Exmoor?

Are you just looking to transfer funds from one account to another in the same currency, or are you looking to convert from NZD back to GBP or something similar?

If you’re looking to do a conversion, there are plenty of FX money-remitters who will do it at probably a better rate than a bank will give you. Larger transactions will get you a better price and lower transaction costs, so move it all in one chunk if possible.

You can look at prices online, although you will have to register as a client and provide some info to get you through the compliance checks before you can actually transact.

(I work for one such company, albeit on the back office side)

It’s really frustrating. But illness can sometimes give you a rest which means you’ll be stronger later in the year. If you can target events a month or two later than planned, that can prevent it being a wasted year.

Still sucks at the time though :(

I rate the Hope metal ones – expensive but last much longer in the gritty grinding paste we have round our way.

I do wonder though if that is at the expense of faster chain wear.

Maybe get a water infuser to give it a bit of taste without too much sweetness.

I also sometimes use flavoured electrolyte tabs like High 5 Zero to make water less tedious.

OS vastly reduced the price of digital licences for their maps at some point early last year – so if you haven’t looked recently then worth looking again.

Legitimate 1:50k Landranger mapping is now pretty cheap.

1:25k Explorer is still relatively expensive although much less than before – I paid £230 for full UK (this was for a Satmap, not Garmin), but previously it would have cost over £2000!

Yep will do Pete.

Well there weren’t any gates until recently, and he’s not been the landowner for the whole period – but yes it’s possible that has happened. I wonder where the burden of evidence for that lies?

Good stuff! Bike usage has always been completely open, including big signs with (I think) bikes on them indicating the route.

If you’re happy to be contacted ninfan, please drop me an email (I’ll put my address in my profile).

He shoots his own argument down by saying that since 1989 it was a permissive path for walkers not bikes

Therefore the landowner has acquiesced to over twenty years of use without permission, and by rights cyclists can claim for a Bridleway or RB

Is that the case? I thought that only applied to unchallenged non-permitted routes, and that giving permissive rights was a way of specifically excluding claims under the 20-year rule?

But you’re much better versed in this stuff than me – please educate me :) Is it because the permission was only for walkers, so cycle use IS unchallenged non-permitted use?

I’ve only ridden it since 1998 unfortunately, but if we can make a 20-year claim then I’ll raise it with Rushmoor Cycle Forum – there will definitely be plenty of people who can vouch for it – although I don’t know what constitutes evidence in these cases.

Yep, that section has only ever been a permissive path, so always vulnerable to an unco-operative landowner.

And since this landowner’s retrospective planning application has been rejected, he’s throwing as many toys out of his pram as he can.

It’s a big shame about the path, but I don’t want to see the local planning procedures subverted, so I hope RBC carry on and take enforcement action to close him down.

Yeah that’s true.

Although Expert probably benefited yesterday from people coming across from Masters Plus, now that BC have abolished Masters at national level. Vets Plus was still bigger than Expert, Masters Plus and Masters combined!

Massive turn-out in the older categories – 120 across the Veteran classes and another 50 Grand Vets!

Does worry me a bit that there won’t be such big fields in 20 years time – when I first raced Gorricks 15 years ago there would sometimes be 100+ in Fun and the same in Open, seems that those riders have kept racing as they’ve grown older, but not so many younger riders race any more.

I haven’t, but it was an excellent course, and apart from a couple of short fireroads, pretty much mud-free.

Not very great – but as I ride alone, no-one ever finds out ;)

I walked two climbs last year I think, one I’ve only ever seen one rider clean

Let me know where it is – always up for a challenge!

In a race I would do what’s fastest. Other
than that I would rather stall and fall over sideways than stop voluntarily.

This.

Most of my route planning involves stringing together as many climbs as possible where this is a real possibility – on or off-road.

I mainly ride alone :)

Its a bit of a pain to be asked early on which features are important to you, but then still be repeatedly asked to rank/comment on the features which aren’t important to you.

Although I appreciate its probably not easy for the survey to dynamically adjust later questions based on earlier answers.

