Thanks folks – some good tips in there. No surprises although I hadn’t given Dunkeld or Glendevon much thought.

Stirling or BoA is probably a bit of a push. I currently drive 50mi each way (or once or twice a week drive 30mi, ride 20mi) so I’m keen to be within 20mi ride which makes it rideable most of the time.

Much will depend on what is on the market when we market ours early next year. I’ll be sure to noise some of you up for local rides when we move, hopefully in Spring.

Currently Auchterarder, Dunning, Bridge of Earn are front runners, especially if I can convince myself that the riding from Auchterarder will be okay.

Scone is definitely a possibility. Much riding around there other than towards Kinnoull?

Had written off Dunkeld as we would possibly spend our lives driving to Perth to get anywhere (family in Edinburgh and Aberdeen and friends in Edin/Glasgow).

I always think Dunkeld feels cold and damp in winter nestled in the valley there, but maybe that is just me. Might be worth another look.

Hmm, stumbled across your strava detail for that ride Alasdair (via the link to the segment on Ian’s blog). Given how long it took you guys to hike up that climb, it’s probably a bit much for this day. I’ll be out for a couple of hours after doing Ben Hope in the morning, so probably only want to be out for 3 hours or so. Those tracks have given me something to tinker around with though, ta.

Thanks guys – some good shouts. Decisions, decisions. I could maybe do Golspie on the way up, and have a look at Glen Golly late afternoon one day. Or maybe the roads would be lovely too….

Thanks for the feedback. I did really like the Sectors, but given that this is a commuter/winter bike, something more durable probably makes sense. If they are terrible, I’ll switch back to Sectors next time. My Sectors are looking pretty poor after 6 months and 1,600 miles.

Going for Schwalbe Ones at 25c for the fast road bike now too. I suspect that they might cut up more easily in winter on gritty roads, but I’d be delighted if I’m proven wrong.

Pistonheads for me, particularly where it is something “interesting”, like an MX5. Autotrader was a waste of time – expensive, and took ages before it went live. The people who came to view our Scirocco were through Pistonheads.

Handy little trail that, but only before late summer when the bottom section gets very overgrown. I did a bit of tidy up last year, but at that time, it did look like genuine windblown stuff.

If only these idiots would put their efforts into trail maintenance rather than obstruction, we could all enjoy a decent trail (walkers and riders).

Bump. Nobody replaced their bearings?

Off to email Hope…

Thanks for all the replies. Much as expected. Just need to find something decent for £3,000 within a sensible distance from me now…

Lower and wider than the Golf so physics helps it rails bends well. Mk7 Golf might be better, but the Scirocco was better than a Golf at the time it came out.

It probably isn’t fun in a rear wheel drive way, but I found it safe but enjoyable on twisty roads. I was put off by the rwd BMW as Mrs P drives to work outside Edinburgh slightly before rush hour in winter. Depends on your priority.

4 years ago, the Scirocco was a no brainer for us – I prerferred the added exclusivity over the common as muck golf. It would be a tougher choice now.

Recently sold our Rocco after 4 trouble free years. Slightly uneven tyre wear, but nothing to worry about.

You can easily get a 29er in the back with front wheel off. Two bikes will go with front wheels off too. Slightly fiddly to fit a bike between the wheel arches, but not a huge headache.

We discounted the 1 series coupe as it looked too impractical. Rocco handled well and our 140 TDI easily did 50mpg. I’d have another if we didn’t need 5 doors now.

Second hand FF29. I paid a lot less than £300 for mine from eBay (although I probably got slightly lucky).

I’m planning on doing One Photo Every Week again though, this is the Flickr Group that was set up by some STW’ers a while ago. There’s only two people on there now though I think…
One Photo Every Week (Flickr)

Joined – looks like a nice little group. The current shots look good.

Handily, Canon have cashback on the macro lens I have fancied for a while, so I have taken the plunge, and Mrs P tells me that the postie has just dropped it off. That should let me shoot more interesting shots around the house on weeks when I struggle to get anything decent outside.

I did the Canon cashback last month after getting a 700D body for a big birthday present. Pretty quick processing – money to my account within a couple of weeks – you can scan the receipt to them online etc.

Bear in mind that cashback is only available if you buy from a decent UK shop selling UK stock, not a shady importer.

Try camerapricebuster for comparisons (although it doesn’t always keep up with discount codes). I’ve just ordered a lens from Park Cameras who have a 10% of some lenses code on. Currys had/have a discount on some lenses and bodies at the moment too, as do Castle Cameras I think (10% there?)

Started it before, but always ran out of steam. You get bored of running around at 11pm trying to take a photo of something mundane.

I’m going to do a photo a week thing instead – should be slightly more achievable for me, and let me take a half decent/interesting photo every week instead.

Post up links to your flickr album or whatever so we can encourage each other.

“Last season the top 20 male masters were recording times competitive with the top 20 male experts, and four of the top 10 experts in 2014 are of masters age next year. We’ve effectively been running two races over the same number of laps for riders of the same ability level.

“However we’re not abolishing the category. Regional organisers may continue to offer masters races, and there will be masters races at the National Championships if there are sufficient entries to justify them. We’re looking at a revision of the licence categories, and riders holding an existing masters licence who wish to compete in expert or sport races will be contacted directly in the near future with further details.”

Seems like a total guddle. Either abolish it or don’t?!

