Sorry, whilst I respect the love, a diesel is missing the point.
Just buy any smaller car with a petrol engine and it will be more fun than any diesel. Outright speed is not the issue, one of the cars I drive is a boggo Panda and I even love driving that.

I did it in a day a couple of times in my twenties, then on my 30th birthday and on my 40th.
It is my 50th in July and I will (hopefully) do it again in a day. Just started ‘training’ which means less time messing about in the woods and going on some bigger ‘proper’ rides. My problem will not be fitness (I think) but arthritis starting in my hands and a buggered neck that makes long rides tricky. However at the moment I don’t have a sensible bike and so might by a full suss 29er and then sell it on when I have done it.
I always have a pint at Devil’s Dyke and another in Alfriston. I also take on some peanuts for salt and protein just to keep me healthy.
When I started doing it bikes were pretty bumpy and I have done it on a rigid bike but my hands were wrecked, couldn’t feel most of my fingers. It is that aspect that I recall as the worst I think.

I don’t often feel the need to comment but someone has charged you £2 for wasting their time and you feel the need to start a thread about it? Show your anger and boycott them.

Update
I bought an MWC and it was fine, light, small, comfy and doesn’t get in the way or rattle on your wrist etc, seemed ideal.
Had it for a couple of weeks and been on a weeks trip riding in Wales and then after washing a bike down I noticed it was full of water. Contacted MWC and explained and said that I had done nothing more than wash a bike with a hose and wear it in the shower, not even been swimming in it. Have been advised that they can’t do anything because I have worn it in the shower and they referred me to the small print on the web site.
So amongst all their advertising with the macho go anywhere posturing should be the strap line ‘not to be worn in a shower’.
I wonder how many they would sell then?
For sale, tough watch (apparently), very nearly new but of no use to man nor beast.
Disgruntled Eddie

Thanks for all the tips. Will probably be an MWC at £50.

Great thanks. I will sort it out next week, why is Singletrack better than the general Internet?

Good steer thanks. Seiko seem to tick the boxes but the snda 57 looks a bit big but absolutely the right idea. Thought about fixing my current watch but it would be the 4th time in 18 months.

Add my name to the list of all those saying thanks. Build some nice trails in some lovely woods and then show some strangers around with a good loop throwing in some nice downhill runs and add some timing to make you try a bit harder than normal. Great evening, thank you all for your efforts.
Apparently, not so Fast Eddie.

Catsplums
I have now been driving it for a week or so. However the whole time the weather and roads have been awful. i have found it difficult so far. I don’t want to be a tit and stick it through a hedge in the first month but it is faster than I thought it was going to be. 90 in third wherever you want. I haven’t managed to build any trust with it yet, i don’t feel as if I can lean on it in corners and it wanders a bit at high speed. I know they are susceptible to geometry and so i am having it looked at by TGM in Fleet in Hampshire. The combination of useability and scarieness seems ideal to me and so i would hope to keep it but need to be reassured by the handling when really going a bit too fast than is sensible.
Other cars seem to have telegraphed things a bit more. I know that this is me not being that good and someone who is handy would get the limits much more quickly than me. I know that for slow learners like me it will be fine in the long run. just need to be comforted that everything is pointing in the right direction.
Eddie

I have now bought the s2000. i have driven it for a couple of days on cold damp roads. It is much noisier and bumpier than the Alfa!
On going through the service history I saw that there was K&N filter acquired in 2012 and so this morning I took the air box lid off. What huge fun!
Really, for something so sensible looking it is hilarious. At town speeds it is a church mouse and then as soon as you get any space the noise is unlike anything I have ever experienced and really loud. no wonder the stereo is supposed to be crap and there is no point in thinking about an exhaust because the induction is all consuming.
A bit ‘new bike syndrome’ at the moment but the weather has controlled my exuberance but when pushed I felt it start to move around a bit where I know some corners with some space but didn’t end up in a hedge. However I fully accept that when cornering and deep into VTEC you need to be wary. The gearing is fantastic. Everything is a gear down on previous cars because of the engine range, all of a sudden there are loads of 2nd gear corners!! The gear change is as everyone says and it seems I can barely go a 100yds without going up and down the box. To have a car that is 240 bhp and 6 gears and top gear is less than 20mph per 1000 rpm is great. We have a brand new Fiat Panda with a sewing machine for an engine that has taller gearing!
If I survive the experience I might calm down.
Faster Eddie
(I have just re read this post before sending, I am 47 for goodness sake!)

