Smeg/Mercury/Falcon look like options that suit what we are after. Concerned now that we should be looking at separates going by the comments. I should have said ease of cleaning is #1 priority.

I’ve ordered a few bits from Tredz recently. Well priced and arrived within the week. My last order had disc pads which were in stock at the manufacturer, not Tredz. Told me this on website but I was happy to order so did so. They emailed to ask if I wanted the pads sent out separately or wait until the order was complete. I opted for the complete option. Again it arrived within the week. I don’t have an expectation of next day/immediate delivery though, seems to be the normal expectation now, I give five days and rarely disappointed, especially around current circumstances.  I find them good for workshop tools. No issue with the company at all. Will continue to use.

Rab Vapour Rise is alternative to Buffalo

Or Rab Alpha Direct does the same as Vapour Rise/Buffalo but lighter and more fitted.

Finders Keepers. Carry on soldier.

Exact same scenario here last year. We got a Nissan Micra. Seems indestructible and cheap as chips to run.

Let Donald inform you. A rather spectacular rant even from him. He talks about birds and windfarms at around one minute.

Donald on windmills

Talked to the owner this morning when I collected ‘Billy’ for his walk. He had the pack that he came with and in it was contact numbers you could use to reach out for advice. I called a very helpful lady and it turned out she is a local foster parent for doing the initial assessments on the dogs that are handed in and was familiar with Billy. She kindly offered to meet us for a socially distanced local walk.

Her initial impression was that we had him back racing again as he is so muscley, I noticed a distinct difference in the structure to the dog she brought along.

I explained the amount of walking he is doing and from his condition she was confident his diet is good. Owner says he is fed raw. I have no idea what this means but it must suit Billy.

My two one hour walks daily totalling around 7 miles is the upper of what would be recommended for a greyhound and could certainly be cut back. It is thought he is 4 years old and not long out of racing, so fortunately was able to cope and should have no lasting ill effects.

Of more concern to her was the change in routine. She explained greyhounds particularly enjoy structure, especially ex racers. Cut a long story short the owner is expected to be walking him again by spring/summer and a routine should be followed that the dog is familiar with. It is likely that the dog will be walked 15/20mins, 3 or 4 times a day leaded and muzzled.

We are to try and get Billy into this structure. This is the bind. I can only walk him twice a day as I work. We are going to try and sort something out where I drop his walks to 20mins and see how that goes. Maybe now and again get him somewhere remote to let him off and stretch his legs to compensate for not being able to get him out the 3 or 4 times he is expected to be out. He may be fine with the 40 minutes though, play it by ear.

As for doing the Munros, she was surprised a greyhound would even entertain it, but if he did it must have enjoyed it, but recommended no more walks like that for him.

As for the coat, he has one that he wears in the house, the owner never wore it outside as it would get wet , smell and not dry in the house, as he was walking outside it was thought he would be warm enough as he was exercising.

It was explained this was unsatisfactory, and the shelter are going to provide a hap to be worn outside. I’ll collect it in the next few days. I should probably make a donation in Billy’s name for the kindness shown.

Overall if I’m honest I feel pretty sad. I didn’t think I was doing anything wrong and looking at the condition of him then he is very well looked after. I admit to not being experienced in dog keeping so willing to listen to the trusts advice and advice here . I can’t help but feel that he is an Olympic athlete and is now playing at a local level if that makes sense. But it is not about me, it is about Billy and his owner, I’m only helping out.

Anyways thanks for the recommendations on the waxed cotton jacket, the bag was the idea I fancied there most, for 20 minute walks I’ll just suck it up with a cheap jacket, no need of anything else.

I’ll give the greyhound trust a phone and explain the amount of walking I’m doing, see what they say. Don’t want to hurt the poor chap.

surely one of the joys of dog ownership is the ability to let it run free whilst being able to call to heel with a single command

Had to go over to you tube and find ‘Fenton’ still as funny as ever.

Fenton

For winter walking/wet walks etc you can put the watch in “jacket” mode. This allows you to strap it to the outside of your jacket thus always have grid ref available without the faff. Just a quick glance and you have it. No pressing of buttons etc. Jacket mode basically disables HRM etc to conserve battery life  as it cannot obviously work through clothing.

@convert

Format to OS grid.

If you watch the supplied you tube link from 28 seconds, this should sort you out.

Let me know how you get on.

