Tap – if I know where it's come from; and I don't mean the clouds and 10,000 years percolating through the rocks of Derbyshire.

Bottle – if I'm thirsty and it's easier.

For example. I could never bring myself to fill a bottle from the public toilets at a service station, so I buy a bottle.

I have and would again drink straight from a stream (did it once in the Lakes only to find a dead sheep in it about 300 metres higher up the hillside).

Joe

I thought a potato was a tuber? And they are different all together. Great source of carbs but still only about 2.5% protein.

Aren't the plant bits (i.e. the leaves) of a potato poisonous?

I've never questioned the health benefits of a balanced diet or vegetarianism. In fact, in an attempt to prolong the life of my wife (who had Cancer) we both became Organic Vegetarians. And apart from Tomatoes, that I can't stand, I really enjoyed it. Meals took longer to prepare, but I'm not sure if that was because of our inexperience.

After all the replies though, I think the answer to the questions are, "No it is not natural, it is a life choice (not sure it's healthier yet)" and "No, you could not be totally vegetarian living solely from the produce produced in Britain"

Joe

The thing about protein and vegetarianism being a problem is a bit of a myth though – as long as you get a varied diet, you can easily get enough protein. For example wholemeal bread has 10g of protein per 100g, so you can get 10% of your 50g just by the bread on a single sandwich.

The Vegetarian Society says you only get about 7.0g of protein from 2 slices of bread. That makes 14 slices to get the 50 grammes. That's one hell of a butty.

In terms of globalisation and environment, the impact of meat farming is massively massively more, as it is a very inefficient way to create calories or protein. That is why there is an environmental movement for people to pledge to not eat meat for one day a week (or more).

I agree that modern farming techniques and the over consumption of meat by the western world (in general) has severely damaged the environment. But I'm not sure that the majority of peoples diet did actually come from plant sources. There is so little nutritional value in plant material (calories, vitamins and minerals) that can be extracted by the human gut, it's not really worth eating (you use more calories eating and digesting celery than are actually contained in it).

I'm afraid my weakness is neither meat or veg. It's those overly processed sugars that find their way into the brightly packaged containers of Sir Walter Raleigh's greatest discovery (no not tobacco!!)

Sorry that should have read.

If it wasn't for globalisation, could you maintain a healthy vegetarian diet from the foods native to Britain?

Plenty of ways of getting protein including
Barley, Beans, Sesame Seeds, Lentils, Sunflower Seeds, Broccoli,
Oats, Peas, Walnuts, Rice, Peanuts, Cashews, Pasta,whole Grain Breads
They are just Incomplete proteins so you have to have mixture.

Oh and Walnuts are native to Britain for about the last 2000 years
yes I am veggie and your friend does sound a bit OTT

Still not sure it answers my original question to the pain in the arse vegan and yes she is totally OTT.

If it wasn't for globalisation, could you maintain a healthy diet from the foods native to Britain?

I can think of other native protein sources from back in the day – walnuts and beans for starters. I think veganism is a very modern fad, but suspect that for most of history most people lived a fairly vegetarian diet because of the difficulty or expense of killing lots of meat.

Walnut has always been a rare wood in the UK and certainly wouldn't really have been used as a source of nuts, as for beans, the more native beans grown in the UK are not particularly high in protein especially runner beans. Broad beans are not too bad. Plus they were too obvious to mention in my original post.

Also, pea proteins (peas and beans) are low in some amino acids that promote cell growth. So why is this type of diet supposed to be healthy?

Last Thursday did another 10 mile shake down of the 29er to see if the seat pillar has stopped slipping.

Now it's creaking from the pedals/crank area. Tightened and greased everything but now waiting for the chainring bolt spanner to arrive.

Did nearly 200 miles on the V-Strom over the weekend with a nice ride to Buxton.

Originally studied Geology and Computer Science with thoughts of being a Geophysicist.

Now working as a Geo-Environmental Engineer. Would like to move more towards Hydrogeology or Groundwater Contamination.

My post about geological hammers linked to the UKGE website. You can get rock tumblers there. CLICKY

Have a look at Ebuyer. They always seem to have a good deal on HP laptops with some Ebuyer specific high spec ones (i.e. more memory or bigger battery)

Depends what you are going to use it on.

All the palaeontologists I knew preferred something lighter with a spike rather than a chisel.

But my igneous prof preferred a 2lb lump hammer head on a full sized sledge hammer handle and a cold chisel.

And I had the 2lb one of these CLICKY. If fact I still have it somewhere!!

P.S. If you go to Norway, there are some outcrops that have banned the used of hammers!!!!!!!!

Don't forget they are usually tax free, so you should be able to add about a third onto the sum they are offering.

It shouldn't have linked through to the kids one. Should be to the Rockrider Black/Yellow one.

They have others that are bigger and more expensive, but as I only carry a spare inner tube or two, a multi tool, my phone and my keys I didn't need anything bigger.

I have a nice Deuter one if I need to carry more.

If you want a basic cheap one, try the Decathlon one.

CLICKY[/url]

For £13 you get a bladder that is worth £8 plus the ruck sack. Bite valve works well too.

