How about designing a housing that could hold one or two drop in modules (similar to a P60) that could be run off AAs?

Being able to easily swap to newer technology without having to have any electrical wiring knowledge would make future-proofing very simple.

Kojaklollipop – Don’t worry about the strength of the Aiston rack. The loop that goes over the top tube looks small on the pics as the rest of the rack is made out of box section steel but that loop is solid bar. It takes seconds to mount each bike, just sit the wheels in the d-loops loosen top tube hook, slide into position, tighten bolt then get in and drive away.
I’m in the process of swapping cars so can take some pics of the bits (rack and mounting plate) and email them through to you if you want? Only thing is mine has been very abused so looks a bit tatty after three year of use – still works fine though, which is more than can be said for the Thule that I had before.

The Aiston two bike rack that I’ve got uses that method of mounting

It’s just that most people fit the mounting plate between the bit that you’ve got and the bit that you’ve junked.

If you’re going to get one though ring him up as he’s a bit “old school” on comunications.

Oh, the other thing is I don’t know how much clearance you’ll have between the ends of the first bike’s bars and the back window of your bus.

So you want to stop but the offer is too good to turn down?
Grab it while you can and make the most of it while it lasts, but for the sake of your homelife set a date that you stop.

There’s a lot of myths and legends surrounding use of veg oil of bio in you vehicle, but if you wade through the nonsence there’s a load of good info on the net.
Each person can legally produce and use 2500 litres of bio per year – this is for personal use only and records must be kept as you cbe inspected.
The OP mentioned having a Land Rover so long as it’s an older style diesel this will definately be fine on either bio or oil but both are affected by the cold so need to be mixed with diesel at this time of year.
A lot of chip shops use a type of oil that sets solid and will make a right mess of your car if you don’t have a suitable heating system.
Depending where you are in the country you can get good waste veg oil for free but expect to pay at least 40p per litre.
Depending on how old and used the oil is makes a difference as to how much processing you need to do it it before pouring into your fuel tank.
Personally, until I can get a good regular source of waste oil I’m sticking with pouring a few litres of new oil in each tank of fuel. Added bonus is that on a 200TDi Defender this improves power and quietens the engine and I’m followed by a smell of doughnuts :-)

OK, so I failed to work out how to get this to play from here. You’ll have to follow the link instead :-(
Worth it though

Lives in Settle? the lucky s0d!
Lots of good riding from his doorstep then. A lot of old drovers roads and open bridleways round those parts that suit a short travel hardtail very well & he’ll be very glad of his roadie legs when it comes to some of the climbs (especially the ones of of Settle).
As others have said it drain very well, but as a lot of these track cross fields they can get very boggy in places – once he’s picked up a bit of local knowledge he can pick and choose according to weather conditions.
No idea about local bike shops though.

Just to add a bit more to my previous comments:
– I’m 6’3″ and fit comfortably in our Defender 90 (previous owner fitted a smaller steering wheel which other owners have said makes all the difference)
– Pootling round it’s returning 32MPG push it and that drops to mid 20s – I drive with a heavy right foot so I’m averaging under 30 MPG.
– Sticking a few litres of fresh veg oil in the tank knocks over £1 off the cost of the fill-up and being a 200TDi it improves the power output too.
– With a few mods that fuel economy will go up (transfer box swap & electric fan).
– 60MPH on the motorway and it’s comfortable, 80MPH (obviously not on the Queen’s highway) is loud but do-able.

I’m very much a self confessed petrolhead so it confuses me why driving something so bad on paper puts such a big smile on my face every time I drive it.

Just bought a 90 back in September.
It’s noisy, cold, slow, cold, leaks (water in oil out), cold, expensive on diesel, cold, more things have needed fixing than I care to remember, window demisters are pointless (learn to drive with a tea towel in one hand). It’s currently in at a garage having a new tank fitted as it started leaking diesel.
When it comes back I’ll be putting an add on Autotrader… not for the Landy, that is staying, but the Seat Leon is going.
If you’re getting one try to get one with a 200TDi engine in it so you can reduce your fuel costs by sticking a bit of veg oil in the tank – in a 200TDi you don’t need to do any adjustments at all.

If you’re going to buy Humvees, before you wear them turn the outer short inside out and check the quality of the stitching to make sure the overlaps were aligned properly before stitching.
If you manage to get some that have been put together properly then they’re great shorts, personal experience says avoid them.

Cheers chaps I’ll give them both a look-see, oh and if I find the money to start giving frames away I’ll put you top of the list :-)

Not what you asked for, but WMB did a feature on the End To End in the Summer 2006 issue.

Multi-speed singlegear.
Gears just confuse me.
Pedal, push or spin?
It’s my excuse for flapjack and I’m sticking to it.
A roadie ate my hamster

If you were to stop on the main land and want to visit a couple of islands I’d look at stopping somewhere near Fort William. Ferry crossing to Mull Lockaline to Fishnish is significantly cheaper than from Oban and an early start would see you up to Skye too now the bridge is free. I’ve stopped in Oban quite a few times over the years and it’s a great base but stopping nearer to Fort William would reduce your journey times.
To be fair though it’s all good round there and you won’t be dsapointed with any of the above suggestions.

