You’re buying very cheap pads, buy ones by a reputable brand and they’ll be fine

I also have this, sadly at 35 it’s got me very early. No one in my family have it, extensive research suggests it can be caused by certain wrist injuries which I’ve definitely had.

I saw the doc a few months back and he said as long as you can lay your palm flat on a surface then leave it. Mine doesn’t hurt, and riding is fine, it’s largely unnoticeable but suspect it’ll get worse. I’m setting aside some cash to get it sorted privately if I need to, as would prefer to be proactive rather than leaving it until it starts to bend.

i do this, but with a large hook (from screwfix, few quid) which is screwed into shed wall at desired height. Wheel the bike in on it’s back wheel, and locate axle onto hook. There is very little weight on the hook as it’s essentially just resting on it. has worked for many years, and is the best space saving way to store the bikes. i then have another hook next to it where i hook the front wheel.

As I said, I don’t want to use the mobile, so apple tv looks like the solution, assume just the newest version I can afford will work? Do all of them support zwift?

Out of interest for those with transporters; I’m thinking of getting one but would need to have a baby seat (4 month old) up front. Doubt budget can stretch to one with a second row of seats, but could fit these longer term.

But shorter term, what’s the space like with a car seat on the middle and an adult on the passenger seat?

I’ve had a caddy maxi with a day/camper conversion for the last year, and it’s been great, super comfy for me and the Mrs with one or two bikes.

Sadly having to sell it soon (stealth ad) but would recommend them. Great as they drive more like a car and are a bit more stealth when camping. Although nowhere near as comfortable as a proper camper.

Are the tyres quite baggy on the rim? Maybe a later of two more of tubeless tape may help

The issue is around components such as the clutch, timing belt/cambelt, gearbox and suspension. These would all have needed doing on a car with that mileage (maybe not the suspension). Timing belts even though manufacturers say never need changing, they do, and can often only last 80-90k.

If these have all been done then should be cheap motoring.

I’ve just bought a 12 year old 100k Audi, bought based off the service history and condition. It runs almost like new and is surprisingly up to date.

Tech in ICE cars hasn’t changed significantly since 2014/15 dependant on what you value. I’d maybe consider something a year or two older with lower mileage at a similar price.

I stand corrected then if they’re less than 2 years old.

I would recommend giving them a go before changing, although the guides are a pretty old brake now, and they’re not very powerful. Depends what you’re riding, if you are heavier and riding steeps then you may struggle.

Either you have an old guide brake with the swelling piston, which subsequently SRAM have sorted, or the piston itself is worn and won’t return.

I’ve had a worn piston in one of my code rsc’s. After 4 years of use it gets stuck further down in the brake lever because it’s worn down. Simply buy the rebuild kit, it’s a 30 min job with a brake bleed to fix.

If Shimano could fix the wandering bite point, I think everyone would be running them, but it continues to be a real issue.

If you’re happy driving around with the damage and if the suspension is okay I’d keep it and run it to the ground. Keep the cash you get towards a new one when the time comes.

How damaged is the car? Could you put it back on the road relatively easily? Or is it a total write off? If it’s still safe to drive maybe worth buying it back when it inevitably gets written off and get a new door and wheel (assuming that’s the damage).

My advice is, don’t take the insurances first, second or third offer. I’ve only ever claimed once, but got an extra £1500 over their first offer by arguing my car was worth more. Be prepared to look for equivalent adverts. The details you described such as one owner do add to the value, so they have to take that into consideration.

Thanks all for your help, looks like I’ll avoid thrunton, appreciate the heads up.

I’ve been skiing there many times, maybe 10. I’ve also been to several alps resorts so can compare. If you want a significantly cheaper skiing holiday and are happy cruising around some slopes then it’s fine. Ski hire, lessons and lift pass are all very cheap.

I’ve only been back recently so my other half can learn how to Ski, now that she can cruise down a blue confidently, we’ll likely not go back. Even though it’s probably £500 per person all in for a week, you might as well double that and have an amazing week in the alps.

The food has improved over the years and is cheap, but it’s not a patch on France or italy.

I’ve been doing this for the last few weeks now and have found good results in general. First few days I thought I had a urine infection as didn’t read up all the side effects. Literally couldn’t stop going to the toilet.

