I’ve got a non-grand C4 Picasso. 16 plate, had it for 18 months and I really like it.
We have a galaxy but wanted a second car that’d return decent mpg, take the 2 dogs and have 3 isofix points in the rears. we didn’t need the 7 seater but I think they’re pretty much the same car.
We have the 1.6 blue hdi exclusive. The trim levels have changed now as you know. I average about 53 day to day .. got up to 59 on a long run a few weeks back visiting family at Xmas. It goes better than I expected.
It was in for a recall recently – needed a new master slave on the clutch. A known issue I believe. I’ve had to top the Adblue up a couple of times but it’s not difficult.
Overall – we like it. Comfortable, I like the panoramic screen. Would have liked the glass roof too but more ££ and there wasn’t that many around. It does what we need it to.
The wife really likes it . I’d have had a berlingo but the Mrs draws the line at that :-)

I used to run parkrun in around 22 mins thinking I was putting the effort in. Then I joined a running club 18 months ago and realised I’m capable of much more if I push myself.
I’m 42 and ran 18:40 in a 5k race in August on the back of my marathon training.
Ran a parkrun pb of 18:54 in October a few weeks after the marathon.

Double New Year’s Day parkrun today taking a longer route between them. Took the Parkruns slow … today was to just to get the miles in – ended up with 14 miles in the bag.

Cambridge half marathon beginning of March is my next aim.

Just had an email from Halfords and these lights  are on offer at £35

I used my BC discount to buy a scooter in Halfords yesterday. Not sure if a scooter is classed under the heading ‘cycling’ but I’d assume not?!

i handed the lady my BC card, she said I need a code now so I logged on to my BC account, got the code on my phone, she zapped it and I got the 10% discount …

Love this thread! Keep it up everyone ..

18:54 parkrun this weekend. Big parkrun PB for me and not far off my race 5k PB.

Managed my first sub 40 10k at Leeds abbey dash last week too.

I spent the summer training for a marathon and the difference that regular and consistent running has made to my running in general has been massive.

the only problem now is keeping the momentum now that the marathon is done! 😕

Thanks rob2 .. looks like it’s worked.

I’ll test it at the weekend

Well done Flaperon … I ran the marathon today and I’m still drying out! So much rain :-)

quite enjoyed the rain to run in … at least it wasn’t windy!

York marathon a week on Sunday.

Ran it last year (first road marathon) with an aim of 3:20. Went to pot at mile 18 and finished in 3:40 so I’m having another go.

Didn’t do enough training so I’ve been on a 16 week plan this time around which I’ve mainly stuck to. I’ve had several 53 mile weeks with the rest in the 40’s.

8 miles planned tomorrow and 4 Sunday then a gentle week to keep ticking over.

Consistent Marathon training has really brought my times down. Ran 18:40 for 5k and ran a half marathon 4 weeks ago aiming for sub 90 … 1:30:07 🙈 a big PB of 3 minutes so missed the sub90 but still a good run I was pleased with.

any tips for my final week?

That’s a hell of a time .. huge respect. Well done

Apologies for digging up an old-ish thread but a good friend of mine has recently set up this website to sell his handmade leather watch straps.
He doesn’t know I’m doing this but he’s just starting out so I know a little advertising wouldn’t go amiss.
You’ll find him on instagram too

https://strapfoundry.com

Edinburgh marathon for me.

Going for 3.30 in the run up i hope to beat

19mins 5k
40mins 10k
1.5hr half

All of which i’ve been a whisker off un the past (literally 1second for the 5k)

Good luck. Pretty much same position I’m in but I’m aiming for an autumn marathon. Currently at 19:25 5k, 41:39 10k (but only ran one 10k race which was August ) and 1:33 half.
Ran my first road marathon in October aiming for 3:20 but the wheels fell off at mile 19 and I came in at 3:40. Lesson learnt! Going for it again this year but I know what I need to do this time around in terms of training

Become good friends with Speed sessions and tempo runs.

I’m 41. Used to pop along and run parkrun in around 22:30/ 23 mins on not much regular running.

In May I joined a running club. 2 nights a week the club holds coaching sessions which generally focuses on speed work of some kind (on track and cycle paths).

I’ve got my 5k down to 19:25 and planning to go sub 19.

IMO if you want to go faster, that’s what you need to focus on in your training but don’t neglect the longer general runs to build endurance. Tempo runs are ideal

I was quoted £40 a month by pet plan and decided I’d be better putting that money in a pot. I figure it beats dealing with an insurance company and all their loopholes.

Here’s hoping you don’t need to see a vet anytime soon!

