Scotland has its hands tied behind its back tackling drugs use and deaths as drug policies are not devolved but set by Westminster dinosaurs who are against sensible debates, legalisation, education and treatment. Only concerned with self preservation and lining their own pockets rather than the greater good.

Independence is the only way forward.

Campfreddie I logged in to saw that your mate is very fortunate to have you as a friend.

I hope this story has a fortunate end.

Not the best, but albums I took a keen interest in. Was 11 in 1990 so teenage listening. In roughly chronological order:

Pet Shop Boys – Behaviour (90/91)
U2 – Achtung Baby
808 State – Gorgeous (93)
Prodigy – Music for the Jilted Generation (94 – a great year)
Radiohead – The Bends
Pink Floyd – The Division Bell
Chicane – Far From the Maddening Crowds
Chicane – Behind the Sun

First two Oasis albums may have made it if they weren’t soured by the absolute rubbish they’ve made since.

Early teen interest in dance music spiked by having older brothers into the dance scene. Memories of one in particular randomly bursting into my room and cutting all sorts of shapes with his top off. Shared a house with 5 brothers and a sister, crazy days but the best of days.

I had a feeling traffic would be an issue in this area. It’s one of the reasons getting somewhere with a decent bike commute is important, although I do expect the local driving style may be am issue!

Very helpful comments here, thanks everyone

Sounds good chapaking!

Variety is definitely a good thing to have in terms of local riding options and it looks as though I will have that. To be honest, I wouldn’t be relocating to an area that didn’t have good riding!

Chapaking, what sort of off road are we talking about locally?

If there is the opportunity to do good gravel/xc long rides off road and on quiet lanes, I’m all ears. In that case I’d take my Whyte Friston. I’ll have a full bouncer too for the lakes.

Reggiegasket, I’d say Clitheroe was too far East.

I’ve kind of ruled out Garstang and around there due to the gnarly motorway commute. I was set on it, had some doubt, posted on here, then settled on an opinion! The main advantages it had was close to the Lakes, good riding from door (excellent variety in the road) and it looks a decent Lancs town.

I’m settling on the Brinscall / Mellor area. Most rural settlements in Lancs, no matter the size, seem blessed with with a local drinking establishment which is very welcome indeed. I imagine the beer will be excellent. Although, as someone who will be single and living alone for the first time in many years, I better be well behaved!

I’m living alone so don’t need anything too pricey, it looks like I can get my requirements for a max of £600 per month – village/semi rural, a private space to clean bikes. Doesn’t leave me much to live off mind you!

Thanks everyone. I think having a commute that avoids the motorways is the way to go.

I have a property shortlist that includes properties in Mellor and Brinscall.

That’s kind of you Duncan and would be a great help. Will also be looking to join a local cycling club too. I’ll do road locally and keep the full bouncer for the lakes. I have a gravel bike also (very capable, 40mm tyres, basically a rigid xc HT with drop bars) but may not take that, I don’t know if there is local riding that would justify it and I don’t want the hassle of having my whole fleet in a smallish rental property!

Mick_r, that was very helpful. I had came to the same conclusion about the villages south of the Ribble, some of them look to offer what I’m looking for.

I had thought of somewhere further up the M6 but closer to a junction. Fuel costs and removing the potential of a cycle commute are big factors. Also I’d be too reliant on the M6 which as you say, if closed, means Adiós!

Thanks. I’m looking now in the Ribble Valley. The options for good road cycling look reduced south of Preston due to main roads and Motorways. Ribble Valley gives easy access to Forest of Bowland and round to the flatter stuff towards the Fylde.

My suspicion is that it’s not the distance that will make the commute by car from Garstang bad, just volume of traffic. The commute by bike from the north doesn’t look great either. From the area I’m looking at now in the Ribble valley I can cycle to work on b roads/lanes all the way.

I want semi rural and good access to quiet roads. A pub within walking distance would be great!

User of old Volvo estates here.

My previous one was a 2093 xc70 which I took up to 260k then ‘treated it’ to a service and air locked it after changing diesel filter and it’s never moved since.

Currently using a 2003 V70 pre-dpf with 194k. Flywheel knocking (doesn’t bother me not worth doing) but is great to drive, can sleep in it, great sound system, and computer says 53mpg which is hard to believe,maybe it was chipped as someone mentioned earlier.

Stars have aligned and in the last 3 months I have had the holy trinity of:

being dumped by long term girlfriend

Covid-19

No work

This has resulted in sh*t loads of cycling and an already lean and athletic 86kg becoming 81kg. I of course reduced my Zwift weight as a matter of urgency and with a great sense of expectation.

2020 has been something else.

McInnes, the trouble with bikes is that they need a qualified mechanic to PDI them then box them up for posting. There may be fewer/no such people around currently.

Other bits and bobs can be sent out easier.

Evans/Frasers group will obviously suffer from all this financially I would be shocked if Evans don’t emerge the other side given the money behind them, and I think Evans are one of the better/more sustainable arms of Frasers.

Glasgow is being severely underrated as a place to live for a cyclist

1) huge cycling club scene with over 100+ years of history
2) velodrome
3) you can easily ride from city centre off road out to proper countryside – to the north and west
4) great road cycling routes out north with excellent climbs
5) reasonable access to Arrochar, West Highland Way, Glencoe, Kinlochleven, Fort Bill – proper classic MTB riding
6) tweed valley 1.5 hrs
7) lake District 2hrs
8) Dumfries and Galloway 7 stanes and Drumlanrig 1.5-2hrs
9) lots of parks and cycle network within the city to explore

Glasgow is a great city for escaping off road I think, but north of the river is by far the better side.

