Thanks Saccades,

We are in the Isle of Man, and as the ferry is somewhat infrequent, and doesn’t really run at suitable times for a weekend away, I had looked in to chartering a boat to take us Strangford lough, and getting train, or hiring van, to get down. Unfortunately, after speaking to the boat owner again, he can not guarantee that he could sale, with weather and tides, so might have to give it a miss, and head to Wales or Scotland again. Will keep the info in mind, incase local ferry improves sailing times, or if I can talk the family in to a week over there, and sneak a few cheeky rides in.

Thanks Saccades, had chance for quick trawl on the net, and the Roundwood Inn looks quite good, and probably one of the closet places to Djouce. Look forward to hearing what else you can help with.

I still have one of these in the garage, but Mrs TG made me have it sprayed red, on the promise that she would ride it. She never did.

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Find a nice plot of land, and build your own. Did my first self build 25 years ago, and done about a dozen since then.

I’m just over 5’10, and ordered a medium. I tried a guys bike, who rides out with me, and his medium seemed perfect. He’s probably just shy of 6ft, and although I think he looks a bit big on it, he is very happy.

A friend of mine was out there last Christmas, and did a bit of biking. Lots of good trails, but as other have said, it’s very hot, so suggest you take your lights, and go out at night.

By all means try the doctor, but in my experience, a couple of visits to a chiropractor would be better.

How about this, Just been talking to a joiner about adapting it for proper bikes

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I tried a super 2 on in lbs, and the medium was a good fit, so asked them to order the super 2r in medium, and it was a bit small on me. With the chin guard off, it was a little better, but still a bit tight. They are getting me a large, and I will see how that is.

If you pm me your address also, I have some kicking around, and better stuck to your walls and doors, rather than mine.

Mrs TG due about £100k, but not till the new year. Unfortunately not a regular thing, a few good deals come off this year. That said, she works her ass off, and was too busy to go the the Christmas dinner at the Ivy this week.

The forms to open a new business bank account are full of questions like that. Just a phishing exercise to see what they could mis sell you in the future.

Hey Rik, No problems coming without a car, you can be on trails within about 5 mins of leaving Douglas. There is an old railway line which cuts across the island, and loads of opportunity to cut off this, then head north or south. If you are all reasonably fit, and can take a day in the saddle, there isn’t anything out of range.

As a mountain biker, I would go +1 on the mtb option.

Whether road, or MTB, there are load of quiet country roads, and given its size, you are never far away from a small town or village, to get you bearings again, so no real need to have a pre planned route. You could do a full lap of the island in a day, or split north and south over a couple of days. If mountain biking, you could spend a week here, and still not get around to every trail. If you decide off road, try http://www.loaghtanloaded.com or http://www.manxmtb.com websites for social rides, they have one each weekend, and most evenings.

For accommodation, loads of old Victorian hotels on the main Douglas promenade, which is just minutes from the boat. Try http://www.sleepwellhotels.com they used to sponsor the IOM e2e race, and have storage, or http://www.welbeckhotel.com. They are just off the main promenade, but have a good restaurant, and just a few mins walk to local bike shop.

If you want any further advise, just contact me, and if you decide on bringing MTB’s I can try and sort out some trips out.

I’m loving mine. First pair were recalled under warranty, as sole was falling off, any unfortunately, they didn’t have any in my size, so I got a pair of rimes instead. These were uncomfortable on my feet, so managed to get another pair of Terraduro’s online. The soles are quite flat, but still grippy, and work great with cb mallets.

Tom, I’ve seen some of your bikes on this site, and I suspect that like me, you don’t, you just get a spare from your box of bits/spares.

How about the Isle of Man, loads of great trails, and can do a lap of the TT course on the road.

Another vote for the Isle of Man end 2 end, although it’s this weekend, so not much time to train. Always next year. If you fancy something a bit more challenging, there is also the Manx 100 in July, which is either a 100 mile, or 100 km route. Less road, and more climbing than the e2e, a proper hard day in the saddle. See http://www.manxmtb.com for details.

It will probably be a timber frame, then a skin of blockwork around it, and rendered. It’s probably the most common type of build in Scotland, and I build, and still live in one on the wet and windy Isle of Man. Should be very energy efficient, and less resistant to internal cracking. If bank survey ok, go for it.

As AD advised, the house builder bible, or get home building and renovating magazine, this has a £psm guide for various parts of the country, and loads of useful info.

