My neighbour has the same set up outside their property, they’ve stuck private land, no parking signs up. He boxes in any car that does park there with his two cars and leaves them sitting for a while before moving 😂

Mine is always turned on.

I have a Bush. It’s not very impressive.

I’ve got a 2013 LWB crew cab Trafic, usually runs around with 2 fully built large bikes in it, 3 go in build but touching.

Recently did a trip with 4 and 3 people, 3 had front wheels off – build a wee stand for the front wheel axels to stagger them a bit. 1 slotted in the side of them fully built. Most riding kit was in the back around the bikes, bags for clean kit in the rear with one of the passengers. We took very little time on how it was packed, for more kit/longer journeys we’d have stacked stuff on top of the bikes.

Wasn’t much more effort packing up or setting out riding with the wheels off and it’s a pretty nice thing to drive.

I’ve had this, was excruciating, got laughed at every day at work as I needed a cushion to be able to sit.

Spent a fortune on physio and chiropractor trying to get everything aligned to alleviate the “coccyx” pain.

Was only when I switched to a new physio that she focussed on my hips, when she found the trigger point it was nearly instant relief on my pain I thought was my coccyx. If you sit with your ankle on your opposite knee while on a seat does it ease? If so it may be your hips causing the pain – that could still be the new saddle causing the hip pain though!!

Stif Squatch, love mine when my back isn’t playing up!!

This is absolutely me, not bad at getting out locally at the weekends although few things holding me back at the moment, but the bigger adventures are all just in my head. Last time I had a van I was away all the time, single days, weekends, events, whatever. Now I’m forever finding stupid reasons why I can’t just go – fuel prices, need to put some insulation in the van doors, need to sort out a leisure battery set up, can’t get anyone to look after the cats…

Constantly watching YouTube videos and dreaming of getting away but haven’t done a single overnighter with having this van for a year.

Maybe I’m just being too cynical in thinking that the 16km of ‘new trails’ may just be them making the unofficial trails official and adopting them into their trail network…

Fairly sure all of the new road work that the black spits out on (Ponduro road) was for drainage and access as a starting point for this master plan but could be mistaken!

Doesn’t have the 3 seats in the front but with sticking a passenger in the back it sounds like a Nissan Elgrand would be ideal! Either get one with curtains or a couple of cardboard cut outs and velcro to cover windows.

I’ve had a couple of crew cabs, sticking a support in the rear footwell and a single inflatable mattress fits perfectly for the odd night sleeping in it. Went for a LWB Trafic crew over an Elgrand last year but that was just due to knowing the Trafic.

I took that video with a Nikon compact camera probably only 3MP and in the late ’80’s used to ride the Rockhopper around the Hermitage annoying the folk out for a Sunday walk. Sometimes along to Birnam hill and down the steps around the back, then the Stakis Hotel for hot shortbread and coffee sometimes caked in mud using their facilities

Spend most of my summers and weekends doing exactly the same in the mid 90s before there were any trails up there. Pedal up there, biking, swimming, jumping off the hermitage bridge. Great times. Not the Stakis though, packed lunches all the way!

Don’t think I saw Colin up there, was his dad the year that I can remember spectating when a fist size rock got kicked up off one of the cars and flew past us a few meters away. Back when watching a rally meant setting up wherever you wanted without the dedicated spectator spots.

Sounds like I need to grow a fair bit taller…

The key question must be is there enough gradient or features to be worth building trails! Pump track around the trees…

130-140mm (wish) of travel, XC-ish trail. Surrey Hills, occasional BPW (Blue/Red), Afan, Cwm Carn. No big jumps. Ibis Ripmo AF is 8.5lbs with shock, apparently. Ripley AF is claimed at 7.45lbs. Much more reasonable, but a touch too little travel.

I’ve got a Ripmo AF and for any of the riding types you mention I’d be on my steel hardtail and the Ripmo will be left behind (except from BPW!). It’s a beast of a thing that is suited to enduro riding. It’s smashing PBs on technical stuff that I’d set on a Whyte G-160 with a 180mm fork. It is a big, heavy beast but still pedals very well.