Yeah I don’t know what he eats to be honest. The owner gives me his treats to take on the walks with me. Like small red biscuits that strain everything and smell bad. Especially if they get wet. The owner says as a treat after a big walk with me he has a whole rabbit, fur and all! I think he must surely be joking?

I have no issues walking him far. Done quite a few Munros now and the longest I’ve walked with him is 27 miles. Owner says this is fine, I’m sure he would tell me to stop if it wasn’t and the dog comes willingly enough. Being an ex racer I would expect some degree of base fitness there.

Through unfortunate circumstances I’ve turned into the primary walker, I think dog sharing is good. I get the benefits of a companion on a walk, but none of the cost, having to make space in our house for him etc. Even when the weather is grotty I’m out, where as previously I may have just stayed in and not exercised, so I’m benefiting too. Garmin says I’m averaging nearly 7 miles a day.

Talked to the owner this morning regards flicking the poo into the forest where we live/walk. He said no as other dogs use the area so considers it a bad idea. I’ve personally never heard that advice so happy to continue bagging and bringing back.

 why do you feel the need to tether your dog to a lead at all times?

I walk a retired racing greyhound. I’ve been warned that under no circumstances should he be allowed off the lead where there is the possibility of him seeing another dog. The example I was given, your at the beach, he is off the lead, in the distance there is a Yorkshire terrier. No matter how well trained he is, racing mode engaged, and well you can imagine the result. Not an experience I wish to see. Luckily he does get off the lead as I know some pretty remote places.

On another thread I was advised he may need a coat on whilst walking.

I was hoping to kill two birds with one stone with this one, can I get a jacket for the dog that has pockets and he can carry his own poo? Forgive my ignorance, I’m not an experienced dog person, I just walk him. So this may or may not be a good idea. Seems ok to me but willing to listen to more experienced owners opinions and thoughts.

@z1ppy

Thanks for the link to the dog walking bag thread.

I feel so silly for not having considered this option. You just don’t see people walking dogs with rucsacs though.

Now I’m thinking a nice warm jacket for the dog on a walk, with pockets so he can carry his own poo, and I don’t need to buy a waxed cotton jacket as they seem like a bad idea going with the feedback.

@Nobeerinthefridge. Yeah Garmin will show your positional coordinates in a multitude of ways. Most useful in the UK is mainly British grid.

‘tactical’ activity will generally have a dedicated data field so I just use this on a walk. If other activities are preferable due to the metrics generally speaking one of the data fields can be exchanged for grid reference. So OS grid is not restricted to solely tactical activity.

Seems I’ve not got this dog walking tied down at all.  His routine seems to be 3 mahoosive dumps on the morning walk, almost always within the first 10 minutes of a one hour walk so I shove them in pockets as I just don’t like carrying them, feels awkward especially as the other hand has the lead. Evening walk one dump again within the first 10 minutes. A bag really does seem like a good idea. What do other people do with the poo? I look at other people and they either don’t appear to be carrying the full bags or they are? I can’t say I’ve ever noticed people with rucsacs on. We live in the country and the walks I use takes me near no bins.

Buffalo is looking appealable.

Don’t put full poo bags in your pockets! Especially if they leak when you’ve forgotten about them.

I know that now. Life is experience.

I put supplied coat on him when we return. It is wool and supplied by the shelter. Out and about, he seems fine. No requirement of a ‘hap’. Happy to hear otherwise though. When he returns though I think he is used as a hot water bottle. Old boy doesn’t heat the house much. They suit each other and I’m happy to do the leg work and let this side of the relationship blossom.

I had thought of that – I do own a fenix 5x and I ‘think’ with a IQ app you can get it to show grid references.

@convert. Not at all. All Garmins will show OS grid reference as default setting. PM me and I’ll happily set you up on your 5X. Truth be told, you already have the best tool for the job regardless of eyesight/age. 😀

… and teach the bugger to either jump the stream or get left behind

Why are you trying to take a greyhound through a river anyway?

Kinda where we live. Not exactly rivers but I thought he would jump a stream as I stike off up the hill. No. He just runs up and down regardless if I think he can see me or not. I naively thought he would follow me regardless. No. He would rather be dry?  Same at beach, you know ‘rivers’ that meander across the sand? Won’t cross them, less than knee deep. He is small. 4 years old. I originally thought he was a whippet. Anyway I digress, a bag makes a lot of sense of now. I’m enjoying helping the neighbour and getting a lot of benefits from it now. Smashing companion, although he needs to grow a set. 😂

I had no idea that dog walking would throw up so many conundrums. You want to see my car. I take him to the beach a gallop, it seems now half the beach is in my car despite wiping him down before getting in. I’m thinking I have to take a bag now. Hang it in the garage, grab and go.

