I hope United don’t decide to look back to 1986 for inspiration and come looking at Pittodrie for their next manager.

My Axis weighs 105g. I don’t think I’ve used it in anger yet, just on a few gravel rides, due to nit doing much night riding last year. I’m not a fan of the tap system, I’d prefer a much simpler light if I’m honest. My old Ay-Up lights were great as they were so simple, a nice big button that was easy to find and use with gloves on and a simple on or off. I don’t need lots of brightness options on my lid I’m just using it for the descents. But it is well made and hopefully I’ll get round to using it more this winter.

Does anybody actually think the blonde bozo even read the email?

Breakfast cider and a bit of spannering, what can go wrong?

Looks like a grand day out.

I was worried I was the only one but I was also a bit underwhelmed by the new trails. But I reckon they’d be good if you have kids and it’s quite a nice wee warm up. But Laggan is lovely and if I’d had more time and fewer mechanicals I’m very keen to go and try the Enduro trails. It’s a just a wee bit far for me which makes it a long old day and I have to drive past Dunkeld etc to get to it.

We were up the other week and the bus dropped off at the bottom of the spooky climb.

Mine are 21 and 16 now and I couldn’t be prouder of them. My other half and I have quite different ways of parenting but between the two of us we seem to have mostly got it right. I think if you’re worried about being good then that’s half the battle as it shows you care. As has also been said I just try and be a bit better than my dad was, not that he was a bad parent but he worked too hard and wasn’t very present.

Just got my tickets for Jason Isbell in November at the Usher Hall, I have very high hopes for this gig.

The gloves I wear most through the winter are my Defeet dura gloves, not bulky so easy to carry a spare pair and you can double up on colder days. But I understand these won’t be enough for some people. There are only one or two rides a year when I need to go full sealskinz. My one item I wear every ride is a Ground Effect baked Alaska, it can be used on its own, as an outer layer or as a mid layer. If I’m not wearing one I’ll always have a gilet with me for the next 6 months, my preferred one just now is an Altura job with a light fleece on the inside of the front but a very breathable back, packs really small but is a bit more than just a windproof.

I rarely drink now mostly because of the effect it has on my sleep. I’ve also noticed this weekend that I slept badly on Saturday after having a fairly spicy curry and then again last night after eating the leftovers.

I like that, looks stealthy. Enjoy.

Is there a reason for looking at full suss more than another hardtail? I bought a 2nd hand Cube Stereo this year as I wanted a 2nd bike for my son and was starting to feel a bit beaten up on the hardtail. I’ve hardly ridden the full suss as I prefer my hardtail. The full suss needs to be ridden fast to get the same thrill and I’m not that comfortable with the consequences of an off at higher speeds, I’m self employed and can’t afford an extended period off work. If I was doing the riding you describe I doubt I’d touch the full suss or I’d be looking at getting an xc full suss. The other thing to bear mind if buying a 2nd hand full suss is the cost and bother of replacing bearings. I’ve just spent £40+ on a full set of bearings. I’m hoping to put of the replacement for a month or two and get it all nicely sorted for spring time.

We’ve had I think three but maybe four attempts on our shed, after the first one they’ve all failed as I’ve made it progressively harder. More secure locks, beefed up the door and door frame and finally an alarm. The last one set off the alarm and since then nobody has been back, that was a good few years ago now. Hopefully as others have said you’ve made them think again about coming back.

I have the same Decathlon trousers Ro5ey suggests. Got them for standing around at daughters football matches. I’d suggest going to Decathlon and seeing what best suits you.

Drac – thats a few miles from here

Less than a mile from Easter Road.

Bird Zero 29. I love mine, lots of fun but versatile. I ride mine in at the Golfie etc and do long xc rides on it. You could maybe test one at Laggan? I see they have some of their original frames for only £275.

Will I find it in the travel section or is it a work of fiction?

Relatively the most I’ve ever spent was about £50 to see Neil Young about 20 years ago. I was skint and it was a lot of money for me at that time but it was definitely one of the best gigs I’ve been to. I’m not sure I’d see him again as I think it might be a bit of a letdown but I can’t imagine anybody who’d cost more currently that I’d want to see. Most expensive after that was the Stones but that was a present. Again, doubt I’d pay to see them again.

They should update the website then as this is what it says, “We are keeping the family day on Saturday 14th as well which will see a timed kids race of a 6km route which can be looped twice as a solo or relayed as a pair. “

Cheers. I’m still swithering.

Maidens is doable on a gravel bike but not much fun compared to a MTB. You could cut across to Castlelaw which is hard work but good gravel mostly.

I love my Zero 29. I bought my first full suss this summer bug I’ve only ridden it twice because the Zero is much fun. I’ve got a Bird dropper and it’s been faultless. Enjoy.

My friend has a cafe which we stopped at on Saturday. It is absolutely part of the community, my friend was chatting away almost constantly to people she has obviously gotten to know very well over the years.

If it annoys Patel, Jenrick and Farage it must be a good thing.

Less than 13% of over 18’s smoke. If pubs can’t turn a profit from the other 87% of the population then they’re doing something wrong.

Yep, really heartwarming telly.

Definitely Maybe?

Out of interest I just looked to see if there are any rooms at a Premier Inn in Edinburgh on the 8th or 9th of August, no all sold out. Closest is Dunfermline and Livingston.

I should’ve seen them in the 90’s, don’t really know why I didn’t. My 16 year old daughter loves them and so we might go if she wants to but it’s going to be bloody expensive and I kind of resent paying them big money. I’d rather go and see a bunch of smaller/newer bands.

I’ve no idea but if you’ve enough left in the tank by that point then fair play to you. There’s a fair bit of climbing and hike a bike in the lollipop route as it is. Personally, I had a better day when I did the classic loop.

https://www.mtbbatteries.co.uk/mountain-bike-lights/lumenator-20/

Still available as far as I can see. I have one, very impressed with it. I’ve got an exposure axis for my helmet but I’m not that impressed, glad I got it cheap. I prefer the simplicity of the lumenator.

We were in Ireland this summer, Kilkenny and Wicklow areas and it seemed like there was very little litter. There also seemed to be far fewer fast food outlets. I also noticed a few places which had lovely flower beds along road sides and roundabouts that were planted up with lots of flowers. I remember seeing signs at one beach, I think they asked you to pick up three pieces of litter, it’s just a little thing but if lots of us do a little bit…

Quite a few painted ladies and peacocks in our garden this afternoon.

Ash were really good last night, helped that they only played for an hour so the set was full of bangers. North Berwick was lovely and sunny and middle class but we still saw two women having a square go. The wee one delivered an olympic standard upper cut and then told her doomed opponent, “never underestimate me!”. And we bumped into the artist formerly known as GW of this parish. Class night.

Diving could be a really high standard.

I have the trail cross and would say they’re pretty good.

It’s not just mountain bikers. If you look at the majority of kids sports most parents just drop of their kids and never get involved. I’ve done my fair share of helping out with fundraising and volunteering but I’m damned if I’m going to let others take the piss and let a handful do everything. With a big event like Tweedlove I’m sure there’s only so many times you can go to the volunteer well.

It seems they have no need to do anything. Interesting that as many people seem really happy with Endura kit as not. I haven’t bought anything from them for a few years, the last thing I bought were some knee warmers as I thought they couldn’t mess them up but they appear to have been made for a giraffe.

The diving will be well worth watching, Chinese diver getting 10’s in the first round!