<p>@GlennQuagmire – thanks, no I didn’t make any changes at all. However, iPhone had an “important security update” at around the time and wondering if that was anything to do with it. Given that it’s gone when I look at webmail via browser, I’m wondering if the problem is BT side. I’ll enquire and will post update if anyone else is affected. I was half expecting a load of people to say “Yeah, me too”, but that looks not to be the case…</p>

Yes. Not in any other folder. Bizarre but wondering if I’m the only one. I’ve not authorised it or done it myself, so wondering how it’s happened

Thank you, Fruitbat. I still bear the scars. Never again

A big engined petrol convertible. Pretty, well made with a spine tingling soundtrack. For high days and holidays. If it’s a model that was lusted over when new, even better.

Born in S Wales, lived in the valleys for many years, have many friends living in the Rhondda, know but not lived in Ystrad Rhondda. What P-Jay says is pretty much bang on the money. I’d be looking somewhere else tbh.

Much as I love their bikes, bad has to go to Genesis. Looks like something I’d knock off with a scalpel and a bit of sticky back plastic. 1/10 for effort (I can look past that though and love the bikes)

I’m still here, Joshvegas. Resting. My advice – definitely do not deploy the Laura Ashley cushion. I learned the hard way. Pay someone to do it and let their jojonas get repeatedly jabbed with venom instead….

I love my Hope Pro4s. 2 years mixed riding and bombproof so far. From memory, should be within budget. The trademark Hope click to the rear hub (which I love) is great for alerting walkers if you’re using shared route….

As a post script to this story, I’ve had a reply from the manufacturer if anyone is interested:
“I have spoken to our Technical Team and they have advised the following.
Your car has a rolling code signal, meaning someone would need to be close by when the key is used to obtain the remote signal.
This signal changes every time the car is used, meaning they would not have access to your car with just recording the signal and getting in to the car once”.
Will be using heavyweight steering bar all the time from now on and not leaving portable SatNav in the car.

Thanks. Really useful information here. There won’t be valuables left in there anymore and the (empty) glovebox will be left open.
Use of steering bar was intermittent but will now be permanent. I’m grateful for your comments and advice. Thanks for taking time out to answer. It’s an unsavoury city area, known for crime so no surprise I guess. There is something in handbook about resyncing the fob so sounds like it’s a rolling code type of thing. That said, probably makes no difference and I guess they’ll have another go in future.

Could be. Car was unloaded (locked each time) over about 3 trips before finally locking. Break in wasn’t noticed until a few days later but definitely wasn’t ransacked when last locked, but lights flashed and central lovking motors heard when locked before theft (if that makes sense)

Thanks. I’m not sure about ability to pick up signal from items inside either. I guess my main concern is if the plip signal has been intercepted to gain entry, that it can be entered again at will from now on using that signal and, if that’s the case, whether I need to do anything like getting key transponder reprogrammed etc. The steering bar will remain! Driver is certain that door was checked on locking, so entry seems to have been gained without smashing windows.

Thanks Nick. It was definitely locked. Unsavoury area. Parked up for a few days on a drive but locked on arrival. No sign of forced entry. My concern is that it may be vulnerable when parked up again (steering bar on and emptied of valuables). It is a car that would attract attention from a want to nick pov. It had a portable satnav on standby in the glovebox (which was stolen) and I’m told (how reliable, I don’t know) that scanners can pick up satnav or wireless signal to know if a satnav or laptop is inside vehicle.

Of the relatively more readily available in supermarkets brands:
Instant – Clipper
French press – Taylors
Machine – Illy (with Lavazza close second and better value for money)
That’s all you need to know. Thread closed ;-)

Thanks, Enigmas. I haven’t ridden that route in over a year and wondered if there were issues such as those you described that led to this (rather than simply responsible riding across that route). I guess my reason for posting are the wider implications. Like you, I think I would probably opt to pay or push (although never normally carry change, so this would need to change). It’s a shame to hear that there’s been irresponsible behaviour in that area – farmers have a hard time, I reckon (fly tipping on farm land has been featured a lot on social media recently too), so much sympathy with their side of this.