I wasn’t a big guy in the first place, but have always accumulated all weight around my stomach and love handles and wanted to get rid of these. It’s made a significant difference in the 3-4 weeks I’ve been doing it. Initially I lost about .5 stone (bear in mind, I’m about 11.5 stone) which was mainly water. Since then it’s plateaued, which I’m cool with as the goal was not to lose weight, more to lost fat.

I echo the experiences of losing energy. First big ride with climbing on the diet had me nearly collapsing….I feel better now though as my body has adapted.

the more you do it, the less it’ll hurt, within reason. Obviously you need to give yourself time to recover.

People complain about leg day, but often if you do it twice a week your recovery will be better. Also, i find that throwing in a few sets of legs during other sessions can aim recovery. Keep in mind these sets are low reps and low weight, just there to wake the muscles up basically.

Hi, so I’m going through this with my Mrs, albeit almost the opposite way around. She is adopted and recently has had contact from the local authority she was adopted through that her birth mother wants to get in contact. I didn’t see this as particularly surprising, but it’s hit my other half very hard, and she is unsure on where to take it. Whilst your situation is very different as you were essentially just provided the crew for the vessel to sail, you may find expectations from your offspring vary from disinterested to wanting a proper father figure. You also don’t know the backgrounds etc.

I suppose my advice would be, tread with extreme caution and certainly don’t do it on a whim. These kids would likely have been wondering who their father is all their lives, so will look at this potentially a very different way to you. The difference to our case and yours is you are simply offering the opportunity for the them to reach out, rather than doing it yourself. However, by making your self visible to them, this could mean a massive commitment from your side that you weren’t expecting.

A mate had one and I would avoid. Had to replace the shock regularly as it take such a beating being on the single pivot (I also don’t think the frame was very well aligned). And couldn’t fit a bigger shock on the bike. He sold it on and got a message from the seller it had cracked a few months later.

It was advertised as a hardcore short travel 29er and it just isn’t.

I may also be keen on some of it as well. Where do you live?

@tenacious_Doug drop me a PM or email. I’m a coffee buyer and may be able to sort something out for you from a specialty roaster.

you can buy readymix plaster from screwfix for about 12 quid which makes life easier. I’ve plastered some pretty big areas using it, and quite thick depth (1.5cm ish). Just build it up in layers. Ideally you want to plaster slightly thicker than the remaining plaster and then sand down to smooth, as it’s unlikely you will get a smooth finish otherwise.

In terms of actually applying the plaster, a wallpaper scraper or something else flat does the job.

Also, if you paint with a roller then the texture this gives will cover any slight differences.

i’ve got fireboard behind mine that’s painted and looks fine. it’s at the back only though so not that visible anyway.

Original plaster cracked but that’s because the fireplace gets damp, so the plaster never dried, and continuous heating/cooling lead to it cracking.

If you leave enough space i would have thought plaster would be okay

I had some with ‘shiver me timbers’ on them, as i had marzocchi shivers on the bike.

They weren’t great rotors, it almost felt like you could feel the indents on the rotor when breaking.

Sold it years ago, would love to know where it is now.

What part of, “people who pay for an UPLIFT day don’t want to ride up”, don’t some people understand?

Regards the cafe, i’ve never been in jail, but the service at bpw cafe is how I imagine a jail canteen to be.

Same with the uplift vans, packed in like sardines, bumped about all over, why don’t they just get vehicles that are fit for the task?

All the complaints people raise are easy to fix. Are they really that arrogant as to not give a toss?

I’ve never been to an uplift where there is no uphill riding. It would be impossible to have all of the trails finish right next to uplift van, and also dangerous (Revs, Antur, Inners, old triscombe, any chairlift in the alps).

I’ve been to a jail (thankfully for a charity), and it was a lot worse

All uplift vans are the same, and tarmacing the road would be incredibly expensive, so the passes would increase in price. I’m happy to have a bumpy uplift ride (i’m a mountain biker, i’m not expecting a rolls royce). Revolution bike park have defenders, they’re a lot more cramped. What vehicles do you propose they use?

They are arrogant in my experience, to a degree. but then again they have built and run the most successful uplift venue in the uk, which is almost always fully booked. The trails, for the size of the mountain are very varied and range from super easy to BDS standard DH tracks.

Personally, I go there a few times a year. Usually prefer less busy places, however it has it’s place.

Nukeproof are the only alternative to Sram ones I’ve tried and rated. Recently gone back to Sram as I can afford the £4 and they’re a little better. I usually run a NP on the back, sintered, and assorted Sram compounds on the front.

