The route we have seen takes corridor, drops down into the boulder field before taking lords rake up to Scafell, it’s then drop down to Foxes Tarn before reascending to mickledore and scafell like.

It’s a reccy for the full Lakeland 3000s later in the year.

Thanks for the heads up both, seems like snow won’t be an issue at least!

I’ve just realised I’m an idiot. The BIK is always the same and then I’ll just pay the extra tax on any earnings that are eligible for 40% tax yes?

I was thinking the BIK changes at 40% but it’s always the same it’s just the tax you pay on the earnings!

Thanks for all the comments.

I think we will look at going down the replacement with thin double glazing option. That’s what the previous owners did with the one they already changed. Also the adjoining barn was done up about 15 years ago and when they did that they changed the windows for wooden frame thin double glazing. Hopefully with all that already done the conservation officer should be ok with replacing with similar style.

I guess it’s a case of getting a local joiner to have a look what he can do and then applying to the council to approve it!?

I think for the mean time over the winter it’ll be keeping it well ventilated and have the wood burners going a lot to keep the house warm and dry. Looking to get one of those fans that sits on the burners too to spread the heat through the house!

Cheers

What size property is that for?

Oil fired Aga in the kitchen which will be on all the time but doesn’t do hot water. Separate boiler for doing hot water and central heating. Thinking I might need to up the amount I’m setting aside for oil. Currently got about £150/month in the budget. Have a good supply of cheap timber so hoping to supplement significantly with that over the winter months.

Yeah Aga great for cooking, we are in with the in laws at the moment who have one so becoming well practiced!

Thanks all for the comments, some really interesting comments and points raised. It really does appear you just have to look at it in a different way to a new property.

Some really good points raised in terms of pointing of external walls etc.

Fortunately it has 2 wood burning stoves, an open fire and an aga so that should hopefully help to regulate the damp. Will have a look into dehumidifier too if that’s required.

Thanks for that, will have a look and sort my self out with some Hope bits!

Ok you’ve managed to convince me! And the plan may now change into being from Staveley so we can go Borans, Dubbs, Garburn, ridge line, Nan Bield and then either green quarter or three rivers to finish!

Thanks for the help!

Ever have much in the way of trouble with walkers taking the footpath along there?

We had thought about heading across the water but by time you walk down from the station and get the ferry, then walk to the pub on the other side it’s a good 2 hour round trip for a pint. Just walking and on the train so ideally close to stations. Stavely, Kendal etc are sorted for pubs it’s just the far end that I’m struggling with!

Maybe it’ll have to be a wander down to Bowness for hole in’t wall. Is it tied to Robinsons though!?

Thanks for the comments.

It’s for a compound set up for a construction site. The site accommodation manufacturer has said as above 300 amp 3 phase (100/phase).

When talking to Electricity North West they have advised it that up to 60kVa is a lot easier to hook up then above it so just trying to figure out where I stand.

https://instagram.com/simon_crisp/%5B/url%5D
Bikes, outdoors stuff and general life really!

Bump

Currently running Bonty XR4 on Mavic XM319

I think it’s because I’ve seen lots of people having issues with burping on tubeless. Is it just different valves and some gunk I need to go tubeless? I’ve got tubeless ready rims and pretty sure the tyres are too.

35 mins in the car each way and then about 11/12 hours at work. 5 days a week with a rota for weekends so work one Saturday every 7 weeks.

I did my first Sam Houghton yesterday and really enjoyed it! Legs were done by the end but was really chuffed with my time. Great event put on and good beer and banter afterwards too!

Sorry to hear about your wife’s ankle, hope she makes a speedy recovery! Is that what the ambulance and mountain rescue were out for?

Thanks for all the comments. The guys we are going with have booked the car parking already so will be parking up at the stadium.

Looking at it Wembley Stadium is on the chiltern line so not probably the one to jump on for a couple of stops for a beer. Guess the tube up at Wembley Park or Wembley Central is the best bet?

Will do a bit of a google on some of the others listed!

I’m north west based and there’s some cracking ales up here

Hawkshead – Windermere Pale, Iti or Jester
Moorhouses – Blonde Witch
Cumbrian Legendary Ales – Loweswater Gold
Lytham Lowther
Lancaster Blonde
Cross Bay – Zenith, Sunset
Coniston – Bluebird

The list goes on and on…..

Quite interested to know. Currently thinking of changing one of the cars and the Mazda 3 or the new CX3 are right up there on the possibles list!

Forecast looks ok, hoping to be riding by 9 so will hopefully be back before the worst of the weather. Think option 3 is looking like the winner. Might park up at Elterwater so I’ve a bit of a warm up before the first climb and can also have a pint in the Britannia Inn at the end.

We are lucky enough to go to Cala D’Or most years as the Mrs family has a villa there. If there’s anything specific you want to know please feel free to ask.

As mentioned there are some really nice restaurants around the Marina. It’s a bit nicer round there than in the centre which is a little more (dare I say chavvy!?). Botavara is one of our favourites but there is quite a few. Also go see John at the Smugglers pub at the Marina. Great place to sit out and watch the boats and people!

