I’ve got an Endorfin VP4-R SL, which has 100mm of travel and is very handy indeed.

Having said that, I ride my Ti456 a lot more now, and the Endorfin’s feeling a bit unloved, so I might stick it up for sale.

If it’s JUST for carrying bikes and going to the tip, I’d spend £800 or so on a 1997 Saab 9000. They’re cavernous inside, usually come with loads of toys, are tolerably economical (I had a petrol non-turbo and managed about 32mpg) and at that money it’s pretty well throwaway after a couple of years. As it’s a hatchback you can easily fit stuff in.

Oh, and mine was on about 200k when it finally died. They last a long old time.

Clubber, I mostly ride a 456Ti – I’ve heard horror stories of failures, rumblings about ‘design flaws’ and even seen the pictures.

Maybe it’s a matter of time, but mine has been good as gold. Can’t help worrying a little though.

I’m always amazed at the reports of frame failure. I’m not the lightest person by a long way, I have no real smoothness to my riding (I’m told I ‘thug’ my way down a hill) yet I rarely damage wheels and have never broken a frame.

My youngest bike is now 18 months old, the oldest is 5 years – all get ridden frequently and hard.

So what on earth are you guys doing to your bikes? Or is it that I’m just lucky?

Rocketdog – yes, you can stay Thursday night. I’ll certainly be there then.

Just when I thought I had most things sorted, a team member drops out. Apparently it might rain…..

Anyone desperate to ride with a reasonably poor-quality mixed team? Let me know if you do, be glad to have you along.

Ordered Tuesday, arrived today.

No problems from my POV.

Of course it’s going to be hard and dusty, but I absolutely know that if I turn up without mud tyres that’s an invitation to the Gods Of Mud to make my life hell.

Conversely, if I splash some money on yet another set of tyres then I can rest assured they can stay in their wrapping, and that warmth and dryness will prevail.

MrNutt, you’re completely right technically, but when you’re standing at the roadside and the police officer has the option to give you points/fine or to let you go, who d’you think really has the power?

Act like an idiot and they’ll treat you accordingly.

Several times I’ve been asked why I was stopped, and my stock response of “genuinely, I don’t know, but it’s most likely to be speed” doesn’t seem to wind anyone up.

I hate the fact, but in this situation the police have ALL the power……swallow hard, don’t rise to the occasion, and you’re away all the quicker.

Nope, my online persona’s not much like the real me. I’m a lot more argumentative in real life, but also a lot less dour. I really don’t like arguing/discussing with people I’ve not met, so I tend not to bother much on here.

Finance director for a security organisation. Business is OK at present, though margins are a bit thin. Better than the previous job, which involved running around Europe like a mad thing on a daily/weekly basis.