Toyota Hilux for reliability if you are set on one, otherwise a Crew/Kombi van is a lot more practical spacewise for the same outer footprint and less agricultural to drive.

Any mentions of Mango Point AR full 105, that’s under a grand and gets good reviews, not ridden but seen in the flesh. Also like the look of this new Cannondale due next month Caadx 105 SE. http://www.cannondale.com/Great%20Britain/bike/Productdetail?Id=ff1e7d7a-0041-408f-8973-e1bb40ef1373

Ditto, was in Primera LBS yesterday trying out various Cannondale road bikes, same height, 54 felt better overall. 56 okay but would need to shorten stem, lower seat etc, all possible but 54 felt right as it was. Staff there really helpful too with this.

+100 for WCA for the big bike bash and Soton bike park, I know where he got the idea from too!

Not a posh restaurant but the Greenwood Tree Cafe on Lyndhurst High Street just up from the Ferrari garage does nice food all day. Woods bike shop opposite too.

Yes we have a laptop already & ipad etc, so looking for a desktop for home use by all

Had a thread a few months ago about this and revamping a Dawes Galaxy from the 90’s, seem to have deleted most of pics bar this one:

WTB Nano 40’s fitted fine

Dorset/Hampshire border down south, intend keeping it for some time yet so if anyone knows someone good down this way, let us know, cheers

Guess I’d need to find someone reputable nearer home to see if they can go over and do it properly

Dickyboy – I have a new medium one I started getting bits together for to build up but got something else instead – will be putting on classfieds section later on with details, cheers

The bloke in the mankini doing the Xc race, the gravel rash of the bloke who fell off before hitting the lake jump, the awful shouty band who showed very inappropriate videos to a family audience, and probably lots more….always great fun and raises loads for charity too. Looking forward to it again this weekend.

At Shortlake next to Eweleaze flashinthepan, the other side of the prison camp PGL activity centre. Enjoying the composting toilets?

mediums (52cm as measured centre to top), in a shop in New Forest. Tempted to buy both if the discount good and sell on the one I wont use.
Thanks for info Marc Sussex, useful. The ‘blue’ one is probably grey as you said.

Yes that’s what I have read elsewhere, ditch for 10 speed 105’s

Well if anyone doesn’t want their old 650b wheels any more let me know as I am about to look for a set (standard qr) for a build based on one of those charge cross frames, cheers

Each to their own cliche, I was aware of the VW scene tax but did eventually become a sheep and get a T5 Kombi a few years ago following a redundancy payment, and latterly replaced with a T6 version. It’s the only vehicle & used everyday for new work lugging stuff and people & odd trips away. Have kipped in it a few times, it’s okay for 2 for short periods. Just practical really for needs. The T6 was ex-demo with price £10K less than new, still a lot but will sell in 2 years when warranty up (already had a few issues done under that….) and do the same again, get another nearly new ex-demo with balance of warranty as it will sell for probably not a lot different to what it cost originally, going on the last T5 we had & despite adding nearly 30K miles. It’s playing a game I have to admit to have come part of in this silly VW scene. If I hadn’t had the money at the time to buy into it, any van would have done me to be honest, I used to love my old Toyota Hiace’s, not ‘cool’ but cheaper and a lot more reliable than the VW’s that’s for sure.

4 of us going to some festival soon, was going to take the T6 and a tent but then we found the local van hire place near us has these big Peugeot based campers with proper beds and all mod cons for £60 a day. Just seems to make more sense to split the cost & hire something like for one offs like this.

The default lifestyle vehicle around our parts seem to be 4 x 4 Discovery type vehicles or those crew cab Chavara type things. For a vehicle of the same outer footprint they just seem a bit impractical to me compared to a (kombi/crew) van of any make in terms of people and load carrying, and security. But I don’t really care what people drive if it makes them happy, it’s how people drive that seems more important.

Time for an update – ended up getting one of these solar light/power kits: https://www.maplin.co.uk/p/hubi-10k-solar-lighting-and-power-system-n19ek
Bit cheaper in the sale when I got mine, been ideal for what I originally wanted – something to charge and run phone/ipad/bluetooth speaker/lights when away for a few a few days in the van so I don’t drain it’s main starter battery like I did last year. The small lithium battery lasts for ages with the panel topping it up. Seems a good solution for being off-grid and handy as obviously not fixed to this one vehicle.

