This place is free – to residents…

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you know it makes sense

Always fancied the outgoing VFR800 – but they haven't done the bright red for years!!!

New one looks a bit strange in photies, haven't seen what it is like in the flesh. If I had the spare cash for m/c shopping at the mo I'd probably be trying a F800GS

Or their more recent XC / Race Bikes…

… and the winner is the Scott Spark (IIRC)
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Ohh – but we didn't bother comparing against our reigning Bike of the Year, the Giant Anthem X

I do find it really exasperating when politicians, the media and internet pundits start to lay the current financial situation and UK debt at Gordon Brown's door.

Sure, he was PM during the Global financial crisis, but by all accounts (International, presumably independent opinion) he hasn't done too bad a job at juggling all the piles of shit and keeping them in the air. Hopefully all thoses piles of crap will fall back to earth one at a time, rather than as one big dollop.

What were the alternatives – let the banks go to the wall and see the country descend into financial anarchy?? The current levels of debt are pretty much equivalent to the bank bailout costs – a pretty exceptional set of circumsatnces for any Govt. Even Bush was forced to do the same in the US, FFS

Is the arsenic a real problem?

I've done a lot of work (professionally) in the Carnon valley, and the "mars" site particularly over the last 20 years. The arsenic concentrations are upto 100 times higher than the level regarded as safe for gardens… I can understand the cynical attitudes that I have encountered from mtbers on the site, but (as an active mtber) trust me on this one, the risks are real – particularly if you are low bodyweight, visit the site frequently, and get skin / mouth / nose exposed to mud and / or dust.

Watch out for the arsenic

For those making these sort of comments…

We live on an island that has a marine climate

Forecasting is never going to be accurate, it often gets close & often gets it wrong

You are both right and wrong. Some weather scenarios are clearly difficult to predict – where snow will fall instead of sleet / rain or localised event like showers / thunderstormss…

BUT – Our maritime climate should lend itself to accurate forecasting of the main frontal systems that develop in the Atlantic and come in on the prevailing south westerly winds. For the example of last w/e, the whole w/e was supposed to be a washout – luckily only Saturday am was as bad as forecast.

FWIW, the issue is not necessarily the accuracy of the forecasts, it is the accuracy of the forecasts given the level investment put into the Met office over the last 10 years, and perceived lack of improvement in forecasting.

Forecasting was way off last w/e, and has been pretty hit and miss this week (for S Wales)

rkk01- where does it say they are excluded?

OK, I mis-read their conditions – "if travelling with boots only…" ie no skis.

But then again, I can't see anything in theirs Ts & Cs that states boots are included if you pay for carriage of skis.

rkk01- if you pay for skis, that covers you for ski bag and a boot bag.

Doesn't look like it – ski boots are specifically excluded from sports equipment! and have to be checked in separately as ordinary hold baggage!

Slightly OT, but does anyone know whether EJ are the same on skis / ski bags??

Taking a late trip to Italy next week and have booked in one hold bag and two ski bags for me and mrs rkk01. Seeing as our boots have to go in the main hold bag, we were planning on adding stuff to the ski bags up to the 20kg skis limit….

let's just get one thing straight: There is no 'American psyche'. America is more culturally more diverse than just about any country on earth.

But, it seems to be the ethos (and those that subscribe to it)espoused by theyEye that comes to the top of the pack – unbridled market economics

Whoah there.. let's just get one thing straight: There is no 'American psyche'. America is more culturally more diverse than just about any country on earth. So whilst there are plenty of people with these right wing attitudes, there are also a great many decent compassionate altruistic folk too. And just about every point in between.

You really cannot generalise at all. It'd be like comparing Scandinavians with say Serbs. Totally different world.

I'm very well aware of that – hence the "shamefully generalised" caveat in my opening line.

And I am also aware that political opinion is heavily polarised, with the balance between the religious right / various Republican flavours and Democrat / more "liberal" outlook varying either side, but close to the 50:50 amrk.

Michael Moore's "Stupid White Men" give a good (although biased to his own perception) expose of the first Bush election "win" and how finally balanced but politically bitterly divided the voting population was…

Unfortunately though, a Nation's external "image" can be fixed around particularly vocal, influential or high profile groups. (It always depresses / frustrates me how "generalised" US views of the UK seem to centre on a "4 weddings" type stereotype.

MrMichaelwright was also right in saying Brechfa…

… swoopy, whoopy, flowing singletrack, through the trees, focused, fast, pedally – in and out of the light, slalom tree-line skiing, flick left flick right, narrow, fluid, rhythm and no blues, heart pounding roller coaster, hollering, no breath grin fest.

Forget the drops, rock steps, trail armour and all that – make it like it said on the back of the old "Dictionary" Singletrack T- Shirt.

Very much like Brechfa, Penhydd, the original Karrimor….

