The reactions of the driver seem odd. Surely you approach the victim before checking the damage on the wagon. It struck me that he was quite stressed and wasn’t thinking rationally. I’m not convinced he’d seen the rider by the time he was trying to reverse off the bike.

I drive a Renault Magnum which has a pretty high cab, and on the whole I find it easier to drive in busy situations than my skoda. Because I’m high up I can see over the white vans (and the blue ones), over walls. I can see the car slamming on the brakes 12 vehicles ahead of me. You’re aware of the blind spots and so move and watch accordingly. They do become a problem when you’re sat still because people can approach from those directions but again you’re aware of this.

As you approach a situation like this you should be looking down the road you’re about to turn into. What’s ahead and behind you is already dealt with, logged in your mind. He couldn’t take a wider swing because of the oncoming traffic on the main road so his concentration should’ve been on the side street. Whilst he would also be watching his tail swing he should have expected something to be there. Had he leaned forward in his seat he’d have had a good clear view as he begins the final approach. I wonder if he’d have even seen a car with the attention shown

I’ve tried both and I’d say the 5010 wins hands down for most the UK riding. My friend easily conquered Snowdon, BPW as well as chalk downland pedal-fests like Dorset on his. The Bronson just felt a little too burly and sluggish. The 5010 is so fast when pedalling and never really gets out of its depth even on the steep techy stuff. I’ve ridden it with RS Revs and would be intrigued to know what it would feel like with Pikes up front just for that added stiffness and maybe an extra 10mm travel.

Obviously you can’t roll a bike straight into an estate car but it’s a 30second job to drop the saddle and whip the wheels off. I’ve done plenty of mini road trips on my lonesome in the back of my Xreg Octavia. I use a raised board to level the sleeping area as the boot space is 2-3 inches lower than the dropped seats. At 6″1′ it’s maybe a little cramped but I always sleep well. The boot opens upwards so provides a little shelter for changing or cooking in the rain. Proper dirtbag.
Then with a bike rack you can also get 4 (I think 5 might be pushing it) of you plus bikes and a tent away for the weekend.

Fart before checking resistance

The old faithful. I’ve got an old n holey dhb merino 1/4 zip top that gets worn for about 3/4s of the year.

I’d not really found a nice summer top until recently when I brought a Club Ride shirt which is fast becoming my favourite thing to wear. It’s actually makes me 17% more awesome when shredding (maybe)

I grew up in agriculture, went to agriculture collage but got disillusioned by the long hours, lack of summer break and bad pay. So I’ve been on the road 17years, since I was 19. Grandad rights got me on to a 7.5t and I’ve not really looked back (I did qualify as a holistic therapist too) I’ve now managed to combine farming and driving, hauling produce and equipment all over the country.
The money is ok. The hourly rate is low but I’m away between 3-5 nights a week and can really clock up the hours if I want to. I average about 35-37k
The family thing is a balance but not every job requires their drivers to be away. My partner and I like our own company and we make an effort to have a good time when we’re together. Plus my bike travels with me!

The job is what you make of it. It can be easy or stressful. Experience is key. You learn so much as you go along that each day gets easier. Also as said before, once you’ve got a few miles under your belt you’re more valuable to your employer than they are to you so you can (to a point) get what you want.

I’d also advise that the most important piece of equipment for and long distance driver are flip-flops

165

I learnt to drive on this ole girl. I had to push up on the steering wheel to get the clutch and brakes down when I was to weak/tall to do it normally.
She still works too in the winter

You lucky duckers!

I won £1000 on a scratch card that came free with a Wild Bean Cafe coffee. I brought and built my Dialled Alpine with it. I was in love. Never looked back.

Get some ska in there. Trojan do some good compilations.

My quiet place

An oldie but a goodie

I guess that’s the trouble with this story. It won’t be land owners setting the traps but they could restrict the access if they risk being liable. So the miserable dogs who actually do set them could get their way if the threat is seen to be high enough

We recently had barbed wire strung up by some incomprehensible fool on a trail around Longleat/Shearwater the same weekend the Warminster Wobble was on. It’s a festi thingy to encourage people, kids n all to go out and ride. Go! Have fun! Just be weary of the boobytraps.
Logs are another regular. I’ve ended up faceplanting a bed of nettles trying to hoik the bike over one. I also believe some chap from Charge broke bones in a similar incident on his way home from work a few years back.

