I am about to put my husbands 2011 enduro evo frame up for sale (the black and yellow one with the coil shock). Excellent condition, barely a mark on it. Looking for £530. Will include headset and direct mount front mech. It’s a medium.

Email in profile if it’s of interest to you at all.

Simone

I used a bobike maxi for my son until the bike it was on got stolen along with the seat. I am pretty sure the weight limit is 35 kg and not 32. For kids this will make a few years difference! I am Dutch and bought mine in holland. They are great seats, but do remember things like the straps/foot guards etc are extra (from memory). Designed to carry a crate of beer when folded down the rumour goes!

I have seen it used for much older kids then 7, just use some common sense.

My son is now 12, 150cm and only weights about 39kg, you may got more use out of it then you think.

You can always sell it on when she is too heavy for it.

Simone

We did Switzerland February half term last year for a family of 4 for £1700 all in. This included travel (by car so ferry/tolls/fuel), accomodation (an Appartment), lift passes, food (we self cater, but go outlunchtimes) and spending money. We do have our own skis/boards.

For two the travel would work out more expensive and you may as well fly.

For next February (week before half term) we have booked an Appartment in morzine. Spacious and close to the lift/shops etc. works out about £130 per person.

So you would ad £100 flight, £70 transfer, £170 ish lift pass. You would be a little over with hire and spending money. You would get a lot more skiing and boarding done though!

I have also seen some great coach deals to brides-les-bains (near maribel). We did consider this for just me and the hubby last Easter, but could not really justify another holiday. I have heard great things about this place, lower resort but 20 mins in the gondola and you are in maribel.

HTH

Simone

Sounds a bit like another British company, norton. My brother in law ordered a new norton motorbike, only for the delivery date to be put forward again and again (by months). Cancelled the order in the end.

Not sure about prices not being very different. Friend yesterday had a dash light on on his vw golf. Dealer: £75 to plug in their computer fault detecting thingy, Indy: £15. Dealer £96/h labour, Indy: £35.

The Indy is my brother in laws garage, but prices are his normal rates (he does ours for free labour). My husband has newish cars as he is a driving instructor and he always uses his brothers Indy garage for servicing (unless offered free at the dealersunder some kind of deal), never had any problems with warranty claims. Indy garage just has to do the work according to manufacturers schedule and use genuine parts etc etc. he also stamps the book.

I also think that the dealers’ so called mechanics are not always that good. My brother in law started his career at a ford dealer and in the workshop they got paid per job. The quicker they did the job (many corners were cut/left out in the process), the more they got paid. He was the only one doing a proper job/willing to take on more challenging jobs and earned the least money. He left and set up his own garage. He has a guy working for him and an apprentice. Most well organised garage in the city, party due to his mild OCD, you could eat of the floor in his workshop!

Good Indy I’d say, but get one recommended as there are a lot of cowboys out there.

At least 9 months. My mum (in holland) told me stories of babies that died going in a bike seat too early (no, not in a crash). I think the parents thought the little one had gone to sleep 😯

Over there they did use to sell a bracket to clip the maxi cosi onto the rear carrier. Not sure if they still do.

We looked into Bulgaria for last years trip, but the costs of the flights and bringing kit on the plane put us off. We drove to the alps, with a family of 4 and brought all our own skis and boards.

Last years hols was taken during half term, not booked till December, and cost us £1600 for all of us, all in. We do go self catering, but went to Switzerland.

Next year is already booked and will be the week before half term (naughty, but I did not fancy the q’s as its also half term for Paris and holland) and out apartment will be 1075 Euro in morzine. It sleeps 9, with plenty of bedrooms and bathrooms, so we will share this with some family/friends.

I’d say, if you are going with more then 2 people, drive to the alps. Especially if you bring your own kit.

My 5, bought to replace my hustler.

Tried a 14″ diva, which was too small, so bought a 16″. Was far too long in the top tube, never really got on with it. Hustler was a much better fit.

Now have a small mega, which fits great with its really short top tube.

Sorry to hear about your bad day brunders, and this really could have happened to any of us. With regards to the cyclists, yes that could have caused serious injury, but when I teach kids I tell them to leave “a door and more” when overtaking a parked car. I know this may not always be possible, but a good thing to aim for.

Good luck sorting it.

Simone

Aston hill is great. I am looking to take my 12 year old there after our trip to the alps next week. I am not a very brave rider, my son is pretty good.

