The early 2.0 balance shaft problem is a killer. My mate bought a 55 plate Passat 2.0 tdi in 2011 and it lasted about 8 months before the oil pump shaft went and seized the engine.

It was an ex Leaseplan car and, if there was a recall, it was missed. It cost a couple of grand to fix and, at the time in 2012, the modified oil pump was on back order with no delivery date available.

My mate found a guy who did the marine engines and he did a nifty mod to the oil pump or something and it’s been fine since.

I only caught the last 5 mins but that Golf was a mess, why couldn’t they use an original one not a modded one ?

Had some clown about 15 years ago squeeze inbetween the back of my car and the following one whilst we were stopped at lights.

He lost his balance and landed on my tailgate. He went with an almighty bang and the back of the car bounced down.

It was a mk3 Escort I had at the time and they are quite flat booted at the very rear of the tailgate and his bars left a few marks. I was that shocked at the time I just let him disappear as I was just sat there and thought another car had hit me.

39 mile road ride upto Preston Docks, had a puncture and realised I’d only one spare tube with me so fixed it and had to nip to Halfords to get another just in case.

Good to get some mileage under the belt and not just a quick 15 miler.

I went back in the summer when it was opening day and Jason from the Velodrome told me they had found wire across at neck height.

Obviously that’s a while ago but I agree with Hora, there’s some characters hanging around sometimes.

I got lost and ended up on a council estate. I’d have given Cav a run for his money that day.

The trails themselves are good.

I need 7 new windows and front and rear door, had 3 quotes from trade suppliers of around £2500 that’s with the doors being full composite.

My mates fitting them so I will probably be charged a fortune……. 😉 😀

I’ve not signed up for the Endo but I’ve managed 164 miles this month, mainly on the MTB, think I’ve only had the Road Bike out a couple of times.

I aim to up that in Feb. Being busy at work, mate being off the bike with a bad back and a can’t be arsed attitude have kept my mileage down.

Still better than this time last year though.

Blagging the empty Barr’s pop bottles to return them for 20p to get toffee off the Penny Tray.

Playing in the local works throwing small metal discs at each other.

That’s a valid point about Norton Canes why go on a toll road to speed up the journey, then stop for an hour for a brew ?

I’m sure it’s also one of the busiest in the country.

Motorists who don’t remove Pay & Display tickets and drive around with them right In their line of vision on the windscreen.

Motorists who just turn the engine off when it’s raining and don’t let the wipers go back down to the normal position.

Self serve tills.

That woman’s voice on the self serve tills.

Pets at home, always massive queues and staff just cuddling rabbits.

Argos, they have to press the computer thing to activate the voice that says ” 361 to collection point A please ” when they are stood right in front of you with your stuff in their hand and there is only you in the queue.

The speed camera vans and the fixed cameras have to be signposted within a set distance else they can’t operate legally.

I can’t recall exactly the distance, but I think its about 1/2 mile before the camera.

Our local Drivesafe sit regular on a 30 zone that was a 40 and they make a fortune. If you pay attention you can see they are there as they zip tie a camera sign to a lamppost then remove it when they go.

I find it amusing when I get flashed to slow down seeing as I’m in a fully marked up driving school car next to a Learner driver. Do they think I’m going to let them speed ?!?!?!?!?!?

PC Mark Milton

http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2013/apr/05/police-officer-cleared-dangerous-driving

I stopped a while ago whilst cycling along the canal as a woman was on the floor with her mate sat next to her.

I went to the end of the towpath to flag the ambulance down, when I got back to the scene, a barge with all their mates on had pulled up.

Turns out they were on some kind of booze cruise on the canal. Got a kiss off a couple of them for helping though 😉

In hindley there’s La Cava Italian.

I’ve been to La Cava and its good. There’s also Dilbars which is an Indian. Guessing they do veggie options.

Was correct code, but had a * at the end so don’t know if that makes a difference ?

I’m having mine done soon but my mates doing them so we just need supply only on the windows and doors.

