“and that’s key as had a few occasions to call an ambulance. A phone battery drained by apps is no use in an emergency”

…exactly that! Keep your phone to make phone calls if you need to …nowt else

Might be a bit old school on this one, but I suspect there’s a massive difference in attitude on this one depending on entry route into MTB! If you’re old like me, come from a mountaineering and paddling background, then you’re attitude is likely to be different to the “Glentress Generation”

I sometimes think about resurrecting an old Nokia for rides.

Have done exactly that. It stays turned off inside a small dry bag. It’s my “get out of jail free card”!

Why do you need a smartphone when out riding?

A Garmin Edge 810 outsmarts any phone based nav system
A Casio G Shock watch tells me the time
A small bombproof/waterproof camera takes all the pics I need without having to worry about a flimsy smart phone

…ah … I hear the cries now, “Strava”, “Social Media Updates”!! …

I’m considering some wetsuit booty socks from lomo £8
https://www.ewetsuits.com/acatalog/neoprene-socks-wetsuit.html

These, but cut up to make a neoprene gaiter to seal the top of the boot … works a treat for me

A furlong is 220 yards …

…and 22 yards is the length of a cricket pitch, or a chain, so 10 chains to a furling and 100 links to a chain. Even our glorious Imperial system had elements of decimalisation!

Now, go fathom that one …2 yards or six feet, or 1.8 metres!

Your right,lets, its gotten to the point that I dont recognize it any more.

Captain … again outstanding!! Looks like this one is our private joke!!

Surely people just nick stationary from work any way?

They’re just asking to get nicked. Must move faster.

Brilliant!!! …your humour wasn’t lost on me! Lets stand up for the correct use of our beautiful language!!

Really like having my watch buzz on my wrist so I never miss a call

…erm … I go mountain biking to escape all that!!

Personally, cheap and cheerful Casio G-Shock works well for me

A big plus one for the Osprey Escapist … I have two! Long story, but I had 25 litre one that I was using at weekends which I was using leading groups so had all the usual stuff in it (first aid kit, group shelter, repair kit, tools etc) which I didn’t want to carry on my commute and ended up buying an Escapist 18 for the commute.

Can’t fault it at all

We used to live in Devon and did almost the reverse of what you’re planning in moving to Berkshire. We certainly miss the access to the moors and the sea and the generally quieter lifestyle. Having said that, although it’s still a bit of a slog to get anywhere, we have found ourselves getting away to both North and South Lakes, the Peak and the Lakes a lot more than when we were in Devon.

The SW peninsula is quite geographically displaced from the rest of the country and certainly notice that now we have better access to airports, channel ports and more services and facilities than in Devon.
As for finances, house prices are generally cheaper in Devon, but we found the cost of living generally higher. If you live out in the sticks like we did public transport isn’t a realistic option so every journey is by car. A 70 mile round trip to work or a 40 mile round trip to the nearest big supermarket/cinema/town centre can get a bit tedious and racks up the fuel bills. Odd things as well, SW Water bills are amongst the highest in the country because of all those beautiful beaches to keep clean!; fuel prices tend to be higher; and because lots of areas suffer rural deprivation or high seasonal unemployment you might find that there isn’t the range of goods and services you might be used to in Surrey.

However, having said that, if you can balance the books and aren’t too fused about proximity to airports, big city facilities etc, then I think you’d generally live a better lifestyle, although personally I don’t think we’d go back. I guess we’re lucky living in still living in a rural area yet with good access to transport network etc.

Long term: Birkebeinerrittet in August 2017
Medium term: Bikepack a double SDW
Short term: keep turning those pedals a having fun!

theotherjonv sums my own experience perfectly and I agree with

dovebiker – limitations are really down to the rider/ fitness / imagination.

northerntom It made me realise how overbiked some people really are.

… absolutely spot on there!

Sorry to spoil all your finger lickin’ fun, but just google “KFC food poisoning”

If you have the misfortune to live in Norwich …
http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/second_complaint_made_to_kfc_about_food_poisoning_at_mile_cross_lane_restaurant_1_4580979

Yawn!! …all this talk about tyres is quite tyresome really! I don’t even know what tyres I have on my CX bike. What I do know is that I enjoy riding it!

Cheers …looks like a good call!

Just wondering about choice of size. A 35mm tyre is in the upper range of the 45mm guard. Is it worth going for the 50mm guard to give a little more clearance to stop it getting clogged with mud? My commute can involve some pretty muddy bridleways which did occasionally jam up the Racebaldes last winter

Massive Endura fan here. MT500’s worked perfectly for me last winter over a pair of bib shorts and are quite packable if things start to get a bit too hot. (Means you end up riding in just lycra though :oops:)

Contacts all the way. Even if (like me) you’re long sighted and need a varifocals you can get a contact lenses prescription to do the same job by having one eye prescribed for distance and one for close up.

Sounds a bit wierd, but your brain will compensate.

Have a word with you optician.

Vertebrate Publishing’s Cotswolds Mountain Biking is a good source of info

Like fasthaggis, it’s some of his old tools that I still have and use. Whenever I use them I can always picture him saying to me “if a job’s worth doing, it’s worth doing well.”

My Dad dies when I was a slightly rebellious early twentysomething and I wasn’t interested in emotional attachment to possessions. I think as we get older that grows and I now regret not having kept more of his stuff. Why and for what I don’t know other than to gather dust in the attic, but to occasionally evoke powerful memories.

one of these …
https://www.petzl.com/US/EN/Sport/Packs-and-accessories/SPATHA

Massive +1 for Contigo, but if there is a downside they keep things too hot.

As fasthaggis says, they’re a mix of a flask and mug.

They’re standard issue in our family!

Buttering Hot or Cold? Depends on its final application, especially if intended for use as soldiers with egg.