You also get the 2litre bladder not the 1 litre as advertised. Well I did anyway.

My GF has a Gelert one. CLICKY 2

Better bag but the bladder isn't as good.

Been using Avast for about 5 years now.

I use Opera as a browser and email client. When I started using Opera, Avast was the only free product that would fully integrate with the email client.

Great product. Only downside is that you have to re-register every year but it's an easy process to get your new product code and you're off again!

If he, as a Scot, can't forget what happened a couple of hundred years ago and makes stupid comments about the England football team.

Me, as an English man, will not forget either and I hope he never wins another thing!!!!

Stoner

I hadn't noticed all the fancy adjustable dropout stuff, looks interesting! I see what you mean about the amount of adjustment you'd need in the brake hanger to accommodate the amount of adjustment in the dropout.

Surely thought, if there is enough braking force to move a wheel backwards in the dropouts before, is there not enough braking force to move the new dropout arrangement in the frame? Should have made it so the adjustment bolt mounts directly into the sliding dropout (Copyright 2009), the dropout wouldn't move either way then.

Still can't get used to curved seat tubes either!!!!

After all the fuss that was made about the rear dropout and the brake calliper position, interesting to see that the brake hanger is in a more 'traditional' position.

Reasons or more B.S.????

How about Specialized Crossroads?

Great on the road as you can pump them up quite high and not too shabby off road either. I've ridden the canal tow path around Skipton all year round and apart from when it's really muddy they are great.

Hard wearing too!

Check out the CLICKY

She's not the most stunning looking woman in the world, but there is just something about her. I reckon you'd have more fun with Julia than some of the real 'stunners' out there.

You don't have to look like a supermodel to be incredibly horny.

Thanks for all the advice.

I ended up going to Keswick on Friday to pick my GF up and have a look at the car. Decided to try and limp back home (about 70 miles) at the ungodly hour of 5:30AM Sat morning to avoid getting stuck in traffic.

After about 15 miles and two stops to fill the car with water I was beginning to give up hope. Couldn't understand why the car was boiling over so I decide to feel the temp of the radiator and the hoses. COLD!!!!

Took the thermostat out, filled her up again and made it home with only one more stop to check everything was still in place and have a coffee. In the final 50 miles, the car didn't overheat, seemed to be running perfectly and didn't skip a beat. The only thing I did notice was that the heater wasn't working.

My conclusions (and quite happy to be shot down in flames) are that the water pump and the thermostat are knackered. There doesn't appear to be water circulating even with the thermostat out as the radiator didn't get more than warn and heater matrix isn't getting any hot water.

Now that we've got the car home, we've decided to let the professionals have a look at it. It's worth an hours labour to get their opinion so I can decide if I'm going to attempt the work myself. And with all your advice, I'm a lot happier to have a go and save myself a bob or two.

BIG thanks to STW

I was personally looking to go to Vancouver.

I do a bit of skiing and diving and mountain biking and thought the place would be ideal. I was looking for a real break away after my wife died.

If it hadn't been for ageing parents I'd probably be there now.

I have done it recently. can't wait to get back to the UK – for all its faults the UK is a better place to be.

I'll put it like this. Canada is a lovely country if you can avoid the Canadians.

Sorry but that's not much help, it's like saying you've been to the UK and the British are aweful.

Where were you? Never had any problems with the people from Alberta and British Columbia. I imagine the Quebec side might be a bit funny cos were not very good at languages are we???

You'd better check out the Canadian Embassy web site for all their rules and regs. It's a bit more difficult than getting into the UK.

CLICKY

They have a points system (your degree will help), and the website I've linked has an on line questionnaire that will help see if you are eligible. You need 67 points at the moment to get in.

I tried the test myself and got 72 points but that was making a couple of major assumptions, ie my gf would want to come with me.

Hope this helps.

P.S. I've personally not noticed that they don't like a drink and there have always been off licenses in the towns. It's just not the drink culture of the UK. It does get VERY cold in winter, but that doesn't mean the whole country grinds to a halt. They are used to the cold and the snow and I've never noticed it having a huge impact (apart from when it was -47 and the TV was telling you not to spend too much time outside cos of the risk of frostbite).

They also have dangerous wildlife and you will probably be allowed to own a gun for your protection. Bear and big cats are about during the summer and Moose (and some of the big cats) during the winter.

As you are probably aware, it is a HUGE country with a comparatively small population. I've met some Canadians in Banff who came for the skiing like me who have driven for 2 days to get to a good ski resort. It didn't take me that long from Manchester.

I only buy off ebay now as it's become a bit expansive to sell stuff.

If I really want something, I'll wait till about 8 seconds to go before I bid. I'm a sad computer nerd (used to be a programmer) that will sit with 2 windows open, one with the bid ready to be sent and one being refreshed. BUT, like all other auctions, don't bid over your maximum price and don't forget the p&p.

Check out some of the stuff from Europe and the US too. Even with the shipping and exchange rate you can get a bargain.

I've also used it to find obscure things that I wouldn't have a clue where to find a shop that sold them (rubber feet for an ironing board, don't ask!!!!!).