We have had 3 quotes for supply only and they are all within £200 of each other so defiantly get at least 3 quotes and don’t just go with the cheapest go with the one that answers all the questions correct.

My Mums ” gentleman friend ” moved into a council bungalow a couple of years ago and the meter is at floor level in the porch.

Absolute nightmare as its a card prepayment meter and if he got down to put credit on he wouldn’t be able to get up again.

Its in a elderly persons bungalow. The council won’t pay for it to be moved as he had the card meter installed as the original was a ordinary meter and national grid want something like £600 to move it higher up.

I put him credit on every week and make sure he’s enough on. Would be easier if he just had a bill, but he’s stuck in his ways.

Someone somewhere will be a fanatic, and pay silly money. I’m always amazed at the ‘owners clubs’ that exist for shit cars.

edit: For example, I give you the Morris Marina Owners Club Marina Owners Club

A lad I know is an active member of this club.

Its not even funny how enthusiastic he is about them.

Got the link with the chain, it’s been on a few months with a few hundred mile covered.

I’ve a black lab that has no feelings of pain in his main body at all. The only time I’ve known him in pain was when he had a nail bed infection.

He’s head butted bus stops without flinching and regular sets his coat on fire by getting too close to the gas fire.

Many a time he’s had brown patches on his coat were its been on fire. Hair on fire is a horrible smell. He’s never even moved away I’ve had to pull him away when I’ve smelt him burning.

I keep a close eye on him now.

3 years now since I gave up, best thing I ever did.

It’s not easy. I was a pathetic smoker and only went through 10-12 a week, only smoked in the evenings but there’s a theory that people who smoked like I did actually increased their risk as they took deeper drags than more regular smokers.

I never even think about them now. Didn’t realise they were £8 a pack now, think of how much that added up would get you from CRC or Wiggle 😉

I’ve only done 74 miles this year so I’ve no chance of hitting target now.

I’m going to do my best to keep up, but think I’m going to go for the personal target of 5000 miles this year.

It’s just been busy at work and with the dogs so I’ve not been out much.

Halfords do a heavy duty range of bulbs that are supposed to be more durable than the standard ones.

I used to get bulbs from morrisons petrol station as they were cheap but went through them like no tomorrow.

Get them from Halfords now and they last a lot longer, but I have a discount card. Scary the mark up on bulbs 😯

Ok, as a qualified driving instructor, based on what you’ve described, I would teach to approach in the right hand lane indicating right. As I pass the left turn I would indicate left and move to the left to exit in the left lane. If I was turning right off the short bit of dual carriageway I would not move left but still indicate left to exit in the right hand lane.

Rich.

+1

I’m a Driving Instructor as well and Rich has described it exactly.

Those clowns who do it wrong will have some explaining to do to their insurance if they have a bump.

The old Polo needed a couple of tyres for its MOT and the Garage said Hankook were the best cheapest above the budget brands.

Think it was about £50 each tyre but they are only 13″ wheels.

I wouldn’t go for budget tyres on anything. The Fiesta is leased and the leasing company fit budget tyres so I blagged ATS to fit the grippest budget tyre they could. After turning into a roundabout last year with some crappy tyres on and the car literally not turning, I won’t scrimp on tyres.

Seems to be a difference of opinion at the moment between those that have passed the driving test and those who have took further training.

I’ve passed 7 driving tests from basic DSA as a 17 year old to advanced and DSA fleet and the advanced test require a signal when there is someone to benifit not just as part of the MSM routine.

So, during advanced driving, approaching a completely open roundabout intending to go right if there is no one around don’t signal. If anyone appears signal. The idea is that the driver keeps their observations high as they are constantly looking for other road users.

On a basic DSA test this kind of driving would be classed as a fail. The basic test is proactive rather than reactive.

So, in my opinion the OP should have indicated back over, especially if he realised the other vehicle was being a clown by accelerating.

