I’ve got a 2000 w focus estate that is still going strong. I’ve had it from 6 months old. Well looked after now on 151K .. and I am surprised it still can be used as an everyday car.

The last few photos on the second page have the whole wall as book shelves.
Just wondering if this was built by a carpenter or bought in?
And if built what raw materials were used.

Wow – a lot of work there. good job.

I like your built in storage.

What did you use to build it? (The boards I mean)

I walked past a car that had a skirts kit and a big spoiler on the back at the weekend. The owner and some pals were standing on the street trying to look cool.
My daughter who is three announched that the car was broken.
When I asked why, she ran forward and pointed at a 6 inch crack on the front bumper.
Made me laugh. Granted it was a Japanese car parked outside a Chinese takeaway.

Spoiler

I watched the whole 5 series and I was amazed to find out that McNulty is a english plummy actor. Even before it became hip for uk actors to play major roles on US TV. Great job

The Wire is ace

Watch it

Depends what you mean by photo editing?

Photo manipulation, removing a shadow, replacing someones head .. photoshop has been the standard for many years. You don’t need the latest version anything cs is fine.

For grading photos, changing their colour, correcting exposure Lightroom is very good.

Although Lightroom is technically better and faster I have used photoshop for over 15 years I always end up going back to it.

Is a Galaxy/Sharan not about the same size as a SWB T5?

VW Transporter Dimensions

* Overall Length (mm) 4890
* Overall Width (mm) 1904
* Overall Height (mm) 1969

2006 galaxy

Length 4641 mm
Width 2142 mm
Height 1730 mm

I would imagine a Galaxy would be quite a bit more expensive than a T4/5.

Also with a transporter you could have a cool family / camper vehicle / bike van.

Would you not fit 5 in a large estate car like a V70 or Mondeo?

Hope the cyclist gets a nice crimal record that cocks up his law career.
Posh = above the law?
I think his video has backfired somewhat. What an arse.

I don’t like a lot in my pockets.

A bottle with a lid. A water bottle in the second cage.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/SearchResults.aspx?Search=Pro+Storage+Bottle

There are longer ones as well. Takes tyre levers, multi tool, spare tube, repair kit etc. Just leave on bike. Also pump with attachment on bottle cage.

All stays on bike so just need water & food, keys etc to remember.

You can get sporty VW vans in the T4/5 size.

http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/transporter-t5-sportline-kombi-owner-reviews

“This game’s rubbish. Why does no-one expect for VW do one with over 100hp? “

Van’s have much higher insurance and are aimed at business use.
Whether you like it or not a people carrier fits your needs.

Or a camper?

Cracking programme

Bey’eck

There was a good vid of him doing 200 mph round the TT on his site, can’t see it mow though.

Welcome to Guy Martin Racing – the official website of Guy Martin

Bromptons may look a bit funny, but they ride very well and can be folded or unfolded in 30 secs and take up a small amount of space, and will fit between seats etc, under your desk, approx the size of a travel bag.

If you go to any of the main train stations in London. A large number of people with bikes have bromptons. It’s there size and easy of folding that makes them sell.

If you haven’t tried one I would before making a decision.

Looks like I have the same problem.

I have made 5 purchases this year from CRC.
Just got a call from MBNA. Vodaphone top ups, multiple £20 trying to be taken from my credit card.
Thats the second credit card I’ve had this happen to recently.

Other than the worring fraud this is a major pain for me as I am working away from home alot and it takes a while for new cards to get sent out and your online access reset.

Talking to the fraud department of MBNA they said that it could take up to 18 months before attempts are made to take these topups from your details. In other words your details could have been taken and be dormant for a long time.

One of those big plastic storage boxes you see at B&Q etc. Like a small shed.

Something like this.

http://www.homebase.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?langId=110&storeId=10151&partNumber=1728549&c_3=3|cat_14280522|Garden+Storage|14282833&c_2=2|cat_16849255|Sheds+and+Garden+Buildings|14280522&c_1=1|category_root|Garden+and+Outdoors|16849255

They are good and dry inside. You could add some more security like said above.

Three Fish

What have you got over the top of the seat post.
A chainstay cover?
Does that work well and keep the dirt out?

My wife was not impressed with me when I shouted at a “youth” for attacking a large tree (living) with an axe on the lochside of Loch Lubnaig.

It is a shame when the drunken groups spoil the freedome of campervan & fishermen along these lochs.

I wouldn’t dismiss coming in along the thames path. Its pretty flat, no traffic and quite pleasant.

Having been made redundant a few times and gaps between contracts, like others say it is a hell of a lot easier to find a better / closer / more suitable job if you are currently employed.

Even if you have some cash in the bank it goes so fast if nothing comes in and it can take months to actually start working. You will get more stressed , more likely to take anything as time goes on. Or you could wait to get your dream job. More importantly there is no reason why you couldn’t get the same dream job while commuting.

I have done a lot of commuting and yes you lose most of your free time during the week. But I actually found I didn’t mind the train, with a busy work and family life a hour each way on the train was good for reading, doing work stuff, planning what next etc. But yes the all in travelling was taking 3 hours a day out of my life, but you can make use some of that time on a train, not much you can do in a car.

