Re comment of Dumfries and Galloway being quiet, it is all relevant as its a quiet region at the best of times but out road riding on Saturday and coastal road round to solway coast was very busy with holiday travel – this is “changeover” day I suppose.

I have shimano wide fit for SPD and SPD-SL and have wide feet – they fit well and have lasted for years. The MW7 for MTB is a great shoe

Thanks Guys Montaro ordered from Merlin, I def have a Giro head and have played safe.  Much appreciated. :)

https://photos.google.com/photo/AF1QipP8GQahvSL6pU9QQsTJtw7WGY0YKj8keQZ_tdk8

I think I used petrol the last time to slide them on, evaporates of and stuck solid, im interested in the thread though as fitting grips to a newbie friends bike this weekend and want it to work!

Thought I would write a post script to this.  The segment fram cracked and was replaced kindly by Orange for a new stage 4 with new shock.  It is a different beast altogether through the twisties – you can just hammer it with hardly a thought to it. I feel much more part of the bike and can fly through berms and down singletrack in a natural way without having to overly think corners.  Awesome bike the Stage 4 – highly recommended!! :)

Thanks folks.  Re budget I was thinking up to couple of hundred maybe and yes stereo and bluetooth so thanks for the recommendations.  Dell XPS high spec laptop (dont know model) and android motorola G power phone

subscribed, hope you weather the storm

thats a good instagram link cheers

Norlando Grey does look good have  to admit

seven stanes website says its closed

https://forestryandland.gov.scot/visit/mabie#bike

Was up there before xmas and it was, I dont think there are any trees left to harvest!!

No idea how it happened all previous deliveries were good, been using them for years must have been in my account details previously

Difficult one, in different sport dinghy sailing my son was going to stop more to do with stress and not enjoing racing.  We took a step back and found a different series and boat where the atmosphere was more relaxed and fun and made sure he knew it was up to him if he wasnt comfortable, like most teenagers needed support and persuasion to organise but the most important part was doing an event that he enjoyed and was fun and was with friends, the competition then came back naturally.

Hi there thanks for replies – prescribed for dental issues which was main reason for alcohol night before using a few vodkas to swill around affected teeth seemed a shame to spit out. Post vomiting was totally chair ridden with flu type symptoms and have gotten better quickly over weekend.  So still not sure if was reaction or separate 24/48 hr flu/ vomiting type bug, or maybe even food poisoning although latter unlikely.  Ah well on the mend now.

Thanks folks was tempted to stick with what I know re maxxis but have decided to give the Magic Mary a go then if it works then have a spare tyre for the rear from the ex front.  ~Shall see how it goes….

Another vote for pearl Izumi, I bought mine a few years ago and seem to last forever

Nutrition – not a diet – look at very healthy diet cut out the crap (fast food, processed food, sugar and the booze), dont starve yourself, dont worry about weight loss just eat healthy full meals and you will see an immediate impact on fitness and energy and health.  (I am a recent convert!)

very very difficult situation.  I think most blokes in your situation rank their own priority in the house somewhere between the dog and the cat. Teenagers are completely self absorbed and the first thing you need to realise is its not your fault, not at all.  I toiled with this until mine stepped over the line a few times and I thought fine you get on with it and completely backed off and let them get on with it and make their own mistakes, the flip side was I wasnt going to go the extra mile – anything they wanted they had to get/ work for.  Basically I had to ignore them to an extent and this has helped, although there are red lines that are not to be crossed.  When they see your value let them come to you.  Your life is worth living to the full, their character is fully formed and you are not going to change that. If its any consulation they will come out the other side and be decent humans but right now I feel your pain.  The being a guest in your own home is unnacceptable so you need to figure that one out yourself.  good luck.

I just glossed exterior door with oil based, it was green on green.  Gave good sand and also sugar soap to get any residues off, let dry properly and two coats looks good.  I prefer oil/ solvent based gloss seems much more durable than water based.

yep bought from a mate

FWIW I just got my first 29er which came with HD tyres, I find them good handling all round tyres. BUT.  I have found the front letting go and washing out unexpectantly mid corner, riding at “normal” speed.  Have nearly fell off a couple of times with them.  I normally ride various Maxxi tyres which I would say have way more edge grip.

update – bought the segment a couple of weeks ago and really like it, full suss 29er takes a bit of getting used to but love the way it rolls in proper singletrack and can also take some pretty big hits (for me).

by pure chance a good friend is giving first dibs on well looked after Orange Segment with few upgrades in my budget, any thoughts

£1000-£1500 if poss

Wow im humbled by all the sage advice and ways for me to just lose the beef. My wife (a teacher) came out with the best one though I think. She said put on your best sarcastic/ quizzacle look and say “excuse me did you mean to be so rude?!”. That will do me . Off for a spoonies lunch special now – scotabroad aka “geeztwapehs” ;)

I am not a huge fan of them for sports tyres, they gripped well enough but found they wear rate high.  This was on three series BMW low profile tyres, other profiles may be different

How about £70 mate ;) (whats the joke about a scotsman and a yorkshirman arguign over a penny)

yes its a personal thing, a few years ago I got a bike that came with a Bel Air, it felt like sitting on a razor for me, specialized saddles were even worse, ifthe B17 doesnt work I might look at finding a pure V as i have had no bother with that on my MTBs

B17 on offer from wiggle at £63, after measuring sit bones looks about the right with and at that price worth a punt, comes highly recommended from big boned and big arsed types :)  Now to sell the Fizik!!

Had tennis elbow on and off for number of years and docs gave anti inflammatories or told me to stop what hurt – not much use.

About a year ago I started doing heavy weight training and build up arm strength as much as i could suffer at the gyme, within six months much improved, a year later it rarely bothers me.

So for me improving arm and upper body strength helped a lot, that said I do very little arm excercize so they were very weak compared to legs.

Dry wood is hydrophobic so no issue if it gets rained on when already dry

if you read guidelines above, even worst case exlusion is 10-15m in front of most powerful transmitters

comm tower risks

Cheers will have a look around

Being 18st the crossmax still grips pretty well on armoured trails but not so much off piste as it were, I think I will just but another one :)

Mk1 853 Prince Albert in the shed, not ridden in a while as I gave it to my son who isnt riding it, will need to take it out :)

Thanks mate, just ordered one :)

jackets galore

http://www.sportpursuit.com/hiking?type=Jackets