Midges are out roughly mid May to mid September but can’t really fly if it’s windy or pishing it down.

Mull comes highly recomended and can easily accomodate beaches and walking in the hills with the added bonus of it being an island.

Snowball – shot of lime, shot of Advocat and topped up with lemonade while whisking it with a cocktail stirrer to make it nice and frothy.

Fantastic. I’m now downloading it while singing along – I bet everyone in the iffice is well chuffed :-)

Thanks All
Wiksey

Ooh, The Devil’s Gallop sounds like the one I’ve had in my head for the last day – maybe I remember a cheap production version.

Sorry, I’ve no access to youtube on my works PC and Slow Train To Dawn is struggling on my phone, but the Dickhead Song is kinda catchy :-)

What I’m after will be dating back to 1930s or maybe earlier?

To get round a lot of the problem with reliability they have more items replaced at services than some other manufacturers so servicing costs can be high (esp at main steelers), but make sure it’s all been done on the car you’re looking at.
The biggest gripe with Alfa in recent history is with the garages not the cars themselves, so investigate to see if there’s a good Alfa specialist in your area before buying as it will be the real difference between loving and hating the whole Alfa experience.

A lot of people will be along to tell you how bad they are but they’re really not – Mrs has had both a 156 & a 147 as company cars (so 3 years each) and loved them both. If you’re into driving you won’t be disappointed.

Used these a few times
http://www.polo-shirts.co.uk

Slight hijack. If I currently ride a 20″ framed 26er and I was looking at a 29er what size would be equivalent?
i.e. how does a 20″ Inbred 26er compare to either a 19″ or 21″ 29er and if a Cotic 26er comes up small for me would I be looking at a bigger 29er
Ta

Thanks all.

I had wondered about Craven Heifer & Helwith Bridge, good to hear they’re worth a visit.
I’ve been past the Elaine’s Tearooms a few times, next time I’ll make a point of stopping – it looked quite busy last Saturday.

Golden Lion sounds like a good idea (the guys I’m with are set on having a pint with lunch)

Tosside will be a bit out of range for us but I do mean to try it at some point.

If it helps we’re coming though Settle on the way to Stainforth, ending in Clapham. Any other recomendations on route would also be welcome.

soma_rich – You're not the first person to have recomended a swap to Linux and it is something that I've been thinking about doing for a while now.

stilltortoise – No, sorry to disapoint but this isn't a troll :-)
My PC is a similar age to yours and I'm still on IE6 at the mo. Both IE7 & IE8 cause some of my music software to fail as they're of a similar age to my PC so I'm in dire need of an update.
What I didn't say before is I've got in the region of 1500 albums to deal with so loading it all into one bit of software will cause it to fall over as well.

I do all of that using itunes at the moment, but it's a bloated resource hog

Well with my PC being from the ark iTunes is probably not a good idea then.

I'll give Amarok a look, ta

There must be a way of doing it without selling my soul to Apple?

Ambleside MTB hire also available at Ghyllside Cycles

Isn't that just like the Freeloader Pico but a bit more expensive?

I've stuck 130mm Revs on my Malt 1 (similar geometry) as the front felt too low (I felt like I was going over the bars on downhills). I contacted Merlin and they said not to do it but it was that or sell the frame. It sort of worked but I think the top tube is a little short for me too or to put it another way I trying to compensate for the fact that the frame is too small for me.
Try it, you might like it.

Yep, smile get a big "thumbs up" from me too.

Grapes are like crack cocaine for chickens. Ours make a toot/trumpeting noise and then have to run round the garden from the others who try to steak the grape off them.
Not tried spaghetti yet, but will do soon.

Is there really a protest or is the OP trying to ensure a clear run to Manchester on a Bank Holiday weekend?

3. Shout "oh ****" and look into your cup for a few seconds before grabbing another biscuit

From previous experience Kona make larger option frames. At 6'3" I find the 20" Kona frames to be spot on but they (at leastthey used to) do 22" & 24" frames – could be worth looking for?

If you can afford to try them then give them a go.
Mrs Wiksey has had some MBTs for a while now and swears by them although when when walking up hills she has been known to swear at them :-)
Basically they manage to replicate walking on sand so as well as improving posture they mean you need to put more effort into walking.
If you have a close look at them they're quite odd in that the rear half is very squishy so should reduce impacts during walking.
Oh, one warning, when you stand "still" people will wonder why you keep rocking backwards and forwards.

Ground Effect Juggernauts – survived my lack of skills for years now
http://www.groundeffect.co.nz/product-detail-JUG-SHO.htm

What tyres for pipe smoking?

Can you still get a bubble pipe?