I have a new cooper as the random runabout and I think its a great car.

Got shot of a Jaguar XF as I never used it much but I wanted something cheapish but interesting to fall back on. Never really thought about a mini until I went to the BMW garage to look at the 1-series then took a 2year old cooper S out.
Fast with a heavy front end and slightly garish to my tastes…so I tried a black older model cooper S that was no where near as quick and rattled like hell…hard suspension, etc…

Ended up buying the new cooper instead of the S as I preferred the comfortable handling of the newer model and the 3 cylinder twin turbo is a lovely motor in that car. A great car, very pleased with it.

ps. I can get my bike in it fine if I take the wheels off…6’2″ with large bikes (road and full susser)

Senior NHS manager – I manage operating theatres mostly. I like it, its a tough job sometimes but I feel like I’m making a difference.
Done other things ranging from being a nurse, a resuscitation officer, lecturer, welder, education manager… I’m 46 so I suspect I’ll do something else before I’m finished.
Jas

Work out whats important, plan the change if you need to make adjustments (you cant just walk out of a mortgage tomorrow if you like with your family in the house..well you could, but I dont recommend it from experience) then make it happen.

My dad did the very same when I was 18. Left his high paid job and bummed around the Med. He reckons it probably saved his sanity….others reckon he was a self centered tool. Either way it was his choice, his life etc… I dont see that it made him happy, he would still like the cash to do what I can now do, but thats part of his sacrifice.

I like my work. Its bloody hard, infuriating and frustrating. But I have no intention of retiring, each to their own though. If I hated my job I would be out in a flash…..
Jas

I use any. I just do heavy lifts with my trainers off.

I drink like a fish, as does my wife and pretty much every single one of my mates. In recent months its got out of hand and I’m stopping for a while too.
First few nights I’m irritable and tired through the day, after 3 or 4 days I feel better but still don’t sleep well, although sleep improves after a week or two. The weight drops off too, although I’m a pretty active/fit bloke the booze does keep my wight on the heavier side of where I like to be.

I like the idea of stopping…. but the social side of it would be a problem as I’d alienate myself from my mates and I actually like most of what I drink. I suspect I’ll spend the rest of my life trying to strike a balance.

Ive used the talkytoaster one all over the UK on and off road in its never let me down.

google fibromyalgia.
Jas

I just stay in a random one whenever I’m there. Not been in a crap one yet. Try the allerdale (I got engaged there to the current wife), or the portland, or stonegarth…

I just search wherever on trip advisor these days.
Jas

nope. Pile of dumbed down crap. You can over simplify some things…and this book does.

got the db air on my norco sight, I love it. Agree with mrhoppy, at 14 stone I can set it up and climb and descend without needing to touch the climb switch. If it broke I’d fit another one. great shock.

I was skint until I wast 25 then the last 20 years I’ve spent the cash before it came in, fortunately I usually had a good income to cover it.
Now I usually have £100-200 in a wallet and pay cash for stuff under that price (fuel, food, childcare). I leave £100 in the house “in case”, and I carry a visa that I could buy a new car with and have a couple of grand in the bank on the side. The rest goes on living,saving and fun.

I’m nearer 50 than 40 now…..it took me a long time to get to this stage!

I have an estate now so the bike fits in if its just me. But…..
Ive had roof rail and tow hitch type carriers and their is no real perfect solution. Roof rails can be noisy in the wind but the worst part I found was the mud dropping on the roof (pretty bad if you had miles to drive, its was crap weather and your car was nice). Tow hitch mounted was best for keeping the car tidy, but it can be a faff on getting the rack out the garage and fitting it…even more so if you fit a detachable hitch.

Now I just put the bike in the boot if I’m by myself, but I’ll fit a tow hitch for the multi rider days. I always found it easier to get 4 bikes on a tow hitch then 3 on a roof…. and I’m 6’2″.
ps, I my bikes are 26,27.5,29 and 700c tyre sizes and my last tow rack was the Thule 9503 3 bike one. Can’t really fault it but my mate has an old pendle 4 bike one and its good.
Jas

I use minions on my 29er. Trail centers, lake district epics/classics etc. spot on and I cant fault them.

I work with a girl who’s onto her second one now. She loves them, I think its ok, not for me (6’2″…its a bit tight). She does decent miles in it too… no issues I’m aware of (and I’d hear none stop if there were any issues…)

I need nothing to be honest. I started saving lately instead of spending. I’m quite firmly middle aged I have amassed enough toys to keep most people happy. Money helps but as I get older I realise its not the be-all I used to think it was when I was young & skint.
I suspect I need nothing more because of my mind set, not because of my financial position.