The Ripley AF should be ideal for mostly XC with some bigger stuff chucked in IMO.

A set of light weight wheels with fast rolling tyres would make significantly more difference to the ride than a couple of pounds either way on the frame…

Stif Squatch is a beautiful bike, I’m just put off by the really low bb. I wish they’d do a new Morf.

It is low but I’ve not really felt it’s been an issue. My FS has a pretty low BB too though so might just be what I’m used to. Rode it for a bit with 175mm cranks, was a bit more likely to pedal strike but still totally rideable. Was much better value a few months ago too!!

If you do go down the gravel bike route and throw in some off-road trails be careful with the positioning of the lights. I hit a trail that was way muddier than expected, was great fun but when I got home I realised the main light was totally covered in mud and the back-up was barely visible. Was so lucky as I’d cycled up a horrible, twisty, fast, dark bit of road with no idea I was invisible.

Attempted JOGLE years ago. Did loads of training, well prepared and independently supported.

Our group of 8 had never all ridden together before. That was a big mistake. 3 very fast, 3 mid pack (who could all almost hold on to the fast guys) and 2 slow and steady. I was in the mid pack group.

The first day we all stayed together and had a very leisurely pedal across the north of Scotland then the pace ramped up day on day to get finished as early as possible each day. Hanging on to groups riding too fast for you to tuck in from the wind is a massive mistake on such a long ride. It seemed sensible at the time to get towed along at a cracking pace but it properly took it’s toll. Whatever day we came into Glasgow, my average speed for the day was north of 20mph.

I ended up abandoning on the 6th day. Tore muscles in my thigh, spent the end of day 5 pedalling with one leg which injured that one too. Got advised to get in the van and give up when I was pushing up a gentle hill on an A road.

Looking back I’d say be happy to sit back and enjoy the scenery and don’t hang on to people too fast for you. If we’d split into 3 groups and took a bit more time to enjoy the ride I don’t think I’d have got injured, hanging on around my limit for way too long definitely hurt me. Obviously there are days in the wind when it would be well worth hanging in there but don’t sacrifice that over the benefit of your own comfortable pace.

We also got a bit sucked into the pedalling aspect of it, cover the ground quickly instead of treat it as a way to tour the country. Remember one of the guys asking to stop at a castle and the rest battering on as we’d just stopped. He took photos while riding. Thinking back on that it seems a bit crazy that we never stopped and just ended up spending more time in a hostel in the afternoon.

Also jump on any chance you can to get a massage!

One of my neighbours leaves my postie a card (no idea if there’s a tip in it) every year. I know this as it ends up in my recycling bin every year! First year I was curious why my empty bin had a card in it.

My teal one arrived yesterday, not been out on it yet but damn it looks good!

Comms were great from when it hit the build list and delivery was on time and really well packed. Real shame there were no updates when it was delayed but I’m giving them a pass and would use again.

Have you got yours yet? Mine is due on Monday. Never bothered kicking off at the delays!

I’m in zero rush to get mine. I’d not even be having a slight grumble about the timings if I got a quick call or email when it was further delayed.

Saying that though if the latest reason is correct about rust proofing from the factory I’d much much rather they took an extra few weeks to resolve that as it’ll be used a fair amount through the winter!

My mate has one which he let me ride before I placed my order so knew it was the bike I wanted. Placed my order about the same time as you and had one call to update after I posted on their FB feed that I hadn’t heard anything.

Not bothered calling this time as my back is screwed and I’d not be riding it for a while but still very annoying that’s another deadline missed with no update.

Getting very close to cancelling now, the fact I’ve ridden one and that they were super helpful when my mates dropper broke and sorted it quick as, is all that’s stopping me calling to cancel.

Storage locker and a year of van life!

