Matt, sent you a FB message.

so in theory we could roll off the ferry in rotterdam, and as long as we dont use our passports anywhere on our tour, we could just keep riding around the whole of europe pretty much unchecked, and just suffer the consequences on our entry back into the uk ?

retired here, and we could sell up and move wherever we fancied, but daughter and grandson live with us, so forget that idea.  and anyway, that is not what i want to do.

my ideal way of spending my next 25 or so would be to cycle off the ferry in Rotterdam, loaded with a lightly packed saddlebag and nothing more, and to slowly cycle round and explore the whole of Europe, staying wherever i liked, until i decided a change.

cheap hotels and hostels would suffice, cheap food and beer would fuel me, and easy enough to return to home if needed.

heading to france in september to cycle the length of the Loire, from Mont gerbier de Jonc to the coast past Nantes.

cant wait.

holiday with the kids have been in brittany.

Carnac is a fave, as is La Trinite sur Mer.

but all brittany is good.

i for one, love the loop to bits

clockwise from sedbergh, a full rideable ( when i was you and fit ) loop, which if you are lucky is,

A. dry

B. devoid of people

C. with a nice pint halfway round at Ravenstonedale.

can i come…………….  ;o)

tjagainFull Member
Im with Ton.  I went at 60 with a small income – and a chunk of capital ( which of course is a great safety net).  I’ll be better off when I hit 67 and get my state pension but its no problem to live withing my means.

Adventures do not have to be expensive

100% mate.

also on FB today, you popped up on my memories page……… when i met you on your tour.  some good pictures mate

to the OP,   not read any of the replies… sorry.

But retired 3 years ago at 55 and the wife at the same time aged 56.

me on a very meagre pension and the wife on local government pension after 38 years service.

1 bit of advice i can give you.  take the amount you think you need to retire on, and half it.

less cash more time.

i get em in my ears all the times. seriously long grey wispy things.

my wife de-fuzzes me every 2 weeks to try and keep em at bay.

also get long nose hairs too which i love to pull out with tweezers.the pain is awesome.

fantastic effort, well done. a ton aint easy ever.

42mm G Ones here………….  comfort over speed anyday for me.

trail_ratFree Member
You know they make flat bar claris shifters ?

lol   i do now mate, just been looking at em.

thanks.

Currently sat I Edinburgh train station trying not to look like a sleeping tramp.

Fantastic event…… serious contender for my fave ever.

And all the fellas off here who said hello…… Nice to meet you all.

lol, i set off for a ride this morning on the gravel bike, which i was gonna ride.

changed gear, chain went over largest sprocket, and wedged between cassette and spokes.

tried to remove it, chain snapped and also bent dropout.

touring bike now prepped and ready.

my son.

became a dad at 16. didnt work out with grandaughters mother. but he has Ella every single weekend and has done so for the last 16 years. she has aspergers. so it is no easy task.

also 5 years ago he started a relationship with a lady who was the Ex wife to his rugby captain. it all went down ok, until Martin ( rugby captain ) commited suicide.

my lad had already asked his now wife to marry him, which she did. he has since adopted Martins daughter. and also my son and daughter inlaw have a daughter of their own now.

so he now has 3 daughters to look after.

i could never have done what he has.  and he is just a cracking nice, happy decent bloke too.

What frame is it ?

Been for a ride this morning

Goy home and just eaten a bowl of stuff I make.

Rough guide

Onion garlic celery peppers tomatoes green beans chorizo chickpeas butter beans cannelloni beans pasata mixed herbs.

1 hour in deep frying pan

Leave overnight

Reheat and eat next day.

Perfect

i think you have been had if you pay. i wouldnt pay.

i would get another roofer to come and see if he will give you a quote for the work that has been done.

a reputable firm will do this. if the quote is much less i would pay that amount .

been in Harrogate specialized today.

some fantastic deals on Epics. like 50% off 6k bikes.   was tempted for a comfy offroad pottering bike.

