Definetely go for it. If you want to get a taste for it, just go to a few club gate nights rather than racing straight away.

Popping along to a track at weekends when no club events are on, you could find yourself with a few teenagers giving it the old 'what can you jump then mate' and 'what's it worth then' silly questions.

Got a bike yet? Must get mine out the shed, problem being Bournemouths gate night is the same night as Purbecks group rides, and something's gotta give. p.s. i don't feel silly on mine at 39.

'80s thrash metal, shouty hardcore, and pretty much anything that's being sung like they mean it.

I'll bring the Alpinestars along as long as i'm not moving house that day.

Dressing the part or dressing the prat?

Great pics Pete. It was a bit darker than that last night. Hows the sun burn?

Any pics ready yet?

C_G and Rich – that klein was upside down with a flat tyre last time i saw it tonight. 30 out tonight for a dark ride, did 16 odd miles around the forest, golf course area and all the way along the ridge.

Should be able to make this ride, house move depending.

I would join in again, but i've got a classroom full of bricklayers to go and teach. Fairy liquid eh! don't think i'd better pass that bit on.

Should be ok for this. Adults only? What you got planned C_G?

Maybe not professional in some peoples opinions, but remember that next time you're handing over £50k to someone you may consider a rank ametuer and letting him pull half your house down to build you an extension. Yes, there are lots of blokes out there doing a crap job and getting themselves on watchdog, but there are also a lot of good 'professional' blokes performing at a level way above 'give it a go yourself'. Admittedly you may have to do a bit of searching for the better firms, but you'd do that when buying a bike a car or a holiday.

Sorry, i'll get off my high horse now. I just get fed up with the continual be-littling? of the trades. And yes, anyone can do a bit of re-pointing, it just depends on the quality of finish you want and how long it'll stay put, and whether you're happy to risk making a mess of your house to save a few quid.

Dorset builder – yes. Know anything about paint – no. Sorry. Maybe try Crown on the Newtown? business park in Poole for trade stuff.

Alternatively you could pay an experienced professional to do it properly (strange idea i know, but there are a few of us about). Do your own dentistry too and fly yourself on holiday, there's nothing to it, this training and experience lark is over-rated.

Is there a whinging, cynical, miserable gits group – if so i'm in. Unless it's cold, wet, windy or on a day ending in a Y (or near xmas – bah humbug).

I've a feeling this could be a big group.

tedious – yes, unskilled – nope. Just remember, you've got to look at it every day, and maybe eventually sell it on. First dibbs on rendering contract if you make a mess of it.

Unbelievably the missus just said 'you can if you want' despite rusty jr no.2 being due in the new year. Bless her.

Any idea when this is likely to happen?

Good photos guys, hope you had as much fun as we did in Dorset. That's a proper sized cake/pie too.

Good shout on the ST track Richard.

Tail lights fade – Buffalo Tom

Thanks for coming everyone, hope you all enjoyed yourselves.

Special thanks to Johnny, Dave and the other locals who helped out with the route and guiding. Sorry we missed you after leaving the pub, one of the Salisbury boys had a flat when we went to leave, so we ended up on the ferry after.

See most of you again soon i'd imagine.

tyre choice doesn't really matter. I've seen all sorts being used here. Not a semi slick though, and a full DH one would be overkill.

Early weather check, is blue sky, not a cloud and minimal wind – so pack the mankini and the suntan lotion

Don't know what the deal is with parking Studland side, never do it.
National trust car park near the loos, don't know if you are allowed to park on the roadside, but plenty do. Better check first, don't want you all to get parking tickets.

Buzz – intending to be on 10.00 ferry, but don't be surprised if it's the one after. Not sure how many will be over Studland side, but if you could all try and bump into each other it might be useful. Maybe wait by the loos opposite shell bay restaurant. That sounds a bit iffy, waiting to meet strangers near a public loo, oh well.

no idea about the warranty of mine. I bought it with the thinking that because it was cheap, if i broke it i could just get another one.

bike clean – no, forgot
correct tyres – only tyres!
bag packed – need to go to Tesco in the morning
excited – dunno, but i need a pooh

Call you later MM, and see you in the morning.

MM, i'll call you after strictly's finished about tomorrow. Couple of roadworks issues down this end to let you know about.

I think there's a bit of work going on down here, but the rates could be a bit low. Most of the lads i know got dropped a couple of quid an hour to keep things ticking over. Most of the blokes i teach are improvers or apprentices, so i'm not really sure what it's like for experienced trowels.

Venturing to the Purbecks tomorrow Captain?

'leaving gatwick at 5.20' blimey! are you going via Glasgow?

See you there Strangelove.

Trouble with Middle Beach cafe is that the Bankes arms is just round the corner.

Oldfart, i'd go fs if i had your bad back, although i'd rather have your hummer if it was for me.

Revised route may well include Square & Compass, depending on how we are all feeling, and time we're making. Looks like there will be too many of us to get in the tea rooms in Corfe, so we'd better pack sarnies and cakes.

UK bike park or whatever its called near Blandford is good for the type of thing you're after. Second the bmx track idea for improving bike control, but do it on a bmx or 24"cruiser, mtbs on bmx tracks just feel wrong.

they were still there last time i looked. Weather looks good, so no snorkel required. Knee pads and water wings, you'll look a treat!
Looks like a reasonable turn out, i think a few locals are coming too.

Panorama Road on the peninsula for me, or one of the other roads off of it – even closer

Spag bol, diet coke and tea, strictly, stw and facebook

If you haven't done the H&S test yet, it's not too bad, just keep the practice book in the bog or something and read it a few times, or get the cd rom and waste a few hours on the practice questions. It's only stuff like fire extinguishers, electricity and plant type questions that most don't know, the rest is pretty much common sense.

What are you looking to get into instead?

Not me. Purbecks stw ride instead.

The firms of the lads we have in tend to have loads of work on, or not a lot at all, a bit all or nothing. Is it grim down your way?

This is kind of my specialist subject (teaching builders), so if you've got any worries or questions i might be able to help.

In the meantime, get one of those other boys from down your way to bring you to the Purbecks on Sunday.

You a definite then Mr Poddy?

More the merrier. Anyone else?

9.30 meet, for 10.00 ferry, dont be late.

I think that cafe will be open, but not sure whether it's a fry-up type cafe or not. Supermarkets will be shut, so that rules them out. Whatever happened to truckers greasy spoons?

mine creaked since new, not so much now it's older. Only problem with mine is that it keeps trying to make a run for freedom, leaving me on the floor in a heap.

johnners – if its the 10.00 ferry it'll be about 10 past, if its the 10.20 it'll be half past (depending where you are parking). We should be easy to spot, about 20 half asleep middle aged herberts riding overly expensive kit for our ability level. Predictably i'll be on a blue on one as per stw regulations.