That’s horrible, Bunnyhop – exactly the sort of person you’d want to avoid, even without a pandemic.

I thought of you and Mrs T last week, Ton, while riding the Eastern Moors route. That was a good ride!

They stew much better than apples, as pears are more fibrous, and don’t collapse into mush.
Cook them for 5 minutes, drain then freeze for winter crumbles.

There was a thread on Mumsnet recently. The seller was getting no interest from the first listing:
First Estate Agent

After following MN-ers advice on presenting the property better, she switched estate agents:
Second Estate Agent

The new photos seem to have done the trick, and she’s now had several viewers.

Wow, what an interesting house!

I’ve no idea about estate agents, except to say you definitely need a better one. The photos are rubbish, some from funny angles and several out of focus.

And there’s the “legendary” Grindleford Station Cafe . . .
(I remember them telling a little boy that, unless he ate up his bacon butty first, he couldn’t have any pudding)

Would she use one for YOUR benefit? To give you peace of mind?

Will the NHS even pay for root canal treatment on a molar these days?

My NHS dentist said not, and referred me to a private dentist for this, although she finished it off with an NHS crown.

The current price (according to their website) is £687 – so you are getting a bargain (I hope!).

I let a couple of mates ride my Specialized Fatgirl (Hellga) last year. One immediately ordered her own fatty, and the other immediately booked a fatbike week in Finland. Says it all, really!

Damascus, that sounds like the “self steering” phenomenon, which occurs if your tyre pressure is slightly too low.

(Double post)

I wouldn’t bother taking any sort of bike (except maybe a fatty). There are so many lovely beaches and walks to keep you occupied for a week.

And you must take a boat trip out to the Bitches!

Check out Nordic Walking – it’ll provide good exercise whilst avoiding too much stress on your knees.
For example:  Kneesafe – Nordic Walking

The Eastern Moors Tour is perfect for a beginner, with spectacular countryside.
Free download here

I usually extend it with a loop around Burbage Moor, as follows:
Bridleway out from the Fox House Inn
Turn left across the top of Lady Cannings
Turn left for a mile of tarmac
Turn left to return down the new bridleway below Burbage Rocks

That’ll give you 30km with no hike-a-bike.

I don’t understand why the sugar tax is even applied to squash. No-one drinks it neat, do they?

If you dilute blackcurrant squash 1 part squash to 4 parts water (as recommended), that gives 4.8g per 100ml – below the lower threshold of 5g. So why the tax?

Too late to order one of these: Butt Crack Jersey
but maybe you could take a pair of scissors to an old jersey and pretend?

Thanks, Tom – that’s very useful.

No-one?
Or is it “local trails for local people”?  ;-)

Update from Cycling UK:

King Alfred’s Way coming soon
We know a lot of you are keen to get out and ride King Alfred’s Way, a new 350km circular trail around historic Wessex. Unfortunately the coronavirus lockdown delayed things a bit, but we’ve now been able to fully test-ride the route and are finalising the route guide, to launch in late August with full maps and gpx files. If you want to be the first to get your hands on a copy of the guidebook, which delves into the rich history and archaeology along the route and includes the full route on 1:50 000 Ordnance Survey maps, it will be available to pre-order soon so keep an eye out for an email alert.

(Wonders if Jobro was one of the riders?)

Tick tweezers

This is the best I’ve managed to find so far: King Alfreds Way – not very helpful, but I guess work has been delayed by  . . . you-know-what . . .

In the meantime, this recent STW thread might be of interest: Salisbury to Devon offroad

The Charlton Arms still looks good, although it’s ten years since I last ate there.
But I’m not sure children would enjoy the menu, it seems a bit fancy these days.

Cycling UK were planning to launch King Alfreds Way sometime this summer.

Not quite Wales . . . but have you thought about the Long Mynd in Shropshire?
Saves wasting your free time driving around the Welsh countryside!

I wouldn’t want to suggest specific brands or tops . . . but Bike24 and BikeInn have a huge selection.

Starting in that immediate area? Or could you drive a short way, for example to Langsett to ride Cutgate?

There’s a photo on the “Friends of High Borrans” FB page, with the comment:
Did you know that our garage block was built in 1923 (during the Depression) by Liverpool dock workers to house the Holt family’s Rolls Royce?

Is it on Streetview?

Alternatively, you need a better backpack. Try one with a “mesh trampoline”, which holds the pack itself away from your body.

Top tip:
Buy 20-30 identical pairs, then you don’t need to match them up.
Or worry about losing an odd sock :-)

Pressed the FB Like button!

The Bronte Way links these places . . . and Strava Heatmap suggests it does get ridden . . . but I’ve no idea how “rideable” it might be.

The Snowdrop Cafe at Grasslands Nursery near Knutsford (WA16 9QY) is certainly open at weekends, but I’m not sure about weekdays.

The TRAILFORKS website is brilliant for the Quantocks.
Someone has put a lot of effort into it, so thank you!

(Pity I’ve had to cancel this month’s trip to Holford :-(  )

There’s no best – they are ALL lovely.

I was also going to suggest Marsden, up and back down the Wessenden Valley, past a series of reservoirs. Plus a bit of canal if you have the time.

I tried to use Gift Your Gear last year, but they only accept kit in September and March.
Alpkit have an all-year-round scheme, I think.
Continuum Project

That’s a very kind thought.  I recently passed on a load of kit to a women’s cycling project in Wigan.  Whereabouts are you based?

” . . . please feel free to check me if I get it wrong again”
Okay, but can we also tell you when you get it right?
Because that’s an excellent, well thought-out response!

If only you’d been wearing a helmet-mounted camera . . .

This is quite an interesting article:
Womens Specific Design Bikes – Pointless or Innovative?

Basically, it claims there are three approaches:
~ Completely different bikes, inc frames (shorter TT, etc) eg Liv
~ Same frames, different contact points eg Juliana, Trek, Specialized
~ Exactly the same, but in smaller sizes eg Pivot

I’ve never really understood why manufacturers don’t routinely fit smaller components on their smaller bikes (such as shorter cranks, narrower bars). So I was pleased to see the new Rockhopper has 29″ wheels on the larger bikes, but 27.5″ on the smaller frames.