No, live in Leicestershire, just out here on an extended holiday (got a 12 month sabbatical from work). We are in Wellington until next Monday, then we go to the South Island.

Poopsies, do you live in Wellington?

Christmas Eve

Christmas Day

Boxing day involved riding around looking for a shop to replace a broken spoke after mine broke less than a mile into the ride.

Saturday

Yesterday

Poopsies, your picture isn’t displaying properly.

Distance: 3093.3 miles
Time: 291.h 24m
Elevation Gain: 171,033 ft
Rides: 147

Was hoping to do the festive 500 being as I’m currently in the southern hemisphere, so no bad weather excuses. I’m in Wellington and it’s pretty hilly, which I’m not used to, so doubt I’ll manage it.

Great videos OP and Munro Biker. Not got a video but have done the following:-

– Handed notice in to go travelling, they offered me a 12 month sabbatical, so I took it.
– Finished work at the end of June and was due to go to Morzine for a month the week after, however, 2 days later my partner and his mate collided on a ride in the Peaks, his mate ended up in a head injury unit for 2 weeks and Sean ended up with a broken thumb, so Morzine cancelled.
– Went away to Wales and the Lakes.
– Once the plaster was off had a couple of bike packing trips to the Peak District and Cannock Chase
– Sold the house and the day after completion flew to Vancouver.
– Cycled from Vancouver to Portland via Vancouver Island, the Pacific Coast Highway, Olympia and part of the Seattle to Portland cycle route.
– Drove from Portland to Astoria and then through Oregon down the Pacific Coast Highway to Coos Bay where we dropped the car off and continued by bike over the Californian border.
– Got fed up with the constant head wind and wet weather, so got another car and drove to San Francisco to do some mountain biking.
– Rode Mount Tamalpais, Repack Road, met Joe Breeze, rode over Golden Gate bridge, Camp Tamarancho and China Camp and visited Alcatraz.
– Flew from San Francisco to Auckland. We have been in New Zealand for 5 weeks and I’ve caught up with an old friend who I hadn’t seen for years and met her husband for the first time, kayaked and paddle boarded for the first time, visited Hobbiton and loved it, despite being bored stiff during Fellowship of the Ring and not watching any of the other films. Have also done White Water Rafting, been to lots of beaches, hired a fat bike and ridden at Rotorua, which is great.

Taken today at Huka Falls, Taupo, New Zealand.

Although I prefer this one, but it was taken 5 weeks too early.

I owned a Niner Air 9 that broke after a year and my partner had one that broke just outside the warranty. I wanted a full suspension bike and really liked the look of the RIP9, but after our experience and the fact that they only offer a 2 year warranty on them, I went with a SC Tallboy instead. I don’t think I’d buy an expensive bike that only had a 2 year warranty, especially if they have a reputation for breaking.

It was high tide. I’d have been happy to wait until we got back to the UK and had different areas to try it, but Sean was really keen on trying one. I didn’t enjoy riding along the beach at all, but it won’t stop me having another go in the future.

We were pretty excited to meet Joe Breeze this week. We’d just ridden Repack Road (it’s pretty amazing how quickly they rode down there on the bikes they did). We popped into the bike shop in Fairfax, I then suggested looking at the Marin Museum of Bicycling (even though I knew it hadn’t opened yet). We were just leaving when a guy building the legacy wall outside asked my partner about his Jones bike. After mentioning we’d just ridden Repack, he introduced himself as Joe Breeze. Riding Repack and then meeting one of the pioneers of the sport made for a pretty memorable day.

Sorry for the hijack.

Repack Rider, we are planning on doing Repack Road tomorrow. Is the easiest way in terms of navigation, Bolinas and then Pine Mountain Truck Road?

Eddie, Bend is in Oregon. When I was looking, it sounded like there might be some good stuff in Ashland, Oregon, but we never actually got there, so don’t know. We ended up doing the Pacific Coast Highway until we got fed up of headwinds and tarmac bashing on mtb tyres, so hired a car and went straight to San Francisco. The only off road we’ve done so far is China Camp in Marin, but took a wrong turn and ended up off the singletrack, but the singletrack we did ride was good. Although I’m not into gnarly riding, so it might not appeal to all.

Thanks. I’ll give that a try tomorrow.

“I hate manure!”

In 2009 I broke my elbow 2 weeks before flying to Morzine. Luckily for my other half his mates were also going, so he still had someone to ride with. Being in Morzine and unable to ride was quite depressing.

