Ours on an Edwardian Semi averaged about £1k per window. Some had both new sashes, some had sashes and case and some just refurb and repair. Joineryworkshop in Manchester.

Vote for the Muddhuger here.

Trek Rumblefish in full winter-mode – I use a downtime guard as well, I think that came from Halfords. This set-up keeps 90% of the crap off you. I do have the extension flaps on the front and rear guards thou.

My Powerfly came with Nobby Nic 27.5 x 2.8˝ tyres. I thought they’d be shite but … in the mud and slippy cobbles up round by us I can’t get it to break away. Hammering down rutted cobbled roads at 35mph or sloppy mud in the woods. I don’t picking a line through the woods any more as this thing just steam-rollers on thru anything.

That said I feel I’m going to lose it big time when I find the limit of the grip…

Done.

Paulx sounds like my local wakerly woods

Ah yes – that was the place.

I just bought a Powerfly 130 mm – see here

I would have gone for a LT but the deal was just to good to turn down. I demoed both the 2018 LT and ST but 130mm ST felt more nimble in the woods and tight tracks. The demo was in some woods near Peterborough – can’t remember quite where it was.

I’ve only done 12 miles on it so far so I’ll post up once I’ve put a few more miles on it.

Rutland cycles have some good deals on turbo Levo + extra deal this weekend`

I read your post Tracey, so I thought I’d have a causal browse of the deals ….. and then this happened ….

Ex Demo 2018 Powerfly 9 in XL – 40% off list plus an extra £200 discount. Seemed silly not to. Only a couple off little marks on it which I can live with for that discount.

First ride yesterday. Firstly, wow – the traction! and then it’s the “go up anything you point it at” ability. Came hope with a stupid grin on my face.

Thanks chaps – I’ll hang on to it at home.  Sound like something like this then:  Festival Kit Cooking Set

I use Flybe a few times a year on those planes. They are a bit more bobby than the big ‘uns but not dramatically so.

That said you can get a direct train from Manchester to Southampton in four hours ( and to SH airport if you need to be there). That way you get to avoid Manchester Airport Terminal 3! By the time you have got the airport. gone thru security etc etc the train might be easier and not much slower!

I clayed and waxed our white Polo when it was about a year old. It used to be a bugger to clean but nothing sticks to it anymore. Worth doing every 6 months or so I reckon.

I’ve got a 10% discount code for Brittany Ferries – PM me if you’re interested.

Try these guys: https://www.sgs-engineering.com/car-boot-tailgate

Good call – thanks. I was about to buy some genuine struts for my old Merc at £60 each. Only £15 each at SGS.

Somafunk – Thats does look good. I’ve spent the last week researching these as looking at converting my Nail Trail. I’d figured the Bafang BBS01B kit 36V 250W extra torque model was the way to go.

What cassette range & chainring  are you running on it?

Ta – just ordered a one pair at £45 to replace my out going North Face hiking shoes.

Not just me then – a week off the bike so far due to being on strong antibiotics for a bite that went rogue.

I ride Marin Nail Trail 7.

Cost £950 plus some beefier tyres.

It has 1×11 slx.

Light frame, light wideish rims.

Dropper.

Yari.

Longish, lowish, slackish.

Paint job is ‘meh’.

BB bearings only lasted 6mths.

I’m struggling for much compromise there.

I’m with Matt on this – I bought one on clearance for £900 a few months ago. Did 150 miles on it last week. Including two village 30 mile VTT / MTB events in France – tight, sloppy single-track in the woods and wide open tracks, rode it to LaRochelle up the coast path and round the Ill d’Re.

Not much compromise with the spec. I’d used my full suss Rumblefish in the VTT events many times before and I didn’t find the Nail Trail much of a compromise. Mech hanger are Maxle were made of chocolate though.

I generally drive to France alone and pick up the wife, kids, kids friends etc at various Ryanair destination airports in France. It generally works out about the same in money terms as you spend far less when on the road and save the ferry passenger costs.

Also you get the car to yourself, can control the tunes at any volume you like, stop when you want and pull the bike out out and go for a cheeky ride.

Excellent heads up – cheers! – I didn’t know that was happening.

