Really enjoyed the 25 year revisit.  Amazing to see the growth of the trees and the maturing of the house.  Felt refreshing that it all hadn’t been ripped out and painted white.

We’ve gone from major disaster, we’re 6k over budget on a modest family house, to people putting themselves in 500k of debt for aircraft hangers…

Two days in the lakes doing the “lakes loop overnighter” from another bike packing website…

I’m not far from Peel park in Salford M38.

The pump track is new (couple of years).  It’s open access.  Really nice little track.  Not a particularly nice area of Salford though, take care, I’d avoid after dark.  I think there might be some hire/coaching options for kids.

Calder Divide Trail day 1, day 2 was too grim for photos

I’m in, struggling with injury but hoping I’ll get round. Smallest gravel ride, blue faran here.  Not done it before, but it’s making all the right noises

I’ve one, highly rate it. Super easy to install and remove, sturdy enough that I removed a second clip on the pannier bags.  Looks well smart.

But to your questions, about the mudguard, not sure, I have the lightweight option and it might get a little tight, imagine the bigger rack would be ok.  Dedicated pannier attachment? Are you on about ql3? I use ql2 and it’s fine, mainly for urban and a little bit of gravel.  I think if it was MTB I’d have to put the second clip back on the bottom, so there’s one pointing forwards and backwards like their “gravel” panniers.

Slight hijack, can anyone recommend a similar quality front rack?

I made a hedgehog feeder a while back out of a pallet to encourage them into the garden a while back.  Seems to work really well, needs a u-bend to keep it the cats.  We had a mother and pups living in our leaf pile for a while, they’re often regularly on the garden and I’ve tripped over a hedgehog at least one (no harm done).

I’ve left the back lawn grow long, but generally mow it in June.  The front lawn I’ve stripped off and put in wildflowers with a mown a path in the middle, not in full bloom yet, but a few bits are starting now.  I’ll only mow that once a year

Saturday morning up winter hill in the blazing sun. Hopefully last ride on the giant, NBD this week.

Sunday morning to little woolden. Moss, saw a barn owl and a marsh harrier.

Death in family – check

Pregnancy – check

Absolutely gigantic – check

Over budget – check

Just about a classic grand designs episode.

I just don’t understand how they could afford it, and I guess the answer is they couldn’t.  Was the last update filmed pre or post mortgage rates going through the roof do you think?

Not a new series though, this was a repeat.

I’ve just ordered a faran, I have a set of Hunt wheels that I intend to use as a second set with some 35mm slicks. Sounds like I’ll need some shims and a feeler guage…

And here’s an old picture of said frog and a squirrel queuing to get to the pond.  Since then the log pile has completely filled this space.

Down here in Greater Manchester we’ve got:

Goldfinch, greenfinch, siskin, blue tits, coal tits, great tits, long tailed (but they never use the feeders), dunnock, wren, robin, blackbird.

Oh and magpies nesting in the hawthorn tree.

Mainly feeding sunflower hearts and mealworm.

Hedgehog box is being emptied, but probably by the rat nesting in there.

Have a mini pond, but not seen the resident frog yet, but disappointed he’s not on the game enough to get some frogspawn going.

Only issue is I bought the turquoise ones and everybody in the office is constantly asking if I’m Uber eats.

I’ve got the front rollers, which are great, roll closure, waterproof, durable, ace.  I think the only difference is the gravel panniers have an extra hook at the bottom.  So I bought one as a spare part and fitted it.  Adds a nice bit of stability.  No issues with heel strikes.  Also picked up the quick release rack recently – very impressed by that.

I’ve done it.  Would be good to see the trails improved.  The addition of the jumps on the RHS loop has been great, even if they are a little above my skill set

I’m a big fan of the carradice handlebar bag. Made in the UK, fits a down jacket and tools. Top pocket for phone and wallet. Holding up nicely.

