Doubt if any one from the call centre will come and check. Get the poll tax and insurance in someone else’s name for a few weeks maybe. Have a ‘tenant’ for a month.

Was climbing with ‘young’ Chris last night. He’s 68 and still goes hard at it. Just travels to the crags now on a bus pass instead of his van.

Used to put up tents for Womad at Reading in late 90’s. Always a joy getting most of the punters from our local pub into the back of a Luton van and getting them on site for free.

Insulated, ply lined then lined with car carpet and red silk for rear doors, couple of hundred quid. Part conversion so still a van, just got new insurance for £410. Raised pallet for a bed that folds back on itself, storage underneath. Fold in half mattress from IKEA for about £200. Buy a caravan and leave the good spots for me to sleep at. On board loo is a bottle with wide neck for pees, Mrs bought a she/wee. They are expensive as you want to make them, off to Swiss Alps this summer for 2 weeks, Wales or Lakes every other weekend, my lawn is ace.

T4 for 4 years. Ex AA van had no problems so far. Part conversion of bed and can get three bikes inside. Use it as a work van as well. No downsides here. Easy to drive and is OK on fuel. Have a drive away awning for when staying on sites. Will always be a van man.
If you struggle to get the Mrs camping though a van may not change that. Luckily my Mrs loves it.

Bought a bike off them last year, great price and service.

I know they don’t have wheels that was the funny bit for me. The museum was down the road from where I worked a lot last year. Think one of the UK’s first sub trials was in the Mersey.

Chic Scott stayed at my house in Liverpool he is The Man. Spent 3 days drunk in Montreal which was nice but not very helpful to you. Go and have a looks you can always come back.

Lots of the big uns berthing next weekend I think for the celebration. The sub was great years ago when I made a flying visit home. Driving down the docks and coming across the submarine up on blocks on waste ground. Comedy value of it looking like someone had nicked his wheels in that part of town.

Thanks for the replies. Would be coming over as a painter, lived outside city last time so thats O.K. Was out near New Brighton and spent most weekends away some where. Been over 3 times so kind of know what the country is like. I guess my main concern is can you have a life during your working week. Dont fancy bunking down in a backpackers style place for months on end or feel like Im constantly in a disaster zone. Im sure housing is tight and dearer than normal but as long as it is available.
You’re pictures look good Jon.

Thanks very much all. Good points. I had never heard of this till about a month ago and had a conversation about it with a mate after a few days of very strong winds and was looking at it as prevention really. I do like my slates though and re-roofing with them all is a fair point. The wine was fine and so was me cheese.

Why would it put off buyers. The house is bog standard semidetached the slate roof does not really add to the character at all.
The spray foam is breathable so should avoid condensation, its a long term rental so mainly interested in avoiding future roofing costs.

Thanks col. It was pretty bad when I was there. Had lived there for about a year in 2000 and loved it. Very sad to see it virtually demolished. Spoke to a lot of locals and amazing spirit and get on attitude in what I imagine war zones look like. Was looking at work and weekend bike and climb opportunities really I’ll drop you a line. Thanks for the reply.

No. Just pedal faster or slower. Now different bikes……

He once painted the queen for 4 months! He milked that one. I reckon I could gloss her head to toe in a couple of hours.

Yup Glen met a lot of Americans with Canadian flags and a lot of pissed off Canadians that Americans were doing it. Made it to Peru a couple of years ago would love to go back however with work the way it is may be some time for me.

Went back in 1996. Overnight bus from Guat City. Bus got stopped by paramilitaries who had me and my mate kneeling down with cocked guns at the back of our heads. They thought we were American. Lots of spitting about Yankee dogs and offering fags around got us back on the bus and away. Scariest moment I ever had from lots of travelling. Great place back then though even if I may have slightly soiled my pants.

Bikingandalucia is my choice, cheap and cheerful. Good rides to be had.

Get some Fitch brushes from a good decorator store and get steady handed and patient.