One that stick in my mind is the entry to the bridge, where you see the bridge but the trail turns right over a blind crest- the natural instinctive line is to go straight for the bridge, but there is a large ditch there ready to catch you out. The perfect place for an inexperienced rider to panic and have a big off.

Yep, both runs down I got close to that ditch, there were nasty rocks in there too.

Was up yesterday, had been looking forward to it.

There had just been some rain, feedback from someone who rode it on Friday and Monday was there was a lot more grip after the rain.

They know how to build trails on that terrain so fairly certain it will improve over time. The amount braking bumps four days after opening were interesting though!

The lack of features seems a bit of a miss, some jump/drop options with chicken lines would have broken up the top part. Worst part for me (as previously mentioned) was the ditches in the run off areas with giant boulders in them. Those are gonna make a fall hurt. Also seemed to be some corners that tightened just as you’d expect them to exit (some with rocks on the line the corner sets you up for) and some S bends that neither the high line or straight line set you up right for the last one. Last negative, it will also be a long walk down on the trail if it turns out to be too much for a family expecting trail centre flowy blues.

Pleased they made it though. The picnic benches on the way down were a nice touch and there were plenty of safe passing places. Hopefully with a few tweaks (moving the boulders in the most likely crash sites!) and the track bedding in it will prove a good family option/warm up prior to Top Chief/WC trails. The lower sections were also really good, pretty much from the bridge IIRC.

Massive gamble on reliability I suspect, but Chrysler Grand Voyagers dwarf most of the other options…

Been Elgrand shopping recently and £5k you’d be pretty lucky to get a decent one.

I’ve got the 1.5tsi in a skoda octavia, with manual gearbox.
There has been some issues with the 1.5tsi and manual with owners reporting a kangarooing effect as slow speeds(especially in cold weather)

I’ve got the same car and I definitely get this. Usually just out of my road in 2nd then fine. Haven’t bothered as it’s just a lease.

The Octavias are about the same size and have had decent deals on them recently.

I find the engine alright, it is averaging mid 40s with roof rack on and fairly regularly a bike on there too. Can get it over 50 on a run. Don’t find it that happy to rev out, it feels much happier cruising than being driven hard (last car was a Leon Cupra estate with twice the power though so was used to that). 6th gear on the Octy is very long, 2k revs at 70mph. Weirdly it doesn’t feel like it accelerates hard in 6th unless on cruise control, must not be pressing hard enough I guess. The delivery driver did 250 miles from Manchester and dropped it off at 53mpg.

Not driven that diesel but I wouldn’t look past another 1.5tsi for a diesel.

Lived in one in Gorgie for many years and still let it out. Council control the central maintenance and heating, can by some big bills at time like roof repairs or lift refurbishment which can hurt but generally it’s been okay. I did 15 years in mine from being a student with various noise issues upstairs and downstairs. The price I saw one going for recently was a very pleasant surprise so there is obviously still a growing market for them.

Mine was a bank repossession that was picked up cheap so it has worked out. I’d get another if it was cheap, wouldn’t like to live in it again unless upstairs and downstairs neighbours were good, they can change very quickly too if it isn’t owner occupied.

As per someone above, the noise can really travel. I went up one floor and banged on their door to complain about a party to find it was actually about four floors up. Never had any issues with people hanging about in them although the stair windows had been smashed last time I visited.

Caught a couple at it in a parked car a few years back on a group night ride, we were waiting to regroup when we spotted them. One of the lads got a row for staring at them, argued back that he’d never even glanced in that direction but had totally forgotten his helmet light (ooh er) was still on full beam shining in their window!

Brought my dad’s old Sony system and record collection back to mine for something different to listen to working from home. Stereo was probably from the 70s and had been in storage since the late 90s, record collection late 60s into the 70s. Some I was interested in giving a listen, others no chance!

Unfortunately it only lasted half a record before smoke started to pour out of it. Must’ve caught it seconds before it burst into flames :( had been out the room a few minutes before so got pretty lucky.