Hot buttered toast makes for rather limp, floppy soldiers that just can’t penetrate to the oozing goodness that awaits the insertion of a nice firm soldier!!

Thanks … some good tips there. I think I’ll be fine! It’s only for two weeks and then I’m back to my normal routine

Thanks guys … ploting already!! :-)

And IF you have a pretty numeric way of looking at things. An artist mate of mine is brilliant at what he does but away with the fairies when it comes to finance, does he listen to a mate ? A financial advisor who has his or her own interests at heart ? Its sometimes not as easy as saying that folk are just lazy

Exactly that, and it’s all a matter of personal choice and what’s right for one person isn’t for another.

Personally, mortgage free on residential property and interest only on a rental property investing the renatl income to provide a better return than if paying a repayment mortgage. When the mortgage term expires I have the flexibility to either:
1. spend my investment to own the property outright,
2. remortgage on another buy to let ineterst only, or
3. sell and take the equity keeping my capital investment

It’ll depend on a mix of things. My personal financial needs at the time, the financial climate etc

a five day intro to Sea Kayaking course with the Glenmore Lodge

:-) … excellent! I did a similar course at PyB. Highly recommended!

Happy Paddling!

I would be interested to hear where folks paddle, especially from those who live away from the obvious areas (eg: N Wales/West Coast of Scotland, SW etc) — all those places are now a 4 hour + journey for me now :(

Interested to know how people get their kayaks around after purchase…..

On a roof rack :-)

Currently using two Thule Kayak Carrier 874 to get our two boats onto the top of a Land Rover Discovery. We have to load from the back onto the rear craddle and then push the boat forwards.

Previously, on the top of an estate car we used a couple of J Bars.

People’ll have different ways or views on the subject. It’s a question of what works for you. A few tips that you might find helpful:

1. Always check the hatches are on properly
2. It’s worth investing in a cockpit cover
3. Tempting as it is, don’t load stuff in the boat before putting it on the roof … you’ll knacker your back in no time at all!

Interesting stuff … who’s calibrated their pressure gauge recently?! :-)

Sit on paddling and sea kayaking are two totally separate activities.

Sit on’s great for pootling but you can’t cover distance and have all the manoeuvrability of a bath tub!

…. just noticed MrHopy’s post!!

petec – Member
what about a siton?

something like Tootega

Shows true sea kayaking snobishness and shakes head :-)

Someone’s already eaten the Bertie Bassett!!

I disagree about plastic for rock hopping (although I’m in a minority). A composite boat scratches with minimal effect on drag, plastics don’t, it’s relatively easy to fix composite boats whereas plastics (if you break them) are more difficult to get done well

Don’t necessarily disagree with that, but I think it depands on just how serious you’re going to get. I know exactly what you mean about the effects of scuffs and scratches on drag on plastic boats, but I think it won’t effect the majority of paddlers unless they’re serious expeditioners.

I prefer the responsiveness of a composite boat too

Yep … that’s why I got a composite boat, but at the time (15 years ago) plastic moulding wasn’t as advanced as it is today and aren’t the edges on plastic boats much improved?

I’m not really that up to date with the market as paddling has dropped down the activities list a little behind climbing, walking and cycling so am happy to stand corrected!

a sea kayaking course where you can try out a load of boats?

+1 … not so much re boats, but more learning techniques and how to read the water, undesratnd tides and currents etc.

I would add a palstic P&H Scorpion to the list. I bought my missus one as her first sea boat and has loads of fun in it. Unless you’re going to get into the sport really seriously I wouldn’t consider a composite boat. I’ve still got a P&H Capella which I love, but don’t have as much fun in it rock hopping and suffering as my wife does in her plastic boat … too worried about damaging it.

Tracking, stability and agility is a always going to be a bit of a compromise. I could bore for England, but any specific Q’s I’d be happy to try to answer.

Go for a boat with a skeg, but avoid rudders!

What a lot of twaddle … have any of you read Chipps’ editorial in Issue 107? :-)

Every HT rider may think they’re a riding god but I’d prefer to ride further and faster, in more comfort.

… and every FS rider also thinks they’re riding like a god!

When I did a stint as a ski instructor I always used to say it’s better to ski a blue or red in control and with style rather than hurtle down a black out of control just to earn the bragging rights. Maybe the analogy stretches to MTB??

Lights touch paper of big rocket this time :D :D

a hardtail makes you pick your line better

… Exactly!! … sure, for pure DH, an FS is the right tool, but an FS masks a skills deficit for most riding

Lights blue touch paper and retreats :D

Are you saying there’s no difference when the lenses are clean? Or just that (surprisingly?) Oakley lenses aren’t very clear when they’re covered in mud?

Yep … statement of the bleeding obvious on my part, but I guess that’s the issue and I think you’ve answered the question:

I wouldn’t wear £200 (prescription) lenses for that because they’d get dropped/squashed/scratched, and in those situations the clarity doesn’t matter so much.

The optical clarity between Oakleys and cheap sunglasses is very noticeable

Even when splatter with mud, covered in sweat or caked with sea spray?

My real world experience begs to differ

Worth the money – probably not.
But… its all relative – and you could ask the same question of many, many people riding very expensive bikes in RideLondon yesterday.

exactly!

see also the expensive trinket thread. Just different priorities I guess

Nil poi … poor rant and crap story.

You bit! It’s their karma and your zenometer went into the red whereas you could be still chilled, smug in the knowledge that you’ve sold your wheels

i too, dont get expensive watches or such

If I had £3k of bling strapped to my wrist the chances are I’d scratch it or bash it up the first time I wore it.

Also, isn’t a bit like having a big sign on your head saying “mug me”?!
(very carefully avoided placing a comma there :D)