Titusrider, assuming you are not joking it is an 07 with 47,000 miles and the 2.2 JTS engine. Right colour and right wheels and very nice inside. Just about to get it serviced again by local Alfa Specialist Monza Sport and put it on ebay for a couple of weekends time and would hope to get a bit over £7000 but not really good at judging these things. Loads of them seem to be in the 8s and 9s and on the face of it are no better than mine. My one real downside is that I only have one key! Who knows.
Fantombiker – for me the change and induction roar as you go through 5800 is half the fun it seems. below then it ‘only’ has 150bhp which is perfectly enough to make normal progress and keep up with traffic. I imagine getting into a rhythm on a decent road and keeping the engine on the boil may take some concentration and practice but we shall see. You may be right, you have lived with a VTEC after all and the internet is full of all sorts of mods and so we shall see.

By way of an update, someone I know locally has one and let me borrow it a couple of days ago. It was much stiffer and more mechanical feeling than I was expecting and so much more my sort of thing than I was expecting. Pedals nicely placed with a nice flat brake pedal for heeling and toeing. Yes you could criticise the steering but I was in someone else’s car on a wet day and so cannot pretend that I did anything other than point and squirt and the engine and gearbox are quite a combination. Without further ado, I have bought one. An 06 with 46,000 miles. Full history etc etc but just been vandalised, badly keyed and roof slashed and so one side has been resprayed and the roof renewed.
No doubt why it was good value, but I am not that bothered because it seemed to drive OK as far as i could tell. We will see.
Anyone fancy a red Alfa Spider?

Agree the Elise would probably be perfect but does not really fit in with the desire to be a bit understated.
Thanks Sammy C, yes it is clear that you liked it but robdob, legolam and jimjam add fuel to the twitchy reputation. Will just have to be careful I guess. I have arranged to drive a couple of seemingly reasonable ones locally.
Edukator, you are right and I am guilty as charged. The only one where you are wrong is that I didn’t park it on the pavement, that was just dropping off the forecourt. My wife chose the Alfa but now hates parking it and feels self conscious driving it and so does so rarely which hardly seems fair and which is one of the main reasons for considering a change.

I like the idea of working for the manic power delivery and so that is not really an issue, assuming the throttle response and gearbox is as good as it has always been reported to have been. With regard to Toppers, I think that 240bhp in 1200 kgs is enough for me when i am driving to work, your friends facebook page looks amazing and I will study in depth in due course – cheers for the wallet wilting link..
i will test drive a couple and knowing my impulsiveness will probably buy something and will report back.
I feel the need to buy and enjoy a few cars before it all goes, automatic, electric and lane changing.

Thanks for your comments. I expected a sports car thread to get lots of haters on here. I think that it is the under the radar element that appeals to me with the s2000 as Mr F.Ox states. I test drove the first Integra Type R back in 97. It was the noisiest, most uncomfortable new car I had ever driven but the engine, lumpy suspension ( I remember it crashing off the curb as I got in to drive it where it was parked on the pavement) and grainy steering but I loved it and it was a perception changing experience. I took my wife to see one before putting down the deposit and she took one look at the red seats, white wheels, tea tray spoiler and reminded me that we had two children at the time and to f off and grow up. I bought a 306 GTI instead that actually turned out to be an understated B road blaster with still one of the most exploitable chassis that I can remember.
I have to advise that I have my red wine, rose tinted glasses on as I type.

