Cheers for that nbt. The Middlewood Way is the other option- I’ve not done it since it’s been resurfaced so hopefully won’t be the quagmire it has been in the past. I’ll check out the sustrans website to see if there’s any info on route 62…

Just weighed the bike bag and it's 8.8kg including all my extra padding. Assuming my road bike (Planet X Pro Carbon SL with Dura Ace) will weigh 8kg tops than that gives me some extra weight for tools, shoes and some towel/nappy padding. Looks like it's game on!

Next challenge is how to fit 2 adults, 2 children and all the associated luggage, plus a bike bag, into an "Alfa Romeo 159 Estate or similar"!

Cheers chaps!

Opted for Zefirellis in the end- realised they did takeaway. Pasta for the wife, pizza for me, followed by Withnail and I and a good bottle of wine. Fortunately our self-catering pad is in better shape than Uncle Monty's cottage!

This was supposed to be in the first post:

Still not worked out how to get the web address of a flickr photo from an iphone when you can't right-click!

Sorry Mods; sent from my phone. Please move to chat forum

Was looking at the Alfine option, but I think it'll cost a fair bit more and was a little concerned with the hassle of removing the wheel to change a flat. The one thing I've learnt cycling with young children is don't like waiting around!
I've ordered the SLX mech, cassette and right hand shifter. Just need to sick it all on the bike when It arrives.

Thanks for the reply Poppa. I had wondered about needing a chain device. I was hoping I would get away with it as the chainset is single speed specific and so should have a taller tooth profile. I might take an old front mech away with me so I can use it as an emergency measure. I've just ordered a GS SLX mech so should get chance for a bit of fettling at the weekend.

*edit*
the suggested mech and shifter combo should read 'SLX' not 'STX'!
I'm guessing from the 1x 9 post that a shorter cage rear mech will be an advantage to reduce the chance of the chain jumping off the front ring.

Problem solved. Spoke to the owner who was apologetic and agreed to deal with his fence. I'm guessing if an owner wasn't cooperative it could be a grey area.
Thanks for all the wise words!

Some great suggestions; particularly the catapult! I understand the chicken wire is the most fool-proof solution, but as it's a mature hedge it would have to be cut back to allow it to grow back through the wire fence. Otherwise it'd look pretty messy. Although it's my garden I'm protecting, I don't see why I should have the hassle and messy appearance of a wire fence. Surely the dog owner must have some legal responsibility?

Sporting Lesbian are back in and hoping to improve on last season's top quarter finish. A big field this year!

Thanks for all the tips, guys. I think we're definitely game-on for the route. Thanks for the map links, SFB. All loaded in the GPS so no excuse for nav. problems now!

I had looked at starting at Troutbeck, (thats in the other Jeremy Ashcroft Lakes book) but it seemed to have a little more road riding as well as the hike-a-bike. One for the future!

Good to go now despite the slight delay of a completely seized X9 rear mech lower jockey wheel! An hour dismantling and regreasing the 'sealed' bearing and it's moving again. I think I'll be looking for a better after market replacement or ditching SRAM in future.

When I told my Sister-in-Law I was posting to get some advice on the route she said "Who'll be checking the internet at this time on a Saturday night?"

How little she knows about the Singletrack massive!

Cheers guys!

Gutted to hear that. They need stringing up.

I’ll keep my eyes peeled this end of town.

Wen’t to a ’80’s fancy dress earlier this year. Fancied going as Mrs Thatcher, but was struggling to get size 10 womens shoes without going to any ‘specialist’ shops!

Opted for Mr T in the end. Bought a wig which had a little bit of a trim and some extra theatrical hair sewn on. Bought lots of fake bling, a weight lifting belt and some US marine combats. Even got the earring with the feather:

If you’re interested, I’ve still got all the stuff. I was thinking of sticking it on ebay as I think it’s a fancy dress you can only really pull off once!

Someone did go as Mrs Thatcher- and looked fantastic. Even had hair done in the same way. Bearing in mind the party was in Sheffield, she didn’t get the warmest of receptions when she went for a pre-party drink. Shouts of “maggie out!” from the whole pub!

Sorry, thought I’d mentioned in my OP, were just outside Padstow so north Cornish coast. Thanks for suggestions up to now!

What I meant to post was:

Same at our house. (Bees, not crabs that is!) Under the soffit board abouve the bedroom window. Doesn’t help that my wife has an irrational fear of wasps and bees. In the recent warm weather it has resulted in several dawn bee removals from the bedroom.

