1) Dice cauliflower into about 1″ florets.
2) Dispose of in compost.
3) Make soup out of something nice instead.

Cauliflower is the brassica of Satan.

It’s just on the list of events that make people go (temporarily) insane

Weddings
Firstborns

etc. etc.

My (then 7 year old) daughter won 20 pairs of brake pads at the bike and outdoor show about 6 years ago. I gave her GBP 20 for the lot and she was happy.

I’m still using them (at a much reduced rate once I moved to California).

I use Uber (admittedly in the US, not the UK. I don’t do it for reasons of cost (mostly it’s work travel), I just do it for convenience.

If the London Black cabs made an app, and made it first, where I could enter my payment details once, pre-set a tip and then just order a cab whenever I needed it, I’d use that.

I honestly don’t think many people use Uber for cost, it’s just so damn easy and the cars and drivers I’ve had have been good. If they weren’t, then I’d stop using it.

How bad and for how long?

I’d been having Atrial Fibrillation during and after riding. I tried medication for it but the beta-blockers mess up your riding.

I’m about three weeks into recovery after a cardiac ablation (they stick a tube in and burn/cut away bits of your heat).

I’m hoping that’s fixed it as it was so bad I was getting feint on the bike and having to sit down.

If it gets worse I’d recommend seeing an arrhythmia specialist, but obviously follow the advice of your doctor.

Also if you are getting prolonged periods of ‘funny’ heart beats I’d advise taking low dose asprin, as there is definitely a clotting/stroke risk associated with this kind of thing.

Waves at Twiglet_Monster..

I used to live in Reigate, well just south of it in the cheaper bit.

About an 10 minutes ride to Earlswood Station which has load of trains into London (Victoria or London Bridge), about a 15 minute walk into Reigate town center.

Good North Downs riding from the doorstep, there used to be at least three regular night ride groups around the area and plenty of trails.

I think if you need to balance riding/cost/commuting together, it’s a pretty good area.

Here’s a tip from an expat who has few expat friends and has seen a few come and go.

You need to go for the adventure and the interest, to see it as a chance to try somewhere different. The streets aren’t paved in gold anywhere, and there will be occasional tough times adjusting wherever you go

Expectations of things being hugely better are better replaced with an expectation of things to be different. Embrace the differences.

But more importantly: what tires for leaving fake reviews?

Not so much

What tires for waving?

Yup, searching for parts here (California) often has CRC as the cheapest, but Jenson can bring up some bargains too.

I’ve got some old-style freeriders and some newer elements.

I don’t think I can tell them apart on or off the bike in terms of grip, but I don’t have any mud to try them out in.

Edukator – got any actual science to back up your opinions?

The dust. I’m living though California’s historic drought.

Good job that the bike doesn’t need cleaning after rides, since there won’t be any water left by summer to do it with.

Right – if you are serious about this you need to get across to http://www.britishexpats.com and read this post

A lot of US employers know nothing about immigration law – make sure you and your GF are fully clued up on what kind of visa they would sponsor her for.

If you are not married, and in most cases, even if you were, you would not be able to work without getting your own visa.

Is she a US Citizen? How is she going to work there?

That looks fantastic. I really need to do (a shorter version) of something like this.

Google maps has Boise as a 10hr drive from here…

Another one for winter tyres – we stuck some on my wife’s focus that bad winter a few years ago. Epic and pretty much unstoppable, I was amazed.

We’ve got some Michelin M+S2’s on the old ridiculous ‘murican truck we now drive and again they have been fantastic (plus you don’t have to stop and put chains on in the winter at the highway patrol checkpoints).

Headtorch for camping/running then the Gamma is perfect.

MTB helmet mounted spot jobby – one of those ultrafire torches from dealextreme – they fit in a joystick mount – you can get a torch, couple of batteries and a charger for peanuts.

I’ve got a 900lm (claimed) spot that works well and a couple of floods too.

It wouldn’t just be my 5.10’s that would be wet.

I’m not a massive spider fan, but the local tarantulas (Aphonopelma smithi)are pretty cool. Unlike the Black Widows which are evil looking little things.

It does look a lot like this
Which is a false widow.

Take the quote to the sellers, negotiate a discount on the purchase price, (split it 50:50?). Once you have bought it, shop around for a cheaper quote. I would still go with an NIC-EIC registered contractor – if you have a problem then the NIC will stand behind the work.

I have a S2L – the two speed flat bar version.

I initially found the gearing too high as I had a bout a mile hill up to the local station and I was getting sweaty(maybe I’m weak) so swapped out the front ring for a smaller one.

