Jeep is a no go, had my back broken by one of those while on the Outer Hebrides on a trip from Uist to Stornaway, TBF that was a Renegade… but I’m not a big Jeep fan TBH. Did have a quick look at the Vitara, must have a better look.

Lexus 220D would be the ideal thing, shame only a 560kg towing limit un-braked.. Shame it isn’t easier to fit a braking unit to my trailer… could tow 900kg with the Yaris then ;)

What is it you want from a new car – space, sportiness, comfort on long journies? Or is the X3 simply the one you fancy (nothing wrong with that!)?

ATM I have a Mk1 Yaris D4D for work which we use when we go camping with a trailer and TBH we could use something bigger. I was looking at a Merc Vito Hyundai iLoad/800 crew van so I could get rid of the trailer and stick the camping gear my engines in the back, but the price/age/millage combo is a bit out of balance for me.

I had a quick look around at what was in my price range that could tow 600kg un-braked, and spotted the odd RAV4, drove one and while it would do the job I wasn’t blown away.
Next thing was a BMW X3 which I quite liked the look of and felt nice to sit in, though I am yet to drive one.
I’m yet to see a CRV, might see if there is one near.

I will be doing most of the servicing myself just the major stuff for the garage next door….

only worth about £10k

yep only 10k…… I’ve been looking at 7k max… best to keep the money in the bank by the looks of it….

It seems the M sport ones are bad and the and the normal are not much better….

Looks like I will have to have a go in a X3, roads around here aren’t the best had a 2.2 Civic (the 1st lot of spacey ship ones) and that used to crash and bash around the road and my back didn’t really like it….

Started looking at estates, i40 Tourer is a lot of car for the money, 5 years newer than what I’ve been looking at as well.

The modern X3 diesel doesn’t seem too bad, the N47 seems to be a nightmare, the M47 would seem swirl flaps are the main problem.

Looked at the CRV they hold their money too well….

Spares with Scoobies don’t seem too bad down here, main dealer close by now… but don’t know what they would be once price, it’s the cranks and or bearings that worry me, phase ones are meant to be a time bomb….

Didn’t know Renualt made a chain cam, was looking at a Merc Vito crew van but decided the age/price/millage didn’t appeal….

Looked at Volvos but I prefer timing chain for some reason…. had Honda’s and Toyota’s now for 10 years or more after a rather expensive Fabia VRs timing belt change…… though probably stupid thinking if the chain goes…

Also looked at the Subaru 2.0d estate things but the crankshafts seem to be made of cheese on a few….

Would seem the engine in question is the N47, the ones I’ve been looking at is the M47 which don’t seem so bad…..

You seem to have put your internet research into and even smaller pool of advisors than you started with OP – clutching for the “right” answer?

Yea pretty much…tried a RAV4 today and didn’t like it…. which I thought would be the default answer…

2nd hand Maxxraxx… picked mine up for £20

+1 the above. We have the Heist 1.0 (2016) for the money they are great.

This place have the 2016 ones but not heard of them before.

http://bikes24-7.com/mountain-bikes/1349-diamond-back-heist-10-hardtail-mountain-bike-black-275-wheel.html?search_query=heist+1&results=5&gclid=CjwKEAjwj6PKBRCAy9-07PeTtGgSJAC1P9xGu1mf7jIYnWu2gtKDeu9eLh52T-osi_ZhaTV7imLfTRoCwYfw_wcB

Thanks chaps sorted it with a good long stare….

The tech docs didn’t really show how the retaining spring held in the shifting pin for lack of a better word…

All back together and I have 11 jumps.

councilof10 – Member
I love how people who don’t like a democratic decision come out with carp like this!

I agree with the democratic decision, my wife grew up out there.

Anyone else wondering, if the DUP are such objectionable ****, why do they have more MPs than anyone else in NI?

A nice group of people informed voters it would be bad to vote for anyone else…… :roll:

A bit moon on a stick request for a spacious and light tent, you normally sacrifice one for the other. Pop to Go Outdoors and have a look at their OEX range.

Interestingly Guido Gawkes

Ah Guido that central level headed outlet of facts…….

Not worried at all about the DUP but he did find 10 good policies so thats a plus….. :roll:

For road, Speedplay is king… IMHO

Looks like the a watered down version of the tractor sealant from Mole Valley Farmers with glittery bits.

nickfrog – Member
Straying away from Canon or to a lesser degree Nikon is always going to be a risk of limiting future choice of new and second hand glass.

Not so bad these days, M3/4 has a good following and are well supported, Pentax APSC cameras can take any K series lens

Pentax are under rated and backward capability is great. K3/K3 II is a good shout and the DA*/HD/Limited lenses are quality. Not as fast as Canikon but I prefer the build of Pentax though I’ve not seen one since they launched the K5II…

I shoot Fuji now still rocking a X-Pro 1…… auto focus isn’t it’s strong point… but the more modern stuff is a lot better XT1 or 2, XT20 etc

M3/4 is a good shout with a decent about of AF and lens support all in a small package. Battery life is the downside.

