PapaWheelie my work colleague has a later Xdrive X3 with the on demand 4wd. It’s a great car 8speed auto box. The tyres will probably be summer tyres Pirelli Cinturatos over here. Budget for some decent all weathers. They will be runflats probably on a BMW.

My old Dad has a loft full literally hundreds in case he ever needed one for his old valve radios.

Any reason why it has to be a different country. There are plenty of rural isolated places in England. Northumberland springs to mind. Alnwick and the Northumberland coast would be my first thought.

Taking my 14 yr old Son to see Brit Floyd at the Sage in Gateshead. He is mainly in to some sort of rap that I don’t know what the genre is but he loves PF cos it’s retro innit! “Looks at Fender Stratocasters on interweb”

I think portion size is the key as you say Mike but even going carb free as in rice pasta and bread you are still getting carbohydrate from veg. The problem is as you say portion control and the fact that it seems to cause a craving due to a spike and crash in blood sugar. I still eat carbohydrate but I’ve cut it right down to an arbitrary level that I think is about right. Rising obesity levels would suggest that this is really hard to control. I would suggest mixing the carbohydrate with fibre so it takes longer to digest.

Mercedes in general had real problems when they switched to water based paints due to health and safety legislation. Early Mercs last really well I think post 2004 Mercs had real problems.

Mickmcd I’m sure your right. I didn’t want a Hope hub and wide rim. I ideally wanted a Mavic rim 19mm wide with at least 32 eyeleted spokes with an Xt hub. My go to wheels have always been Merlin but they don’t seem to offer the old combinations they once did. I don’t need a mega light wide tubeless rim with a super strength hub. Overkill for what I ride. I am 6ft 4″ and about 95 kilograms so it needs to be sturdy-ish. I can see some scrap aluminium at work being appropriated.

Can’t you only store so much carbohydrate for conversion to energy. Where as your body can keep fuelling you from fat for much longer or so I thought?

Surely at your age you should be trying to capture your lost youth and be wearing some classic adidas or converse!

Be careful blood is always thicker than water!

I dislike the word diet because it implies a temporary change. I changed what I ate because of health issues and have found a balance that I can stick with so far, 10 months in. It’s not cheap either. Nuts are damned expensive and the amount of salad I eat is really expensive. Have to get a green house going I think!

Simple rules for me are no snacks after tea (dinner for our southern friends) till breakfast. Keeps the old blood sugar stable. After dinner if I’m not riding in the evening I go for a walk 45mins with the pog every night hopefully keeps the old metabolism going.

It is just the best feeling watching them pedal for the first time. Top parenting FBJ!

Dantsw13 That is great news. Education really is the key here regarding food. I have to say that if I listened to my NHS diabetes nurse and dietician regarding my illness I would still be type 2 and medicating. Metformin stops the liver producing energy from your fat reserves to regulate blood sugar. Exactly what you don’t want if you are trying to loose the fat. I disregarded most of their advice and cut out sugar and carbs. I did increase my exercise but it was hard on the metformin because I ran out of energy because I wasn’t eating carbs. Catch 22. Agreed with my nurse to cut the metformin dose and bang started to loose the weight very quickly in fact so quickly people thought I was ill!

I eat more fat including nuts seeds avocado cheese, full fat Greek yogurt, olive oil than I ever did. My wife had serious problems coping with fat due to Gaul stones. So we ate low fat high carb meals. This in hindsight for me was the worst thing I could of done. The weight piled on despite riding and being fairly active. I have lost about 5 stone since March last year. All I have really done is cut the carbs right down and reduced my sugar intake to lactose in milk and the sugar in fruit. I never eat cakes or biscuits or Choccy bars. For me it was the carbs and sugar causing the weight gain. The health benefits outway the sense of deprivation.

I agree with the hunger pang feeling. I never feel hungry and have to remember to eat sometimes. I never crash now or bonk when riding and my fluid consumption on a ride has dropped dramatically not quite sure why maybe because I’m not processing carbs for fuel or maybe converting fat to energy releases water? Don’t know!

My opinion based purely on my own assumptions about rising levels of diabetes with obesity levels sky rocketing and the fact that I feel a hell of a lot better since I reduced my wheat intake down to about a tenth of what it was. Since when have facts got in the way on Singletrack! 😉

I firmly believe that white refined flour is one of the worst things that has happened to our diet. Our bodies are just not designed to metabolise gluten properly. Sugar being the second worst thing. It’s funny every time I go out for a meal or to a party and they have a buffet or party food it’s all pizza, pasta, chips, sandwiches, pies, pastries, bread sticks etc. All carb heavy because it’s cheap to produce. So that leaves me with the odd chicken leg and salad.

Unless it rattles. Oh sorry that’s only VW group cars with chains that were pressed with knackered tooling due to VW cost cutting! If only everything in life was as!

My very basic thinking is we as a race survived for thousands of years eating plant based foods and meat. We didn’t eat a lot of carbs or sugar and seemed to get on alright. This move to low fat carb based diets together with more sedentary lifestyles really didn’t do me any favours. Eat properly and keep active is the crux of it.

I have reduced my carb intake to a quarter of what it was and changed the type i.e slow release higher fibre carbs. I have no desire now to go back or feel short changed in anyway. Turnip or swede, sweet potato, celeriac etc instead of potato. Obviously no added sugar, this is a biggy. Low fat foods now are packed with bloody sugar because it’s a cheap filler.

I’m 6ft 4″ so obviously it’s harder for us taller folk. Managed the 1.30 okay but 2 mins would of been a push I think.

