Shaft drive.
There I said it.

Benefits:
No stretching, probably impossible to break a shaft, gearing to a hub gear, possible to 'boot' the gear at the back to stop ingress, can be put on a full-sus with variable telescopic shaft, no big rings up front to crash on rocks, 2wd possible!

Downside:
bent shaft = broken bike, probably weighs a ton (though carbon shafts anyone?).

Now this I think is a nice bike:

I found Ms Right.

I just didn't realise that her first name was "Always"

@ BoardinBob, does it count if someone else shoots you? I've had that…

Some I wouldn't put on here.

1. Drive over 200mph
2. Whistler (on a bike of course).
3. Amazon trip
4. Take the kids around Europe (we're in Aus).
5. Crack and cook an egg (never done this, actually my plan is to carry the fact I've not done this to my deathbed).
6. Own a ferrari (and not on a PS3).
7. Loads more…*

In fact, looking at it, I can do 1, 4 & 6 in one hit. Marvellous.

AndyC

* One of the biggest insults I've ever had (that didn't involve my mother and a goat) was being told that if I won the lottery I'd still go to work as it was all I knew – how little that person knew me.

Back to the bet earlier in this thread.
I'm interested, what's the veggie dish that's going to stop me having a bacon sandwich or a lovely venison steak???

Cheers all.
A few days of vista whilst waiting for upgrade to appear and to be honest it's fine. I think I'll keep 7 for the point in the future that all operating systems end up in – bloatware.

I use clippers on my head (grade2) then flick off the grade doobry thing off and clip my face.
I get the old man / homeless stubble look for that, with the enhanced grey stubble too.

The inserts make great oil rags etc.

We invested an arm and a leg on reusable nappies, and whilst they're good for the occasional post poo nappie before bed we've stopped using them as the little darlings prefer to drop into cloth than a disposable. And frankly scraping cr@p off nappies when you're knackered just isn't on.

So, maybe get a few, but don't expect to be 100% enviro, there's enough hard work out there being a parent without making more of it…

Doh – and a large frame.

6Ft. The Shop wanted me to have a 110mm stem (think stalk). I went with a 90 and it fits perfectly.
EA70 finishing kit for bars seat post etc.
You want to be able to get off the back of the bike proper like as you'll be descending at speed!

Guess the well known phrase or saying…

I prefer to believe what I see than to see what I believe.

Though I do worry about 'religious zealots' trashing the world as they use religion as a vehicle to move the impressionable masses. Poor sods.

Whilst I can see the attraction to some of paid up club membership, I'm with Hora & PP.

I go riding cos I enjoy it. I don't want to be part of someone else's decision, I ride cos I like to, where I want to.

But then I've never enjoyed clubs and commitment to some nonsense about meeting on Thursdays and hosting whatever etc etc.

I've never cooked an egg, in any way.

I do enjoy boiled/fried/poached etc. But I've never cooked an egg.
Never cracked one either.

I think I'm in the minority in that I really like my 5th.

I've got a coil 5th on an 03 Heckler (ancient now) it's ace. Before coming over Aus I got it TF tuned and put a stiffer coil on it (I'm 100Kg).

I love it. It's plush, easy to ride with and coupled with my 03 Bomber ETA forks makes a fantastic all day bike – uphill it rides like a rigid, down some pretty scary descents it's 5" all round and a really competent bit of kit.

Really I can't fault it – the shock that is.

However, I've heard a few times the all air version was shiat.

+1 for Jujuuk68

Regarding the conversation…
You'd have been better of lying and saying you were your wife.

On my complaining that I was shovelling sh1t (Before getting a career), working on the farm – he was no helping:
"Don't have a dog and bark yourself"

On my proclaiming that I was the most important person at work (basically):
"The Graveyard is full of indispensable people"

My Gran when I was a teenager and getting very drunk (often) and getting a lot of stick from the family:
"When I get drunk, I hold onto the side of the bed so when the room spins I don't fall out" – twas ace, someone admitting that I wasn't the only person to ever get drunk.

My Step brother on (litteraly) rough GF's:
"you don't look at the mantle peice when you're poking the fire"

Me – As a Dad…
"You're nothing more than the sum of your experiences"

Regularly wear mine in Aus (Sunshine Coast). They go over a t-shirt and shorts a treat when it's hammering down and I have to pop out to do a water maintenance job before we get flooded*

AndyC

* It rains more in SE Queensland than the Cotswolds**
** Except in the past few months – hasn't rained at all.

I'm amazed no-one's mentioned Robert Asprin.
He's done the myth series – apprentice wizard etc (no, better than that cr@p by rowling in my opinon).
And the Phule series, which if can get hold of is excellent.

Stainless Steel Rat is indeed good. It's by Harry Harrison, who also did Bill the Galatic Hero series and "make room make room" which IIRC was made into Soylent Green. He's an easy reading author for sure.

Currently enjoying (and by no means like Pratchett) Timothy Zahn. He did the Cobra series, the black collar series and then a load of other stuff. I've ready something like 20 of his books now (ebooks are great) and every one has been a good read. Not sure I can say that about any other author I've read, even Asimov.

Deefer.

Deefer Dog.

Easy innit.

If it's black and white then Orca isn't too bad either.

So, in light of the comments I made above, I'm now sporting a graze that goes from wrist, up my arm, over my shoulder and down my side to my hips (think superman flying postion then touching down).