My jacket rips easily as well because he bounds up to you and wants to “box” with you. Inevitability his claws have caught me, so a cheap and cheerful jacket is perhaps preferable. Having a full time dog must be expensive!

Seems obvious when you say it, a bag would make sense. Hadn’t considered that option. Would be easier than stuffing my pockets.

I’m a old skool (ML qualified) map and compass <span class=”skimlinks-unlinked”>guy.</span>

Then you should have no issues with a wrist based offering from Garmin. Various ways to do it, but select activity as tactical and one of the data fields is OS grid 6 figure reference. Should be all you need if discreet is what you want. Also the advantages of HRM, altimeter, barometer functions etc if required. You just select the model that suits you requirements the most. Instinct/FR945/Fenix 6 all suit but at different price points.

I had someone ask to see the tread pattern on my boots once. They had found some rubbish on the hill and were determined to return it to the culprit as they had deduced from the sole marks around the area this person must be wearing such and such a brand. Luckily I was removed from their wanted list on inspection of my tread pattern. I would have enjoyed being there if they had caught up with someone with the tread pattern in question but were entirely innocent to see what the result was. Kept me amused for a hours thinking on that meeting.

I’m happy on how to season/reseason it now. What about washing after use? Is it just a hot water rinse or in the sink with suds?

The ones supplied with the chain are like you point out single use. KMC do a range that are multiple use across there own range and crosses over to Shimano and SRAM too. The average price is £10 for two links or thereabouts. I put them on all our bikes. Sure you can reuse the single use ones. I just don’t like that nagging feeling in the back of my head miles from home in honking weather that is suddenly remembers it is single use only.

Gas hob. Don’t think I’d like a round bottom one. Liking the look of Netherton. Nice to support a British business.

@legometeorology 👍 cheers.

@legometeorology Where did you get your accu gauge from? They used to be only economical to purchase in bulk as part of a syndicate etc. I would like one also.

I like your G Shock. Does it display the date in day/month or month/day?  I hate the latter so much I sold my last G Shock because of it. I’d like another though and your one looks fantastic.

Enjoying a 120mm full suspension at the minute. Both ends lock out and it is 650b with 2.6 tyres. I’m enjoying a pootle on the gravel roads locally on it. I really don’t fancy drop bars or slimmer tyres. I’m only averaging around 15 miles though so my mileage can’t warrant a dedicated bike.

Workplace culture drives a lot of people into work when they are under the weather as absences are generally first on the redundancy criteria.

Checked the local library stock and they have Joe Friel book so I’ll get that out. Thanks for the recommendations.

Maffetone seems to have a lot of books. Can anybody recommend one? Thinking Endurance training and racing?

@Freester.

Thank you for the link. I will follow the BC protocol to establish my numbers as I have access to a watt bike.

Just need to find a program now specifically aimed at increasing endurance that is transposable between trail running and biking.

Ok. Lots of good advice there. I’m gathering that I should get my max heart rate dialed in a bit more rather than use the pre prescribed Garmin numbers. Maybe go for 208 – (0.7 x age) = MHR which seems recommended a lot?

@nickc. Are you referring to maffetone training?

Have you or anyone else any experience of his methods?

@paton. That’s a great Ted talk. Thank you for the link.

Fenix 6 Saphire here. No way I would trust it to navigate in the mountains. I still send it a gpx of my route though. Only as a back up. Too small and fiddly with gloves on at this time of year. I have it on jacket mode and the tactical activity so grid ref is always available to confirm on paper map.  For the bike way too small to be of much use in an unknown area if used as only navigating tool. Keep the Oregon and get an Instinct. Wish I had stayed with my Instinct. The Fenix isn’t worth the extra for me. I’ll keep it until they move the altimeter and barometer on the Instinct then I’ll be going ‘back’.

Have you a compressor? If so compressed air through a nozzle will remove residual kerosene.

I have a GS springdrive. I love it. Although some days the electronic wizardry in it diminishes my love of it. I hark after a fully mechanical watch now. The thread title sums it up for me.