Need to call the council to get them removed if possible, if only so I can get a proper night’s sleep!

Reminds me of the two beekeepers who got chatting. First asked the second, “How many bees have you got?”
“Ten thousand.” replied the second.
“How many hives?”
“Ten. How many bees have you got?” the second keeper asked the first.
“A million bees” he replied.
“A million bees!” exclaimed the second keeper, “How many hives?”
“One.” he replied.
“A million bees and one hive!” checked the second
“F@!K ’em!” said the firsk keeper, “they’re only bees!”

IGMC…

Best to drive, Lotus Elise S1 or Alfa Romeo Bertone GTV Coupe. Both had the ability to put a smile on your face, a good balance of predictable but lively handling without too much power or grip. Able to safely drive them closer to their limits at legal speeds. Driving them both in Sheffield winters was a different story! Best to live with year-round; Boxster S. Fast, fun to drive but comfortable with good luggage space. All sadly missed!

Worst; Mitsubishi Space Wagon. Horrendous Italian hire car which seemed to have embraced the Italian car reliability stereotype despite it’s Japanese heritage. Dodgy electrics left is with a window stuck down for 2 hours on a Autostrada after a toll, and again over night through a thunder storm. Needed bailing out afterwards! Also shocking ride and wooly handling. Range Rover Vogue SE Supercharged also a big disappointment. Was expecting it to feel lively; instead was like being sat on a tractor and turned like a car ferry.

We bought a Bush Baby Premier carrier. Managed to get it half price- a shop was closing down. Comfy, well supported straps. Good storage. Really comfy seat for Mefster Jr (he’s 18 months old) Good sun protection (although he doesn’t like the limited view caused by the canopy!) Even a little hand mirror so you can check how the little passenger is doing when your out on your own.

Do get a little back ache on long walks but I think that’s just the weight of the boy and the fact he constantly leans to the side to see what’s coming up!

I had a Fire Mountain of the same year; black with pink splatter and rear u-brake. I think it was an ’88 bike. My brother had an expolsif of the same year; pistachio green with yellow splatter. Fantastic bike. He managed to peel the water bottle bosses from the downtube falling off trying to cross the ford at Little Langdale.

Still sorely missed!

saladdodger – Member
I can see that

I use a BOB type trailer and if you tend to move the bike from side to side when riding as I do I can feel the trailer sort of twisting the back end of my HT

Surely, even if you’re moving from side to side, the trailer won’t be putting any significant lateral force on the rear triangle. Unless the trailer is swinging from side to side (as in tyres skidding from side to side) which is virtually impossible, the trailer only provides drag on the rear axle, which is acting in the longtitudinal direction of the bike. A much bigger lateral force on the pivots would be the lateral force from the bottom bracket as you pedal, with the grip of the rear tyre preventing the wheel moving sideways.

I suppose this could put more lateral force on the pivots, but it’s exerted by hard pedalling rather than the trailer.

Well, the first half of the day made me think I should’ve stayed in bed:

The aforementioned sticking brake caliper. Taking the wheel out (aware our 18 month old was getting more restless by the minute. Rushing to take the rear wheel out I managed to bent the mech hanger! So mech off, adjustable spanner out to correct that. Managed to free ip the pistons a little with some GT85 and eventually got the bikes on the car for the drive to Grizedale. An hour and a half later, we were parked at the visitor centre. Bikes off the car, Mefster Junior in the trailer and off we went.

3 crank turns later and I managed to snap my chain! At least I wasn’t in the middle of nowhere. So off to the bike shop. New chain purchased, fitted, and EBB adjusted. Only to discover Mrs M’s rear brake was now more than dragging; the rear wheel was now locked. At this point we were considering giving it up and sticking the bikes back on the car. Mrs M is 5 months pregnant. I knew there were hire bikes but all the small ones were hardtails. Even with her saddle I would have been worried about her comfort.

Thankfully, the mechanic from the Grizedale Shop came to our rescue. Even though they were really busy he spent 10 minutes bleeding a little fluid from the brake. Bikes now working without a problem, we managed to eventually have a great family day on the bikes!

Thanks for all the advice chaps! I’ll try all the above!

Thanks chaps!

