of my riding has been done after the little one is in bed.

Dinner around 1700-30. We used to have an adult meal when she was in bed but by the time we ate and tidied up it was 2100.

Bath at 1830. If im going out, wifey will do the bath and bed time routine on her own.

Out the door by 1900 and back by 2100-30.

Shower

Beer

1 episode of a box set with wifey

Bed

We both work full time shift patterns so it’s subject to change. Shifts help as we’re off during the week a lot of the time so when she’s in nursery during the day we’llgo out for a ride together.

Invest in good night lights. I love riding at night!