You’re still below it, but the deposit protection scheme protected amount has just been reduced (to £75,000).

You haven’t seen my ham-fistedness! True though -ta.

Thanks north wind. Rplacement caliper sounds the way to go.

Cheers

Thanks everyone!

Jeez. Brilliant map though thanks. Really shows it.

Weird things happen with age.

I am getting worse for the blacking out thing when I stand up.

Also noticed that when riding my bike uphill I get this odd thing where I find it harder and harder to breathe until I’m really gasping – odd.

Aimee Mann – 4th July. Lovely song.

Thanks appreciate it. The size of the country we are – I admit – struggling with. We want to stay at a place in Arnhemland but their price to take us themselves in a 4wd (several hours each way) is prohibitive. Satellite phones a must.

Trying not to rise to your Landie bait, though…..! My old Series Landie could always be fixed at the side of the road. These things seem way too complicated for that. But I won’t take any more bait….!

Thanks again.

Yes recently found that, about to take that on next

Mike – told in October it’s not hard, we are going to get a half-day’s training too.

Cheers

Ok thanks appreciate the quick answers! Had no idea.

Trip is on, then!!

Epicyclo – we used to have a teacher who said just that! You didn’t go to school in the south-east, did you?!

What’s the equivalent of a Larsen for a 29er? I want something reasonably fast rolling?

You must have met me, project!

And you have a Soul…….!

My area too. How nice to hear it get some praise! Hard going in winter mind.

I did think I was the only rider in the Chilterns……….!

Thanks all. GB -pinching the sidewalls? No – do tell……..

Well I like the maxxis Advantage for heavy duty stuff, so maybe a Larsen is the way to go.

Riding the South Downs Way in a day soon with two much fitter pals so want to be prepared.

Thank you all again.

Thanks. Non-snakeskin RR.

Was the Larsen reasonably quick, br? Cheers

Razor – brilliant link, thank you.

WEJ – amazing house. You clearly live in some nirvana like mcmoonter. Do you have enormous log stores all over the place?!

Razorrazoo – those big hanging lamps are what we have been looking for – where did you get ’em, please?

Our 20+ year old boiler rather spectacularly killed itself with a very large bang and loads of smoke a couple of years back, but turned out it was an electrical failure rather than gas-related. It had taken out its entire control system. Good old independent cobbled together a replacement system from various bits, it’s still going with a few hiccups. Only downside is we can’t turn it off for more than a day as for some reason it won’t restart easily again, just kills the main circuit breaker repeatedly when you try – eventually will go though in the end. Got another couple of years out of it though, at least so pleased.

Fin25, you are a very wise and eloquent person.

One thing I am curious about, there are lots of comments here in the vein of “back to the 1970s”. If fin25 and others are right – and I believe they are – then why was it any more acceptable then? Surely the reasoning doesn’t change with time and the core fact remains? Or is this the context of the times changing? Just curious.

None of you lot are trying.

Value Proposition – is it worth doing (I think)

My favourite – I was told in all seriousness to do this – onboard the market fabric.

Never try to beat the brewer, he can brew it faster than you can drink it (that was granddad)

Watching this thread closely too. I find the sheer choice with Oakley confusing – what’s a good set of oakleys for off road riding in and out of woods, ie where light tends to suddenly be quite weak and being able to see detail important? The cheapies that I’ve always used to-date have been useless for thus (like those reactolite glasses when you walk in side a building in a bright day and stumble into everything!!).

Keep away from women, they bring rags to you a@@e. (Mrs O excepted, of course!).

Yum – had my first fish finger sandwich yesterday for ages – wonderful.

Satay too – hmmmm……

Or maybe Beef Wellington. Decisions, decisions…….!

Bugger. Wait for ever for dry trails and then barred from riding by the doc. Am so envious of you lot – makes me realise how lucky we are when we can ride.

In consolation (for me at least, I know it’s selfish!) the weather is atrocious today.

Well, I think it’s brilliant! Good job!

You do have a magic cat though, don’t you? You’ll need one of those

Well done – far better than I’ve managed! Here’s to the next 25

I seem to like much of what you lot hate……

But I agree with country, and above all manufactured sound-alike dross

Depends really how small areas are defined (eg I’ve been to say the North West but never been to Skelmersdale). But I’ll have a go:

Parts of Cornwall, most of Essex and Suffolk, chunks of Lincolnshire, Hull and environs, Chorley, Burnley and other bits of Lancashire, North west Scotland, Orkneys, Shetland, Man, and Northern Ireland.

Thanks rob

Greg, sorry for the numpty question, but what’s ITT?

Cheers – sadly came to this late.

Ps is that actually a picture of you above doing your hamstring exercises?!!

This is amazing. I am in awe at everyone who took part.

How’s Jenny doing?

Transport in London once Crossrail is completed.

Does ABS = plastic? My brilliant old Mountfield – bought secondhand in 1998 – seems to have had its base suddenly turn into lace over the winter and I am assuming I won’t be able to replace it. Shame as apart from smoking a bit the motor’s still going strongly.

Not a graphic designer by any chance, are you Justin?

I did a very modest walk with a mate a few years back – just 26 miles. We set off all superior to the rest of the walkers who were all well into retirement age. A different story a few hours later when we had been thoroughly overtaken and crept in last – they were incredible. I think we ended up having to blame it on the dog – poor fella, he was the only one of us still perky!