If you are down south OP Andy at http://www.revampavan.co.uk in Christchurch does a good job on all van conversions, specialises in normal VW T5/T6 stuff but has done bespoke stuff for us inc. for taking bikes. Takes ages as they are so busy there but good work done.

We got it for our business for local deliveries/collections, it’s not going to break any land speed records but runs really well, you can just about see the traffic jam behind you in the little mirrors too. Not the usual Citroen HY.

Thanks all, looks like Millers one is worth a go, it’s an Estafette joshvegas:[

Joy Division at the Rainbow in 1980, was meant to go, my schoolmates did, can’t remember why I didn’t probably being a swat revising. They supported the Stranglers but Hugh Cornwall was in prison so various people stepped in to cover like The Cure, Ian Dury, Wilko Johnson. Ian Curtis died the following month so no chance then…
Velvet Underground in the 60’s would have been great to see, luckily they reformed briefly in about 93 and got to go, would love to re-live that again.
Missed the Stooges when the Ashtons were about at Glastonbury a few years back, saw it on telly but would have loved to have gone.

All 90’s Technics A class separates inc. 1210 turntable (never gone wrong, still sounds good, touch wood) with newer Dali bookshelf speakers & one of those cheap Esinkin bluetooth adaptors, does the job

Very sad, did some great stuff, was at school with him. Remember him getting suspended for dying his hair.

Was out that way last Saturday in great weather, was pretty gloopy in a few low lying places, up on higher ground it was okay. After Sunday and some more rain this week I suspect it might be a bit worse sadly. NF ‘official’ gravel tracks no problem though.

2 at the moment:

Bit of stealth sorry, have/had this lovely Ritchey P29er, bit small for us at 17″ so swapped parts onto a bigger frame, so this frame is in classifieds now, open to reasonable offers as need gone to help pay for new one…..

Yes seems a lot of pratting about in hindsight, managed to get a 15mm thru axle front wheel wheel off a mate and bit the bullet for £27 to get the right big axle skewer thing for it (thanks for the link!). Cheers

Yes that’s it BearBack something like that to go from 15mm hole down to 9mm.
Not that jimmy748 as this needs a thru axle wheel already, but thanks for linking

100mm inner width

Will do fadda when it materialises..

Thanks mboy, have a spare seatpost no problem, the fork steerer is long on this Ritchey with loads of spacers but yes I’d better check Titus measurement first..

I had the 2.5 version a few years back and had re-mapped, went really well but the exhaust manifold rotted and studs rotted off, so it stank of fumes in the cab, PITA to get to it and fix. Later 2.0 one much better.

A tall friend has a Specialized Sirrus in XXL and converted to drop bar, that’s ally with carbon forks, and massive, cheers

Some stuff here we listen to in our workshop when Shaun Keaveney comes on 6 music after 2pm. On Spotify about 400+ wide ranging songs played randomly, some old stuff but newer ones too from listening to bands at various gigs/festivals we go to each year. Ignore the fact it’s all Lou Reed/VU stuff on the beginning of the link, there’s lots there & stuff added regularly:

Thinking of getting one of these frames to build up, at 175cm tall as usual I seem to between sizes medium and large, better to size up or down on one of these? A different frame but had a PEX London Road a while back in medium and it felt a bit too small even when altering saddle layback, stem etc. Erring for large size – any advice? Cheers

OP, similar age and similar position a couple of years ago, got a new Kinesis Crosslight Pro6 frameset in a sale and built using some new and existing used stuff, all in under a grand. Have used this bike now more than my old rigid mtb and road bike – it really is a good all-rounder, fast and comfy enough on road and able to cope well on the gravel tracks where we are. Gearing I used was 50/34 chainset and 11-34 cassette. It weighs just under 9kg. Love it, go for it if you can.