Can’t decide now whether to try and get it fixed or buy myself another one. The price of vinyl definitely puts me off getting properly into it.

So sorry to hear that Alan. Unbelievable what keeps getting thrown at you.

I’d been using a massage ball to get into the knot in my shoulder for weeks, got the massage attachments for a jigsaw (same movement and shapes of tools as the likes of Theragun) and the knot was gone in two days. Went for an Aldi jigsaw and ebay/amazon attachments. They’re not quite the right shape to click into the tool holder so had to file them a bit. £50 for jigsaw, battery and charger and £12 for the attachments and I get a jigsaw out of it too… Plenty of videos on YouTube showing them in action.

Lived off them since working from home started, red onion relish, flavoured chicken and cheese. Every single day, the George is getting more use than ever before. Never thought I’d miss the work canteen so much. Agreed that it only needs a quick wipe, very little fuss.

I’ve got the Halfords 1000A Noco one. Starts my 4.7l Jeep first time, every time. The previous plug in battery charger with “start” function had to be left connected for half an hour to get it to start before I got that wee starter pack. Used it on it four or five times on the Jeep and twice on the MGF in the garage (that needs scrapped or fixed) and it still doesn’t need charged.

Could you not just tuck a hot water bottle down the back of your jumper?

Heated insoles are pretty cheap, they might give enough of a heat in your extremities to make you feel warmer all over too.

Before leaving the garage if they’re really bad I’ll use GT85/degreaser sprayed on my hands and a paper towel to take the worst off. And pray that I’ve not got a cut!! Swarfega or Halfords own version sitting by the kitchen sink too if needed.

Dug mine out of the garage for lockdown. Might be the older model that 2017. It’s nowhere near as much fun as the T-130 but it covers miles well. It used to get used as my do everything bike, it’ll cope with most things you throw at it but definitely more suited to the big day out type riding than pointing it down enduro stages.

The double chain ring one is quite flexy, I’m not a light rider and I’d buzz the tyres off the frame way too often – haven’t done that at all through lockdown, maybe being about 2 stone lighter than when I used to ride it has helped!!

If it’s cheap enough it’s a great option for the right type of riding.

Heading downhill 40 zone into a 30 a bus and car passed me perfectly. In the 30 they were holding me up with the bus somewhere in the mid 20s. Car behind me overtakes without enough room to pull in safely so sits beside me gradually moving over until I brake and let him in. Proper stupid move. Was still right behind him at the traffic lights (avoided the temptation to nip back past) and still behind him where he turned off at the bottom of the hill. I’d not have held him up in the slightest yet he just had to pass the cyclist.

Got to agree there does seem to be a massive split of people who have kicked back and tried to be as safe and courteous as possible to ones who are rebelling and angry at everything and every one.

Also bought clippers many years ago but paid with my dignity on the last cut. Clippers were dying, did my usual cut the night before then catch-all run over in the morning pre-shower. Someone spotted a huge missed bit at work and I’m still getting called tufty!!

This just prompted me to sort out my insurance for Spain in March too cheers!

Used Snowcard as usual and they’ve got a fairly clear looking statement on it

https://www.snowcard.co.uk/content/coronavirus-covid-19-information

We hired a people carrier, ended up with a Galaxy for three of us, three bikes and three bags. Didn’t need to transport them while we were there but there was plenty of room with seats folded down to get everything in there. From memory I think we split the rear seats and pushed bike bags all the way forward beside the rear passenger.

Might be another option to a van.

For trips to the Alps we take the front wheels off and bungee them to the driver’s side

That cannot be safe, how do they move their arm???

Very tempted to sell my NV200 for a people carrier, the Grand Voyager keeps tempting me even though I’m sure it will be absolutely awful but it is huge! The ability to use it for more than two people would be nice but can’t help but think the positives of the van (bike out of view, rear section doesn’t have to be clean, smell of filthy kit doesn’t come through bulkhead, etc) will be missed very quickly. I miss my Transit crew cab :(