sterling, great trip, photos and write up, hope the beer et all slipped down nicely.

mind racing and next years ideas brewing

for me personally (as a view, xc, natural, new place rider as opposed to dh/custom centre rider),
– accom – cheaper end, camp site, camping barn, hostel, self catering B&B/pub (pub with camoing etc), dorm hotel etc, within walking of other facilities
– eating – within walking, variety,
– trails – varied, accurately discribed in terms of distance and rideability by ability and climbs. I want to see scenery and some tech riding would be nice, enough trails for time in area without repeating, putting trails near or identify nearby scenery/architecture/spots of 'interest', eating places. As gf is a lot lower skill level it would be handy to have L = easy, M = hard, R = very hard, type trail branches that rejoin so we could both get round 'same' route and enjoy. Note that if a trail is one way that has some limitations – loops round a point/figures of 8 etc allow easy escape plans. I'd like a scenery rating – but guess thats pretty individual.
– route cards – OS Map format please, print offable.
-Route marking, please, please, please, please (repeat) have CLEARLY VISIBLE (unmovable by twatts) posts that have accurate N marker and grid ref embedded and the same number and track name as they have on the king route cards. Handy to know how long the unrideable (*by ability) bits are and climb details on each route.

– advice on integrated transport handy, – ie taxis that take bikes, trains, buses etc to make routes one way etc….

– any seasons to avoid/grouse/deer etc
– any tracks that fail under rain/etc ie seasonal conditions
– midge season info
???
cheers

cehck out Sunsail and Neilson sites (sailing/windsurfing/biking etc) some deals to be had (*I think)

if you're under 40 try UCPA (French system)

yep, very noticeable change from my youth (*and my environment – ie very little shooting in S England), even seen deer living in city centre cemetry, growing numbers, no natural predators, no bad experiences with humans (*generally speaking)

They used to scarper the instant they saw you, now they'll take a look and decide, often continuing to eat, see them pretty regularly when doing my local route.

Hi,
loving this, hope you're loving it too, awesome pics/trip.

Dad used to work at Cape Wrath, and I've had the good fortune to be stood at the Old Man of Hoy cliffs whilst two jets flew past, underneath me.

spareroom.co.uk or whatever it is

theere are a few websites – I have a Mon-Fri lodger – suits us both – house mine at weekends, he can leave his kit over weeknends …

sue w – please do the following for me
– find manager
– ask following questions
1 – have we given notice to all non-permanent employess and then offered them their job back at -15% rate, if not why not, that is an option the private sector are using and I know a bloke on a forum that it happened to
2 – could we have the option of either a 10% pay cut or a 10% headcount cut, as that bloke I know on the forum had that happen to two mates and by the way they only got 3 hours to make their minds up
3 – you know that bloke on the forum, well in his specialist field the product he uses, it's split into vertical markets – sales, automotive, order management, telecoms, public sector etc etc, he wants to know why the most highly available day rates are for the public sector vertical

re tax expense/suits
I tried and I lost:
– suit only required as I worked in a consultancy and I was required by my employer to wear 'professional dress', a suit isn't required for anything else in my life
– various letters – rejected
– tribunal – rejected
offer to go to court, and I would pay costs if I lost – too risky, gave up

tempted to try again in light of some mp claims that ere wholly,necessarily and exclusively' on behalf of their jobs

sterling

1- claim it as a legitimate employment expense on tax return (power, leccy, machine depreciation, single contaminated load etc etc etc)
2 – contact local MP and ask for expense claiming advice (www.faxyourmp.com – I'm only partly taking piss – get them onside)

TJ – 'wholly, exclusively and necessarily (for work)' – so I would contact tax office, forward a copy of instructions from your employer indicating tumble dry and claim, I'd also make sarcastic remarks re MPs and w/n/e – see above

jonjones

http://www.statistics.gov.uk/cci/nugget.asp?id=285

read thye last sentence in the first part please

Could try a DIY crow cage (used in Scotland by farmers)
chicken wire mesh box, not too big hole in top funnel shpe leading to ground(so they can fly in) and use ground bait in corner (well away from hole), with crows once they had flow in and walked away from the hole they couldn't get out – bang, mind you as the little sods have better mway lane discipline than most drivers they might be able to work it out………….

