Nice on Sean, always good to read the whole process, having been through it a few times. Agree on the challenge of extracting yourself from the house!

Also no bikepacking.com-esq existential life changing pish

But gears? gears?!!

Could be. Off up to a mates just north of Aviemore who is having a party tomorrow. So I'm going to peddle up this evening and tomorrow morning and bag a bonus May bam. Of course the forecast for today was horrible but it's actually been dry. Guess when the rain will start... Supposed to be sunny tom...

Oh well, he usually has his name up but maybe he was hedging his bets. Quite a few new names appeared on the start list in the last few weeks...

https://dotwatcher.cc/race/highland-trail-550-2024 wrong route on the ridewithgps map though

And bring back the days of the grim reaper

I see Alan G is out already, bitten by a dog 2 weeks back. This will be the first one he'll not ride :sad: I'd never actually seen his name on the list so I think he was never intending to ride? Looks like the only differences from last year's route are: back to the northern shore of Loch Lyon the ...

Mart wrote: ↑Fri May 24, 2024 8:33 am
Quite surprised by how many bikes don’t have a rear mudguards
Thought there would be more

'Tis a mystery to me - they will wish they had! Even last year my bike ended up sprayed in mud and that was a dry one...

It's all much of a muchness to be honest - disk thickness won't matter in terms of set up, just how long they last. I suspect there are differences in stainless steel quality but I generally find solid disks warp long before they wear out. If you are feeling flush, Hope disks on the alloy carriers a...

https://trackleaders.com/highland24

61 in the Grand depart.
I see Mike Debernardo has done an ITT with an extra bit and the '21 variation. Only him and Colin Baird listed as SS - take the gears off Tom!

https://www.smidgeup.com/midge-forecast/
Encouragement to get to Contin on Day 1

Light at the end of the tunnel is an oncoming train.... More grief this week but our project partners have managed to get one of three bridges in over the new rail line project I'm involved in. 750T crane required to lift in, in sections. Total span is 135m, total cost to taxpayer, £6m. And all for ...

I'd always recommend a Surly Straggler frame but new they are now too spendy really. If you can get a good priced 2nd hand one they will do what you ask with a minimum of fuss.

Or a pinnacle? Genesis Croix de fer?

A good number of people there, hope it all goes well. Sadly I have a none biking commitment this weekend or else I'd be there too.

I saw that - looks like they have sold up to Valley and Peak. Nowt much left!

whitestone wrote: ↑Sat May 11, 2024 10:13 pm

fatbikephil wrote: ↑Sat May 11, 2024 9:51 pm Was OK that year the Finnish death metal band won, but otherwise and load of utter pish

They were from Rovaniemi - the main square in town is named after them!

Ha right enough, just remembered that! I think they also did a rather funny throat sweet advert

I think it's the use of the word 'adventure' that has got us all steamed up. However, 'Adventure' has been used to describe a type of motorcycle for the last 15 years and it's a far worse use of such a term given that the majority of riders of such things only go on the road. In other news I've just...

Was OK that year the Finnish death metal band won, but otherwise and load of utter pish

Have they switched from an external to an integrated headset? Would lose about 10mm off the stack height and so need a 10mm longer fork....

:-bd Top WRT bivvies there folks, sorry I couldn't make it! By way of compensation, I've just done a stoater! Out of the blue came a sunny forecast and hot! 20 degrees plus! No more freezing your (whatever) off whilst cold rain sprays into your face! I needed somewhere scenic with good riding and I ...

Cheap way of kicking the head tube out by a further degree and allowing them to say it's compatible with longer travel bouncy forks?
Will raise the BB by circa 4mm....

Cheery as I'm off to do my May BAM, courtesy of the Cairngorms tour. Weather currently stunning, expecting the usual deterioration tomorrow but hopefully avoid any lightening strikes!

Lost the front wheel of a brompton in a Glasgow pothole many years ago and went face first with 4 lanes of traffic bearing down on me.... never quite had the nerve to try one since

You'll be fine Allan, I've rented trackers for the last two HT's and they always turn up, usually a day early.

There is a fair bit of mapping of forest tracks up this way, and promoting them as gravel routes (eg. GravelFoyle around Aberfoyle / Queen Elizabeth forest) but no mention of the Adventure word. 'Spose it's just a word innit, as long as it delivers some nice cycling for people then that's fine. It w...

I've a cumulus 150, which is probably a bit light for your needs, and a Thermarest vesper 20F/-6C which is probably a bit too warm - I have actually used it at -6 on a neoair and it kept me warm enough, just. Both are ace so a cumulus 250 or the vesper 32F would suit your needs? The thermarest was a...

I use a Garmin Dakota with a knock off OS mapping card. Talky toaster maps are available free to download if you don't want to go the OS route Either a Dakota or an etrex works well - Dakotas are generally cheaper SH. Simple things and they use AA batteries - a set of Lithiums lasts 30 hrs plus on m...