Thank you for that advice. £400 is the fitted price he has been quoted. I checked the pump price and that was £150 so I guess allowing 2-3hr labour to diagnose and fit it is probably about right.

Interesting ideas about where the leak is coming from though, thank you.

Playwood, those are the ones. Gecko76 I will work out what I need and be in touch.

Thanks all. The other solutions are workable too but although quite a bit more £ I reckon the Playwood ones are worth it for this application.

Ah turns out I will need to invoke the ability to have a second insurance policy since Admiral do not insure drivers who are not UK residents.

Any tips as to which provider might be able to help?

And how open is Twrch?

OK, very useful to know. Sounds like I need to hang on that hold music a bit longer!

OK, sounds encouraging. I have tried to call Admiral but got weary of the hold music!

I had in mind a company called Cuva that I had seen adverts for but they only cover UK licences (not surprising I guess).

https://www.cuvva.com/support/who-can-we-cover/

That is the name I recognise for this sort of shed and we are hoping to get it paid for by the council so cost less of an issue (hopefully).

What is Scienceofficers black mean machine?

Like the look of the Kingdom Vendatta too but wonder if it would be too much bike for less difficult riding.

singletrackandi – If the OP is not interested please could you PM me about the Shan Frame. Thanks.

Those are some well-priced options. Does anyone have experience with Tifosi ones?

We are staying at the Hotel Birkenhof in Hinterglemm I’ll be looking to hire a snowboard (but have my own Burton Moto boots). My girlfriend will be looking for skis and boots.

Neither of us are brilliant or go that often (last trip two years ago) but we are probably good enough to know rubbish stuff. We’ll be sticking to the pistes so I suppose that is the ski/snowboard equivalent of trail centres only :-)

Thanks for all the recommendations so far – much appreciated.

The Voodoo’s seem to come up a lot. That was my friends starting point. I was a bit underwhelmed by spec, especially the fork but probably need to remember the pricetag.

Whyte’s look really good to me and probably achievable a 2nd hand prices.

..and buses have lots of horrible, stinky people on them.

Maybe this was waiting for someone to bite so I’ll oblige. They really don’t. I have been on five buses in the last 24 hours, they just had people going places. If you can’t get on with the fact that not everyone is just like you buses probably aren’t for you. This sort of comment is peddled by people that have already made their mind up.

Buses don’t work well for places that don’t work well for buses. If you live in sparsely populated suburbia cul-de-sac wonderland under the current de-regulated operating model you can’t expect operators to drive around losing money.

Looks good. I have also put myself on the list. Anyone using one and have a comparison to a standard shifter?

Please can someone post a link for the Microshift thumbshifter. It doesn’t immediatley come up when I search.

If you want to visit Torres Del Paine (which I strongly recommend) then primary access is via Puerto Natales not Puerto Arenas (but the nearest airport is Puerto Arenas) and I’d recommend getting to the National Park by bus rather than car as they are frequent and it is the NP itself that is special rather than the drive there.

But the key thing is where you are starting from? There is southern Chile and then there is really southern Chile! Transport can take a long time in those parts, flights and coaches are not necessarily daily and this is a busy time of year so planning ahead can be important (especially if you want to stay inside the NP).

We didn’t go to Puerto Arenas but did stay several nights in Puerto Natales it is likeable and atmospheric frontier town (go to Aldea Restaurant for food) but TdP is certainly a bigger reason to be there. There are several places you can hire a car at short notice in town.

But all of this needs quite a bit of time. If you are time limited then the Lake District or Santiago are likely to be better bets. There is a good mtb guiding company operating out of Santiago if that is of interest.

Absolutely no need for a pick-up, you can drive to and from the park but not really through it. Dirt roads are all in reasonable condition.

You’ve posted since I did – If you have the time do the W trek. Needs planning and booking and it is very busy but it was one of the highlights of our four month trip. Driving around the park does not compare (we did that the following day).

Good to hear some real world PodSac experience and it sounds quite encouraging.

I too have survived my first few bikepacking outings with makeshift solutions, I’m just thinking of how to do the next one.

Starting with a three day trip so nothing too epic!

Sounds quite encouraging on the Podsac kit.

For three days (two nights) with camping kit and food what luggage volume will I need/should I be aiming at? I am thinking handlebar roll, seatpack and 18L backpack should do it.

I should have mentioned that all use would be offroad so needs to have a level of wobble that can be tolerated!

Doesn’t sound like a new bike that’s needed as opposed to better maintenance.

Not saying it couldn’t have the parts replaced but it would be no better suited to the required tasks even after that. And some of the bikes suggested here are a whole lot less than the budget which was not a target rather a limit. But no need for better maintenance – the bike has been well looked after but you can’t stop parts wearing out.

