Oh, as zaskar says its also fitted with an XT rear mech.

Flamejob – if you are a beginer or returning after a long time off I would rent out there and get a mid priced pair. Going for the "gold" option skis will be a waste of money.

Skis have changed drastically over the last ten years or so, so you now need to go for ones that are a tad shorter than what you may have been used to.

As said above spend a good long time getting boots to fit you which will make a huge difference to the week you are skiing.

Also if you are skiing piste then if you can get a nice supple ski thats easy to turn and they will feel much nicer all day than a stiff agrressive off pistey/ all mountain type of ski.

Another vote for thomson, bent and broke a few other makes until investing in them a couple of years ago and never had an issue since. im 18st+ btw

when I lived down there the family trails at Llandegla were always a favourite, the cafe is a good reward for the kids with a hot chocolate. Downside is a fairly busy climb but the descent is a nice swoopy trail for the kids.

Yeti-guy – you are trolling surely? Its one of my favourite stanes due to the mix of rolling woodland, quiet trails and granite boulders, and for my skill level its little techy bits are good fun.

Ive got a 34T XT cassette on my road bike :-)

ps. as per Treksters post if you are coming down Dumfries way i am usually available at the weekend if you want shown around.

If your in Glasgow Carron Valley is a great place to get started.

All the blues at the stanes are good for real beginers. The reds at mabie, kirroughtree, newcastleton can all be tackled with a bit more experience.

If you are a true beginner then I would not start with the red at ae, Dalbeattie, or GT, but thats just my opinion no doubt someone will be along shortly to say something different.

have fun

stu, the kind that two old fat blokes can puff and pant up, while talking tosh

Sounds good to me, i'll be there :lol:

Hi Tony, might be able to make this if I get plenty riding in before hand, what sort of climbing will you be planning?

If its a professional job and a professional company then you need to take the doctors advice and take what action is immediately important to your health – that is the first priority.

If that is a week or two off work make sure they are told the simple medical facts why you are off. And nothing more.

Meanwhile get your thoughts together, what are your REAL alternatives.

I have been a similar situation a few years ago, it did not need medical treatment so not as bad, but pretty bad. I talked to the most senior person in the company who agreed an action plan.

3 months later the plan had not been acted upon, and after several more conversations myself and wife decided resignation was the best option.

Be very clear, this is not redundancy, you are not entitled to it.

However if you wish to pursue constructive dismissal that is a route that is open to you, but not without heartache and hassle.

The option I took is more common in professional arenas and we agreed a compromise agreement, this is where you and the company agree a (usually tax free) termination payment. The minimum is your notice but you can ask for more if the issues run deep and it would be hurtful to both parties for bad mouthing to go on.

Have they then refused to repair the issue?

If its something serious like sanitary equipment, plumbing, unsafe electrical equipment, then you have recourse to the law.

Unfortunately I do not know the exact authority but I would say that environmental health, local authority as said above can revoke their authorisation to be a landlord, citizens advice would be a good port of call, even HSE if immediate physical risk.

Just thinking out loud, but I know in Dundee (where I am a landlord) the council takes Landlord registration very seriously and what you describe could be a serious threat to this guy if Edinburgh operates the same system.

Its not very helpful bu alternatively serve your months notice you are leaving and get another place??

Good luck

did you get any teagirl?

You are getting a bit mixed up… I've done a hell of a lot of reading about this

Well I dinnae ken then, you will have to engage the services of a professional.

Kit can you just clarify what your specific issue is?

Are you saying that the property is sub standard with respect to repair or is just the fact that you do not have the document to hand?

I believe the proper mechanical solution is to have a two tank system which would eliminate the issue you are describing. Only yesterday I was talking to an operator at a "local" biodiesel production plant and the site director just bought a new A6 to which he has fitted a two tank system, i.e normal diesel for start up and warm up then switch over to bio.

I have thought about the density method and this would only have accurate results if the density of your two fuels were significantly different, but I would have thought biodiesel and fossil fuel diesel densities were fairly similar?