A classic for me is from the city centre, out to Balloch on the cycle path, climb over towards Croftamie but catch the John Muir Way to Carbeth then West Highland way, Milngavie, back to city via Kelvin Walkway.

Great for smashing passed cyclists with inches to spare on rural roads all around Britain. Or so it seems.

Spend 3k on the car and the other 23k on fuelling the best cycling enjoyment for the next 10 years.

Kings of Leon’s first three albums are excellent IMO.

Scotland to extend border to Lancaster. England can have the rest.

I do love my English brothers and sisters but for god sake you know how to let utter junk get to the top of your political elite.

1) selection of Fyne Ales on draft
2) proper Glasgow mix including many of our attractive, quick tongued and cool hipster brigade
3) free jukebox

Could go on

I wouldn’t have a job right now if it weren’t for Mike Ashley’s investment in the cycle industry.

And I enjoy the job.

It shows how unlikeable and generally rubbery Gove is that not even coke use makes him more likeable or ‘relateable’.

Rory Stewart is the outstanding candidate. A genuinely fascinating person who seems willing to put party politics aside in order to tackle things sensibly.

Love getting the pub going with ‘Rez’ on the jukebox.

Also on my bucket list to see.

Lakeland folk should rightfully proud of their cycling clubs. Fine people.

Good on you and thank you for amazing support. The Barrow Central tifosi on Hardknott are just a nugget of what makes the Fred ‘not just a sportive’.

Had a glorious two nights in the back of my van in Grasmere. Didn’t want to come home!

I started in my own at 0730 and it was surprisingly quiet on the road till Honister! Only a couple of fast groups came passed but experience tells me to ride within limits on this one as it’s a LONG way. The A66 I didn’t see another rider.

I kept it very steady all ride and after the final descent of Blea Tarn I thought I’d push on for the last ‘flat’ 8 miles only to bonk after 3 of these. Ended up crawling home after feeling great and getting fueling spot on for the rest of the ride.

The army of volunteers and roadside support was incredible, that cannot be understated. Great people.

Some ignorant riding on climbs such as crawling up the middle of the road (not keeping left) and the super spiderman weave all across the road to ‘lessen’ the gradient whilst forgetting about the chances of crashing into someone overtaking being the two most notable examples!

Wonderful event.

Worn driveshaft causes vibration/rumble under acceleration.

Well I’ve not long accepted an entry after being on the reserve list so I’m in!

Have a 34×32 bottom gear, as experience tells me go as low as you can go (did it in 2009, 2010 and 2011).

The plan is to start VERY steady and try to enjoy it. Been on the bike lots but don’t often do anything near as long in the saddle as this. Feeding strategy is to go armed with savoury baguettes as sweet stuff only keeps you going so long.

Looking forward to the start in Grasmere as easier to get to for me, and a change from Coniston.

Going down night before and kipping in the van so hoping for a comfy night. Probably stay down night after too

Gnusmas, my GF experienced similar to you.

All I can say is how amazing she and her brother are for the care they put in place.

All the very best to you.

For the handbrake you may need to get aftermarket barrel adjusters off eBay, they slot in to the rear shoe handbrake mechanism and allow you to adjust tension.

The car park is fine for kipping in whatever form you choose, I slept in vehicle last year and will be doing the same again this year.

Fingers crossed for pleasant weather!

Do the consumer laws still apply to second hand goods as in this instance?

Thought used good simply had to be fit for purpose, as described and wear and tear in keeping with age and mileage.

I think in this case the gentleman had previously sold the car and taken in back as the EML came on, then he sold it again to you.

You may deem in a nice car otherwise and just get it fixed, if you have the money, only you can decide by taking the qualities of the car into consideration

I reckon any incriminating DNA evidence against the McCanns found in their Renault Mégane was planted by a corrupt local system (of which the cop Amaral was a pivotal figure) hell-bent on protecting a local economy 100% reliant on tourism, and which employs nephews, nieces, cousins, best friend’s sons, etc of powerful local figures.

I was at the watermill in Ings month ago and the food was of the very highest standard. Lovely establishment and served me well before kipping in the car at a very pleasant nearby location before an early morning in the mountains. Lovely part of the world.

Can still remember 1994, 14 year old, on the train home from town listening to a newly bought Jilted Generation while looking at that artwork.

Then there was the summer holiday to Centre Parks Sherwood Forest that year, fishing for carp by day and ‘being sociable’ at night. Happy days.

Have a look under bonnet around battery, tray, air filter holder, plastic venting etc there could be something loose. Stick sponges or like into loose bits and see if it helps.

If vehicle has plastic under tray look for rocks or socket from previous mechanical work rattling about

Circa 2009 Renault Koleos.

2.0 dci timing chain engine, 6 speed, ability to switch between 2wd and 4wd, huge loading space with handy bench style rear load space, basically an X trail but cheaper.

Civic the standout. The one with the round back, great load space. Autos pretty rare.

Nice car.

Autoboxes on older Toyotas iffy, although older a avensises are lovely cars

Civic the standout. The one with the round back, great load space. Autos pretty rare.

Nice car.