Great cheers for that – AA got her going but she can go there for permanent fix.

Son has Keela Saxon jacket. Scored really well in reviews against much more expensive brands. RRP still £100 though.

That’s both interesting and frustrating that we are not alone in finding the H&S industry being divorced from the practical reality of safely running a business. Across the Estate there are about 30 employees, and 5 department heads responsible for the safety of operations.
We manage the forestry, both for the estate and others on a consultancy basis. We have evolved our own systems over the years which are brief, pragmatic & comply with HSE industry guidance. The same format would be applicable to others.

Tazzy – interested in those contacts – if you ping me an e-mail steve AT cawdorforestry DOT com

Cheers

There are good young male mtb riders coming through, and BC now give their academy riders the same input as the other disciplines, which hasn’t been the case previously. If the programme stops now it won’t be replaced, the critical mass which has been established will be lost, and there won’t be the riders to get the UCI points needed to qualify.

Yep was thinking it needs to be the fee + taxi home.

Guess he’ll just have to learn that the dram goes with the territory!

km79- tell me about it -esp when he’s practising in the kitchen!

Cheers for that – all the pipers sites are a bit non specific about Hogmanay costs – guess its as much as poss.

So long as he’s not expecting Dad’s taxi to be operating then!

Dinner at 8, he’ll probably bail out then til the bells. Remote lodge too – so not handy!

Great cheers sorted!

£7 Lidl garden 3l garden sprayer was easily converted and works well.

Weekly ride with my mates is my saviour. It feels like a hassle rushing home, wolfing tea down, heading out in the dark – but 2 mins into the ride (and pint after) I remember why it’s so essential to my sanity.

If you are anywhere near Inverness give me a shout.

Cheers. The problem as said above is that they are a bastard to get out. They are not squorx, but will try to reuse em.

The place ‘runs’ on a system of pyramid theft.
If you work on the shop floor you can take a a few (large) crumbs home, if you are the supervisor you can take loaves, if you’re the manager take a crate of bread, if you’re the MD what you want.

There was some big History of Russia tome written just after the tsars were booted out and the preface was simply “Theft.”

Having worked in Russia I would say the chances of it arriving at it’s destination complete, at all, or of the recipient acknowledging receipt are at best zero.

Had this on daughters xc race bike. Tried all the above suggestions & made no difference. You could hear her on the other side of an xc course. It made her not want to brake, so went slower so she didn’t need to.
Solution was using non sintered pads. Fine for xc but not DH!

Unfortunately not.

Thanks for all that – he has ordered Hope hubs & DT rims now.

Cheers for all that. Sleeve #7 is there.

Problem I have is I need to leave Inverness at 7am tomorrow en route for Hadleigh – daughter whose bike it is has a training camp there.

Ideally therefore need to find good lbs with experience of these hubs within spitting distance of M74, M6 – any suggestions?

Cheers

Cheers – he is prob going down route of custom build. He was going to get Stans Arch, but DT xm 481 rims are on offer by the wheel builder – any comments on those?

I’ve got a bose one which is good – but son has the Bob Marley one which sounds way better

Cheers for that.

That’s great cheers.

BillMC – we were planning on staying central/old Marrakech. What are your thoughts about essouria – I was thinking to do the same, to avoid the hassle of getting in & out.

Blackmout, Will check them out. ‘kids’ are mid + teenagers, strong & technically able – will be me that’s lagging!

Great cheers will give them a go. Looking for off the beaten track not drinking and party, and will avoid the kg of hash!

Anyone??

Great Thanks!

Got the bearings – amazing service from Wych.

How do I remove the axle & bearings from the hub?

Cheers

t-r thanks for that – I was wondering about something on those lines. Or Altguish-Ardgay-Ullapool & overnight at Croik. Did it a few years back, just need to remind myself of the terrain over the whole route.

Must admit the thought of towing an artic trailer of kit sounds like hard work where ever they go!

Yes was thinking Speyside way – but would need to just be part of their route – to avoid the no waymarked trails issue.

Great, will give em a shout.

Hmmm tis Highlife Highland -so will find out what they are proposing charging – have only just become involved.

Thanks. We are based in the Highlands and want to do something fairly local – so thinking Speyside would be good, or also there are plenty of good hill tracks between Moray Firth & Speyside.

No thoughts of singletrack – which will be a shame for the hardcore bikers, but they will be in a supporting role to the less experienced.

I believe we have access to trailers from Highland. Presumably they are more manageable than heavy panniers?

Cheers for that – good points. Hadn’t picked up on no waymarked routes.

We need to get them out riding together so they all appreciate the ability level of the group, before they can discuss the route options.
There is a Silver and Bronze group.

Got a T5 Kombi and love it.
Lots of miles round British XC series from N Scotland (Inverness to Cornwall for weekend..), over past 2 years with 2 teenage kids. Way fewer family arguments as everyone has more space than in previous Freelander. All kit goes in easily, don’t have tower of kit collapsing onto them from boot.
Had brilliant trip to Alps last summer – 3 teenagers, 2 adults, 10 bikes (7 inside), along with all kit.
Fuel consumption no worse than Freelander, with all benefits of more space.

Had problems with seriously squealing brakes for months, sanded, cleaned, changed pads. Eventually sorted by changed from sintered to organic pads.

I can confirm he is a Dingwall academy pupil, 2nd year Youth xc rider, yes he is quick!

OK cheers for that

T5 Kombi 4 Motion which replaced a Freelander 2 as company car in daily use.
Only advantages as far as I can see:
Massively reduced company car tax
Similar mpg.
off road ability not dissimilar to Freelander.
Way more space – I always judged success of a long journey on how many family arguments we had. These have reduced to almost non existent – everyone has bit more space.
Family summer hol to alps with 5 people + 10 bikes was epic, wouldn’t have been possible without it

Great write up Chris. look forward to reading in detail at leisure

Great – let the planning begin.
Better apply for the pass in good time…………

thought this may help me get it back

Good luck with that!

OK cheers