I have built over 10 in my time, and now usually have some build or renovation project on the go at all times, although I now just sell them on, or rent out, however, there are still things that catch you out, so do as much research as possible before, such as ground conditions, and pipes or cables on the land, and specialist finishes, such as slate or stone that planners may insist on.

It’s a great, rewarding thing to build your own home, so long as it’s done right, and rolling your sleeves up and getting stuck in, even more rewarding in the end. Good luck

Mrs TG loaths big cars, and reluctantly got a 1 series when our first arrived, and when no. 2 arrived 13 months later, it was plenty big enough.

When she returned to work, and doesn’t ferry them around as much as she did, went back to a mini hatch. The boys are now 3 and 4, and both stage 2 ??? Seats in the back. Not a great deal of room for much in boot, but if just taking them out to park or something, don’t need all the guff that babies need.

That said, when we needed to take a double pram, and tons of nappies and clothes for a day out when they were younger, I ended up selling my golf, and getting a Range Rover Sport,

If budget allows, get the stihl. I have burnt out several cheap ones, and finally did the right thing, and got one. If you have hedges, trees etc in your garden also, suggest the combi ones, that you can attach different heads to the motor unit.

Had a weekend in Newcastle, Friday night at the dog track, Saturday at a karting track. Lots of seedy bars and clubs, and I believe some of the guys who could still stand up on the Saturday night found some exotic dancers.

Or this one

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=sL8YXQDLzVc

When it doesn’t go quite so well!!

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=DS4S5gyWEqM

I regularly do that section on my bike !!! However, my bike has pedals, so is considerably slower. I can just about get the front wheel airborne on Ballaugh bridge, if I pull on the bars enough.

Still no racing today yet, as typical manx weather, I am basking in sunshine in the north, and the rest is shrouded in mist and fog

Depending on how much you have to do, it’s worth investing in a good one. I have over 200m of hedges at home, and been using a stihl one for years, without any problems. Viking do battery ones now. However, be warned, that are not the easiest things to use, and the tops of my hedges resemble a dogs hind leg, as trying to keep it level, especially after holding it for some time, is quite difficult.

Mrs TG bought one that looks the same recently, wasn’t very clean, but had all it’s mane and tail. She paid £220, but she has seen fully restored ones online for £500plus

Finding Nemo, and Toy Story 3, get me every time. And every time is 2/3 times per week.

It’s a bit late now, but I started reading pirate pete’s potty training book to my boys from about 12m old. Within a few weeks past there 2nd birthday, they were both sorted on 1’s and 2’s. The younger one had a lot more accidents, and not going through the night yet, but not 3 yet, so still time yet.

Hey Phil,

Looking good, did you enjoy its maiden voyage, or did westy just have you climbing !!!

Friday afternoon did the black route at Glentress, Saturday morning the xc course at Innerleithen, Saturday after afternoon up and over gypsy glen, then mix of red and blues back at glentress on Sunday morning, before heading home.

Excellent weekend, could not have asked for better weather, great, friendly staff at the tontine hotel, and good food and beer everywhere we went.

Only one downer, stuck in traffic on M6 on the way home. Made it to Liverpool just in time for the boat.

Just made donation, and the target now hit, but ever bit helps, so please keep giving

Tasteslikeburning wrote

[Must admit I do have a pair of Orange Troy Lee shorts to match my Carbine which do look the schizzle – officially! ]

How about an Endura MT500 shirt to match ????

Came a few weeks ago, but not had chance get pics sorted.

It was built, but only the same as you are doing, I specked it with the shop, and they put it together. I had the decals sent direct to them, before they built the wheels. At least they were on straight, rather than me making a f#%k up of them.

Our you could go for the full on, less discrete option
http://i1273.photobucket.com/albums/y413/paulwatterson/imagejpg1_zps8395495f.jpg%5B/IMG%5D%5B/URL

Mine from slik graphics, they were great until some guy drooled over them on Sunday 😕

http://s1273.photobucket.com/user/paulwatterson/media/IMG_13781_zps56d3327e.jpg.html

I’ve rode clips for years, and find them great, however, I did an enduro on Sunday, and think I might get a cheap pair of flats for any more I do. Wet slippy off camber roots and being clipped in is not a great combination.

1×11 on both bikes now, and never regretted at all. Total game changer, easy to use, and wide enough ratio.