Inflate the shock to near max pressure and drop the rear wheel again. If the noise has gone, it’s the shock. I’ve came across this on a bike with the same shock – the owner couldn’t be done with investigating/fixing the shock and simply replaced it.

800 year old Wych Elm in Beauly, likely the oldest in Europe, removed after it succumbed to Dutch elm disease last month. So much history in trees!

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/crgrr06v1j4o

It’ll only get worse as he grows taller!

He is essentially learning the attack/ready/standing up riding position and all that comes with it, so definitely a bonus.

For me, it’s about predicting when the wee one will stand up and getting out the way. I did try moving the mac ride forward but it only really put her in an awkward shape.

Was all fine at the end of March when I was last there.

What flies in the air and wobbles?

A jellycopter.

Too right you can! If I wanted to, I could sleep in it.

I’ve an ex-forestry Nemo but secretly wanted a Bipper as it’s a funny name.

I’m a MTB guide/instructor and there’s something very satisfying about being one of very few in the industry without a monstrous van. And it’s like a go-kart to drive too. Had a bit of a mishap with the driver’s door bumper panel today though.

I have one from the 70s and absolutely love it. More comfortable than a tent but still retains that camping feel that a caravan doesn’t have.

There’s only 3 of us though, with 5 I’d be looking for a sizeable tent(s) or caravan.

Thanks for the suggestions everyone. We’re in a rental so won’t be us taking the bill for a call-out but a DIY fix is much quicker.

Overnight, I had turned all the warm rads off at the TRV and wound the lock shield valves all the way in. Now all the rads are stone cold haha!

Cheers dyna-ti, I know little also!

The pump isn’t indicating a fault so I’ll either have to get someone out or kick it and swear at it until it behaves.

You could try app twin? My phone has dual sim so lets me install 2 versions of messenger and whatsapp.

Never knew that feature existed, thanks! That’ll save me from having to switch accounts.

With that set up, playing around with sending my business messages through the messenger pop up on my website, some ping up and some don’t. I’ve delved deeper into notifications and battery settings but can’t come to a conclusion as to why some ping and some don’t. No genuine customer messages have made noises or given any sort of notification today either.

It does make me wonder what impact I’m having on my business’ FB stats getting dozens of messages in such a short space of time. And then deleting them!

Seriously, if it weren’t for running my own business I wouldn’t go anywhere near FB!

I never knew I could get them on messenger TJ, thanks!

Testing it seems to work but only when I’ve got messenger switched to the business page account. If I then use it as my personal profile it reverts back to that and won’t ping for work messages. As in, it looks like it’ll only ping up for the account it’s switched to and no others.

As both a scouter with Terrain 2 permit and active BC Level 3 leader (I’m very fortunate to say it’s my job), give me a shout if you want a blether.

You don’t need an external qualification to be a great MTB leader. No course will teach you great MTB leadership, only experience will do that. Consider getting a scout MTB permit and using that cash to buy in an experienced guide to learn from. BC’s leadership awards are industry-standard qualifications, if your MTB leadership isn’t going to earn you pennies, I’d be thinking about the need for it.

And, don’t worry, big crashes happen to even the most experienced leaders. It’s our job to balance risk and reward but, whether we like it or not, stuff happens! If you’ve been a scout leader for a while, you’ll have developed a style of leadership and ability to predict what the kids will do next. You just need to adapt that to a MTB setting.

Came through to me via OWL Scotland this afternoon. I’ve put it out to the North Highland group members (I do the group admin). Cheers

@alan1977 Any luck with the Hope pedal socket to remove the lowers?

Whilst it can vary upon provider, the emphasis is on superb leadership. You’ll be qualified to lead in remote terrain so your decision making and emergency preparedness must be top notch. It’s not a coaching qualification so your riding skills/fitness don’t need to be out of this world/super-human. In fact, when I did my L3 assessment, a very, very talented rider/racer didn’t pass as they simply weren’t a great leader. Those with less technical ability/confidence but great leadership did pass. Ultimately leadership comes with experience leading at L2 and shadowing a L3 leader in genuine L3 terrain – it’s not something that can be taught.

The L3 assessment involves guiding pretend clients as well as other candidates; if you can get onto an assessment as a pretend client you’ll get a great insight into the assessment – and get to ride the assessment route too which can help with the navigation aspect. You’ll also need to go on a road trip as you’ll need logged rides from more than 1 country (it can still be UK though).

You’ll gain a huge amount from it, but (like most other qualifications) nowhere near as much as you will from using it once you’ve got it.

I’ve been guiding for 6 years now and in my third year of doing it full time so feel free to ask anything specific.

Crazy talk, my Berlingo still has a cassette player in it!

Nukeproof Top Cup ZS49-28.6 – was then the Warhead, now the Horizon it seems.

That’s the one I used to change from the stock straight 1.5 rigid fork to a tapered bouncy fork. Good bit of kit.

And if kids are ever involved, sweeties. It’s the most used item in my “first aid kit” by far!
Also decide where to draw the line on what you carry. It’s easy to get carried away and fill an entire backpack with bandages in all shapes and sizes. My work kit is huge but what I take on a personal ride is vastly different.

You’re best putting together your own, tailored to what you need it for. A lot of prepacked kits have redundant items you’ll never use but simply add to the weight and bulk of the kit.

