Can’t comment on a Karcher but I’ve been using a Nilfisk C120 for about 5 years now and no issues. Great little machine.
Just change the hose though because the one it comes with is god awful!

Alley

Petplan. Claimed quite a bit over the years on two labs and they’ve been nothing but fantastic. Absolutely zero trouble and all done direct through the vets so we haven’t had to pay upfront.
We have a 7k max limit and the week before Xmas my 8 yr old lab was referred to a specialist where an MRI scan confirmed a slipped disc in the neck area of the spinal column. Straight in for surgery from the MRI and we had her home 2 days later looking like a new dog. We had to pay £40 admin fee for them to do the claim direct and it has maxxed us out for the year but absolutely no issues with petplan paying.
Yes it costs more (and it’ll continue rising) but I’ve always found them excellent to deal with.

Thanks .. I’ll take a look! 👍🏻

Love reading this thread.

I have a Wild Willy in the loft that my dad built for me when I was a kid. Used it in the mid 80’s. I always remember that The battery used to Last about ten mins then it’d take off down the road out of control !

This has got me thinking about getting something for me and my lad to have a play with .. he’s just gone 5 so is there anything off the shelf that’d suit him at his age that’d take the odd crash here and there?
He likes monster truck type vehicles.

I’ve had a browse on model sport but I’m finding it a bit of a minefield.

Budget wise I’m Not sure what I’d need to spend – up to about £60/70 maybe?

Sounds like it is doable then and it wasn’t a daft topic after all!
something for me to give some thought to.
I’m not that clued up on bikes. Best Motors etc … I’d need to research.
I seen that Ribble Hybrid and thought it looked ideal.
Out of interest – Any bikes you’d recommend ? I’d want a flat barred commuter with a rear rack. Preferably <£2000 !

Ok, I got totally bogged down looking at sleeping bags since this post, tossing up between the Alpkit Pipedream 400 and a ME Helium 250 (£204).
In all honesty I don’t want to spend a fortune and truth be told I don’t need anything ultralight either – there’s plenty of pannier space for the kind of trips I’ll be doing so after watching two videos on the Alpkit Skyehigh 700 at the weekend I’ve ordered a Skyehigh 500.
Yep it’s a bit heavier and bulkier but the videos showed me that it can be compressed to a pretty decent size that should do me. Time will tell if I’ve made a bad choice but I need a new bag anyway.
£20 off in the current sale + £20 xmas voucher so it’s cost me £120. Happy to stick some pics on when it turns up.

If you’re anything like us camping with 2 kids – basically just pack the house into the car. That’s how it feels when we go

@sadexpunk I can recommend one of these belts to carry phone, keys, energy bars ..

https://flipbelt.co.uk/products/flipbelt-classic/

Use mine of pretty much every run I do from short runs up to a marathon.
Never had an issue with it. There’s a clip for a key. Doesn’t bounce around.. nothing falls out.
A bit spendy for a piece of elastic with cut-outs in it but I wouldn’t be without mine.

@b230ftw … thanks! I’m slowly getting there!

I’ve just been out tonight for 90 mins once I’d got the kids in bed to see how it is with those bars.

You can see they’re much lower than in the original picture with the adjustable stem. I think I’ll change the stem for a riser stem and see how that works. I’ve seen a 30/35 degree one so that should get the bars back up to where they were.
Then I’ll decide what to do about the bars. I may prefer a flat bar if I can get away with it

Thanks for the replies .. appreciate it.

This is where I’m at now with the tent dropped on the rack for the full picture

The bars are 740mm and they feel pretty wide to me but not uncomfortably. I know everybody has wider bars these days but I’ve been mostly on drops for the past 5 years! I think a riser stem might be a better option for me tho.
I guess I need to do a couple of hours on it and see how it feels

Yeah I’m aiming to pack as light as I can. When I said loaded panniers I didn’t mean bursting at the seams.
I’ve got a one man tent .. a pretty small Alpkit sleep mat .. a brukit to get me away for now .. the sleeping bag is the main outstanding purchase. Again – looking for something relatively light and compact.

