Byeckerslike

Hi, You'll soon realise that there is a lot of snobbery over Carrera bikes, but the more upmarket ones are unbelievable value for money. I've got a 2006 model Carrera Fury, maybe you can still find the older model year for sale at a BIG discount? It is a better bike than the Kraken, I'd buy a Fury anytime, the group set is very good. Forget the advice over vee brakes, hydraulic discs are far superior, rim run-out / brake pad clearance can be forgotten as can wet rims - the brakes are ALWAYS there! The forks are great - £180 to buy over the counter, SRAM gear train is dead reliable. I know what I am talking about, I've had many a bike in my time, and the Fury is the best that I;ve owned. I've also got a Dawes Super Galaxy, a great bike for occasional off road use, but when the tow path gets rough, the Fury is better, sure, if, on road all the time, I'd go for a Galaxy, but with a bias towards rough stuff, go for a good hard tail bike. By the way, the better Carrera bikes are made by Kona, who are equally as good as many other "revered" bikes, including Dawes, Cluad Butler and Muddyfox. Pay more than you planned to and you won't be dissapointed. Rob

Have you considered an ex-military poncho, or, cyclists cape? I'm sure that with few cunningly attached magnets, you could be dry as ever. Rob

What about week-ends, or do you have super-human sphincter control? Rob

The boater's natural choice (it doubles as a good, fine/coarse wetn'dry rubbing down paper) is Izol - spread it all over - totally non-absorbent! Rob

Are they a subtle shade of pink, or lilac? Rob

Surely, my lord, they are the shoes of a WOMAN?

LOL!, a tad, maybe, I'd best be described as a Clydesdale, rather than a Polo pony, but! I am happy in my skin and totally at ease in my own company! But! I had forgot to mention my favorite boating foot attire, it is a pair of leather, water proof Keen sandles, they are so sure footed and yet seductively comfortable ) Rob

This has gone completely over my head, are you suggesting (in a polite wasy) that I may be over-weight? Rob

I store my 25L can in the LHS swim, just in front of the engine room bulkhead Orkney is a Trad Stern NB. Rob

Dave, A very nice pair of Timberland loafers, I have three pairs of TL's (All with apparently grippy soles), and they are all lethal on smooth damp surfaces, to be honest, they are the bane of my life. Folks, please believe me, I bought one pair of shoes and boots - both Gortex lined, before my re-birth in boating! In fact, I'm still looking for a suitable pair of footwear, even my Vibram soles Berghaus boots are dangerous in lock area's, I'm often seen virtually seen inching my way along the gunnels, it's not because I'm a scaredy cat, but because my foot wear needs a risk assessment and condemning. When it's warmer, I'd rather go native / commando and go in bare feet. Rob Rob

Are you not confusing this with the angle of the dangle? (See posts on long standing member)?

Pssst! Does your dongle change colour at all? My SWMBO's is blue when connected to sllooowwww GPRS and red, when connected to the much faster 3G. I think that you'll find that a weak 3G signal will provide a faster link compared with a good connection on GPRS. Rob