We rent a car most years and in September you can usually pick up good deals. I think we paid around £100 for the week but bare in mind a taxi each way from Palma is €80!? It’s also good as I used it to travel a little further north for a day guided mountain biking which was great in September. Can recommend Roxy Bike as they were ace.

The beach at the Cala D’Or hotel is very nice. It’s an eco beach so it’s nice and clean compares to some where you get the wate from the Harbour drifting in. Mondrago is another great beach and worth a day out. Once again helps with having a car.

Anything else feel free to ask!

Went up for a little night ride last night.

It is still a bit muddy in places but not so much of the huge puddles lying everywhere. The rocky track up by the wall at the top is pretty good but as mentioned coming up from Jeffry Hill is still a bit of a slog. The cheeky little track down and across the stream is getting more rideable too!

We finished down in Hurst Green and that Bridleway had a few thick mud patches!

If it stays dry for another day or two then I’ll def be back up on Saturday morning.

Ooh this is interesting. All the websites I’ve seen have suggested anti-clockwise and as were a fairly large group looking to stay over we were considering Horton as the start finish…..other suggestions??

I’ve kind of come from where you’re coming from.

Been on a grad scheme for the last few years and just come off it now. Here’s a few of my thoughts and what I’ve done (not saying it’s right!!)

Get paying into your companies pension scheme straight away. If it never comes into your account in the first place you won’t miss it! On grad schemes pay tends to go up well through the first few years so I upped my contribution by 1% each time I got a pay rise.

We have savings schemes at work (share save where you buy shares at a discounted rate) these can give you good returns if you’re planning on staying there for a bit and once again comes out your pay before going into your bank account.

House wise we rented for the first 2 years whilst there was uncertainty about location. Whilst it’s great to get on the property ladder it’s pointless if you need to move again in a years time! That said we reached a point where we decided it would always be our base so took the plung and bought. This might sound crazy to many people but don’t be too scared if you do but to look to the upper end of what you can afford. Salaries go up well as a graduate and you don’t want to buy then wish you had gone for something else within 2 years or so.

I’m sure lots of people might question that but that’s just my experiences over the last few years!

I’m heading up tomorrow evening so will report back!

That sounds alright then. I’ve tackled bigger challenges before but I think it’s just the big distance that was making me wonder. Sounds like 8ish hours should be manageable for the trial run. But of a mixed bag when we get to the team so we will just aim for under the 12!

Got a friend staying this weekend so going to show him some of our local trails. Itinerary for the weekend:

Beers and Curry watching The rugby tonight.
Big ride out of Ambleside tomorrow. Loughrigg fell, Iron Keld, Hodge Close, Little Langdale, elterwater and Loughrigg Terrace with a stop for a pint and a snack at Hawkshead Brewery.
Sunday think we might go for a quick spin up Farleton Knott before he heads home.

Weather is meant to be good to so bring it on!

Looking at a map it’s actually further to Crested Butte than Moab! I think realistically with family commitments any trip over to Moab or Butte would have to be a day trip so would mean riding in the midday sun. So unless it really is that much better would be more inclined to stay round Aspen/Snowmass/Glenwood area. Seems like doing this would be similar to riding in the Alps in terms of uplift on chairlift then long trails.

anyone ridden there?

Ahh I wasn’t aware of that. Well that’s another reason to avoid France! We were hoping Austria if there are ap good deals about!

Are the A41 the flat version?

Anything else? Had some old North face trail shoes but just hoping for a bit drier!

Non SPD shoes/boots for biking. Something like 5tens that are built for winter!?

Headset definitely tight. Will have a go at changing the pads and giving the rotors a clean and see of that helps much. Will probably get the forks serviced anyway as I’ve done a fair few miles without changing the seals or anything and they feel quite sticky.

Fox floats and slx brakes and discs. Have checked the pads and there is plenty of pad left however they have been on for ages! I means ages which seems a little odd!

We have Robert Welch ones and they’re very nice. Look good. Cut well and feels really nice in your hand.

Thanks a lot all for the comments and suggestions. Great to hear some recommendations for places to eat and drink in Cape Town. I think a hike up Table Mountain and trip around the Cape and the Penguins (if there’s any there) will be on the cards.

Anyone any ideas on the drive from Cape Town to Knysna for a lunch stop?

Will do some more research into the biking around Knysna, don’t think a ride in Cape Town is on the cards, only there a few days and will feel bad ditching the Mrs!

We ride up there most weeks as we are based at the bottom of the fell in Longridge. Plenty of different bits of trail up there but rhe best of it is cheeky footpaths. Possible to put together a good loop of about 20km messing about on the different sections and fireroads. Bridleway to and from Hurst Green is good, think plenty of people ride up from Hurst Green, ride about for a bit then back down.

As mentioned above a lot of the footpaths sections are getting VERY boggy by this time of year! We try to limit how much we ride it now just to prevent it getting totally wrecked!

Member with ICE is £280ish. Once again a lot of companies pay for it (mine does) and as you get further up the ladder does start to become a lot more of a prerequisite. I know my firm are starting to put a glass ceiling and where you can get without IEng or CEng.

This is true! Only thing is that they tend to charge for a full diagnostic so was hoping to just get a couple of arm chair expert views for free first…