gpx is great, thanks

damn fine photos, as a complete aside those tracks look really gf friendly, so after the quiz (or email in profile), any chance of the route/dets – cheers

well it changed my mums life for the better….

probably not applicable in your case, but we used to take a waterproof bag and leave it with a brick in it (*and food/drinks etc) in a stream etc (*tied to something)

yep it doesn’t happen with Firefox

I did one route, which is no longer on modern OS50,000 it was (IMHO) ok, however last 1ish I think miles were a tussock bog (ie wading but you may be able to divert), and I unclipped on the path when it became somewhat narrow, however pretty sure it was an eagle was scoping me up – bleeding huge. Only recommended if you’re bloody minded and happy to drag.

edit – recommend this http://www.harbour-inn.com/

if you have a small socket set check them, as one of my small sockets fits perfectly, then as above push out into a much bigger socket via a vice

FYI, not a recommendation, in cough’Trail’ mag, that I’m thumbing through in the morning sunshine there is something called viewranger advertised. Won the mag best value gps in group test. Having just read the smallprint a 1:50 OS 10k square costs 11p, so poss better for walking (as is coughwalking mag)

where I was coming from is that I consider the current ‘split’ of access types as totally unfair, there’s a massive bias to footpaths that should be addressed (based on the massive expansion in cycling and the need to encourage physical activity etc etc and my personal self interest of course) and I strongly suspect it will be much easier (and quicker and cheaper and therefore likely) to turn an existing fp to a bw rather than have to pay someone to plan, negotiate with landowners, etc, build a new, graded, surfaced, etc etc bw which I suspect most ‘mtbers’ won’t really want.

By not confronting you’re sort of saying that the ramblers having 80%ish ‘private access’ (and they’ve got the coastal path coming etc) is ok, and I really don’t agree with that.

signed
good point by thisisnotaspoon, CTC, IMBA, MPLA, MP3 XR3 …

jambalaya see: http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ourwork/enjoying/places/rightsofway/prow/default.aspx

I think we should be pushing for a LOT higher % of existing ROW, there should most certainly be a ‘redisribution’ of rather a lot of footpaths.

my mum used to speak to our local tramp/beachcomber, he lived in a cave just up from the beach. He generally shied away from people, but mum did a lot of beach/country walking and they started talking, it turned out he had been a bank manager, and it all went wrong, mum found him soft spoken, polite and intelligent, spoke to him for quite a few years, he was locally ‘accepted’, locals used to ‘dump’ stuff (like blankets etc) over the wall near his cave. He died one particularly cold winter and the cave in now ‘barred up’.

Maes Howe tour (ditto Skara Brae)
Ring of Brogar, early in the morning (and standing stones over causeway)
Italianate Chapel
foot ferry to Hoy(Moaness), path to Rackwick (used to be YHA there), set camp/leave gear, cycle to Old Man, go back via Lyness (Scapa Flow Museum)
get yourself photographed at the village of (I jest not) Twatt.
set coast 2 coast record time at Mavis Grind
you might get to row a viking longboat in Lerwick (check tourist office)
have a Red Pudden supper at Lerwick chippie
get blown to B**gery

Berlingo here
pros
cheap to buy and run (1.6 HDI Diesel, 50 mpg(codger at more or less speed limits), 12.5k service intervals
can take out rear LHS single seat(gives 2 bikes down side, fronts out) and/or rear RHS twin seats (lots more space) with 2 bolts
have had 2 mtb, a Beta Alp 200 trail bike (had to rotate bars and unbolt) rear light and an 8ft6 surfboard all in and locked
good load shape and height for working with
easy drive/road+side visibility/normal size/fits under barriers etc
– tie down points etc/cubby holes/storage
cons
front seats don’t recline so max surfboard length 8ft 6ish and we manage this as gf is 4ft 10 so board goes diagonally from rear and sits on her headrest below her head……
rolls like a barge on corners and has the high speed aerdynamics of a brick which stuff fuel consumption at 90pmh(30ishmpg and more or less real top speed)

for us it’s ideal, big enough to do two bikes, camping gear, 1 surf board, have a dirty+wet storage area and seperate dry/clean stuff area, door lifts up so can be used for changing etc under if raining and ok for daily work commute etc, carrying 4 people (as I have single seat perma out)
*edit changes desired, bit more poke and stiffer suspension

hopefully, Pershore, cheap ebay deal, taking bikes and we’ll see whata happens

beautiful area. *Used to be stone sculptures in woods/beach around loch.

