I have a 2002 ex-disabled conversion Hi-Ace swb. Sizewise not dissimilar to a swb T4/5, maybe a bit narrower. They’re few and far between compared to T4/5s but can be picked up cheaper. Well looked after they can be good for 200,000+ and are reasonably cheap to maintain. The big downside compared to VW if you want to build a day van/camper is that there is next to nothing on the market to convert them. For a VW you have so many options, for the Hi-Ace you’ll be hard pushed to find anything.

I’m guessing from “Point 4” that geetee1972 knows the OP too :D

The trick is to start at the front… and stay at the front :wink:

Wentwood Forest is on your doorstep there. Not waymarked but good woodsy singletrack.
If you’re getting in the car then Cwmcarn as others suggest or Forest of Dean about 30 minutes drive (although roadworks at Monmouth will probably make that an hour+ at the moment).

Yep, I think you’re confusing rich with famous and rich. You don’t really know what the ‘non-famous’ rich are squandering their wad on. I’ve been surprised by the wealth of some ‘ordinary’ people I’ve mixed with without them making it apparent that they are rich and they certainly haven’t been dull. Mind you, I also know a few people who think they are the life and soul of the party who are so far up their own sphincter that they are annoyingly dull 8)

You require 1/20th (5%) of the floor area as opening space since a bedroom is classed as a habitable room. You may also require background/trickle ventilation (usually in window frame). You seem to have means of escape covered.

Not really a solo but Peter Green’s Need Your Love So Bad works for me 8)

… your name is Oedipus?

It doesn’t need to be bike related; how are things other than riding / training? Stress at work, money worries, relationship worries, mid-life crisis; any of these can have a knock-on effect. Be brutally honest with yourself and if everything else is hunky-dory then get and see your gp.

Update on Dowies area. Apparantly there are Goshawks nestng in the area, a rare and protected species. Being protected, I understand it is illegal to knowingly disturb them.

Agree Matt, for a reliability trial there were a lot of mechanicals! 8O
I didn’t want to tempt fate but don’t people check their bikes over or do a bit of maintenance before these events? Could’t believe how many breakages there appeared to be in the first 5 miles.

That’s mattccm btw!

Oh, and the other Matt. There was a right turn just after the ford – one of the ones I managed to call after some riders who had missed it. The ford was certainly cooling around the nether regions 8O

An enjoyable event, nice to have sunshine and dry trails. Did the 100 out and 50 back so about 75 in total. No GXP, just followed the signs and map; did shout after a few riders who missed signs, head down arse up. I don’t go fast enough myself Mark :wink:
Big thanks to organisers, marshals, helpers and whoever bakes the bread pudding and flapjack :D

Chicken and a frog in a library.
“Book, Book, Book”
“Reddit, Reddit”

Why did the chicken cross the road?
I don’t know. Why did he?
To get his old age pension!
I don’t get it.
No? Neither did the chicken, he was too young.

There have been signs at Highmeadow for a while now.
It’s a tricky one, the ‘cheeky’ trails have become more widely used over the last couple or three years and MTBing has become very popular in the FoD.
Of course, the Forestry Commission have promoted the area, primarily the MTB Trails in Sallowvalets plus the Family Trail and links to various towns, and so it is hardly surprising that the area has seen a huge increase in use. I think the FC are now consolidating their position and just reminding people of the (longstanding) Byelaws of where you can and cannot ride.
A blind eye has been turned for a long time – best part of 20 years with regard to Dowies – but some of these areas have been getting a lot of new trails being made with more and more ‘manufactured’ features and more and more regular use. The original Dowies followed the natural lie of the land, the early monduro trails the same, Lawnmower, Dr. Johns, and others had few if any manufactured features. Newer trails have jumps, gaps, etc., being included and the FC are no longer turning a blind eye.
Right or wrong? Who’s to say?

Well, I reckon K57 is in deep poo. From the description I’d say he’s just had a run in with a mason and he reported it to the police! Don’t think we’ll be seing him on here again for a while… 8O

On the other hand, in a Yeti he may have been a ToB official :wink:

There’s always the April Bristol Bike Jumble at MudDock tomorrow (Sat. 5/4) from 12.00 noon – I can’t link to the thread on here but if you search “jumble” you’ll find it easily 8)

My money :?

At about the time I turned 40 there was a lot of publicity about men getting a health check at 40. Off I toddle to my GP (family GP, fully aware of family medical history – father died after stroke, mother died of heart attack) and request a health check which I think in those days would have cost me about £40. He asks “why”, I reply “well, I’m 40 and it’s advised I get checked over”. He says “do you feel unwell?” “No” says I and he says “then why waste your money!”
Nearly twenty years on now and I have been unwell a few times in the interim and have had various samples taken and tests done to determine how to mend me.

I agree with the OP, listen to your body. But, don’t fret about your health to the point of making yourselves ill. If you feel unwell then deal with it, don’t ignore it. Over the years I’ve lost too many friends but I’ve yet to die of the same thing the next day. Just putting it in perspective; great advice from the OP but as Cpl.Jones would have said, “don’t panic…”.

