I looked for the pylon we used to play under when we were kids in a small village in Sussex. It isnt there. Do they move pylons or do I now need to worry that memories of my childhood might not be real… ?

Where in Sussex was it? I spent my whole life working in the electricity industry down there.

I spent 42 years in the electricity distribution industry, this entailed working around or sometimes with live equipment up to 132,000 volts. This has caused no issues to me or any colleagues. The companies that run these businesses are extremely safety focussed and electromagnetic radiation has never been of any concern so, from this respect I don’t think there are any issues. One thing to consider is that the maintenance on our electrical infrastructure isn’t done as well as it once was thanks to privatisation so bits do fall off towers on occasion these days, especially if you’re near the sea!
As long as it isn’t directly over the property and it isn’t too much of an eyesore then I’d say don’t worry about it.

It was a SWB but no photos, sorry

I had a five seater, a nice van to drive and you can easily get five people, five bikes and camping kit in. Front wheels off and I used the tie down loops in the vehicle, small ratchet straps and plenty of pipe lagging to fix the bikes in, locked as well of course.

Go West to East, you need it to be a dry day with a tailwind for the best experience. Drop supplies off or have some support if possible. Do it in June or July and start early, very early. Do all of it but don’t fall off going down Butser Hill at speed and watch out for Giant Hogweed dropping down to the River Ouse. Don’t stop more than absolutely necessary, you might need to stop quite a bit and it can really eat into your total time, be strict about this. Coffee stops in the sun are nice but this won’t be the right day to do that, stop, eat, drink and go. It’s as much a mental challenge as a physical one so keep pedalling and make sure you get to The Pilot Inn while they’re still doing food. Good luck and enjoy it!

Go on, you know you want to…

Ruffwear stuff is brilliant, collar and lead now 10 years old and I reckon the aluminium loop on the collar where the lead fits will wear through before anything breaks. We had a problem with one of the carabiners on the lead once and it was replaced just like that. Would recommend to anyone.

I never skied enough to get any good at it so I always found it somewhat frustrating trying to keep up with and ski the same crazy stuff as my friends. Berating myself for my bad skiing almost spoilt the whole thing, then I discovered blades. Best thing ever invented as far as I’m concerned because they allowed a very average skier loon about all day and thoroughly enjoy it, even if the fast stuff is a bit sketchy. If I were ever to go skiing again I would definitely be on blades.

Pipedream Moxie

I have problems with both my achilles tendons and I’ll be the first to admit that I know nothing about this but………………

I have seen a physio who really does know about these things and apparently the worst thing you can do is to encourage bloodflow to damaged achilles tendons.They’re meant to be white because they have no blood flow to them. If they had a blood flow then they’d have nerves in them and when you consider that they have to take more shock loading than any other part of the body then you’ll realise that you don’t actually want to feel what’s going on down there.

If you are trying to mend damaged tendons then you might want to see a different physio?

Good luck, it’s a long process

I have done the Sella Ronda, on road, on my Nicolai. Not sure I have got the hang of this? But I did manage to pass several cars returning into Arraba by taking the steps rather than the hairpin bends which was fun.

Had several fantastic holidays in this area, always stayed in Arraba and make sure you do some via ferrata while you’re there. If you’re not too sure of yourself then try the Brigata Tridentina near Corvara, spectacular but not scary. But be warned it is popular so get there early, good luck.

They’re bilberries

It’s funny how these things make you think isn’t it, here are my cars since I passed my test in 1987;

Mini, deseamed, fibreglass front, 1440cc engine
Another mini
Mk1 Capri 1600GT
Fiesta XR2
2.8i Capri
Cavalier SRi hatchback
Lancia Beta Spider
VW transporter pickup with 2000cc Lancia engine
Audi 80 sport, square shaped one
Peugeot 205 GTI 1.9
Audi Coupe Quattro, rounded one non turbo
Audi 90 2.6 V6
VW Corrado VR6
Audi S2
TVR Chimaera 500
Peugeot 206 diesel
Peugeot 206 GT diesel
Honda CRV
BMW Mini Cooper S JCW
Nissan Qashqai

20 in total plus 9 motorbikes

I’ll second The Pendleton

Next time you’re in the Surrey Hills and you have to pop into Dorking for bike parts why don’t you cross the road to Cobbetts Real Ale Shop and Micropub. Reasonably priced and excellent beer in Surrey!

Maybe I’m a bit old fashioned. But why can’t people just go for a ride with out all the bomb holes, drop offs, trying to kill yourselves type of stuff? I spent my formative mountain biking years on the South Downs around Eastbourne where there wasn’t all this sort of stuff and I just wanted to make my legs stronger and try to keep fit. I can assure you that there are plenty of long and fun rides around the Surrey Hills that you all can do without upsetting locals who don’t ride bikes. Leave Redlands alone, most of you will never find the good trails and if you run my dog over when I’m walking her there will be trouble!!

Just start another thread about the hills around Dorking please, I may not want to ride in Redlands but let’s not spoil the fun for those that do!!

Try Saint Saens Symphony No 3, stick with it, it builds and you’ll recognise some of it even though you may never had heard it.

Philip Glass for something a bit different.

I must second this suggestion as well;

Gorecki – Symphony No. 3

I have a Samsung S4 active with viewranger, I don’t need anything else.

Glad to hear they’re still going, I used to use them when they first started, they were good then. God knows how long ago that was?