http://www.crannog.co.uk/ on Tay (*they were a bit facist – ie you had to do their visit tour you couldn’t just visit), we did the random twisty hilly roads and enjoyed scenery

(There is a watersports centre on Tay)

wanted to do this with gf but it was a bit too out of way:
– http://active.visitscotland.com/findroute/west_highlands/C-The-Trossachs/ cycle out, Paddle steamer back

Port Appin is very scenic and they *appeared* to be building a cycle/walking path along the coast in that area.

not done woods, but there is a bridleway, anyway I’ve dropped down from Tilehurst water tower area on fpath, over Theale footbridge (on indus estate rd) then into Theale, along High St to A4 rounabout then leftish down white track with houses and along fpath over rail to canal all ok

with Jules.b, cycle it quite a lot (mainy W of Oxford and Reading), the only people who appeared to have a legal right to complain were cheery and happy, waving etc, look out for pill boxes and dog sh!t I’m afraid
(*some stiles but check as some can be opened)

nice one and timely, as going to see the crinklies in Girvan at Easter, will try the ‘old hill road’ into Girvan, mainly as I did most of it on a motorbike in the 80s

http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?x=224965&y=596201&z=120&sv=224965,596201&st=4&ar=y&mapp=map.srf&searchp=ids.srf&dn=829&ax=224965&ay=596201&lm=0

Balcletchie farm, then Westish to Girvan over paths, dad will drop us off at the top

Will alos have a look at the bits you’ve done

dry, sandpaper and clean (jersey not hand) area, do the glue a bit bigger than patch so you can use a spare bit to check for really tacky (IMHO it varies with temperature and glues)apply patch (press firmly on at middle, once on, fingers on other side of tube, jersey over patch and press over with thumb against other hand) once on apply a thin film of glue over edge of patch and smear round, wait to set or cover in chalk to stop it sticking

alternatively buy park or leeches as they do appear to work

FYI – you can get it MOTd from a month before the end of current MOT but the issued MOT runs from the expiry date of the current MOT. I do this as it gives time to sort issues.

agree, via personal experience, about it probably being a worn front if chain/rear new, as I had same issue, it’s really hard to work it out whilst cycling though

other tip, turn bike upside down and slowly roll wheel whilst inspecting/feeling chain to make sure all pins in/no bends etc, I had an issue where a pin was partly out and when it occasionally clipped something it jumped the chain

used Park and Leeches for ages, no issues (dry, sandpaper and clean with shirt first), press and hold, rub over using shirt and then off you go

yep, awesome

lots of cheeky, considerate horse riders, twerpt with a dog, some rather pleasant new cough paths, llama, turkey, guinea fowls, hordes of ramblers, blazing sun, still lots of puddles, a large number of ‘landowners or appointed factors thereof’ wishing me a good morning, blossoming plant life everywhere, so pleasnt that we stooped at the pub on the way back, a beer with my shirt sleeves rolled up and the sun blazing down – yahooooooooooooo

if you want an IT job and are interested in money/career then go onto jobserve (*other sites available – esp itjobswatch I think it is) and establish the career options/salary rates for skills you partly have and can extend in your current role and then take it from there (ie it’s easier to get your foot in the new door if you have something they want, and if you pick a desirable/wanted/growth area skill there tend to be more doors)

Lnaguage wise I suspect C# will the a flier (extensivley used, lots of jobs but won’t carry and real salary premium) but that’s IMHO, I’d also improve your SQL as ultimately mosts systems use data and therefore having a sound grasp of RDBMS tends to be useful.

As a sweeping generalisation I’d say it will be easier to do something you want to do for 40 hours a week and the next X years, so I’d have a think about what you want out of life etc.

fair point about bulk above, however, as an individual, probably the reverse, I have Paypal and get on fine with it

What would put me off is having having to register/login, give a username/password, give address details, state mail marketing, special offer, my birthday and date of car insurnace renewal and badger wrestling preferences, cunningly and maliciously worded as to make it difficult to easily tick the ‘NEVER NEVER contact me, as I know what I want to buy without crap from you box’.