Driving is a lot different, especially in or near London.
Expensive, kills your car, you will be wound up arriving a work or home, far more tiring.

yes there is a difference

I stopped drinking tea & coffee a few years ago.
Mainly due to over indulgence in coffee and spending much of the afternoon in the toilet.

Pros of no caffine
– less toilet stops
– more energy generally

Negs

– can feel like a numbty in certain social occasions
– pick me up in the morning

Stress is real.

Unfortunately in my own case I could not go off on the sick as selfemployed. Getting throught it now but I realise now that a month off a year ago would have saved me from the many hellish months over the last while.

My dad was a head of dept teacher and retired slightly early due to stress after collapsing at work. He is fine now also having to deal with cancer treatment (successful)

I am pretty convinced that he would not still be here if he had continued in his job.

There is a time when you need to take a break and recover.

I would agree with “mmb”

I had a single speed setup with a singulator tentioner springing down which work ok for a while. But when I swapped out the rear cog to a different size it would slip under any decent load.

Changed over to the same fixed bolted tensioner shown above with the same, chain & chainring etc.

I’ve had no problems since.
I use the two bolt with the chain on the top of the roller.

Liked it too.

Beautifully filmed.

Good to see Matt Damon in a character role. He was great in the bourne films but it is the first time I can think of seeing him when you forget it is Matt Damon. (Ment as a compliment.)

You need sturdy stiff footware at the least to traverse snowy slopes. If you can’t kick into to the slope you should not be there without crampons etc / winter walking gear.

If the snowpack is frozen / icy you need to look at mountaineering techniques.

Are you on your own? Not a good idea.

It is not the norm to say hello there, only god knows why. It also includes bus stops, supermarket queues, pub etc.

Around Richmond is a magic area to buy second hand / VERY little used bikes 🙂
A few outings and time to change ones bike.

p.s. I like the area, nice part of Londonshire. (Apart from people don’t speak.)

oops … but why would you go near the the sea in Feb?

St Andrews?

Edinburg?

If you like winter walking/climbing/skiing near the cairngorms if there is no snow you can go mountain biking ….

I think road biking can be very cheep.

After the initial outlay. i.e. bike, shoes, clothing etc.
It will run for many many miles, could be years with limited expense and a little self maintenance.

But like many sports the upgrade / hobby / keep up with the jones type of thing will emerge.
The working absolutely fine bike will be relegated to a winter bike and a spangly new carbon version will be its replacement and this cycle will be repeated over and over again.

It can be cheep .. and it can be very expensive.

I am not sure the steel one would be that rusty if the finish is half decent.
I have a 15 year old steel mtb now used as a commuter.
There is some cable wear right through the paint and knocks etc so slight rust in places. But considering this frame has had a lot of mtb use and onto winter no3 it is holding up really well.

I would think a steel frame / bike would be changed /upgraded for another long before any rust would be a problem.

Will there a dedicated bike storage area on the train.

On commuter trains unless you have a small fold up bike like a brompton, that will fit in-between the seats, hallway etc. Anything biggers will be a hassle and maybe with a full size you would be in the same boat.

I have even been questioned about taking a brompton on a train until I showed it would fit in front of me (short legs.)

They could have dualled the A9 north of perth for all the money already wasted. I like the idea of the tram but its not been delivered big waste of cash.

Get it from someone you know, old punter down the road, parents, friends etc.
e.g. my dad gave me his R reg vetra (in 2006) as he was only going to get £300 trade in.
I did 45k in it it over 2 years commuting on the motorway, only needed new battery and rountine servicing, never broke down or an probs.

Was still going but needed a a new Cat and I didn’t need it anymore so scrapers.

Not a cool car but it got me from A to B and did 40 odd mpg on the open road (petrol)

I still see some on the road …

Silly question …

But what brake levers / shifters work with drop bars and disc brakes?

And what are the plus points of disc brakes on a road / cross / commuter bike?

Ta

Its a fabric bag with a vecro srtip to strap it to the stem.
From Lumicycle See:

http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/which-lumicycle-bag-for-a-dx-battery

http://www.lumicycle.com/product/132/bag/battery-bags-for-li-ion-batteries.html

Although the don’t seem to do the small elite one anymore (thats the one I have I think.)

I would also go for a plasic bag if really wet.

I have a DX light and a torch.
I found them pretty good. And very good for the price.
Like the above post I got a better bag to put the battery in.

Been using the light mainly for commuting offroad where there are no street lights. About an hour a day the battery lasts the week. I ended up not needing to use the torch for normal biking but grand as a regular torch and the battery lasts for ages. p.s. The torch has a touch metal casing.

I would second the electric oil filled heater. We have a couple from B&Q (I think.) They have a thermostat and timer so can be left on all night etc. With the doors shut they heat the room quickly and you can have the heating off in the rest of the house.

The Vulcan (only one still airborne)was flying at the Leuchers airshow this Saturday past, quite a sight and noise.

Pics from last year
http://www.airshow.co.uk/gallery/2009-flying

last one was particulaly pish …. no ending really

Love it .. thats a great shot.

Riding to Dusk … young