It’s not often one sees the words lucky and Livingston in the same sentence.

However you will not be far away from Glentress, Innerleithen and Carron Valley. There must be some local stuff in the Bathgate hills etc but suspect you would need a native guide to find it.

Thanks – I’m trying the bicarb as I write.

As to whether it was mountain biking or not I always thought the French had it right by maintaining “VTT” as a title for the bike. Much more descriptive of what people probably wanted in the original days (and what many want now).

I do use the term mountain bike but refuse to use the abbreviation MTB as, to me, “mountain” has always been one word.

Isn’t it wonderful being an old fart?

You could try having a barber’s chair in the shop like the place that used to be down the Vennel at Peebles.

I’m not convinced there’s a lot of science behind the justification of premia, if you enquire they don’t seem to be able to come up with a sensible explanation.

I once enquired about van insurance as I was thinking about a small Citroen. When they found out that I would be carrying a competition motorcycle they got a bit chairy saying that I could have a professional rider in the passenger seat which might involve large claims for loss of earnings in the event of an accident.

Leaving aside that any driver could have a high earning passenger in any vehicle, I pointed out that the only professional rider in Britain (at that time) in that particular branch of the sport was not an acquaintance and lived hundreds of miles away so the likelihood of their scenario was nil they came out with the “ah but” stuff.

They realised they had painted themselves in to a corner when I pointed out that they had happily insured me for twenty years to tow a three bike trailer and thus, using their logic, I could have had two professional riders in the car.

QS’s obviously don’t get the comprehensive training they did in my day.

Went to Kielder for the first time on Wednesday and it seems fairly weatherproof but the route marking is appalling, we did two red routes, with some people struggling to find the right way out of the car park.

Given how busy this place must get of a summer weekend with less experienced folk it can only be a matter of time before someone goes the wrong way on some single track with predictable results.

Drain it. Cut a hole in the tray next time it’s off. DIY gives you control over what is used. You should be able to reach the drain plug with the car on its wheels, if not, a couple of inches using a plank under the tyres should suffice, and a shallow tray collects the oil which can be taken to the Council recycling place.

That’s who I was going to suggest. You may recall he had some ability to ride a bike, and indeed still does.

No need to soak this type of thing if you cook it in a pressure cooker. I come in from work and can have good soup done in a few minutes. Handy when you have forgotten to steep them the night before.

Have faith in the consultation process – yeah right.

The Department I work for was told some months ago that it would be subject to change and that consultation would take place. Consultation has not really started yet but we were told a while ago what would be happening once the “consultation” was complete.

I would suggest as far as the forests are concerned that it’s all cut and dried with only the window dressing to come.

Yes that’s the one (and my link works somehow when I click on it). Doesn’t seem like a worthwhile off road light then. The Tesco Cree seemed better?

Yes that’s the one (and my link works somehow when I click on it). Doesn’t seem like a worthwhile off road light then.

At least you have had a response from Edinburgh Council. My experience is that they ignore all correspondence (despite their charter to reply within 10 days).

After some months and several letters a phone call to my councillor had a comprehensive e-mail response sent to me at 7:30 the next morning! Somebody obviously felt they needed to be in early that morning, or else.

There’s some in my Aldi still at under £20.

I know that OE motorcycle tyres differ from after market (confirmed somewhere in the past) or at least used to – you never get the same mileage from the identical aftermarket tyre.

Well it doesn’t allow the air to float up to the top (or it would do it as you applied the brakes), apparently it forces it in to the fluid whence it could appear again as a bubble at a moment of dire consequence – or so the experts tell us.

How would it rise to the top against the pressure of the system being applied when it won’t rise without that pressure?

Well the 3 set up is obviously no use as you can’t see the guy with the dog!

Some of you are old enough to remember when there was a cycle week on the Isle of Man. Apparently the locals referred to the cyclists as the whispering death. No bells on racing bikes, which must have got up to a fair lick coming off the Mountain.

I use a strip of rubber, cable tied to the seat post, to cover the slot in the seat tube and it acts as a guide when I raise the saddle again. I suppose I could tie it round the seat tube as well to save having to look at it.