I used to be a petrolhead and did lots of track days etc 25 yrs ago before they were popular and expensive. I have had lots of quickish cars where money and family allowed but fell in and out of love with it and my mid life crisis was downhilling as opposed to cars. We recently bought a brand new Fiat Panda for my children to learn to drive on. I adore it, lift off oversteer and I can drive it as fast as I can as opposed to how fast I dare. On the strength of it I have ordered a Caterham 160 (had a quick 7 type car a while back but test drove the 160). I understand that huge speed is huge fun but so rare in the rare day to day world, the 160 will be my everyday driver, but have a big car and a small car for practical duties.
This headlong march towards 300bhp hatchbacks seems pointless, boring cars that are too fast unless you live in the most deserted bits of Scotland. The noise and feeling of speed is what counts as far as fun is concerned. I appreciate that i am now getting old and have probably missed the point. I rarely have to press on (and when I do, a big diesel seems to suffice at a practical level), just like enjoying myself when the opportunity arises.
The car threads are always the same on STW and i don’t really know why I joined in.

It just is, if you need telling then don’t bother.

I currently have an Alfa Spider as my work car and I am about to order a Caterham to replace it and so an MX5 seems like a reasonable option. Do it, life’s too short and sensible is rarely the enjoyable or memorable option.

Northwind, should have read your post more thoroughly. I thought you were implying functional/warranty issues. Short travel but slack fun bike with a big fork appealed but few around then. Looked at Blur 4X but not a big fork option from memory. I wanted a low bike, not a long one, I still like short stays and I’m a short arse.
I thought at the time it would be a sales disaster, heavy with limited travel and so no showroom/internet appeal. Agree when they tried to lighten it up they had missed the point.
Lots more choice around now for ‘fun’ bikes.

Northwind, what were the genuine issues with the Blood? Not being argumentative, just interested. I bought a Blood because at the time (5 years ago) it was ahead of the game, low and slack without loads of travel but with a bit of rear bounce to save my ankles and feet. Still have it and in fact this evening have stripped to have the bearings changed and the frame re sprayed back at the factory (apple green because I never see many green bikes). Not an Orange fanboy but did have a 224 before I smashed myself to pieces and do have a lot of bikes but for me (at the moment at least) the Blood is a keeper.

I must have missed the point. If you are servicing jockey wheels then you have to split the cage to get them out which means you don’t have to split the chain.

I completely don’t understand the appeal of cars like this. Very good at covering distance and smothering all sensation. Seem ideal for people who need to cover big distances which the sub 20mpg nullifies. For children like me who like to get thrown about they miss the point.
However I appreciate we are all different. If it works out you will have amazingly refined motoring at a bargain price. If it goes wrong, it will cost you a fortune and you will reminisce (bitter sweet) over a beer in a few years time as I have done over stupid heart lead purchases over the years. If you like it, do it and luxuriate in the splendour. Or buy a nearly new Yaris. Life is too short. If you are above the bread line, sensible is rarely the happy solution.

I would love to have a go on a fatbike for an afternoon but suspect that I don’t need to own one. I like Steve Jones and Dirt and have subscribed for years but will probably stop soon. I ride and enjoy bikes now more than ever but have found i like reading about them less than I did as areas of progress seem less relevant to me. I seem to be turning more towards books these days!
Maybe my prime riding days are now behind me and subconsciously I am settling for ‘my’ era and admitting that I am not going to progress anymore.
How philosophical/drunk/insightful of me.

Generally Cotics are lovely but that black and red one is horrible. Sorry for being such a grumpy old man

I have two and both are fine. One is two and a half years old and the other about six months old. Importers Upgrade are just down the but haven’t had to bother them. Never serviced them but do keep them clean and wipe fork oil on the stanchion periodically. Had a problem with one not returning but read the manual and changed air pressure and all good since. Not all bad but you have had a grim experience and would have put me off.