Nice to see such reasoned and temperate comments. Thank you. Most, if not all, of the conversation reflecting my own view.
Doesn’t this need a more joined up national solution? Total sympathy with the landowner who is trying to be fair, I think and whilst I would be happy to pay, I think it opens a potential Pandora’s box (liability, taxation, multiple fees on a long route, proof etc). I fully appreciate that it may not escalate and could remain as an isolated honesty box for a landowner who has a genuine need to take action of some sort.
I presume things are different in Scotland with different access laws? How does it work out there? (I mean in terms of possible damage to land/fences and how the landowners are compensated – or not).
Ultimately, as is reflected in this thread, we need to be mindful of each other’s views (landowners/MTBers) and work together.
I’m not sure that this is the solution on a national level but thanks for the views. Very interesting discussion. Interested to hear more views and whether there are any better mutual solutions to this issue elsewhere.

Thanks Reluctantjumper. I agree and I’m generally sympathetic to this farmer. It was mainly the legality and implications of charging in the wider sense.

That sounds reasonable to me, Towzer and that was my first thought. My next thought was if this extends, how it could affect mountain biking in general. I tend to ride routes that are generally ridden by mountain bikers but I can’t say that I know the detail of every bit of every route and whether they are all bridleways. I probably should, of course.

I should add that I’m not suggesting it’s illegal (I don’t know whether it is or not or, rather, the implications of charging to access land – liability, safety, taxation although this is not an area that I would expect to generate a lot of income) and the suggested fee is not extortionate. I’m mainly interested in views and how this could change mountain biking if it becomes commonplace. Quite right that we shouldn’t be riding footpaths, but how many here can honestly say they’ve never done so in a quiet, rural location?

51.5388801, -3.3078152

I’m not sure, but according to Cardiff.gov website, it’s down as “Public right of way” under “Footpaths”. I’ll see if I can get detail or share a dropped pin to the location

Some fantastic advice here. Thanks v much indeed, chaps. I’m starting to think about taking my own tyres for a cheeky swap around. I’m erring towards Soller base and planning an early morning ride in April. Sounds like I’ll need to start booking early i.e. before Christmas for next April? I had no idea it would be that popular (but I can see why).
I remember driving past a cyclist along the Deia to Valdemossa road a few years ago as the sun was setting and have an urge to do that too (although not the same day!)

Brilliant suggestions. Thanks very much for contributing to this thread. Bookmarked.

Thanks Crazy-legs. I was thinking that may be the case. I’m guessing April’s a safer bet?

On two occasions I’ve had two different cars in with garage and they’ve noted tracking out and, probably as a result, two new tyres needed. I had tracking done by garage but took cars to local tyre place for new tyres (their suggestion – cheaper). When tyres done, been told by tyre place “We’ve just checked your tracking and that needs doing”. When I told them that another garage has just checked it, I was told “They probably use different figures to us”. Cynical, moi? (Actually, both garage and tyre fitters have been excellent in all other respects in the past)

Thanks Fossy. I always presumed the tiddly little vessels around the tadpole tubes were singletracks, whereas there are plenty of big fat M25 vessels in the sack to direct testosterone out of the nether regions if the singletracks were injured. Every day a school day. Thanks 👍

In what way does cutting the tube that lets the tadpoles get a bit of fresh air affect testosterone, Fossy? I thought that testosterone was made in the balls and travels around the body via the bloodstream, not the tadpole tubes? Is that not correct or am I misunderstanding? (and sincere apologies if I am 😉)

Tip: Get there first. Then – get this – go to straight to the back of the park and work your way forward. You’ll be straight on to most of the stuff, then a brief busy section as you meet the hordes working back, then get to the stuff at the start when most have left. You’re welcome 😉

It’s thanks to the likes of Kayak23 that we put a man on the moon, you know.

I had a Volvo about 15 or so years ago. They were well into recycling at the time and had an option where they would coat the radiator in some sort of catalyst that hoovered up ground level ozone. I think it was called premair or something like that. I know little about Scandi culture but it seems to be part of their ethos. They also developed a spray on reflective paint for cyclists a few years ago. Great company IMO.

