We've got a Citroen C4 grand picasso, very pleased so far. 7 seats if needed, but massive boot when just using the front 2 rows. Probably not the most exciting drive, but that's not why we bought it. I narrowed the options to that or the S-max, and I could get newer/better fitted C4 on our budget. The bigger people carriers (galaxy etc) have full size rear seats but have to be removed and stored in your house if not in use. Cmax boot small if you've got 5 in the seats.

I'm in, I anticipate some long fire road climbs to string the field out for the singletrack sections. Last year bits were ridden in reverse, so it's not just loops of the existing trails. Blue run is new since last year too, so maybe will be incorporated into the course.

My lad's head was too big for the 1st one we got, a giro something from Merlin, so they go quite small.
Edit- found it, the ME 2. It says 50-55cm on the merlin page, but it's not, it's smaller than 50 cm max.

My VF2 is fully built, as of today. Will start a thread with some pics when I've uploaded some, but it's looking sweet. With Si's deal on forks, my build is around £2500 with SLX/Stans on Pro2's/Thomson bits. Touch over 28lbs without pedals on shops park scales, which is less than I thought it would be with a 'budget' build. My red one is, I believe, still the only one in the UK! Si also has good deals on finishing kit, and will sort you out. First ride tomorrow, back of skiddaw, might not be able to sleep for excitement

Green collar worker me- ambulance service. Big warm garage for bike maintenance and comfy sofas for dozing- perfect! (Any ambulance service managers on here, disregard the above/substitute in 'continuing professional development/degree research etc)

I've got this to do on my new build, and frankly it scares me a bit, not sure why. Maybe LBS for me…

Worth phoning for van quotes, as often online comparisons assume it's for commercial use. My T5 transporter was cheapest through Budget Van insurance, who accepted my no claims from car driving. However, their 'car' arm wouldn't accept it when I sold the van and went to a people carrier, despite most of the NCB being on cars!

I've had my malt 4 since 2004. It's a great frame for building a nice bike around, not too heavy, and has coped well as my only bike (until just recently) for Lake District riding. All in all very pleased with the build Merlin did for me, and have upgraded things over the years. Will be keeping it, probably as a racier lighter weight spec, now I have my full bounce Chumba.

Mech bought, ta!

sorry, triple post, somehow!

Was there today, 1/2 blue, all north red and top of south red all still closed, polite signs requesting folks leave them until erosion/ freeze-thaw issues have settled down, which is probably a good idea. However, if you're not local or passing, probably best heading for borrowdale, back o' skiddaw or grisedale bridelways instead. New snow only an issue on the high fells.

Was there today, 1/2 blue, all north red and top of south red all still closed, polite signs requesting folks leave them until erosion/ freeze-thaw issues have settled down, which is probably a good idea. However, if you're not local or passing, probably best heading for borrowdale, back o' skiddaw or grisedale bridelways instead. New snow only an issue on the high fells.

I think my parents have a set of those chairs (that the frame's leaning against), although they've just had there's restored & they don't look quite as 'rustic'…..

The chair is a project. SWMBO is off on an upholstery course soon, and got it for nothing off a friend. Parker Knoll, apparently!

MetalHeart, you went for the coil shock in the end, is that right? I'm interested to see how I get on with the standard one, but I'm by no means hardcore!

RaceFace deus, got it cheap, pity it doesn't come in pimp colours!

Si
I'm not sure who the buyer will be who will find and decide to buy a Chumba, but then not have the savvy to source exactly the bits they want for their 'boutique' build, from the cheapest suppliers. Therefore, you'd have to be able to bring it in at less than the big mail order boys, reducing your margin. Will it be worth it?

If you had a dealer network, I can see full bikes being more likely to appeal- folks more likely to fancy the bike in the window and buy it "today". However, I don't think I would have ordered my VF2 as a full bike, and I'm your archetypal 'budget' customer!

Now where is it?!

Ahhh- the comp was my first ever mtb. My clashing flouro yellow mushroom helmet set the pink off a treat. Mates dad (flash git) got the pro, with xtr and Manitou front suspension! Very jealous (in 1991!)

Having had a w@nker tenant who never had any intention of paying rent after the first couple of months and trashed our house, I found it was a long and convoluted process to get him out legally. This sounds very illegal!

Do Shimano XT hubs convert to 15mm, or do they make a seprate 'XT-15' hub? Looking at wheels for a new build……

15 mins drive from J40 is Threlkeld, just before Keswick. Park there and ride up past the Blencathra field centre to Skiddaw house, then back the other side of the valley to Latrigg, descent to Keswick then disused railway back to car. 2 hours tops, and a nice intro to the North Lakes, easily accessible form the motorway.

Love my malt 4 with Reba 100mm forks. You could up-spec some parts for that money too.