Get yourself a wee dry bag, have a look at what’s in most prepacked kits and build your own. You can get most of it in the supermarkets but for everything else I use https://medtree.co.uk/

Also think what you already carry as bike spares. An inner tube can be used as an arm sling for example.

The Cylinder does have a roomier toe box compared to the Terraduro (I currently have both) and previously owned Shimano shoes but I actually quite like it. I also do up the BOA a fair bit but wouldn’t do a size down.

I can’t say I’d buy another pair of the Cylinders though. The sole unit deteriorated after just a few months and the uppers started wearing through after around 6 months. I will add that I ride my bike for a living most days of the year so I do go through shoes quicker than usual.

Thanks, been waiting on finding the Hoolie at a decent price. Done better than that, got a phenomenal price!

Thanks everyone. At this rate I’ll continue producing when restrictions are lifted. Most of my work is with schools & kids. I suspect summer holidays are going to be cancelled or reduced so who knows when I can have my high season. This could just keep the leccy going!

I’ll be in touch with you all after this has passed.

Thanks Matt. Even better, I can pick them up from you. My folks aren’t too far away from you and they’re due a visit when this has blown over. And I might even get to spend some time in the Ochils again, reliving old memories!

Seriously, a big thanks to all of you for your support. But, I can’t be asking you to go out to the post office on my behalf. We should all be staying at home. Maybe when this is all over you could still send me some parts and I’ll send you them back as something else :)

Thanks TJ and to everyone for their replies – it hasn’t gone unnoticed.

What’s the time Mr Wolf? The first batch:

Pinnacles look good. How do they size up? She’s right in between the M and L; previously had M bikes but she feels they’re too cramped so determined to get a L but no L left on Evans.

Haha! More like it’s been tidied away by the other half, probably into that big green storage box that lives outside and gets emptied every fortnight.

Timmy – you’re a gent, PM on the way!

The Chariot is spendy but it’s by far the best baby purchase I’ve made.
My justification was that I’d be buying both an off road buggy and a bike trailer for when she’s a bit older. Makes sense to combine the two and start using it straight away. Just don’t look at the price of the newborn insert/hammock though…
Already planning our first family bike tour!

Aye, that’s what it’s more commonly known as! :)

Stayed as part of a camping bike touring trip so can’t comment on other stuff to do. I’m a big fan of theme parks so loved the rides and tiki pool but the campsite part was pretty dire. Rock solid grassless pitches and manky toilets. Plus far too many “Brits” smashed out their face or passed out next to their tents…

When I went campers got free access to the theme park with their campsite fee which was less than a park entrance fee.

You should go!

Initially I was going to opt for a Mountain Buggy and a trailer but then it all clicked in my head that the Chariot makes a great buggy anyway. Saved some dosh and, more importantly, space and just got the trailer.

After creating a thread on this subject a wee bit ago I got the Chariot Cross. It’s great and, in my view, worth every penny. Haven’t used it as a trailer yet as the wee one’s still very wee but as buggy it’s very capable. We live out in the sticks and it copes well off road.

I did put a pair of 20″ Conti Explorers on it just for giggles and have a pair of Schwalbe Marathons for when it gets used as a trailer.

Thanks for all your comments.

What’s everyone’s experience with 4 vs 3 wheelers? The 4 wheelers look like they have smaller front wheels than the 3 wheelers. For where we live, larger wheels would be beneficial (yes, I do have a 29er). The three wheeled town pram we have is quite difficult to manoeuvre so maybe the 4 is easier?

(do any others have suspension??).

Crikey aye! Burley, Hamax and Croozers trailers have some sort of suspension. Croozer’s is an elastomer based suspension system while others are leaf or coil sprung. Can’t seem to find any reviews making a distinction between their effectiveness.

We have been given a decent offroad type buggy but it’s not got a lie flat seat and I can’t even find anything out about it online never mind get an infant sling for it. So I’d be reluctant to get a buggy that we’d only need for a short while.

Oh, I’m not insistent on buying new! The only thing we’ve bought new is the Juno carrier – and that was long before baby made her debut! And the car seat actually.

We’re up near Inverness if anyone has something I can see in the flesh or test out.

Aye, wasn’t going to use it as a bike trailer till 6 months or so.

What made you settle on the Thule  Chariot other brands and models?

So any plumbers who have other work lined up will not want to “waste” their time coming to quote

Aye, I appreciate this. Unfortunately the office doesn’t, they insist on at least 3 quotes and then have a moan when we receive an invoice for the time spent trying to pluck a quote out of the air. I’ve tried throwing H&S implications at them in order to just get on with it but no luck.

Surprised to hear you can’t get Bonita on the phone. Every time I’ve phoned her I can’t get off the phone, she’s that nice! I had a faulty battery pack that was replaced with another faulty battery pack. She was so apologetic she upgraded the light & battery FOC. I’d recommend them. And aye, I sent the faulty ones back.

We did have a plumber out who established it’s not a pressure issue (pressure at mains was tested) so it’s either a partially closed valve somewhere in the system or a blockage. We do get a lot of biofilm so my guess is that there’s a really clarty pipe somewhere. It’s not a particularly large premises but fairly old so the system might not be the simplest.

As you might suspect, the office wants several quotes before deciding who to go with. Typical.