Had a Gaggia Classic for 20+ yrs. The steam wand dripped and leaked for the last 5 yrs and it could only generate enough steam for 2 small lattes in the end. Beyond descaling and many bits practically welded in place. It was superb for most of its life.
It’s been replaced with a Silvia. Superb machine, easily as good as the Gaggia at its best. The creamy microfoam it better and loads of capacity for doing more than 2 cups when we have guests. I agree that you have to wait a minute before using the steam wand. Main (minor) downside for me is that the water tank empties relatively quickly, you can’t easily see the level (without removing lid). Although you can easily top up the water, if you’ve not used it for a few days and want to change the water for fresh, the water tank is a real fiddle to get out.
I’d buy another Gaggia again if they build them as good as my 20yr old machine. I’d also buy another Silvia, which, although more expensive, is a better machine in terms of power and microfoam.

A relative’s son was there recently. Biggest gripe was the £50 prepaid food card. Can only use on campus where more commercial eateries are expensive (£10 pizza would use a 1/5th of week’s allocation). There’s no roll over so if use £40 one week, it still £50 the next and you don’t get back any unused credits if home. He was in Chamberlain – clean, safe, well equipped but expensive. En-suite rooms more akin to a Premier Inn than “The Young Ones”

PS clockwise not anti-clockwise

Done it many times – freezing cold weather to boiling hot May ride when we ran out of water. One of my all time favourite rides. Start and end at the Bear (preferably stay overnight – they’re very mtb friendly and will store bikes – ending with a few beers and a steak. This is the best time of the year to do it. It’s easy to get lost in the forest section. Great descent at the top of the Das. There used to be a great video of the descent from Das on YouTube (called “Bearded Man” I think). Do it. You’ll love it.

I’ve just made a sofrito and added some finely chopped chilli and sliced garlic. Posh Chorizo has been sliced and added with lots of red wine to deglaze the pan. Next in, some over-ripe Italian tomatoes and freshly chopped basil (lots of). When the linguine’s cooking, I’ll add some of the cooking water to thicken. Will be having with homemade garlic bread and the rest of the wine.
Basically, tomato sauce and pasta, but I’m hoping that the description lifts it to the usual STW standards, because it’ll likely taste rank if I’ve made it…..:-)

More to the point, do you fit the car? I mean that seriously. I gather you’re an extremely tall chap and a pal of mine, who’s taller than average finds that he can’t get comfortable in many small cars. The other thing to consider is the palaver of squeezing a bike in every time, although that’s probably not much of an issue if you rarely need to do it. Would your wife feel better if you fitted all round parking sensors or reversing camera? I know how she feels though. Nowt pleasurable about manouvering big cars in office car parks if that’s part of the daily grind.

Bravo, Malvern Rider. Served on a saucer but a meal to make us proud…and yet…
Firstly the tea. Top marks for the mug, but I’m afraid it’s downhill all the way after that. The keen eyed will notice a transparency to the liquid contained therein. This is typical of too short a brew time, with too little milk in an attempt to try and counter the weakness.
Moving on to the chips, the black tips indicate that they’ve been cooked in an oven. Never acceptable. Get some big fat maris pipers and get the fryer on. There really is no substitue.
A better effort with the beans. They’ve clearly been on the hob longer than Tracey’s cursory warm through in the microwave, but if the keen gourmet zooms in, he/she will notice a little more liquid sauce to the right. 7/10
Finally the eggs. What’s going on there? A little ragged at the edges. Wrong kind of oil. Doesn’t have a hot enough smoke point. Also displays the “half moon sign” i.e. yolk which is half white/opaque, half yellow. Signifies that the “cook” can’t be arsed to baste the egg evenly. Sloppy.
All in all, a modest attempt. 6/10. If there was more effort with the chips, it may have been a 7 plus.

Tracey, please let me apologise for what follows…but
1. Beans too runny. Need to be warmed (but not boiled) for another hour.
2. Fish fingers – Sloppy. Left to burn. (sorry)
3. The “chips” are floppy, I can tell, but worst of all, they’ve got skin on them. That’s never allowed.
4. The round, plump, brown thing with bits of grain in it at the top should be a square, white flat thing with enough coating of butter (at the right temperature) so as to leave bite marks.
5. Finally, there’s no goddam egg.
Honestly. Amateurs.
As you were…..

Twitter saying it too. Very very sad news indeed. It looks like his daughter has confirmed on Twitter 26 minutes ago.