3 here – 2 boys (11 and 8) and 1 girl (5 next month).

I originally only wanted 1 but wife convinced me otherwise and got to admit v, v happy with 3. No chance of any more (snip, snip…).

The boys are very good friends, the girl likes to wind them up and never stops singing!!!!

Yes you’re outnumbered and frequently trying to split yourselves 3 ways, but nothing that can’t be managed.

Not at the top of a mountain, but on the way up Alpe d’Huez with my eldest son (age 11) this summer.
Up Alpe d’Huez by Simon Langdon[/url], on Flickr[/img]

Recently done the opposite and gone from 1 car to 2 – the 1st car is starting to get long in the tooth and with 3 kids with different interests and activities typically happening at the same time it was becoming increasingly difficult for my better half and I to split ourselves three ways.

Got a second car, fitted towbar and went to the Alps with it (11 year old son cycled up Alpe d’Huez with me – proud Dad moment) Would not have taken old car there but it has been so useful finally having 2 cars. Can now get gets to football/rugby/ballet/athletics training without having to call in favours and at least I can now repay a lot of those favours with return lifts.

Managed with between us for last 16 years – I cycle to work everyday which obviously helps.

As Denis99 said – the commute can get mundane, but going for a ride with mates at weekend can make up for it.

I’m a fellow Leeds (SE) bike commuter and find I try and do longer rides in and out most days – mixing it up with several different routes in and out depending on how I feel, weather, kids commitments etc. All helps.

I also find the cross bike helps – take buzz out of cr*ppy roads but also lets me divert onto canal or find alternative routes home.

Dare I say Strava helps as it gives me goals to try and stay ahead of or catch mates on segments.

Chin up and keep riding!

Cheers guys

Scuttler – which diesel was it? 1.3 or 1.6? I’m looking at the 1.6.

Jambalaya – not worried about resale as will probably hang on to for a long time. I think appearance is like anything, once you look at something enough, you kind of come round to liking it (!?!?) – or is that just me. I quite like it and the practicality of it and extra 2 spare seats in bike could be useful when kids have friends round etc.

Monkeyp – FRV still going OK (other than its guzzling of oil) and like yours has c. 115k on clock. Just replaced exhaust, but suspension and steering need attention. Going to keep it going as second car but then it will only do about 3-4,000 miles per year so should keep it going longer.

Cheers

S

My eldest did them yesterday. He said it was harder than the mocks they had been doing, but not ridiculous – like others had said, he was surprised at the press hysteria.

Our attitude has been just do your best and don’t worry as they have no real impact on him. The secondary school he’s going to will test all year 7s in the first week of the new term in any event.

All relative though – some kids have come out in tears and get really worked out about them.

Like

Hurt my finger last Friday, wasn’t getting much better, but nothing unbearable, but thought best get checked it out anyway. Stopped off at a Minor Injuries Unit on ride home from work last night.

Turns out I’ve knocked a chunk out of the bone and was then sent to hospital (after riding home first of course). Initially they said it would need an op, but luckily it doesn’t and seeing the Doc/Surgeon last last night seemed to help with the Jedi mind trick… “I will be able to carry on riding my bike won’t I as it’s my ring finger and don’t need it to brake/change gear)?”

Back on bike this morning, just a bit awkward getting gloves over the mallet splint.

The winter jacket and gloves are great for cold commutes, but I found the waterproof socks to be, well, not waterproof.

All in all you get what you pay for and I’ve been more than happy overall. As others have said, it makes great commuting kit, but prefer other stuff for “decent” rides.

Pro Cycle Hire

Used them last year and were good. Using them again next month as well.

As above, adjust reach.
I have small hands and find that if I angle the hoods inwards slightly it helps with the natural reach and angle of hands/wrists. Purely personal preference though.

Another vote for Zondas here.

Got some earlier this year to replace stock Giant wheels on a Defy 1. Massive improvement for a not too significant outlay.

Just need the red fiery (?) face? Aaaarrgghh

Great quiz though.

People writing “loose” instead of “lose”.

BMC GF01 Disc

Congrats on the forthcoming number 3.
3 is, erm… fun but hardwork and relentless (especially the youngest).
Got two boys (10 and 7) and a girl (3) but all have birthdays within a 4 week window starting later this month (bad planning).
Cost is definitely the big issue, but we saved by my better half not working and therefore not having child care to pay for. Still earn less than we were both working 10 years ago though. Youngest will be at school full time next year and mrs looking at going into teaching.
Car – Honda FRV (3 seats front and rear – but could do with more boot space). We manage with just one car, but that’s difficult especially when all three have different activities (mondays, daughter has ballet, middle one has rugby and eldest has track training) – all manageable so long as I do as I’m told.
Grey hair? Well beard has a nice badger stripe and hair is starting to grey and thin!
Snip? Check!
Biking? Commute every day and try and mix it up with different rides throughout the week. Nice evening today so planning a 40k cross bike ride home.
Worth it? Definitely. Half of my friends who stopped at 2 kids have discovered a void in their lives and are getting dogs instead!

