I assume you don't ride with the stick shoved in the back wheel? :shock: It looks like a stick, but it's a homemade mudguard to keep the spring and shock free of grit — there are a number of irreplaceable or expensive-to-replace parts, so I've had to take extra steps to protect it and eke out as mu...

21 years old and still going — this was set up for WRT this year. I live far too far from anything remotely challenging to be able to justify a new one. http://www.16inchwheels.uk/content/images/2017/05/IMG_9268-small.jpg I'll be practising TLS next time I ride it, in a couple of weeks' time :roll:

In the audax world, organisers like me have to submit a routesheet — a written-out list of instructions — along with a complete risk assessment for the event — both the route, as well as the timings of the event. This covers difficult junctions, busy road crossings, night-riding, opportunities to st...

Woohoo — I got a place this morning

I think Mrs W's going to "have words" when she finds out, though

It's definitely lighter without a harness, but I found the extra faff in strapping the drybag securely without a harness wasn't worth the weight saving A few quid on Amazon will get you 20mm webbing, plus 3-bar-slide and quick-release buckles — it doesn't take much then to make the whole thing quic...

Brooks B17. Imperial. Just sayin'.

I saw these and thought of you: https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1299/3113/products/Furoshiki_Shoes_6_grande.png?v=1494139754 https://phonebibi.com/products/furoshki-shoes More seriously, Sportpursuit usually have Freet or Vibram 5Finger stuff on sale if of interest. Where's a Like button when you...

Chris McDougall's infamous semi-autobiographical documentary book "Born to Run" goes to some length to assert that plantar fasciitis is because we over-support the arches of the feet and under-work the feet as a whole. The suggested remedy is barefoot running — or at least working some way...

I'm trying to find another blue one, so I can easily find them in the long-long grass when I have to fix a p*ncture, save the sheeps's toothypegs. I have one, but I've lost the other :(

I had a specialized handlebar mount at WRT. Works okay. Did twist a little, though, to be fair, that was on bumpy stuff. Going to have the workshop modify a little. I liked the look of it — a proper solution to the problem of older bikes with old-skool cable routing and dodgy forks. Noted on what y...

I saw a nice Specialized one on WRT. The "BURRA BURRA" or something like it —  http://www.bikepacking.com/gear/specialized-burra-burra-bikepacking-bags/ Me, I use an old KlickFast mount and some Heath Robinson-esque arrangement of an old, bent spoke and 20mm webbing to give me enough stand...

FWIW, I wrote this post last year for audax-type riding —  http://www.16inchwheels.uk/2016/04/11/powering-devices-on-long-rides/ — although it's only partly applicable to off-road. It needs a rewrite to include empirical data and more experiential information. On WRT I set the my iPhone 5 to airplan...

I've used SP dynamos on my road bikes for years, coupled with B+M IQ2 USB lights, and they've been absolutely brilliant — a lovely light to ride on the road with, and USB charging all day long. For off-road then the much-lower speed really worries me — I don't have a dyno front wheel on my MTB, but ...

Ordered some no-name Ti mug with lid from eBay, A lot of people have a 'Keith' name Ti mug lid, you're lucky it's no name :lol: Haha — there are various ones available from China, including the Keith ones, but they take weeks to arrive. I checked and the no-name brand I just bought is "docoole...

You use a mug to make Cous Cous in? FWIW, I was looking to repack all the food into more flexible food bags to improve their packability, but the reality is that it's probably not worth the hassle. And even though our local Tesco is mahoosive, they don't appear to sell ordinary cous cous for making...

FWIW, I got the 650 so that I can cook up cous-cous and the like. A 400 wouldn't be big enough, although if I was eating just dehydrated meals then it would be. You use a mug to make Cous Cous in? Boil water in Mug. Tear top off Cous Cous packet. Put hot water into packet. Eat couscous as the mug b...

Going lighter is a always good idea but what you carry surely depends on your goals. If I'm against the clock I would always consider carrying food and a Jetboil so I can cook up quick and not have to hunt for food outlets or wait in queues to be served. It's amazing how much time is wasted in outl...

Not a geeky person so I did my best hopefully all the info needed is on there! https://richardmunro5.wixsite.com/jennride I know it's probably a daft thing to expect, but a date for the event on the web page would, in my opinion, be a good idea. I can't seem to find it anywhere — I would put it in ...

Do you raise your pillow up? I need my pillow on top of my mat to get it high enough So I end up using a large neoair plus a pillow Inflatable pillow on its side/edge does it for me, off the top of the Neoair X-lite Short. It helps using an Therm-a-Rest stuffsac/pillowcase to help structurally cons...

but the windshield does appear to be a critical component to getting this to work. Oh yes, a decent windshield is most important with any stove but especially meths. Have you read this? http://bearbonesbikepacking.blogspot.co.uk/2015/01/the-trouble-with-windshields.html Thanks — I hadn't but I have...

for the next trip, apart from my "upgrade" to one of Stuart's micro-stoves — thanks! — plus a secondhand Mytimug 650 in place of the Jetboil, Caution ... 8g stoves and 650ml pots / mugs are not a match made in heaven. It can be made to work with a special windshield but ideally you want a...

... it can be something of a gradual process and often runs hand in hand with experience ... Ay, wise words: Gradual process: for the next trip, apart from my "upgrade" to one of Stuart's micro-stoves — thanks! — plus a secondhand Mytimug 650 in place of the Jetboil, and trying different ...

That's a seriously heavy tarp. I think mine (non cuben) can get two (friendly) people under it and weighs 260g. The tarp itself is about 500g, but adding on pegs and quite a lot of 5mm paracord brings the weight up. What's your tarp? Also, yeah... jetboil kinda ridiculous. I bought one for glamping...

There's also the 'problem' of capacity and the more you have, the more stuff you'll generally take. I tend to view the bike as a blank sheet of paper and think, 'how few bags and straps can I attach to it?' and go from there. Trouble is, we like all the little extra bags and things - we buy them, t...

Often, people seem to quote figures of between 10 and 15kg for 'luggage' and I wonder where that comes from ... my essentials weigh under 2kg which includes shelter, sleeping, cooking and clothing. Granted, there's no food or water in there, so let's add another 3kg for that. We're now up to 5kg or...