As Will stated in The Inbetweeners:

“If my Mum told me we were going on holiday in a caravan I’d call Childline” :wink:

Sorry, not got any other useful information on caravans but after the last few camping trips I’ve been on being a total washout I can see the benefits. I suppose it’s like camping, getting one big enough to be comfortable but not so large it’s cumbersome. As long as you can find somewhere to store it that dosn’t leave your front room in a state of perpetual darkness!

Oh, and put out a warning on STW if your travelling on an A Road on a bank holiday in daylight hours!

Slight hijack, but if you’re posting a web address, how do you change the wording for the link as it appears on the post, rather than just the address appearing as the link?

Thanks Matt. We have been keeping an eye on Phil and Ted’s on fleabay. Need to work out the difference between the different models. Unfortunately the Phil and Ted website is really frustrating to navigate and try to compare models. I feel a bank holiday weekend trip to the baby shop coming on!

A buggy no use for a newborn if I remember correctly[/paste]

When I say tsndem buggy I mean one that can have a ‘cot’ section for the newborn. I think the Phil and Ted ones have this in rear (stoker!) position so it’s sheltered form the elements

Thanks bedmaker. We’d looked at the powertwin- seems to get mixed reviews. Some people mentioned that it can veer to one side and be a little unstable and prone to tipping when going up curbs. Have you had any problems like this? What age were the children when they were in it?

I live just outside Altrincham and have also failed to find any cheeky local trails in the area. Closest options are Delamere and Macc Forest, although Binners and Co might no some bits around Sale Water Park and the meadows.

With an 18-month old and number 2 on the way, I’m guessing 2 kids under 2 will make getting time to ride will only get tougher.

From 6 months we started managing to combine the cycling with ‘quality family time’; a different kind of riding but just good to get out on the bike:

Surprisingly good workout as the load you’re pulling gets heavier by the month!

As Little Mefster is getting bigger he took delivery of one of these last week:

His feet don’t touch the ground yet but we’ll try it again in a couple of months. Looking forward to seeing him on 2 wheels!

When number 2 arrives we’ll need to consider a double trailer (better weather protection but the width might be limiting) or look at a bike seat for Mrs Mefster’s bike.

‘Proper’ riding consists of more road riding (can go out for an hour after work) or pre-planned weekend rides without the family (less often).

I enjoy my cycling, but I enjoy my family as well!

I bought a Superstar carbon seatpost

Now that’s bravery.

After a few month’s testing on my roadbike, I’ve got a second one waiting to be fitted to my hard tail.

Any carbon fibre splinters up the @rse will be reported!

I bought a Superstar carbon seatpost for my road bike. On the second ride after fitting it my chain snapped! First time I’ve snapped a chain on a road bike. Must be related…

(As it happens, seatpost is very light, seems well finished (although a little of the lacquer appears to have flaked off where it’s inserted into the frame) and was a real bargain. Looks remarkably similar to the 3T carbon post costing 4 times as much).

Absolutely harmless, unless you’re a slug. They eat slugs

Bring it to our house. Major slug/snail problem in our garden. It’d get a warm welcome and be well fed!

I remember years ago on holiday in Scotland. Staying at a B&B, whose owners took us to the local farm where the farmer’s wife had raised an orphan fox cub. Although it now lived in the woods behind the farm, when she called at’s name it’d come running over. Spent a good hour playing with the cub, it’d crouch, crawl over to you then pounce- play-fighting. Then roll over and be tickled. Great animal.

On the flip side, my Brother had all but three of his sixteen chickens killed by a fox last year. He and the kids were gutted. The local farmer had a flock of geese killed by a fox. Not eaten, just killed. I think opinions of foxes depend on your personal experience of them.

So what do we think about fox hunting then?

Beat me to it with the Spitfire ads, CFH. Superb!

Driving back from the Lakes on the M6 a couple of years back we were overtaken by some clown in a people carrier. The motorway was busy, it was raining, and this bloke was in the outside lane driving really aggresively; tailgating cars, drifting over the white line on either sides of the road. A real accident waiting to happen.

After watching the guy driving like this for a good while we decided something should be done, so Mrs M got the number for Lancashire Police. We called and told them the car details and where we were. A few miles down the road and we passed the car- it’d been pulled by an unmarked traffic car on the hard shoulder. I was impressed they responded so quickly.

Secong time of listening and the Romanian entry still sounded like they were informing the watching European millions that not only do Balkan Girls “party like no other” but also “sh@g all night”!

That’s got to be a welcome boost for their tourism!