@golfchick

We did tot the riding up for the week:

164km with 1922m climbing and 13067m descending. They use a good mini bus, the trailer was very easy to load and unload. The longer van trips were typically first thing in the morning,  uplifts during the day were quite short and descents could take a while. Most of the drives were on tarmac, a relatively short time on a rough track.

Backcountry for me too. More van uplifting than I expected but the trailer was very easy to load/unload quickly.

I’m just back from a week with Out the park tours in Bansko. Really enjoyed it. Well worth a look.

I’d still ask first even if it was a bike shop.

My elderly mother can’t get her head round that black people can be British. The most recent one was on a relatively warm, sunny day when saw a black woman with a coat on. “They’re probably not used to the cooler weather”.

Some of the cable links have already been laid near Murton and Seaham for a link to the highway. Quite a lot of trees were removed to dig the trench.

I suspect X-fusion will be fine. I use a PNW lever with a one-up post.

I can’t make an e-mtb recommendation since I don’t have one. I do rides like those you mention on a mountain bike. I’m just a bit puzzled that you describe Hamsterley as flat ish. In a couple of hours riding I’d typically be close to 1000m vertical.

Not a recommendation but something to check before you buy. The washing instructions for my Sweet Protection knee pads is don’t wash! Wipe with a damp cloth.

26% would be my working out too. In the video it states average gradient of 3.2% with a maximum of 10%.

How do they work out the gradient?

555m drop in 2.1km gives an average gradient of 3.2%

Yesterday i found myself shouting at the rain as i got very wet, again, only 5 minutes from home. Today was better got home 5 minutes before it chucked down. Then got frustrated when I couldn’t post this response straightaway as I’d been logged out and had to type it in again.

I have a Ti gravel bike and hardtail. I’ve not broken either and expect them to last a long time. I wasn’t aware breakages seem so common.

I use https://www.cyclinguk.org/journey-planner

The money raised from VED isn’t used for the road infrastructure, it goes into central funds.

Trouble is I don’t know what mainstream is other than Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran.

I didn’t think Nadine Shah would be mainstream but thought Self Esteem and CMAT would be. Turns out my kids hadn’t heard of any of them.

I’ve bought 2 Sonder bikes including a Camino in the last couple of years. The Signal came with a 150mm dropper post. I only noticed after I received and used the bike that a 170mm dropper was a no cost option. I asked if I could swap it and they did.

That doesn’t answer if the OP was unreasonable, I just want to highlight some excellent aftersales service from Alpkit that I didn’t really expect.

Rain? Got my washing dried outside today.

I hated goal setting!

Now that I no longer work my first goal of the day is breakfast then take it from there.

Yes.

I reckon my natural fitness peaked at about 25/26 years old. I only started mountain biking in my 30’s as a way to exercise. I’m in my 60’s now and can still ride for hours.

What about using a mobile mechanic?

@spawnofyorkshire That’s what I’m hoping for tomorrow :)

Looking forward to seeing Nadine Shah in a record store on Saturday then her proper gig in April.

Had to take a hacksaw to the one on my air-cooled VW. It needed replacing so no worries about reuse.

i’m hoping the update will improve things. If I have a few offline maps the app just wasn’t usable.

Don’t make judgements about people based on what brand of car they drive (or what brand of bike they ride).

I don’t work so no benefit for me.

I replaced my Leon with a Scala. I can now leave the rear wheel on the bike when carrying it inside. I’d take both wheels off in the Leon. I could just get the frame in a Fabia.

The 115bhp 1 litre engine gives reasonable if not exciting performance and good fuel economy.

I’ve had a few records out lately including Transformer by Lou Reed and The scream by Siouxsie and the banshees.

I was well out of my teens when the excellent New York by Lou came out.

Just finished building the Porsche again. Just need to find somewhere to put it.

The chair of the PDC was on TV this morning and referred to the players as “Athletes”.

There’s some decent wins there!

Nothing for me in the last few months. £100 was my best month.

I vacuum the tiles and screen with a hand held thing after  a shower. This helps limit condensation around my home too. I don’t have an extractor fan.

I use the local library. 15p per sheet.

Mountain mint on an Orange and Industry blue on a Santa Cruz look very similar but only one has a nice name.

I’ve had quite a few convertibles/cabriolets over the years and currently have an open top car. The open top car I’ll take out most weeks as long as it’s not raining. I had the attitude with my convertibles that I would need a reason to drive with the roof up.

Are they cool or make me look cool? I don’t care. They keep me happy.

I don’t like seeing anyone to out of business. Well, maybe Mike Ashley but even then that would affect too many other people.

Do you know how far Mel and her mam were behind?

Just renewed for a 3 year old Skoda Scala. 

Roughly 53% increase in one year from £239 to £366.