That’s tomorrow’s day out sorted then. Think I’ll drop the lad at school in Macc and then drive over to Hope and ride over to where Crazy legs suggested. It’s called working from home ……

My Gnarmac has evolved into this.

Fast enough on the tarmac ( everybody always overtakes me anyway …), highly usable on fire-roads and more reassuring on tougher tracks.

Suits me!

Our family fleet comprises:

1 year old basic spec Polo. 1.2 Petrol, Av 55mpg

12 year basic spec Merc 3 litre diesel estate Av 35 mpg

6 year old full spec Merc V8 silly cabriolet. Av 25 mpg

Mileage wise they get the most use in that order. Our average mpg across the fleet (mileage adjusted) works out around 38.

The Polo has the best DAB/Phone interface – it has no Sat Nav as we bought it for local runs and we know our way around here.

The 6 year old Merc is gadget central but feels dated apart from the radar cruises control which is ace thou a bit unnerving sometimes.

I did 585 miles in the 12 year old Merc yesterday and didn’t miss any of the gadgets of the newer cars.

I’m fortunate in being able to drive the right car for the journey I’m doing. So …

Polo for any trip sub 20 miles.
Old Merc for big long hauls
Newer Merc for hooning but has to be at least 20 miles to make it worth waking it up for.

Can’t say I really notice the lack of or increase of gadgets when changing between the cars but I’d rather have the right power / handling / comfort for the driving type than than the toys.

I went for the Navy Blue this time as well !

Good PSA

Ta

I’m in !

Just signed up.

Here’s a couple of sites and things to do..

There is a big informal camper van site pretty much in the centre of La Rochelle near the hospital. Nice town to wander around. – 3B Rue des Jars, 17000 La Rochelle, France

Also one at Fouras near the ferry to the Ille d’Aix.

Pointe de la Fumée, 17450 Fouras, France

Then you can walk out at low tide to Fort Énet

http://http://www.histoirerochefort.com/acenet.htm

And take the ferry to Ille d’Aix

https://www.iledaix.fr/The-Island-of-Aix?lang=fr

And of course a bit of cycling …

https://www.velodyssey.com/troncons/les-sables-dolonne-la-rochelle

https://www.velodyssey.com/troncons/la-rochelle-royan

On a side note here’s a link to the VTT – MTB event calendar. Verdille is in Dept 16. These events are non competitive (yeah right!) and cost about 6 euro to enter.

You basically turn up – fill out a form, pay 6 euro and follow the course – usually three route options 20 – 50 km.  Watch out for the fast old geezers on EBikes coming up behind you.

Snacks and drinks included at the feed stations before during and after.

The Rando des Huitres – The Oyster Rally – in the summer is a right good laugh – unlimited wine and oysters included.

I generally get to do about 3 or 4 events each year. There is is really good MTB scene in the area – no mountains though so its all cross-country.

I drive through there at least once a month en route from the Airport at Limoges to St Savinien, 17350.

Very rural, very quiet. very French. Markets towns of Aigre and Mansle close-by.

Loads of road biking – undulating countryside, very quiet roads.

Not particulary hilly but loads and loads of singletrack in the woods and green lanes to bimble around. Think Delamere or Cannock Chase sort of elevation.

I’ve done a couple of VTT (MTB) events out towards that way – our place is about 40 miles further west with similar terrain.

What bike to take? Gravel / CX or HT with fast rolling tyres. In summer the trails will be pretty hardback but a bit of mud likely in the woods.

It’s the sort of area that you just go out your bike and just make it as you go along.

Few tourist links below.

http://www.tourismelimousin.com/en

Agence de voyage à Poitier

hth

Down in our bit of France – I saw a lady driving the school bus merrily texting through the middle of the town. Big bus, narrow streets and a load of school kids on board.

If you could stretch the commute I’d look at Macclesfield – good train service. Macc Forest routes on your doorstep!

Merc E320Cdi Estate – Bought new Nov 2006 – currently at 204,000 miles.

Nothing too major, just regular serving, tyres, brakes, ball joints etc but had a turbo at about 160,000m (£1500) and new dampers and shocks in the last year (£1500) – when you get a big bill you want to hang on to it longer to get your money’s worth….

