Hamsterley is your best bet.Marked blue to black routes and loads of fire roads up onto the moors.Try Hamsterley Trailblazers website for some route suggestions.

There is no correlation between rental figure and purchase price.
A 2 bed terrace down the road is on the market for 20k.Spend 10k.Rental income gross about £400 per month.Thats a high yield because you’ve bought it at a low price.Neighbour has a big 3 bed semi for rent.£500 per month is all the market will stand but the sale price is 125k.Thats a low yield and probably wouldn’t appeal to an investor.
The crucial figure is your buying price if everything else is equal.
With a low yield you may be pinning your hopes on a climb in prices in the property market to add some percentage points to the yearly “yield”.

If its a MK3 2.0 Tdci then theres no cam belt.Chain driven.
There is a long belt on the end of the engine for alternator and such which Ford say will last to 100K.Just had mine done at 72k as the crank pulley had gone so new belt as well.£160 inc labour.With a full kit including tensioner probably another £100 on top.
I’d be more bothered about the clutch and dmf at that mileage.On a car around 2004 vintage dmf problem may mean scrapping time.

The country lanes around my house are strewn with litter from a McDonalds drive thru opened about a year ago.Theres also a KFC and rip off coffeee place as well on the same complex.
I contacted Macs about the rubbish and their head office said it wasn’t their responsibility ,it was the franchisees problem.
The franchisee asked how to solve the problem.Close the drive thru,eat in only.That won’t happen.
I’m not fussed about people getting fat,obese,and dying early as thats their choice.Same as smoking.
What irks me is the mentallity of drive thru customers who fling their rubbish out of the car window.If i saw rubbish from my business littering the road i would be deeply ashamed.
In the good old days eating in a cafe meant a ceramic plate and metal knife and fork instead of eating off polystyrene with plastic utensils meant for a child..Progress ?

I’ve lived in Southern Spain for 9 years and NEVER seen average temps of 20 to 24 degrees during the day for January.Thats October temperatures.

Orange only manufactured the ST4 because they felt they were missing out on the multi linkage market.There was no appetite to make it as it was as heavy as the 5 ,less travel,and steered away from their “single pivot is all you need ” mantra.

Back in 2000 we sold our house and business and set off with a touring caravan with no real idea where we’d end up.
Worked in France and Spain on campsites,before actually settling in Spain for the past 9 years.We’re back in the UK and are slipping into mediocrity so looking at getting another ‘van.We still have the house in Spain,mountain village,and if the wife said sell the house here and go back i would.
Friends with a motorhome work on campsites in the UK in summer then head off to Spain or Portugal for the winter.A couple down the road with a motorhome worked for Canvas this year at Interlaken in Switzerland.Really enjoyed it and are doing it again next year.£1200 a month part time,with just food as overheads.
Its hard to explain but when you’ve done a fair bit of travelling about, seeing new places and meeting new people, it gets under your skin and itchy feet set in.

Is it like a Hope ,where, after removing the outer bearing in the freewheel the inner bearing is removed in the same direction passing through the outer bearings race and not withdrawn on the pawl side.

Bought a new Reign 0 in 2007 and can’t see what i’d swap it for.

After 3 Oranges,the Reign was like a breath of fresh air.This was a bike i just wanted to ride all the time,everywhere.
Excellent finish and spec,with a rear suspension that can actually outperform the forks,fox 140’s.In all the years its had an aircan service and the pivot bearings replaced once.
Wouldn’t look at any other make as Giant just seem to get the dimensions right for me.

According to the Civic owners forum problems with the 09’s clutches are starting to appear,even at fairly low mileages.
The clutch plate itself is not over expensive,but the DMF is.
Usually the clutch plate itself is not worn.I was told that it fails gradually as it has a self adjusting system that continues to take the play up until it runs out of adjustment.
I was looking at a Honda,either a Civic or a FRV,to pull a caravan,but this issue has completely put me off them.

Googling the clutch problem would show you that Honda probably wouldn’t pay for a replacement clutch on a 08 plate.You’d probably be looking at over £1000 to rectify.Theres also plenty of reports of discs and pads wearing quick.

Just had a leaflet through for a local candidate.

“Vote for me and you will get a police force working for law abiding people” Really radical stuff !

The guys a retired Chief Executive so probably has a high pension with a decent pay off.Now he wants another 60K a year from taxpayers.

Sierra Espuna,Murcia region,Spain.

Camping Sierra Espuna has 6 berth log cabins to rent situated in the mountain village of El Berro.
The biking encompasses everything,full on DH to smooth fire roads.
Lots of Spanish bikers there at the weekend,and the campsite,together with the village, is biker friendly.Coast is about 40 minutes away,Murcia airport about hour and a quarter.
Don’t be put off by never having heard of the place.Theres no flash videos with headcams or loads of hype,just really great riding.Orange test their full suss bikes there so the frame designer must rate it.
I rode there for about 8 years,back in the UK now,and just don’t understand why so few British bikers visit the place.

