Despite being his fault (and admitted), a parked car in marked bay, our premiums went up for three years following.

This happened to my brother, he demanded that the other insurers then paid an extra 20% of his insurance premiums to cover the increases. He eventually got it…

Hate this thread, was offered a ferrari gts turbo (basically a 2 litre turbo intercooler 328) for 55k euro, missus said no… Just need to convince her it will be a better investment than a house

Thinking of getting a mavic, but I would like to also use it in the woods, is the anti collision really that good, especially when following a bike?

Fill the grip up with isopropyl alcohol (thumb on one end) let soak for a minute. Pour over bar then using a rag or towel pull the grip on to the bar. Allow to dry.

Hey Stace, yeah some sweet road biking, if you’re popping over again, then bring it with you..

Sorry, thought you meant road bikes….

We run Mtb holidays in Liguria, and we are based in Molini just 30 mins inland and just over an hour from Nice, Summer is a great time to ride, contrary to what others say, mountains here (maritime alps) are twice the height of Finale, so are cooler, and you can drop to the sea.

Sanremo will be overgrown as these are only used in Winter, but there are loads of other coastal trails.

July and Aug in Finale is mobbed by Italian holidaymakers and its v quiet on MTB front, mainly as all the Germans will be in the Alps.

Getting to Turin is easy on the train, and there is great stuff in val aosta

Drop me line if you want more info

There are great routes, as big or small as you like. Between sanremo and imperia there is a cycle path that gives you car free access to the hinterland, also car free.

I am currently planning a trans liguria road trip.

Get in touch if you need route advice, support, transfers etc..

The reality is progress is being made and we may even get on to proper negotiations soon. That’s what matters

Isn’t “progress being made” the new “strong and stable”?

Just as well you do not gave the bitdi engine, the egr cooler is known to disintegrate sending metal particles in to the engine causing full bore wear resulting in a new engine. VW refuse to acknowledge as it only happens outside the warranty period or about 70k miles

freemotionhave very good hire bikes and have a few locations in the canaries and spain

I cannot compare it to the v3 Nomad but I have spent a lot of time on both the Nomad V4 and currently riding an insurgent, both in the Italian maritime Alps.

The insurgent is one of the best descending bikes I have ever ridden, the suspension feels bottomless, and great quick handling, and I ride it in the low setting (not Xlow). However it is noisy with chainslap and it’s a pig on the climbs, the seat angle is v slack (worse on x low) and you feel like you are pushing when turning the pedals. the frames are currently good value but I have heard that there is a new insurgent on it’s way.

The V4 nomad rides similarly but climbs much better and rides much lighter than the 170mm travel suggests, Personally I would go for the nomad c carbon

The new spesh hillibilly and butcher in the new 2.6 width and gripton compound are ace…

We are always looking for “**** ups” in our backwater town in the mountains of Italy, to dig and ride… I was one and 12 years later I haven’t moved

Sounds like an alutech

I have them on our hire bikes.

Very powerful, magnetic pistons so pad replacement is a doddle

Only gripe is that the whole lever is plastic and very easy to break in a crash, we have broken two..

And stick the vids on you tube, they serm to garner millions of views

The is a shit load more riding in Liguria and it’s not just Finale. Plenty of big Alpine ridgelines with 2000m plus elevation etc…

What was ridiculous was the poor quality of a lot of them , It was like home made central , Starling its really a good job they are getting those made in China as most of the overseas manufactured bikes were the better made out of those on display.

Are you trying to say starling make their frames in China?

Have emailed you nasher

Yep seen it, will respond tomorrow, totally hammered beong chased by Clemenz and Dailly

Glad I read this thread now as we’re out with nasher next weekend, will take earplugs

You will be hearing the crashing of waves instead!! See you next week

Ciao

@singlespeed Stu, new site not up yet, but if u need some info, just drop us a line

Though I loved the riding in Molini I’m really not sure I can cope with the sleep deprivation that the church bells every 15 minutes night and day give you.

Those freaking bells, been such contentious issue, but finally they have switched them off in the eve, The 7am one is still mental.

