http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/products.php?plid=m1b0s2p2292

If the size fits and its the type of bike you’re after. Good web-site for deals though will be last years/previous models.

Not sure if your magical voucher will work.

Stab in the dark here richc – labrador?

Have seen some spinoodles in the passed which were interesting.

Meet Leonard.

Had him from 8 weeks – he’s 6 months now and weighs 33kg (5-ish stone for the oldies)

EDIT: Sorry bout the mahoosive pics!

Agree regarding the size of garden.

Recently moved house to a property with a larger garden and had our old electric fly-mo. The extension leads were horrendous and probably dangerous – bought a petrol mower with powered back wheels and it has literally turned a 2hr job into 45mins – granted theres probably more maintenance and the need for oil and petrol but has been well worth it.

I did some lawnmower training when working part time in a DIY store, the model didn’t really matter as long as it had a Briggs and Stratton engine – don’t know if that’s still the case but it’s what I went for.

Also if you can afford it get a cylinder mower not a rotary type. The scissor action of the cylinder cuts the grass where-as the rotary blade rips the grass. (or so the salesman said 🙄 )

IMHO of course.

^ 😆

Did london to brighton off-road in a british heart foundation charity ride. Distance quoted was 72miles, you must have taken a hell of a detour.

+1 for the Cougar!

As an outsider – amusing.

As a relative – I should imagine pretty embarrassing (but deep down still amusing)! 😀

In the vein of molgrips

Across the river from the Turkish village of dalyan.

By no means the greatest stonework in the world but still impressive to see in the flesh.

Far too many to choose from.

But first one that springs to mind (that hasn’t already been said) would be ‘For Emma, For Ever Ago’ by Bon Iver.

It’s good if you like that sort of thing.

Unfortunately don’t know any who’s good with linux systems. And even more unfortunately I couldn’t live much further away – in East Anglia.

Edit: thanks anyway!

^ This is what I fear. The missus is going to kill me 😯

I did try backing up the puppy but he didn’t like it at all. 😕

Time to find me some free recovery software!

As opposed to an old puppy? (or a dog as some people like to call it)

Tate Modern (formerly Bankside Power Station).

Sir Giles Gilbert Scott who was also involved in the Battersea Power Station design as in OP’s start – note the resemblence.

Gilbert Scott used to like to eccentuate the height of buildings by only having intricate detailing such as corbellin, dentil courses etc near the top. Note the brickwork detailing near the top of the tower.

Or something like that anyway. 😉

I had an EX 8 2009 and loved it, at the time it was considered the best all mountain ride by certain magazines, until the lapierre revolution that is.

I’m at the heavier end of the scale nearing 100kg but it coped fine (although that model of the bike came with a custom 130mm fork upfront the later models come with 120mm), took it round all the welsh trail centres and the only thing holding me back was my ability. Only got rid of due to someone helping themselves to it from my garage.

Replaced with Fuel EX9 2010 which I have to say wasn’t quite as good although the bolt through front axle did make it feel a bit stiffer. That one was also nicked 3 months after the first.

Had it replaced with a Spicy 316 2010 which travel wise was more capable but wrong kind of geometry for me and, dare I say it, overbiked. 🙄

Have gone back to a Fuel EX8 2010 and have to say best decision I have ever made. Recent trip to wales and it flew up the climbs and wasn’t too shabby on the downs either.

Only gripe with the 3 Fuel EX’s I’ve had is that I have changed the wheelsets as the hubs that come as standard are shocking – as soon as you go near anything muddy the seals seem next to uselsess, I always swap for something with a hope hub.

Also always change the brakes to formula, but that’s more to a personal preference as can’t stand Avids that come as standard.

Never thought/needed to change the stem, though having read the above may investigate further.

IMHO of course.

Enjoy if you get one.

(Oh yes everyone else on here seems to hate trek as the exact opposite to the definition of niche which makes it aalmost worth getting alone. 😉 )

Another one here for RX’s which came stock with a Lapierre Spicy. Have since put them on a Fuel EX.

I’m a bigger rider nearing the 100kg end of the scale and with 180mm rotors front and rear they are definately more than powerful enough. Very happy with single finger braking (Avids in the past made me want to use all my fingers and possibly buy an additional anchor just in case!) They are certainly more powerful than the Oro K24’s I had in the past.

Haven’t gone anything harder than Welsh trail centress graded red so couldn’t vouch for proper downhill stuff.

I have never tried Hope brakes to compare.

I’ve had 3no. Fuel Ex’s now and absolutely love them. Only a one bike man and it copes with everthing I throw at it.