poss, we had real issue as there was an angling match on and quite a lot of twunt anglers resented having to move poles (ie cusing us to stop), even though they were blocking a ROW
plan a route near railway then you have a plan b

it'll be great,worked in Ottawa for a while, great country and people

travelodge seafront has location ( down a hill to pier/beach etc), and walkable to town

hotel was functional, take the missus to the 'Print Room' or whatever it is old Evening Press print building now cocktail bar/restaurant

ask for an exchange of facts with estate agent – but to be fair survey is at least something – and (if it suits you) put a deadline on exchange after which prices goes up by X%….
.
I did some digging in a similar situation, the 'cash buyer' was someone who's aunt had died, leaving a house requiring structural repair, once that was repaired and sold they'd have the cash ………..

put me on the list please, preferably on the one that ends at number 7 … ;+)

mail in profile cheers

friends did

registry office, I did music (ghetto blaster, supplied cd, and groom cues), casual or oxfam dress

reception was a hired public hall and an india takeaway delivery (paper plates etc cutlery supplied by b+g)
music (apart from first dance etc stuff) was supplied and played and played by guests on ghetto blaster
all guests helped putting up/down tables cahirs etc etc, rubbish collecting etc and brought their own booze etc

a great time was had by all

S of France – do the heat and coast and surf etc, then Northen Spain, – luscious really was, Potes, did lots of trail motorbiking – truly awesome. Beaches, then mountains, scenery, snow, awesome trails and happy waving people.

crossover – ? I'd say mountain bikes have completely pigged back on motorbike design, I personally can't think of anything that's gone the other way (stands by to be corrected) – however suspect thta given the massive change in bike money (upwards) suspect it might happen one day …)

increasing suspension travel
discs
suspensions – twin, single then linkage
http://www.promecha.com.au/leverage_linkages.htm

re primitive – derailleur, and try cost vs required function equation

awaiting, the first decent battery offroader

as an alternative
http://www.mxtryout.co.uk/

speed is relative ….

you're lucky, cleared out gfs shed, Stella, 2003, it's being used as slug bait, I took a gamble on the Fosters 2007 being ok …..

check your manual, there might be a towbar plug built in (as part of loom loom)
I used scotchlocks on mine (blue double connector with metal bridge), drill hole in boot, mate in to the rear light cluster wires with scotchlocks and zippy clip cable it somewhere – just need to buy lightbar and car side plug with trailing wire
** check manual – this may todger modern car electrics, this was an older car

I'd look at service costs/intervals/tyres etc (and take into account how much you'll do yourself) – that's high mileage for a bike

Consider the desirability of a fairing – I hated fairings until I started communting a fair distance all year round….. handlebar muffs may look crap but your hands will still work on cold days….

Consider the route characteristics, drop bars are great at 70, small/medium trailes are great in traffic but I wouldn't fancy 35 miles each way on a motorway.

Kawasaki KLE/Versys (twin 600ish)etc range seem to be great bread and butters.

Not being funny but could you have a car and park a bit out and walk/bike. (A diesel car doing 50mpg and taking into account better tyre life, MUCH longer servicing etc etc might be worth evaluating)

sorry, had to smile, posting as a non cat owner whose garden is a cat shittery and actually smells on hot summers days …………….

off-piste
http://www.savethepuffer.co.uk/holidays.htm

discover:
– surfing
– windsurfing
– kite surfing (*to be honest IMHO too impractical – too much personal space reqd)
– paragliding (*to be honest IMHO too impractical – but bloody good fun)

Hi, as I drive from Berks to Girvan (M6, M74)to see the crinklies I stopped at Arnside – ye olde seaside village near M6

Glasson was the other place I found that looked ok.