The Whyte is very pretty and agree the Neon looks better suited than the Lithium.

Have a good list of options coming together now. Not sure whether 1×11 or 2×9 is the right way to go. It’s used in Hertfordshire mainly so no massive mountains but close ratios, touring, holidays and overall range make me think 2×9 might be the better choice.

Fair enough. Given all the fretting over half a degree HA either way I’m surprised if completely changing the handlebar type and weight distribution isn’t need for a different shape frame but I know what you mean – you can still pedal it and it will still go forwards.

As ever test rides a good idea.

I like the Cube, looks to suit the purpose very well and great value – there is a 105 equipped version for £850. Nice and light too, probably quite a lot lighter than a Roadrat. My only concern is whether it is a road bike frame with a set of flat handlebars or if geometry is specifically designed to suit. That is a factor that puts me off things like Planet X London Road as the frame is the same between drop bar and flat bar versions which doesn’t seem like it can be right to me.

The Pinnacle looks more commuter than tourer/gravel to me, decent but probably a bit too much overlap with HT Mountain bike.

Does anyone have any idea what a fully built Roadrat might weigh?

Thanks, that was a good read.

Will take a look at the Trek too.

So just to say thanks again for your help.

Had a look at booking direct and decided to do just that; booked via Saalbach.com and went favourably timed Easyjet flights from Bristol as opposed to schlepping down to Gatwick.Transfers will be done using local buses (and hopefully without the vodka downing company of the people on the last ski holiday).

Total price looks good against the package holiday and won’t be missing what we didn’t use last time.

Looking forward to it.

Thanks for the suggestions.

I totally understand the supply and demand thing I just don’t like being part of it! UCPA looks a great option if I was going with my brother but I think the accommodation won’t quite cut it and likewise the Skiworld deals look great but of course deals restrict dates/location.

I realise I am trying to have it all ways and will have to compromise on something!

Is there a sort of Chaletfinder.com or is everything done through these megacorporations?

Yes a chalet would be fine. Does that involve a different searching system?

I’m not a frequent skiier so the whole booking/package/constraints bugs me rather! I’m just not fussed on the luxury bit; and if I was there are better holidays to make the most of it IMO. Not to say I am looking for horrid just solid meals and a room at least as good as my house (not a tall order!)

Compared to cycling holidays it is horrible value – as you say it all depends on something which may or may not fall out of the sky!

Agree that is an option but live in a small house where bike storage space has been filled so planning on going this direction. It might not be perfect but she seems comfortable on the Transition so seems reasonable. Will get different saddles though!

Like the look of housenetwork.co.uk and that they can list on Rightmove. Thank you.

As per my original post it is the house <span style=”text-decoration: underline;”>without</span> the loft conversion we are looking to potentially buy but trying to assess the value of a loft room conversion to come up with a comparison value.

Ah sorry, I should have been clearer, it is a ‘room’ on the schedule it is just not described as a ‘bedroom’.

My understanding is that you can have a perfectly permitted room but that there is a higher threshold in standards for a bedroom (headroom, insulation, stairs, fire proofing).

The details and pictures look like a very usable room with proper stairs to it.

Hi does anyone know the latest on Brecha? Would mainly be looking to ride the green an blue trails.

I’m in Cardiff but tbh would rather post to someone that does this often and knows what they are doing rather than someone who does it occasionally.

What does a PUSH tune actually mean and will it invalidate any warranty (not sure they still have one as 2.5 yrs old)?

Also will I notice it, I’m a reasonable rider (I could tell the difference between 34’s and old Float 32R’s) but not a suspension twiddler typically.

I’ve not ridden at Cwmcarn this year, what is open/closed at the minute?

Thanks both :-)

Just read a bit more and it looks like Migration Assistant might be a better bet as I can transfer all the files and applications without wiping the nice new OS!

Wow it’s posh round there, the window cleaner round my way has a bucket of water with the bits in and a ladder on his shoulder. Terraced housing life I guess :-)

Might increased the resale value…. but I’d probably do better to sell a mint condition boxed SSD with receipt on Ebay separately to the iMac.

Or put it in a newer computer.

Thanks all, really useful advice on the 2012 MacMini, likely to be cheaper and I can put the SSD I bought in it.

The iMac upgrade might work but I think it is likely to only last a little while longer due to the OS upgrade issues mentioned. I have all the tools ready but think I may get round to buying a new computer faster!

I’ve been raised on computers so trying to use an iPad instead will frustrate me. They have their limits and although I am not a power user I will want to do things that I know how to do easily on a computer that may or may not be possible on an iPad as well as installing software.

I’m sure a MacBook Pro would be lovely but it seems like a luxury solution to a budget issue!

Any Mac Mini 2012 sales offers considered!