I could also be interested in one of the CX frames if they're big enough.

SPDs on everything. I'm so accustomed to them that I have a hard time on the occasions I have to ride flats or ride in uncleated shoes. It feels weird and I get a lot of foot lift, particularly trying to go up anything hilly enough to stand up on. Never had a problem riding trails and technical terr...

I'm generally in favour of having a plan. It doesn't have to be a particularly big or detailed plan but one that reflects what you're trying to acheive. Saves that annoying sort of situation where you end up in the middle of nowhere and the middle of the night with no food and you're really hungry o...

Not at all. Not sure about the puncture protection but certainly the comfort. This is more or less the bicycle that Mrs Tiger and I will be riding following the bicycle test we did at the weekend. https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Cp0CE_XWYAA4hL5.jpg I need to get one of those bottle cages that drop down ...

Thanks James If your man in Turin happens to have available parking space then I'm prepared to offer beer money or similar. Gairy, Looks like it may be possible to do it unboxed from Ventimiglia to Turin via Cuneo on regional trains. http://www.trenitalia.com/tcom-en/Services/Travelling-with-your-bi...

I've been trying to fathom this problem myself as we're also doing the drive option. From what I can tell, it all gets a bit easier once you've crossed the border. My general intention then is to get on a local train to Ventimiglia on a local train and work from there. I'm going to be doing some res...

Kind of depends on where that shop or meal is. In town I use a lightweight Abus coil that I picked up from Evans. Fits in a jersey pocket and doesn't weight too much. Enough to stop a determined scally from grabbing your iron horse and running off with it. Out in the country, where the scally densit...

Bar end friction shifters FTW?

Finally managed to do a bivvy after many months of good intentions. Met up with a friend, rolled out through Endcliffe Woods and up the Mayfield Sweary. Bounced over Houndkirk and into the encroaching gloom and headwind before nipping into The Grouse for a pint. In the last vestiges of light we head...

It's one of those rarely enforced things but if you are involved in a collision then it's one of those situations where not being compliant makes you presumed liable.

Doesn't need to be a "yellow" vest per se but meet high visibility standards as per EN471, class 3. Definitions of dark can extend to dusk or if there are very dark clouds or it's foggy/misty.

Current thoughts are to head up through Endcliffe and Whitely woods to Ringinglow, out over Houndkirk and over to Froggatt Edge to Baslow Edge. Not looking to be too far out for ease of trundling into work in the morning.

Going to head out for a first bivvy on Thursday, route TBD. Not fast, company welcome.

Sounds like you should head up to the Scottish Highlands. Neatly combines all of your interests. Head up to Tarbet and just pick a direction to go from there. A Rough Guide and a guide to Munroes and Corbetts should give you plenty of options. You can be outdoorsy and try new stuff when the weather'...

The alien food issue isn't really a problem as you can't propogate bananas via the skin and therefore won't upset the local ecosystem by introducing a new species. In terms of decomposition, there isn't an issue in their constitution. I regularly add them to my compost bins to no detriment. The big ...

Perhaps we should get David Sedaris into bothying. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-36090973 Of course I jest and even a passing knowledge of Sedaris will confirm his inclination to the great outdoors as being a good thing as long as he isn't expected to go there. I'm also certainly dead set aga...

I think there's a bit of a perception that bikepacking should be exploration adventure and guiding compromises that a bit. There's no learning by trial and error. There's no earning your bivi spots by the progress of luck and judgement. There's no sucking down a cold cup of tea at pissing wet o'cloc...

I'm tempted to bring the rainlegs. 150g although they don't pack very small. Of course if it's really hooning it down then I'll probably make it a short day and make up miles when it's drier.

gairym wrote: Is everyone else taking a cx/gravel bike?

Please advise.....

29er with skinnyish tyres. I'll probably run the pressures moderately high and keep the lock out on most of the time. Not ideal but it's what I have and it will do the job after a fashion.

Terra Nova should be one of the first places you check out when looking at tents. Not the cheapest but definitely good value for long-term use.

Now is probably as good a time as ever to recount the Ballad of Larrington. Dave Larrington was an accomplished audax rider and also quite fond of the occasional beer, particularly if the occasion was now. In 2007 he set off for the Paris-Brest-Paris ride and, having pottered his way down to the cam...

I think the second they indicate that they aren't confident to self extract, that seals the deal. 1 extraction of a stable IP is easier than extraction if they become unstable through movement or extraction of multiple IPs because subsequent injury occurs though a poorly planned extraction. Definite...

Not a bivvy but when we were cycling across Canada we turned up in a Quebcois town just on the day that the schools broke up for summer. Everyone was there. Seriously, absolutely everyone. So we rocked up at the tourist info about 6pm and it's not far from closing. The guy in there gives us a look o...

I suspect the good solo riders don't need to sleep. Whether not other should is a different matter. If it's getting to you then a daybreak nap can be a good way to reset the brain. I reckon it wouldn't be too hard to overhaul a 15min loss if you're feeling a bit fresher.

Alas I've discovered I too am double booked for this one. I'll be supporting a polo tournament at Cliffhanger that weekend. Will have to give this a crack some other time. If any riders fancy some drunken, sweary silliness on Sunday then feel free to head into Sheffield and come to Shoreham Street. ...