100% agree.

Awesome article – I am in exactly the same boat as our ageing diesel Rav4 is spending more and more time in the garage (but does have a tow bar bike rack). Bike theft is mental at the moment so ideally would like to put bike (minus front wheel) into the main vehicle but then fitting in partner, two kids and a dog pretty much makes it impossible without a full on van who’s prices are rocketing. Secondhand market may be good in a year or two once overseas holidays are a viable option again!

I am looking at a EV estate… the MG5. Decent range in the long range version and and the (Scottish) Government are providing interest free loans for new EVs. Solo trips a bike will go in the back with a bit of faff but full family trip it will still need a bike rack and roof box (and then what will the real world range be…, yet to get a decent answer). If that is still unaffordable then a Octavia estate may be the order of the day.

Will continue to hunt!

Aye, the post saying book your demo wasn’t meant to be released. Sit on yer hands :-)

Exposure; worth every penny.

Tested one last year for Singletrack and loved it; http://singletrackworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/reviewed-canyon-spectral-al-8-0-ex/%5B/url%5D

OdPod is in the £30 region, http://www.od-designs.co.uk/products/odpod

Rode Superstar carbon wheels for a year and could not fault them; remained true, took a hammering including racing an EWS round, hubs were smooth and didn’t have to replace the bearings. A big plus is also UK based so if you do have any issues they are a phone call away and have a crash replacement scheme and lifetime truing service.

Had an Uberbike BB in for 9 months and over 1000km and it’s still running faultlessly.

Always a good, fun event that isn’t a pseudo downhill race!

It’s a big day out often on wild and exposed moor so pack accordingly; I suggest a bigger pack than perhaps normal for an enduro. Last year the sun shone, I can imagine it would be pretty bleak in windy/rainy conditions.

Love ’em

A stunning big tour of a beautiful area; the stages are not technically too difficult but can be open and very fast! It is a big day on the moors though so you need to pack accordingly, especially if the weather is not so nice as it’s pretty exposed. A well run event.

Couldn’t agree more Chipps; I have had one fitted for 9 months through a Scottish winter, ridden 900km (so how many ups and downs is anyone’s guess) and it is still as dependable and smooth as day one. Yes it’s expensive but, the quality is evident and is the best dropper seat post I have used.

I’ll be chasing you, off at 8.40 :lol:

Not had a single issue in 8 months and 900km of riding, don’t know how many ups and downs that equates to! An awesome seatpost.

Snowcard or Dogtag; my bike is insured around the world under awesome house insurance with PedalCover.

Love them; been using these for a couple of summers and they really do help wick sweat and keep you cooler.

https://odlo.com/uk/en-gb/breathe-baselayer-singlet-men.html

Stif, Leisure Lakes, Falline Cycles (Peebles) or Sweet’s own webshop mate.

The Tweed Valley Bike Patrol and Tweed Valley Mountain Rescue will be out hopefully having a quiet day, please say hi :-)

ST are about to test a 2017 Escarpe 29er if you can wait a few days…

Love it, perfect size for a day out but not quite big enough for heading deep into the hills.

Expensive but…, the Fox Transfer has been awesome the past 7 months through some truly horrible Scottish winter weather.

Just to clarify a few things before folk get exposed…

Any drone flyer must abide by the Drone Code[/url] which comes from the Air Navigation Order and can be reported/investigated to/by the police if broken.

Any footage used for commercial operations or ‘valuable gain’ (doesn’t need to be money) must be done by a holder of a CAA Permission for Commercial Operation.

There are many bylaws (such as Royal Parks, Crown Estate, National Trust, Heritage sites) that prevent drone flying. Who knew that NO drone flying can be conducted on Forestry Commission Scotland Land..? Also FOD, New Forest as examples have restrictions. Don’t end up getting yourself in hot water and so some research first… The drone assist app will also highlight areas you can’t fly and DJI especially are putting more and more geo-fenced no fly zones in the firmware which means your motors won’t even start.

We bought a two year old ex-lease LWB Transporter then gave it to Vanguard Conversions in Fort William to transform as a long term investment.. couldn’t be more delighted with it. The only way the wife was going to consider using it was if it was done properly and comfortably. Brilliant adventures with the family :-) Given the conversion was just shy of £10k I guess it’s not going to be an economical option for you, there is no point doing a quality conversion on an old van.

11.5 months a year on the front in the Tweed Valley and a Minion on the back :lol:

It’s still £5500 for an aluminium single pivot which many will find hard to get their head around I think. Not saying it’s not awesome, I’ve not ridden it, but £5500 gets you a lot of carbon from boutique brands and that will be a challenge.

Pedalcover.

TomTom GPS watches often on Sports Pursuit – used for over a year, never lost GPS even in thick woods, uploads to Strava easy as

£29.99 on Tweeks; that’s two pairs on their way. Thanks jameswilliams54, it’s always good to know when someone finds good kit. I love 3/4 length and wear them all year around so to get a good set at a bargain is particularly pleasing :-)

nonk – Member
Yep just warm it up a bit first

+1

Brilliant. Take your time putting it on…

Skills course.

Night rides, that can include getting up super early and riding before kids breakfast or grabbing a few hours at the weekend. I have a four year old (he is now riding so massive hope!) and a 9 month old who doesn’t sleep. Acceptance that riding will decrease is an inevitable challenge. As a father found the first 18 months really tough until the child really starts to interact. Once they could hold their heads up strongly it was straight into a chariot for them so I got to ride that way, not so technical but great for the mind and physical fitness.

Bloody brilliant so far (three months).

Expensive I know, but I use clear vented Oakley glasses as the lens quality/clarity is outstanding and the venting works as soon as you start moving.

GoWhere Scotland do some pretty epic trips and worth looking at.

I’ve been running an absolute black one for over 800km and it’s still going :D

dmck16 – Member
Tom Nash, of TVBP fame???

Maybe :wink:

I had a pair, raced EWS on them, over 600km of hard riding yet never replaced a bearing or lost true. I was absolutely amazed by them for the money (I bought in a sale like this). They are backed up by a good warranty so not much to lose if you ask me. Reason I don’t ride them now is I sold my bike with them!

Ice/snow on anything exposed above about 150m from valley floor but in the trees of the golfie/Inners its pretty mint (for Nov in Scotland).

Household insurance potentially but that is not an manufacturing defect or fault, that is unlucky wear and tear from riding a mountain bike on rocky terrain.