Did it on Friday and all rideable, we went from jacobs to Barber booth, Hollins Cross, then over to Rushup (so not up Chapel gate) – gutted at what they have done so far and quite clear the direction they want to go in…hoping it will be permanently halted and the baby head sized rocks which they have filled in the drop offs with, are removed before irreversible damage is done

Go for physio? I went to Howard Turner at Wilmslow Physio and after a year of suffering flashing lights, severe migraines etc etc, 3 treatments and I’m more or less cured (again! Migraines started at primary school, I puked all over the staff room floor with my first one – Weetabix always goes a lot further when it comes out as vomit..) I went 3 years ago and had 2 years without problems. Have tried sumatriptan – gets rid of pain, but shaky and can’t drive for about 3 hours after. Even tried amytriptilline (the gp said it was my age and related hormones (I’m female and ancient!)…but it wasn’t)

Our oldest went to uni 2 weeks ago. No tears, but miss her loads. Good thing is she is at Galashiels – not so far from Peebles. She might be seeing more of us than she wants to.

I have a transition bandit. It is enough bike for me riding in the Peak District. It is more capable than I am and I would happily take it abroad to ride in the mountains (which I will do one day). It has replaced an Orange 5 (2006 model, so quite steep) and Trek Fuel EX 9.8 (didn’t like the skitterishness on loose rocks). You don’t need carbon, but if you want it, best go for it, as you will probably always wonder…..

Only down side for the bandit in my opinion is it’s quite difficult to shoulder if you are hike a biking. This one is definitely a keeper! 😀

We built up a 456 and a Genesis core for our girls – big enough for 26″ wheels though – they squabble over who gets to ride the core. Light is important.

Brilliant, thankyou! 😀

I don’t mind paying, but am a member of the national trust, so could park without paying at mam tor if I wanted – I was just trying to park the other side of the road works,as that is the side I am coming from. It’s ok, changed the plan and riding elsewhere now, thanks.

Ok. Thanks for responses.

Coming from the other side.
I mean the layby big enough to hold probably 6 cars (without causing any obstruction)on the left hand side of the road if you are driving towards winnats from chapel – past the chestnut centre. It is just before the turn off on the right to rushop hall (SK 091 824). We’re going to head over towards Hayfield on the Pennine Bridleway (Roych Clough etc) Route long enough without any extra warm ups 😉

Let him go for A levels if he is interested and has the capability. My kids are all at a similar age. The oldest one leaves school in June and has applied to uni and for apprenticeships (which require her to get an ‘A’ and 2 ‘B’s at A level). Still coming to terms with the amount of debt (£45k+ apparently is likely- £9k fees and £8k for rent and living per year) she will land herself in if she chooses the uni route. She has been motivated enough to keep as many options open as possible to choose from when she leaves.
I think A levels keep their options more open.
A part time job is also excellent to make them more aware of the sort of jobs you can do if you don’t have qualifications as well as giving them their own money, experience in interviews, applying for jobs, being rejected and the satisfaction of someone else valuing what they do enough to pay them money to do it.

Mr S has come up trumps this year. Was doing a bit of tidying and found a pair of these . Just thought I’d better try them out for size – briliant! Can’t wait until Christmas 😀

😆 just makes me laugh that a group of top drs have come up with a diagnostic criteria which includes toilet blockage. I will grow up one day.

H3. CONSTIPATION AND INCONTINENCE
H3a. Functional Constipation
Diagnostic criteria* Must include two or more of the following in a child with a
developmental age of at least 4 years with insuf?cient criteria
for diagnosis of IBS:
?. Two or fewer defecations in the toilet per week
?. At least one episode of fecal incontinence per week
?. History of retentive posturing or excessive volitional stool retention
?. History of painful or hard bowel movements
?. Presence of a large fecal mass in the rectum
?. History of large diameter stools which may obstruct the toilet
* Criteria ful?lled at least once per week for at least ? months prior to diagnosi

