i use 175 on my mtbs. put 170s on a bike before - what everyone was doing because of pedal strikes - but i hated it, changed for 175s and the bike rode much better. my ss/ fixed cross bike/ commuter (pompino) runs 170 and they are fine. my geared roadie runs 175s. make of that what you will. I'm 5'1...

I prefer to load the front first, ie frame + bar bag in preference to frame + seat bag.

just a rear bag makes for very interesting descending as there is not enough front wheel traction.

just a front bag makes the front wheel stay down on climbs better too.

i would recommend arms. they don't add that much bulk or weight and add a lot more warmth.

I have never worn my jacket and thought i wish it didn't have arms.

i want arms a lot when wearing my generator vest though, hence why i mostly wear it to the pub.

i'm in. already got my jan bivvy ticked, and feb one planned for friday.

we chalanged ourselves to this 2 years ago - i failed by getting the train home in the middle of the day on the january ride 3rd jan SDW bivvy & a fun nye not best bed pals!

doing better so far :D

i carry a 100 mm swuare of plastic milk bottle to use as a tyre boot. can be cut down as needed. only ever needed it on small ~1inch gashes and it worked well.

other than that it's all standard stuff. multi tool, patches, zip ties.

what are you guys doing with cassette tools?

i'm yet to be convinced of ceramic bearings;

the efficiency difference between them is minimal & my bike shop friends have told me about a few BBs that have come in that have been smashed to bits - emptied dust out of the bearing shell!
the weight saving is more significant....

you say " high altitude" doesn't look like a massive amount of clothes if it might be cold. you never know hat the weather will do in the mountains. I'd be tempted to pack a down coat and some trousers...

where you going? sounds fun...

looks neat

can we have a 'how to' for the lapsed scouts

*indeed, some regard Mid Wales as one continuous bog

thats quite unfair isn't it. the mountains are rocky - although some of them have bogs on

just get out. doesn't matter if it's a 'proper' ride or not. sometimes when i feel a bit like this i just ride to a coffee shop in jeans (never normally do that) or go somewhere i want to look at something. it's the getting ready that puts me off - i know when i;m out i'll enjoy ti but some times it...

Personally I think there's a gap for a larger loop event. Something that can be completed within a weeks holiday for the determined rider, but the racers could still hammer. I definitely think there is some milage in this (haha) I would like to take on a bigger route - perhaps 3/4 nights of good ri...

PB261079 by Newforce Photos, on Flickr

from last weekends overnighter. I'm in the red top w/ camp leg :?

bought these 2 years ago - they were a bit big for me and i never sent them back. i'd be happy for anyone who can use them. webtex base layer trousers. size L. i wear a 32/34 trouser so probably 34-36" waist. i'd take a pound to cover the postage. http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4088/5175424282_f...

I have several ideas based on different trips... Single night; close to home. Enough shelter to keep the rain off my face and some kit. 2x 1.5 tarp is good - can be used as a ridge / lean too / flying v if it is wet/ sunny / windy respectively. 2 nights - good weather the above would do - weight and...

Was trying to get a referral as I've private health care which will pay for things like physio

did you tell them straight up, "i want a referal".

some doctors seem pretty resistant to all the hints in the world.

i spent saturday evening sewing up a new tarp - i didn't take photos but i'll try and get a thread up this week. It's come out pretty well but silnylon is not the easiest thing to sew - it's slippy :x 225 g for a 1.5 x 2.5 tarp. it's about 250 g with some dyneema for guys - just need to sort some li...

I'd be pretty sceptical that you could mod a pot to add a heat exchanger - adding one would leave you with the task of making good thermal contact between pot and HE - difficult to do imo. alu welded to an alu pot might be your best bet if you wanted to go down this route. a sheet of copper (heavy t...

thanks stuart - but i'm not really in a buying position. :? looks like a nice tent though. does it weigh close to the 2.8kg. reviews of some of these tents seem to have weights from 50%-200% of manu weights!! I hear what your saying about the porch though - It was a nasty surprise on the bb200 to ge...

I need some ideas about lightweight 2 man tents. I mentioned going for a small tour with the GF and she's well into the idea. But i don't have a tent; so I'll need another one (worked out well :lol: ) or make one but that is still a work in progress.... I've seen the coleman bedrock & cobra, the...

if i'm taking a map i do.

I've noticed on trips to wales that it's easier to locate yourself on a map due to 'big features', in the flat south sometimes you can need to orientate the map before you have any chance of locating yourself.

i have used pro fabrics - good service - it does take a while to work out what you want though - maybe thats just me!! the nrs99 is a good light weight waterproof material (only in olive) that i have got to make a tarp.

also heard good things about

http://www.questoutfitters.com/ in the US.

unfortunately not mine. but i'm thinking about making a tent, found this in my lunch hour browse.

I liked this and thought i'd share.

http://trailsandtracks.blogspot.com/201 ... -tent.html

cheers stu. received my montane extreme over the weekend. i've had my eye on one for a year or two so this was all i needed to convince me. :D

i've got the DD (of hammocks fame) sleeper was just over a tenner on ebay. adds a degree or two to the bag but I also use it to keep the bag clean - much easier to clean (or replace) a liner than a nice down bag. I never really get tangled in it? it also has a pillow bit - but i've never used it - i...

you need to have a mug as well then. i normally carry one pot and make it do pot/ mug duties.

although last time i had coffee that tasted of chicken noodles