Not touching the back garden, but the kids have trampled the grass into oblivion anyway. Front is on its second year of meadow (wildflower seed mix after turf removed), so far only bloodwort burnet/dandelion and some violas flowering this year, I’m hoping it gets a bit more colour soon. Maybe I need to add yellow rattle or cut it more than once a year?

I’ve just booked in for a vaccination, had anyone else been offered one?

I’m 34, take steroid inhaler twice a day and was hospitalised when I was a small child a couple of times. Last asthma attack was 10 years ago now, since then I’ve followed the now wife’s advice to actually take my inhaler.

I half expect to have been scammed or to be turned away at the door.

Oh based in Greater Manchester too.

I’ve 3, aged 4, 2 and 2 months. A similar experience to your own I imagine. 2-3 is much easier than 1-2. You can’t get any more busy, so in our house stuff gets cleaned less. Sleep not so good at the moment either.

You’ll need a new car though….

Put a mince pie in the oven, get it lovely and warm. Pop the top off when it comes out and put a decent slice of stilton inside.

This combination has been responsible for most of my Christmas weight gain since it was shown to me many years ago.

If you call me Tom, you don’t know me that well…

Looks like the small red section off the blue at the bottom of Phillips park in Prestwich has been shut permanently due to MX bike damage. I can’t see it being repaired any time soon. Also can’t see the attraction of riding up the trail in a straight line like, but each to their own…

Happy to be corrected by a proper local.

That looks great! I was thinking exactly the same with ours, but have been told to wait until her birthday in June.

I’m still tempted though, lockdown has to have some benefits.

Are the pedals it comes with any good?

I think in the end I’m just going to have to take the hit. People are coming a long way to meet and do the ride, I’d rather be guaranteed we get there and everyone is happy. Rather than get stuck in Shrewsbury.

The next train is over an hour wait, likewise on the way back, not great for someone.

Thanks all,
Just attempted to cancel my train tickets. As I bought my ticket in advance, they are non refundable.
I need to lie down in dark room for a while.

Utterly useless.

Buy a Garmin, view it as an investment. It’ll save you loads of time on this one trip, let alone any future ones. I bought the smallest edge that did navigation for the Badger and don’t regret it.

Did the Badger (sort of) on the Croix de Fer. I’d definitely do it on the Anthem if I get the chance, yes there some road (5%), but most of it is far more suited to the Anthem. Not least because I wanted more gearing.

We actually ducked onto the train to miss about 40 miles, which took the pressure off and was a great decision.

The route is great, stunning scenery, keen to get back and do it all. Maybe next year.

Saw a big bird of prey after leaving Killin and two Pine Marten, fantastic area.

Coconut, if all else fails, I’m doing it before you. I’ll let you know what I think

Going for stops in Fort Augustus , Bridge of Gaur and Callander. 60 miles two days in a row…

Stick with the weighty croix Der fer Or am I better on the FS XC bike?

Thanks all, gone for the Badger Divide. Train booked & accommodation almost sorted. Just apprehensive about the distance now!

Thanks all

I was planning on using panniers, I know I won’t look cool, but they work. I’ll have to look at accomodation, but don’t have any light enough gear to bikepack with.

Looks like everything points to Inverness, train works well too.

Both of those look brilliant.

Nothing really rocky and techy. Some rocks as features but mainly smooth machine built trails and rooty stuff off piste. It’s a good day out and I agree with the suggestion above to avoid the main red climb.

Sounds like a Bennett’s fracture.  I had a pin/anchor inserted after I went OTB five or six years ago.  Was in a cast for some time and then in a sling before pin was removed. Cast put me in a permanent thumbs up position, so that was fun for all.

Recovery involved grip strength exercises, no brace.  Took a little time but back to normal now.  Can’t remember how long I was off the bike for.

Good luck for the operation, you’ll be back in no time.

Thanks for the suggestions, I’ll check them out.

I’ll stick a photo up as soon as I can work out how to.

Green Cotic mk 3 soul.
Giant defy 2013 (white)
Green Cotic roadrat

All taken from my home.

Happens in threes right?