+1 for Hebridean Jewellery, also Duncan House[/url]

Bit obscure but –
The Last Unicorn
The Neverending Story

More recent –
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (BBC series not the latest film)
Babe
I love the song that the mice sing so much that I found out the tune is based on Saint Saen’s forth movement of Symphony No 3 ‘Organ’ in C minor!

I think it's the 2008 ones that you have to take the casing off to get the cable out – found this linky to help put it back together…

Llandegla is great, which is good as all the natural stuff round there is really really rubbish. The Clwyds and the Berwyns are really not worth going to at all, best stick to the trail centre I say 😉 😀

Just looked up that Mark Cadbourn one – think I might have to get that…. 🙂

Not strictly "high" fantasy but I really liked Sergei Lukyanenko – Night Watch Trilogy, also adapted into quite a dark Russian language film.

Has anyone read any Adrian Tchaikovsky? Amazon keeps recommending it to me…

Oh and Karen Miller – Kingmaker, Kingbreaker series and Godspeaker series

+1 for Katherine Kerr, Trudi Canavan, Raymond Feist, David Eddings.

Terry Goodkind – Wizards First Rule, Sword of Truth series – starts off well but the series drags out a bit
Chronicles of Amber – discovered recently after another STW topic and love it
Kristen Britain – Green Rider and First Riders Call
Robert Jordan – The Wheel of Time series, same problem as SoT series to a degree and he died before finishing the last book 🙁
Anne MaCaffery – if you like dragons….
Tad Williams – Memory, Sorrow and Thorn trilogy. A bit too Tolkien like.
Fiona McIntosh – Myrren's Gift

Well, yes, of course they do while tubes, tools, etc are all the same size.

Yep, the OH (XL jerseys) can carry way more stuff than me (M ladies jerseys)… I'm would hope that it'd slow him down but it hasn't worked so far.

Yep to whistle and torch, and space blanket and first aid kit. I've come to MTB from a hillwalking/climbing background so have some understanding of how to be prepared when out and about.

+1 for TooTall's comment. It's the same as seeing hillwalkers with jeans and trainers, no water/food or extra clothing going up the Pyg Track on Snowdon or Tourist path on Ben Nevis.

I was just thinking if you're on natural stuff then you're more likely to have a map and be able to give an OS grid reference. Do you think there are many people that would have a map with them and know where they are when riding Penmachno (for example)? If you could phone the emergency services and say I'm near post 141 on Penmachno MTB trail, and the 999 call handler knew where that was – that would make finding you easier for everyone.

Some climbing locations are there already so you can phone and say "we were climbing on Idwal Slabs and my mate fell off" and the call handler will know where it is. MRT would know anyway, but if the call handler didn't know they wouldn't know which MRT to call.

I'm not really sure if the same applies to MTB so I don't know if its worth the effort.

Thanks Russ. Went to see Gwyn today, and it just got me thinking… and what with the cock up last year when she called the ambulance from Penycloddiau and eventually got Squad22.

I'm thinking that the MR liaison officer should be able to get locations from the FC, it's just whether it would be a worthwhile thing to do.

….. and you could even get rescued by the future King!![/url]

Why is it strange? If you fall off your bike and need an ambulance, the chances are a road one won't be able to get to you. In North Wales you could well get the services of Squadron 22 (RAF Valley) rather than the air ambulance, which would involve police/mountain rescue to scramble the RAF helicopter.

I'm just thinking whether it would be useful for the call handlers to have a map of the trails with location of the numbered posts.

If you're at Llandegla then OPA staff escort the ambulance along the forest tracks to the closest point with their 4×4. But there wouldn't necessarily be anyone to show the ambulance crew how to get to you at another trail centre – hence the need for heli/MRT.

Sorry <hangs head in shame> When you're a beginner and you're just pootling along and then ahead of you, you see a rocky bit that you're currently going too slowly to get over, so you turn your cranks a bit quicker to increase your speed to get over the obstacle, so you don't stop half way and topple sideways. What do you call that?

lou – I think they cater them to who's turned up. Might be worth giving Katy a ring and having a chat about it. Where about's are you based? I'm in Chester so if you fancy a gentle pootle around Llandegla blue one evening or even a try at some more natural stuff in the Clwyds, give me a shout.

I can remember when I started biking in '08 I spent a lot of summer evenings on Llandegla blue!

I think a lot of the confidence is about fitness when you start out – you get so worried about holding everyone else up that you get panicky… And when you start to feel like its not such hard work you have more energy to get over features or "attack" things a bit more.

I hate the board walk at Llandegla too!!

OP – you could always try riding with the girlies a bit more, tends to be more relaxed and less pressure to nail stuff. Check out http://www.shecycles.net – there's an easy ride once a month and we're dotted all over the country so there's probably someone near you. Also – did you know that Llandegla have a girls ride once a month? I think its the last Saturday of the month, but check the One Planet Facebook page or speak to Katy@OPA….

+1 for learning how to do it yourself. I managed and I'm a girl 😀

Hub service and wheel build/true I'd pay for, but everything else I can manage myself.

