Ridden the hiking path in the region of The Monkeys Arse a couple of times over the years and it’s good, albeit steep in spots… Always thought the path was the Arse but apparently it’s an offshoot off there – still memorable though regardless!

Solden aside, i haven’t found much in the Tirol worth repeated visits – it’s so restrictive. Italy is much more relaxed for riding and the Cortina/Falzarego area keeps me going back, likely as it’s not swamped with mtb riders so those that visit are more welcome. I say this even though i much prefer the Teutonic culture in general more than the Latin… I plan to check out more of the South Tirol when i can.

Subscribed ;0) , thanks for the heads up…
Just been enjoying the Mazda RX3 restomod and the Morgan AeroSport (i think)

Brooklands – if for no other reason than the sheer heritage of the place, and the nostalgia of the sheds/hangers etc
+1 for Te Papa, where else can you check out the brilliance of a Britten V1000!

I managed it east to west last summer without dying, on an Orange Alpine (10sp double) with a 30l rucksack and some bikepacking gubbins attached. Other than a couple of hairpin corners it wasn’t particularly memorable, and no more severe than say Honister Pass (again east to west…)

Around Cortina there’s some excellent trailriding, mainly cheeky but as there’s no real culture for it around that area i.e. rarely meeting any other mtb’ers, then the walkers don’t seem to mind. It’s an area that i’m eager to repeat visit…

To be fair, i’d have “woo-hoo”‘d that – probably would never see something that spectacular, a proper once-in-a-lifetime sight!
It did strike me that given the scouring action of the slide on the ground there i’d have stayed a bit further away ;0)

It’s probably a bit late, but could you jot down the areas of “proper ” singletrack… always on the lookout for new areas of interest

Sad news indeed.
Jilted Generation certainly a seminal album throughout the 90’s for me… But hey, what a full-on life led – owning a pub/McLaren F1 (the car obviously)/racing team,being with Gail Porter and made a lot of folk happy with a lasting legacy.And to top it off by being to all accounts a decent bloke.
Sir, i doff my cap!
RIP

The only other resort i’m familiar with in Germany is Oberstdorf, a couple of hours drive west of Garmisch. Learned to ski there with the Army back in the day, pretty town and a trio of varied ski areas to sample but very quiet apres-ski and has an old-skool feel to it.

Not long back from a week in St Anton am Arlberg, after a 14 year hiatus from the snow. Have to say it was by far the best snow conditions i’ve met in the Alps and the equivalent of Canada – absolutely sublime and so unlike me to be so lucky in the timing of it all! Took to the boarding as if i’d never stopped which was an unexpected bonus. Yet again StAaA delivers ;0)

Just wondering about this myself… off skiing/boarding next week after a 13yr hiatus so hopefully my muscle memory will still work ;0)

This

U2 – “Please” Live in Mexico City, spine tingling once Edge really gets going…

They’re mostly bland and boring as i’ve realised over the last few years when they’ve become regularly shown on regular tv, with some exceptions…
-All the Craig efforts (absolutely including QoS!) – the most convincing Bond by some margin.
-You Only Live Twice
-Live And Let Die
-The Spy Who Loved Me
-OHMSS
-Goldfinger
…flame away ;0)

I didn’t think much of it either, but the sequel was pretty awesome (amazingly, isn’t it meant to be the reverse…) – mind you i recently watched The Shining and for the life of me can’t see why it’s held in such high regard :0/

Had a seizure back in March, which absolutely threw life upside down for me as i drove for a living. After a period of sick leave i had to resign my position and only recently started settling into a new line of employment on much reduced pay – i was amazed how many job vacancies specify a driving licence! Anyway, after a minimum of tests with nothing abnormal found the NHS has released me from their care wrt this episode so i can now get travel insurance. This is important for me as basically i work to pay for European riding trips which had to be cancelled for this year (was planning an alpine roadtrip this summer which had to be binned…)
It’s a pain that a fairly simple electrical brain overload results in such upheaval, but Hey Ho…

i’d be flying from Gatwick, and oddly Innsbruck is cheap as chips to fly into on the dates looked at…
Wrt StAamA is there a cheaper pass available for just that valley than the Arlberg Pass? Just seemed pointless getting the expensive Arlberg one for 3 days…

I’m saddened by this news,the loss of a basically decent bloke with a lifetime dedicated to public service both as a Marine and a people’s politician.
Rest easy, Sir.

i’m pretty familiar with GAP in the summer, it’s pretty much a guaranteed stop when i’m in the region. Even spent a couple of days riding Ehrwald/Lermoos but never skied the Arena so wondering how accessible the Zugspitze skiing is via the train – and is the vvankbahn a skiing option (no official pistes on the trailmap)?

oh i don’t know, to my eyes the SSR is quite stylish in a non-functional-for-a-pickup kind of way with front styling cues to the 40’s/50’s… so how does that other attempt at Cool of the time – the Prowler – stackup?

