My wife was diagnosed with sleep apneoa over a year ago.
It started with a questionairre with questions like "do you fall asleep whilst you're a passenger in car?" which she answered yes. (Very subjective 'cos we were answering in the context of 12 hour trans-Europe drives, where she'd fall asleep whilst I'd happily drive the whole way).

This lead to a sleep study (monitor overnight)which revealed she was stopping breathing a few hundred times every night. This was a bit of a shock as it wasn't causing any sleep loss and I'd never noticed – but yes she was a snorer.

Once diagnosed, she got the CPAP immediately, which was fortunate because you are obliged to inform DVLA of the condition and you need to be able to say that you are receiving CPAP treatment or there's a strong possibility they'll say you cannot drive!!!

She was on the CPAP for about 8 months and to be honest lost more sleep as a result of its intrusion than she'd ever lost through sleep apneoa.
During this time she went on a diet and managed to lose a couple of stone. This had a dramatic effect and resulted in a follow-up sleep study revealing that she no longer had the condition. Machine returned. DVLA happy.

Bottom line / personal conclusions:
Whilst the condition never effected her ability to drive, the diagnosis felt like a slippery slope towards losing driving licence.
Weight loss worked.
CPAP machine was a nighmare.

I hope this little story inspires rather than alarms.
Good luck with it.

Kronplatz is worth a look

Ahhh Jimbo…. you've outed my secret place.
I guess its time to spill the beans and share something good.

Been going to Kronplatz with family for about the last 8 years. Brilliant place for families. No real "big ticket" scare yourself to death stuff but loads of wide & fast carving stuff (yet steep enought to get 60mph+ according to the GPS tracker we had!!). Lifts are all new and uplift capacity is fantastic so you don't queue much at all.
As a "solid intermediate", you might get a bit fed-up of doing the same runs but you can now connect by bus to the Sella-Ronda which is on the same Dolomiti Superski ticket. Its a nice easy scenic loop to do in day,

I've skied Steamboat a couple of years ago and liked that… Yes, I know there's no comparison really – but If you like the "feel" of that, then you might like Kronplatz/Dolomites.

Cheap flights to Venice Trevisso too but we usually go by car Hull-Rotterdam overnight ferry and then blast down to Munich and over the Brenner.

Also like just about anywhere in Austria but really can't afford to eat/drink with family in France and its no-where near as character filled so I'd always drive straight through it.

Hope that helps.

Ribble Valley riders club, with Gisburn as our 'home ground' anyone?

I may not be eligible for membership, living half a mile from the "Welcome to Ribble Valley" sign (Grimsargh) but there's a fair chance you'll see me up there. Look out for grey Mundane-o Estate and either a Black Commie 5.5 UK or a Blue Rockhopper.

Slight hijack…Where else local are the Ribble Valley contingent riding of an evening?

Hospital Inn at Bamber Bridge (only a pub but an extensive menu)

Burlingtons at Broughton (Bit posher and more expensive)

Hamadan at Longridge (good basic Indian with no licence so they encourage you to bring your own wine/beer)

Sharjan at Samlesbury (posher and more expensive indian)

Never mind eating, you need to get riding the area. Plenty to keep you busy.

Had a Passat 130 estate previously and got a Mundane-o 130 estate now.
Hard to choose a favourite between ’em to be honest.
Passat was a bit more fun to drive and slightly better economy but I got rid at 150k as it was starting to get expensive replacing various sensors. Also needs a pricey cam belt change and more expensive PD oil.
Mundane-o is hard not to like but a bit uninspiring. It is cheaper to look after (chain cam and normal oil).
I’ve taken both down to the Alps a couple of times in Winter and I’d say the Mundane-o was probably the better for driver comfort on the epic trecks.
Hope that helps.

Cheers Jonny, I’ll give that a try.

Well, I’ve been convinced and should have mine (UK spec) by this weekend.

What’s the general concensus about that Larsen TT on the rear? Is it worth giving it a try or just selling it “unused”? (Lakes/Dales/Peaks/ Trail centres…)

and where can you get something akin to a chainstay protector for the swing-arm?

Cheers

Forget it. This is last resort emergency stuff, the sort of thing you might carry to use if you’re out on a remote epic and need to stay warm when you’ve broken a limb.
If you’re going to bivvy by choice you need a goretex bag or similar, plus a carrymat and a sleeping bag (or just a liner if its warm enough).
Condensation is your biggest problem if you don’t go for a good breathable piece of kit.
You also want it to be big enough to stuff your gear into the foot of it to keep it dry.

sponsored by the “Yorkshire Air Ambulance”!

Oy! Get back over t’border. This is Lancashire.

Kitz_Chris – I blame a combination of Gröstl, Kaiserschmarrn & Weisbeer for the three stone of excess baggage that I’ve spent the last 12 months pedalling to remove!!!
Ah…Fond memories of sitting outside the Stallenalm at Steinplatte. (I only ever passed that way on skis or on foot – never on a bike – I intend to rectify that someday)

I’m thinking of getting a trip together for the tail end of the Summer, so I might be in-touch about bike hire and recommended routes a little later.
Cheers

The whole of Tirol is one big playground (both Summer or Winter). You can’t go far wrong.
Kitzbuhel is about the most expensive place to eat in the area though. And whilst we’re thinking food – Make sure you sample a Tiroler Gröstl in one of the huts (proper food).

I lived in Munich for a few years and for the first two years only ventured out to the hills in Winter. Biggest regret of my life!!! (well, maybe second biggest, after having to come back to UK)