Yes I have opted for it. It’s currently being built up at the moment. Managed to get the last 19″ 2012 one that Merlin had. 2013 bike is heavier!

Should have it soon and I will report back after my first ride.

@RustySpanner and @hebdenbiker – I would have prefered to have gone down ‘The Chin’ on my arse, rather than my.. chin 😀

Just sent off for my c2w certificate. Subject to it being agreed and my getting a bike. I’m in too!

I wonder if the lamp unit is compatible with my magicshine battery.

I’ve not had any issues with that, and might be worth paying to get and run with the other battery.

I still think the best MTB film is Life Cycles. Love the cinematography

There’s Coppybridge in Rochdale. http://www.coppybridge.com/ which is run by a STWer’s partner…

Welcome to Saddleworth, from a native living in exile!

There’s the Diggle Jiggle (http://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/penninebridleway/downloads.asp?PageId=89) you’d be able to get there along the Canal, or for fun you can climb up behind Saddleworth Church and cut across towards Diggle.

As Dave said above, there’s plenty nearby or just go out and explore.

I’m on holiday for most of it, so won’t be watching. I might record the XC events and the Road racing. Other than that, nope.

I had a look at the Arnova a couple of weeks ago and found the screen really laggy due to it being resistive.

Ended up getting a Dual Core HD Capacitive 7″ Novo7 Elf2 tablet for £99 inc delivery. I’m very happy iwth it..

I use my net diary

It also has an app for iPhone/Android and is easy to use.

just gone with insurefor (https://quote.insurefor.com/Commerce/Quote/Index)

£51 annual, family, multi-trip European.

I’ve just got an Octavia Estate and it has a huge boot. I’ve removed the 2nd boot floor to give even more space.

All the items that normally fill the boot and the between kids/footwell in my old Vectra fitted in the boot and there was still space to spare.

It’s the 1.6 Elegance and I got 59mpg average driving to Cornwall and back with 2xAdults, 2xKids, 1xKids bike, 1 Vango Tigris 600 tent and all the bedding/assorted paraphernalia that goes with it.

It’s cost me £13000 for a 60 plate with 20,000 on the clock, but –

My insurance has dropped by £30 per month

VED is £30 per year

£65 to fill up with fuel every fortnight;350 miles per week, instead of £85 every 10 days (getting close to half the cost)

I tried Talktalk for 5 weeks a couple of years ago. The promised 4Mbit connection was actually 125Kbits. Support were useless.

I’ve just switched back to Plusnet after a stint with Sky. Connection speed is already 50% faster for the same price and in a couple of months fibre should be available for an extra £10 per month.

They’re owned by BT, but independent.

@spooky, some of the retailers ‘add’ the GPU clock speed to the CPU clock speed to show a combined 1.6Ghz (GPU is running at 400Mhz)

My brother has the Ployer Momo9 and is really impressed. I’ll be ordering 2 when my topcashback money arrives to replace the in-car DVD players.

These headrest mounts are compatible (checked)

I run Deore with Superstar sintered pads and they work really well. I’ve stuck with the 160/160 configuration as I don’t ride far/fast enough to warrant a larger disk.

Definitely better than Hayes So1es and Hope C2’s!

can I suggest a SKI LIFT from Lane Head to Top of Leach? 😆

Seriously, though… It would be great if a loop that incorporated Cowm reservoir. Such as something along these lines –

http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=5490587

It is good. Alcatraz is worth a watch on, erm, Watch. 🙂

I think Mondeo with a rear mounted rack for the bikes is the best option.

Liked the look of the Merc, but the fuel economy isn’t good enough for the 70 mile a day commute I do.

Cheers guys, that’s helped with the decision making process!

hmmm, i’d not thought of an e-class… Might check one out.

Tbh I think the summer holiday will involve going to a site with the tent provided, so that will save space.

Cheers for your input folks.

would I be asking too much to be able to want to be able to see traffic through the rear mirror! 😀

Like the tyre foam can idea!!!!

@Crazy-legs, funny you should say Vectra – This one is a Hatchback, not estate..

I do have a roofbox, but it would be nice to fit the bikes in the boot too. I got 4 on half the roof 🙂 (btw the boot was full of camping gear!)

here’s a curve ball for you –

One of the Orange G-Series bikes. Alu frame but similar geometry to a P7

I’ve had a G2 for 4-odd years now and it is fantastic. I know a P7 owner who wants to buy the frame off me if I ever sell!

I find it really comfortable, has a 27.2 seatpost so it loses most of the harshness you get with a lot of the Alu framed bikes.

Sunset have a 2011 G3 for £699 http://www.sunsetmtb.co.uk/shop/index.php?product_id=1618&category_id=143

Plywood is the thing to use. It’s got enough flex and it is strong enough to withstand the odd ‘dink’

It’s a risk, but sometimes we need take them

Good luck!

I’ve got Flash on my iPhone

Flash will be dead on the web in the next year anyway. HTML5 will see to that.

Damn.. you beat me to it…

It is very wet and muddy up there today.

Just to give you an idea of what is possible with wordpress look at – http://fyldecoastymca.org/

My first introduction to FNM was ‘Epic’ at the Poly Rock Nights. Still a fave song of mine all these years later.

+1 on Mike Patton being a good vocalist.

I also really like Falling to Pieces and Surprise You’re Dead.

@rdl-82 there’s a good chance of mud, pain, blood, broken bones..

It’s a great fantastic superb event.. I’ll be at the back somewhere or in a heap..

I like fixed rate as it’s easier to budget for. I have a spreadsheet with my next 3 years expenditure on it!

I compared against a 2 year fixed with booking fee and this still works out cheaper by the tune of £250 over the 2 years. I’ve not looked at a discounted.

We already have a fair amount of disposable income (1 salary worth) so we can handle a doubling of a mortgage if necessary.

Interesting, the HSBC quote looks quite good.

If I was to reduce my term to 20 years from 23 and borrow an extra £25K to do up the kitchen, my repayments will go from £790 to £844 (2 year fixed, without booking charge)

That seems a pretty good deal!

Unfortunately, my ability is way behind my will to ride. I tend to fall off way too often and break bits of me or the bike.

I shouldn’t be let loose on a bike.

But…

This year I have ridden a fraction of the mileage I rode last year and I have put on loads of weight.

I’ll never win races, but it does keep me fit when I ride.

My daughter came off her bike a while ago doing around 25mph (on the run down from Rooley Moor). She went straight over the handlebars after a pothole induce tailslapper pitched her over.

The helmet took the brunt, but she still ended up with cuts and bruises to her legs, arms, shoulders, stomach and a tiny graze on the tip of her nose.

I’d hate to think what would have happened if she hadn’t been wearing a helmet.

BTW it was a cheap halfords one, nowt special, but it did exactly as designed.

Glad he’s back on his bike!

2013??

rats. I was hoping for a summer one.

No summer one? 🙁

My brother in law gets an £5K P/A ‘interest free’ loan from his employer towards a car. He then adds an extra £150 of his own earnings to get a top of the range A4. I don’t see the logic in that personally.

I got £425 per month with my old job as an allowance. But after tax an NI it’s more like £255.

My *cough* Vectra costs me £217 per month and will be the HP will finish in 6 months time, just in time for the end of my new job’s probationary period and my new car allowance.

I’ll try and keep it for another 6-12 months and will pay cash for the next one. Living off one salary does make you re-evaluate the value of money and outgoings.

Looking at my new contract, it appears the company will pay for my insurance too, which will save me £600 annually.