Thanks, that was quality. The change in the sound of the crowd as they realise that the crash is going to hurt.

I only saw the last 20 or so riders but realised it was delayed. What is the story behind the stolen bike and a knockout – sounds too good to be true.
Well done Brits, UK having a fantastic season.

Enlightening thread. Not one for tattoos myself but accept that some look good but some a bit less so.
Still I have found out about an ‘apparently’ unpleasant woman called Katie Hopkins (thanks Wiki) but most importantly a ‘clowder of cats’.
For a relatively neutral and only occasional Singletrack visitor it has been an amazingly furious debate about something not that important. Do it if you want to, don’t if you don’t.

Not working

Another Blood owner here too. Amazed they stop making them. Rook and Bolt look fantastic value now however. Whatever you end up with it is bound to be huge fun.

Had a 100hp for 5 years and 55,000 miles.
Great car and very reliable. It was only when I sold it that I realised how much suspension and tyres I had bought. Noisy and bumpy but absolutely brilliant. Most cars are so efficient and dull. Would have kept it but children driving now means we have a new slow panda for parking, insuring and learning and something more interesting for me.
Do it, you can’t lose

Cheers for the steer

I am not interested in electronics or ABS, feels unreliable and I wont be able to fix it.
Bikes have improved so much in all aspects but despite 1 Xs and thick and thin chain rings and clutch mechs (al good) I still think that the drivetrain is still the weak link. I want hub gears or internal gearboxes and belt drives with bottom bracket pivot points.

I went to Tony last year or the year before- I forget. I am a reasonably experienced and competent (and now old) rider but wanted some help with one aspect in particular, especially how to think about it rationally and what I learnt was very very useful and not something that I had picked up in 20 years riding. very glad I went and think of the day often when the circumstances crop up. The rest of it was ok of course but very glad I went and may go again with a friend who is keen to try.

Agree about clutch mechs by the way and yet to try a thick and thin chain ring.
Having been out tonight it was filthy and mud all over chain and derailleur and noted not many gearboxes at show or hub gears which I think would be a way forward in the long run and then see the Pinion gearbox on the front of Singletrack.

I still love riding and ride most days. Very happy that bikes have improved and enable us to ride more things. It is the industry that no longer interests me and it is probably as stated that they have sorted things and so now improvements are marginal and would make little real difference to me. Hence the 650B revolution to try and tempt people back in I suppose. Something will come along that we have not thought of yet that will become a must have and change things I am sure but with lightweight stiff frames and sorted angles it is difficult to see major improvements.

You mention niche brands and if there had been lots of niche brands it might have been more interesting. Few really big brands there and not enough niche (but thanks Surly, Niner and Singular) probably just not enough bikes. Seemed mainly to be food and energy gels. Best bit was a load of Niner carbon forks in a row hung up on strings. Someone stumbled and hit a pair and it then sounded like an expensive set of chimes.
I am probably just old and grumpy.

It wasn’t so much the show, although previously we met Steve Peat and then the Athertons (although these might have been different shows) it was just that I am no longer interested. I have been for twenty years and suddenly it is like a switch. I suscribe to Dirt and Singletrack but find that I am not reading them cover to cover and have been thinking about cancelling. I thought that this might be the internet but on reflection it is more the nature of the industry itself.

I ride solo at night in the winter about four times a week. As Badlywiredog says, why would the axe wielding murderer be after you?
I am out walking two dogs normallly and one of them is a huge deerhoud and he is a comfort (scary but useless). You get used to it and riding with no lights and moonshadow is really worth it.
Hello Doug, we were talking about you last night and when we were coming out to Spain again. Decided on another year in Wales, we are so dull!
Maybe next year!

Agree with above
Well done Trail Collective. Had a really good day, however practicing all four stages and then all four race runs has left me very tired now. Superbly organised and really friendly event set in lovely woods. Thanks to everyone.