Thanks Simon. I had heard that there was some permissive access granted by BMDC to land owned by them but wasn’t sure of its extent. I’d also heard that it had been withdrawn at some point and then reinstated… Given the environmentally sensitive nature and shared use issues on the moor I’ve tended not to ride there. The main track from Dick Hudson’s to Ilkley can be pretty busy with walkers.

I’m going to have to have another look, I think. Still, grumbling about resurfacing of tracks to which there is no statutory right of access for cyclists… Perhaps it’s worth recognising that it’s good that there’s permissive access at all?

Are these footpaths we’re talking about? If so, while not averse to the odd cheeky trail myself, the indignation expressed here is a bit rich.

The Old Gate may well be devoid of character but not devoid of characters. Think a certain Tod-based bike designer drinks in there.

I saw the scrawled chalkboard notice outside the F&G too, last I was there, and felt I didn’t need to go inside to think I’d give that particular investment opportunity a miss.

And again today. Loud “Oi”, calculated to startle, from a motorist for doing nothing other than riding along. 2 yr old on the back as before. Where do these bell-ends get off?

Good on you, OP. Visit by the police this evening might properly p**s on his barbeque.

Which leads me to another thought. Possible he might have been drinking. Possible the police might catch him in the act.

I was “pipped” by a motorist for pulling up at a T junction on my bike this evening. With my 2 yr old daughter on the back FFS.

Fullers’ Honeydew. Disappointing. Tastes of nowt. 5% mind.

It’s teasel. Great looking native plant.

Original Camelbak MULE. Still my favourite pack for 3 season cycling.

@LMT – is it an option to work part-time in your current job while you check out other options? It might be all the balance you need. It’s an approach that’s working for me right now.

@Hammerite – would be great to see how you get on in a year’s time. You could blog about your progress. Might help you keep focus on your goals.

Good luck both.

For multi-sport jackets look at Paramo’s stuff. I’ve got a wind/showerproof over-the-head thing that’s not waterproof but keeps me warm enough on the bike and hill in most 3 season conditions. Rare I need to get full waterproof kit on.

EDIT

It’s a Fuera smock. £55 RRP. It’s got a chest pocket and a wired hood and the fabric is designed to work well with Nikwax products to improve water-repellence.

@Coyote – agree with your edit about future relations etc. I probably should have said that it has a sort of logic. A flawed one.

Fools can have strategies. They may not be good ones.

Also the “as part of another meeting” thing. That’s a strategy too. You don’t want rumours spreading or your staff having the opportunity to organise a response before you tell them at 5pm on Friday that their jobs are at risk.

Restructure announcements made at my place this week too. And, yes, it is a strategy to announce these things just before holidays to minimise disruption. Cowardly? Cynical? Yes, both those things, but also good organisational sense. Best, perhaps, not to regard bosses as fully realised adults with feelings but rather just functionaries of the organisation. Like the photocopier.

+1 for Folly Farm. Stayed there for HONC last 2 years.

I’ve not met too many beholders who thought my Blue Dragon Kaffenback was beautiful. I enjoyed it’s quirkiness though and generally On-ones have a sort of utilitarian charm that I quite like.

@Brant – Homeboys Triple S in Bingley did a great job of powder coating my Kaffenback.

I’ve got 3 One-One/Planet X bikes.

Original (blue dragon) PX Kaffenback – great steel workhorse. My commuter and winter road bike/tourer. Have raced CX on it but the small size (I found) has too close clearance at the seat tube for proper CX tyres. Fitting mud guards is tight but doable. Think this is sorted on current disk versions. Versatile hack bike. Paint finish was good but looked gopping. Since been powder coated.

PX Uncle John – my quickish summer road and CX bike. Swap of tyres suits it for sportives or CX events/towpath/trail blasts. I right like it. Paint finish is fine.

OO Ti456 (Van Nicholas) – this bike pops. Really responds to being pushed but always feels lively. Stable downhill as you point and drive the fork and the rear skips along behind. Easily as much fun as the Orange 5 it replaced. More involving but still appropriately forgiving. Paint? What paint?

PS – chipped my radius falling off the Ti456 3 weeks ago. I take it all back. The bike is a dog and not b****y forgiving enough!

My Kaffenback is my winter tourer/road commuter. Did ride CX on it but rear clearance too tight for big enough tyres.

The area to the south of Staithes – bounded by the A171, A170, A19 and A172 – is basically the hilly bit of the North Yorks Moors – there’s really lovely riding but hills will be involved. There’s a slightly less hilly “coastal plain” (which I described above) and the areas around Kirkbymoorside and Stokesley offer scenic and fairly flat road riding.

A cx/mtb (with skinnyish tyres) would be ideal to follow the Whitby – Scarborough cycle path and the network of coastal roads and (whisper it) coastal footpath in that neck of the woods. This might be a nice way to spend time on the bike with someone who doesn’t fancy big road mileage. South of Whitby, Robin Hoods Bay and Ravenscar are worth a visit. North of Whitby (south of Staithes) there’s Runswick Bay and Sandsend to see. All good for coffee, cakes, ice-cream and what-have-you.