I rode with Mr S when I first got back into mtbing after kids. Probably didn’t help that I was on a 80mm cross country race hardtail, which came with sketchy tyres, but I didn’t realise they were sketchy until Mr S rode it about a year later and told me this was so. While he was on a quality 5″ full susser.
It got to the stage where I knew I needed someone else to ride with and launched after a lady riding on her mtb when I was walking my dog. That was brilliant, we started riding together regularly and stuff I found difficult with Mr S, I found that because we stopped, looked and were chilled about it and saw each other riding it, just encouraged us both to get better and faster. Mr S was quite surprised how much I’d come on when we rode together again.
I ride with a group of girls on a weds night every week, but can now happily go out with Mr S as well, but I wouldn’t want to go out with him all the time, because I do slow him down (both in the speed and skill department),but not too much on a good day, but he does tell me he enjoys riding with me, but I do wonder sometimes 😉
If your missus is determined (and big respect to her for keeping trying, she will probably be using about 20 times your effort and be at the limit of her bravery, which can make you quite cranky at times) then helping her to find other women to ride with would help, or a nearby womens skills course, where she will hopefully meet some other women she would like to ride with.
I did mention in those early days that maybe some of my problems lay in the bike I was riding, but it took a male friend to say to Mr S, maybe if she was riding more than a cross country hardtail for the message to sink in. Moved onto a Scandal with 130mm fork and then an Orange 5 as well, it did help, as well as getting some decent tyres, although I don’t regret for a minute the skills that I built up whilst riding that 80mm hardtail.
I was in the dark about the cost of bikes and the one my Mr S had at the start was double what he told me he’d paid for it, but I know exactly how much stuff costs now and he still buys it. The same amount is going out your bank account, no matter what you pretend it costs.

Go for it. I’ve cleaned technical stuff in the dark that I struggled with in the day. I think there are less distractions because you can only see what your lights show you.
Also far less traffic on the trails 🙂

Some blokes are idiots on bikes and very intolerant and so are some women.

I suggest if you’re not being an idiot on your bike some of the time you’re taking it too seriouslly (regardless of gender)
[/quote]

Some blokes are idiots on bikes and very amusing and so are some women…. whatever 😉

Hmm! I’m female and have mtb’d for last 6 years after a break for about 10 years whilst being pregnant and looking after small children. Oh yes! I mtb’d on a fully rigid 40lb (probably) steel bike in the 90’s and was never aware that I wasn’t supposed to ride on footpaths.

Women are not the same as men. This shows in physiological testing (such as men have a higher VO2 capacity, which allows greater supply of oxygen to the muscles) and quite often out on the trails. The reason many women, myself included will let someone – who may be a man – overtake them, is because I enjoy riding far more without someone impatiently following me.
I am far less competitive than my husband, but I still am competitive, but pick my ‘fights’ as I have less resources in speed, strength and technical skills. I find I generally push myself harder when riding with faster riders who may be men or women, due to this competitive edge and not wanting to be the ‘weakest link’ for all of the ride. I also really enjoy riding in groups where the pace is sociable and it may take several hours longer to do a ride than usual. I enjoy both sorts of rides and it adds to the overall appeal of mountain biking for me. It doesn’t matter too much what the mix is of male / female
Some blokes are idiots on bikes and very intolerant and so are some women.
1 of the few times I have felt overpowered by the male side of mtbing was one weekend at Afan, where the testosterone could be smelt for miles and it took me a little while to settle, but I soon realised it was nothing to worry about.
Industry wise – I fit men’s bikes better than womens, so have no issues there, enter very few events and never win prizes and was unaware they were so rubbish.
I think a lot of it is about individuals – those women who want to ride and be out of their comfort zone, get cold and muddy, have bruises and cuts to hide at weddings etc will do.
I think there are so many opportunities for women to ride nowadays, they would have to look to themselves for reasons not to ride, but I am very biased.

Our teenage girls opinions are Kirroughtree is the best, they have ridden the blue (good for a 1st day ride, to get everyone back in the swing of things) and red, which you can shorten to about 10km if you wanted/needed to and just do just the second half. Mabie is ‘boring’ apparently and we have only done the blue at Dalbeatie with them, which is mainly doubletrack and not much fun.

Had 7 months of dodgy vision (scintillating scotoma), usually just when riding my bike, not long enough into the ride to put it down to dehydration, but lasting from 5 mins to 1 1/2 hours.
I have had so many theories as to why this happened, but all were busted in the end.
4 1/2 weeks since the last lot, so hope that is the end to them for the time being, difficulty being I never knew why they came on in the first place, so can’t avoid the trigger..

At last… 4 weeks of no lights 😀
Physio and chiropractor found difficulty in turning neck to right at C3 level and have helped to resolve this; also changed workstation positioning at work; sorted out a few stressy things at work a bit; rest (enough to drive me to insanity); drugs (didn’t work); cutting out caffeine and monosodium glutamate (not sure if this aided recovery or not); drinking 6-8 drinks of water per day; doing the neck exercises the physio said to do.
Not sure why things have improved, but certainly enjoying it whilst it lasts, although fitness levels not what they were 🙁
No longer scared to get on my bike and try again…. I love it!