If you need glasses for long distance vision,short sighted ,then get some from the optician.
If you think you may need glasses for close up work go into one of the poundland type stores and try different strengths reading a newspaper.
If its clearer, for probably about £3 you’ve solved the close up problem.
An optician may try and sell you 2 pairs,short and long distance,and dissuade you from buying varifocals.

I don’t really understand this.The wiper above the seal will remove just about anything before it gets to the seal and foam ring.So why spray something on the stanchion that will immediately be wiped up on the first compression.If you want to lubricate/clean the seal prise the wiper up the stanchion to reveal the seal.

My neighbour has a diesel Passat estate as a company car.He does quite a few miles but the car has cost thousands to keep on the road.
Electronic handbrake faulty 3 times,and most recently an electronic problem in the steering column which was a £600 fix.Its off the road again at the moment with a worn out clutch and the replacement parts are £700 without the labour.
I’ve got a Mk3 Mondeo TDCI and its been really good.No DPF or cam belt,but the clutch is a DMF so could be costly.With the Haynes manual you can do most of the stuff yourself and parts are easy to get.
I’m looking to change it soon and i’m being drawn to the newer Mondeo or possibly something Japanese like a Mazda 6 or Toyota.

How come something like this was not on prime time BBC 1 ?
Possibly another sensitive issue for the BBC and powerful outside interests.
The action of the police has to be seriously questioned as it appears that there is collusion between Trumps private army and a supposedly unbiased police force.Unfortunately no one has pockets deep enough to actually expose the truth,Trump and his henchmen know this.
Salmond can put this “venture” into his trophy cabinet,but i hope it will seriously damage the SNP as he doesn’t seem fit to run a bath never mind a country.

If you want anything out of a private pension then its got to be high risk investments.
I have pension pots with different providers and the return over the past 15 to 20 years has been derisory.A couple of cheap terrace houses would have been a far more worthwhile investment and it would be something i could control.
An IFA i dealt with invested his own pension money in Far East risky markets,and it was pretty much a rollercoaster.
Don’t be brow beaten into the establishments mantra of “private pension = comfortable retirement “
If you want a punt without long term commitment,stocks and shares ISA.

I lived in Southern Spain for 9 years and winter can be cold,especially if your at a bit of an altitude.My choice would be the Canaries.
If you don’t mind not being on a package the Sierra Espuna is ace for mountain biking.Camping Sierra Espuna does log cabins and the staff will give you help with routes.Orange test prototypes in the Espuna.Fly in to Murcia airport and its just over an hour away.
I can really recommend it if fancy something a bit different to the package stuff.

I used to call at cafes regularly on my Sunday road ride.
Not any more.£5 for a cup of tea and a piece of cake.I can afford it but i’m not paying it because its not good value.
Our club stopped at a cafe on the A66 and a ham sandwich was £5.99.Add on a coffee and its nearly 9 quid.Take my own with me now,Aldi flapjacks at 50p a time are great.

How about Skoda Roomster with 1.9 tdi engine ? Seem to get excellent write ups and its a pretty common engine through Audi/VW/Seat.

I’ve been all over France and love the mountains but i’ve no kids.
If you’re looking to go to the coast during Summer it will probably be pretty busy and you may have to pre book a site,which i never like doing.
The caravanclub do a pre booking service on selected sites and do 2 comprehensive books of sites in Europe and you don’t need to be a member to buy them.The toll prices are steep pulling a caravan,i’ve paid 45 euro just for a 2 hour stretch.
Don’t discount municipals that are part of a leisure complex.I stayed at one that had an outdoor pool,bike hire and was by the side of a river for boating.

Bought a Reign 0 new in 2007 and can’t see anything i’d change it for.
I had 3 Oranges previous to this and the Reign is far better in every area.
Riding in southern Spain week in week out really tested the bike.Nothing broke or dropped off,and the finish stood up to the rocky terrain really well.
Even without massive forks,140 mm Floats,the bike was really composed and riding position and balance were spot on.Climbed better than my previous single pivots on rocky steep paths with a weight of around 30 pound.
Changed all the pivot bearings myself for 20 odd quid,with only 2 showing any wear.
You don’t need long forks,just strong forks.140’s are enough for virtually everything,just get a bolt thru’ or 15 mm.
If i was in the market for another bike it would definitely be a Giant,but probably a Trance X,as i think the Reign is too much travel for most of the stuff in the UK.

I had a 2006 Orange 5 for a year and was deeply disappointed,especially with all the hype that surrounds a 5.
Didn’t change to a Trance but a Reign.
Beautifully equipped,built and balanced bike.Loads cheaper to buy as well.Hated riding the 5 in the end and was glad to see the back of it.
I’ve ridden a lot and the angles and dimensions on the 2006 5 just didn’t seem right.

It will make a difference.I changed the wheels on my wifes Cannondale from the own brand stuff to basic Shimano 500’s.Together with a change of tyres the difference is really noticeable.
It may not feel faster but on gradients you may notice that you use a different gear and feel less tired on longer rides.

miketually ,i do the climb out of Eggleston nearly once a week and always hate it.My legs were killing me coming up there on the HOTN.They never really recovered all the way into Darlington.

