Bikepacking, beaches, exploring is the aim. Not singletrack so convinced that the Mukluk or Caribou are the way forward.

Both are way overpriced.

Yes probably, but show me a new bike that isn’t!

Thinking about Shand, I wish I hadn’t clicked this link…..

http://www.flickr.com/photos/shandcycles/

If I was to get a special keeper at that price (rather than something that will date and be sold on after a couple of years) then a custom built Shand would be the business.

British made custom and production steel road bikes & touring bikes – Shand Cycles

Stoater FT would be my choice – made just right for you. Should be in budget or very close to.

Have owned the neoprene Chameaus above for years. Getting a bit worn so replaced them at the start of this winter with Muckboot Muckmasters. IMO the Muckmasters are far superior – comfort, warmth, grip – everything. And about half the price.

As a student teacher who sat in a parent’s night last night it’s clear there is no real knowledge of the difference between the 2 although it is fair to say everyone wants their kids to be doing 5s rather than 4s. As well as the well put SQA confusion above, there is a feeling among teachers that Nat 4s are going to be impossible for potential employers/higher education unis/colleges to understand given how they can vary so much between school.

And we haven’t even mentioned National 3s.

I’ve been a year at University and taught in 2 schools and I’m just starting to get the hang of it. Not easy to explain to a concerned parent in less than 5 minutes….

Soundtrack to teenage years for me.

EDIT showing my age too!

First time on the Puffer for us – top weekend away. Already honing our plans for next year.

Another sore throat here – gulping down woodsmoke/diesel fumes/generator fumes while toiling up a climb has made me feel like I smoked 80 Marlboro red over the weekend!

Another round and round near Inverness here….tired.

As per others – chin up and best of luck.

Well spotted – have fired these on to some of my Outdoor Education colleagues. Great to see this kind of project expanding.

Yep – got one with some shoes yesterday – wait a mo…

Had an attempted break in at our lockup in Marchmont just before Xmas. Didn’t get in but new door required. I think we were lucky.

I can’t believe it’s taken me this long to buy winter boots

Me too – very excited about warm feet!

Mmmmm – reading about those Lakes – they look amazing. Can’t quite work out if they’re waterproof though – built for super cold sub zero but will they keep the rain out? I guess they do but anyone know for sure?

Thanks all – yes read your notes on the defrosters iainc – have mailed evans to check the ones they have in stock are the new ones and hopefully give them a try in their Edinburgh store. However everyone seems to agree they’re dry but cold which doesn’t really solve my problem – I was dry and cold with summer shoes and sealskins today!

Northwaves sounds like they’re worth a check too – hard to get a pair to try though. Maybe order some from CRC and take advantage of their free return if I don’t like what I see.

Didn’t think of Lake – will have a gander at those.

Ta.

I must say Northwind has put my own thoughts into words
much better than I’ve been able to so far. Agree 100%.

Just had some XT brakes delivered by RM. Scary stuff though.

Won a stage then got lost the following day – lost hours. Now blown engine. Shame as he was looking really good for a bit!

Yep agree it’s a TV highlight of the year along with TdF.

Found at the bottom of my fruitbowl (yeah I know)

Big thumbs up!

Taking the whole family to Velofest – booked a while ago and got a Black Friday deal. Per head it works out well. We can take the dog and kids’ bikes and adults’ bikes and enjoy the open air cinema and all the rest (fingers crossed for decent weather) and can stroll out of the tent Saturday morning, watch the Tour and walk back to the bar/tent for the rest of the day. Should be a great weekend. I suspect it will be rammed which will limit the appeal slightly but suspect weans will be in their element.

Prices? Given what people on here will burn buying the latest piece of gear I would say a couple of hundred quid for a once in a lifetime (slight exaggeration perhaps) experience is a bit of a bargain IMO.

my garaged bike

You keep your Lynskey in the garage? Parked mine in the kids’ playroom last night just in case….

PS was OK too.

Oh that http://earth.nullschool.net is very nice. Awesome.

Very happy with my Lynskey – ride it pretty hard and have never had an issue – but then again it is old school 26in. :wink:

Wow – I don’t think I can do ANYTHING that well.

Will do – fairly distinctive!

OP – that’s why our daughter goes to a Gaelic primary here. She speaks plenty of English at home with us (neither of us speak Gaelic). Naysayers say “but what use is speaking Gaelic – she’d be better learning Chinese”. I feel better 2 languages than 1, regardless of what the second one is IMO. Especially now she is fluent in 2 languages aged 6. And some kids in her class are on their 3rd or 4th language.

Gaelic may not be top of the list of 21st Century corporate recruitment shopping list, but learning another language is going to be a lot easier for her given she has 2 already.

10% off Sufferfest videos and training plans with code: SUFGIVING

FFS bought one 2 days ago! Grrr. Still I’ve had 2 days training in the bag by now.

Also http://www.velofest.co.uk. 20% off their Tour de France festival if you book today.

very good!

:lol: @ cloudnine!

Don’t understand? Five months ago plod comes to get bike – possibly stolen. They leave with a flea in their ear. Despite some chasing nothing at all happens for 5 months. Then all of a sudden you decide to hand the bike over to the cops? Why didn’t you keep it? Sounds like the cops in Halifax were as confused by this as I am – I presume I’m missing a vital part of this tale? :|

I wouldn’t argue with Bheki Spencer mind you. Hope she doesn’t send him to track you down 8O

J-dog lol – at what point is she going to realise she’s being strung along!?? :lol:

You are stringing her along right? :wink:

Awesome news. As someone with a Klein lying in the shed awaiting a restoration project, I’m glad that tale has had a happy ending.

We buy 5 tonnes (ish) from forestry commission every year. £105. Is usually unseasoned spruce (fine in a stove) in 3m lengths up to 75cm diameter logs so a fair amount of work and time needed to make it stove ready – transport, cutting, splitting and seasoning (which is part of the fun IMO) all need to be considered. By the time you’ve done all this work and laid it for a year to season, you’re very attached to it and almost scared to burn it!

Well that’s new to me – amazing.

dazzlingboy – do you run a bar light as well as the Diablo?

Yes a Troutie LL3. Seeing the pic above^^ – the Exposure light sits much closer to the helmet than that (a few mm) so not much room for adjustment.

Tempted by the Four4ths. What’s the deal with not using them with a white light? I understand it would be ideal not to, but presumably using one white one green is a good halfway house option?

I run a Diablo on my Feature and struggle – think I might go back to the old Xen helmet for night riding. The standard Exposure mount in the middle hole (top of your head) puts the light beam too high (for me) and the one nearer your forehead puts it too low (again for me) no matter how much fettling I do. Putting it on one of the side vents gets the best angle but even though the Diablo is light, it still unbalances the helmet unacceptably.

Would be interested to see gopro mount butchery to see if it works.