I thought that would be the case. Shame. Thought there might be some tricks I couldn't think of.

I've always been put off using bottles in cages offroad as I can't keep them clean enough to drink from.

Loads of people on here seem to use them, so what obvious thing am I missing? Or is it just a case of man up and get used to grit in your teeth?

Right, measured up and I'm now interested in the Medium!

If it's still available, drop me a message at dyffers at hotmail co uk

If the Large is still available, can I register interest pending measurement of frame (in about 2 hours time)?

9 at one point a couple of years ago. Down to 6 (complete) bikes at the moment, which I would call acceptable to the management: 2 MTBs, 3 road bikes and 1 not-well-used track bike.

The key is frame colour. They only spot the chages by the green one becoming titanium silver...

Love the green colour-coded logo. Did that cost extra?

Be warned, my medium one is not waterproof. Maybe it never was going to be, but I found that slightly disappointing (as I was replacing a 2.7 litre Ortlieb seatpack that most definitely was waterproof).

As Chrisn says, take up audaxing and you quickly learn the way of the Spar through necessity. Peanut M&Ms (1000 calories in a 185g bag, easy to have in back pocket and dip into whilst riding) Pain au choc (breakfast food without the faff of cooking. Pseudo-energy bars at other times) Original Lu...

The best event jerseys I've had are Owayo ones

http://www.owayo.com/

That would be our good 'friend' Jim Hopper's team.

Luckily he's nearly 70 so we can beat him nowadays, but I think he hold the Arrow distance record at something like 615km in 24 hours. Epic stuff (and a good knowledge of some very flat roads).

Never really thought about this before...Can it really make that much difference? My thoughts exactly, and I never even considered it until my mate mentioned the pedal strike after the test ride. Having done 4 muddy hours on the Swift in the higher BB height position today I reckon it does help wit...

I use Fleegles. They're much more comfortable for me than flat bars because of the sweep.

The bend forwards means you can have sweep backwards without shortening reach, so use the same stem lebngth as flat bars.

Fleegles are 710mm and ~350g, Fleegle Pros are 660mm and ~240g.

'Spinning furiously' is a skill to learn, not a penance to be avoided.

Eventually you get to the level at which you are 'spinning smoothly'. 8-)

I've not had any slippage issues at all; very happy with the EBB solution, especially coming from a slot-dropout On One (I don't think I ever did an entire ride without the rear disc rubbing, even with 2 chaintugs). I have the Swift setup as per the second, higher BB photo for lunch today. Sounds li...

Ian wrote:Out of interest, when you set you EBB to the top, did you also raise your saddle 10mm?

Yes. I rode about 10 yards before realising I needed to, but as it's a 'XC' bike I have the pedal-to-saddle length set similar to my road bikes.

I've always thought the bottom bracket on my Singular Swift should be in the lower EBB position when the chain is tensioned, like so: http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm30/Dyffers/SwiftEBBUp.jpg However, a bike-swap for a lap round the local woods and a subsequent comment from my mate about having...

I think you might get away with it, but I guess you wouldn't know for sure until you'd spent the money and got the bag made. The saddle straps can be pulled nice and tight; I doubt the wagging-dog effect would be worse than how I have it fitted. The bag on the Fargo looks like a Revelate one, like t...

if you can give a measurment from the top of the seatpost attachment to the point it connects to the saddle rails would be good if not to much trouble. I'll get it measured tonight after work. The answer is somewhere near 90mm. http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm30/Dyffers/RepackMediumTop.jpg htt...

I run 32x18 mostly on my 29er SS. I have slowly gathered the parts to 1x10 it though. The plan is to leave the 32T ring on the front, and I have a 11-36 cassette to give the widest spread of gears. Here comes the science, pay attention. 32x11 ~= 44x15 32x36 ~= 22x25 Is that bottom gear is enough? My...

if you can give a measurment from the top of the seatpost attachment to the point it connects to the saddle rails would be good if not to much trouble. I'll get it measured tonight after work. Is the medium size big enough for your needs??? I think it will be, as I don't put heavy items under the s...

Guy, chris n and I both have medium size Repack WX seatpacks if you want any dimensions measuring. Don't know anyone with a thudbuster seatpost to try it on though, sorry.

Having been focussing on this for the last few months, the week before entries open I've had to admit defeat as it overlap's my partners summer holidays (she's a teacher).

Pretty depressed about it to be honest. 2012 is looking like the first year in five without a multiday bike event in it.

Just got round to watching Gairy's vid. I can't imagine a bivvy trip where you'd need a tarp to keep the sun off. ;) I failed to get a trip in Feb. We'll see what March brings, maybe a mid-week bivvy from work, not too far from the Square & Compass at Worth Matravers (is that allowed?!). A Mate ...

How good are your legs? How much do you like to walk? What route are you planning? How many hills does that take in?

I'd gain a tooth at the back on your usual gear, but that's just me. If you can put out 400W for an hour at a time then just MTFU with what you've got.

thomthumb wrote:24hrs on the road - hmm - not sure that sounds that fun. you sure you don't wan;t to come for a bivvy

To be honest, yes. But I'm nowhere near as fit after an autumn/winter of mostly mountain biking, so I need to MTFU on the road miles if I'm going to enter the EWE in July.

If you're heading west from Hampshire and want some route advice (and some proper hill training!) I'm in Dorset so drop me a message / email ad.

(Can't join in, I've used up all my brownie points on a 24 hour road event on Easter weekend)