Just to show what a dinosaur I am.. I thought triple chain rings were the only logical option for years…I have 3×9 on my orange hardtail. But in the last two years I have added a 29er with a 2×10 and a 27.5 with a 1×11…. and guess what. I don’t actually think it makes much difference in the real world other than my handle bar set up is tidier with the 1×11. Seriously… thats about it.
(note, if I was unfit I suspect I’d notice the difference?)

get another accord. great cars, I miss mine.

What would you be thinking if the local garage did that to your car?
Sounds like crap service to me.

race kings are good. I had them on my old orange that I use for commuting on road and the odd local trail ride when I cant be bothered with the full-sussers. I have some no-name tyres on at the moment that someone donated to me, but when they wear out, I’ll buy race kings again probably.

I just purchased bits and pieces as I needed them. I inevitably find most pre-made kits have some items that I never needed.
Jas

I use an etrex20 and you can do all you need with it. Google talkytoaster for free maps. I think they are better than the garmin ones personally.

I just try not to judge people or their values based upon a car choice. Following stereotypes probably tells us more about ourselves than about anyone else.

My main car is a Jaguar XF but the weekend toy is a Mk1 MX5. A few have commented that I must be mad to cosset the old mazda in the garage and park the Jaguar on muddy tracks with the mountain bike in the back, but it makes sense to me…so thats all that matters.
Live and let live.

spend thousands online bike part shopping….. well, I’ve invested in this method but I’m yet to see the improvement. But I’m sure it should come at some point….

none for the 3rd month now. Well fed up. Knackered with no energy…blood samples and xray results awaiting…

wifes Jo I’m Jas.

I had marathon + on my tourer/commuter and had no problem for 3 years on the same set of tires….then I got a builders wall tie cut through one on the way home one night in the slush…

after wrestling for 40 minutes I walked home and even in my garage I had to cut the bloody thing off the rim with a hacksaw…lol

For performance as in grip/reliability then I’d go with the schwalbe then (I’m no expert mind… I just know whet rides well for me). My son swears by nobby nic / rocket ron combo but I cant actually tell the difference between them and the hans dampf / magic mary on the 27.5. Hes on a 160 travel cube stereo and I’m on a 140 travel Norco Sight ….both carbon trail/enduro type bikes. Both riding anything from 7 staines red/black to lakes and north yorkshire natural trails with the odd cheeky DH track thrown in.

army or RAF surplus. just search fleabay for them. £20 but they are just as good as the £100+ berghaus ones I used to have for hill walking.

Got hans dampf / magic mary on the 27.5 all mountain type setup I ride and conti high roller 2 on the more trail ride setup 29er. The hans dampf/magic mary tyres are in a different league from the high rollers on the rough forest/DH type trails but the high rollers are WAY faster.
Not sure if that helps but I’m happy with what I use them for.

I just do my own every year or two. takes 40 minutes.
Jas

need to be a bit tougher. My two labs never go on the bed or chairs. I’d never get any sleep with those two anywhere near the room.

ps. I toured for 10 days using (sparingly) three batteries and a spare memory card for the hero2.
Jas

get a second hand hero2. no remote or wifi but i’m not convinced i’d need either of those really. you can get replacement batteries etc cheap on fleabay.

done both as I live near newcastle and my longer rides usually started from home. its about 110 up the a68 and 130 up the coastal route. The a68 is crap on a bike but I didnt have the nightmare some of the replies above seem to indicate you will have. The coastal route (coast & castles, get the map) is great in places, but if you follow the route you will hit some muddy fields just south of berwick and some busy roads on it too.
Id go coastal route and just modify some of it on google maps etc as the cycle path bits can take you the very long way around.
Jas

yup, I just straighten mine with an adjustable wrench then tap any irregularities out with a hammer and block of wood. works fine.

look on amazon for any of the Cree torches, or the petzel head torches are also great.
don’t be fooled by the low price… great bits of kit that Ive relied upon for years.

I live in the north UK. If I only rode non-boggy trails I’d be on the bike once a year.

@arcadian
Focus towbar (wifes car) quoted at £130 for me to fit with electrics from towsure, it doubles in price if you want them to fit it for you. Google them
🙂
Jas