Haven’t had the quote yet, but Pedalcover just rang me to go through the policy and details – very helpful. Unless outrageous will probably use them.

Pleased all seems ok, but as everyone says, get checked out properly.
Reading this has though made me think I could possibly do with some legal cover/insurance in case of something like this.
I’ve commuted for years (again into Leeds) and been ok so far, but near misses are a regular occurrence – just looking at British Cycling and their “Ride” membership is only £22.85 if pay by direct debit and use promotional code CYCLESCH (usually £33).
Think I’d probably get that back quickly with the extra discounts on CRC/Halfords/Evans etc.
Might be worth it for some.
S

Pretty much what BadlyWiredDog says.

Use mine for commuting on and/or off road, general riding when I fancy mixing terrain a bit and most of my riding throughout the winter. I have 30mm semi slicks on it – seems to cover all/most bases.

Nothing too technical offroad round me and I’ve got a b*ggered foot/ankle and can’t land jumps anymore anyway – so CX ticks the boxes. Road bike for fast road rides though.

Did a 70k ride today (50:50 road and off road) and it was fantastic.

Kryton, just picked up on this thread and appreciate you’re going to upgrade the Defy, but FWIW I have a 2014 Giant Defy 1 (with upgraded wheels) and a 2015 TCX SLR 1 as winter commuter/fun/mix it up type of ride bike (no racing).

I love both, but have different sizes (S in Defy and XS in TCX – I am a short *rse though).

I use Raceblade XLs on TCX (nothing on Defy) – I like being able to whip them on and off in a couple of minutes depending on the weather/forecast. They provide adequate coverage for me, but can be a bit rattly offroad – nothing I can’t live with though. Just put them back on this week for the constant rain earlier this week in Leeds.

S

I’ll try again (previous complete failure at sharing photos) – My do it all cross bike. My commutes are becoming more and more varied (and more fun).

DSC_0325-01 by Simon Langdon[/url], on Flickr

DSC_0328-01 by Simon Langdon[/url], on Flickr

Here’s mine. Love it.

Cheers – 3/4 bibs ordered

+1 for gravel/cx bike. Makes simple off road more exciting.

Due to an injury making me unable to take impacts through my right foot/ankle anymore I very rarely mountain bike. Already had a road bike which I really enjoyed and got a cx bike aswell now. Gives me options.

Mountain bike now mainly used when out with my kids.

Flying back on 10th.

9:50 middle but starting with mate who got 9:54
Weather doesn’t look great.

Cross bikes are great. Commuted on mine throughout winter and enables me to mix between offroad, towpath and road routes as the mood takes me. Makes a potentially dull repetitive commute thoroughly enjoyable.

Also done a couple of 50 milers on it (on road) and its more than capable. When on road rides if you spot a bridleway you’ve not been on before you can always make a quick detour.

Looking at changing the wheels on my Defy 1 from stock to Zondas – think they’re (slightly) lighter than Ultegras so hoping for near 0.5g saving.

Did you notice the weight saving on the road?

Cheers for the comments.
Liking the look of the Bell Laps and Cowbells but I think the extreme flare of the woodchipper is probably a bit too much for me.

Giant tcx slr 2
Brilliant off and on road and for longer rides.

I run a Giant TCX SLR 2 – only had since November but used it for mix of commuting (road and/or canal), some 30+ mile road rides and a few mix and match road/off road rides and done about 600 miles.

Great fun and very comfortable. Currently put on some cheap Schwalbe CX Comps (30 mm)and use Raceblade XLs which do a decent enough job when needed.

Would heartily recommend – but obviously not what you have/are settling on!

I’ve got Race Blade XLs which I managed to bend to fit. Got 30mm cx comps on with them.

I like the Cross Keys and used to go when worked at Bridgewater Place, but now somewhat out of the way from the office.

Different type of punter there now. Top quality.

Hoping to get out on cross bike tomorrow in and around South East Leeds – no plans of route yet, just head off and link up a few roads and trails and see where it takes me.

Love my 2014 Defy – not missed a beat. Very comfortable ride – carbon seat post on Defy 1 helps. Planning on upgrading wheels soon – don’t see the point on spending loads on a carbon bike when I can (hopefully) benefit more from lighter wheels.

Liked the Giant so much it swayed my decisions when buying a cx bike recently and buying a road bike for the better half.

I looked at the various options recently and nearly went for the Arkose 3 but ended up with a Giant TCX SLR 2. I’m a short $rse at 5’5″ and the geometry and standover of the XS Giant were a better fit than the Pinnacle.

Not raced it, but been on and off road and use it as my daily commuter as well. Love it.

Wished them all a merry Christmas and then carried on spending time with family and building Lego with kids with beer in hand. Great day.

I ride road bikes and wear Lycra and use nowt but water.

After doing the cache partition wipe turn off all animations under developer options.
After moving to lollipop mine was a bag of spanners but this seems to have helped significantly.