Camping Ascou la Forge outside Ax les Thermes,in the Pyrenees.

Run by a Dutch couple who specialise in outdoor actvities,kayaking,canyoning,mountainbiking ,etc.
They have a room full of maps and info you can use.Its possible to walk down into Ax on footpaths.
The toilet block is the best i have been to in France,and i’ve been to a lot.
Tour de France regularly passes the site and it will become busy in July with Dutch campers.
I’ve done quite a bit of road cycling around there and its great.
Col de Palihieres is up the road with spectacular walks down to some small lakes.
This is probably my favourite site in France.

Really underrated bike.Maybe the Giant name just doesn’t have the kudos.

I’ve had a Reign since 2007 and its been great.The multi pivot works really well and the bearings lasted a long time and were easy and cheap to replace.Finish and paintwork were spot on.
My previous bike was an Orange 5 and the only thing in the 5’s favour was frame weight,but the Reign climbed far better.In every other department the Reign excelled .

If i was in the market for another full suss bike it would definitely be another Giant.

He spoke with his solicitor,the Guardia were present,and went through the disclaimer everyone signs.His disclaimer was legal,but i don’t think it would cover an accident due to something failing on the quad,or a hire bike.He has no insurance for this.
Does the EHIC card cover for such activities as quadding ? It may entitle you to treatment but does it cover the whole cost?
I believe the woman in the accident did have to pay something.
His solicitor did point out to him that he was the only quad business in the region without insurance,and also his prices were half everybody elses.I think that sums it up.

The guy has no insurance on his hire bikes and the incident with the Guardia occurred after a quad bike trip when a woman customer had an accident and was quite badly injured.She had no insurance, and my friend had no insurance on the quads he hires out.Gets the customers to sign disclaimers,although that is now looking like they are not worth the paper they are written on.
He’s had to suspend the quad trips and it looks like the insurance is going to be hefty.The woman from the accident had a near £30,000 bill for the helicopter and operations.

I got a pvc front door and frame,4 windows( one an opener) for £460 direct from the manufacturer.Paid 2 fitters a days labour and other bits and pieces at £260.

I went to look at a caravan that was on sale at a local dealers.
It was a 2005 and had severe damp in the rear panel,but the dealer was going to repair it.The caravan was in a terrible state and that was a 2005.
Looking around the other 2 berths he had another van in of the same make and age and told me to avoid that as that had bad damp as well.You could push your hand through the boarding and pull out rotten wet wood.That was going for repair as well.
The Dealer told me that when someone pulls in with an Avondale his heart sinks as it will definitely have damp and the owner will get a shock at the poor trade in value.
The manufacturers will only look at remedial work if the damp reading is above 25%.

If you get the ACSI card and book from Vicarious Books then you’ll have a wide range of ACSI inspected sites,all with a good discount using the card.I think its for camping only and not rental stuff.

If the budget allows ,do it.

Do you really need to go as far as Australia as there’s loads to do and see around Europe.
Me and the wife decided to take a year off and it rolled on to 11 years away.Back in the UK now for 18 months and it seems a bit stifling so we’re off again at the back end of the year with a one way ferry ticket.No kids though so that makes it a bit easier.

Depends what sort of towball mounting you have.If its a detachable or swan neck then you’ll have to go for one that clamps onto the towball.
If its the 2 bolt flange type then i’ve used a 4 bike Thule one.
A plate mounts onto the towball facing then the bike rack clips in and out of this plate.You can still tow with it as well,just watch the noseweight.Its east to unclip the rack and put it in the boot when its not being used.It can pivot as well to gain access to the boot.

I have a small car park that is used by employees and customers of a couple of retail premises i let out.
I get sick of people parking in my car park,which i pay for and maintain,then toddling off to the local post office or next door to the doctors surgery ( which has a large car park but my parking is nearer the entrance).
Sign’s,threatening or polite,make no difference at all because some people believe they have a right to park where they want.Its not worth me policing it and i’ve had big problems in the past with lack of parking spaces for the employees.
Its also parking across the entrance to the car park and on the pedestrian crossing in front of my property.

The wife does my upperbody with the electric dog clippers.
I get a bit nervous around the nipple area.
As i’m a little bit older some of my body hair is grey so it looks better removed,and around the nether regions as well.

Depends what sort of riding your mates going to be doing.
I have a flat and drop barred bike and the flat bar is more comfortable with the bar ends but you are out into the wind a bit.
I use the drop barred bike generally for longer quicker rides and only really use the drops when i’m in the mood to try and get a bit of a move on.

