Done a fair few roadtrips around Europe over the last couple of decades, but longest was riding an XT600 through France/Italy/Greece (down to Santorini, on the ferry) and back up through the Balkans to the Dolomites and Austria /Germany/France. Serbia was a pleasant shock to the system and Bosnia quite humbling.

A bit like having Mythbusters without Carrie Byron

now we’re talking! Not a classic beauty imho, but just sooo watchable when on screen (would i? hell yes (but she wouldn’t let me)) 😆

You want to go on an organised trip or be adventurous and explore an area?

Awesome experience, i recommend it even for non-motorsport fans as following the race is to me secondary. Even the drive to/from Le Mans is cool as you’re in a long procession of high-end sports cars and assorted classics with local populations in the villages you pass through lining the streets for the spectacle – just watch out for radar-toting Plod. To me it’s about the crowd-based antics around the circuit be it drag-racing on the roads around the camping (until the CRS tipped up {i didn’t hang around}), or quaffing a beer beside the Mulsanne Straight with cars blasting by at silly speeds just metres away… and at night it gets better especially at the braking zones!
It’s cheap, too, but it’s been a few years since i was last there.

My Top Tips – earplugs/tripod-type camping chair/loo roll.

The bearings look very exposed (you can see the bearing’s rubber seal)

…that was my thinking, but as yours have been fine i’ll have a closer look at the frame again. Ta 😉

Cheers Superficial, how have you found the lower bearing sealing with the testing conditions of the Peaks?

Just saw it through the window so can’t confirm if it’s a split demo bike frame, but looks spankers 😉 – if i wasn’t looking for a lighter frame i’d have had it there and then…

Just had a looky at one in a shop and not too sure about the really low chainstay, just bothered about the rock clumpability factor on natural trails in the Alps (where i’m looking to spend more time this summer). My Dawg has the same feature and the aluminium shows the scars but it’s coped so far – but carbon…

Seems like SupercededModel+ObsoleteWheelsize(other opinions are available)=BargaintasticDeals. Very desirable kit at a relatively (my Northern Tightwad genepool allowing…) affordable level. I’d imagine your local Yeti stockist would be making shelf space.

Good work kcal, now i can see where my routes go wrong (where i plan to go and where i actually go aren’t always the same… ahem :lol:)
*doffs cap*

Nice piece of rejuvenation, but also liked the story off to the side the eyes have it

Yes you can, but there’s a bit of pedalling involved and will take a bit of time so plan your day to allow for differing lift times etc.

On your holiday you don’t want to be worrying about if you have sufficient cover or not, just enjoying the experience… get the best you can justify, better to be over- than under-insured.

I’ve found all four shows riveting in the build-up to the record attempts and could easily have watched longer versions. And that Cresta Run chappy certainly has a mouthful for a name/title “Clifton Hugh Lancelot de Verdon Wrottesley, 6th Baron Wrottesley, 14th Baronet”. Ace entertainment, well done Chief!

My already high estimation of Mr Fry was certainly raised by his integrity in the face of adversity. Wonder how the H&S risk assessment went re getting a cabbie around on a Heli’s skids 😯 Well done Sir!

Leave work
Drive to the Alps
Spend most of the summer camping and doing more Hut-to-Hut type-stuff via singletrack.

Yes, but that gives me free reign to get out and about the Kingdom – recent Festive Breaks have been spent riding FoD+Marches/Snowdonia/Exmoor. This year i plan to mostly be in the Lakes as have unfinished business concerning Stakes Pass and Birkside (and anything else i can handle in the time 🙂 ). Every cloud and all that…

PADI Rescue but haven’t dived since about 4 yrs ago when i discovered riding a bike in the hills :roll:. Almost exclusively a warm-water diver as have done the majority of it in SE Asia although also experienced the Poor Knights which was chilly but great… Considered doing DM but the lure of riding in the hills/mountains every holiday i get put paid to that. Enjoyed my diving but enjoy riding more!

^ +1… cheers for the info 😀

65% apparently, a bit put out being from within spittin’ distance of the Scottish Border, bah…

Done N Welsh trail centres and although i enjoyed them i prefer natural trails, but they do work in all weathers… considering Afan now!

Sounds like i’ve over-reacted then, Cheers peeps… 🙂

It’s pretty much as you say, unbolt old one/put on the replacement along with a new gasket to seal it to the tank/refit pipes. And with the old tap off give the tank a swill out to clear any debris in the bottom… simples

Nearest i’ve been to Speedbird in the air was the landing of the fleet at Heathrow during the Grand Tour before decommissioning – stood at the end of the runway with lots of other folks, a sad day indeed. And the visit to Farnborough Air Show (95/6 ?) when i was at the takeoff end of the runway during ,er, takeoff… possibly the loudest thing i’ve ever experienced 😀 And the Brooklands walk/talk-through too – nice to get up close to one.

What a fantastic life he lead, should be some neat re-runs now. Thank you for the memories, Sir! *doffs cap*

Splendid
Oodles
Mong
Muppet (as in “you Muppet”)
Interject

Blimey, that sounds like a lot of trauma with that one! Mine just looks grim, i guess i would like to know if swelling takes a long time to subside.

My 5:10’s basically didn’t wear on the bottom of the soles but then the whole sole unit seem to just rot on the sides and peel away from the uppers – this on both pairs i’ve had over some 4yrs. Might get the newer pair resoled but trying some Salomon trail shoes.

Took my Kona from Gatwick to Geneva in a Duff Stealth bag, no issues at all…

Cheers for the input, folks – sorted with My First Smartphone on O2… all shiny and new (until i drop it 8) )

Just been offered a free Galaxy s3 mini on t-mobile contract for £15.50/month with 750mb, seems a good deal…

I’d really like the Ace 2 but just how straightforward the upgrade to Jellybean is i can only imagine. Dont need a big screen as i really want a phone i can easily pocket in my bike jacket. Cheers folks.

Last camped in Garda some 2 yrs ago, just turned up and it wasn’t particularly pricey – normal Italy prices (i.e. About twice French rates). Although the main campsite for Cortina in the Dolomites (A couple of miles north of town) was really great value.

Just done the 4-passes for the first time today (6 hrs riding-time for me), the bridleway from the Honister quarries down Warnscale Beck to Gatesgarth was a real peach – techtastic 😀

Rather worryingly, there’s a car plated J1 HAD in this manor – with the Largest Mosque in Western Europe just around the corner… 😯

Snowdon (Llanberis-Rangers-Telegraph)
Cadair Idris
CyB for 2 days
…works for me, enjoy the area.

Welcome to the world of Studio Ghibli, it’s ace… Porco Rosso is cracking – has real comedic element to it at times.

this should do…
then find a local dealer that does finance

+1 for The Magic Cottage, read it a couple of times over the years – unusual for me so something of a testament… RIP Sir.

A week in the golden triangle for me. Heading to Chiang Mai in April for a spot of credit card touring. Can’t wait!

…did that a few years ago for a week on a rented xr250 from Chiang Mai, then did the Mae Hong Son loop and many of the track it encircles – awesome fun!
Touring-wise looking to do a week Hut-to-Hut based from Garmisch, mid-summer’ish.