In terms of road riding along the coast the A171 can be very busy, difficult to avoid and, for long stretches, keeps you away from the coastal scenery. You might be better heading south from Staithes into the North Yorks Moors but here big hills may be off-putting.

Take a change of tyres for the cx (skinny slicks) and longer (solo?) road jaunts become a more comfortable proposition.

I got some made by a jeweller friend as a present for my brother for being my best man. Jewellers can get hold of the “stalks”, I just gave him the chain links.

Also, with a roll mat bungied on top and coupled with an old (small) Camelbak MULE, it’s good for bike bivvying.

Agree with chudsy on security of side pockets. I put loose stuff in small bags (old tent peg bag/little poly bag/drybag) to prevent losing things. I’ve never lost anything though when I’ve forgotten to bother.

Used a Carridice SQR Tour. Really like the fusion of trad materials and modern design. Works too.

All the best to the OP. Sounds like you put a lot in.

A family conflict? In Glencoe? Now, where’ve I heard that before?

Just a crack in the proximal end of my left radius. Feeling better already. Doc says 6-8 weeks to heal fully. Hope to be back on the bike sooner. Bike is getting the silent treatment until it learns some manners. Which are no better than you’d expect.

My Ti456 dumped me on the trail and broke my arm on Friday evening. I might have hoped for a little more consideration.

Actually the real reason I was so slow was that sturmey persuaded me not to have a pudding the night before in the Duke of Wellington in Bourton. Torpedoed my carbo-loading, you see.

Managed the 100km at a snail’s pace. I could offer some excuses as to why I didn’t smash a PB but that wasn’t this year’s aim. Happy to get round in great company and scenery and with huge thanks to the marshals. What a fantastic event. Should be on every cyclist’s to-do list.

I found the perfect mud clearing stick (broken top part of a blue plastic electric fence support) which I carried to the food stop and then dumped there. Thankfully the course was drier in the second half but windier.

We stayed at Folly Farm Campsite near Bourton-on-the-Water, which was a superb base for the event, but were the only HONCers on it. Would’ve been fun to meet up with other HONCers the night before. Where did everyone stay?

That’s commendable work TroutWrestler. I think that ensuring the inclusivity of trips should be the starting point. If cost alone prevents students from going that moves the trip into questinable territory, for me.

I’m really uncomfortable with state schools charging large amounts of money for residentials with spurious educational value. Outdoor education can be a very valuable teaching tool but ski trips and the like seem sometimes like an indulgence on the part of teachers, having the effect of dividing the cool kids from the not-so-cool kids.

No problem here. Speedy supply of 3 bikes in perfect nick and rapid, satisfactory response to queries by their web form, phone, email and even Twitter.

I minced round near the back of the vets 2nd moto and spent the rest of the time cheering on my brother and various other acquaintances. I’d do another one. Hopefully a bit fitter next time.

I’ve got a pair of Bontrager Commuting Knickers. Very comfortable.

Here – http://bontrager.com/model/08785

I’ve got a Yuba Mundo.

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Barbeque weather[/url] by clivenutton[/url], on Flickr

Will carry a huge amount of stuff. Like a Yute but improved, I think, by the “running boards” at the base of the rack which makes a useful platform for supporting loads.

I’ve entered the vets category. Thinking I should have gone novice (didn’t spot that). Yikes!

I did a two day “Flow” course with Ed at Gisburn a couple of years ago.

He has a lovely coaching approach; a patience that comes through not just in the pace of activities but in the way he speaks calmly, confidently and reassuringly to explain things. He’s good at working the group dynamic to push (gently) each individual’s skills. There was ample time over the two days to reflect on the skills learned (over long lunches at the D&P) and at no point did the coaching feel rushed.

The activities were a mixture of improving flow in “normal” trail riding (using berms, rises and compressions to “pump” momentum from the trail, “chin-up” observation and “body steering”) and also riding obstacles (steep drop-ins, drop offs, jumps).

I rode some sections I’d previously have balked at, had some fun with some nice people, and went away knowing what I needed to work on to improve.

I’d have another session with Ed. I probably should.

I work 3 days a week teaching in a further education college and the rest of the week I work freelance as an outdoor/environmental education instructor. My wife works 4 days a week.

In the winter, in particular, this means that I’m at home a good deal of the time to look after our 20 month old daughter and, since last week, our week old son. Our daughter also spends a couple of days a week at nursery and also some time with her grandparents. It’s nice to be so closely involved with my kids as babies. My dad worked full-time while I was growing up and, perhaps, it meant that I didn’t get to know him as well as I’d have liked (different generation too, though). After he died, and as an “older dad” (I was 41 when our youngest was born) I was conscious that I wanted to spend as much time as I could with my kids.

It works pretty well.

Cargobike plus trailer/tag-along?

Can get 2 childseats on integral rear rack.

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F and Yuba Mundo at Northcliffe park[/url] by clivenutton[/url], on Flickr