Neighbours moving house, yesterday.

Avoid surgery unless absolutely necessary. I say this after going under the knife last November and not riding again until April – a far longer healing period than the original break.

While working as a lifeguard and then a bike guide (and being first aid trained to varying degrees for nearly 20 years), it seems that things like ‘figures of 8’ go round like fashions – no doubt someone next year will actually discover that it works really well on a certain break and it’ll become the support method of choice again. I’d say that if you find it more comfortable, use it.

Gah! Jealous. Since moving away from the east coast I’m not getting regular surf at all. Crossing fingers for some waves on the south coast when I’m down there next month.

Ta MrSmith.

Got to find a local roaster since Hill and Valley seems to have gone. Nude Espresso in Brick Lane have recently opened and seem to be getting good reviews as well.

What is the general view on Starbucks coffee, ground in house?

Mate’s husband and Goaty from Bikemagic works on ’em – cracking machines. :-)

I’m just under 6ft and found the 2007 M (17.5″) too short, even with a layback and an 80mm stem.

Otherwise a lovely, lovely bike.

In it’s final guise:

Molgrips – it was the 1.9 170bhp version. I recall it revving up to about 5k (but could be wrong – I haven’t driven it for 2 years), but most of the power was around 2k. 6 speed though, so not a major issue.

I agree about the higher gears though – I used to forget there was a 6th and rev along at 80 in 5th. However, overtaking at 50 in 4th was a joy. :-)

Hora – a trip to Jabbasport is on the cards fairly soon. ;-)

the one massive dump of torque you get in a TDi an older VAG PD TDi
Fixed that for ya

Heh! Too kind. ;-)

Not sure whether it was an older PD VAG – it was in a Leon FR on an 07 plate. Very torquey, very quick but you had to smack it through the gears to keep it in the power band.

Although they may that thought I was police.

Heh! There is that too. ;-)

I’ve recently bought at estate on a ’03 with 75k and am enjoying it massively. The torque is great, the fact that it has long gears (as opposed to having the one massive dump of torque you get in a TDi) is great and makes the car incredibly flexible. It is quick in ‘real world’ situations because of this as well, but not as quick as a mate’s Evo 6 that has been chipped and tuned to 420bhp – funny that.

This all said, I don’t think it handles as well as the Mk.1 Focus it replaced. I also don’t think that it’s as well put together as the Focus, and the boot isn’t quite as practical (the Focus has a flat back when the seats were down, no lip on the boot sill and useable slots for the headrests in the underside of the rear passenger seats). However, the main reason I got this instead of a Focus ST170 estate is the engine – the vRS is quicker and more economical than the Focus, is apparently even more economical when tuned(!) and, despite the above, is an awful lot of fun for what’s essentially a practical car.

So far I’m a happy Skoda driver and would buy another.

Me, on bike earlier this year:

And an older arty farty shot taken in the hallway mirror:

Nothing wrong with National Trust stickers in the back of your car!

I'm 30 and have been a member since I was 22, the main reason being that they have some excellent free parking in a variety of prime surf spots, Woolacombe being one example.

That's a great reason to join the NT.

Recently bought a (not ex-police) Skoda Octavia vRS – loads of them on ebay that have been used as both marked and unmarked cars.

I still love the irony of the police using fast Skodas. :-D

(or maybe it's just me)

If I were commuting near you Hora, I'd slow to let you overtake me to make you feel better.

Chakaping – ygm.

That washing in the background should be dry by now.

120mm Minutes on my PA – first ride yesterday.

Going to try some 145 Minutes I have knocking about running about 1/3 sag to see how I get on with them – 120mm seems a little short at the moment.

Spots I've ridden at include:

[list][*]Danbury, nr. Chelmsford – jumpy fun with some reasonable XC.[/*]

[*]Epping Forest – local knowledge is invaluable, but you can get a decent loop together. Sloppy in the wet.
[/*]
[*]Chiltern Hills – I live here now and there's more riding than you can shake a stick at, from big hill-ridden loops to the excellent downhill tech of Aston Hill. Better in the dry and wear kneepads – there's flint everywhere.[/*]

[*]Swinley – reasonable riding with local knowledge. Some great sections if you know where to look. Not a bad winter destination as it drains well.
[/*]
[*]Bracknell Forest – see Swinley.[/*]

[*]North Downs – some epic singletrack routes, if a little crowded. Again, local knowledge rules.[/*][/list]

I run around a third sag from my time guiding on Sub 5s – I find that's a pretty good compromise. I tend to run the shock open a lot as well if it's hilly, using propedal for longer, less techy climbs or riding in flatter areas where I'm pedaling out of the saddle more.

What kit has your Pulse got on it? And it what condition? My '97 Fisher Paragon has nothing other than the seatpost that is OEM spec.

*shakes head at "Attitude"*

You could just do what I saw a group do whilst on a DoE cycle expedition … every morning they gaffa taped all their kit to their bikes worryingly, the school they attended means some of them may one day be running the country.

Gaffa tape is like the force – it has a light side, a dark side and holds the universe together. :wink:

Chilterns has loads around Stokenchurch/Christmas Common/Princes Risborough/Wendover/Tring.

I'm based in Tring and could certainly point you at some hiller stuff near Wendover or flatter, tree-lined buff singletrack in the Ashridge park.

Otherwise Aston Hill is only a 45 min drive and has a wicked 5 mile singletrack loop, as well as the DH runs.

18" Five, 17.5" Genesis IO (although when I replace it with a Ti-IO it'll probably be a 19", even though the IO reach feels OK).

Had a 17" P7, a 17.5" Hustler and a 17.5" Handjob (2007/8) and they were all a little short (although bizarrely I got on really well with the older 2006 Handjob with shorter forks).

I'm 6ft, 32" inside leg.

I reckon Saint Helena could be a good venue, although the Isles of Scilly would be more convenient.

If we could do this while raping public services, destroying education and killing the manufacturing industry it'd be just like the good old days! :D

I personally find it quite amusing that with all the rags (Mirror excluded) campaigning openly for Cameron that the Tories still haven't got a majority. I think that's known as 'lack of faith'.

Ah! Mr. Kidd! How are you?

Ooo, that is good. Thanks!

Sorry if this has already been asked – only read the first page as at work, but how did she get everyone to chip in? Did no-one say "ooo – hang on, that may not be a great gift as Matt's already a carpenter…"?

Another vote for the Wingnut.

Superb sacks.

Growing up in north Essex pre-driving was less than wonderful for riding bikes, but you persevere. Now I've ridden all over the northern hemisphere in some amazing places and yet Thetford still makes me grin stupidly.

What's wrong with people giving a glowing write-up about something they're happy/satisfied with?

Makes a nice change from being cynical/negative about stuff.

Ditto that. Sounds like money very well spent, Vikingboy.

Commie Super 4, Orange ST4 or Giant Trance.

Three very fun, quick bikes.

Sen zencefil saç var

Senin elinde tuhaf ?ekilli top ta??ma gibi.

:wink:

On a Turkey note, CliveA that posts on here occasionally worked in Turkey for several years. I know that there is some decent riding too – personally I'd take the bike.

Yeah? Ur bik iz saracenin!

Oi!

Less of the ginger talk in here.

http://www.fightbaddriving.co.uk/

richc – pretty sure they will.

That's how they normally roll.