For me this is possibly making me align with ebay/papyal (other other paypal suppliers as well)as it’s quick and painless and I don’t have to remember even more userids and bleeding passwords and reenter countless personal deatils), so can you reuse or by default mail to paypal address and let people override (*not sure if technically/legally possible), and (I hope I’m not stating the bleeding obvious) put pls use a postcode search facility – it will help revent misdelivery etc.

Hi

we did this last year – bimble with scenery
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?x=202355&y=628495&z=120&sv=202355,628495&st=4&ar=y&mapp=map.srf&searchp=ids.srf&dn=821&ax=202355&ay=628495&lm=0

(*goes on to Kilmory, Lamlash to Whiting bay this is doable in a car)
we dropped down the distinct sandy zizzag at Glenashdale falls (worth finding the viewing platform at falls, steps with potential, and you’ll see the giants graves), then Whiting Bay , R to Sandbraes (*You have to walk along the beach a little bit after the white road ends on it and find a nearly hidden stile through wood up via another couple of stiles) then out to Kings Cross point on black path (lovely views at point, ancient fort, destroyed WW2 pillbox – there were submarine nets at boths ends between Holy Isle and Arran )and a sandy U shaped cove if you want a swim).

Keep on coast till fish farm metal jetty, from there you might be able to go back along beach you can certainly walk, not sure on cycling, otherwise up (via their road) and back along 841 along top road and drop down path to Cordon (*which I did in 1963 on a tricyle and mum on a Raleigh shopper), alternatively there is a marked path at the tree line but I can’t vouch for that.

Other way to Clauchlands point can go to Brodick (*apparently) we stopped just after Clauchlands, as gf is non non technical and it was singletrack.

beautiful place,

check insurance cost before buying a van

I use a Berlingo car, back seats are unboltable to take out(as a 1 on LHS and as a 2(middle and rhs) on the RHS), two bikes, diagonal, seats out/wheels in, no probs.

I currently have single seat out permanaently, two bikes, fronts out, down that side, all muddy stuff behind other rear seat, all clean stuff on rear seat and footwell, 50mpg (codger doing rural at speed limits) diesel, rolls (as in irritatingly) on corners and a bit slow on mways as it flies like a wide brick

? are you talking about the bit inside the headtube of the frame

if so, see
http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/headset-fitting-questions

and you knock them out with one of these

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/IceToolz-Xpert-Series-New-Bike-Cycle-Headset-Cup-Remover-1-25-1-5-/180826789648?pt=UK_Spots_Leisure_Cycling_Tools_RepairKits&hash=item2a1a1dd710

**Note that there are different diamaters so bear that in mind.

if you mean the bearing is stuck you could try soaking with Plus Gas (or another freeing agent)

have you got a piece of pipe lying about that fits. I’ve used 22mm copper(mainly as that was in the garage), cut an X in the end (two 2″ cuts at right angles, splay ends till they mate to bearings and tap out.

what was the reason for the estimate being lower than the actual ?

where I’m going is if it’s your mistake you should probably carry it, if it cost more as something unexpected cropped up then that’s a lot more agruable.

TJ – can you point me in the direction of “Note that for ‘unfunded’ ones the money comes out of taxation.” facts.

I made my statement because on the link http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-11446832 it states
“Is the scheme funded or unfunded?
Unfunded. It is paid for out of general taxation, not an underlying investment fund.”

Regarding the ‘paid in’ if you are saying there is more tax paid in than pensions taken out I don’t consider that fair as EVERYBODY pays tax but only cetain public sector pensions give it back to people. Could you clarify please as I’m trying to understand based on facts.

For more info on public sector pemsions try reading here:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-10912958

this gives details on funding (or lack of) and pension averages.

Note that for ‘unfunded’ ones the money comes out of taxation.

Also FYI: for a private sector money purchase or defined benefit pension (where you contribute into your pot and your ‘fund’ is everything that you have put in [*and employer contributions if you’re lucky]) that (IMHO) that a ‘public sector’ pension of £3100 would (for a 60 year old male) would require a pot of about £100,000 to get an equivalent deal. (*The later you take an annuity on your pot the higher amount per 100,000 you get)
http://www.annuitydiscount.co.uk/Annuity_Best_Rates_Table.htm

You could have had a poor wage. – The facts below seem to suggest that to have a poor wage you’d stand a better chance in the private sector.

