If you’re trying to slide the strip into the bar groove, that’s wrong. Just lay the rubber strip on top of the groove and push it down into the groove – use a bit of water to help it if you like although i found it unnecessary.

There’s only one track on my music device from a Boy/Girl Band – Call the Shots. It’s been there for yonks because it’s excellent and it’s staying… RIP Sarah Harding.

Achnashellach descent (bottom half)
Warnscale Bottom
Ben Lomond
Nan Bield
Annat
Corrie Chash
Stake Pass (south side)

Just spent over two weeks in the highlands, and totally against expectations they weren’t an issue. Was setting up for the night in the Cairn Gorm lift car park with no problem when they suddenly descended on me so i hightailed it down to Morlich lochside where it was totally clear – go figure… Even a night in Easdale and Kinlochleven was clear! This was in the heatwave, mind, with no rain for the whole stay.

Mine was Chain so no cam belt – regular oil changes will see you right for many miles to come…

Had a 1.6 petrol version for a while, only sold it due to losing my licence… A couple of gremlins with mine – the ultrasonic alarm sensor needed swapping (common issue) and a blown antenna amplifier, both quick jobs. Not great fuel economy but it’s a boxy shape so to be expected i reckon. But the rear seats unclip for removal really easily so getting bikes in a cinch esp with that huge rear tailgate. I really liked it.

Some interesting suggestions so far, cheers! As an exiled Northerner living in the London region i like the idea of Shropshire/Marches area – never stayed just travelled through…D+G is also of interest, might be an alternative to the Lakes in peak season!

The Fester is registered with the DVLA as being white, although the yellow really suits it. Excellent segment although a little understated for a series opener, i thought. Will be interesting to see more of the uk being showcased this season.

This
Used this chap a couple of years back for my Seamaster Quartz. Obviously a cheaper servicing cost than for your Auto, but excellent turnaround time and value.

Nice one Perchy, an awesome track and the only ‘Snake track on my device…
Only seen VH live the once, mind you it was Monsters of Rock ’84 at Donny so it was somewhat special ;0)

Just noticed a post stating that the loop descent is a bit silly with a bike so will probably bin the attempt…

Car sorted.
And Laggan Wolftrax, what a quality place – very enjoyable…

Thanks for the suggestions folks. I seem to have got around the problem so far, leaving the car running but locking it with the second key while quickly popping into the coop.
Car camping at laggan tonight for a trundle around wolftrax tomorrow.
Perhaps my blow-up sheep might freak out the locals if I put that in the driving seat ;0)

Need to be within walking/short riding distance to the shops as can’t leave the car running while inside the shop…

Thanks folks, seems like it’s straightforward considering the situation. Driven loads through the place over the decades, just needed first-hand info about now… ;0)

So, ferry booked (at about 2.5x pre-c19 prices…but that’s the price to pay)
Barring something major happening it looks like the Euro roadtrip is a go-er (fingers crossed)

I think an air unit is more my style – not being a particularly speedy/jumpy rider. With the Manitou is servicing/spares likely to be an issue a couple of years’ down the line?

That is good news, now to put tentative plans for a roadtrip into gear…
Main obstacle is the travel insurance issue but that seems to be only wrt covid and not the expected cover for bike-related injuries i.e. broken bones etc, but this just means being super-careful socially and as i’m planning on camping that should be manageable.

“The mountains are calling, and i must answer…”

I don’t subscribe to waiting until next year if there’s the possibility of going abroad this year – take every opportunity while you can as next year things might be worse again! So this year a holiday might well be different from the norm, so what, adapt to the new norm and enjoy being abroad…

Things are starting to look promising…(crossing fingers,toes etc). For me France is the lynchpin, as long as we maintain an Airbridge agreement it should allow a roadtrip this summer.