Our kids got one of these from Aldi for their car, has the windscreen aerial but all works fine around our way, bluetooth too:
https://www.aldi.co.uk/dab%2B-%26-fm-receiver/p/098154267771500

On that budget – Toyota Hiace van, minibus/disabled version with removable rear seats on Unwin tracking. More are diesel but a 2.7 petrol version does exist. Not regarded as cool (no VW scene tax) so therefore cheap – plenty of flexible space, easy to drive, reliable, fits in normal car park spaces and under 2m height barriers.

Old corollas are great but not at that price. We’ve had several over the years as reliable uncool workhorses used by all the family, no rust issues, total reliability. Last one was a £200 n reg 1.3 which would have kept until one son wrote it off, current one is 52 reg 1.4 bought 2 years ago for £500, 58k miles, just keeps going and passes mot no problem with no work. Daughter has just got an old Yaris too, fingers crossed it’s as reliable.

How about one of these plastic efforts for recreating at home those fun summer nights drinking warm 6% Scruttocks Old Dirigible at certain events, then spending the next day sat on a loo regretting it?

2 choices here:

Thanks, yes I kind of know it’s a really inefficient space for 3 as most is used for storage. We do need to make it more compartmentalised for the actual working zone areas somehow and just heating that.

My commuter dates from 1949, do I win?

Got some off ebay for £30 the pair, inner DA one fine, but had to file the outer Ultegra ring near one bolt hole down a bit as the Dura ace cranks are fatter/wider just in one place. Test rode it this afternoon, all’s fine now, thanks for help.

My mate had a green shitette when we were at school, used to drive like a nutter in it as 17 year olds did, eventually crashed it into the back of a massive (stationary) lorry on a slip road, that was that. Got a Hillman Hunter GLS after that.

Will pass but thanks for offer, cheers

Thanks for info, watching some on eBay now, how much are yours dc2.0?

That’s a long way in one day OP. New Forest, I live here, but it’s a bit disjointed in terms of linking up tracks without the need to go on sometimes busy roads. Try the people at https://www.newforce.org.uk who probably have suggestions, some post on here too.

Thanks for tips, looking forward to it, although weather says crap, cheers

Ooh I love Africa Twins, would love to have a new one now, just for old times here’s mine I got in the early 90’s:

and the pre-cursor I had from the mid-80’s, an XLV750R shaft drive air cooled twin:

Went all over the place on them for years, so reliable. Sorry I don’t know much about KTM’s but I like the look of them

Thanks for the leads, I like the look of those ladders too & Stihl stuff – have a Stihl chainsaw already which is great. Pretty expensive though the electric ones once you add batteries and charger. There’s a stihl dealer in a nearby town, looks like a trip there needed.

Got one of these Technics all in one things recently, amazing sound, doesn’t distort when cranked up, and does everything you ask, check it out OP: https://www.richersounds.com/technics-sc-c70eb-ottava-forte.html

Sorted, got it ordered now, turns out it is readily available as an FSA no.11n for 49mm head tubes and standard 1 1/8″ forks. People at Cannondalespares really helpful and quick to reply.

Thanks montgomery (and others), I’ll double check with that place first, looks right though

Update: picked it up last night, it seems a well designed small van. Fridge is 3 way for battery, mains hook up & gas. Lights are just 3 small interior ones which look like small strip bathroom types, haven’t looked at bulbs yet. The leisure battery I think is knackered, the previous owner said he never used it as always on hook up. I put a meter on and showing 9v, I have put it on charge now but if he hadn’t used it at all in years I suspect it’s dud and won’t take or hold a charge so will have to get another. I looked up the price of the Lithium ones, bloody hell..I guess will need to stick to a conventional lead acid one at 1/10 the cost. I think with a new battery (if present one is kaput) and a top up 100w solar panel I think we’ll be fine as usage won’t be OTT. Thanks for advice so far.

Thanks for the tips and advice, picking up tomorrow so will check out exact spec for lights and type of fridge. Depending what the score is we will obviously fully charge it from home before any trip and then maybe get a 100w panel as a top up. Thanks again.