By chance, just discovered there are highlights on BBC red button sports screen (p3001), option 4. Looks a cracking event!

Nothing wrong with heavy bikes round Whinlatter, you did remember to go up onto Grisedale Pike of course?

We were up Grisedale pike an friday morning, descent down hobcarton end was brilliant, I can't remember laughing so much while riding in a long time!

While there's better riding than whinlatter, it's a nice spot for a family outing. Nice cafe, way marked walks, adventure playground etc, so could do laps of the routes (about 1 hour each) while dropping back in to the visitor centre between rides.

The e type octalink bb I just removed seems to have the axle protruding further on the drive side, while the standard bb I bought seems to be the same length either side- would that be right?

Our local pool is great- sloping in beach type bit so little ones can crawl around, warm-ish, £2.35 for toddlers only session with lots of floaty things to play with, available 4 times a week.

Haven't done lessons but my 2 year old loves going. Had a wetsuit for <1 as he was going a bit blue after 15 minutes. They also do lessons for the same price once a week for >18 month olds. The sort of public subsidy that I am all for, and worry about losing in the next couple of years.

Morning bump before I package up the 'wrong' bb to return to Merlin……….

running = pain first couple of times out after a lay off, ime. Once I'm into the swing it becomes almost fun!

Mix half and half Ginger beer and ginger ale and add a splash of angustura (sp?) bitters. Yum

I use the cheapest hamax one, got it from Merlin, and have used it from about 14 months with no problems. Mounts onto a bracket on the seat tube, easy to fit and take apart, no need for a rack on the back.

Did my first MTB event recently. What struck me more was not the bling bikes at the back of the field, which I have no issue with, but the numpties who act like they're lance armstrong, swearing, shouting out their excuse for yet another dab, pushing their way past etc when clearly not threatening the top 100. I think it's attitude, not kit, that's embarrassing. have to say, though, there were only a few of these folks, most were very chilled!

Marin do a cross bike with discs, could vary tyres depending on use. There's one on the wheelbase site.

The little levers islabikes fit are suitable for small hands, my 2 year old can use his with the reach adjust wound in. Would they be appropriate? How about rigging a thumb shifter cabled to a disc brake- should be possible?

Wouldn't think the climb from thirlmere up to Blea tarn is ridable, then it's boggy and grassy over the top to Watendlath. I would go up helvellyn from dockray unless very wet, and descend to Patterdale down sticks pass. Sticks pass west to thirlmere side also supposed to be good, but trickier to include in a loop. If you want longer, ride east side of ullswater before/after helvellyn- route in the lakes guide book.

*cheeky alert* Your borrowdale bash route: well worth riding from rakefoot up and along above walla and falcon crags, descending to ashness bridge, but you didn't hear it from me.

That's my chumba Si posted, £2500ish built with SLX, before Si's excellent rolling chassis deal. Very pleased, very efficient pedaller, not heavy (mines 28lb with no thought to lightweight bits), very confidence inspiring. I went from my first hardtail to the VF2 and have no regrets. However, worth knowing what it is you want, I demo'd a few, and some of those mentioned so far are very different to each other. Chumba VF2 has been great for me as an all day lake district bike, I'm sure others would suit other people better.

Chainline, it was me you towed up the very last climb, I was rabbiting on at you about what on earth that massive front tyre was good for, we finished together. Glad you enjoyed it!

£350= £35 each, doesn't sound crazy, it's a long drive!

Also interested in any information re Lakes NP from a similar perspective.

Thanks all.

Ended up heading west through Tissington, Thorpe to Ilam, then north up and down the moors to Hulme End, east to the main road, left down the A road nearly to Cromford, up and over through Middleton and through Wirksworth, then round the reservoir back to carsington. 45 miles ish, really lovely (hilly) and varied ride. Head wind horrible, tail wind lovely!

Cheers. Hills not a problem, I live in the lakes and have few flat options. Would like to bring the mtb but for various bizarre reasons the road bike is the only choice this weekend!

Any excuse. Now considerably muddier…..

No one? Bump for the after tea crowd……

My 'reef' carbon darkside bike is still going strong, £695 in 2003!

My mate had one, it was stolen, he demo'd a few and went and bought this year's Pitch, he missed his so much. He 'rides xc all day' but we live in the lakes so it's rocky and descent orientated, and he's doing Whinlatter enduro 30 miler on it too. He's the first to admit it wouldn't be the ideal bike for that, but for the majority of his riding it does what he wants.

I don't understand the 'big bike for trail centres' chat though. The ones I've been to the trails are generally smoother and more forgiving thean out local 'xc' riding.

I went through this when I moved to the lakes. Ended up keeping my 'traditional' 53-39 front set up and going MTB cassette and derailleur on the back, as it worked out cheaper. Works fine, gets me up honister etc. Big gear spacings a bit of a pain, seem to spend a lot of time shifting between front cogs to get it just right.

Think it was today

I'm in Carsington village for a long weekend with the inlaws soon. Anyone recommend 20-30 miles of mtb fun to escape the family, riding from the village?

Where's Kaesae gone, it was more fun when he kept posting……all this serious gumph is getting me down!

What Chumba?

Nice colour Chumba, Si! :D

Wouldn't the best way be bike in front of the front bumper, facing forward, attached by a tow rope to get the car to wherever you want to go? Or are tvr's better these days…..

Loving my new Chumba VF2, but everyone will name their own bike, especially if it's new!

It's what I do. HPC registered paramedic will generally start at the bottom of Agenda for Change Band 5, but most will add 25% to that salary for unsocial hours working. If your wife is not already qualified, chances are that the first role she would be considered for would be emergency care assistant (band 3) or EMT-1 (band 4) depending on which ambulance trust it is.

Bumpity bump for the saturday evening crowd…..

Si is on the case with the bolt, and I'm shopping for a bigger rear tyre!

Fun night out, thanks for the patience with my various bike snags. Nice to meet everyone and put some faces to names off here. I'll be out again when shifts allow….

I'll try and get some good shots in the daylight and email them to you. Every pic I've taken doesn't do it justice.

Should be there, shopping tomorrow for the iron legs, steel nerves and haribo!

First outing today, round the back of skiddaw (where there is still considerable amounts of snow, esp Dash-skiddaw house). All in all I'm very pleased, the bike seemed to feel like 'mine' very quickly with minimal fettling, performed very well, very confidence inspiring at speed over rocks, efficient climbing up the long haul to dash falls (with propedal). Also, no squeaks and creaks, all feels fine, I'm a happy bunny!

My new build pics are now up in the bike forum.

I believe the Samling is the top-drawer choice, celebrity guests etc, but hideously expensive. For a different approach, gastro-pub with rooms at the Drunken Duck, Hawkshead- well though of.