I thought Julia Bradbury was their president – still referred to as such 7 days ago and apparently appearing in that role on telly next Sunday.

A pal lost a made to measure bike off the roofrack on the bypass – he found the front wheel though.

I would say rear mount (you can see if it is starting to fall off I suppose) and fit long mudflaps to the car if you find muck getting to the bike.

I had that problem as the bolts (as fitted by manufacturer) were a bit short. Cured by using Loctite as the threads had enough left for that – also used longer bolts. Worth a try as it leaves the option for other fixes later if it’s not successful.

But I avoid removing the caliper.

“A naughty well known person from here, cycled onto our very frozen local canal last January, I knew it was him, ‘cos I recognised the tyre prints”

Two guys tried that round here last year but in a Peugeot – they didn’t get very far.

That’s a heck of a big chicken if it takes a whole haggis.

I tried that Radio Sure but now can’t stop it playing, even by apparently deleting it – I certainly can’t see it and a search does not find it – has anyone else experienced this and have a cure? It was OH until I loaded MS Office today.

It’s couple of years or so back so the figures are a bit dim in my memory but I got down from about 6 to about 3-4 I think just by diet change (much as yours and taking nuts to work to nibble on instead of biscuits). Whatever it was, the Doc was quite surprised that such a reduction came from diet change alone, particularly given the family history.

There’s a risk of sair spuds but could be OK.

There’s interesting, if dated, info on Peter Verdone’s website. Fox oil and Silkolene are near identical on CsT ratings. I’ve just changed mine and assessing the fork on my local red run (the potholed roads now left in my part of Edinburgh) I can say the action is improved. But then Fox had not put in the correct amount so that will account for some of the difference.

“W” ratings are clearly applied differently by different manufacturers but CsT ratings are quoted at defined temperatures of 40 and 100 degrees so are directly comparable. Finding the CsT rating of an oil may not be so easy of course.

With 12 clicks on a Fox fork there is a bit of latitude on oil viscosity I would have thought.

It’s not overly expensive to buy a long bolt, nut and two washers. Instant press.

Once had a very good 3 day Christmas deal at the George, Chollerford. I would go back so can recommend it. I can’t remember if there was secure bike parking or not though.

I do actually remember real rubber tyres but we still have to get the rubber here from the far east – return of the sailing clipper?

Warm water (eg shower) and mild baby shampoo seems to be the standard manufacturer’s recommendation for Arai motorcycle helmets so should be ok for any cycle helmet.

I’m not sure how much of a cyclists’ paradise it will be, Epicyclo, cycling round on bare rims (until they wear out) – or do tyres not come from oil after all?

Soobalias, the CTC has had a lamentable history in recent years over membership renewals. If you don’t have your card you can’t prove you have 3rd party insurance (and may indeed not have it if the system has not registered you). I would urge anyone who has not received confirmation of renewal or has not seen a DD leave their bank account to follow things up or take the risk.

Ironically Dango, the Cycle magazine often has letters commenting on the preponderance of articles on mountain bike stuff, though admittedly they are not aimed at the MBUK target audience.

I would suggest some thin rubber (motorccycle inner tube) cut to shape and stuck on invisibly with silicon seal

13th, there is a chap in Edinburgh who took CTC tours to Norway for years and who may be able to offer advice.

He has a page on the CTC website through which you can get in touch http://www.cyclingholidays.org/tours/contact.php?Leader=bc&Tour=1121

Stick it inside the guard with silicon seal.

We were once just leaving the car park when one of our party’s rear wheel bearings came undone and we only found two balls in the mud.

We were sat pondering this when two guys came off the hill to go home. “What’s wrong?” enquired one, then handed over his full susser to a complete stranger to use for the day then drop off at his house on the way home – with instructions on where to leave it as he wouldn’t be there at the time.

http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/product-search/text/solace+boot

Got a pair of these last week and if they keep feet warm in my house they must be good. Suitable outersole could be made from material available at a podiatry suppliers. Not bad at a tenner.