£10 bought in the sale Quechua down gilet from Decthlon. under my waterproof, which i always carry.

perfect .

i will be trying to get some sleep in the body bank, prior to heading north on saturday for the RTTS.

internal routing with quality full length cables are pretty bombproof. not something i would worry about.

the ability to fit guards is higher on my winter list.

if i was in the market for a winter road bike, i would buy a Specialized diverge sport carbon gravel.

weighs not much, rides awesome, ideal for crap roads.  perfect.

https://www.sigmasports.com/item/Specialized/Diverge-Sport-Carbon-Gravel-Bike/11RZ8?utm_source=google&utm_medium=base&co=GBR&cu=GBP&glCountry=GB&id=1762546&ds_eid=3823279037&ds_e=GOOGLE&ds_c=&ds_cid=20146924975&ds_ag=&ds_agid=&ds_k=&ds_kid=&ds_kids=&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwvb-zBhCmARIsAAfUI2svknQhD5wHDPvSqvdwP23YJFLua4SHBPBp4YMoSEwEyMK2XccYivEaAppNEALw_wcB

no. i have no problem with throwing way, or selling, or donating stuff i dont use.

but there is no stuff really to worry about.

wow, some of you people need to de clutter………..   ;o)

1 x tweed jacket.

1 x down coat.

1 x down gilet

1 x softshell.

1 x fleece.

2 x waterproof.

How do people with so few pairs, manage to have so few?
theres very few everyday situations a black pair of 5.10s aren’t usuable.

agree with this 100%

just looking at what i own. my summer walking shoes are Peter Storm leather things, which are also very comfy on the bike, so the 5 tens could go. they also clean up very nice, so the clarks day shoes could go. and i dont really use spd’s, so they could go.

so my list could easily become 4 pairs.

How do people with so few pairs, manage to have so few?

because the older you get you realise that less is actually more…………….  ;o)

brogues x 1

5 tens x 1

spd’s x 1

walking boots x 2 ( winter and summer ).

clarks comfy day to day shoes x 1

sandals x 1

so 7.

cant believe i am saying this, but i feel good rest is just as important has fitness has you get older.

i have always until recently, tried to ride every single day, and to be honest always felt tired, with aching legs.

the last couple of month, i have a couple of days off each week. i now feel better, and can do a longer harder ride each week without suffering too much. i now ride 4 or 5 days a week. And i have a mid afternoon  nap most days no i am retired.

so yes, i feel rest is as important as exercise.

just had a chippy tea.

fish, £5

chips, £2.20

battered sausage, £1.80

curry, £1.50

breadcake, 80p

dandelion and burdock, 80p

My train back to Leeds isn’t until 11.30 Sunday so I think I will be taking the leisurely approach.

Those white vegan velosambas are truly dreadful  😫

drop me a message. i have some you can have for postage.

a alpkit tapered seat pack and a lomo bar bag.

Alpkit ordos 2 is a cracking little tent.

easy to put up. 3 season, not much bigger than a bottle of wine when packed up.

and big enough for me so ideal for anyone under 6ft 4”.

i am up a 5am most mornings. but as i am retired it dont matter much.

up at 5. out for a ride most mornings. afternoon nap at 2pm for a hour. bed for 10pm.

fantastic words Chipps.

sounded like Merlinman had a life well lived.  RIP Rob.

£7.50 for a cornish pasty.    nuff said.

only ever been once in summer.    never again.

a bit like lidl, aldi,primark and ‘spoons’ all rolled into one.

just this week bought a Keela Paklite.

which does everything you want.  and more.

somewhere on the left of the A1 between Alnwick and Berwick.

pretty empty all year round, with no more than a 10 minute drive to the countries finest beaches.

Stolen Goat gravel shorts ordered.

if they are good enough for Rocketdog they are good enough for me.

also had a ankle one, and a knee one.   ankle one was to remove a bone chip. knee was to trim meniscus .

both were minimal recovery, and back to soft peddling after a week.