I’ve used Raceface Deus and XT and the Shimano system of assembly and disassembly is far easier.Can’t see one advantage of the RF over Shimano.

Renton,not sure if a 2004 TDCi C Max will have a dpf.I have a 2006 2.0 TDCi Mondeo and there is no dpf.

You do not have to renew the passport but you must keep up to date with the injections ,especially the rabies,but that normally lasts for 3 years(thats how our vet dated it ).
You’ll have to pay initially for the rabies injection and blood test,and a microchip if the dog doesn’t have one.

I know its a little bit over but i’ve just bought a Cannondale Trail SL2 from Pauls Cycles for around £550 posted.Looked around and couldn’t get that sort of spec for the money anywhere else.Full range of sizes as well.

A lot of years ago when i was about 10 or 11 i was on a boating holiday on the Norfolk Broads with my parents.
A boat was moored in front of us and as we got closer a young guy walking on the deck slipped off and went into the water.
I ran to the front of our boat and threw the rope out to the guy,twice,but his back was towards us so never saw it.In a few seconds he was gone.
His girlfriend was screaming and a fisherman from a passing boat jumped in but to no avail.
Just before this i was told to always wear the lifevest as the currents were really strong but unfortunately this guy didn’t have one on.Neither of my parents could swim and i think at that age with all the panic i never thought of jumping in.

Buy a caravan.Cheaper to buy and run.Less depreciation.No mot,tax,servicing and cheap insurance.
Motorhomes are ok if you’re moving on each day and want to do some wild camping.
If you intend using campsites and staying a week or so then a caravan is much more practical as you’ve got a vehicle to get out and about in.
Towings easy and if you don’t fancy reversing on a site get one with a motormover,Easy.
Modern 2.0 litre diesels are easily powerful enough,giving around 30’ish with the ‘van and 50’ish without.
Just looking to get another caravan myself after a year off and theres some cracking vans about in the 3 to 4k region.
Wouldn’t touch a old cheap motorhome with a bargepole.

geetee,is the guy on your left,not the one hidden,Steve Wade from Orange ?

Some of the Cubes have short top tubes.

I normally ride a 54 but looking at the Cube sizing to get the similar top tube length i had to go for a 58.Friend has just bought a carbon framed Cube and again had to go for the 58 instead of his normal sizing of a 54 or 56.

I’ve had some 32’s,140mm RLC’s with a quick release for about 6 years.
Only ever needed to change the seals and oil which is an easy job.
They do chatter a bit,back to front movement,and if your used to 36 bolt thrus then they will feel less solid.Means on technical stuff you have to pick your way down a bit rather than bludgeoning through.In defence they are pretty light and i’ve been perfectly happy with them for the techy stuff in Southern Spain.

As far as i know there is no central register of wills.
My dad died last year and there was no will in the house or the solicitors he used.Looking on the internet all i found were private companies that you could register the will with and my dad would never use that.
Your bank or solicitor may hold your deeds for free,just tell people or leave a note where your wills located.
The probate was a straight forward process but time consuming.

Its got to be the Canaries at this time of year.
I lived in Southern Spain for 12 years and Feb & March generally have the lowest temps and the most likelihood of snow in the Sierras.
In fact its just started snowing in the Sierra i used to live in and everyones got coats on.
Lanzarote is pretty desolate so Tenerife would be my choice.

I’ve always stuck to SDG or WTB for my seats (excepty for the really lightweight thin stuff).
Tried a Charge Spoon and was surprised how good it was for 15 quid.
Used it for a full weeks road riding in the French Alps with no problems but my bibs did have good quality pads .

b r are you serious.
Diesels tow better than petrols unless you’re prepared to pay the costs of running a big V8 or V12 petrol.
More torque is produced and at lower revs.Look at the Caravan Clubs towcar of the year and see how many petrols there is.

Been looking to change my Mondeo TDCi with something a bit newer.Need a diesel as i tow a caravan.

Virtually every make i’ve looked at seems to have some inherent problem with their diesel engine.
The best seems to be the Toyota 2.0 D4D and the newer Mondeo with the 1.8 TDCI engine.
Due to emission laws nobody seems to produce a low tech diesel anymore,no egr,dmf,dpf,turbo etc.

Went up walking there today with the dog.
There was no sheet ice on the Grove,in fact all the tracks looked pretty grippy with a thin covering of snow.The skills area looked really clear of ice.Theres been no thawing then re-freezing.
Would have quite happily ridden the mtb up there this morning but the bitter cold would have got to me.