Uber and superstar are not very good, and i’ve tried every compound.

sounds like the platform of the shoe isn’t stiff enough.

I had one of the 27.5’s as a rental in the alps for a few days and lost plenty of bottles as the bottle cage is in such a stupid place.

Not where I would put my money.

I used to race the old series, for a few years, but didn’t make any of the new as they didn’t suit me.

I’m not going to criticise Steve and I don’t think anyone else should, he’s worked bloody hard and made no money. He’s also a top bloke trying to organise a top class race series.

I see the biggest issue is that people just don’t race full series like they did. It’s the same reason the BDS stopped. I do think the EWS not having a round in the UK for a number of years hasn’t helped this.

@wzzzz that stuff looks good. will try that. appreciate the heads up.

well at least I know now! thanks all.

i’ve warrantied mine through my LBS. it’s a known fault and they will change the levers. However, a few weeks wait for the levers as I assume there have been a lot of warranties in the last few weeks.

Going from the other thread you’re on the other side of St George’s park. I’m having building work done to my place at the moment by two builder friends who I highly recommend. One of them lives 2 mins away so could quote easily.

They’re called BR Design & Build on facebook if you want to check out their work. Drop me a PM and I can pass on phone numbers etc.

light up ya lighter – Michael Franti

convinced it’s that.

I live about 3 streets away from you on Sherbourne street. We bought ours almost exactly a year ago for about £30k less, however it’s a project, one which we will spend about £15-£20k all in on, and that’s with me doing a lot of it myself. Also it’ll be another year until it’s finished. We’ve had it valued based on it being finished and it would be expected to sell for about £310k. Which suggest you shouldn’t be worrying in the slightest!

Bear in mind as well we have a butterfly roof so can’t extend up, so don’t have the option which you do have as well.

From those photo’s, it’s a very pretty house so enjoy it and don’t be disappointed. We live in an ‘up and coming’ area, I’ve had notes through the door from couples asking to buy direct, that’s how much it’s in demand around here. The house have a ceiling price, because they’re 2 bed terraces, but I think there is a way to go until then (I think about £350k when compared to southville etc). Bearing in mind our neighbor paid £220 for their house 3 years ago, they’ve likely made £80k on that on the house price.

More importantly, let me know if you’re riding! A few guys our way that head up to Leigh Woods for some off-piste after work rides.

£2.5k on a 20 year old van? seems a bit excessive……

this:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201806217723146?radius=1501&advertising-location=at_vans&postcode=hp236aa&sort=sponsored-supplied&supplied-price-from=2000&page=1

and a 2nd hand mattress would be far better

or a vito for £1.5k: https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201807108307928?radius=1500&advertising-location=at_vans&supplied-price-to=2500&postcode=hp236aa&supplied-price-from=1500&sort=sponsored-supplied&page=2

There are other alternatives: If you drive further up there is a car park on the left of the road (if you’re driving up) which overlooks a lake. Some picnic benches there as well. Also, I believe you could park at lake geirionydd.

Completely agree. I remember when it started raining, and down in the SW it was actually the first week of July, and since then it has been very regular. The snow then added to this and the ground is completely saturated, meaning puddles are forming and wearing away surfaces much quicker.

I rode some natural stuff near Afan on Sunday and has held up well, mainly though because it’s steep and rocky, so it drains well. However, Staunton two weeks before was awful.

Bearing in mind we’re less than 3 months away from July, I’m hoping we don’t have another wet second half of our summer.

I’d feel moraly wrong coming out of the house joint ownership with more than I started with if she came out with less.

When she has ruined your life short terms and buggered off with someone else? I wouldn’t, I would be milking it for all I could get…..

Honestly, if I was in your situation, but I would get as much as I possibly could. Your life has fallen apart through no fault of your own. Let her reimburse her parents. Turn one massive negative into at least a financial positive.

However, maybe I’m being an arse, it depends on your relationship with her parents I suppose.

Regardless, I feel very sorry for you mate, if you’re in the south west and want a beer let me know.

It’s a shame that there haven’t been any UK events for a few years now, and won’t be for years to come. It does seem like money is the big talker here.

Putting infrastructure to the side for the minute and thinking about venues alone, there are numerous in the UK that would be suitable: Dyfi, Afan (Including off piste stuff), tweedlove obviously, Grizedale, too many others in Scotland to name.