Been there on a couple of weekdays over the last few weeks and no issues about being served at the hatch, only a handful of other riders at the time mind…

Lake Annecy area perhaps? Scenic but pre-alpine mountains so not suffer-fest climbs, and within striking distance of lift-assist resorts…

Ooh, things are getting so tantalizingly close now ;0)
I really feel that within a month from now an Alps roadtrip will be a goer… (commentators curse always a possibility of course)

I can see the bloody annoying situation whereby the rest of the EU is happily effectively open for (socially distanced) limited tourism by we here aren’t allowed to leave our shores to partake by the rabidly antiEU Govt…

An interesting thread for me atm. Looking for much like the OP – £1K self-imposed limit for a small/med estate ’06 onwards,but slim pickings even here in the Smoke.Hopefully once things settle down a bit public transport-wise it’ll improve…

Only seen a C17, up close(ish) the once… last time i was up in Torridon starting the climb up to the Coulin Pass from Achnashellach Stn. About 1/3 of the way up i heard an unusual noise from behind so had a look over my shoulder and nearly fell over as an RAF C17 cruised past at pretty much the same elevation as me – could clearly see the crew. Of course by the time i had grabbed my phone for a pic it had sauntered off up the glen and the moment was gone. It was really quiet considering its size but guess that’s the norm for stealthy military manoeuvrings these days. Unforgettable experience for me :0)

Used Readly for a while now, absolutely awesome if you enjoy magazines. With access to international titles unavailable here it’s a cracking way to wind down at the end of the day.

Given that by about the end of the week, the UK is on target to being the second-worst hit country in the world, behind the USA, I can’t imagine any countries wanting us to visit any time soon. It’d be like phoning up from Wuhan and asking if there are any vacancies in the village…

this is my view of late, best keep us lot separate on our island from our EU neighbours, for their safety…

Dreaming of and planning my next holiday is one of the things stopping me going stir crazy

exactly this, i’m allowed to dream surely?
A Czech colleague was explaining to me earlier this evening of tentative plans there to release some restrictions. Mind you they stamped down very quickly with lockdown and seems to be working well so well done them!

I can’t see how the population will accept lockdown in its current form for the test of the year, and likely beyond – something has to give as the economy can’t afford it indefinitely.
“Improvise,adapt and overcome” is a mantra i’ve met over the decades and now seems a pressing time to explore it fully.
Necessity is the mother of invention, so they say – well surely it’s necessary now.

Wow, the general concensus certainly doesn’t bolster my hopes…such is life.
Wasn’t planning a booked trip, more just jumping on a ferry and camping. An enforced staycation would give the opportunity to explore these fair isles which would be long overdue.
Thanks for the insight, people!

Pink Floyd obvs
(takes a while to get started, mind)
+1 for Safe From Harm, killer tune…

Pre-C19 plans were the Highlands post-Easter and late summer several weeks in the Alps.
Right now i’ll settle with a decently long Highlands trip getting up into Assynt etc for the first time… i hope that’s a realistic proposition for this year sometime!
^colournoise – that’s a lovely choice of machine, much approval…

-Hopefully a massive boost to the NHS wrt the resources it needs for the next wave, and not used as a political bargaining chip.
-A realization that modern society isn’t as robust and advanced as we humans think it is, society is a fragile concept…

But i suspect that in reality little will be learned once this crisis has blown over :0(

Thanks for the replies so far folks, it’s exactly what i’m needing.
Love the pic Colournoise – i’m amazed they fitted!
Gen1 Jazz Magic Seats – do they fold flat or remove by unclipping them as my Roomster ones did?

…just checked out the Yaris link – “canoe in a yaris” LOL ;0)

Blimey, that was unexpected – certainly increases Canada as a neat place to ride without flying out to BC!

Just used an older version of the tool as suggested and no issues found, even though the new test was certainly more indepth than the first one. Interestingly i ran the first one again and there was even more failures than before although that may well be a compatability issue with the new test software installed?
The freezing issue was when watching streaming film on Prime and wasn’t a bandwidth issue.
So it seems the old beast is still working ok (now i’ve said that… ;0) )

You should be able to do most of the main trails in a day if you stick to the lift-served side of the valley, but they’re so good you might want to do a couple of them several times – decisions,decisions…
Mind you i stay away from the high-speed flow trails and keep to the slower techy hiking paths.
It’s a cracking place, enjoy!

Drop a post here about how you found the riding, i have preconceived ideas of what it’s like but would like more realistic feedback – ta…

Base yourself in Cortina, there’s a couple of campsites there although i’ve always stayed in the Olympia a few km’s north of town (really great value and decent facilities). Then buy a topo map and ride the paths in the surrounding area – they’re generally very quiet and i’ve never been shouted at…