I’ll be there – never really investigated Saddleback Hill before despite it being pretty close to other stuff I ride, looking forward to seeing some new trails :)

Reckon I’ll stick with Ron/Ralph front and back, expect my slow legs will outweigh any tyre choices anyway…

Some great rides on that site that Rorschach linked to. I also loved the Cadair Berwyn ride here[/url]

Quite a tough, climby ride, but then so are most of them :)

Looks like the Mapmyride map plugin isn’t working though – maybe they’ve blown their limit for the day.

Been through it a couple of times doing the Chemins du Soleil – some great stuff, and I’ve love to go back one day!

Ask AQR – they have been doing spring guiding based in Alte for a few years now.

1. Return to IronBike before I am too old – this was also 2014’s unfulfilled goal. (I can certainly recommend it as a very tough, crazy Italian stage race!)

2. Get a coach to help me make sure I peak in July, rather than in February as I accidentally did last year.

3. Everything else doesn’t really matter, just enjoy the rest of my races and try not to get injured.

the better pubs are further into the hills.

Yeah, that was what I thought, in my limited experience.

‘a few minutes walk’ was the criteria, so as you say, pretty limited. Is the Burford Bridge Hotel bar any good for non-residents?

Yes, reminds me of Bruce Hornsby too.

Love the album, even though its not my usual sort of thing.

A few weeks ago I was walking through Bank tube station in the evening rush hour. One half of the circular corridor just below ground level was blocked off by a couple of staff asking people to go the other way round the loop.

About 10 metres away someone was being given CPR by a couple of emergency staff, clearly visible to me and anyone else nearby. Despite this, people were queueing up to abuse the staff members asking them to re-route (which took an extra 30 seconds).

1st gen Nexus 7 here and still on Android 4.4.4 I recall a few weeks ago there was a notification for an OTA update. I presumed this was Android 5.0 but I declined to install it at the time in case of initial bugs/build issues etc.

However, when I try and search for a software update the N7 tells me everything is up to date, so I guess I’m stuck with 4.4.4 for now Though by the sounds of it thats not necessarily a bad thing…

Same for me, except a 2nd gen. Kept getting the 5.0.1 reminder, but wanted to wait a few days to see how stability was, and install at a convenient time for me. Now there doesn’t appear to be the option.

Never cleared it in the other direction!

Lock at Curzon Bridges deadkenny ;)

Four 2p pieces also do the job.

Costs 8p, but this is refundable at the end.

Is any of the Land Of Nod venue still rideable?

OS map suggests no public access, but…you know ;)

Doesn’t seem to be much ‘secret’ aspect to this – he knows what he’s getting and from whom!

Maybe spend the saving on an actual surprise?

Pilgrim Cycles in Westhumble too, with a great cafe.

I’m going to give Cherry a try I think ;)

Not so practical to reapply under multiple layers in winter.

Cheers, looks good but not sure I have somewhere suitable to mount that.

Anyone tried the in-shoe heating element type?

I’ve been very impressed with Endura Zyme trousers, although they are not remotely baggy. Look very much like normal trousers, if not quite office-wear.

Seem to be pretty robust too, no signs of wear after a year even though I don’t normally find Endura stuff to be durable.

C_G, they might well suit tall and slim, I’m 5’10” and 10 stone, and the small size fits me like a glove – could be worth checking the size guide for larger sizes.

Banger racing?

There’s a meet at Stoke on 28th Dec according to this[/url]. Don’t know anything about that series as I’m down south, but bangers are a good, cheap and cheerful day out with plenty of guaranteed action :)

I think you proved you can do it in the last BM series DrP – definitely not worth leaving your sick-bed!

Twas a bit grim!

I bailed pretty early in my 2nd lap to save my dodgy Achilles (not to mention bike parts) – and don’t regret it at all! Was hard enough pedalling downhill by then and was only going to get worse.

Big respect to all who persisted!

Saw a clip on FB this morning of the 2hr Vets winner standing in the heated marquee later, spilling tea all over himself as he was shivering so much 8O