For general about town & commuting I think that’s the best model. Get the front bag – it works really well.

It’s honestly my favourite bike. The sheer joy of getting around town on it, the independence of being able to ditch the trains when they break just fills you with a sense of freedom.

I’ve been surprised when searching for brakes recently that CRC still seem to be the cheapest.

On the bright side here in drought-ridden California I’m using a couple of sets of pads a year and I’m on the same cassette two years in. I think I’ve washed the bike four times, maybe five.

We’re looking a similar thing – but over a longer term.

Have you considered remortgaging the existing property to release the equity? That way a lot of your income from the rental house will be eaten by the interest – which is tax efficient, you get some of your equity and you also have a property which will be being paid off (slowly).

The world (or at least the state) is your toastrack.

I only really know about the Bay Area firsthand, but here it is:-

Demo forest near Santa Cruz is good – if you were looking for a 1 day getaway and were in the SF Bay area it would probably be my choice.

Marin is appealing as it’s the start of everything – but its a lot of fire roads. There is a ‘trail center’ type thing at Taramancho near Fairfax, which is pretty good.

If you can get more time, or if your family like the mountains then Downieville is another top spot. There is bike hire and shuttles are available. It’s 2+ish hours from SF off Highway 80.

There is some good riding in the Napa/Sonoma areas but I’m not sure it would give you the ‘California’ experience you’re after. I know when I was in Moab, the Slickrock trail was top of my list (for my one day of freedom). There are arguably ‘better’ trails in Moab, but I wanted to ride the trails that I remember drooling over in MBUK in the mid 90’s.

If you are really tight for time and staying in SF, them Mt Diablo in the East Bay can offer some good (if occasionally cheeky) riding that is accessible form the BART (train thing). That’s my local ride, and I’d be happy to show you around. It’s fairly hot in the summer though, early start is best for both temperature and people.

The Mendocino area is supposed to be excellent for riding, but I’ve not been there yet, fixing that in October. I’m also hoping to get riding in Tahoe in September – so might have some more first hand info then.

Cheers

Hmm, let me see:

Live in the US, so get $ pricing. Check.
No mud to speak of. check.
Want a new bike. check.
Have $6000 sitting around spare. Bugger.

Which is a shame as I think it looks nice.

I would go so far as to say that my local small supermarket thing here in California has a much better selection of beer than I ever had in the UK.

Mind you there isn’t anywhere good to go for an after ride pint, country pubs being their strong suit.

Heading out in a bit (I’m 8 hours behind).

Downsides – it’s still around 33c, rattlesnakes.
Upsides – no mud, finishing at a mates house who has a kegerator and Guinness on tap.

This is all interesting stuff.

I’m not sure if it’s AF, but I get a very irregular heartbeat for several hours, it’s nearly always tied to exercise and/or dehydration. I’m managing it better by making sure I’m fully hydrated and not drinking too much alcohol, but it’s a pain in the backside.

I think I’ll see a cardiologist.

Err. I hate to ask this but if I were getting AF fairly regularly for a few hours at time – especially if I’m dehydrated, I should probably go and get some medical advice?

I did the first time and they said I was fine (had ECG & blood work) but it had stopped by then. I can pretty much generate it at will – by not drinking enough and then hitting the trails too hard.

I *really* don’t want to stop riding or running. How likely am I to die?

Calicraft Cali Coast Kolsch-style lager for me tonight, if I remember to go out and get some. Otherwise it will be whatever is cold in the fridge.

Do it yourself.

A very quick google implies it has a drain plug for the transmission fluid, so you can probably do the engine oil, filter, transmission fluid, air filter and whatever else needs doing in a morning, and save yourself maybe GBP 450.

http://www.kia-forums.com/kia-carens-rondo-forum/62331-automatic-transmission-fluid-change.html

Plus they will often ask you to key in your zip code (US post code), and no 90210 won’t work…

Sitting here thinking I should tidy up my office as we have people over for dinner (well pizza). Patio also needs sweeping. Wondering if 5pm on a Friday is too early for a beer.

But there are still a few threads on here I’ve not read, so maybe 10 minutes more won’t hurt.

We used a Travelex Cash Passport card on a US trip some years ago.

It worked pretty well.

We used them for some baseball tickets I think. It all worked out well.

I shall be doing weekly snow dances in hopes of a better winter in the Sierras, as this season was so poor. Might even branch out and ski at a different resort, but the one we have been going too is just such good value.

What oliwb said. We should all push for improvements in the NHS, especially in efficiency and bureaucracy. But don;t trade the longer waiting times and frustrations for the cost, worry and destitution that a US-style system can bring.