This type of behavior of accelerating when other vehicles are overtaking is becoming more widespread and there was a thread not long ago about drivers not wanting to go into lane 3 then accelerating when lane 2 becomes clear leaving overtaking vehicles stranded.

In this case I think it six of one and half a dozen of the other, both parties could have handled it better.

I bought some SKS Chromoplastics yesterday from Merlin, £29.95 but, after a bit of fiddling and adjustment, they seem solid.

I had to warm the plastic on the guard and bend it slightly on the chain stay bridge as it was catching but I blame the welding on the B Twin frame for that not the guards as the welding didn’t seem 100% symmetrical and it’s really tight clearance at that point of the frame.

Standard day to day stuff in my job.

There’s some idiots out there and they are better off ignored.

Monksie, are you willing to put this guys name on here so we know who to deal with at Evans Chill Factor ?

It used to be my LBS but some of the staff really are not brilliant.

Cheers.

Edit, it’s not you personally is it ? 😉 😀

I did 2500 miles last year, mostly on the MTB as I didn’t get the road bike till August.

I’d like to double that this year. I’ve felt like rubbish today with yet another cold so I’ve not been out but have managed 46 miles so far this year………

I can only comment on roof mounted as that’s the only one I’ve got / tried.

Like you said, added fuel consumption especially if you leave the bars on all the time.

I’ve found that a mucky bike will drip mud and grit down onto the roof and windows especially if it rains so be aware of paintwork damage, I’ve got my bars on an old VW Polo so doesn’t bother me.

Obvious as well but car park height restrictions and not going in multi stories, could be a pain if you are travelling somewhere that only has height restricted car parks.

Unless I’m going local, I take the wheels off and put the bike in the back.

I’ve been looking for some Race Blade longs and Ribble, Merlin, Evans are out of stock.

Just looking at the stage 1 route, anyone reckon it will be chaos around the north section of the route towards Hawes etc ?

Just thinking I could take the bike on the car to Appleby or Kirkby Stephen and pedal over.

I vow never to go into Evans again either. Their staff, on a number of occasions, have spoken to me like I don’t know anything about bikes. On one occasion I had to really take a deep breath, say thank you and walk out and smash the living day lights out of the nearest wheely bin.

I hope Evans in Trafford read this.

A lot of the staff in this store have changed in the last 6 months or so with some going over to the Velodrome and others just leaving. Gotta say I don’t feel as comfortable in there as I used to.

The Velodrome store, I find, is a lot better staffed as is the kendal store.

Them Roundabouts on Trafford Park are fast flowing with them having good views either side.

Sounds like Mark just concentrated on the car, possibly looking too far to the right judging its speed, and the cyclist was just unseen or covered, as previously said, by the A pillar.

Good on him for holding his Hands up and waiting for the guy.

” just nipping out for an hour ” famous last words 😀

That was a brill ride overall, very little traffic so took the road bike. Flying along, thought I was finally able to keep some speed up for long intervals, turned a corner and realised it was the wind pushing me previous.

Then the rain came. Top speed 34 mph, average 12 mph over 18 miles. Its been a while since I’ve just really wanted to get home.

Walking pace on return journey and got blown off the pedals going over the motorway bridge, still loved it though.

At the moment it’s looking like a quiet one, not bothered to be honest.

Past few years I’ve been to a house party but my mates away for new year so I’m just chilling with the dogs.

Bloody hungry though, gonna nip out for a pizza or something.

Do a 100 miler on the Road Bike.

Get out at least 5 times a week on the MTB for an hour each time – easy to do if I can persuade myself to get out of bed an hour earlier.

I’ve done 2,500 miles on the bikes this year, I want it double that in 2014………

My Mates away in his caravan for New Year and I nipped down to him yesterday, went to a Tesco express and they had no sandwiches, potatoes, bananas or anything sensible left.

It was like Armageddon.

Finally found a Sainburys that had a load of kids walking around it that smelled of weed. That had full shelves…….

Private plate which the previous owner had and they have not changed back yet ?

Could have just took the photos to get customers interested then sort the plate out after the holidays.