And why don't they RE-RELEASE That Shirt – Start the Appeal HERE

What an eye opener – or rather a rather depressing confirmation of my own shamefully generalised opinion of the American psyche.

Utterly shocking, what a depraved society you come from.

For many years I have been utterly confused by our so called "special relationship" touted by politicians and the media – yet the same pathetic media (and elements across the UK political spectrum) take delight in lambasting and lampooning our european neighbours.

Well I feel that we have far more in common, especially in terms of cultural and humanitarian values, with Europe than we do with the US.

Bit af a silly question really, as others have said, it's often an involuntary response.

I've found myself to be more emotional as I've got older – kids, tiredness, stress, less bothered about being buttoned up….

… and sometimes at the strangest of things, much to the amusement of my wife!!

Memories triggered by scent and sound being particularly powerful.

And for anger and joy as well as for sorrow.

So you have the barefaced cheek to bang on about empathy, when you come otu with lines like that?! You need a dictionary I think, or to seriously expand your understanding of human beings. Or both.

It's ok – he's just explained himself….

…

this is coming from an American whose belief in the market is unshakeable

'nuff said

No.

We used a Burley bee for a few years, and the kids were always helmetted.

The Bee had a roll hoop, but we had two of them on board at the same time – and clashes of helmets are better than clashes of heads.

The Treffry Viaduct in Cornwall

http://cornwallheritagetrust.org/downloads/schools/sectionone.pdf%5D

Lots of "generic" Victorian railway viaductsmentioned in the thread – but this one pre-dates steam powered railways…

On top was a granite slab deck carrying a horse powered tramway – with an aqueduct beneath carrying a leat to drive a water wheel for a rope powered incline…

Dambusters, 633 Squadron, Dr Zhivago….

Hope no-one says Titanic!!!!!!

Got turfed off that by the MoD Police when we were kids – out fishing and decided to have a look at the western light (pictured)

Managed to find a piccie of the Great County Adit in Cornwall (from my post above)

Doesn't look much at surface – but it's effectively the biggest river in that part of Cornwall!

Barmouth Bridge is impressive… but well known.

One of the most impressive, and little known structures that I have come across is the County Adit / Great County Adit in Cornwall. A network of tunnels excavated in the 1700s to drain a large part of the mining area between Redruth and Truro – a massive feat of engineering, all driven to a grade to ensure gravity drainage, and still working today – albeit some collapse have rendered some branches inaccessible and less effective in draining workings….

Amazingly, I can't find any representative photos on the net!

I thought it was at least 50% of the bikes mileage – not the same as 50% of your commutes….

I got a good spec mtb on the scheme in October. Really pleased with it. Bending the rules? Well over 80% of the miles clocked up so far have been commuting to work, so it squares away for me.

For all those going on about the rules and tax fraud etc – yes it is a fairly small scale tax benefit. For those of us on PAYE – which I believe you have to be to qualify, there are precious few tax concessions. From what I've seen over my working career, the self employed and company owners / directors get away with claiming a wide range of things against tax.

It's important to remember that the insurance companies aren't charities and they should be perfectly entitled to decline coverage in certain circumstances. In those situations there should be another mechanism in place to provide coverage for those people.

It's unreasonable to expect an insurance company to take on a known risk when the expected claims cost for that risk will far exceed the premiums collected.

For example, if you phoned up for house insurance today and were quoted £500, then you told the insurance company your house was going to be burnt down tomorrow and you'd be claiming a a couple of hundred thousand pounds from them, would you still expect to get coverage from them for £500?

It's the same with medical insurance. If you approach an insurer for a quote you can't expect to pay a few thousand dollars in premium in exchange for the insurance company paying for hundreds of thousands of dollars in claims for you that you know you'll incur.

If you are currently insured and you fall seriously ill or develop a chronic condition then your insurer needs to take that on the chin but for new entrants or those that left their insurer, they can't expect a private company to pick up their claims.

A perfect explanation of why it cannot work

It signals American aspirations to become a civilised society

One of my mates instructs in Kenpo – might be worth investigating

21 SAS – Otherwise known as the "Artists Rifles"

=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/21_Regiment_Special_Air_Service_(Artists)]

… with a reputation for attracting the "great and the good"

Hmmm, similar to a thread a while back about Ranulph Fiennes.

Personally I am always disappointed to find out that these people are "someone" – ie as great as their personal achievements have been, they need to be viewed through the lens of easy (easier??) entry into the "club"…. and yes, if that's being "chippy" then so be it – it happens to reflect reality, sadly.

As a 19 year old I was lucky enough to go on a mountaineering expedition. I raised the money through sponsorship, donations and hard work (mainly farm labouring). I was massively inspired by that expedition, but have never really had the funds / time to follow up and do more.

Most of us will have the capability to achieve great feats of endurance and survival – either individually, or in my experience more likely through team work and camaraderie – BUT, most do not have the OPPORTUNITY.