Not had much dealing with canikon since the the film T90 and EOS 1, I did use a EOS 1Dn for a wedding which was a nightmare due to the weight! Though my X-Pro 1 wasn’t much better for my sisters wedding as I don’t have an 18-55mm lens, was switching between 18, 35 and 60mm lenses on the fly… they were happy with the results I wasn’t so much…..

Websites to check out:

https://www.srsmicrosystems.co.uk/
https://www.lcegroup.co.uk/secondhand-search/
http://www.wexphotographic.com/

Just remembered I had a copy of a recent BikesEtc where they tested a Holdsworth Competition in a Steel vs Alu vs Carbon sort of test and it came out on top.
Competition was the Condor Italia and Vitus Venon Disc (there is another great name of old shame they are no longer Duralium…)

I looked at those as a possible change from my Kaff. Decided too much of the same really, extra clearance would be nice though.

within spitting distance down here, top two go through to a 2nd round ;)
Would stop using his families farm/restaurant but it does bloody good grub!

IMO Yes, teaming up with the DUP is such a back word step, it like a last clutch onto her position by jumping in bed with a party which has quite extreme views on peoples rights for a party of modern times.
Plus there is a bit of double standards there with the whole Corbyn and his IRA mates, she was quick to team up with a party which have/had connections to the UR to stay ahead.

gerti – Member
As much as I’m a unionist, who has no interest in a united Ireland, the DUP are a massive bunch of arrogant gobshites! They’re just a bunch of angry men in suits who think it’s still 1974. You’ve no idea how backward we are in NI, I hope we don’t infect the rest of yas!

At the moment I’m quite glad we put off moving back to my wife’s place of birth (Castlewellan) she is worried to what the future holds. The cycling would have been good though…

Can we an Acronym of Conservative and Unionist negotiation team for the Brexit talks?

Well they aren’t hanging about.

facebook_1497026365896 by Stephen Williams[/url], on Flickr

Can’t believe they are getting into bed with the DUP.

Could have used a plus/fat bike out on Benbecula…. was there for a few months with work, didn’t really get down onto the beach but the riding on Harris & Lewis was great!

My tip is Turbo Midge cream! we were eaten to death!

13925415_10153808915758225_415357623567142915_n by Stephen Williams[/url], on Flickr

Just as a bit of an update, started loosing pressure within a couple of hours of topping it up, took it for a ride across the beach the other day and was lucky there was a helpful RNLI bloke with a multi tool as I seemed to be loosing air through the valve.

Today I broke the beads to have a look and most of the stuff had clumped up together so added a bit more than I did last time and see how that goes now the valves are tight…. If that fails it back apart and new rim tape.

On the plus side I got to test if my Lezyne micro floor drive hv will seat a tubeless tyre and it does!

That ^ makes me think of doing a righty even more…

Do it! As one of the CTBM sticker say, “Keep Cycling Weird”!

wont be long….

Back in 1999/2000 I was the idiot for having an Orange Clockwork because it had rigid forks and the V-Brakes were backwards……

Unless your into biking Halfords is a one-stop-shop, and the price is attractive for parents, especially with some kids ability (or lack of) to look after their stuff….

I’m quite surprised we don’t see more Calibre out with the kids, Maybe not too many outlets as of yet? If I wanted to go FS I think I would look at a Bossnut as my 1st full suspension…. (I did have a Mr O but only rode it once and hated it…)

jambalaya. Prime Minister May has been word perfect these past few weeks and of course today.

Well it didn’t go well for the MP for South East Cornwall today

8O

No problem here, had it since October.

Well went out and tried with number 2 chid again, initially she was scared to go more than 5 feet before slamming on the brakes when she realised we left go.
And then she just kept peddling and didn’t want to get off, I ended up having a 3km jog beside her as she just rode off, funny how thing just switch like that, she wanted to carry on but we had to shoot off home again. She hasn’t got a 16″ Belter but inherited the 16″ Cosmo….

IMG_20170604_125638 by Stephen Williams[/url], on Flickr

That is lovely, some proper engineering there!
Reminds me of this bike from Dear Susan.

Kids bikes are brilliant. We’ve been through Ridgeback zoooom, Specialized, Saracen, Frog and Voodoo.

Not a bad one amongst those we’ve had (although we ruled out a few crappy ones!).

The Specialised and Saracen have gone to my nephew’s who are younger and still going strong.

And the best thing about kids bikes…i forgot to mention…that kids are riding them and having fun!

I did look at the Voodoo 20″ job as well as the Wiggins, sadly it was locked up and the sales people were helpfully huddled around their terminal… if it wasn’t for the usual Halfords sales the Voodoo would have been dearer than what we paid for the Early Rider 8O

Kids are brilliant fun on bikes, some just don’t seem to have any fear! Foot out around a corner narrowly missing a sign and some trees and just laughing as he goes on.

My daughter has just started off stabilisers, took some convincing! there is only a year between them and the boy started right off on the Cosmos, my daughter would not entertain it! she’s 5 now and we’ve put here on the Cosmos and got a few efforts of around 50yrds under her own power and balance.
As soon as she realisers you’ve let go the brakes are locked on and she falls off….. getting there though.

Looks great!