Starting from £1100
http://www.bird.bike/product-category/complete-bikes/zero-tr-hardtail/

Superb bikes.

Can you wait and see what the weather is doing? Little point in trekking up to Torridon for it to lash with rain for 5 days.

At that price I would be looking for anything small that looked in good condition with a decent service history. Check insurance costs on whatever you buy first.

http://www.bird.bike/product/zero-tr20/#configuration

Just over your budget but well good.

Bird bikes arrive tubeless with an appropriate amount of tyre jizz in.

What do people not like about the CRC website?
I find it one of the best, very easy to navigate around.
I never use wiggle because of how un-intuitive it is to use.

Cheers, it is looking like a toss up between the Acer R11 and the Asus flip. Will need to see if I can find them both in a shop to compare.

Thanks, any recommendations on what one to buy?
I quite like the look of this http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/computing/laptops/laptops/acer-chromebook-r-11-cb5-132t-2-in-1-touchscreen-white-10156150-pdt.html?istCompanyId=9a35962d-802d-4e67-9721-0a3328ca1f02&istItemId=xppxtlapaq&istBid=tztx&srcid=198&cmpid=ppc~gg~1011+%28PLA%29+Windows+Laptops+%26+Convertibles~1011+%28PLA%29+Windows+Laptops+%26+Convertibles+ad+group~Exact&mctag=gg_goog_7904&kwid=GOOGLE&device=c&ds_kids=92700020115870479&PLA=1&gclid=CPz30uXnptQCFVTNGwodxgkHbQ&gclsrc=aw.ds&dclid=CMGZ6uXnptQCFYeJdwodhdcJQw

I switched the power off to mine ripped off the cover and disconnected the battery. I don’t remember if the outside box went off or not. I also had a ladder and while wearing ear plugs ripped open the outside box and snipped the wires inside.
So I know have a dummy box and a new wireless system too.
Wear ear defenders is my advice!

Read this article that I linked above, it tells you everything you need to know. This new “standard” seems to make sense to me.

Posted by Bird Cycleworks on Saturday, March 11, 2017

https://www.facebook.com/notes/bird-cycleworks/tech-talk-a-closer-look-at-the-rockshox-deluxe-and-super-deluxe-shocks/623730377812516/
Tells you everything you need to know

With a piggyback shock on a large you can fit a water bottle just. I had to drill my cage to move it down but have since ordered one of these to move it http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/shimano-ba01-di2-battery-mount-adaptor/rp-prod34650

This should arrive today so I will let you know how I get on.

Hi Ben,

Thanks for that, got one ordered.
Joe, I will weigh it and see but I wouldn’t expect much difference. I also have Maxxis DD tyres which will up the weight too.

I have had mine for about a month now and must say I am loving it.
It may “only” have 145mm travel but to my ham fisted approach I cannot notice the reduction from my previous 160mm bike. I did go for the 160 lyrics though. I am really impressed by how well it climbs steep and technical stuff. There is a trail (green hill @ Pitfichie) that I may have cleared once on my last bike (Orbea Rallon) but I now manage well just my lungs that struggle! I was concerned that while climbing steep bits the front would wander as this is what my last bike did, this does not seem to happen.
As for descending, well that is what the bike was designed for. On paper the bike is long but its not noticeable in a negative way that’s for sure. I think it just has well designed geometry. So even on tight steep switchbacks it is fine. Flat out (for me) it feels really stable and just ploughs on through.
It is a bit heavier than my last bike but I did speck some heavier parts so that’s not a surprise, haven’t weighed it yet.
My only criticism so far is the position of the bottle mounts as with the piggy back shock even a 500ml bottle doesn’t fit. I had to drill my cage to move it further down. Maybe a different cage would be better?
For reference I am 186cm tall and bought a large and find it perfect.
30mm stem and 780 bars (I have long arms)
Xt build
Lyric 160s
Hope tech 3 E4’s
Hope hubs dt rims
170 reverb
total cost was £3300 which compared to some seemed like a good price to me.
Overall I am delighted.

