Why don't you ask vw?

Golf TDI 130 Mk4

I get 40 with a heavy right foot but the missus gets closer to 50. A roads n stuff it'll do 45 easily, best I've seen is 60 in the Alps.

I'm local but stayed in the Afan Lodge[/url] for the Kona mashup and would recommend it.

As above, Penhydd is closed from next week so make sure you ride it!!

Should've said, ask on the forum there, there'll probably be soming going for a ride you could join.

Bit late now, but o2 are doing this joggler thing which is a digital photo frame (amongst other things): http://shop.o2.co.uk/joggler

If the gaps your thing the Sarn Helen ride is pretty similar. Have you thought about the black mountains? Reasonably close and some epic riding.

There's a few routes on mtb-wales if you've not seen em already:
http://www.mtb-wales.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=Subjects&file=index&req=listpages&subid=12

Is there plenty of XC stuff out there to keep a relative newbie entertained?

Bunch of us are going out for 2 weeks at the end of July and my missus is coming and bringing her hardtail, she's not planning on riding every day but I'd like to spend some time riding with her and know that the DH/freeride is going to be a no go for her.

Depends what you mean by all day bike really. 3 of us did the brecon beast (60k enduro, shed loads of climbing) on an ns bikes surge, ns bikes society and a patriot and were all fine, it's what your used to I guess.

Take it you've seen the tourist video for Tredegar?

Tredegar for a stag weekend?! The mind boggles!

Tredegar…. why?

Where are you planning on riding?

Nice pics, thinking about heading there tomorrow but if it rains tonight I'm guessing it's gonna be pretty soggy.

VFR800s do get boring pretty quickly though, power delivery is so linear and it sounds like a sewing machine.

tinsy: Be interested to see those pics for inspiration, I'm looking at builing up something cheap for Morzine and I'm on tight budget!

isohunt ftw.

Ahhh, ok. I measured it at lunchtime, I make it 4 & 1/4 inches :)

Crap, sorry mate completely forget when I was home last night. I'll nip out the bike shed at lunchtime.

When a I bought a motorbike with £6k cash I went to the bank with the seller and the bank checked the notes before creditting his account. Is that an option, if there's a local branch and its open on Saturday mornings?

I went through 3 networks (3, O2 and Orange) before finally trying vodafone which works for me in Taunton.

Bought all the dongles from ASDA and they had no problems with me taking them back and swapping for another one.

Na, seatpost seems fine apart from like I said I've not got a QR clamp on it. Chainstays are looking a bit battered and rusty where it's worn but to be expected on a steel frame that gets abused.

I'm 5"10, running a 75mm stem but I've got a 50mm kicking around that I really ought to put on there.
Other specs are uturn 454 pikes, hope pro2 hubs/mavic xm321 wheels, drivechain is a shonky mixture of deore/lx stuff I had kicking around but waiting for it to wear out before I replace. Tyre clearance is fine with 2.35 fat alberts too.

As above, I got stung on the M4 J17/J18 average cameras last week doing 58 so be careful. That stretch through Cardiff to Newport is the worst though, I heard it some something to do with the safery barriers not being up to scratch for 70mph speeds or something?

FWIW I love mine, even though it is a bit too long. It's done all day epics to a bit of cheeky downhill and it's a blast. Bought it cheap off from a mate as a stop gap when my Trek EX8 got nicked and 12 months later it's still my only bike.

Mine's a large (and is too big for me), can measure it later if no ones beaten me to.

Got my eye on the new Surge when it comes out next month.

I can check tonight when I get home, I know I had to play around with shims on the front mech to get it to stay and the seat post isn't standard because none of my quick releases would fit.

Got caught last week on the M4, 58 in a 50. Couldn't have been paying attention as I do the commute 3 times a week up the M5/M4 and try to stick to 50 or just over.

With my 93 in a 70 the week before these points are totting up!

Cruise control is getting fitted this weekend, hopefully that'll help!

Had a full sus (Trek EX8) which got nicked so built up a HT (ns bikes society) as a stop gap and a year later it's still my only bike.

Commute to work on it, weekend rides, trail centres, enduros etc… does the job just fine and puts a bigger grin on my face than the trek ever did.

Might have to bite the bullet and get a second hand 6" full susser for the trip to Morzine in July though.

"that costs money"

So will the fine for driving without a MOT or tax. I've heard rumours that insurance isn't valid without a valid tax disc but I don't think this is true?

When I've been stopped for driving without tax in the past the coppers have checked the insurance and had no dramas with me carrying on, tis a matter for the DVLA.

I'd just ride it personally, but if you're worried can't you hire a small van for the weekend and stick it in there?

Anyone know where I can watch this online?

I've always used http://www.racing-underground.com in the past but it's invite only now. Guess I can pony up and pay eurosport for streaming, anyone use it, is it any good?

Kayak is usually pretty good at searching all the main car hire companies. HTH.

I'll chip in on the side of the NS, had mine for about a year now since my full suss was stolen and loving it! Bags of fun, all day comfort and great for hooning around on.

I'm 5"10 and have the large (bought it cheap off a mate as I just needed something to ride) but it's too big to be honest, the TT is pretty long.

My missus has an 18" inbred and I much prefer the Society, never ridden a 456 though. Either bike sounds like it'll be ace, personally I'd get the NS cos every man and his niche dog has got an on one these days ;)

"What's next?" is also really good, and has an ace soundtrack. It's not from the the collective but of a similair vein.

Best of all it's free on pinkbike

A welsh "success story"

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_east/8534147.stm

Well done girls!!

Ahh, my home town. I've not had any impact on the stats tho ;)

I've got an NS Bikes society which was a slightly less slack version before the surge came out. Good fun and fine on all day rides but nowhere near as fun as a surge (which a mate has and I've ridden).

I've been eyeing up the 09 models on winstanelys site for ages but they've bloody run out of the medium size! I've got a large society and it's too long so will be downsizing.

Have you seen any surge frames for sale? CRC have the 2010s coming in April sometime.

Allegedly if the index service is running then a search will include file contents as well as filenames. Can't test it as not on a Windows 7 pc at the moment.

Weekend at Afan, accomodation in the Afan lodge? You could squeeze a lap of Cwmcarn too if you're passing?

Good tyres but def get the snakeskin version or this tends to happen:

Thanks, just looking at it now

mrmo: What kind of speeds were you doing? I don't get anywhere near that in my 1.9tdi on an 80 mile motorway commute.