If going to the gower, Port eynon campsite by the beach is good with kids, plenty of rock pools , sandy beach, walks along the coast, other good beaches nearby. 2 chip shops, tat shop but the ship (t) inn is a bit crap there. If it rains, as it will, trip to Swansea for lc2, mumbles, verdis ice cream place good.

Just did similar but different stuff, (removable) lens with spilt liquid that got on the inside. After seeing replacement lens prices, looked on youtube how to get it apart and clean out. Scalpel, tweezers, mini screwdriver, airgun, cleaning fluid, patience etc and job done in about 15 minutes. As above, you have nothing to lose really.

I use a memory foam filled futon mattress bought off ebay for £60, really comfy, about 12cm thick, cotton cover. It does roll up but might still be a bit bulky for taking in average car, okay for van.

Those Quecha inflatable ones Decathlon have aren’t bad too, I’ve used them, and pretty cheap. Might need 2 XL singles though as can’t remember seeing a double.

I have a box full of vintage front mechs inc. top pull, I’ll see if I can find a 34.9 triple tomorrow and post here if I do, cheers

1981 = paper round £4 a week for 7 days plus a Saturday job in a Jet Petrol station where you served the fuel and checked oil/water etc, £15 a day for this plus tips (made a big difference). This was quite good I thought at the time for still being at school. Did used to feel a bit odd after breathing in petrol fumes all day though.

I like those Pendle ones that slot into a mounting bracket – the ones with 2 long arms, really simple and solid. Easy to take off and store when not in use. I know they do a 3 bike one, might be a longer 4 bike version? They retail just over £100 I think but come up on local gumtree/ebay for around £30 – where I got mine from.

Done too, the new head verderer is a good chap so hopefully will be open to more access suggestions for bike routes, time will tell

Good to hear :D

If in Dorset, use this bloke Martin:
http://www.dorsetmobiletowbars.co.uk/contact.htm
He’s really good and comes to you. £250 all in fitted for a Witter fixed flange one on my Transporter.

Get an old touring bike for peanuts & adapt with WTB nano tyres, sorted. Plenty then left to spend on coke/hookers for 50th.

Carreg Llwyd at Port Eynon, The Gower good for a first trip with little kids – right on beach, good rockpools, tat shop, 2 chip shops etc but just over an hour from Brizzle down M4 and through Swansea etc. The Shit Ship Inn is a bit crap though for grown up time unless it’s improved since I last went.

I like the Pendle ones http://www.pendle-bike.co.uk/shopping/hang-on-tb-rack.php really solid and easy to take arms off and store in boot. Just over budget but come up on local gumtree & ebay searches used often, paid £30 for mine with the mounting bracket. Mines a fixed flange towbar but I think you can get the brackets for swan neck type as well if that’s what you have. The scissor type always had a habit of moving with 2 bikes on in my experience which was a bit disconcerting, much prefer the Pendle one.

Thanks for leads, going to see some later this week & hopefully get out soon if the weather holds. Chucking straight in van would be great hence looking for shorty ones, getting too old/weak/lazy with the faff of trying to load and unload on high roof bars.
Scotsroutes – just wondering why selling, too much hassle with these?

Feel hard still the ones here, didn’t want to risk being put off forever, give it another few weeks as others say.

Ok, will bite the bullet gooseberry and try some tomorrow, and have a spittoon closeby just in case

Thanks, 80kg me but kids will use too who are much lighter obviously. Can’t find the Titan Mix in UK, USA only?

Found these at 2.4m with seem to have good reviews:
https://fatyak-kayaks.co.uk/product/surf/

Thread from when we went a year ago:
http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/a-few-days-in-pembrokeshire-recommendations

£45 item. Yes think I’ll ask ebay directly as may get fees back charged too

What no Kevin Keegan crashing his bike on Superstars in the 1970’s?

Splash out on cheesey chips at the New Forest Inn https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g1646451-d1522923-Reviews-The_New_Forest_Inn-Emery_Down_New_Forest_National_Park_Hampshire_Hampshire_Engla.html
Cycle friendly too (well relatively speaking for this area)

Before we went down the Kombi/camper van route we use to kip in all sorts of cars when going to events/parties etc all year around – as long as you have enough bedding you’ll be fine. My favourite was an old Saab 900 Turbo we use to go to Talybont on Usk in every New Year for the pubs and riding, great car to dive there and 6′ and a bit in the back with seats down when time for the land of nod.

Thanks for all your replies & psycorp will pm