I really enjoyed my first TNR and will definitely be back for more in the future. I was blown away by a lot of the scenery and really enjoyed the route. Well except for the main road run in to Limone Piedmont... next time I'll aim not to be on that section at 5.30pm on a Friday :o It was great to me...

I've lost track of how many times I've packed and repacked today

Sounds great. Wanted to give this a go this year but couldn't fit it in after all.

Sounds like a very low key event with 8 starting. Is that the norm?

I normally ride it but giving it a miss this year for a couple of reasons. Last year I decided to ride back as well, not sure if I would be in a hurry to do that again! I also remember riding it a couple of years ago during hurricane Bertha (think that's what it was called) which was certainly inter...

I'm not arriving until Sunday. Think my flight arrives at 09:40 (assuming Ryanair doesn't cancel it ). Was planning on a little ride of some sort on Sunday once I've built the bike back up.

I'm in the hostel Sunday night.

8 days here as well, although I have a bit of a contingency as my flight back on day 9 isn't until quite late. Mind you that last day will probably be spent trying to find some cardboard :wink: I didn't think the Molini Pools option was on this year's route due to it being rerouted to take into acco...

Bearbonesnorm wrote:I firmly believe that the only way to really appreciate the TNR is to wing-it. Simply go where the mood and wind take you ... to plan it, is to spoil it

I like that! Might have to stick those wise words on to my top tube

Thanks for that, good info there. I think I'm prepared to wing it which is very much out of character for me so it could be interesting!

At the moment that's pretty much the route options I'm planning. Part of me would like to do Col d'Izoard which is on one of the other route choices but if I'm honest that's just to tick it off and say I've been there. It's not going anywhere so could leave that for another day. I've done the Death ...

I've got a horrible feeling that these next two weeks are going to fly by. In some ways that's a good thing and in other ways it's a bad thing... I still feel a little un-prepared for this. Seems like only yesterday I was telling someone that it was 10 weeks until the start of this. Really not sure ...

A TNR 2018 patch and some lovely tri colour 'stop being soft' stickers have arrived this morning

Yikkes!! For all the bikepacking events that charge just a basic fee, this is outrageous. And he lists them as "sale"- what was full pop on those! By the looks of it $699.00 for the 740 miles and $599.00 for the 340 miles. Plus an additional $100 - $200 if you want the additional transpor...

No issue with the cable as such. It's more an issue with how the locking end of the cable connects in to the combination lock where it looks a little weak in my opinion.

I've found this quite handy, you can get 3-4 bikes on this, https://www.abus.com/uk/Mobile-Security/Bike-Safety-and-Security/Locks/Special-Locks/205 I've got one of those and like you used to secure 4 bikes before now when in a pub, cafe or shop. Pretty lightweight (185g I think) and whilst might n...

A nice read and great photos. Love Tom's face in the kebab shot

Rock and Run still have the Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer Jacket for half price at £125. Also noticed they now have a different colour (orange) at a slightly cheaper price - £120 only certain sizes available though - M, XL, XXL. https://rockrun.com/collections/deal/products/mountain-hardwear-gho...

thenorthwind wrote: I was, and am still, a bit skeptical, given I've never heard of them (unsurprising since they're a fashion shop).

Probikekit is in the same group of companies. Not had any issues when ordering from them so hopefully you'll be okay.

I'm planning on taking one. If it was a couple of days I probably wouldn't bother but for this length of trip I think I'd rather take it. Probably only use it for the odd morning brew and in case of emergencies and I need to rustle something up. Although what gastronomic delight I can cook in a 450m...

Another Optilabs user here. My problem is that my prescription is quite strong which seemed to limit my choices and like you didn't want to spend a fortune. I got them to send me a couple of frames so I could try them before ordering, They may not be the most stylish but seem to do the job.

Once you arrive at Nice you'll relax and start going into recovery mode (eat/sleep a lot, prob a few beers) so riding back to Turin may seem less appealing after that. When Chew and me rode to Turin from Milan, it felt like a good warm up - not too sure I'd have fancied turning round once we got to...

I'll be joining you from the flatlands... training in Norfolk has been hard, instead of hills i have just been making the chainring at front of singlespeed bigger and bigger! Ahh I'm just over the border in Cambridgeshire. Training has not been ideal due to various reasons but hoping grit, determin...

Users location - Flatlands .... Are you quite mad

Well let's just say you wouldn't be the first person to say that to me!

That looks like a good route jameso. If i'd not have already booked a flight to Turin that would be tempting. Seeing as I haven't booked a flight back from Nice yet I'm wondering if I should do a Turin-Nice-Turin. Then again seeing as I've never done TNR before maybe I should save that idea for anot...

Will be flying back to Stansted with Ryanair.

New sleeping bag (Rab Neutrino 200) to replace my 10 year old Vango. To be fair there wasn't much wrong with the Vango but the Rab one should save a couple of hundred grams or so. Bit surprised with the 'compression' stuff sac that came with it though, doesn't seem to compress it down a great deal s...