Would be nice to meet up there and be shown up by our sons. My boy has a norco b line 24 that your son would be welcome to have a go on. He is about 151 cm tall and 42 kg.

Myself and my husband have the older nukeproof Mega’s. I run mine with 150 up front in the up and plug in some 180’s for the alps.

Again, my husband is about 6 ft and has a large nukeproof if you want to give that a go.

Simone

My kids had some junior race face and junior 661, both seemed pretty good. Not cheap and sizing a bit hit and miss. My youngest is now 10 and we have moved up to xs adult pads by ixs.

I have a set of 661 kids elbow pads for sale if interested. Very good condition and should fit a 6 year old. May also have some smaller gloves laying around.

Email in profile.

Simone

Neither, get some used air forks. I have a set of Magura air forks on my 10 year olds rockhopper (£90 used) which work great. His old 26″ bike had a set of rockshox dukes air. Cost only £50 and worked great. I think they even had motion control. I’d say have a look for the dukes or as another user said, some older sids.

Sorry to say, miele. Had ours 10 years, only replaced door seal so far. Never let us down and does 10-12ish loads a week (all heavily overloaded). Placed in the kitchen, still looks great. Even if it dies tomorrow it would be great value.

Had a Bosch before that which was pants! Had 3 new control panels and the door fell off in the few years I owed that. That was over 10 years ago though, and I think some Bosch machines were built in Spain at the time. May be better now.

My youngest (10) with the rockhopper I put together for him a few months ago (probably only cost me the same as a new hardrock but has roval wheels, magura forks and hayes brakes). Lovely bike and rides well.

Just sorted these for my boys (12 and 10) for our trip to Morzine. Owned the Norco for a few years, but have upgraded it as we went along, the kona was built last year (bought as frame only) and has been upgraded this year. Both should sell well when outgrown, my oldest will be on a small 26″ for the alps next year I think, so the Kona will go.

We enjoy riding and kids stuff does not loose too much if bought used and looked after. Thats my excuse anyway!

Some of you guys think the british schools days are too short! I am dutch and all primary schools had wednesday afternoons off, and the infant school classes also had friday afternoons off.

Term times more or less the same as here.

Yep, still went to High school at 11/12 ish, all kids in the class being able to read/write/do maths and speak/write a little english. That despite not starting ‘proper’ school till age 6.

School is for educating our children, it’s not a babysitting service! (no I am not a teacher!).

Simone

That Santa Cruz does look lovely, if I buy used what should I look out for?

Simone

Thanks for the recommendations, I am considering perhaps the Santa Cruz, or bfe. I do seem to be I between sizes though on some bikes. 14″ usually to small (legs too long, seat post looking far too long and the smaller the bike the bigger I look!), 16″ usually too big (mostly too long in the top tube, but depends on the bike).

I suppose ideal is 15″ with short ish top tube.

May get another stiffee, but I like the idea of being able to swap and in fact kinda have a choice of 2 hardtails.

Cheers,

Simone

To be honest, the name kinda made me buy one. Powder coated it purple years before cove thought of it ;0).

Still though, have 2 of the same bikes in the shed? In the same size? Seems a little daft.

I am considering a bfe, suspecting I may be in between sizes.

Had an orange 5 for a while in 16″ and top tube was too long for me, 14″ was too small. Thinking the bfe may be the same?

Simone

My son had eczema when he was a baby, not as bad as your little one I think. The doctor told us not to bath him as much, and it really helped. Babys dont really get sweaty and stuff anyway. My son did try and use this argument when he was much bigger (why should I have a shower, I had one last week!?) boys!

To Jimmy:

No, it never is!

This woman is clearly a little mad! And pretty horrible.

I do think names are important though, we spend ages deciding on names for our sons. More because I am Dutch and the names had to be practical in both languages.

My sons are called Rik and Stefan.

I suppose you now all know my background 😀

Rock shox dukes, had one on my sons old bike. Air and cheap, picked ours up for £50.

Yep, the husband and I are up for it.

I have a small mongoose fireball frame going spare, silver and takes discs or v brakes. Can post and will be cheap.

Email in profile if interested.

Simone

My boys are older now, but never really got on with the grip shifts. Hard to change and accidentally changed when jumping their bikes too.

That’s great to hear, thanks. Still worried I won’t fit all the furniture in anymore losing the wall. Perhaps my fears are unfounded. Will have to measure and draw some plans I think.