FWIW I use petplan and I’ve not had a single issue with them. Other than the excess I don’t even pay upfront and I’ve claime getting on for 10k (ongoing). Yeah they’re not cheap but I can vouch for them being really good (IME)

There’s a tour!! :D

Another vote for wiperblades website …

Watched it last night … Its been available to download all week so if you enjoy it you might be able to get the second episode soon after

M&S chunky chocolate chip … 5 big squares for £2 from the bakery section .. perfect with a cuppa

Still working through them but Blood on the tracks … if only for Idiot Wind .. love it !

(Just downloaded Desire based on comments above)

I think my second commute is on the cards for tomorrow :D

I was absolutely shattered by 9pm last night … couldn’t keep my eyes open!

Car today … a chance to leave a shirt at work and some food supplies :-)

Still hoping to get another one in later this week – Friday all being well.

Thanks Ton … my commute is pretty bleak – middlesbrough centre and Teesside’s industry is all the view I get !

Much like Robbo – i need to work mine around picking kids up from nursery etc

I finish work at 4pm so I can usually be home by 5pm. I clocked it at 15 miles this morning. It’s a slightly longer commute in to work because the Transporter Bridge doesn’t run that early for me to use it on a morning but I can hop on the transporter bridge on the ride home (assuming it’s not too windy or they close it) which saves me a mile or two and cuts out some really crappy roads and junctions.

Monday is a good day for me to commute because my parents have the kids so there’s no major rush to be home. I just need another day through the week as my second day – which will have to be Wednesday or Friday.
Hopefully if I continue with it those will be the 3 days that I have available to me.
I don’t think I’d want to do more than 3 days. Not at this time of year anyway.

I do need some better socks – my toes were freezing this morning.

It is a lovely morning .. so glad I took the bike :-)
Cold feet tho so need better socks. Now tucking into some overnight oats and looking forward to the trip home.

Hopefully I’ll gdt another in this week. Monday is a good day for it so going to try to make that a regular day

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Thanks all .. great post Ton. Not sure how far your commute is – i’d Like to think if I had a job that was closer to home and didn’t start at 7am I’d commute much more often. Every day If possible.
However Leaving the house at 5.40am for 18 miles isn’t always so easy! I do enjoy it tho and I always look forward to the ride home.

I’m pleased to say, the bike is packed!
Since I’m doing this without any prep (no shirts, shoes left at work etc) it’s looking like I’m going away for a week but that’s good – I bought the trunkbag hoping it would allow me to commute in ‘on the fly’ so it looks like it can hold everything I need. First time using it so I expect it’ll feel a bit heavy in the morning :-/

Running commentary

The ‘herald of free enterprise’ zeebrugge ferry disaster

Thanks for all the input so far.

I actually prefer the XTR models over the new ones … it looks like the youngest XTR models are 15 plates but majority are a fewyears older than that.
There are some good low mileage examples available though.

If I could convince the other half (easier said than done) , we could pick up a low mileage XTR for well below the budget.

The galaxy will be the main travelling / holiday car but we want the second car to be able to step in and carry plenty of gear and make the weekend trips away if needed to. We are often up and down the motorway from the NE to Birmingham so we’d like this second car to share those trips with the galaxy.

We’ve had a yeti and it just wasnt big enough. We don’t always take the dogs with us but when we do we can fit them in the galaxy boot with other gear. In the yeti they took up all of the boot space. We sold the yeti for the galaxy.

Its the bigger (115bhp) Diesel engined Berlingo I’d be consideringwith the 6 spd manual

Thanks. For £30 it’s worth a punt

I’ve just fitted a super tourist rack to my CX bike and I’m in the look out for some bargain panniers.

I understand there is a bigger version of this but would This do me for odd commutes? I basically just want to be able to put my work gear into when I just feel like taking the bike instead of the car.

I can always have a shirt / trousers at work but if I have nothing there Would this swallow a pair of shoes, trousers and a shirt plus a bit of food?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Betron-Bluetooth-Earphones-Headphones-Runnning/dp/B01M3NDQA3

I got these yesterday – a gift from the wife – so I’ve got no long term feedback. Used them on a 10k run today and couldn’t fault them. If they last 6 months I’ll have had my money’s worth

I have a Halfords own exodus box …. No problems with it after 3 years of use. It’s the only box I’ve had so I can’t compare it to the more expensive ones (Thule) but it does the job.
You’ll get an additional 10% off if you have BC membership.

In the spirt of recommend your own … Indy

At that age something you can find that fits. IDon’t recall there being much choice when I looked for mine at that age …I got one in Halfords that does the job .. he never takes it off!

What breed of dog? Is it friendly ?!

Sorry – probably became across a bit random m/abrupt! I was going to look at possibility of helping you out. It Wouldn’t have worked out on a school night tho so I’m Pleased you got sorted.

What breed of dog? Is it friendly ?!

Thanks! Must be worth a punt at that price

Pet plan. Not the cheapest but never had any hassle and I’ve made pretty good use of it !

I am lost for words

Edit: or names