Feels like it will just keep going. Ideally I hoping for about 300,000m from it.

It was about £40k new and current model one is £55k. My view is if you are spending that much it should last a good 250,000 – 300,000 miles.

I bought one a couple of weeks ago on clearance – 20″ XL 27.5.  Was the best spec per £ I could find in sub £1k hardtail.

Set it up tubeless this weekend and added some DMRV12’s.

Only a couple of outings round the forest on it so far but I really like it. Not much grip on the rear thou …

Gonna get to ride it more this week.

I had a cracking day out here – La Molina

I took my own bike but there was hire available. Worth a look if you doing a multi stay trip.

Gotta to be my Rumblefish.

Over five years with it now and no inclination to change,.

Out of all the toys I’ve bought over the years including many motorbikes and fancy cars the Rumble has to be my best purchase. I’ve had more fun and larks with this bike than with anything else.

Arrghhh  .. why can’t I edit the html tags out – they weren’t there when I previewed.

<span style=”font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;”>Gotta be my Rumblefish. </span><br style=”font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;” /><br style=”font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;” /><span style=”font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;”>Over five years with it now and no inclination to change bikes.</span><br style=”font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;” /><br style=”font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;” /><span style=”font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;”>Out of the toys I’ve bought over the years including many motorbikes and expensive fancy cars, the Rumble has to be my best purchase. I’ve had more fun and larks with this bike than with anything else.</span><br style=”font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;” /><br style=”font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;” /><span style=”font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;”>There are many other bikes out there which I’m sure are way better but it does everything I ask of it and fits just right.</span><br style=”font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;” /><br style=”font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;” /><span style=”font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;”>I’m sure in the right hands it could do a whole load more though …</span>

<p style=”margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; font-family: ‘Helvetica Neue’; color: #454545;”><span style=”color: #000000; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;”>Gotta be my Rumblefish. </span><br style=”color: #000000; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;” /><br style=”color: #000000; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;” /><span style=”color: #000000; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;”>Over five years with it now and no inclination to change bikes.</span><br style=”color: #000000; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;” /><br style=”color: #000000; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;” /><span style=”color: #000000; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;”>Out of all the toys I’ve bought over the years including many motorbikes and expensive fancy cars, the Rumble has to be my best purchase. I’ve had more fun and larks with this bike than with anything else.</span><br style=”color: #000000; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;” /><br style=”color: #000000; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;” /><span style=”color: #000000; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;”>There are many other bikes out there which I’m sure are way better, but it does everything I ask of it and it fits just right.</span><br style=”color: #000000; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;” /><br style=”color: #000000; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;” /><span style=”color: #000000; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;”>I’m sure in the right hands it could do a whole load more though …</span></p>

Damm this thread … now look what you made me do..

I must stop idly reading the How about a £1k hardtail thread  …. amazing how you can justify n+1.

Anyway … unlikely to be doing any more work this afternoon ….

I have to spend five days a month in rural France for family stuff so the Nail Trail is staying down there to be used as my new exploring steed.

I’ve ordered from them a few times.

On the last order they didn’t have one of the items – ordered two bottle cages along with a few odds and sods. They only had one bottle cage but they mailed me promptly to tell me –  I mailed them back and asked to delete one of the bottle cages. Ordered sorted and on its way the same day.

I find them really good to deal with .. and there always seems to be a £5 off £30 code available.

Talk to Frank at Bounce Cycles[/url] in Preston. He did my reverb, shock and fork service. Recommended – rides like new now.

I dreamt I bought a motorway service station from my next door neighbour. The service are 100 miles south of Rome. Cost me a grand. Thats all I remember.

Cheers Matt, very useful info.

Is yours stickered as a L or 19″?

The one on sale is a 20″ which I reckon is an XL according to https://www.marinbikes.com/gb/bike-archive/bikes/2017-nail-trail-7.

I’ll check with the shop on Monday.

Should feel pretty similar to your current bike but a bit more flickable

Thats kinda what I’m after – the trails in the woods are pretty tight and sometimes the Rumble seems a tad cumbersome.