I only buy off ebay now as it's become a bit expansive to sell stuff.

If I really want something, I'll wait till about 8 seconds to go before I bid. I'm a sad computer nerd (used to be a programmer) that will sit with 2 windows open, one with the bid ready to be sent and one being refreshed. BUT, like all other auctions, don't bid over your maximum price and don't forget the p&p.

Check out some of the stuff from Europe and the US too. Even with the shipping and exchange rate you can get a bargain.

WillTheRealForumPleaseStandUp – Member

Typical STW! A string of posts arguing the merits of going back to cheap SPDs, and one recommending Times. Both of which would mean either a new pair of shoes or some genius way of removing well-used egg beater cleats from my one remaining pair of shoes.

Epic STW fail!

I don't know why you asked the question. You don't want to change the egg thingies, you still want to let your mates ride flats, you don't want to spend any money and you're asking people who are bored at work and don't really care.

Don't do anything!!!!!

You've got a pair of trainers!!!!!

My favourites are Time Atac pedals and my Diadora Geko shoes. I do take a euro size 48 which can make things a little difficult. The only problem is £15 for a set of cleats!!!!

Great seated riding position, but just a word of warning, they're not overly wide so with the bend they can feel a little narrow.

That is SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO WRONG!!!!!!!!!!!

Take the saddle off and put the rest in the skip.

Got back from Normandy just over a week ago. Diesel prices varied quite a lot with prices ranging from 0.96 to 1.38 Euros. As with the UK, supermarkets seem to be the cheapest.

There are signs for Supermarkets like Carrefour, E'Leclerc, Super U and Intermarche all over the place but they take a bit of understanding and they don't always show if there is fuel. They give the town where the supermarket is and then the road that the supermarket is on. But they don't give the road name they give the route to another town. You therefore follow signs to the main town where the supermarket is and then follow the signs for the second town. The supermarket will then be on the route to the second town.

It sounds complicated, but it works remarkably well. I found the Decathlon in Le Havre this way and then spent a load of money on cycling jerseys.

Cracknell was a complete arse. He might be a strong man in a boat, but to put his team mates lives at risk in the crevasse field was totally irresponsible. And don't get me started on the things he said to the doctor who had been patching his feet for 500km.

I would have loved to have seen one of them punch him in the mouth as they crossed the finishing line.

The man is a liability on such expeditions.

I work just off Oxford Road and park on the old Boddies Brewery site. I don't walk very quick cos I hate arriving too hot and bothered in the office and that normally takes about 19 mins. I've played about with my GPS and it's 1.1 miles.

£3 and there are usually people on the gate all day.

There's a really cheap one on Rochdale Road. I think it is £1.50 all day. It's about the same distance walking but I had my number plates nicked from there so I don't use it. It's right opposite a police station too!!!!!

Because you are massively over engineering what is a comparatively simple idea and loosing a massive amount of power in the process.

The loss of power involved in making the pull of a cable operate a master cylinder would be huge.

The idea of hydraulics is that you turn a large movement at low pressure into a small movement at hight pressure. You would need a cam or pully type system in a cable operated lever to move the amount of cable required to produce the same braking force of a simple hydraulic lever.

It might work on a bicycle where disks have always been a bit of overkill when someone is pedalling down the road, but I wouldn't fancy having that system on a Honda Fireblade!!!

As we have lost the comedy actress Mollie Sugden today. I hope no one is going to supply a photo of Mrs Slocombe’s pussy!!!!

I believe the reason they seem to do it Cornwall to Scotland is that you are effectively going west to east and that is the ‘usual’ direction for weather and winds in the UK.

Can’t think of many things worse than a 1000 miles of head wind!!!!

Outwells seem to get very good reviews but they can be heavy due to some them being made from a poly/cotton material rather than the usual polythene. It all depends on what model you get.

Vango are good but again you’ll pay a premium for their top quality ones.

As for standing and vestibule size, you really need to go and have a look and work out just how big you need. I camp using both my motorbike and car. I’ve ended up with two tents as I can’t find one that suites all my needs. I have a 3 man for the bike as it’s not too heavy and the pack size will fit in my hard luggage. There is no way I can stand in it and I can just about sit in the vestibule on one of those 3 leg stools. For the car I have a 5 man (even though there are only 2 of us). I can stand in the main tent and I’m 6’4″. Both of us can sit on chairs in the vestibule with a table between us too.

Check out THIS DUTCH SITE[/url] They deliver to the UK and have some good prices.

For good waterproofing you need 3000mm or above Hydrostatic Head and make sure all the seams are taped.

Mine is Janet Anderson

Total expenses £173,556
of which second home allowance £23,039

She is spending over £600 a month on phone calls. At least £350 a month on food. And £500 petty cash from both house of commons and constituency offices.

I’m friggin livid.

Just started to use them.

Pros – Very comfy most of the time especially in the saddle climbing. They seem to put your hands at just the right angle.

Cons – Could do with being wider. On the flat or on the road, I find I ride with the palms of my hands right on the ends of the bars.
Difficult to fit bar mount accessories lights, computer