We're not city folk. I grew up in North Wales, and the other half is Somerset born and bred. We're a bit out of place in the south east. Put it this way, the lack of big city thrills is not likely to be an issue… the only thing that worries me is finding work.

Thanks again all

thepublican – Anywhere without a uni in the westcountry is basically local chavs pushing prams or a tourist destination full of empty 2nd homes. – Bit of a sweeping generalisation, surely!

Olly – we already have family and friends in the area – my wife grew up in West Somerset – and already spend a lot of time there (we're just not familar with the Exeter area), have to say my experience of the people is exactly the opposite of yours, but then we do currently live in the South East…

We wouldn't neccessarily be looking to live in Exeter itself but one of the outlying villages. Will check out some of the places mentioned on our next visit.

Still at an early planning stage, but certainly some food for thought – cheers all.

Thanks all – appreciate the responses.

With regard to the PGCE – hear what you're saying. My wife has a masters degree, doctorate and about 10 years experience in industry – I reckon the problem is she's going to be overqualified for most teaching jobs.

philconsequence – I believe that comes with it's own integral crudcomb (TM) for removing clag-nuts and dingleberries.

Osprey do one called the Talon 4. Their stuff is generally pretty good:

http://www.ospreypacks.com/Packs/TalonSeriesMultiUse/Talon4/

Funnily enough, Camelbak also do their own version using their "un bottle" er bottle, although it would barely fit in a multi tool and spare tube. My wife has got one for running.

I always planned to get a singlespeed specific rear hub but never got round to it. I ride about 95% singlespeed and have been running a spacer kit with a 16t sprocket on my MTB for about 5 years now without any problems.

I run 42:18 on my Roadrat for mixed road / off road which is nigh on perfect for the undulating hills around here but I do sometimes spin out on long flat road sections. if I was doing road only then 42:16 would be spot on. 44:16 should be fine if it's not too hilly where you live

I've got a three bike Fiamma rack on my T4 – works really well. Can even open tailgate with a couple of bikes attached. Pretty sure they do a 4 bike version too.

Remove the cranks from your own bike.
Drop your seatpost
Use trailgator to attach your bike to rear bumper of car
Get your missus to tow you around the block a few times
Come back and tell us if you still think it's a good idea.

Conti Travel Contacts (again!). Plenty of volume, smooth rolling and really tough.

I've used Schwalbe Marathon Plus for commuting too- also a great tyre, faster-rolling than the Conti's I think but I reckon the Contis have the slight edge if you are likely to hit some rough stuff as well.

Nick1c – given that the price on ebay is $90, even with shipping he's putting on a fair markup.

I take it back… have been in touch with the company and they want $70 to ship to the UK, so $160 in all…. I think a shed bodge may be on the cards.

We went here a few years back with Exodus, and it was amazing – really can't recommend it enough:

http://www.kicheche.com/camps-mara.shtm

Check the reviews on Tripadvisor:

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g294209-d325482-Reviews-Kicheche_Mara_Camp-Masai_Mara_National_Reserve.html

It is (or was) part owned by wildlife photographer Paul Goldstein who is one of the directors of Exodus. Fantastic location, knowledgeable staff and you are not isolated from local culture as you are with other places in the mara – all the staff are local Masai. It's an unfenced camp so you can't wander around at night without an escort (elephants and lion have been known to come inside the camp), but all of the tents have verandas facing right out onto the plain. We had a hippo about 30 metres from the campfire one night, and some other members of our party had a lion roaring outside their tent one night. Loads of lion, giraffe and elephant in the area – also saw a cheetah on our last day. Exodus are a great outfit to travel with too. We did a few days at Naivasha / Nakuru on the same trip which were also excellent, but Kicheche really was the highlight.

I'd second doing a balloon safari – unique experience and a fantastic way to see the wildlife and get a perspective on the vast landscape.

Ianpinder – Quite a few spots but all quite fickle and inconsistent. You can get lucky and have a cracking session in the right conditions but it's the exception rather than the rule.

Most N facing spots work after a big Northerly has been blowing down the North Sea. So more likely during Autumn / Winter. Look for a big low pressure off Scandinavia , and a day or so later we generally get waves. Surf forecasts for North Norfolk work OK for Kent or magicseaweed has a forecast for Joss Bay.

