u/ReplacementDue2056

For context: I live abroad and come home every 2-3 months. Usually, it's on Ryanair flights so at stupid times up and down. Every single time, I've been tempted to drive via Newry, Sprucefield way. But when I fire on Google Maps setting off, it always recommends the standard way via Strabane, Omagh, Monaghan, Ardee, M1.

I'm coming home next week to surprise the ol boy for his birthday. Flight gets in at 10pm and have to work the next morning (remotely). So, I want to get up the road as quickly as possible. What's the opinions on driving via the new way?

Ironically, I've found the time.that I'm driving that the traffic is worst on the section around the M1 from Dublin to Ardee and after that it's usually plain sailing. Last time, I was on that road about 1am and it was full of absolute fucking idiots, who have no idea how lanes work on a motorway, but as soon as I got off the motorway, it was fine all the way home. Wondering if it's worth the extra mileage to come up via Belfast.

MT900 2P UL Groundsheet

Does anyone know what's the best way to affix the groundsheet from Decathlon to the 2P UL? The groundsheet is allegedly compatible with both the 2P and 2P UL. However, there are no instructions in the bag or on the Decathlon website. It seems it shares the same anchoring points as the 2P, which the UL doesn't have, since it's not freestanding

Hello,

I've made a bit of an uncharacteristic fuckup by leaving something to the last minute and not reading the fine print. So, I'm well aware I should have been on the ball sooner.

Wanted to ride mountain bikes in Davagh forest next week. A few weeks back, I came across the website for Mourne Hire and it said they deliver. Gave them a call today to organise it and they are still getting back to me tomorrow, but it looks like the delivery costs from Castlewellan/Rostrevor to Davagh would be make it pretty unfeasible (fair enough though and the fella on the phone was absolutely sound, so hoping they still come through.)

There doesn't seem to be anywhere else that does MTB hire, especially around the NW? There is an ad for a company that does hire bikes there but the lack of any online presence makes me skeptical. Plus the bikes in their ad are Hard tails from Halfords that I wouldn't trust to over a kerb. (Speaking from experience after I was knocked down on before and it fell apart.)

Does anyone know of any other companies that hire decent MTBs out? Would be willing to travel to Gortin etc. but Castlewellan/Rostrevor is a bit of a stretch.

No, not that thing some people go to on Sundays.

I'm not based in Derry/Londonderry anymore but I do be home occasionally. I was recently pleasantly surprised to find out that even Belfast has critical mass these days. For context, it's a bike event that happens once a month, usually the first or last Friday of the month, where people cycle together to demonstrate for more active travel options.

It's far more wholesome as well than it sounds on paper. Usually people will bring DJ sets, bubble machines etc. and I've often seen people handing out biscuits and ice cream when the weather allows for it.

Where I'm based, it's a bit of a grey area, because it has to be designated as a 'friendly meetup' and there are no signs allowed, as it could constitute a parade. I'd imagine the situation in NI would be even more strict with the parades commission.

Suppose my question is whether there would actually be any interest in something like this? Or does it even already exist?

I see people commenting all the time about how lonely they are and I've also seen how alive the town becomes when there's any sort of social event; Fleadh, City of culture, Halloween, St. Patrick's day. I know there's a lot of scorn and cynicism around cyclists and cycling in general in the town, but I genuinely think it would have a positive impact, given how community-oriented the town is when it wants to be.

I read the first 4 books before the movies came out. I remember the promotion images coming out for Philosopher's Stone and realised that some characters were completely different to how I'd imagined them In fairness, some of the images in my mind were way off even from the descriptions in the book. For example, I pictured Snape being much older. It always made me think about the actors that I would have pictured in my head. Of course, the child actors were all complete unknowns at the time and there was realistically no child star with the pull at the time who could be considered, so I'd restrict my choices to older characters.

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Some I definitely wouldn't change and the casting choices were absolutely perfect but I've thought of someone who I would have thought of in the role, sometimes completely random. interested to hear anyone else's thoughts on who they would have cast:

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Arthur Weasley - Ade Edmondson

Dumbledore - Billy Connolly

(Honourable mention) Sirius Black - Freddy Mercury

Quirrel - Rowan Atkinson

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