(*old codger and bird after scenery, nearby pub and chilled out evening without too many people about)

bramah – when I was a nipper (up North – as in Scotland) it was the generic term (among my dad and mates) used to identify something of extremely high quality and functionality.

http://www.bramah.co.uk/default.asp?lnc=bramah_locks

dont know if this will work but on mototbike chains you could use a pair of pliers to push the circlip on (one jaw on end of circlip one on other end of link and compress to force circlip over the pins)

when I was surfing I ended up going to Porlock and Exford area. Not much on coast. Tarka trail is a nice summers day bimble.

Hardrock is good

I'd suggest a look at Pauls Cycles (Giant tend to be ok or better) and Winstanleys web sites (etc etc etc) – as they sell last years etc at big discount. I'm saying this as IMHO the first bike is very much a learning experience.

If you can I'd say hydraulic discs and decent front susp (ie try and get decent non wear out bits) – the 'wear out' bits can be upgraded as part of the normal lifecycle.

If you want to do it cheap learn basic maintenance.

posssibly not quite as required but I think this bloke should get a mention

http://www.bloodhoundssc.com/news/from_outside_the_box/may_09.cfm

I've always wanted to do this one

http://www.streetmap.co.uk/idld.srf?x=262350&y=928190&z=120&sv=262350,928190&st=4&ar=y&mapp=idld.srf&searchp=ids.srf&dn=766&ax=262350&ay=928190&lm=0

from E end of Loch to road is easy (I've done that – not done from Crask Inn pub on W to loch *a report I saw said it was doable …..).

And here – http://www.streetmap.co.uk/idld.srf?x=231920&y=942605&z=120&sv=231920,942605&st=4&ar=y&mapp=idld.srf&searchp=ids.srf&dn=766&ax=231920&ay=942605&lm=0 not ridden ANY of this, but it looks interesting

if you do find any gems wouldn't mind a mail (in profile ish)

Cheers

http://www3.hants.gov.uk/cycling/cycling-maps-leaflets.htm

suprising good (*for a council)

Harris

2 routes

http://www.streetmap.co.uk/idld.srf?x=117818&y=900363&z=120&sv=117818,900363&st=4&ar=y&mapp=idld.srf&searchp=ids.srf&dn=764&ax=117818&ay=900363&lm=0

if that doesn't work, Trabert, E, N beside loch, yellow rd E then S, track W on coast – a true classic – called Reinigeadel loop

and start here
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/idld.srf?x=118733&y=911508&z=120&sv=118733,911508&st=4&ar=y&mapp=idld.srf&searchp=ids.srf&dn=764&ax=118733&ay=911508&lm=0

W, S on track,

check insurances required, I was told, so the following may be inacurrate, to go LTD company, as when it gets sued, it gets sued for everything IT owns. When a sole trader gets sued THEY get sued for everything THEY own.

You will possibly/probably need professiuonal indemnity insurance – if you cock something up professionally, poss third party liability sort of ins – ie an office worker trips over your bike in the office and sues you, and poss your own liability – ie you trip over a cable and sue…… – as you're not an employee…..

Get some adive in this would be my tip

Here is, pretty much verbatim, the medical advice I got for a cracked rib

"don't cough, don't laugh, don't come back'

Hi Nick, sorry – I'm sure you're right, but I can truthfully say I've never been anywhere (including Glasgow and Paisley in the 80s) where there were so many aggressive, stupid wanting a fight with a stranger drunks – you know the sort who push their mate into you to start a fight – Mrlow Hight Street – you could get fat on the chips on peoples shoulders……

I lived there, westish side, ok, could ride direct from there Knowl Hill, Holyport etc.

I'd check your work route if you're commuting at normal times and live around that (bad 423M 308/A4 etc etcetc M4/M40access jack at rush hours) – also if you have a car check street parking where you live or get a house with a drive. Also if you can read maps that will make you stand out, e.g rather a lot of property near the river is built on what (especially old) maps call 'flood plain' – a fact that lots of housebuilders and buyers apear to have missed ……

Top tip – Marlow = sophisticated, like a coffee enema – avoid

Reading has more facilities (issues with river crossing ..). Twyford is a nice village.

S A34, off at E Ilsley, park in village(it's a hugeish squarish roundabout with a wide bit), sort of oval ride from there, out due E, the N to Ridgeway W, across A34 far as you want and the sort of SE sort of E to E Ilsley