Joss Bay is probably the main spot – even has a surf school. It can get surprisingly packed when there is swell, and some pretty good local surfers. Sandbars in middle of bay and chalk reef at sides. Bit rippy in places so watch out.

Broadstairs (Viking Bay) off the harbour wall is a bit more mellow with longer rides – good on a longboard. Only really works at low tide in similar conditions.

Ramsgate Harbour Wall can work pretty well, but quite a lot of localism. I think there are also some semi secret spots around Margate.

Camber Sands works at high tide in a big South Westerly, but gets blown out very easily as its so exposed. A macking south westerly swell giving overhead waves further west will give you a couple of feet there. Quite a strong cross-shore rip so you can end up with a long walk back from where you started out from!

Brighton is the most consistent spot within about an hour's drive and has a big surf community. Main spot is Hot Pipes – near the outfall of Shoreham power station – not the most scenic of locations but can get pretty good on a SW wind swell and is sheltered from the wind. The Marina wall is also pretty good, but again very locally.

It's definitely not Hawaii, but some options locally, provided you've got the time to monitor the charts etc – worth an investment in a good winter wetsuit!

Mail me if you want more info. I'm just down the road from you. Don't get out much at the moment but hoping for some sessions over the Autumn if you fancy sharing petrol.

Mal-ec. You live near Newgale? I'm jealous! :D

Had an awesome early morning session there back at the beginning of June. Sadly it was the day we were heading home so could only manage an hour or so, and I haven't surfed since due to family committments etc.

I saw some of those Carver racks in Ma Simes last time I was down your way. Probably OK for a smaller board but I think you're right – they'd be really unsafe in a side-wind, especially with a bigger board. I was wondering whether I could adapt a BOB trailer or similar to carry a board but even with some sort of strut to stop the board fouling the rear wheel, I don't think the hitch is long enough, and I think the whole thing would be top heavy.

Nick1c – given that the price on ebay is $90, even with shipping he's putting on a fair markup.

Surf-mat -too little water-time and not enough fitness mean that my level of surfing ability has gone in the opposite direction unfortunately!

Big waves are terrifying. I've scared myself stupid on a number of occasions when I've bitten off more than I could chew even in overhead waves. I've got the utmost respect for anyone who rides the really big stuff. These days, a mellow 3-4ft is more my speed!

I saw something similar to that when I lived in Holland. A guy pulling a full Canadian canoe with full kit on a proper old sit up and beg bike.

Great shots Surf-Mat. I'm ex Swansea myself, but SIHE rather than the uni. I do miss Gower…

Re Kayaks. Don't see why not. They have a wider wheelbase version which will take a SUP board, so reckon you're be fine with that.

Surf-mat. I live in Kent (not known for its surf, sadly but a few spots work on big N swells).

In laws live in West Country though so do most of my surfing there – Puts, Croyde, Woolacombe etc – N Cornwall occasionally. We also head to Pembrokeshire a few times a year, but the campsite we stay at is a couple of miles from the nearest break. Hence the trailer requirement to avoid having to drive the van down there with wife and baby asleep in the back!

Planning a permanent move westwards next year…

They're actually pretty cheap. 90 dollars (About 60 quid) on Ebay so similar price to Carver Racks etc but loads more flexible. No UK shipping cost though, which is why I was wondering about UK distribution

I like the idea that the board becomes the load bay so you can lash gear on top. I'm thinking the weight of a drybag with wetsuit etc above the wheels would actually help stability.

I thought punching the baboon was a euphemism

Once had Afternoon Tea with Eric Morcombe.

