Managed to get some weighing scales early last week: 16 st 7 lbs / 231 lbs / 104.8kg. Which is about what I was expecting after the last few months. Initial goal is to get to 100kg, and then aim for 95kg, which is what I got to in 2015 (peak cycling year for me). Exercise got back underway on Sunday...

Cheers. Shouldnt be difficult to be beat last years' record of a miserly one, but v enjoyable bike/bivi in October last year, as a way of losing weight

Not too late to join in I hope, am I? Crap year cycling/walking last year thanks to related Achilles Tendon issue and an onset of severe melancholy/lack of motivation. Not sue how much I weigh at mo, but I've realised tying my shoelaces has become more uncomfortable post-Xmas binge. Prob about 110kg...

Took a gamble and bought a pair of 700 x 40 Gravel Roads for the 2012 Croix de fer. And they fit! I'd heard that the biggest tyre it would take was a 38mm. Plenty of clearance on the rear and about 5mm under the fork crowns. Always been nervous bikepacking on 35mm tyres, given that my weight fluctua...

Penblwydd Hapus Ian

Ebbw vale -centre of the known universe, well it is for me as I work in either Cardiff, Swansea or Bristol - everywhere seems to be an easy 45-60 mins drive. On the upside I'm on the south eastern border of the Brecon Beacons and NCR 46 is at the garden gate. Great off and on road rides. Downside is...

Decided against joining in with the UK Hammocks order (apols flv) and ordered an As Tucas Sestrals 2 quilt in his new Schoeller ecorepel material. Very bright green colour (chosen by my son)- feels great, very light and great service and comms from Marco. Will give it a test out in the right conditi...

Thanks flv -I'm looking for a quilt at the mo. Got a couple of options in mind, but this seems like a good one. You mentioned about order/delivery time, any more details on lead in time?
If the pack size is not too big, I'm likely to be in
Cheers, Nick

Any idea on the packed size for a standard quilt?

I've entered and plan to ride the Croix, but having smacked both knees on a kerb at18mph on Friday, not sure if I'll be up to it by next weekend. Might scale down to the 35k to see how it goes...

Ta for that gem HUX. Setting off tomorrow morning to see how far I can get (before I get too wet looking at the forecast)...
New BB7 pads to fit, a load of faffing and some firming up of route to be done now

Better view of the wood chippers - and yes this is a moorland ride on 28mm gator skins (wanderlust got the better of me)

Planning a 2 day trip for next week and looking to bivi/wild camp in the Shropshire AONB area.
Anyone know of a good spot or any recommendations in that area?

the reach is long and low with the current oem stem. So thinking of a slight rise in the stem, as you seem to have found cheeky monkey.
will get some images from next weeks bikepacking trip with harnesses and drybags fitted.

I've been using 46cm salsa woodchippers on the croix de fer for the past 5 weeks. Nice and wide, comfy and much less shoulder blade ache than before. The flared drops have given me much more confidence on the down hills now as they give loads more control. Will report back after next weeks bike pack...

Wildcat 100? Tell me more please...

Colour choice for a Fargo. Difficult choice...

I'm fairly anti-social, so bikepacking suits me fine (+ I snore) Trail centres have become too normal and became boring/samey after a while. I find there are less people mountain biking in the Beacons now Ian- other than those riding from home in the Ebbw Vale/Tredegar area beyond Trefil, trail cent...

Didn't get any pinch flats when bikepacking on the croix de fer I only seem to get pinch-punctures riding 'normally' off-road on the croix, but then it seems to egg me on all the time and ride too fast downhill... as ben98 mentions, don't run low pressures - I think the lowest I've run is 55psi, but...

They've certainly altered the look of the bike (it's got 28mm Gatorskins on at the mo, but switching those to some new Smart Sams). Will mess around with the lever positioning in the morning, but they already feel comfy and a fairly natural position sat on the bike in the living room. Plenty more ro...

few slightly different positions to try out there by the looks - thanks for the insights
I nearly went and bought a fargo, but found the brown colour offended my eyes and reminded me of late 70s clothes I had to wear as a kid

Been sneaking a few things through to test the water :-bd alpkit gourdon 20 in stealth yellow, couple of dry bags and a fuel pod. Smart Sam 700 x 35s. And the now 30 year old trangia resurrection continues with o-rings and a triangular windshield. (Think the suggestion/huge hint of Ti mug for father...

Thanks for the advice - thought that might be the case. Any issues with cable length, routing or tension?

Before I embark on fitting my woodchippers to the Croix de fer tomorrow night has any one got any tips, swearing experiences or is it straight forward?

Woodchippers for the Croix de fer. Looking forward to s bit more bar space and less achy shoulders due to extra width