I’m looking at apples, pears, plums to take over 1/2 my 1/2 allotment as I can’t hack all the weeding. Soft fruit is brilliant, we do Raspberries, Black/Red currants, Strawberries & they taste amazing. Courgettes – you only need 2-3 plants to keep you going for the summer – but the biggest advice is paths – if you can get some decent square paving slabs down & you’ll never have to weed them at least! 1 book reckons 30 mins a day & I try to get down alternate Sundays for a few hours in winter & evenings in summer. Get perennials like artichokes to fill it out a bit too.

BNIB is so the way to go. Then go to the bike shop & find one you can actually try before you buy. HT good budget buy

ditto the_lecht_rocks

Rezerection in Newcastle used to play this Carmina Burana
It would go OFF! :-)

What, no Rat Pack?!
Serching 4 my Rizzla
Glow sticks at the ready!
Got any Vicks mate?

What about that advert in the 80’s (?) when the Lego truck had a helicopter come out the back of it like some transformer, am I remembering that right? I looked on youtube but couldn’t see it. That was class & I spent ages trying to copy it! :D

Did 3 peaks walk in yorkshire last weekend, it’s surprising how much a marathon walk can hurt with no training so I feel your pain! I can only recommend LOTS of stretching. For about 4 days like wot Warton says!

I just got ours back from the attic the other week, old technical lego car, tractor, pneumatics stuff, all totally brilliant & some in boxes but my lads more interested in his Playstation :( so it’s now up to me to build it! :D

I like the bit at 7:17 when he take BOTH hands off to fiddle with his safety carabina.
Nutter

Nice photos Richmars, love the clouds in the valleys – wish I had one of the dew soaked webs on the heather as the sun cut through the mist…Kodak moment :D

Feeling fatigued today, despite all recovery drinks (more accellerade, anyone?)&/because of the beer :D . 11:35hrs was as much as I think I could have done this time, but next year I'll definitely put more hours on the bike. Thought course was good with some fantastic 'hidden' sections, having ridden Kielder trails before knowing that the Lonesome Pine climb was coming after my speedo said 100mi just finished me off!
Just have to say a big tanks to JonB, without whom I don't think I'd even have got around, how any of you managed to do it on your own I have no idea :D – And 'Ha ha!' to the guys laughing at my enormous drop bags FYI I ate it all :lol:
Will be doing it next year as enjoyed the course, scenery & sense of achievement, but will be investing in some form of full body insect protection to guard against the midgies as my arms & legs are now deformed & all lumpy!

I'm there with JonB, like he said, green Orange Crush, red MidAirCrisis tops (top matched the other bike & clashes with this one. Ho hum.)
:D

I bought a dog from a blacksmith in the village at the weekend. When I got it home it made a bolt for the door.

does everyone chow down energy gels throughout this ride?

I'm going with JonB so we need to sort out food drops, but to date on our training rides it's been mostly Snickers bars for me & pork pies for JonB. Going to try out Ginsters tonight, at least they come in their own wrapping. Energy gels just don't feel right all the time…
Jelly Babies – Heads first for extra umph!

not worried too much about the weight difference but reliability/serviceability are issues for me so the XTs seem to be a winner for me…

XT's need a lot of love on a regular basis, can't comment on the Mavic's. Don't know how good you're cone skillz are, but mine are rubbish.

Skin so soft seemed to work for JonB & me up there the other weekend. Mind you it's the standing still that seems to be the point at which they eat you alive. Bee keepers outfit anyone?

JonB – your knees giving you grief after last weekend?!

about £1000 per square metre of floor area. minimum. That's bottom end using a contractor to do the lot. And factor in fees for planning consent, building regulations, not to mention design fees

Get fitter, you'll notice the difference more than spending a load of money on bike bits. You can get faster, and the extra weight helps build fitness too. Things wear out just as fast in the winter, regardless of how 'better' they are!

Looking forward to getting my Crush (via cycle scheme voucher!) – LBS recommended it (Cheers Gordon :wink:) & all I have heard is good stuff – can't wait to test it out :-)