At the end of the day… I’m loving having a listen to some of these.

Junkyard – fair point, I do understand that.

That’s the compromise though HH.

I’d rather the terrorists and criminals be tracked and monitored and if the price is what you talk about – is it worth it? With the recent trial of the two gents who killed Lee Rigby I know which side of the fence I fall. More surveillance please.

Yes really good, highly recommend them. I’ve covered it in crud and got it soaked, no issues. it’s really really bright. I use it for the 5 mile road section back home after coming off the hills as it gets dark in the evenings. It’s only this one or the Leyzene rear lights my LBS sells and he chooses his stock very carefully.

OK the ID card was unnecessary, I apologise for thread creep! Was fun though.

I already have given a lot of info in order to carry out my job and jobs in the past so it’s not really an issue for me (MoD security clearances, airside pass for airports)

But how about the other bit of my post? What’s wrong with the ANPR cameras if you’re legit?

Hope it stops hurting soon mate, very interesting and well written post.

PS does 23.5 mph dent a Beemer? Please tell me it did!

OK I’ll bite,

Ohnohesback- what’s the issue. Why not get uninsured drivers off the road? Why not track criminals as they move round the country? Why not catch criminals doing what they shouldn’t be doing on Video? I pay my road taxes and insurance & I’m not a criminal so I’m pleased that these devices make my world safer.

I’d like an ID card too.

I was hauling myself up a track where I ride and a starling did just this, straight down in front of my front wheel., dead. Didn’t see a bird of prey or any other reason. Odd.

Good, got nothing to worry about if you are legit. More ANPR, more CCTV please.

Evans have got spesh captains or conti mountain kings for £20 each on special, both would do the job.

Mazda 6 estate. 2.0D – the excellent 2.2 prob out of your price range. Mine’s good, been v reliable over 40k miles and does all the things the OP asks for. You’ll be in the 100k range for £2.5k, I bought mine with 70k on it. You’ll need he ‘sport’ for leather seats though.

Loved it. How’s he not broken!

Radio silence! Do and say nothing for 48 hours.

Play them at their own game.

I have just bought a CAADX disc with Tiagra. £1k. Frame is brilliant, I think you can get it with a better groupset for £1300-1500 so haggle-able down to your budget.

I moved to a place with 3 acres 2 years ago.

I have ‘bought cheap, bought twice’ with nearly everything mechanical. The Cheap ryobi stuff from B&Q strimmer hedge trimmers etc are really good, if you only need to look after a small garden and use them for 15 mins at a time. Look in the back of any tree surgeon, groundsman and they have got Stihl. It will keep on working. It’s what I invested in and it’s really good, makes the jobs so much quicker, quieter and more pleasant.

As for the ride on mower, first you have to decide whether you want your patch as a ‘lawn’ or a ‘ paddock’ as you need to pick up the clippings to get a nice lawn where as you can have it mulching or side discharged with no capacity to pick up if you’re happy with the paddock effect.

Secondly don’t scrimp on power, all that will happen is that ithe machine will get clogged all the time and it will be very frustrating to keep getting off to clear it – this is what happened to me with my cheap one.

I bought a second hand machine with the cutters out at the front, really like it, doesn’t clog but obviously s
Doesn’t pick up the clippings. If you can get a warranty or a good recommendation from a neighbour about a local place don’t be put off by second hand.

I’m guessing it will be using the area the ‘Land Rover Experience’ uses on the Eastnor estAte.

It’s not legit but lots of people ride it, as long as the 4x4s aren’t around. If you climb up,the rocky track from the gullet quarry then go straight at the ‘x-road’ on you’ll see some track that are used for the 4x4s on the left, you’ll need to chuck the bike over a gate!

Alternatively go to the obelisk and follow your nose around some of the trails around there. Watch out for white 4x4s!

Sammy slicks 35mm at 70psi seem to grip fairly well. They have a bit more block round the edge than the contis but still roll really well.

Not done it but I’m doing it solo this year.

Will be on a HT, I regularly ride the trails around Eastnor and don’t think you’ll need to do any maintenance other than a good wash.

I have had a CAADX disc in the shed for about a month, no complaints at all. It was £1k. It has Tiagra on it but it’s worked like a charm. Highly recommend it, seems smoother over bumpy lanes than road bikes I’ve ridden in he past and it loves a bit of bridle path. it’s currently my favorite waste of time.

Get 10 ‘little nippers’ off eBay, the modern plastic traps are rubbish. Use a bit of peanut butter as bait.

Poison is a bad option IMO for the reasons stated above and also the risk of pets and other wildlife becoming poisoned.

The live traps are fine if you dont want to kill them, but I’d take them along way away, like a car drive away.

Pheasants, a dozen or more of the idiots.
A rather fine buzzard having a nosh on a rabbit.

But it’s up to us too. I might not want to lose my momentum but I pull over on single lanes to let a car pass, I look out for horses and dog-walkers and make space for them. If we are considerate then we will surely get it back, bar the inveterate dickheads.

+1 for best thread EVER

Yeah Sealife centre is a good one

Oh and regarding he left alone thing, yes but I bet you you end up with a second if you get a first. They seem to go together quite well and like having a pal around.

Can’t add much to skull digger really. We have 2 whippets, great great dogs, I’m converted and will always have whippets as pets.

Agreed with the chase instinct thing, you have to work quite hard training to overcome that. If you want to walk for hours with your dogs off lead then maybe not the right breed. If you want a low- maintenance, clean, nice-hearted pet then go for it.

If you’re thinking of rescuing (both ours are) there is a dedicated organisation called Scruples Whippet Rescue.

The mucky nuts bender fender XL is simply brilliant for £11. Swapped from shock boards as they kept working loose.

No, a fairly standard request.

I agree with Scott mc, strava is the neatest software and I don’t give a rats a** what anyone else is doing a segment in, I care about how im doing on any given day.

Yes you can buy accessories with your voucher as far as I know.

Snap, was presented with exactly the situation you describe when the cycle to work scheme opened up at my work! However I didn’t have your strength of mind and went with the easy option. I pick up my Cannondale CAADX (and a pair of GP 4 seasons to swap onto them) tomorrow!

+1 for the 2bliss Purg, I’ve been impressed with it since it went on a month or so ago at comfortable pressures and I ride rocky tracks.

Froch. The real deal.

I agree about the pva., no need. Two coats of that Ron seal diamond hard paint did me fine. Worth spending the time to sweep and vac thou roughly.

It’s been very good indeed.

Don’t know about drying times in the cold sorry.

Wwas – career ender.

Matt – yes to all. It’s a ‘never’ event – should never happen.

Old nick – the ’22’ designates the direction of the runway 220degrees or South-west.

I’ve just put a purg on! Swapped out a Firefox XC pro so I’m finding the purg grippy and good at clearing the mud!

I have just swapped a £30 Spesh Purgatory onto the back for my winter riding, do the same type of riding as OP. Compared to the FIREFOX XC pro that’s come off the back, the grip and mud clearance is significantly improved.

have a High Roller on the front.

Thank you for info confused and surfer.