You don't need the book – just http://www.parktool.com/repair/%5B/url%5D

I did find this from a previous discussion – but I haven't tried it in anger yet! First plane trip for the bike at the end of august!!!! 😀 😀

Conwy Falls cafe at the turn off for Penmachno from the A5 – very scrummy cake and friendly staff…. 😀

Please somebody kill Vicky. Please please please.

But realistically I reckon it'll be something to do with the Lillian/Matt/Paul love triangle…

Bumpity bumpity bump…..

Good luck guys, hope you have a ball and raise loads of money 😀

+1 for Minx, Debbie is really helpful as well… 😀

Also could try Gear for Girls and I did notice that Bike Treks[/url] had a range of ladies clothing when I was in the Ambleside shop the other week.

I really like that colour 😀 What is it called?

Thanks for that Eddie – you're correct on the listed/non listed/curtilage status (according to what we've been told by the vendor anyway)…. I think that some of the neighbours have made internal changes so it shouldn't be a problem, but I've emailed the planning office anyway – no point in buying if we can't do what we want!

We're not bothered if it doesn't add to the value, but didn't want to see too much of a drop and what you've said sounds acceptable. In my eyes a house with 3 large bedrooms would be more attractive than a 4 bed house with two pokey sized rooms – but I'm not sure that would be the view shared by others…. And it being a 'character' property just means there are fewer other properties to compare it with!

I don't think we do (if someone knows I'm happy to be corrected). The barns are within the curtilage of the Grade II listed Hall – which I think means you need listed building consent to do anything that changes the look of the building on the outside (including changing the colour of the window frames and stuff like that), but on the inside you can do what you like.

I had to look up where that is… so no :-).

bumpity bump 🙂

I've got SDG Allure on both of my bikes I like it so much. Unfortunately it's really just a case of trying them out and seeing which is most comfortable. Loads of friends rate the specialized bottom measuring service so it might be worth going with the saddle that's recommended from that?

My fav local route – not technical at all. What I called my Neolithic ride!

Start at Barbury castle. Follow the ridgeway westwards to the A4. Then up the B4003 into Avebury – head east out of the village along the wessex ridgeway to cross the Ridgeway and then down towards the gallops/fyfied down heading for Rockley. Cross the road and head up the byway back to the Castle

my other riding tops (though very good) are boring black… if I had the money I'd be buying stuff like this: purple shorts

Wow those shorts are cool, didn't realise Debbie had her new stock it. I'm gonna have to start saving!

There's a load of SS bike jersey's in the Evans sale at the moment – you never know they might even have some in a decent colour and the right size 😆 I've picked up Endura and Altura ones there before.

There's a few SheCyclers [/url]around the North West.

Or Chester Chunky Monkeys[/url] if you're in that neck of the woods – I ride with them!

I think there's a group of ladies attached to one of the Mancs MTB groups as well, but can't remember the name… Or actually it might be a roadie group. Hmm, sorry that doesn't really help does it.

[EDIT] I'm probably thinking of the cheadle group mentioned above!

+1 for the Black House Grill. Went there on Saturday, spent far to much money (cocktails 😀 ) and had some very nice steak!

If you want something a bit cheaper – Brewery Tap[/url] on Lower Bridge Street. Good local ale and excellent pub grub!

Indian – Gate of India on City Road (towards the station), always busy.

are men who ride bikes a bit different to those men who don't ride bikes??

I think it's a person thing rather than a gender thing. The OH and I got into biking together, and he's quicker on the descents (my excuse is that he's heavier) but other than that we're pretty well matched. Sometimes I get the impression tho that if I wasn't around he'd spend more time indoors on the xbox – whereas I'd go out on my bike all the time if I could.

<hijack>
DezB – interested in your Ayup handlebar mounts, have emailed you 🙂
Cheers!
</hijack>

I'm not sure that I completely agree with fundraising to walk up a mountain (holiday!), but fair play to you for getting out and doing something. At least it raises the profile of the charity.

Kilimanjaro isn't really that challenging though – depending on which route you're taking. If you're doing the Coca-cola (Marangu) route then its really just four days of gentle trekking. I did this route as I couldn't afford to do a more challenging one – they take longer so the Park fees are more. If you can do a weekend of hiking in the Lakes/Snowdonia/Scotland then you'll be fine – the problem is really altitude, and the company you're with should make sure that you don't go too fast. Your base fitness level should help with that too.

If you get a chance while you're in Tanzania – do Mount Meru (second highest in Tz). Great walk through the National Park at the base, with all the animals around (and your guide with a gun) and a fantastic view of Kilimanjaro from the top. Makes for a good acclimatisation walk as well.

Had mine a few months now and love it 😀

First ever self build and I've got the bug now…. HopePro2/DT EX500, Formula K18's, and a mix of SLX/XT/Saint.

OK… so maybe we should get two 😀

The OH did jokingly once say I could have a pack of Westies… I keep reminding him of that!

Would love to have a dog but situation needs to change first…

1. None 🙁
2. Lakeland trailhound or Westie or Border Terrier or Border collie or springer or Wiemeranier
3. Lakeland trailhound or Westie or Border Terrier

I really want a trailhound – mainly because of this picture