I’ve some old Hope hubs,XC and Bulb,which have only ever needed bearing changes despite heavy use.Never even replaced the pawls and springs.Same as my WTB hubs.
Cup and cone on my road bike and need a lot of maintenance to keep them running smooth and with no play .When its time for some new road wheels Shimano is tempting but ultimately the cup and cone will stop me.

Wouldn’t touch an IMG organised event after reading about their financial link with Marie Curie.
Paying your £63 and seeing Marie Curie splashed all over the website i’d assume that part of my entry went to the charity.
Not so.I think for the Pennines etape Marie Curie paid IMG £100,000 for the publicity in the hope that riders would raise their own sponsorship for the charity.
My local council organises rides from 50 to 101 miles with a feed station and check in for £5.Better to support that than overpriced sportives .

I think some of the posters on here have no idea about the geography of Spain . It appears Mugboo is flying into,or intends to,Alicante,due to the mention of Calpe.

Fuengerola would be a full days drive from Calpe,and Ronda probably the same.
There is a bike park somewhere around Alicante which is mostly downhill but does have some xc stuff.Sorry can’t remember its name.
You’re really in roadie country being around Benidorm/Calpe so you could mix it up with the pros on the inland mountain roads.
From around Alicante the best riding is one and a half hours South in the Sierra Espuna ( Murcia region ).Easily enough trails for a weeks riding but no guiding company,although Saturdays sees loads of Spanish bikers in the park.Orange test prototypes there and the campsite in El Berro could point you in the right direction.
I’ve only done road biking in the Alicante area but there must be some mtb trails in the mountains behind.
There is also Biking La Manga,run by Geoff Cox,down the coast in La Manga club.He does good quality hire bikes and can provide routes into the small natural park below La Manga.

In my area the facilities are there to help people lose weight.

My wife went on a weight loss scheme,free pedometer and a weekly check provided by the local health authority.
She was given a minimum amount to walk per day,which she easily exceeded.Her diet was also looked at every week.There was nothing complicated.
She lost about a stone,felt fitter and permanently changed her eating habits.
The thing is the advisor said that my wife was exceptional amongst the people she saw.Some handed back the pedometers as they never walk anywhere and others didn’t change one thing in their diet.
She can go to the local council gym and swimming pool for just £17 a month,and no we’re not on benefits.
Maybe these opportunities are not available in other areas but here its brought to you on a plate (so to speak ).

Something just over £400 for 3 of you with bikes is cheap.
Try driving down from Calais and paying the diesel and tolls.Far more expensive,boring,and time consuming.
You could go Portsmouth to Santander or Bilbao but the ferry charges are really steep.

If its higher up in your eye close the lid then massage the area where the contact lens is stuck slowly and softly towards the centre of your eyeball.This should move the lens to the centre of your eye and remove it as normal.Works every time for me feels more comfortable than poking about on the surface of the eye.

Merlin are doing some Mavic Aksiums for under £150 i think.
Very pleased with mine and i don’t like the cup and cone Shimano hubs if you’re using the bike in winter.

The Park kit is very poor value as the patches are just not sticky enough.I used an energy gel wrapper on a road bike in the Alps to get me back,then stuck on a new tyre.Any piece of tough flexible plastic will do the job of a patch kit.

In a nearby village is a small council estate,with flats,where people and families from further afield are housed due to them causing problems in their original area.They continue to cause problems and are eventually moved on again.
For the long term residents of the estate this has caused a deterioration of the area,leaving some houses virtually worthless.
The benefit for the police and authorities is that they know exactly where to go when a crime takes place in the area.
People emphasise education.The children from these families go to exactly the same school as other children in the area so opportunities are the same.The difference is that the parents don’t care.
Separating children from “bad parents” may be more suitable than shipping off whole families.

We bought an old terrace house where the loft had been boarded out.
The building regs guy from the council came and told us to remove the boarding and insulation from the roof spars as no tile vents had been fitted and could cause damp in the roof.With the boarding the loft was draught free ,now on a windy day you can feel the draughts through the loft.

This word is used all the time to cover everyone in every situation.
Vulnerable.
I’m sick to death of politicians using it to try and make a political point.We’re all vulnerable to something.

Look at all these racist people popping down the **** shop or chinky giving money to pakistani and chinese businesses.If they were really hardcore they’d be smashing the windows or daubing graffiti
We’re on a slippery slope here.
If a certain section of the population are involved in criminal activity and are a “minority”, the establishment are shit scared to name the minority because its really easy to hurl the “racist ” word.
Just use it and walk away.Judge ,jury and executioner.