Italian-style coffee gets that flavour from 20% Robusta beans (i.e. cheap filler coffee). Don’t drink this stuff on it’s own – think sawdust plus nescafe – but it really gives it that European cafe taste when mixed into dark roast stuff.

Update: Malagacar.com were indeed amazing. Well under 200 EUR a week for a decent one (all included).  No fuss on return.  Nice staff.

Look for ‘malagacar.com’ if you’re using Googlemaps. It’s a 5 min drive away from airport. Don’t walk; their shuttle bus picks you up from outside the train line entrance.

You’ll get pretty much any bike in. Had a 7 seater and a 5 too, was just moaning about the diesel on another forum. Some models have 3 independent mid-row seats that each go flat, some have a 60/40 split. Either way it works, massive boot.  There is an upper ledge by the ‘barn door’ boot that I catch my bars on every bloody time I chuck my main bike in, but that’s me being impatient when i’m heading out for a ride.

Boot is a nice place to sit with the door open too, i.e. when raining. The floor on the 7-seater has some gaps for the rear row seats to click into, they’re not big. The 5 seater doesn’t. But the steel frame removable seats are chunky hefty things to move about – not light at all.

Finally, avoid Vx main dealers. It’s like walking into the Apprentice, chancey bunch who are light on detail and experience.  The one at Macc is known for it.

Had Vx combo 1.5D for 2 years. Hideous Adblue issues, couldn’t be resolved. Shame, otherwise practical and cheap.  Apparently the berlingo based SCR system was an afterthought that was flawed. Traded in for 1.2 petrol and no probs. Main dealership never even checked the diesel on the swap.

Amazing, i’ll use this advice and report back after the trip in September. Cheers all.

Looking at Malagacar it’s roughly 200-300 for a week for a standard car.  Happy with that if it’s less stressful and more “European Shrug” style.  Any reports on Malagacar (i.e. from failedengineer) very much appreciated on behalf of my current account.

Yep that was done…but the dodgy company weren’t having any of it.  Said it wasn’t valid when it clearly was.  In retrospect, should have walked away but that would have meant last-minute hire from a different place in the middle of holiday season.  A common trick, I think.

Bots. Bots Bots Bots. They now influence more followers than ever, and Elon doesn’t care about fixing anything. Delete the app for a peaceful life.

There’s piles of Montane stuff in their sale.  Minimus jacket is £74. Anyone ever used one of these for running/mtbing?

https://mountain-kit.co.uk/samples-c12/men-c13/waterproof-c44/montane-mens-minimus-lite-jacket-sample-p1412

That’s a beast!!  Mad max style, that one.

£10/hour? That’s a good business.  Cheers everyone for chipping in with advice. I think the issue is there’s flimsy ones that all fold, and big ol’ sturdy ones that don’t.  We’re after something inbetween, and perhaps a gardening-style one is the way to go.

Anyone else hate online shopping for this kind of thing? I like to bash things with wheels on in person, rather than judge the quality of jpegs.

Anyone else kind of feeling relieved that we can stop checking this thread soon?  And then…..maybe…just going back to buying kit when we need it or want it?

Out of most nukeproof parts now.  Anyone know where else I can order a spare hanger or pivot kit for a 2022 Giga?

Very useful thread this.

There is quite an uneasy feeling about the whole business. On one side….get some bargains. On the other…can’t help feel for the bike shops, the local friendly ones who really sort you out, who can’t ever compete with this.  They may need us after xmas if things are bad, so don’t go too crazy on overstocking parts.

Saltrock changing robes are 20-50 quid and useful as a lazy dressing gown on hangover days. Xmas coming, folks.

Fohn cheapo SUP and carbon paddle arrived. Quality of carbon paddle isn’t great, it’ll do, but nowhere near quality of my basic Naish one.  Will test out SUP at weekend….as long as it floats I suppose?  Comes with a decent fin but the bag, pump etc are all pretty basic.

Taking a punt on a £150 Fohn Sup for the kids. Will update if arrives.  There’s some £30 paddles too.

Note that some items and postcodes, even sensible ones, aren’t compatible.

Moon Rigel enduro model for 120 quid online. 2000 lumens and good for walking dogs etc when not biking.

The buttons on it are a complete arse of pain though.

