correct me if im wrong but it seems from most posts that cars are great for convenience

but only really cost effective when you have more than 1 person in them when compared to public transport

well that sounds good to me, more car sharing and car pool lanes like you have in america?

Yes but its only cheaper on the train for me as GMPTE subsidise the rail cost (ok I do get free parking at work). So what we really need is more schemes like these!!

[/quote]Explain to me what taxation has risen 10%+ in the last 12 months then (to produce a pump-price increase of 10%)?

Wholesale prices, driven by supply/demand/speculation.

How, I'm trained in a particular job, I'm a specialist in that area, I don't have too many places that I can work? If I were to stack shelves or be a brickie then fine, but I'm not, and the country needs both types of work.

Your right, it does not work for everyone.

Good quality housing of equivalent size, in a place not crime-ridden IS more expensive, trust me I'm looking for a house as we speak, I've been to literally dozens from city center flats to houses in the hills. Go to any area with equivalent quality of life …

So there is housing but your not prepared to live in certain areas? Welcome to the real world. I think you will find that rural housing is just as expensive. Although since you work in the city would expect there to be ample public transport arrangements should I be wrong.

Ok, firstly lets dispel the theory that oil companies are pushing up the cost of fuel. They are not. Profits from petrol retailing are generally small and there is a great deal of competition. Yes oil companies make large profits from oil extraction but it is not legal to use this side of the business to subsidise another (as this distorts competition). The large profits generated by extraction also provide the funds for further exploration and the development of new technology.

The high cost of fuel relative to other countries is from taxation. The actual cost of fuel pre-taxation is actually smaller than most other counties.

I would agree with previous comments that road pricing per mile would be the fairest way of taxing road use and this could also prove an effective tool against congestion. This would also encourage people to take jobs close to where they live. As for the suggestion that city housing is more expensive than rural …piffle! Its more a case that the desirable areas in a city are more expensive than others …no change there then.

There are great public transport schemes out there. Where I live I can get a GMPTE subsidised rail ticket which makes taking the train far more economical than driving (and avoiding the congestion). Unfortunately this does not extend to where my new job will be (Warrington), making it far more convenient and cheaper to drive.

Personally I'm in favor of road pricing providing that the revenue is fed back into public transport.

The worst point is that they seem to feel entitled to a good lifestyle / job without being prepared to actually work for it!!

Funny though when I went to Manchester University I was the only person from my school to go to Manchester. Although thats probably because I was one of few people in my school to actually go to University at all!

a weak pound creates inflationary pressure, and a few years of hyper-inflation would nicely diminish the relative worth of my mortgage..

Yep, but I doubt your pay would keep pace with the hyper inflation or that the hyper interest on your mortgage to control the hyper inflation would be welcome either?

Buxton is good. Direct train to Stepping Hill hospital and not to far to Manchester. Also there is Macclefield not to far away as well. Buxton also has a small hospital. Cracking biking in this area, close to the mighty (new) mills!

Its all down to route choice.

Rocky/sandy trails = Yey!
Chinly Churn Mud = Don't even go there.

Sorry wrong way around. Still creaks whether I peddle or not!

NO creak when I don't peddle so defo nothing wronf with the drivetrain.

17" Marin Palisades Trail.
New Mills, Derbyshire

Will have to check out the seatpost angle first though ….altyhough I'm getting quite keen on this.

http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/mountain-bike-frames/merlin-and-rock-lobster-frames/rock-lobster-853.html

bit of both :o)

Although pretty sure it is the frame as everything else has prestty much been checked out.

In short you can’t exlude any liability for personal injury but obtaining compensation for or proving consequential loss for anything else is unlikely to suceed.

Still have a another consultation and tests yet so its not confirmed but symptoms are fairly convincing. Pins and needles, loss of sensation, pains in the wrist and forearm and loss of grip.

It’s unusual for it to happen at my age (30) and with both hands but it happens.

Still 3 weeks till back on the bike doesn’t sound as bad as I had feared!!

mmmmm …interesting responses so far if still useless!

Swadey, previous tenant paid £320 a month if that helps. He paid weekly so £325 just makes the maths easier!

Hora, ta for the offer chuck, unfortunately I’m not single either! She lives in Cardiff, hence the invitation to treat!

Dot, could be interested in that. Don’t get out as often as I’d like!

Cheers all, Rich