The 2, except that, if you plan on using it as a jogger or a push-chair as well, it will be too wide to fit through some store aisles. They are great for extra space on day adventures, though, and can't be beat when another nipper is a possibility.

And though you haven't asked, after a great deal of shopping around, I found Chariot to be the best name for design and robustness.

I'm interested: has lodious been convinced to write to Virgin yet?

We would all benefit if you did, as it might make the companies think about who they let travel on their trains.

A thought, though: Britain is one of the few places on Earth I have visited where drinking in public is allowed without any sanction. Wouldn't it stop many of the behaviour problems if drinking was confined to pubs/restaurants/homes and other appropriate venues?

I mean, in many places, the idea of having access to alcohol on a form of public transport would be insane (other than planes, of course; but those are well-regulated).

Remember it?!? I watched it at a friend's house, saw the alien rip his skin off to reveal his real face, then had to ride home in the dark. If I could reach speeds like those now, I would be laughing.

Salford. Beat that.

My mention of Northumberland wasn't explicit enough, as we seem to have moved into cities.

Newcastle is, frankly, often overlooked. Beautiful city. Hadrian's Wall. Heritage galore. And best accents in England.

Live in Cardiff and love it. Oh, and would live in Northumberland at the drop of a hat.

Sod the PC brigade

Amen to that.

That's a bunch of great stuff. Good on you and on your grandfather. :-)

scalextric rocked! wish I still had mine

I've got a set for sale if you want it. Sweden Rally. I bought thinking I could relive my childhood. Instead, it just made me realise how small my house was.

ski, I'll compile it and send it to you sometime today or tomorrow.

Almost everything U2 ever did up until Zooropa, including some interview discs and some interesting bootlegs.

Creedence Clearwater Revival; a whole bunch of embarrassing 80s stuff; a mix of classical and jazz, including John Lee Hooker, and Miles Davis (Kind of Blue).

I'd have to go through the collection to get everything down, though, as I haven't opened the vinyl chest for a very, very long time.

mtbfix, there was the slight problem that he wasn't allowed to kill and eat half the animals there! If he was in a real survival situation, with guns in hand, he'd have been tucking in to elk casserole all day long!

Missed the programme, but as any Canadian knows, you don't need a gun to take down an elk. Any combination of springy, fresh twigs, a hatchet, and some twine will do.

I just saw that Hitler vid. Its creator is a genius!

ernie_lynch, what's the difference between tolerating hateful speech just because it happens after the speaker has landed, and letting in a guy because words he has used in the past have been judged to be hateful?

Even if we can suppose he will say the same things again once in the country, the type of toleration appears to be essentially the same.

In any case, whereas the blond guy does seem quite off-putting, as far as I have heard, he has never talked in violent terms about his subject (radical Islamists) the way radical Islamists have been known to talk about… well… pretty much anyone who isn't a radical Islamist.

But if I'm wrong, I will take that back.

When was the last time the UK allowed in a foreign Muslim to preach hatred against Christians?

Um, Abu Hamza? And as far as I can tell, he got on unchallenged for a fair amount of time.

I've had very good luck with RAC. Paid for the coverage many times over with the amount I had to call them out a few years back.

Thank goodness for 'Onward Travel' is all I can say.

Lots. But I just saw The Fountain. Amazing.

I rotate, as I find that if I stick with one, particular type for more than a few months, I start to suffer for it. Basically, I start with Mach 3 and work down through the 'Machs' until I get to an old Gilette two-blader.

But it's probably psychological.

No idea if I'd ride one, but that's a nice looking bike that is.

Try Salford. It's frightening.

I think Lemmy may be cool only in the eyes of overgrown boys. Somehow (if sex appeal is part of cool) I suspect girls wouldn't put him in the cool category.

Although from at least one point of view, it's probably true to say that that is a cool photo.

Leonard Cohen. Hands down.

Oh, and if we can mention the 'alive-challenged', then Pierre Trudeau.

We're just about to completely overhaul a kitchen, and I was looking at an entire Ikea suite, where we place all appliances (washer, condenser dryer, dishwasher) below the worktops, and all proper cupboards around the walls. I'm interested in what you mean by their stuff having no 'service gaps'.

Do you mean that when installed, the 'shell' gets pushed in flush with the wall behind? If so does that mean that any relevant hoses and cords have to run inside the cupboard?