It’s reassuring to know i’m not the only chap having issues like this.  From reading all the posts, which are enlightening (even the gak binge ones), it’s connection which is the key.  Exec summary of what i’ve learned from you nice folk so far:

+Family stuff is doable but hard to organise.

+Curry is easy, coffee if earlier in the day.

+Hobbies for the long term win.  I have some of these I can dust off.

Otherwise, my partner is way more socialable and bubbly than me which helps with wife-links.  Also nicko74, having lived in ON for four years, you north of the border types are a fine sociable lot. I found it easy to meet up over there, the excellent state of your country, food and beer helped.  It’s very different social rules in the UK due the sheer amount of us, and the weird entrenched class stuff we seem unable to shift.  Bikes are good at cutting through this sillyness.

Cheers folks. Not tried the curry thing yet, obvious now you say it, blokeuproad and razorr. Quite a low pressure event all in all, sounds good.

LAT: We’re similar-sized families with younger kids.

Let’s try that pic link again…

Having spent a week falling off my SUP in the Gower, can definitely second the ‘space’ argument. Most surf folks are calm and friendly unless you are obviously reckless.

Low, clean waves are the best for this. Don’t bother if the breakers are messy, but you can always paddle out further and play the balance game. Good work out, that.

I was really pleased I bought a decent leash too, which should be longer than your board so you don’t reverberate against it.

Oh, and standing near the back of your board just before catching a wave will make sure the front doesn’t plunge into the water as soon as it starts to be fun.

Some good advice on here.

Just got a deal after ignoring the ‘brand new’ cars and getting a PCP on one from last year. Turns out there were loads of buybacks and lease returns sitting in compounds around the country.

These are either under a ‘nearly new’ category (usually <1000 miles) or just under the ‘used’ section where they get missed by folks looking for brand new gear.

Cheers all – I need bars and rails. There is nothing on the van roof. Not sure if the larger van i’m looking at will work with a ‘Foot’ and Bar pack, as seen in everything Thule does.

Looks like Vanguard/Roofbox will be getting a shout from me!

For lessons, these guys are great if you can get to Anglesey/Snowdonia area:

Tweets by bachventures

First time in a proper sea kayak out on the water and the coaching was great. Recommended.

I’m in a similar boat to you, Phil, same budget. Anyone else seen a suspiciously big pile of ‘nearly new’ vans that have only had 1 year on the road? Wondering if these were repos or cancelled leases, being only with <2k on the clock.

Arnold Clark have loads of good stock but their feedback is either 1 star or 5 star. Anyone used them recently? Winsford branch is nearest to me.

Nobeer>>> good to know, yeah they are tidy looking vans allright! Took Ford a while to get rid of the “Paint Options: White” idea, but they got there and ended up with something sweet that looks like it’s from a Transformers movie.

Tranny Customs are a bit steeper on the per month though, everything seems to be over £300 a month all in.

Incidentally, anyone used any good PCP Van companies?

Budget can go up to £300/mo all in (inc VAT etc) with £5-6k to keep as final payment/deposit stuff. Cash’s the problem really, i’ve always owned all my vehicles outright but now things are tight.

Couple that with muddy dog, muddy kids, wet bikes, and i’m hoping to hit two birds with one brick!

Have seen a few Customs on the road – nice looking vans. Quite a few ones with a modern ‘A team’ look. Can you get them with two rows of seats?

Brilliant, lads, brilliant. That Asguard looks bombproof.

My vote’s either for that or i’ll see if those two bald gents are available for home security, i’ll bet they need the cash!

Reckon a chunky Abus lock would secure it up ok?
There are some circular-profile ones which are impossible to get bolt cutters round:

Cheers
Kitch

Yup, go and check it out, if it is working and seems fine with all bits then that’s a barg.

You probably need a smaller SIM. You can ask your phone co for a new one or if it’s a 4>5 conversion (from a larger Micro Sim to a Nano Sim), just cut carefully and tidy up the edges with a nail file. Google will give you a guide on where to trim it.

Not as nice as a Golf, but I had an old Nissan Almera for a bit….if you don’t mind looking a bit of a John Shuttleworth in it, they have a chain cam 1.5 and last for decades if looked after. Go for a 2003-2010 model, should only set you back £700.

Main advantage: can throw a 29er straight in the boot with the seats down!