I’ll take a look at some bar ends thanks.

Intrigued by that Moloko bar .. not sure I want one but I’d love to try one! .. it looks like On One do a similar bar (Geoff?) for a lot less £.
I’m 6’1” so I need to make sure I can get comfortable .
Not sure that the Ortlieb bar bag I have would work with it tho.

Thanks! I’d prefer to use the Subway so I think I’ll forge ahead with that plan.
Good idea to get some longer rides in on it … I may need to play about with the cockpit to get more comfortable.

Do I need to be concerned about the wheels?
I’ve put some Marathon plus tyres on but they’re just the bog standard 32 spoke wheels. I don’t intend carrying a huge amount but I am camping so there’ll be the loaded rear panniers and a tent strapped to the top of the rack.

Anything else to consider? I’m all ears for advice !

Thanks @oreetmon… I’ll take a look

I want one but they’re a bit spendy :-/

I Don’t suppose anybody knows of a cheaper alternative.
It’ll be left in the garage and used to vacuum the cars.

Last Xmas I got the Hairy bikers ‘one pot’ cookbook. There’s a macaroni cheese recipe in there I’ve done quite a lot in the past year – the kids love it and it’s nice and easy for an amateur like me.
Minimal washing up too :-)

Alpkit would be a good place to start. I Think they have some on offer at the moment too

https://alpkit.com/collections/lighting

I’ve got a non-grand 2016 Picasso … 1.6 blue hdi ..has it 2.5 years now and it’s been great. We already have a 7 seater car so we didn’t look at the Grand but we did want 3 individual (isofix) rear seats , space for dogs in the boot etc.
Much like you I never thought I’d buy a french car but now I have two because we just got a Peugeot 5008 (which incidentally is bloody lovely)

The MIL had a few Citroen’s and I really took to them hence we ended up looking at the Picasso. As long as you ain’t buying new they’re good value. It’s basically what we needed – practical, cheap to run .. that’s not to say I don’t like it. It’s kind of quirky (ugly some will say!) but we like it.
£0 tax, 55 mpg … just needs adblue every 10k or so but otherwise it’s been pretty faultless.

I had my positive test mid November after having a runny nose, sore throat Tuesday -Sunday then lost my sense of smell the Sunday evening.
Isolated ten days . .felt ok so I Started some easy runs to get back into it and came back down with another sore throat . Took the week off From Running. Sore throat ended last Thursday, ran on Sunday morning and hey ho – runny nose, sore throat and feeling like crap again.
Starting to think the runny nose / sore throat is all covid related. Certainly been been over doing it with the running.

Stand up. Only time I’ll have a sit down wee is when I’m sitting to do ‘the other thing’ and usually one follow the other

I like your honesty P-Jay :-) I got the 12 mini and it’s fantastic. All the good things of the 12 but it actually fits in my hand/pocket!

Thanks but that Sea to Summit looks like it’s another £100 ish more than the Alpkit / ME options .. that’s more than I’m happy to spend.

Thanks everybody.
That ME Helium looks like a nice bit of kit too so could be another option to look at.
Cheers

Thanks for the replies.

I’d definitely need the long version then being 6’ 1”!

Ohhh Even better that it’s filmed in the NE! 😎

Enjoy your runs everyone … I’m Gutted that I can’t run since I’m currently isolating having had a positive covid test. I Had plans for a nice long run on the NY Moors this weekend 😕
Hoping I’m not a wheezy old man when I get back on it!

Snap Clubby! I’ve pre-ordered a 12 mini to replace a 6s. Been waiting months for the 12 to come out so I was pleasantly surprised to hear about the 12 mini.
My wife has spent all summer trying to get me on to a new SE but it wasn’t for me. Hopefully I won’t regret it. Like you I didn’t want a huge phone so I’m expecting the 12 mini to do me great.

Jabra Elite 75t. Traded up from a £28 cheapo pair of earphones when they packed in after 6 months.
Well worth the extra £. I use them For running and think they’re a Really neat bit of kit. Very comfortable, great sound … never fallen out. Fully waterproof.