I would like a dashcam but it would have to be one that automatically turned on when I started the car otherwise I wouldn’t bother using it. How easy is this to achieve. Car is a 63plate mondeo if that makes any difference. Would also like it hidden behind the rear view mirror.

Victoria is small but lovely the harbour area was great for checking out, getting some food etc. We spent the rest of the time biking so I am not really of any help.

Turns out the main flaw in the Spey canoe trip plan is the size of the group. Companies are coming back saying max size would be around 10 folk.

Just looking into various possibilities as someone might have a better idea. The only flaw in my plan is that everyone else who drinks will have to cart loads of beer with them!

As for coke and hookers, not many of them dotted along the spey.

Molgrips, do you mean for your comment to come across as moronic as it does?

Must be horrendous for the poor lad.

Struggling through the day waiting for my new bike to arrive. Parcel status says “out for delivery”

Smoked mackerel fillets

Anyone know if a DHR II 2.4 WT Double Down in maxx terra is ever going to be made? That would make a great rear tyre.

Do a search for a Cannondale Prophet on Ebay. Similar to the 5 but fugly so therefore cheaper. They are great bikes.

Even without the giant hole that tyre is worn out and only fit for the bin.

I claimed for exactly this through my windscreen cover. It made no difference to my insurance premium the following few years.

Johndoh – yeah that is the next plan, I mentioned that too him and he was more than receptive to the idea.

This is something I haven’t discussed yet. I assume that is the price we pay unless there some issues that appear on they way such as when digging foundations if they come across a huge boulder and it takes them an extra week to dig it. Its a very simple 4×5 meter extension onto a 1970’s house with no structural work being carried out to the existing property, so I don’t for see too many unforeseen circumstances.
All the other quotes will be the same, so as they already start 10k more if we go with the cheaper guy we already have a 10k contingency.

http://www.stovesonline.co.uk/

This site has a quote form to fill in. I was just quoted £1100 for stove, flue and all accessories. This is for putting in a single storey extension with an internal flue up through the ceiling so probably a cheaper build to what you require.

Cheers folks will keep that in mind.

Aspect!!!
A nice garden in the shade is rubbish. You want somewhere that gets afternoon/evening sun in a good location in your garden.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/mobile/x-tools-pro-mechanic-wheel-truing-stand/rp-prod122322
I have this one, heavy solid lump and does the job well.

My Orbea Rallon will be up for sale by the end of the week if your interested. Just need to sort out photos and make sure its clean!

Haha, genius.
I was listening to the show last night and heard her read that out. I snorted at the time thinking what a load of bull. Then just read this.

Cheers folks, looks like the decent battery ones are a bit out my price range. Was hoping for less than £200 which seems unrealistic.

Cheers JimJam, any suggestions on a good one?

I have 11sp Ultegra and think the shifting and trimming is superb, much better than my previous 10speed 105. I doubt very much there is a difference between 105 and Ultegra 11speed though as in design they look very similar, just that the Ultegra is lighter. I would guess you have set it up badly.

The outer diameter of the tyre is roughly the same for a car model. So when you buy a bigger wheel the sidewall height of the tyre is reduced to maintain the similar diameter. This results in less cushioning as there is less tyre to absorb impacts.

Its not the kids that are stopping you riding bikes its the amount of time you are away for work. 12.5 hours a day is insane. How much of that is commuting? Can you move or change jobs, you need to work to live. When your kids get older you will never see them unless its the weekend as they will be in bed before you get home.
I don’t have kids but I leave the house at 7:30 and I am home for between 4:30 and 5:30 depending on when I finish and home for 1:30 on a Friday and I still feel that I don’t have enough free time. I would love to only work 4 days!

If you liked the Fiesta why not look at a top spec Mondeo? It will have all the mod cons you want and the boot is massive. We had 3 dogs and 4 adults in it quite comfortably. Should easy pic up a good one in your price range. Mine is the Titanium X Business edition which gets sat nav parking sensors etc and only £30 a year road tax for 163BHP diesel.

I had my 05 plate focus done recently with same engine I think. Was around £300. They did not need to replace water pump though as I believe they are not directly connected in my car anyway.