There are some days that I’m dead chuffed to live over 1000ft above sea level and about as far from the sea as it’s possible to get.

@Jamie – how long has Caitlin Moran been a superhero?

The Peak District National Park, all pics taken during rides from home.

Good idea re buying a job lot second hand – find someone that has done lots with kids etc then moved on rather than someone who has been once and didn’t like it, it could have been the crap gear they had bought.
Also I’d go for warmer bags than you think you’ll need – we used 5 season bags, you unzip to vent but if you get cold that’s game over.
Also avoid airbeds, we used cheap karrimats in layers with blankets, a bit firm but warm and toasty

Initially I’d take as much stuff (bags, duvet, warm clothes) as you can shoehorn into the car – nothing is fun if you are cold and wet.
Lots of lights and head torches.
We used a double ring and grill for years, latterly with one of those nifty kitchen things (saves your back).
A cheap folding table and chair combo that folds into a sort of suitcase was ideal for years until it broke but it allowed us to put a parasol up in the centre and was cheap and convenient.

Started in a 69 VW Beetle via Pug 407 mahoosive estate and now have a VW T3 camper – would not choose to go back under canvas if at all possible unless bikepacking.

Owen Paterson displaying his true colours.

I do – will have 3 SS bikes shortly – the Corratec Team Bow rigid SS, the hackbike for commuting to the office and rebuilding the Giant FS SS. 😀

Whassup? Insufficient pie in the build for you?

Brilliant, that’s tonight sorted.

MrsCat has had a 4×4 for about 3 years, it’s a great little car but unless you need 4×4 (she did for her old job) it can be a bit tiresome on long drives as the engine does rev out.

@Tiger6791 – loving that one. 😀

gwaelod – Member

Every time someone puts mudguards on a Girvin vector fork a little baby bunny dies

I know. I used their tortured souls, twisted together, to make the tie wraps that keep it on.

@stilltortoise – they were not on it last night!! 😀
In fact neither were the mudguards, they went on as a direct result of riding home last night – I may as well have just jumped in the river!
The chain will be tensioned before it’s ridden in anger.
The stem means I can sit up a bit and watch for Hora at roundabouts.

@querty – mostly water!

@Podge – I have another pair 😀

@Bob – ay thankyou!

@Flashy – he was sent by God to test your faith.

@bencooper – you lucky, lucky, bastard!
This morning’s question from my 16yr old was on differential calculus, I suggested he pop into the chapel down the lane and pray for guidance.

Blimey, you lot are so cynical in the face of all that evidence.
Quite clearly this:

Is just ET’s pals version of this:

It’s intergalactic tagging innit! 😀

No chance of flooding here but I was blown across the top of the Peaks from Cressbrook back to Bradwell in no time on the bike, soaked to the skin in seconds but a bit of a larf.
Hope everyone by the coast is ok, looks like a rough few days coming up.

Did exactly as Mav12 said, but left the spacers on and clamped the stem to them, there is a small compression space to allow them to grip the quill, all quite clever.
Been for a quick blat down a few descents locally and it feels fine, headset may be in need of replacement so a low stack option is on the cards.
Thanks for all the info and advice, much appreciated.

This one’s the one for me!

Cool – I have a stem extender sitting on the shelf from ages ago.
Will also check out Windwave – guessing anyone with a press could do this?
Cheers again all.

Is it the fact it is a quill rather than Aheadset type stem?
If so I have ridden for years with a quill set up and over some big stuff in the Lakes and Wales without mishap. We also did it with centre pull brakes.
If there is another reason then it would be great to know what.

The steerer just reaches the top of the top head set bearing shell, looks like someone was a bit overly quick with a hacksaw so not sufficient to use low stack kit.
So looks like the quill extension is the best option – fortunately it’s a steel steerer tube.
Thanks for the speedy replies.
Off to the LBS we go!

Stoner – Member
Im keeping schtum.

Just read the thread, justified silence IMO. 😉

Kenneth Williams

Missed that one! 😳
But Homity Pie was the catalyst for tonight’s debate.

@eskay – here ya go:

Serves 4
Short crust pastry for the base and top (make your own or use a ready made pack)

1 onion sliced
500g of button mushrooms
2 tbsp oil
1 tbsp tomato puree
1 tbsp dark soy sauce
1 tbsp green peppercorns in brine (drained)
250ml veg stock
200h Stilton

Gently fry onions until soft, add the button mushrooms, cook until soft
Add puree and cook for 5 mins
Add soy sauce, peppercorns and stock – cook until liquid reduced by 50%
Put into pie disc lined with pastry
Crumble Stilton evenly on the top
Put lid on pie and seal around the edges
Prick breathing holes in lid
Brush with milk
Put in a pre heated oven at 200deg for 20 mins
job jobbed.
😀

Ride postponed until tomorrow, wind trying to blow the back door in!!
Patio furniture AWOL and there’s a river running down the lane.
Time to head for the garage and rebuild the SS Full Susser.

Bike Bivvy at least once a month.

@takisawa2 – Mam Tor in the Peak(s) and it was a bit blowy and wet but there were about 30 of us up there at midnight.

Happy New One, we made it to the top for midnight!

Have a good one Chris – we had quiet ones & really got into the Hootenanny until the youngest was able to stay up long enough to climb a hill for midnight (about 8 IIRC).

Hope you had a great first Christmas with the MiniPook.

Hell yes, need as much riding time before surgery so the recovery period will be faster.

Heavy rain and 40mph winds could make it interesting though. 😯

Meadowhall was calm but full of young women who all seemed to have been given terracotta foundation and a thick black marker pen for Christmas, I was envious of the stils they had been given!

Sad loss, very funny man.

Wish I was, currently trapped in Meadowhell!

Two we’ll deserved rewards:

http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/health-25549054

@morecashthandash- I am currently sitting in a cafe that is in The Peak District but not the PDNP, in Buxton.
The national park boundary was drawn up very carefully Buxton is surrounded but not in!

Grew up in one, my folks built it after the war and materials were rationed so it ever went beyond one floor.
Always was a freezing house but that’s because it had crap heating, one they put gas central heating in it became the warmest house I’ve ever been inside. Useful now they are 80+ no stairs, warm and easy to maintain.

Love the idea of going upstairs to bed in our house, just seems right.

Seeing in the new year on top of Mam Tor