I’ve just had a trade price for a porch.4 windows,one an opener,and a pvc front door,all from the manufacturers.£540.Can’t beat that.Just need someone to fit them now as one guy quoted £450 for a days labour.

I did the “Hell of the North ” a couple of weeks back,101 mile.
The most i’d ridden up to it had been about 80 mile.
I can’t say it was enjoyable,as after about 60 mile i just wanted to get back.I rode it alone for virtually all of it and was really happy with my time of 7 hours.
My legs really suffered for the last 15 mile with bad cramp.
The mistake i made was trying to ride too long in gears that i’d use for say a 50 miler.
I would probably do it again but it would be better with another couple of people the same pace,not to get a tow,but just someone to talk to and pass the time.

A neighbour of mine got a largish mongrel from a rescue centre.
Its attacked my dog twice (a very docile King Charles) the second time resulting in me having to kick it to get it off.Every time i see it it is straining to get at every dog no matter what type.
Its obvious the dog has a severe behaviour problem.Thats probably why it ended up in the rescue centre.
I’d suggest that if you go to look at dogs take someone with you who’s had dogs for many years as i believe you get an immediate sense of a dogs attitude if you’ve dealt with them a lot.

I wouldn’t trust what the planning department says about things not being an issue.
I had “chats” with the planning department about 2 different applications and was told there would be no problems with the applications after they studied the plans.The planning officer then turned down the application because a dimension was 20cm too large.
He knew this when he looked at the plans but never mentioned it.
To comply i would have had to do £30,000 of building work to fit a £1000 security shutter.Jobsworths and thats putting it mildly.

Did the Hell of the North last week along with plenty of other mamils.
I did it not because i wanted to ride in a group or try and set a time,i did it because i wanted to try and cover a tough 101 mile.
£5 to enter and all types of abilities,and bikes from £200 to £5000.
Most mtb’ers could never cover this distance on a road bike so anyone doing 101 mile should have a little pat on the back regardless of what they wear or bike they ride.

You’d get a good car/caravan combo for £10,000.
With the caravan theres no big servicing costs,no mot,insurance is optional,no road tax and the flexibility of having a car when you go away.The motorhome would have a lower tech engine so less miles per gallon and packing would have to be pretty good to stop everything rattling on anything but motorways.For up to £10,000 it would be a caravan for me every time(and i’ve had quite a few).

I had an 5 of the same year and tried 3 different fork lengths to try and make it handle,together with 2 different rear shocks.
With 150 forks it was pretty dreadful on the descents when cornering as there was no feel at all from the front end.Went down to 120’s which felt better but i was never convinced about the angles on the bike.
The original rear shock,Manitou X2 i think,was the worst shock i have ever had.Tried a Manitou Swinger which worked far better but just wouldn’t hold its air.
Stuck with the bike for a year but was deeply unimpressed so i was glad to get rid.

Brake jack ?
I’ve ridden 4 different single pivot Oranges and multi pivot Giants and there is very little difference in braking performance.
For me the biggest difference was in climbing ability,grip and feel.
The multi felt better climbing lumpy stuff but if its for mostly UK use there would be nothing in it.
The Orange frame designer first and foremost looks for a frame to work,the aesthetics come after.

Can only comment on the Mavic Aksium Race and after 9 months of use they are still spinning smoothly with no re-tensioning needed.
Talking to an ex pro mechanic on a recent trip to the Alps he said Mavic would always be his first choice when looking for new wheels.

My neighbours have recently been rowing in the street about a small piece of land and the ownership.One of them receives DLA and has just got a new car (Fiesta Diesel).During the row it was thrown at him that he’s just a scrounger and is playing the system.No one can remember when he last worked.
How does someone who can walk a mile to the working mens club for his beer,does all the gardening and diy around the house and happily drives his new car around get DLA.He had a car before this so it wasn’t as if he had no way of getting around.
This causes resentment amongst my neighbours as no one can actually see a disability and can’t understand the criteria for receiving this benefit.

I had an Adria with a long exposed A frame.Probably the most unstable caravan i’ve had but the A frame is good for a bike rack although it can really tip the noseweight.

A Fendt.
You do know the type of people who love Fendts.

Diddicoy,traveller,pikey,gypo,they may take a liking to yours.

I hope you’ve got plenty of security on it and it’ll be stored in a bank vault.
Fendts can be pretty heavy so a stabiliser and big car are essential.

Friends bought a pair of bikes from Merlin,Malt RS for him and a Sensa for her(small size).They are absolutely over the moon with them and i think the service from Merlin at the shop was excellent when it came to the correct sizing.

Surely the wiper on the seal will remove anything thats put on the stanchion.Keeping the bushes in the lowers lubed will keep movement smooth,hence turn the bike over so fluid in the lowers runs down to the bushes.