Sorry everyone, but that one tops it for me. :-)

I'm also feeling a bit inferior after reading some of the above, but here goes:

Been kicked off stage by Nicky Wire at a dive venue in Swansea on the Manic's first tour
Briefly in a highly unsuccessful Welsh language rock band (1 gig, recorded music for a never released Welsh TV drama!)
Skinny dipped in a waterfall
Taught some friend's kids to surf (one popped up on first attempt!)
Swum around a (very) small Greek island
Surfed the Severn Bore
Been wiped out by the Severn Bore, picked up by high-powered RIB, and deposited the other side of the wave to catch it again!
Climbed Snowdon, Ben Nevis and Scafell in a weekend
Held my Dad's hand as he passed away
Held my wife's hand as our lovely son was born by emergency C section (scariest and most humbling experience ever)

Port Isaac is good for a mooch around. Lots of rock pools and crabbing opportunities even if the weather is dodgy. Kids seem to enjoy exploring all the narrow little alleyways too.

4 year old may like to go body-boarding at Polzeath. Getting wet anyway so weather not really an issue.

Watergate Bay Hotel a good place to hole up for a few hours if the weather is bad. Great views and quite family friendly.

I do apologise for being nasty about Dubai.

Fly-blown technology park / shoddy building site in the middle of nowhere populated by money / image-obsessed chavs on the make and chippy ex-military personnel all held together by a poorly treated migrant workforce. What's not to like? …You're right, it is just like Basingstoke.

Most non military people working in Afghanistan commute out for WEs to Dubai and blow their cash there

EDIT You're in Afghanistan. Even with three weeks leave, it's going to take you a long time to get anywhere worthwhile /EDIT

Oh, and if you think the trolling is bad on here, check this out:

http://www.arrse.co.uk/intelligence-cell/63808-camp-bastion-conditions-civvy-contractors.html

To be honest if you are basing your decision on what could be a life changing experience (good or bad) on the collective wisdom (sic) of a mountain biking forum, then you really need to question your motivation for doing this.

Stuff I would be thinking about in a similar position:

The amount of time you spend on base are presumably going to be pretty much work / eat / sleep, so is it really such a great deal money-wise?

I'm guessing you're probably going to experience a pretty high degree of resentment from the people in operational roles whose job it is to go outside the wire for substantially less money… particularly if they're just back from a particularly difficult op.

You're in Afghanistan. Even with three weeks leave, it's going to take you a long time to get anywhere, and I'm guessing is going to be subject to short term delays / cancellations subject to conditions on the ground at the time.

From speaking to people I know who've done similar stuff, the reality of the situation is likely to be interminable crushing boredom punctuated with occasional moments of absolute terror.

Exmoor rather than Quantocks but would recommend Burrowhayes Farm near Porlock. Within 30 mins drive from Quantocks and direct access onto Exmoor trails so best of both worlds. 20 minute walk into Porlock village for pubs. Killer hill on way back though!

… or possibly The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face – Ewan McColl. Although he apparently hated pretty much every cover version of it!

Into My Arms – Nick Cave

Hora – Safety and handling are also a consideration, as is space, economy, reliability, etc, and this still does come to the top of the list.

The Scout has a fair bit of extra ground clearance over the standard estate or something like a Quattro so would expect it to be better in the snow. Comments above and reviews I've read seem to support this.

Good point regarding tyres though – will bear that in mind.

Might have a look at Anathem. I really liked Cryptonomicon and Snow Crash, although I struggled with some of the others

Birds Without Wings is great. Try some of LdB's South American novels too. Weird, very violent in places but brilliant.

So I'm guessing the STW book club isn't going to be giving Richard & Judy or Oprah any sleepless nights…

Seriously? I've got at least a 2 book a week habit.

Thanks folks. Pretty much confirmed what I thought.

steveh – yeah, they do seem to be like rocking horse teeth, but I guess that's got to be good for resale values. Our local dealer has one which is 6 months old with 5K on the clock for for about 3K under the original list price. I have also been looking at the standard 4×4 estate.

niknak – I think we've been reading the same tests! At least a couple of them had the reviewer considering putting in an order themselves.

To be honest, they are a bit (lot) more than we originally intended to pay for a new car, but it seems to genuinely tick all the boxes for us.

Will check out the forum as advised.

If he is let's hope he at least checks for tide-marks on his arms first…. or at least what remains of them.

Oh I thought it mean EMPathy cannon, like the gun that Trillan fires at everyone in the H2G2 movie.

With that one sentence you've just confirmed about every single stereotype about this forum….

I fear we may have lost jobbyheid to a bizarre plumbing accident. 8O