Only thing is each time I’ve ended up upgrading the wheels and brakes they standardly come with.

Why don’t you look at last years models for better price saving.

For instance:

http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/products.php?plid=m1b4s1p2855

This place is local-ish to me and always good on price – they don’t do treks though.

Will potentially get more bike for your buck.

Happy hunting.

In order over the last 10 years.

Renault Clio 1.2rl
Golf MKII GTi 8V german import
Renault Clio 182 trophy (1 of only 500 made)
Renault Megane Sport R26
Alfa Romeo 156 Selespeed
Audi A4 Quattro 3.0 V6

Currently

Volvo V50 2.0 diesel estate 🙁

Cheers for feedback.

Would be potentially be looking at UK to Italy.

Got into biking as love all forms of exercise and thought it a good idea.

I know its not to everyone’s taste, but disgracefully have lived right next door to Thetford Forest for 25 yrs only biking the last 5! Now being 30 yrs of age I appreciate what a wonderful resource it is and just wish I’d started sooner.

Now love Thetford for its sheer slog and no real rest (i.e. downs) and Wales for its trail centres (sorry 😳 not real biking I know).

Just need to lose the stabilisers and I’m sure it’ll be much more fun. Can’t wait!

Formerly Norfolk and Norwich hospital frontage.

I do believe the facade is being retained as it’s listed, but a new development modern flats are being built behind.

^^ 😆 , gets boring otherwise.

Love them if I know its going to be a good destination.

Regularly drive 1.5hrs to london to pick mate up and then an additional 4hrs (dependant on location) into wales for a days riding.

And then drive the above in reverse. A great day’s driving!

Also helps that I’ve just got rid of the 23mpg gas guzzler for a more respectable 55mpg steed.

Cheers Pies,

I’ll make that my starting point.

Cheers Stoner – Turned out to be a sealed system – ‘re-pressurised’ the syetem with the filler tap on the boiler and managed to bleed radiators and get them to work.

All now good except for one radiator which I’ve bled fine but doesn’t get warm at all, not even the feed and return pipes to the radiator get warm.

Not sure what’s wrong with it – if I can bleed it then it can’t be blocked? Can it? Any ideas?

Desparately trying not to fork out for a plumber this close to Chrimbo! 😳

Only if it was my blood i suppose.

Thinking about it that relative pressure makes sense.

Stoner – I’ll have a check shortly and check.

I assume being an oil fired boiler has nothing to do with it? Always had gas before moving here.

Not too sure, only moved in 6 months ago (i.e. when we didn’t really need the heating on) and can’t find anything amongst the instructions etc. the previous owners left regarding heating.

I generally just sing either Hawaii 5-O or Mission Impossible in my head very load.

Not too sure what that says about me though!?! 😳

EDIT: Thinking about it, it’s no different if I’m riding with others! I must think my riding is more imporatant or dangerous than what it really is is!

Some x-rated action from our garden last summer! (don’t look too close!)

BUS W*NKERS!

ready and waiting 😆

Generally, and it seems counter productive, in adding cavity wall insulation to older properties you then have to provide additional background ventilation to reduce the risk of condesation.

It seems odd to spend money making the house warmer to then have to add 'holes' to its envelope.

Any competant installer/surveyor should advise that this is the case!

Oh yeah, they ripped the additional padlocks off the garage door which I had put there after the first burgulary!

From bitter experience, theives always go to the weak point and figure out how to get the locks off later.

At my old place, having already had one bike nicked from the garage, my new bike had 2no. locks on it as well as an armoured cable around anything quick release.

Trouble is it was all locked to a 50x50mm steel punched bag frame that was concreted into the ground.

They just cut the punch bag frame to pieces – bugger me how I didn't hear it.

Around £4500 of bikes gone in 6 months. Targetted.

Needless to say we've moved and I'm no longer bitter(****ing Bastids!) 😥

6'4" hear. Found the Trek Fuel Ex range in XL was good for me.

+1 for splashdown. Until it was pinched I had a Fuel Ex8 2009, was perfect size and seemed to handle everything I threw at it – wlesh trails , forest xc etc. Not sure what price they are now though. Was about £1750-1800 when I got mine.

Don't be preposterous, that would be going too far! 😉

Surely the next step[/url]
🙄

Had a fuel ex 8 2009, and ex9 2010 both in 20.5/21.5" (actual/virtual), I'm 6'4" and was perfect sizing for me. Therefore would guess A18.5"/V19.5".

As above though best to sit on and try the sizes first. ❗