Stoddys – Christmas has in the main lost its Christian connotations now (not saying that’s right or wrong – just a fact) and the main things we associate with Christmas have closer links to a heathen winter festival – Santa Claus/feasting/decorated tree/family gathering.

Barbour. Lots of choice.

And another one for feathers! Really very good.

Was in a similar situation to you a year ago OP (new house with available wood and woodburners!)and took the advice on here to get PPe and get trained. It means the budget went from £200 to £700 for a Stihl plus 3 day course at my local agricultural college plus trousers, boots, gloves and helmet.

I really do advise the course and PPe. I am wary of saws but I do enjoy using it.

V666ern give rob a call at http://www.rbsporting.co.uk in Ross. Loads of second hand air rifles, I got a good deal on an excellent W77k there recently.

Do it. I find two easier than 1. You are already in he routine, as a generalisation dogs are pack animals and like being around more dogs,and there is less worry about leaving them alone for a few hours as they have ‘company’. We briefly had 3 and found that significantly harder on walks, picking up shit just generally. So im convinced that 2 is the magic number here.

The only thing I need my laptop for now is its USB hole to download the Garmin after riding and charging USB bike lights. Otherwise I find ipad better for everything. Can’t say if it’s so much better than a samsung tablet cos ive never used one.

Add the horror that is Katie Hopkins for the win.

JM and mike thank you. You may have saved me lots of cash and time.

JM – email inbound.

Thank you both. I clearly need to do lots of research! I would like to have the autonomy of my own website.

I want to sell my product from my website. The ‘front’ of the website I’ve sort of laid out above.

Behind the website, I want to be able to take payment via card or paypal and I will be posting it so it would be good to have a system to generate address labels and receipts.

Trying to fix full mud guards over disc brakes on a roadie (CAADX). INFURIATING.

Enjoyed that. The slo-mo of the suss working and the deforming/ reforming of the tyres was really somrthing. The Baja Beach Babes were impressively and entertainingly gratuitous.

Superdry for the win.

High Roller 2 is THE tyre for the front imho.

How spendy? Two of my mates are running Lynksey Ti Cooper with full mudguards and 28mm tyres as winter bikes. No compromise there!

My numbers are similar to,yours OP – 2 rides a week on average with an average of 60 miles a week. 90% road, 10% mtb. Not training for anything or commuting – just keeping healthy and some Sportives. Feel this much riding is a good compromise between ‘enough’ to maintain my fitness and move forward a bit and not taking time away from home/family life.

I’ve just found my new favourite blokey bloke, Guy Martin drops to second.

Or just stick to 25/28 gators and mince round corners? Works for me!!

Go CX racing?

Probably want to avoid stacking if you’ve got a long metal pole strapped to,your kidneys. Oh wait…

Mrs K is very impressed with Morvelo for her women specific stuff rather than some other manufacturers who seem to make men’s stuff in smaller sizes and coloured purple for women.

31.8 and Britiish standard BB

Stihl everything.

I’m fairly,sure you,will have to put his d.o.b. into the booking page on the website. At which point it should not allow you to book him a seat.

I’d have liked to have seen a bit more of the frame and shell being built.

But good telly just cos it’s him.

For me Buzz it’s overshoes on top of the NWs as you can rinse the crud and crap off the overshoes easier than doing a full clean on the boots. But I’ve swapped heavy thick neoprene overshoes for thin waterproof stretchy easy on and off able ones which are also cheaper and replaceable.

I wear thin grip grab overshoes over Northwave Arctic boots just to keep the worst of the road crud off the boots.

Agree with molgrips that winter boots vs summer shoes plus thick neoprene overshoes is like comparing oranges and apples.

It’s a big wedge to spend on shoes but I’d say go for it, it certainly makes my winter riding significantly more pleasant.

Stashing red diesel

British AirLine Pilots Assocn (BALPA) charge 1% of salary (with some tax relief) which works out at £84 a month for me at the moment 8O

Add another £30 and buy some north wave Arctic boots. The best purchase by far I’ve ever made for all year round riding ever. Seriously. No more cold toes.

Yr.no

And another +1 for the screw fix ones from me. Wear them everyday, sometimes all day, excellent boots.

I’d suggest that you don’t get a puppy for Christmas. They will be badly bred for the Christmas market.

The rescue route is great (all outpr dogs have always been rescued) or as Lawnanmx says… Research research etc into breeds then breeders to get the right pooch for,you.

Good luck

And yes … Keep pedalling, up, down or flat!

If you’re going to commute all winter then Hands and feet will be important.

Wind proof insulated gloves are important.

A thick neoprene overshoe will be fine for 7 miles rather than winter boots which are spendy (£120 ish) and well worth it.
Are you riding clipped in? SPD?

Mudguards will save alot of the mud & wet getting on you.

I have a whippet. Yes to all the stuff above. They are a delight with the added advantage of not wanted huge walks in depradful weather. They are very loving and look cute as a button.

PS you will almost certainly end up with a second whip whop in a years time or so. They go well in pairs IMO.

PS it’s a waste of minion rubber too!

You’ve answered your own question Trek. Faster and further is betterer so that would be a reason to go for it. I’d hazard a guess that, once you’ve bought the road bike, you’ll NEVER ride the FS on the road as it will feel horrible.

Hope the back continues to mend.

(I’m a 10 year MTBer turned roadie about 18 months ago)

Tree-magnet thanks for the minchin heroics, I’ve not heard him do ‘Storm’ before. The man is a dude.