I would definitely watch some of the Sky Team Nutrition videos on YouTube. There is some great advice for anybody who is interested in nutrition for cycling. Surprising how little carbs are consumed and how much good quality protein and fat is eaten and also protein during a race to protect muscle development. It was a real eye opener for me.

I use grenade carbkilla high protein bars for longer rides. Obviously I can’t risk anything with a high sugar content. Once your body learns to use your fat reserves for energy you won’t bonk anymore but it takes time. The only sugar I have now is lactose in milk and fruit sugars when I add fruit to my porridge in the morning. Blueberries prunes banana etc. I’ll eat an apple or pear with my lunch. Nuts are a great snack for riding. I’ll take a small packet with me for shorter rides.

Diagnosed type 2 diabetic in April last year now got all clear. Blood checked every 3 months. Please do not try any fad diets. Change what you eat and how you exercise permanently. Reduce your carbs up your good quality proteins and fats. Plenty of veg salad etc. Lose weight first then up your exercise. Very hard to do both properly. No wonder you bonked. Your body has to re learn how to utilise your fat reserves for energy instead of using the carbs you have just eaten. I am now leaner than I was when I got married at 26 and also a stone lighter, now pushing 47! I don’t eat white rice, bread or pasta. First eight weeks was hell though. A good old health scare is a great incentive to get things sorted out and a great motivator. Upside is I climb for fun now downside is it takes me a while to get going on the bike. All my mates running on carbs are quick out of the blocks and I’m kind of hanging on for the first 5 miles or so. After that I seem to get going and I can keep going when they hit the wall and bonk.

My Golf mk4 needed the bumper taking off to replace the side lights. In went led side lights guaranteed 50000 illuminations.

I have an old Tunturi Puch rowing type machine. It uses hydraulic rams and levers. It’s an absolute monster. There is nothing cardio vascular about it. I fall off mine in a heap. Only do 20 mins at a time. Every muscle group gets a good work out. Back shoulders arms legs abs you name it. I would never part with it. My sons tennis coach uses a concept 2 at the gym. He’s a fit bloke. I wiped him out on the rowing machine easily once I upped the resistance haha. Rowing machines are great old tunturi ones even better.

Mrs Inbred has a 110bhp 1.2 fabia dsg. It never struggles to keep up with any car. In fact it’s so good I thought about getting a fabia estate with the 1.2 110bhp engine.

Mondeo should be on your list. Great handling very comfortable and build quality to rival anyone.

See if any of the Toyotas use the same headlamp washers. Subaru often use Toyota parts. You might be lucky.

Just source a 1.9 tdi 105. Change the water pump and cambelt. There are 100’s of these engines about. Junkyard should be able to source an accident damaged one with a good engine. Take lots of photos as you unplug or unbolt stuff. If you haven’t done this before get a quote from JY. Most mark II Skoda’s had the 105 engine. I’m not 100% sure but the 105 wasn’t a Dpf engine.

Maybe get out on the back roads on a road bike. They are virtually empty most of the time. I know what you mean by riders and walkers. So much so that I normally now link up all the country back roads with the odd bridleway round where I live. 29er on semi slicks. Only see the odd roadie usually.

Roof bars and rack?

I’m a serial tyre swopper so no I haven’t changed to tubeless yet. Never found a tyre combo yet that I’m happy with all year round.

What is your budget? Is it just a head unit or a combo your after. I’m very impressed with the Marshall 40 DSL but might not be enough headroom for you. Victory heads sound superb. Awaken the kraken!

PP do you build up rims? Or have any for sale.

Thanks tthew. Never thought of buying the bits then getting it built. Might see if I can get a 36 hole xm719 29er rim to match that xt hub.

Never thought about wheel building. I’ve worked in engineering for 30 yrs so should be able to pick it up. Are straight pull hubs for the spokes a lot better vs cost? I don’t mind spending a bit of cash as long as it’s a reliable solid build that isn’t to heavy and noisy. When I ride to get some miles under my belt for cardio I like it to be quiet so I can relax and forget about work etc. Noisy hubs are ok at Hamsterley with my Son when we are messing about! I love the Cannondale it’s like my do it all gravel bike but a bit more capable if it gets a bit rough.

I’m 15st (6ft 4″ though!) I used to get my rims from merlin mavic rims xt hubs etc. Mainly bridleways 3 ply tarmac with a bit of smooth singletrack. The wheels needed the spokes retensioned when I got the bike. Since then a few spokes have snapped where they go through the hub. Long walks back to car!

Don’t get a pram. They are a posey waste of money and space. We got an all terrain buggy with a swivel front wheel. You could use it level like a pram and then when they get a bit older you could tip it up and use it forward facing like a buggy. Folds up and goes in the car easy as. Ours was a mothercare one that was passed on to a friend so it really lasted several sproglets.
http://www.mothercare.com/prams-and-pushchairs/mothercare-xtreme-pushchair-travel-system—red/785964.html?cgid=prams_pushchairs#sz=12&start=27

Best engine for reliability for that era is the 20 valve 1.8 T. I had the mk1 vrs. Great engine used no oil. Had a proper belt not those stretchy chains with the worn links from new depending when your chain was punched out with old tooling!

I think we all go through periods like this. It seems to me you’re putting a lot of pressure on yourself for this up and coming tour to the point the training has become a chore. Get in the Gym on a spin bike, mix things up a bit. Get in the pool do a few lengths etc. Spring is round the corner, longer days warmer weather. When it’s cold like this I head for the hills and just climb climb and climb for maybe 45 mins to an hour then just drop back down. Feet and hands get too cold in this weather for anything more than a couple of hours.