Finally, I'm not sure what is meant by appliances 'standing proud'. Does that mean that it will be hard to fit them inside the space under the worktops, and to have doors in front of them?

Just in case your not a looker, your not doing too well with the punctuation and spelling in your tow/two sentances there so you might want to work on that

As we might say about your use of “your” in place of “you’re” and “sentances” in place of “sentences”.

:roll:

I can’t imagine what it would be like trying to ride in the DR without a guide. And I can’t imagine trying to find a guide.

Despite the popularity of resorts around places like Puerto Plata, I don’t think people realise that the DR is actually a developing country, steeped in a history of poverty and pseudo-dictatorship (though not nearly as bad as Haiti right beside it). Unless things have changed radically over the last 15 years – and, of course, they could have – I can’t see how the country could have gone from little infrastructure to catering for relatively wealthy Americans and Europeans on expensive toys in a short span. Golf courses make sense because they are self-contained and can be run out of American resort hotels. But mountain biking? Unless some wealthy ex-pats have picked it up in Florida or New York and brought it back with them to set up a guiding outfit, I would be surprised if there was any opportunities there at all.

Probably better to explore the absolutely beautiful country on foot, or to find some locals to show you the real DR than to ride.

But I’ll be interested in learning how you get on.

Fisher Big Sur. Hands down.

I know I’m a bit late on this, but has no one ever checked out the good folk of the Subaru-Gary Fisher MTB team? Particularly the second and third names down (depending on your perspective).

http://fisherbikes.com/teams/profile/subaru-gary-fisher-mountain-bike-team

Anyone else spot the typos in the latest STW?

Just the latest?

Got a heroes and villains fancy dress tomorrow

Do we work together? 8O

I have to report the same experience. VW Commercials here in Cardiff have been absolutely superb. I have no idea why they are so different than regular dealership/workshops, but they’re sure doing something right!

Well done, Harry_the_Spider. It’s got me thinking about my own kids now… :-)

Brilliant pics from a brilliant holiday. Nice post.

I saw a serious documentary on the BBC exploring its effects. They could show both how and why it works on migraines. I was right impressed.

Definitely worth it for the price, but only do it if you’re reasonably sure you’re going to buy the vehicle.

Be aware, though, that the ‘checker’ will want to feel he’s earned his money, so may point out things you don’t have to worry too much about. I’m not saying this is a bad thing; only that you shouldn’t automatically be turned off the vehicle if the report shows up more ‘problems’ than you expected.

I like the Berlingo, but think that if you get the Skoda with the 1.9 tdi, you will be running one of the best motors around.

I’ve never had trouble with second-hand tanks, but then I never found the cost of new tanks particularly prohibitive.

Having said that, cleanliness is a must – as you would expect.

As far as choice of fish goes, I would look at magazines or online at the sorts of things that interest you. Neon tetras are a staple, as are red-tail black sharks. Gouramis are nice, while I never had much luck with angels. I’d get started on a fresh water tropical tank to see if I liked it; then move on to salt with more experience.

Tiger @ £1 a bottle – ASDA

Yeah, but it’s Tiger. And Asda.

Not a person, but a topic. I find some of the anti-religious sentiment on here really disturbing. No problem with reasoned arguments/questions/the-occasional-snide-comment; it’s just the really nasty/ignorant stuff that grates.

I was a U2 addict from Under a Blood Red Sky until Zooropa. They still had a good song or two on All That You Can’t Leave Behind, but now they just bore me.

I mean, grow up, throw in the Rock n Roll towel, and get into serious politics, or serious art, or just shut up.

I can’t believe I’m saying that about the band that got me through my youth.

How do you know ?

It wasn’t some sort of failure – you know, like when something breaks on your bike whilst you’re out cycling ?
No one had interfered with the doors – you know, like when someone tries to steal something ?

Just wondering how you know ….

The driver of the lorry was negligent in every respect. He was going far too fast for the street, and (just like a waiter in a restaurant being responsible for the plate that arrives on your table) was responsible for making sure the door was properly secured. The chances that that door just happened to have failed without ever having shown signs of wear are slim to nil.

He should be fined big time and lose his job.

After searching for the perfect pack, we think we’ve found it in the Vaude ‘Jolly Comfort’. The thing is brilliantly designed and a pleasure to use. Definitely check it out.