Terry Falcon X
Specialised Jett 155mm
Bontrager http://www.bontrager.com/model/08749%5Blist%5D
I like the falcon best. The Jett I hated when I first tried it, but now it’s ok, but more difficult than the other 2 to get off the back of your saddle. Although a size 10, I still need a wide saddle – at least 150mm wide, or I get hip and low back pain, but when I have finished riding, rather than them feeling uncomfortable whilst riding, so would suggest measuring seatbone width or specialised or trek dealers will measure you.

Altura do a few ladies ones – I have the waterproof pair – in small mens and some ladies summer ones (black and white), which came with a very comfy detachable liner short, so can be worn over whatever you want. Fit nicely, much more flattering than the humvees. I’m happy with both pairs. The waterproof ones have just lost the poppers, but that is after 2 winters hard riding, material still in one piece.

Thanks for all the supportive comments.
Skiboy, I’m a woman (didn’t intend to mislead you), but I do tend to keep going (3 teenage kids, husband, dog, job) and I’m not very good at acknowledging it, so you may be right, although ofcourse I’d prefer you not to be :wink:.
Perhaps if I don’t ride again until Friday……

It’s just that it’s every time on my bike at the moment. And I hate it. I am so happy if I can get past that first half hour part and can complete the ride.
Last night I didn’t drink, went to bed early, was riding with a group I felt comfortable with, knew it was only going to be a couple of hours. It’s too early in the ride to be connected to dehydration or food issues. Thought it might be connected to the very cold weather – wrong!
I had almost 2 weeks off over christmas and it didn’t stop, although I did manage one ride without problems at all.
My biggest concern is the fact it is happening every single time I ride now – 5 times this week (and 2 of them were only under 7km).
You’re probably right, I will probably get told it is something I will just have to deal with.

Because it is treatment for the headache part of the migraine rather than the visual ‘aura’, as far as I can tell, and as I don’t have a headache after it seemed stupid to take a drug for something I’m not getting.

Lights in both eyes. I think they are there when I shut them too, but not 100%.
Have got a history of migraine, but always totally random and usually with a headache after. This is a very specific trigger and no headache, although often a bit clumsy and spaced out after.

Blue route at Kirroughtree is brilliant. First time one of my daughters smiled that ‘I get it’ smile on a mountain bike ride.

You can camp in a tent near the pods and use the very nice facilities at the pods at Glentress, just phone up and ask for details.
http://www.glentressforestlodges.co.uk/prices-booking-c20.html

Glentress..http://www.glentressforestlodges.co.uk/prices-booking-c20.html

Ours has 100,000 miles on the clock, but still running well. The spring attached to the front wheel steering went about 60,000 (no, I don't know the proper name for it), but apart from usual running costs not anything that has gone majorly wrong. Our kids hate it. It's red and so really does look like a postman pat van.
I love it because it is so practical..even if I was told it was a strange car for a woman to drive, but was also told by the same bloke that i shouldn't do the longer route on the Marin Rough Ride because it was so tough… I'd agree it was tough, but that didn't stop me from doing it 🙂

On One – maybe scandal race?

skinny lady oop north – well manchester, so fairly oop north – 32:20 on my 29er. I can spin faster than Mr S, which is just as well cos he runs 32:18 on his 29er, but this means a leveller playing field than ususal, but I still can't beat him…damn it!

Hayes stroker trails have a good shape lever for a smaller reach and are reach adjustable easily and don't break the bank (much).

Under women's cycling

Yes, but if you go to the bottom of the page, it says about the women's mtb club.

Hi,
Bumped into you lot yesterday and Bruce wanted to know how to get get your friend onto the NW ladies group.
Follow this link http://www.nwmtb.com/news.asp?pNum=2
At the bottom of the page there is an email address.
(This is just in case nbt doesn't get around to sorting it out 😉
Very good day for a ride 😆

Bushwacked – sorry I forget – mine are at the 'lovely' stage where Mr S and myself can get out early and go for a ride while the teens sleep in bed. Neither of us did much in terms of stuff for ourselves til the kids were at school, but three in 2 years means self sacrifice became an artform 😉
It does get easier! But not fair she gets to go out when she wants and you get grief, but life isn't generally fair.
And what nonk says

Night rides once the kids are in bed? Making sure you more than pull your weight before you go?
As for weekends away, make the most of them when they happen and let the others go without too much regret – parenthood means loads of concessions.
Encourage your wife to have time off too, to do the things she wants to do?

Hi Bunnyhop. Hope you feel better soon. That tandem looked 'good' fun. Not sure if I'd be brave enough to trust Mr S to do that!
Hope to see you out soon.

Or I've just got one of these:
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/Womens/11/Sombrio_Ladies_Plastic_Letters_S~S_Cycling_Jersey_2009/5360047377/
Nice fit, neckline right (not to tight), no back pockets.