So I was looking for a new mobile phone . I really only use the mobile when I am out and about (especially on the bike). And after many a soaking my old mobile phone was getting past it !
I also just use pay as you go on Vodafone, as the coverage is better in the hills , and never use the phone that much to get a contract phone.

So... looking at tough phones which are waterproof .. came across the Samsung Solid Immerse GT-B2710
looked great , and a sim free price of £90 I got one for Christmas.

On arrival slipped my old sim card in the back and away we go.

The Phone is not a slim , light weight mobile like so many on the market.
But feels very solid with its rubberized strips down the side.
The screen is good quality (non scratch coating)
Battery life so far is Very good .
3G cool , internet browser .. mm OK .
Comes with a few apps , facebook , google maps . Cool
Not in the same ball park as an Apple but good all the same.

Camera is 2mpixels ,. but pretty rubbish , video is even worse.
But I did not buy it to be a camera , I bought a phone , with works as it should
bluetooth . Yip , connects well with earphones etc..

It has a LED light as well which is good , but can be switched on when in your pocket (even with keypad locked) so watch for that , I got a nice leather case which solves this issue .

Very happy with phone , and no more worries about wet weather / camping etc , rugged enough to get thrown in tank bag , great battery life

Overall would give it a 9/10


But if you are thinking in the same league as Iphone , modern smartphone then this is not for you . But if you want a rugged , waterproof mobile which battery will last ages.. then this might be your next phone.


Forum thread can be found here http://www.adventurebikerider.com/forum/21-accessories-/101648-samsung-solid-immerse-phone.html

So what can i say about this tent .

For the price I paid well worth the money, but now you can buy this tent on Amazon for £50.

When packed its fairly lightweight, sits across back seat of my Transalp nicely , but you would struggle to get this tent in any of your pannier systems.

The features are quite good, especially like the 3 doors in the porch , so you can open whatever one you like depending on the wind / rain direction. Speaking about rain and wind , so how does this tent stand up to the rough weather of the west coast of Scotland. Well for a tunnel tent I would give it a 8 / 10 for wind resistance, but the poles do bend in if the wind is coming from the side.
But stood up to near hurricane force winds last sept at Ullapool.

As for rain .. The isle of Mull , sept 2010 .. wow My Transalp was washed totally clean , rain so hard it was bouncing back up 2 feet .. But the tent stayed dry inside the inner part of the tent.
The porch was a little wet but mainly from the rain and wind pushing it's way into the floor.
The floor is single piece with folded mud guard , very good when you have a stream running under the tent. And icely designed to lift out and rinse off (mud) before packing away.

All in all , a good tent .

An great dvd , that yes is fairly short but I really enjoyed it .

Showing what you can do when you really put your mind to something .

During the DVD , Rob did nearly exactly what I did , being brought into freedom of biking by his friend.
And went through very similar challenges to myself, CBT, DAS , ETC .. being then thrust into a overseas adventure by his friend (something I have not done YET!)

Great DVD for a cold winters day .

www.aimforthehorizon.com

I have owned my Transalp XL650 it is a 2007 model, the last of the 650's made , now replaced with the new Transalp 700 ..