Oh, and a painful bruise on left thumb (can't grip now) and one on hip.
Basically a bit broken following a DH speed stack.
I'll continue to ride alone, but perhaps I'll go back to wearing full armour…

I ride alone all the time.
In Blighty I used to ride at Aston hill a lot, and during the week it was just me and the guy on the gate (who had a bad back so couldn't go down the hill). Often wondered what I'd do if I crashed. But to be honest I didn't hold back, breaking a leg hurts the same if there's someone there or not.
Over here in Aus it's another matter altogether. I had a crash a couple of years ago that I stayed down for (alone). Did wonder what would happen to me, given I was in a closed off forest area on a trail that's rarely ridden at the best of times. Still, ribs weren't broken (x-ray check) so all good.
Just last week I ended up going down a gully descent that I'd enjoy on a DH bike on my hack bike – friggin scary but was no more dangerous for being alone, you ride it as you see it… My only concession is to sometimes take a second water source (backpack and bottle) in case one is damaged, but even then I don't bother most times.
The thing that slows me down now is two kids, being crippled for a period of time would not be good for them, so I guess that's my out…
Having said this, I'm off to do some solo DH in a national park tomorrow. Wish me luck!

perusing even

Anything by The Asylum:
http://www.imdb.com/company/co0043571/

Truely, whilst persuing movies to watch, I check if it's in this list.

Still, thier ripoff of famous titles has some amusement factor..

Despite my Mum telling me that clean underwear is important, I've decided that the skid marks in my pants are less critical than the ones on the road.

"And then I said, 'Over my dead body'"

It was the wallpaper or me.

@MrNutt – she has a 3 month old baby, at home with her, I'm hoping that she doesn't swear like that too much around her.

@coffeeking. No, not staged – certainly he wasn't expecting it anyway.

Hey NZCol. I'm in Aus, and whilst I would never consider going 'home' I can empathise with you.
Over here, there is a culture, but it's a one trick culture – If you go out for an Indian, it's an Aussie who'll serve you. If it's theatre then it's probably something distinctly aussie. Indeed I don't enjoy Aussie dramas on TV, they just seem more bland than the multi cultural stuff of Blighty. I've tried explaining to people here what it means to actually live somewhere like the UK, where the local supermarket has proper chorizo or other euro exotica. And wine – apparently there is only Au wine.
So yeah, totally not for everyone.
If I had the cash to have a lifestyle that I would feel comfortable I'd be back in the UK. But until I win a lottery (sorry, Lotto) then it's not going to happen.
I used to work with someone who went to NZ then moved back, much for the same reasons – so you're not alone.

In laymans terms – you need adobe flah plugin.

You should get a 'you need flash' or similar where there would be a movie. click and follow the link.

or

http://psychocats.net/ubuntu/flash
For less layman but still easy.

or

http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/otherversions/
Select Linux, and I think it's Deb.

But, in fairnes, nothing is layman in Ubuntu land…

That's nothing my Nan's in the mobile library every week…

;o)

Actually I quite like that. My back wouldn't though

Or
http://www.thesneeze.com/mt-archives/cat_steve_dont_eat_it.php

Here: http://www.thesneeze.com/mt-archives/cat_steve_dont_eat_it.php%5B\url]

Nice.

yeah, know what you mean, it's winter here in Aus.

No, wait…

Spent Sunday afternoon playing with my kids in the dappled shade of our back yard (garden), 23+.c up here on the Sunshine Coast.

I'm so glad I'm over here! :o)

/flipside – Summer means 6 months of rain, albeit warm shower rain.

If I were your friend I'd expect you to claim against me. That's the reason why I'd be insured.
Yeah, my premiums might go up, but again, an accident has occurred so it needs due process.
Reason for this – as a friend I'd not want you to be out of pocket. Also, if several years time when/if there's complications then the slate is clean…

In fact, I did rear end a mate – he slammed on the brakes and ducked into a driveway avoiding a ****t comming the other way on a lane. I braked but slid into the back of his car with mine. Anyway, he came down later with his Dad (long time ago) expecting all sorts of hassle with me saying it wasn't my fault – I just asked how much… But then there was no personal injury so a lot easier in the long run.

You lot should be grateful.
I was reduced to trying to swallow my own tounge whilst watching TG Australia – it's that bad.

Actually, tired as it may be and certainly ever more scripted it's still the best thing on my TV over here. Everything else has been dire since Rolf was sent to the UK…

Nice cars they are. But it sounds like you're buying a car that doesn't fit your lifestyle.

Perhaps rent one for a fortnight and see how you get on. If you find it a pain then you'll have saved yourself some anguish/cost.

Dunno about you, but I'm often parking my 'bike carrier' in out of the way places so I can take my bike somewhere interesting. Certainly wouldn't be parking an Aston anywhere like that.

Also, often climbing into said bike carrier sweaty and generally covered in mud. Leather seats are meant to be more durable, though not sure that man-sweat is a good interior smell in a posh car though (more 'a hint of mistress' I think).

Get yourself a wreck, get a sticker 'My other car is an Aston' (they always impress) and take your kids on a month long holiday somewhere exotic – but that's just me! ;o)

had V12s and V8s on various bikes, including the DH one I own – remember it?

But, have gone to SPDs over here in Aus as I have to ride up the frikin hills too (too remote).
So, if you’re looking to actually ride it rather than use gravity then you’re best off using SPDs I reckon, and given you’re looking to put a double ring on the front I’m assuming you are (looking at your other post about bash rings etc).

SPDs also gave me confidence on some of the jumps too. There’s nothing worse than feet comming away from bike in the air (without planning!).

NZCol, I just litterally choked on my drink as that was damn funny.