I can see your point regarding the potential to cloths-line other users. However, I took the dog out years ago (young n wasted) with a standard rope lead hooked over the bar-end. All was great until the bloomin thing decided to stop and sniff some other dogs piss. A lead that extended would have saved a lot of pain that day

It is a 26″ I ride, 780mm of carbon cush. Again I’m tallish and broad

For me a wider bar (780mm) and 50mm stem made an incredible difference. Like power steering

just get someone to help you

Cereals, make-up, shaving, laptops, books, rolling spliffs, passengers sleeping face down on the drivers lap (!!), drinking Tennants Super (I reported that one) I’ve seen a lot going on in passing cars and twice now I’ve seen men having a 5 knuckle shuffle whilst cruising on the motorway. Scares my bits off

Tyre rubbing is fun and annoying depending on which end of it you’re on.
I like to play holding-back-then-sprinting-up-and-jumping-in-puddles-as-the-others-are-passing. Funny every time. A bit like the whacking-a-snow-covered-branch-as-you-pass-coating-your-mates-with-the-white-stuff game.

Another vote for the Mega TR. I did a frame build and it feels fantastic. So much fun.

I’m off to church

“Son” he said “never shave the hair off your nuts”

A bowl full of charlie and a bottle of vodka. Race to the finish

Or bangers n mash

Check the Strava Fly by thing. Might be able to track who was about.

Hope it all gets resolved

It looks lush

*cries in to his pillow*

It baffles me as to why they need to reduce such great distances of it to 50mph. I think the M1 is about 23 miles and the M3 about 17. The M6 and M5 is also riddled with them. Why can’t they caterpillar the work, have a 5 mile section that crawls along as its completed?

As for the tailgating I can’t condone that at all, it’s leathal. However as someone sat in a truck in these systems on a daily basis it can be extremely frustrating sitting at 40-45mph when you can clearly see someone several vehicles ahead dawdling along in the middle lane with everyone else stuck behind.

Try something like an Opinel or similar without a sprung blade. I’ve done more damage to my fingers closing Swiss style knives than I ever have with a simple single blade locking collar. Plus they age beautifully

Highroller 2s and Minions last time I went. Faultless. Just make sure your iPhone is kept warm or the battery will die just before the decent meaning no Strava satisfaction

Flog the Reverb!
I like my Gravity Dropper a lot but due to it braking in my big fat hands I’ve been running an old school standard seat post and QR combo. It’s been a bit of a revelation. I’ve not missed the convenience but have noticed a good weight difference. For the £100 voucher and £200 from the sale of the reverb you could drop a load more weight with a new wheel set and tubeless tyres

I got a kick from a cow that whipped my thumb right back. The pain was ridiculous. Past the tipping point of nauseating. I thought bones had broken but along with a truck load of bruising I’d instead ripped or strained one of the small tendons on the inside of the thumb. I got given a neat little Velcro splint from the local Minor Injuries Unit that has allowed me to get back to work but 4 weeks on I still have a fair bit of pain shifting gear, giving foot massages and writing.

I know nothing about compression clothing but I can fully recommend Frome miu

Some of these are superb. Lamb hotpot is one of my favourites. Plus they’re in packet sachet things so no tins to deal with
http://www.lookwhatwefound.co.uk

Edit. Bummer, pipped to the post…….by 9 hours

Dark Star
Bad Taste
Spaceballs.

Insurance and a lot of peace offerings (cakes)

Cautionary tale.
A friend of mine knocked a few walls down in his cellar. Came upstairs patting himself on the back for a job well done when huge cracks started appearing all over the house. Not just his house but several houses either side on the terrace he lives also subsided. Awkward to say the least.

“Quite probably the most boring car I have ever driven” have you ever tried a Austin Meastro Clubman?

Apart from the lambda sensor and new tyres my £800 X reg octavia has worked hard and been faultless for nearly four years

I don’t think you can go to far wrong with Ardents. I’m a Maxxis fan so it’s HRII/Minion DHR for the muck, an Ardent goes on the rear as it drys and on the front too when the dust blooms

I run 780mm on my 26er but my saddle is brown and that causes a few issues

I will tend to swap the rear to an Ardent during long dry periods but for general duties around the West Country and South Wales I use a Highroller II up front with a Minion Dhr behind. Always tubeless, single ply, 2.3-2.35, 60a. Grip is ace although I couldn’t comment on drag…….just pedal harder

So long as you take the bag with you, yes

My X-reg Octavia will never be sold on. It’s battered, broken and bruised from the abuse. I regularly sleep in it whilst on mini road trips with my bike. It’s been fully loaded with small bale straw, bags of cattle feed, dogs, beer kegs, mates, bikes, all my worldy goods. There’s more oil on the ceiling than on my bike and there’s a big deep scratch down the wing caused by the bike falling against it. My heart has been broken, I’ve cried, I’ve been broken and in total need in it. I’ve had amazing times in it, seen the sun rise and fall in some beautiful places, laughed like a loon, got my oats in (on) it.
And still she rattles on at a good pace.

When you’re young you can eat what you like, drink what you and still fit into those 28 inch waist trousers and zip them closed. Then you reach that age 24, 25, your muscles give up, wave a little white flag and without any warning at all you’re suddenly a fat bastard. YOU FAT BASTARD (repeat)