HRH Charlie narrowly avoiding me while opposite-locking his old Aston on the corner by the statue of George III before he straightened up and gunned it towards Windsor Castle.

Back in about 1990 and I was lugging my shopping up the hill on a (seemingly) 100lb Dawes.

Ah. Munich is one of my favourite places.
Spent most of the week there, every week, for two years a while back.
Perhaps the most cosmopolitan city in Germany (maybe second to Berlin now, I suppose), known as “Million Village”… ie. Pop: 1m, but still has a village feel (kind of).
Locally known as being more Bavarian than German and, definitely noticable, that the poulation at large appears more Italian/Alpen than, er, Aryan.

As above: Very, very expensive place to live (but, hey, I was on expenses at the time) and a brilliant base for further travel.

Big employers are Siemens and BMW – both with big ex-pat bases – so loads of precedents to follow.
No idea about healthcare as an independent (albeit EU) migrant – but do know that healthcare quality is as per every German stereotype.

Have friends there still if you’ve any specific questions.

Top Gear. Total pish.
However, I will be tuning in to see how the Barchetta gets on on Sunday’s episode… since mine suffers from all kinds of minor ailments – but I forgive it 😉

They were out of London Pride, so I’m revisiting Hook Norton Old Hooky :p

That Stuart would last about two weeks at most real places of work…

Saw that Laura shopping the other day.
Given that the show’s pre-recorded and she didn’t appear to be ‘living the life’ I’d say she doesn’t ultimately ‘triumph’.

Thankyou Simon.
I have just checked and have >10 similar shots with the b*gger refusing to raise his neck. Patience..

As ever though, I remember what was behind the camera more:
Despite a lovely quiet week up there, on that particluar occasion, the footpath from Skelwith to Elterwater was busier that Oxford Street with halfterm traffic I reckon 🙂

Elterwater. Last Monday:

nr Colwith Force on the same day

…couldn’t happen to a nicer set of fans.

Oh. Hang on .. er, yes it could.
Self-righteous, self-proclaimed cheeky chappys.

I’ve had a Monster or two (hence the name) and would highly recommend them – but am currently on a Kawasaki Z750 and find it a brilliant allrounder.

John and Stoats..
He’d had the kit all of 90 seconds at the time of those pics.
I.. with zip drum experience.. set it all up in 10 minutes while Mrs did a birthday diversion with him.

Since then, he’s taking an hour a weeks lessons, showing me how to hold the sticks, and a ‘pro’ mate has laughed at my setup and rearranged it properly 🙂

Strangely, it’s this one by a mile..
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kevindavitt/378748903/

A poor phone camera pic of my Klein at CyB

275 views beats the next with only 88 views.
Gets a fair few views each week mainly linked from Google or Yahoo

Ahh… it’s not so bad..

‘scuse me… Pardon??

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aOT9bBIaJlY

🙁
Had a demo bike this weekend and loved it.

Had every intention of stumping up for a new 2011 complete build….
Unfortunately the need for another car was greater and the SL is gonna have to wait.
Enjoy!

I'm obviously Old Skool.
Love the SC. Much more sat 'on it' than the Spesh's 'in it'.
Just like my HT Klein but with lush rear suss.

I must say that the Superlight's BB/Chainring/Pedal clearance really caught me out though.

My iTunes says Tangerine. Though I'm amazed it isn't Misty Mountain Hop or D'yer Maker or Fool in the Rain, or Boogie With Stu, or Bron y Aur Stomp, or, or, or…

It's on iPlayer now
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00ts470/The_Great_Climb/

Looks like we're on the same wavelength Rocketdog

Update: Tried one today for all of 100yds in a car park.
Still got the demo booked for next week.

Strangely, it was a Large today (the demo, and the plan, is a Medium) and it felt almost exactly the same size as my Medium Spesh. 😕
It bodes well in that my main issue with the FSR is that it has always felt 'big' even though it is the 'right' size.

Convincing myself already .. though the first action may well be to swap the stock Float R with the R23 from the FSR before I flog it.

Ooh. Too may.
Seen them a couple of times.

Green Is the Colour these days, according to my iTunes.

For the memories: Coming Back to Life
One* choice?: Got to be Two Suns in the Sunset or Wish You Were Here
*OK. Two.

Edit: Firestarter, that is one hell of a combination of circumstances to be listening to Final Cut for the first time. Respect

As in Ducati.
My motorised two-wheel transport at the time.

And this is my re-birth after the hacking debacle.

Ditto

JCL: Hmm. Thanks.
"A bit behind the times" is precisely what I was worried about.
Well, not exactly worried … but, y'know.
Having said that, I'm a bit behind the times too. Rooted somewhere in 1997, I think 🙂

Scienceofficer: That's a tough one, and difficult (for me) to verbalise.
I reckon I prefer a firmer ride and tend to run my current pressures high. Rarely on full float and normally either propedal'd or 'locked'.
A relative newcomer to Full Suss (I've a HT and a rigid), I reckon I can generally pick a decent line … but love the FSRs ability to compensate when I f*ck up, or the red mist descends, to be honest.

Either way, I'm beginning to think the demo ride definitely needs to be back to back

This is less to do with make and more to do with what kind of ride you like.

Whilst not exactly avoiding trailcentres, I'm more of a Lakes and North/Mid Wales rider … when using the full suss, anyway.

What you say, then?

My most used:
A Level (Inclinometer)
Compass
File Manager
GeoBeagle (Geocaching)
London City Tube Map
My Tracks
Newsrob (Newsreader)
Orange Wednesday
Scan2PDF
Shazam
Twitdroyd
Unit Converter

It's the best sleep I've had in years.
I felt great afterwards after a minor 30 minute knock out

Howlin Wolf, John Lee Hooker, Leadbelly, Elmore James, Muddy Waters, Sonny Boy Williamson … mix it up with some Led Zep and White Stripes

and, er,
http://www.samaritans.org/

Yes. 12v DC is 12v DC.

Just make sure you let the hire company know you need a car with a fag pack.
😉

Colleague of mine just did his fourth. Lanzarote this time.
The sheer amount of training time required just about rules it out for anyone who has just about any other interest outside of work from what I can tell.

Friend of friend wries this blog about his attempts to qualify for Hawaii.
http://tomandh.blogspot.com/

MTV Classic has had ACDC on rotation for the last hour.
Works for me…

In Dorset?

For shure. In fact I highly recommend it.

I can assure you, it's wonderful to drive.

We love the Vendee (West Coast).
Pancake flat but, depending on your route down South, will give you the beach bit of your masterplan.

…and when it does everything else begins to taste a little bit girly….

hahaha!
Concise and to the point!

I'm a Lagavulin and Laphroaig fan, though Highland Park and Dalwhinnie have their place.

What the hell!
Give 'em all a go!
🙂

I suppose it depends if it's a proposition…

Had my chance today … but didn't bother 🙁
Only had the foresight to register myself and not the Mrs.

Got a pass to go with mates but thought it would be an unwise choice in the big scheme of things …

Finished build at Chritmas but only ridden offroad for the first time last week.
(Thanks to crank-thread problems!)

I've a full suss and a HT too and this recent addition is so far serving its purpose perfectly: A local-pootle bike with my lad and for tamer trail centres (Cannock, Sherwood).
Forgotten how nimble a bike could be.

Incidentally, the fork choice was largely financial and is likely to change to FS at some point but so far loving the return to picking lines that started me out on GT Timberlines back in about 1992.

My favourite…

..but my first in a while
🙂