Public and private sector earnings
The difference between private and public sector median earnings for full-time employees
decreased between April 2010 and April 2011. Private sector median gross weekly earnings were
£476, up 0.8 per cent from 2010. Public sector earnings were £556, up 0.3 per cent (see Figure 10).
Public sector mean gross weekly earnings (£627) were also higher than those of the private sector
(£598).

let’s face it, final salary pensions sound nice, but you have to remember that they’re calculated from a public sector salary. X% of more than a public sector salary is MUCH better than a private sector pension.

http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/dcp171766_252474.pdf

Public and private sector earnings
The difference between private and public sector median earnings for full-time employees
decreased between April 2010 and April 2011. Private sector median gross weekly earnings were
£476, up 0.8 per cent from 2010. Public sector earnings were £556, up 0.3 per cent (see Figure 10).
Public sector mean gross weekly earnings (£627) were also higher than those of the private sector
(£598).

a bit OT, but…

Oliver Cromwell Speech – Dissolution of the Long Parliament
Dissolution of the Long Parliament by Oliver Cromwell given to the House of Commons, 20 April 1653

It is high time for me to put an end to your sitting in this place, which you have dishonored by your contempt of all virtue, and defiled by your practice of every vice; ye are a factious crew, and enemies to all good government; ye are a pack of mercenary wretches, and would like Esau sell your country for a mess of pottage, and like Judas betray your God for a few pieces of money.

Is there a single virtue now remaining amongst you? Is there one vice you do not possess? Ye have no more religion than my horse; gold is your God; which of you have not barter’d your conscience for bribes? Is there a man amongst you that has the least care for the good of the Commonwealth?

Ye sordid prostitutes have you not defil’d this sacred place, and turn’d the Lord’s temple into a den of thieves, by your immoral principles and wicked practices? Ye are grown intolerably odious to the whole nation; you were deputed here by the people to get grievances redress’d, are yourselves gone! So! Take away that shining bauble there, and lock up the doors.

In the name of God, go!

checkout Parkdean, I’ve used their Ruda park a lot and rate it and the location very highly.

(*I use it off season – so have not seen full facilities, as they’re shut offseason, however very good deals, always found staff very good, e.g last time we couldn’t work out oven controls , so we popped into reception on way back to flat to ask, by the time got back to the flat (200 yds) the service bloke was waiting for us)

*Booking tips
– take off ins **unless you think it will help you
– pay full amount in advance for extra saving (*if that suits)
— watch out for deals and offers on website

http://www.parkdeanholidays.co.uk/index.htm
*sale ends in 4 days – possibly true…..

A+E were excellent with me

? have I broken a rib,
– [squeeze/poke] looks like it
– what happens now
– don’t laugh or cough, goodbye

*edit (to be fair this was a while ago)

Hi thanks, garden is on a slope but towards house, however the house has a patio with a drain at the far edge (ie nearest the hill)

diagram – which may work – below

next House up hill
———————–Garden Wall (4ft)
——————————————-my Garden
——————————————————-wall (4ft)
—————————————————————patio then my house
——————————————————————drain at wall end

so I can slope pipe down to patio next to patio drain, patio slopes away from house

My garden is sort of a square, so I was planning to lay a trench around edge of graden with both ends leading to the patio where the drain is

So trench appears to need to be 12″ deep (pipe is 4″), so dig trench, shingle layer, pipe, shingle layer, then recover with tosoil

if the group ‘works’ then small group, otherwise on own.
works – roughly same ability/speed/interests, reliable, no hassle etc etc.
Sadly my working group dismantled itself a few years ago, it means I do much less ‘different area’ riding as a weekend on your tod just isn’t as appealing as a weekend with mates.

information really – re the being ‘late’ issue and ‘To me it suggests that they believe their time is more valuable than yours which is just plain arrogant.’

when I was younger and in a group of singletons who used to meet up to socialize there was one woman who was always late (and not just by 10 mins), under the influence of drink she stupidly revealed that she was always late as she didn’t she why she should hang about waiting for people – we never waited for her again……….