Tescos

Why do you think it will get into the engine oil??

Your main concern should be with what engine ou are proposing to run this in, biodiesel in common rail diesels for example can be a bad idea at to high a ratio due to the lubrication required for the diesel pump itself.

Very unlikely I would think to generate an accurate home analytical method.

Its likely you would get decomposition to a certain extent of mixing engine oil with caustic.

Had it for lunch, it wiz richt braw min!

Having with the family tomorrow night.

Another round this saturday at a belated Burns night.

The methane levels might be rising in the North…..

Another vote for Fishers – the Thai restaurant across the road from it is good as well.

Witchery good to impress American Clients, but would not go myself as said above a tad overpriced.

Tower is good.

Ive got 130 Air Revs on my 853 PA and I really like them. Have not noticed any flex and I am 18st plus but I ride XC…

Went round a chunk of Mabie yesterday and it was fine, a bit soft in small areas where the frost is coming out but all rideable. Not many folks there so not getting cut up.

ps. the new bit below the ridge is now open.

Would POV = why, oh, why, oh, why do i…………… :D

The US is very tempting, especially from a surfers point of view. Would like to check out California and see what that has to offer beach wise

I was in LA last Saturday in Santa Monica – mid January temp mid 70's,there were people surfing, beach volleyball, bikini clad 20 somethings sun bathing/ jogging/ cycling, got fed up looking at too many perfect bodies (dirty old git).

Quite pricey for the states though…

hnc (part time)/ BSc hons 2:1 in chemistry, Phd in organic chemistry.

Worked hard for them, proud of them, and have made use of qualifications and have worked in pharmaceuticals for 15 yrs in operations/ production.

So no regrets.

Ps dont use Dr title in every day use but use it in professional environment.

Canada is great, dont rule out USA though, USA is just as big and has a huge amount of places to visit. Classic bike trails at Moab for example, cities, beaches, desserts, surfing, hiking, skiing etc etc.

ZX10

:-)

Outstanding pictures, thanks for that.

853 Prince Albert – I like it – a lot!

Dont think so, I thought its an electronic system that senses the car is losing traction my measuring relative wheel speeds then it cuts/ reduces the power to the engine. Not a lot of power for that.

During your 10 minute dig out did you have heaters, lights, heated windows runnign, if so that may have drained the (on its way out?) battery due to low engine revs??

Support what stevemcg said.

We have went to the smaller French resorts the last few years (Le Corbier, Vars, La Clusaz and the ESF were good, and good with the kids). French tend to be tougher with kids that the brits generally are but that can be no bad thing sometimes and they learn quick by following peers down more challenging slopes.

French skiing is also better quality than Italian in my experience.

Have never been to Austria but have heard lots of good things for apres-ski there with a much better village life. French resorts tend to be very purpose built.

I'll watch from the bottom of omega man and take some splints, bandages, and plasters….

turbo trainer for scotabroad methinks

Wash your mouth out, mind you I have thought about them with all this ice about.

Have a local road ride that takes just over an hour and is 1000ft climbing, so a few lap of that mid week will soon get the legs build up.

Trekster – you doing it as well?

I thought Forge was round our way.

Yes any partners for long rides would certainly be appreciated, I couldnt do the red at Mabie with my fitness at the moment, but thats about to change, its going to be painful….

Well thats the entry in 8O

The website has entry up until August so I am assuming spaces are unlimited?? Keilder/ Scottish Borders are a big old place.

Never thought about that "Bi" was part of the training, I think I will "pull out"… :wink:

Nick be glad to meet up, hopefully a couple of stone will be shed come September……

You going as well Tony?

You got the team too many pies T shirt ordered?? :-)

It was hardy wee beastie as well and seemed unperturbed by the water that was at freezing point.

Glenmore lodge +1

The ice factor at Kinlochleven might also do courses.

scotabroad paying for what?

The clue is in the post:

in low MPG

Petrol scoobies are not known for good fuel consumption.