I started a tent thread in the summer albeit for cycle touring but might be something useful within this…

Tents! I’d appreciate some advice.

10% off with an AA card too!

Same price in Halfords right now so extra 10% discount if you’re with BC

I have a search set up on auto trader for Rifters in GT Line spec because I was looking at them myself.
There’s 3 on there in my search area that are 1.2 puretech petrol engines

Top spec on the rifter is GT Line I believe and they do that in a 1.2 turbo petrol engine

If you’re a member of the AA you get 10% discount …

It goes without saying I’d recommend You take a look at one. Friends and family have been very complimentary on mine.

I only went to the Pug garage to show the mrs a Rifter. That was me being practical. She wasn’t interested – no suprise!

Shit! Sorry – That’s a really big post!

@flannol, no that’s fine. It’s Just my opinion anyway. Sorry if I waffle!
My comment ‘night and day’ Really referred to how much more modern the 5008 is next to the Alhambra.
The Alhambra isn’t made anymore as you know but you can still get near new cars. We wanted something to keep long term and the Alhambra hasn’t really changed in the past maybe 8 years or so barring the odd facelift. We just felt we wanted something much more modern to start with and that’s how we got onto the 5008.
The interior is pretty special. Peugeot have really stepped it up and the I-cockpit (as they call it) is a really nice place to sit. It all Feels very well put together. Loads of safety features and gadgets even in the lower spec cars. I’ve watched / read the reviews … all positive.
Compare it to the Alhambra dash and I don’t think you could argue against that.
Peugeot seem to be doing well in the reliability surveys too – often ahead of the German brands. Ok not the be all but good to know as I had my reservations initially.

I wouldn’t say the Alhambra is massively more Volumous. For me, the boot area is the difference.
The third row seats are fine for adults in the 5008 but I think the Alhambra would be better on a longer trip.
The 5008 is a pretty big car … it doesn’t seem so big to me since I’ve had a galaxy for 6 years but family / friends comment on its size. Not that it feels like a big car to drive – it doesn’t.
The middle row of seats have plenty of legroom and all 3 seats slide individually and recline. On a par with the Alhambra I’d say. It’s the rear seats and the boot area where the Alhambra scores the more practical points. With its boxy/square rear end i can’t deny its more practical for filling with gear.
What it came down to is that we just chose a much more stylish, modern vehicle .. something we genuinely love and I don’t think that would have been the case with the Alhambra. Ok we’ve lost a bit of boot space but you fill what you have and that’s that.
We have the 1.5hdi.. we’ve only had it one week but it’s averaging 53mpg. £150 tax for the year. Can’t complain so far.
I’m no car reviewer as you can tell but happy to answer anything I’ve missed

You mention the Pug 5008. I’ve just got a 69 plate. Ok I’ve only had it a week so it’s not had chance to fall apart yet (I’ll say it before anyone else) but it really is a lovely car. 7 seats and crucially for me, 3 separate isofix seats across the second row. Surprised myself paying so much for a Peugeot but I think it’s fantastic. I’ve got the 1.5hdi auto But I think there’s a couple of petrol options in the range.
We traded a ford galaxy in and the Alhambra was pretty much the go to option but having looked at them we felt they were already a little dated. Lost a bit of practicality with the 5008 but the difference between it and an Alhambra is night and day

Thanks all.

Anybody any experience with the boot-buddy?

Looks like a box you just slide in and out of the car … for the odd occasion I need to use the rear two seats in the car it’d be a lot easier than removing a hatchbag I imagine. not sure how close a fit they are though … don’t really want dog hair getting down the sides.

DezB not sure why you’ve got your knickers in a twist but that’s not want I want people to say, but if they do say that then I’ll take it onboard. Generally the opinions on here are worth listening to.
I’m aware there are cheaper options and if they do a good enough job I’ll be looking at them.

Clearly the hatchbag is not for you at that price and as you’ve said, you don’t care about your car.
I do and that’s why I’m looking at them.