119.77mph

You are right cyclebiker. A few tryhards ride for the win, the rest of us mere mortals stop for beer and stumble to the finish. The title of UK SS Champion is a serious one but part of winning is sharing the course with everyone else that make the event what it is 8)

I’ve currently got a Large on order with the High mount. It’ll primarily be for bikepacking purposes.
I’m working on the basis that the High mount will make access into the bag easier (not tucked under back of saddle), keep it away from my thighs and the 5kg advised weight limit is more than enough for my requirements.
Access into the bag is all or nothing; undo straps and roll open top so for audax use if you’re in and out of your bag regularly they may not be so practical. You can strap a waterproof on the outside though and they appear easy to clip on/off the bike for cafe stops, etc. If I was to use one for audax I’d be looking at the Small or Medium though.
They are lightweight, roomy and, for me, just what I was looking for 8)

Yes, roadkill – usually smell it before you see it :(

Equally, if you’re riding or walking downwind of a group of boar or, sometimes, deer you can pick up the smell before you see them (or they see you!) :-)

I live in a rural area so fox, deer (various), badgers, rodents, raptors, snakes, and so on are familiar sights.
Changes over the last ten years or so?
Boar, dumped from a farm some years ago and now feral, are a regular sight these days. The occasional red kite is now occasionally seen but owls, although still around, seem to be declining. Hedgehogs seem to be much rarer as are dragon flies. Otters are making a comeback though but mink are common. We are lucky to have a few rare birds in the area both resident and migratory.
Most sighting/hearing of various fauna is seasonal and in specific areas so it helps to view/hear if you know when and where. I’ve also noticed that it can be cyclical, numbers increasing and falling every few years; as indeed it seems to be the case for foodstuffs, berries, etc..

So, in answer to your question, yes I have noticed changes, mostly cyclical but there is a lot of wildlife out there if you keep your eyes and ears open 8)

The thing is that most of us on STW are leisure/sport users seeking higher-end products from a range of businesses pandering to the must-have-latest-spec market.
Meanwhile the greater percentage of people riding bicycles in the world are likely to be riding 26″ wheeled bikes, probably rim-braked. Rims, spokes, tubes & tyres in 26″ flavour will be available for years to come. The worldwide market for them is just too large to ignore. It’s only the high-end lightweight bling stuff that will likely fade away, probably in favour of 650.
IMO 8)

These days insurance companies don’t need to ask you about MOT or RFL status, they can check the vehicle online themselves.

I’ve done the Real Ale Wobble at Llanwrtyd Wells on a tandem before now; a sociable mode of transport at a sociable event, albeit not ’til November.

…and whilst we’re on sponsors/prizes – A day’s guided riding in the FoD. I mean, why would anyone want to ride there? Pointless prizes :roll:

I’ve always wondered what happens with Ringo’s other dog…

Is it to be used as a road bike or as an off-road bike? As others above, I’m 6ft and ride a 54 CX bike off road. But, I have another CX bike as a light-tourer which is a 57cm. Both fit me (for the purposes they’re used for).

My understanding was that it is the area around Worcester Lodge where there is some rare bird nesting or something. Mind you, the area around Worcester Lodge has always been a bit ‘delicate’ for MTBers.
Haven’t heard anything about Dowies area though.

It’s an interesting question Molgrips and whilst you have received a number of moral answers no one appears to have given a definitive answer.
From memory (retired surveyor), there are various rules and regulations eg Building Regs ref size of room, Workplace Regulations recommended number of toilets per number of staff, access requirements for those with limited mobility to reach unaided, provisions within the wc (and yes, these do require a hook for a colostomy bag amongst other things), and other regulations and guidelines; probably too many to make them entirely understandable which just adds to the confusion over where and how they should be provided.
As far as I am aware there are no rules regarding their use by other than disbled persons although there are recommendations that this be the case in certain circumstances (and I’m not sure about Public Conveniences in this respect).
So, yes you can use your work disabled access wc facilities unless there are specific instructions by the company that you cannot.
Whether or not you should from a moral point of view has been directed upon with some indignation on this thread but only you can make your decision about the rights and wrongs of that one 8)

Viewing the evolution of man it would appear that the less hirsute you are, the further up the evolutionary scale you are.

Having said that, I am currently cultivating my moustache; so far I have gone through the 70’s porn-star look (which I have to say I did actually sport through the 70s) and am currently at the Gringo phase heading for the Foo Man Chu look, possibly with some small plaits, braids & beads. Man. 8)

I think you answered your own question in the first sentence of your post.

On my commute home tonight I noticed a lot of runners wearing hi viz clothing.

Sorry to read that Matt. Unfortunately, as long as there’s a market for cheap no-questions-asked bikes and bits then bikes will be nicked :(
If they’re still local hopefully they’ll be spotted.

And what’s a DC scheme and DB scheme?

Bigfoot Mountainbike Club.
Cheltenham and County Cycling Club.
Winchcombe Cycle Club.
Ashton MTB Club (bit further north by Bredon Hill).
You mention “trails” so Bigfoot is probably your best bet.
There may be others and the ‘nam posse will be along to advise :-)

No wonder they didn’t recognise her with that wig and false moustache :roll:

Or your security settings won’t allow insufferable music…

Truly is a genius story though in the OP :D

As has been mentioned earlier, it was six days before any wreckage was found of the Air France plane and two years before the Black Box was found so it’s still early days yet.
Latest news reports are suggesting searches being carried out in areas totally off the flight path though which suggests more is known than is being said…

Freehub – it can cause the top run of chain to go slack when you freewheel which may be enough for the chain to drop off the top of the chainring when you back-pedal.

Wow 8O

Fair do’s to them!