Spaniels are ace.

We have a cocker at the moment and she is gorgeous. Excellent temperment with the kids, intelligent, trainable (but must be trtained).

Not likely to fully fill the gaurd dog requirements, but she will bark like mad at any stranger that turns up at the house – until reassured by us that the visitor is ok.

Always wanted a springer, but would be a bit too large and energetic for our current lifestyle. Boxers are great but they slobber everywhere. Uncle always had labs or retrievers – lab much more even tempered than a retriever. Setters are more loony than spaniels. GSDs great but you need to pick and train carefully. Wonderful dog if you get a good one.

I've got an X3 and am really pleased with it. Quick uphill and downhill.

The bike "disappears" beneath you, ie becomes unnoticeable. Handling is xc racer style – ie on the twitchy side, but fun and energetic. Can be steered with your butt – ie weight transfer with @rse, elbows, shoulders etc will roll it into a turn without much / any conscious input at the bars.

I've got no problem with the sizing. I'm 6'3" and running a large (20"). Feels short compared to my HT – but that is a 21" old skool race HT.

Particularly chuffed with the spec and value of the X3. I've done about 500 miles and everything is bedding in nicely. Swapped tyres out for something a bit more seasonal – will save the Michelins for summer

What a bunch of moaning old to$$ers. You want to try the great swathes of UK land dedicated to farming, owned by the landed and firmly surrounded by keep off signs…

As much as you can do to stitch together a few country lanes, BWs and cheeky footpaths across very large parts of the countryside.

FWIW – Anyone who thinks The Gap is boring needs to have their mtb confiscated and reallocated to a more deserving owner. The long Gap climb (pictured) might not rate highly on fun, but the route needs to be judged as a whole. It is a classic UK ride by any standards.

I've only ridden the Marin once, but thoroughly enjoyed it. Stunning views and the feel of being in the mountains. Some very entertaining sections. I suspect it is a bit like the Penhydd trail – you need to vary the pace to suit each section and your mood.

nope – didn't work….

Max Headset – Thanks, that response sits very well with my own understanding. As you say (and I alluded), often it is walkers who complain about other users, and not the landowner or their agent.

Many of the trails where I ride are footpaths, and I accept I have no protected legal right to ride them. That said, I have previously asked at least one of the local landowners and he has been unconcerned about mtb use – mainly because the trails are old mountain / forest roads and the official designation doesn't really match with the use made by the local community (especially horse riders). If asked to leave by a landowner I would.

Senna's death was the worse thing to happen to it, because the new safety measures stopped any overtaking maneuvers almost overnight. From a selfish point of view, if you take out the risk, you take out the fun.

For me, technological advances, and to a certain extent health and safety, have killed most motor sport.

F1 – enough said!!! Crap.

Rallying – Only a couple of manufacturers interested, no night stages, short rallies (remember when it was the RAC Rally over 5 days and nights). And it's not Rally GB it's rally wales.

Touring Cars – They do their best with weight penalties, but when they started using space frame chasis and a body that looked a bit like the car it was supposed to was the death of it for me.

MotoGP – Even my beloved MotoGP gets it wrong. Traction control and start assistance on a bike is just wrong. It might be safer for the rider but does nothing for us poor suckers watching it.

WSB and BSB – Is probably my favotite, but even they started getting it wrong and messing about with what they could do and still call it a 'production' bike.

Isle of Man TT – nothing comes close for excitement (or danger for that matter).

Probably not the most TV friendly motorsport (long course, time trial format and of course, media luvvies don't like condoning rider deaths / serious injury), but that's irrelevant when you are stood at Bungalow / Creg ny Baa / Ballaugh Bridge, or innumerable other places and watching bikes going past at stoooopid speeds.

Now, how do I post video on here???

I have always wondered which is the correct genesis of

REM

I thought the "normal accoutrement" argument (ie pram ok, cycle not) related to the part of the highways act that refers to footways along the side of the highway – ie pavements….

MaxHeadset – I respect your 20 yrs experience as a ROW officer, but have to take isue about the no expectation of bikes or horses on footpaths. Surely that is nonsense. There is simply no public right to use horses or bikes. If I were the landowner, or had his / her permission then there would be no issue of trespass irregardless of what vehicle / manner of transport.

Can I flip my granny ring??

Sounds a bit pervy to me…

Is it legal?

But, it didn't work a whole lot better than the current system that doesn't work.

Especially given the comparatively huge levels of investment that have been thrown at what are essentially privatised monopolies.

it's just odd… we've got a lot in common.

both met our other-half in australia whilst backpacking.

both moved to germany because of our other-half (her's couldn't get a green card).

both used to take lots of drugs before moving to germany where such things aren't so readily available.

er…. that might in fact be all we have in common.

oh, and we were on this course together….

Stalker?