Personally, I was going to ride masters for the first time in 2015, having ridden sport in 2014. I don’t tend to ride nationals as they are (in 2014) all 250 miles+ from where I live. I’m not going to get an interesting race in the local series in Expert, but would get a good race in masters. If masters is abolished, that is fine if the top end go to expert, and the lower to sport – I’ll move up to expert, knowing that I will now get a decent race.

Abolishing the category for the national series but not as a race licence category seems bizarre and confusing. Will you have masters riders competing in their local series, but then having to choose expert or sport at national level?

Sounds like they tried to come up with a happy medium without thinking it through.

Soda Kitsch[/url]

Friends in Edinburgh. They also cycle, so they must be cool.

Huzzah, I’m back for this again this week. See you then.

I always find the commute in quieter on a Friday. I get to be all smug riding down the bus lane at 20mph Monday to Thursday undertaking traffic, but the traffic does a better speed on Fridays. Bah.

1×10 here with a 40t Race Face N/W chainring and a standard 105 rear mech. No chain drops in races yet (only dropped one ever, probably because I was clumsily shifting before hopping up a kerb).

I used to run a standard chainring, bash guard and inner jump stop, but no need for those now.

Proper muddy test at the weekend there and still no issues.

Jimmy – once I get a frame, happy to do a swap. Likely to be a month or two though if that suits? I’ll wait for a decent frame to come up – if I do find an ASR5, I’d rather get a newish one so I know it has the new rear triangle which seems less likely to crack.

I have a right hand remote run under bar on the left. It is 125mm drop. Does that match yours? It’s in really good condition – I’ve barely used the BFe. Cheers.

Read your posts after posting that Jimmy. That could work. Maybe I should hold out for a good condition ASR5 – I’m struggling to see past them

You in a rush for a post swap?

Bugger, I thought the Yeti was a 31.6mm post.

If I do look at a new post anyway, the SC TR could be good.

Spark seems to tick the boxes on paper too – the 2012 ones look quite tidy and suitably light. As capable as ASR5s?

Reba RL here (the 2013 solo air version) – seem decent and quite light for the money but I’m no fork expert. The remote lockout is useless. Mine gave up after a few muddy rides – I am now using a cheap friction shifter instead which is working much better.

like the Golf R but if this car is mid £40’s that’s the same money as a new Porsche Macan (assuming you don’t mond waiting 1-2 years to get one)

Who said mid 40s? It is likely to be a smidge over £30,000 based on current R prices, and since they are well specced, personally I wouldn’t add anything to it. I reckon it will probably handle better and be faster than a £40k Macan too.

I should like this on paper (drive a 5 door GTI which is just big enough for holidays with child in tow) but the looks are a bit meh for my taste. Having seen this touted last year, I briefly thought about it, but I’m glad we didn’t bother waiting.

The Old Post Road / Hamilton Hill option is referred to in here.

The Meldons road is quite pleasant too, but probably a bit dull on an MTB.

I have also ridden back over the top of the black previously, which doesn’t massively help with Eddleston, but there is another track on the OS map heading up the hill Eastwards just south of Eddleston (at Redscarhead) which looks like it could work, and bring you into the forest. I’ve plotted out a route up that but not tried it yet.

Going to sit out tonight and work instead. Can’t do next Tuesday either due to a work thing. :/

Will probably get some Stans Alpha 400 rims built up 28 spokes to Pro 2 evos’s with the 11 speed freehub.

Possibly cheaper to live with the 32h Hope Hoop version I suspect. Hoops tend to be good value compared to self builds.

Crests aren’t too wide for cross, but Hope will also build a couple of Hoops with Stans Alpha on either XC6 or Pro 2 Evo. Could be worth a look.

Yes. I’m no expert, but popped some dimmable LEDs in our bathroom light, to work with the old dimmer.

They would randomly flicker, then be fine for a bit, then flicker again. You could adjust the dimmer switch to a non-flickering point, but they would often start flickering soon afterwards. I’ve just given up and fitted a regular On/Off switch.

YMMV

Sector 28 tubeless here too. Been on for 3 weeks or so on my ss commuter and I’m very happy with them. Allows me to commute on gravel/muddy paths and also just down a 100k ride on a mix of roads, canal paths and tracks. Seem quick enough on the road.

Got mine from xxcycles in France I think. Not cheap but the only other option I could find was The One which will cut up too easily off-road I reckon

You can remove a cog and spacer, and stick a spacer behind the cassette if you want to run 11 speed as 10 speed. I’ve tried that with the 11 speed Ultegra on my 10speed wheels and looks fine. Removed the 14t (which handily is the right width as a spacer if you don’t have a spacer to hand).

Admittedly I’ve not ridden it yet as I am waiting for my 11 speed ST-RS685 shifters to come into stock.

Cool. Don’t rush – I’m more likely to have the money in December! ;)

Kryton – could be interested in your frame when you come to sell, depending on price and condition.

Didn’t get a chance to check in here again today. I nipped out after hanging around Bonaly for 10mins. Bit blowy so stayed lowish. Trails still drier than I expected

Might be able to make 7.15pm tomorrow night if that suited anyone?

Cheers for the ride last night gents – good to get a decent midweek Pentlands spin in again. See you for another of these soon (hopefully get out next week too).

Bump for future reference. Going to struggle this week, but I’m sure I’ll join you at some point.

Graeme

Don’t know how I ever got by without arm and leg warmers and now a lightweight gilet. All stuffable in pockets when you warm up and easily put back on for descents, stops or in drizzle.