We finished work this year on 20th June for a year’s sabbatical, we were due to spend the first month in Morzine, getting the Channel Tunnel on the 29th. On the 22nd my other half and his mate collided while going down a road descent in the Peaks, he broke his thumb and has had to have numerous visits to fracture clinic and is in plaster so can’t ride.

His mate was knocked out and was in hospital with a brain injury for 2 weeks. He’s been told he needs to take it easy with riding and no off road. He was due to do Wales C2C off road this last week.

I’ve not done any cheeky riding in either Bradgate or Swithland Woods, we always stick to where we are allowed, but would love to be able to ride legally off road in Bradgate. It’s always seemed a bit daft to me that we are allowed on the tarmac path, which is always really busy, but not allowed in the quieter parts. We went for a walk on a sunny Sunday afternoon two weeks ago in the park, but hardly saw anyone away from the tarmac.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbDlHW5aAC0

And from the same episode:

Bart: I can’t help but feel partly responsible

and

Homer: Dear baby, welcome to dumpville, population, you.

If you’re happy and you know it, say a swear. Ralph: Mitten.

He says the car ran over his foot. Not sure I’d be able to cycle that fast if my foot had just been run over. But if he was telling the truth, wouldn’t you swear at the person who’d done it? I’m sure I would.

No, but had a scandium Air 9 which I loved, but it broke. Was replaced under warranty with the new Air 9 and I love that too.

I don’t run, but was getting trouble cycling. It seemed to all start after going for a Strava sprint segment. I’ve had regular massages which did feel like they helped and were painful at times. I was also getting a pain in my hip which I’m sure was connected to the ITB, it was a constant pain, not just on the bike.

I had problems for over a year and in addition to the massages have tried making sure my legs are wrapped up well (problems seemed worse in Winter than Summer), not going flat out as soon as I leave the house and Emu oil capsules. Also, until it starts to feel better, take it really easy, I was originally told to keep cycling, but keep on the flat and go slowly. Since I started taking the Emu oil, it’s the longest period I’ve been without any problems and the hip pain has also gone.

I tried a foam roller, but couldn’t get on with it (the one linked to above).

I’d also like to know if High as a Kite has gone for good. Real shame if it has.

I bought a SanDisk microSDHC Ultra 32GB, class 10, UHS-I, 30MB/sec. It worked ok to start with, but now stops in the middle of recording when on a higher quality setting. I’ve got the silver Go pro and the site recommends that any class 10 card is ok. Not sure if it’s the card or the camera as sometimes what I film plays back a pink colour.

Lion King, Beauty & the Beast or Jungle Book.

Seen the Sound of Music
Heard anything by Justin Bieber
Seen series 2-5 of Breaking Bad (for now, hoping Santa will change this)
Owned an Orange
Been south of the Equator
Been to Ikea

Ketchup! Are you all 12? ;) It’s got to be mayonnaise.

Rush and Captain Phillips. Enjoyed Sunshine on Leith, but not as good as the other two.

I hate the dark evenings, but also hate getting up in the dark. Basically, this time of year sucks. I also think it’s daft that we have to wait until the end of March to put them forward again.

Thanks for the replies guys. They’re the ones I’ve been looking at Frankers, think I may go for them. I’m tempted by the Fox ones as never had Fox forks before, but don’t think I can justify the extra £225.

We bought my niece this for her 2nd birthday

=http://www.johnlewis.com/worlds-apart-pop-up-tunnel/p230857958]

She loved it and is still playing with it 6 months later. She also had a play tent which she loved. Oh and Peppa Pig.

+2 for Django

I thought it was the Sales Engineer with the spiritualist wife, not the MD.

If none of those suggestions work

=http://www.leicestershospitals.nhs.uk/aboutus/our-news/press-release-centre/?entryid8=10787]

It’s not funny at all. They’ve either got to go back home, get changed and get a rollocking for being late, or spend all day in wet clothes.

Get well soon.

I’m convinced 90% of the population want to be able to drive door to door and only have to walk a couple of meters either end.

This. We’ve got a small Co-op just up the road, it’s next to a cross roads, so there’s double yellows outside. However, they have their own car park (less than 100m away) and the double yellows end not that far away, but people still park on the double yellows while they go in the shop.

Hicks is ok for a quick blast round as part of a longer route. It’s more of a family trail though.

We can’t make the Wednesday evening rides, but was wondering where the Blair Witch part is and Is there a way down from the monastery to the reservoir that doesn’t include about 1/2 a dozen gates?

Nant is my favourite trail centre. The biggest route is a mixture of remote natural riding and all the singletrack from the other 2 routes. The only downside is too many gates to open and horse flies.

http://travellingtwo.com/resources/baby-bike-tour-age