We are doing different trips next year as well as a new beach location.

Rumour mill has it that Trek may be involved

Anywhere in the Alps in October is going to be a bit crappy weather wise.

Not in the maritime and Ligurian Alps. October is one of our peak riding months…

Molini 🙂

We had the pleasure of meeting Mark in May this year..

Top top bloke, we had planned to meet him and his pals in August, we are totally devastated, only knew him a week but feel like we have lost an old dear friend..

RIP Mark

We do trips in Finale linking in to Nava and molini and sanremo in Liguria.

linky

Hey Divid

We are full (Rivierabike) in September, but I highly recommend Ridgeline.bike based in the Garfagniana region of Tuscany, Rich was a guide for me for a few years and then set up over there, top bloke and he has some good stuff there.

Molinifreeride closed it’s doors many years ago…

also try justridefinale based in Finale Ligure, but they will ferry you over to Molini and Nava for some days out.

If you need any further drop us a line Rivierabike

I find people having kids so late is a little selfish, but if you already have an 8 year old, why wont you adopt?

Give lou at justridefinale, she has shuttles b&b and airport transfers

There is a massive shortage of QS’s at the moment.
According to the RICS it’s easier to employ a ballet dancer than a QS at the moment.

Hmmm. What’s the day rate in London at the mo? Toying of contracting for 5/6 months over the winter…

Happened to me a few years ago in Italy, I was standing on a trail coaching a client on how to ride a rocky drop off, unbeknown to myself I was standing on a wasps nest, it took a couple of seconds to register I was being stung and then I ran like mad, I got stung 23 times and I nearly passed out, and it took ages to get my bike back…

I have been stung a couple of times since and I get massive swelling, so I have to carry some strong antihistamines..

i have used both, the spesh 2.3 is narrower

VTTrack is a good un

Coming down with Alex and Mad Gary butt?

If so was hoping to join, maybe wednesday, but yeah looking wet. In Finale there used to be an agreement not to ride the trails when wet… but I don’t think this is still the case..

Lou will have some trails that are suitable, and she rides outside the Finale area so you should be OK..

Molini

I live in the Italian Maritime Alps and work as an mtb guide where climbing us long and slow, when I visit the Uk I am slower on the climbs, the same is on descents as steeper gradients means i sprint very little.

I have a 2008 t5 with 2.5 and 200hp. Its on 250k miles and a lot of that is laden and towing, and never broken down or nothing gone wrong.

I overhauled it at 230k, and should give me at least another 100k without bother.

T5’s are great if you have a good un..

My next bus will be the new Vito as the same spec bus comes in 8k cheaper than the VW

Vivaros are a nice van and should be ideal for what you are looking for, All vans have their problems and T5’s more than most!!

BUT

I have a 2.5 T5 and its just gone past 250k miles for a 2008 van.

Other than a couple of wheel bearings, a clutch and consumable items, nothing, and i mean nothing went wrong until I reached 230k. It then had an overhaul, new bushes droplinks etc.. new bigger turbo, intercooler, driveshaft, gearbox bearing, it still drives like the brand new T6 I tried the other day.

The bodywork has a few scrapes and dings but the interior is sturdy and rattle free…I hope to get an other 100k out of it…

The T5/6’s are overpriced, but I like them, and other brands make more sense but if I went past a T5 in a vivaro I will always wish I had one.. they are after all the new mid life crises van and I’m now in my 40’s

That screwdriver is great, never realised it existed. Just ordered one.

I have an enduro 29er had it two years as a guide in Italy and its been great. Main grumble is that the main pivot bearing only lasts a few months. It will probably be my main bike for 2017 as there is nothing on the market I can replace it with.

The missus has the stumpy 27.5 with the swat door. Its the small size and she loves it. The command post has been replaced with a 125mm fox unit, other than that it has been great. The wheels have held up to over a year of guiding and have held up well and no broken spokes. My 29 rovals self destructed and I now use mavics.

IMO the stumpy is a perfectly capable bike and your missus should be looking at that one…

Oh and we are in SW london area for a few weeks beforecreturning to italy if you want to test ride