Thanks Bob and Phil. Yes, I think it might have been the rush I was in that made it seem even more full on. Dollywagon pike when I last attempted it was down from Hellvelyn I believe so this way makes sense to seem alot tougher.

Never again

Yesterday when going to look at my car with this dealer chap, I left my Quadlock stuck to the car I almost bought (it had COPD from second hand smoke). The dealer isn't the type to be forthcming (from my exp when he had my deposit and I was trying to call). I don't think I have time to go collect it...

Not sure if anyone recalls the Earnie goes paddling commute (reported above somewhere). That was probably the ultimate-daft commute so far... until this one! Somewhere in the Lakes... So I popped the mtb in the bike as I'd managed to book an affordable-ish YHA at Patterdale. Work was somewhere near ...

Thanks Shaf, I too was wondering. Are you still aiming to get the BBBB (Bearbones black badge) in November? I wonder what I would do... 2 - 3 intense rides a week, then for the last one or two weeks up to the event do 1 - 2 calm but longer rides with more focus on little stopping time, or something...

On the original advice theme, definitely treat shop stops like pitstops. Food, water, fix any niggles you've had in the last X hours... go. Also, random advice... positive self talk. Makes a massive difference in helping you focus on what's going right rather than what's going wrong. Can get pretty...

Thanks Colin. Little update on the V8 aswell. Took the little one (I always wanted a V8) for a day out. Trains to Manchester then Hereford. Bought the csr as the chap seemed genuine enough then got ready to drive off. Aircon was warm, power steering fluid black (asked him on this during the tire-kic...

Just an update on this (in case anyone was curious/following along). About a month or more ago the car went kaput (hence the cheap v8 I'm going to collect now). Seems a head gasket failure and that's what generally the mechanics are going along with. Took me some deep thinking but inevitably I didn'...

Alan... when putting some of my stuff on ebay and in case it goes for stupid silly low price money... I link it to a charity and click 100% donate etc. That way if you end up getting the 'stupid silly low amount money' for it, you know that you're still 100% satisfied as its benefitting charity If y...

Some V8s can reduce down to 4 cylinders when cruising. My uncle used to have one of those big Lexus barges. Was lovely. Sold it when he got done for drinking driving though, silly man! I have huge big bike bag that I can put my bike and wheels in then put in the car without getting it dirty. Duffba...

You should probably stop worrying about mpg... It is a big V8. If you wanted mpg, a diesel Octavia / superb / Passat / beemr estate would have been wiser,no? I think I mis-explained it... I meant it's an extra reason to not bother with a roof rack. I manage about 35mpg on my 3L Dave so if I can get...

For reference. I did buy the V8 Lexus LS430. Missus isn't too happy cos it's not big enough for her camping/YHA gear. She doesn't actually know the size of the engine yet :lol: Spoke to the local Witter/towbar specialists who said that they don't have anything listed to towbar this (currently... may...

jay91 wrote: ↑Tue Oct 11, 2022 6:19 pm I can say for sure but looks like rubbish ceramic from Victorian plum.
There stuff has not got the best reputation to be honest.
We fit a lot of ldeal standard & Roca stuff on our contracts

Thanks Jay. I will remember that...

You're going to need to take the wheels off to get it in the roof box. If you're going to do that, you can probably just put the bike into the boot of the car if it's empty I'm certain the wheels could fit in the boot and the frame on the back seat. Its a massive saloon and seats don't drop down in...

Ignore the nay-sayers. You should definitely get an LS430. APF The Toyota specialist (US based guy who seems to agree with most DIYers of why they went DIY due to the so called mechanics being substandard) suggested it as being the best Toyota/Lex ever made with the engine being rated for aircrafts...

Is there such a thing? Reason I ask is cos it seems my head gasket is blowing a touch. No power loss but coolant loss and previously fumes into the seatig area. I've tried to seal it with one of them head gasket sealers with some positive effect. Got a hydrocarbon testing kit coming today but I alre...

Soz Jay. I think I got my terminology mixed up for the pan of the toilet (calling it a basin). Rob, it's more or less this one https://www.victorianplumbing.co.uk/rak-series-600-close-coupled-dual-flush-wc-pak-with-soft-close-seat In other RAK products there is mention of 'vitreous china' but this o...

Since Rob opened the thread (sorry Stu) pls may I ask a plumbing Q too... If anyone has any exp of the newer type toilet basins. We had a new toilet fitted about 5 years ago cos the last one had leakage (outside - its complicated). I told the plumber to put a good one in and we just paid for the lab...

2/ First sub-24 BB300. That is impressive. Looking forward to reading a report or two. Me too. Thats what I keep logging in for. Much easier reading about it than actually doing it (talking anout myself here). I suppose everyone might be too knackered for today so will check back for tomorrow... Th...

So, what you did there Shaf, was turn too early and climb up to Watendlath - the setting of Hugh Walpole's 'Rogue Herries' (Herries Chronicles): Herries was "A violent and impetuous man, a faithless husband and a capricious father. The Borrowdale valley (his home for 40 years) and his unrequit...

Stu... have the first finishers come back yet.. Any pics anywhere..

Irrespective of what happens overhead, there will be plenty of sploshing down below after that rain today :grin: Still as someone once said, "It's not meant to be easy" I was over in the Lakes today and the difference from Monday is stark - the low lying fields in the Lyth and Winster val...

Cheeky Monkey wrote: ↑Mon Oct 03, 2022 10:22 am

It's a sad day for me when I'm having to decide between XL and XXL

I usually go for the size down then have a target to reach to get in it...

Thanks v much for that Godiva

Indeed Dean... Just walking it with mtb-spd shoes was building enough. Will try not to ever attempt such a thing again.. and, the food news is that I think I might have managed to figure a nice mtb loop. Will enaure to being the mtb next time I come

I’m late to this … we have about 6 different hedgehogs visit our garden most nights. We’re a ‘hedgehog releaser’ for Pricklebums Hedgehog Rescue in Ludlow. We have a very long garden with similar gardens neighbouring ours. We collected 2 more tonight as it happens. They’ll stay in a locked enclosur...