Well brechfa definitely isn't North or Mid Wales and it's not really near aberystwyth and west wales, so therefore I'd have to say it's South Wales.

A bit of a bugger if you anywhere east of Cardiff certainly.

Gutted, it's my local trail for taking out beginners and improvers.

But it's not the only "realistic waymarked option for total beginners" by any means. The blue/green trail at Brechfa is much better for total beginners.

Over the weekend I fixed a small side wall hole with a bit of old inner tube . So far so good.

dp

Yup was a beautiful day yesterday, I was out with work on a mystery tour of the valleys.

Today though I can even see the bottom of the hills from my office window in port talbot.

movern caller

Get Carter (is brilliant)

Richard James's dad comes in to my local bike shop. Come to daddy indeed :wink:

excellent, nice pic.

someone must know what happened to him?

he always had very expensive very nice bikes too

The Friday Afternoon Hammer

+1 everything neilforrow said.

The only reason I asked Santa for a DAB radio was so I could listen to 6music.

+1 for the Specialized The Captains.

Really really good all rounders if you're looking for something a bit less burly than high rollers. Possibly a bit dodgy in thick thick mud, and possibly a bit heavy for racing but very very good overall.

It's not just the one song either…..

I've only hit cars when they are stopped at lights. And only do it if they have badly cut me up or gone too close.

These days i try to have a chat instead tho. Often start with the line "I've been a driver for 10 years…"

thought about it but decided against. Does look good, and rocky.

I understand your satisfaction. Well done.

Everyone else is just miserable, trying to piss on your mini-triumph.

As someone who has dealt with BG in a professional capacity (nothing to do with servicing boilers) I can safely say they are a bunch of sharks. Not much more so than any big company, but sharks all the same.

Generally the sales talk is always much better than the level of delivery.

Funny really considering that this is a company that's reputation is based on trust and integrity. Shame they got such customer loyalty, built partly on the "british" aspect of their name.

Builth Wells is on the heart of Wales line and there's great riding from there.
Or you can start the Gap ride from Brecon.
Or you could for a trail centre, get off the train at Port Talbot and quickly cycle up the valley to afan – takes about 30/40 minutes and is quite pleasant on cycle path or riverside path. Just turn right at the viaduct with mx bike gates.
Not sure about accommodation, theres' camping options at all the above, but also bunkhouses/hostels in brecon and builth, I'd imagine.

Kilvey hill or maybe the gower on Sunday.

Gokarting in newport tomorrow for my mates 30th.

Leftover haggis on a left over baked potato
Coffee
Heidi on listen again radio1

I'm on mavic crossmaxs which are pretty quiet and reliable.

there a book called Wild by Jay Griffiths that has a nice (positive) description of taking it.

Basically words like environment and sustainable development have very broad and wide ranging definitions, so as you've identified you really need to knuckle down and focus on what specific areas you're interested in.

also try
environmentjob.co.uk and http://www.lowcarbon.com/ for jobs and voluntary placements.

Voluntary work might be a good bet for the time being. Get some proper experience under your belt and decide what you'd like to be doing.

By the way there are quite a few jobs available in wales at the moment as the welsh government insists on implementing it's own versions of environmental policies and regulations, which leads to jobs not only in government but in ngos and consultancies as well.

Guy who writes for STW is Matt Hart of Torq.

I couldn't sleep well after doing interval training in the evenings last summer.

I found that if I had a cold shower after the training session I would sleep a lot better. The cold somehow managed to calm down my body and make my brain less excited. Worked a treat.

I remember years ago a french mate of mine went to see that at the cinema on a first date!

The relationship didn't last.

I quite like my y-reg focus. First car, had it 6 months and no probs to report.

It will all be fine to ride. Probably wet.

Snowing today but forecast is for everything to get a lot milder by friday.

Afan on sat was amazing in the sunshine on crisp powdery snow but will mostly be gone by the weekend.

I was lucky enough to test ride one at 24twelve and it was rapid. Will definitely consider next time I'm buying.

……there's a claim!

Looks super quick :D

Drac, I don't think it's a myth. If I have some blue cheese in the evening I'll often have much more vivid dreams, but conversely wake up feeling much more rested.

or this!

!!!!!!

I love the pics on the hate group. Some of the funniest I've ever seen.

eg

Marin's were SO cool back in the day. 8)

….it's all animated and quirky and about a bloke who rode to the artic circle from scotland in 1951.

I was just about to say Venezuela.

Romania (great mtbing)

It was a nice frame. I always wanted one when I was a lad.

My grey hairs did start until a couple of years ago when I was very busy/stressed at work. Still doesn't explain what's going on physically

Dick, I think I met you once years ago on a bike ride round Stirling (you were riding one of those old style Pace frames and took the piss out of me for putting my saddle down). Anyway, you were a bit of an old git even then, so I wouldn't worry about it!!! :-)
Merry Christmas!

(Jonny, 28 with more grey hairs everyday)

might have to go for another road ride then :(