I am considering blocking up the back door in the kitchen and making it a window. The French doors will be the only way out. Will I regret this? As it will be one room, there will still be a door to the garden in it.

Also, presume I need building regs?

Thanks nickjb, we have considered just that. However, the extra expense puts us off. Also, the back of the house does to get a lot of light, so the dining room is quite dark, adding to it will only make it darker. Our garden is also small and mostly higher.

Taking the wall out and having windows on the side of the house as part of the new room will hopefully brighten it.

We have a spesh rockhopper for my youngest. He had a 13.5″ and now has a 15″ (old womens fame I think). Built up not spending too much. Great comfy frames, and not too expensive used. We also have a 14″ scandal for my oldest aged 12. Light, but not so good for kids (especially girls) due to the long top tube. I prefer the rockhopper for kids.

This is my youngest son with his new bike. He is 10 and about 145cm. Bike weight 24.7lbs (as in the picture incl heavy seat/pedals etc).

Spend as much on air forks and light wheels as you can. This bike cost about £350 (still had the brakes and shifters).

Hth

Simone

Hi Hopster, I will measure him in the morning, but I think he is about 1.45m at the moment (picture was taken today). This is his second 26″ bike though, he had a 13.5″ rockhopper before this, I think since he was about 8 and 1.35m ish. Only really changed to this slightly bigger frame as is was blue (his favorite colour) and I got a decent price for the other bike. I do believe this blue one to be an old womens frame, so I think the top tube is the same as the 13.5″ frame he had before this.

Short stem, shorter cranks, not too wide bars and air forks are the key I think. Light wheels if you can get any cheap. his other rockhopper had duke air forks (rockshox) and they worked great and were not expensive.

This was the other one:

Again, go for a small frame with a short top tube. We also have a 14″ scandal (his big brothers) and that is not as suitable as it has a long top tube. Ok now he is 12, but not so good for the little ones.

Will measure him tomorrow, including the inside leg.

We are in Norwich, travel to sherwood and Thetford quite a if you want to give the bike a try.

Simone

Got a picture now, just finished this build for my 10 year old. 24.7lbs as its on the picture (heavy padals, seatpost and saddle!). Its built around a 15″ rockhopper frame (I think an older ladies frame). Cost about £350 to build, but I still had the brakes, shifters, headset and tyres in the shed.

Just built my 10 year old a new to him rockhopper fame. Quite old frame, but in good nic. This frame is a 15″,but he had a 13.5″ rockehopper before that. Lovely and comfy frames, better than the 14″ scandal his brother has as the top tube on those is very long.

Built up with 2×9 from my old bike (xt and new deore cranks from rosebikes), some magura air forks and some roval controle wheels (got these at bargain price).

Great and light bike, will try and post pic when I get the time.

Simone

I have a envelope full of marz IS brake mounts (3 I think), these may be of some use to you. Could post them if you like.

Simone

Not sure, but a friend of ours was caught at quite a speed (immediate ban speed) few years back. He was advised not to respond or something as he could only get done for the ‘not responding’ (or whatever it was) and not for the actual offence. cant really remember the details, but he did get this advise from a solicitor.

Ended up with just 3 points I seem to remember (was travelling over 90mph i think).

Dont think it really helps, but get a solicitor’s advice as soon as possible after the offence!

Simone

cheers, any idea on price if I may ask?

the bike is a norco b line 24. I think the different mounting point are meant to give different travel, but more interested in the head angle really.

what do I need to know to order offset bushes?

Thanks again

Simone

we are in norwich, but dont local fitters just order their windows in?

I had loads, up to about £30 each. I use them at the gym. Always playing up after a while, got really fed up buying new ones. Now using some in ear ones from aldi, these have been great! Longest lasting so far and about £3.99. Bought a few spare sets, but have not used them yet.

Hth Simone

Not sure, but don’t you need building regs for changing the use of a room? So you need building regs for moving he kitchen?! In that case the building regs and completion cert could cover the whole job.

Simone

I use boiling water, lots of it, to combat the ants that sometimes appear on/under our brick weave drive.

According to my mother it’s the only thing that actually works. In my experience she’s right.

Be patient, keep pouring!

Not so useful indoors, but the nest must be outside somewhere.

Simone

Hi Dan,

i tink they may well do the trick for now. will email you later when i get home from work to sort payment etc.

thanks

simone