Joey the lips is right. Three hours round Wirral killed me for the day! Still makes you stronger and all that especially for getaways!!

Mr overshoot I reckon we rode a very muddy mid week ride together a few weeks ago.

Wow someone on single track who rides a bike. Well done mate I’d be well chuffed too.

Wow someone on single track who rides a bike. Well done mate I’d be well chuffed too.

Its Orgiva grum and yes lots of great trails, not that easy to find but never bother looking when Dave from bikingandalucia will show you round at a bonkers cheap price. He also laughs at my jokes which makes him a rare and dignified soul. Nice pics of local rides makes me jealous and nowt wrong with paddling if I can ever be botherd working out how to post pics I’ll start a local paddle thread one day.

In reply to timc for riding I,m back to my routes on the Wirral or North Wales. Local rides it’s single speeding through the parks and down the seafront really or to Asda! Do you happen to be fond of fat bikes? If you are I know you lah.
Best local ride is Church Street and Liverpool One area on Christmas Day morning!

Whoever said mountain bikers where cool vorlich? Have you ever read most of the posts on this site?

Its pixalated if you have too many tubos taki.

Much better tunes than mine andeh.

Aigburth………

Ha good one, took me a while to work that one out.

:lol:

Its pretty lively at times Samuri but the train station pickpocket only worked on the ugly blokes!!
Its all dead boss la in Shakeabush. (only locals will get this probably)

Sleep in a VW transporter a lot with the Mrs its fine. Spent 12 weeks in NZ last year car camping it was a bit looong in the last week.
Spent a few weeks sleeping in a car with a mate in Spain not much fun its easier if you like to cuddle the one you’re with!
Plus cars get lots of condensation if not well vented. Tent and hostels for you young man.

Another vote for an Anthem X. Good for XC on easier trails but also ridden it all over Wales the Lakes and some big descents in Southern Spain’s Sierra Nevada. Upgrade the wheels put some fat tyres on and pretty much have a go at anything on it.

T4 for me, have two bikes behind the seats width ways so can lock em to the seat and home made fold out double bed. Bikes live on front seats when sleeping. I’ve got a bike rack but not used it yet. Sea Kayaks on the roof and climbing gear etc stored in plastic boxes under bed. Not much use without photos but ain’t worked out how to do that yet.
Get a big comfy bed in your van bugger sleeping in a tent. Oh and an awning as living room when on official sites.

4
1 full bouncy
1 grrrr hard tail
1 fully rigid for my local trails
1 rat bike singlespeed for the shops.

The Mrs has 2 as well.

Urban technical my new fave catch phrase though I’ll be riding in Cywyds mud tomorrow.
Colorado is well on my list of places to go, had to exit through the back door of a bar on several occasions myself back in the good ‘ole days!

Actually the guy behind you has very clean white tyres did he ever leave the bar?

Do they sell tubos and tapas?

Yawn. Thankfully I’m off out in ten minutes. Good on the Welsh for stuffing us we deserved to loose. When I lived in Scotland a Scottish friend advised those who were very anti-me because I was English were doing me a favour and saving me a lot of time by finding out they were a dickhead straight away. Scotland and the west coast is one of the most beautiful places on the planet and I know because I have seen a lot of it. Ding dong saved by the doorbell!

Buy at the border. Stick cling film over it to hold on windscreen to use on another car or pass to a mate. A Swiss policeman told me to do that last time I was there!

Start very early to get a clear run down. Some walkers stepped aside for me shouting go go go on the way down. Others just look pissed off because you are having a lot more fun than them.

Nowt wrong with riding a Marin tazzy though UKC does seem to be dominated a lot by people who post and slag that much they will never have time to climb. Oh yeah point taken for here as well….

I heard the lib dems say they were the sand in the political oyster. So that’s the bit of sh@t nobody wants then. Its a shame as they made the best sense before the election then sold out completely to grub their way into power. They are all appalling but I still vote but it’s a very depressing situation.