I'd get some employment law advice, this sounds like it could be construed as discriminatory to your wife. I think the employer should make an effort to try to find alternative solutions- eg employing another PT to job share the Full Time equivalent post.

Brilliant and thought provoking responses. Thanks all, some things to mull over now…..

TomB where do you live

Keswick, but not committing to anything yet! :-)

specifying that the van is not for business/commercial use reduces the premium significantly. my t5 was £300ish fully comp with Budget.

Wheelbase do a 'home delivery service' on treks, with the mechanic fitting/checking set up with you at your home, but you have to pay for it!

It's a permanent sale type shop, but still good. Replaced woolies in keswick to add to our over supply of outdoor gear. Good value on some bits mind…..

Never been there, can anyone compare it to a tough lakeland climb? Steep + trialsy? like up from watendlath on borrowdale bash? or long, like Garburn from kentmere? Any comparisons welcomed!

Cheers

I convinced myself I needed a new, full suss bike, as I was slower up and down than my buddies on my hardtail. However, after various bits of advice on here and elsewhere I:
1) Got fitter
2) Went on a skills course
3) Upgraded tyres,forks and got a wider bar

I now still want a new bike, but I am as fast or faster than my riding mates, and have a much clearer idea of what I want my new bike to do better than my old one, and have realised how much difference numbers (1) and (2) above have made to my enjoyment of riding.

I think your current bike should be great, especially with the tweaks advised on here. On the tyres front, my 2.25 Maxxis advantages (come up huge) have made a massive difference to my bike's handling, recommended).

I think it's easy to get sucked in to the bike media short travel/long travel/all mountain/ trail etc bollox, and start questioning if your bike is the weak link in your riding. I know I have been!

Cheers all!
IamSam, I saw on the lapierre site that Biketreks are a dealer, but no mention of lapierre on the bike treks web site. I'll have to pop in……

igm, day out to Dalby is a fine idea, thanks for the tip, didn't know they had a large zesty on demo.

Tom

The bespoke OS map is only about £15, I've got one on my wall, centred at my house!

Cheers all, a wealth of info as usual. Boxelder, I've ridden a mates Roscoe, and it's definitely a nice bike, doesn't ride 'heavy', very solid in a good way. Can't buy one- he's got one!

The Meta test is complete, and unfortunately it's not the bike for me. I felt too far 'behind' the bottom bracket for efficient pedaling, and riding uphill felt like I was towing an anchor (even with pro pedal on). Rocky techy uphill was easy though, very flattering. Swapping back and forth between the meta and the roscoe the difference was clear on the long climbs, and I'm not willing to sacrifice that much for the benefits the meta design brings (very nice through tight and twisty stuff though). My mate even had to use the small front cog when he got on the Meta, something I've never seen him do ever, anywhere!

KMB reckon trek ex8/9.

Now I've got more of a feel for this full suss malarky, any others I should rule out (Zesty?) on the basis of the meta test? I definitely want to keep some of the saddle up efficiency of my hardtail when it's needed, like on long but non techy climbs, but also would like something forgiving/flattering when descending over typical steep rocky terrain. Not likely to be getting any significant air in the near future, except a few inches on whinlatter south loop :D

Cheers Clarey, I must make it along to a Tuesday night at some point, the rides sound fun (the hikes not so much!)

Hmm, those marin (and Whyte) swing arms sure are ugly- do you get used to it after a bit?

KMB's only demo that would fit me was the meta, nothing else, unfortunately.

cheers_drive- what size did you go for in the zesty? I'm also 6'3" and it's on the short list.

Bits like the keswick-threlkeld railway line are fine on a road bike, but I'd avoid the forestry gravel roads round whinlatter and stick to the road, it's a nice ride. Similarly, avoid the old coach road to Matterdale. AFAIK, you can miss any bumpy bits by using roads, and most are pretty quiet.

Maxxis Advantage 2.25 on my Malt 4 for rocky lakes. Big, just about fit! Very pleased with them for my riding.

Other bikes and power tools, chain saws etc also gone. The Pitch Pro is a Medium stock bike but with black lock on grips and High Rollers front and rear. If anyone is offered one for sale the serial number is: M7LH70594

Cheers

Sanitary towels and tape.

C and C club sites at Keswick (by the lake, excellent for walking in to pubs, shopping etc) and lots of riding from there, and at Troutbeck- way out in the stix between keswick and penrith, good for riding up helvellyn! We use the club sites elsewhere with our young family after experiencing too many drunk fighting partying all night experiences at others (what is it with chavs and camping?)

Others- scotgate at Braithwaite, bottom of Whinlatter, Castlerigg Farm- my mates parents run that one, it’s good, and a few up Borrowdale- hollows farm, stonethwaite etc.

(I live here, so not tried any myself!)
Tom