And as we’re talking cars being hit with the ugly stick, i give you the BL 1800 “land crab” *shudder*

…more please

As someone with an appreciation of the events around that time, a personal timepiece like that one and the wearer needs more coverage.

It’s an excellent path over to Boredale Hause – will be interesting what the descent on the Hause bridleway becomes after the repairs have finished… looked promising during the summer.

Welcome!

Happy 26″/tubed rider (both bikes) here – i prefer to spend my biking cash on actually going to riding places (i like the sort of trails that you prefer too), rather than keeping up with the latest fads (shock, horror…etc! ;0) )

Backpacked there back in 04, so things have probably changed a bit since then…and as a solo bloke a different set of security parameters i suspect.

Sepilok for the Orangutan reserve – lovely place and a great experience

Mt Kinabalu – a strenuous trek to summit with an overnight at the lodge. A guide was obligatory but good value for the almost otherworldly location

Niah caves – the original Bat Cave. As the bats exit at dusk you are returning to the accommodation in the dark (not far) so a guide might be advisable, although the path was clearly marked. A proper jungle experience with the most impressive moths and bugs i’ve ever seen!

Kuching – a cracking little city with stunning old colonial architecture and temples

I had plenty of time to take it all in but Borneo (or more accurately Malaysian Sabah/Sarawak where i was primarily) is huge so flying around is a real option. Didn’t have or hear about any negative travellers experiences whilst there so would certainly recommend it.

+1 for Simon Freese watchmakers.

Recently had my Seamaster serviced by them and was impressed by the quick turnaround – not silly prices either…

Lake Garda would fit the bill i reckon,bar the self-catering chalet which i’m not sure is a thing there. Get a minibus shuttle to the main trailheads then head back to the lake, some places on the lake allowing return to the start point using the ferries  ;0)

REM – Monster

Liked “What’s the frequency Kenneth”, but the rest…good god!  :0(

At least the CD was cheap.

Was a bit shocked by the announcement early today, but it didn’t surprise me after the reshuffle snafu…

I’m no fan of Whiley but accept she’s good in the evening timeslot hanging out with all the cool names – but find her a bit Too Cool for School for my liking.

Mayo, however, i find very easy to listen to and the Confessions podcast has been required listening for yonks.

And i’m sooo relieved that the Church will continue with the good Doctor!

…so it’s a continued Hello to Jason Isaacs/FairportConvention/Focus etc  ;0)

Undersea seamounts close to Pulau Rinca, Indonesia – rarely dived area back in 2004

Sipadan, Borneo

Surin islands – Mantas (yay!)

Marsa Alam / Elphinstone – Egypt

the escarpment which takes in Caterham/Woldingham etc is surprisingly steep and you should have a few options to ride down then shoulder up at various points.

did anyone notice the shot of the man placing the wreath on Palin’s head in the May Day park scene…And the terrified looking daughter dragging the old boy away..?

… my first thought was that the old fella was then going to be fully “debriefed” by the Feds, as would be any actual regular NK comrades Palin comes into contact with – not pleasant i’ll wager.

Hop on the local train to Sospel (just a few stops, looking at the map) and either do some of the local trails (visit the tourism office in the village for info) or just spend the day riding back to Nice… either should see you right.

^ oh my word, that is priceless – took me a second or two to figure out how the seatpost was coming out of the seat tube ;-0

Will be interesting what you think of the area, i love it personally. If you want to stay in a mountainhut the Kesch Hut is a nice straightforward tour riding-wise.

^ ooh, good call – The Thing prequel is most excellent and not a long film but start to end quality!

If you enjoy The Ritual by Adam Neville you should also check out his Banquet for the Damned, it’s in a similar vein…

The Ben Damph circuit is a lot shorter than the Lollipop with less altitude and the (mostly rideable) climb is never ending. But the descent is an absolute cracker…

Not sure if Get Out was within the last year but that was a cut above the average.

The Ritual is ok, but not a patch on the book which i found phenomenal!

If you stay in the valley you get a free lift card for the person, and simply pay 10chf to transport the bike for the whole day or less on a per-journey basis.

Davos is mid-Oct and has some fantastic trail riding, trust me…