Yes, been admiring pictures of this the last couple of days (the singlespeed version in the background belongs to a friend).
The tubes may be to give a degree of compliance to the ride (think Jeff Jones). Or they may just be a design statement....

I have a poncho tarp which I take along as a changing room when rain is likely! It can be really useful for getting out of wet kit and into dry at bed time when it's pi55ing it down (and for privacy when changing if required). Have used it as a tarp too (and I admit I tie up the hood!).

With your fitness Ian, it probably does begin to mae a little more sense but I still can't get past the conflict between chassis and drivetrain - seems a mis-match. Bikes have been a mis-match for a while now. Soft tails have been offered for a couple of decades, 29ers with drop bars a la Singular,...

Do you ride with a backpack? I find that I can spend a lot more time in the saddle bikepacking than even on a long mtb ride and that carrying weight on my back can affect my 'long-term comfort' in the saddle. I think I adopt a different riding position too when the bike is loaded up, a more upright ...

Still...for a 21 year old i bet anything ive got the longest repeat prescription out of all of you! (And about 60 years of cynicism and sarcasm in me) I can see why you live in Wales then! I fit nicely into my niche age having the spd sandals, the beard (currently) and more than one item of Carradi...

It was interesting and nice to reminisce. My first (proper) bike was a Hercules - didn't realise my dad was a cheapskate after all these years !!

Pedalling Dreams: The Raleigh Story on BBC4 tv tonight at 9.00pm, anyone going to be watching?

Pre-tax profit margins reached their height in 2012 at 5.4%, and touched a low at in 2015 at 1.31%. For 2016, the pre-tax profit margin was 2.3%. They could do with putting their prices up. Aren't they the subject of an acquisition bid at the moment? Some sort of venture capitalist or brand acquisi...

I'd invest in a 500ml bottle; only 200ml less fluid but would fit into a lot more places! Or possibly a 600ml bottle.

Bearbonesnorm wrote:Gwyn the post has just delivered what many people would think is the worlds most expensive stick ... I can't show you a picture of my new handcrafted yew warbow because it's been snaffled away until my birthday next month.

Someone I know, Brian Lee, is involved with Warbow Wales. Quite a character!

Like Stu says, 29" and 700c are the same. For a 40mm tyre you should ideally be looking at an inner rim width of 17mm - 23mm.

Never really given this a lot of thought so went and looked at my bikes: 26" Singlespeed - 32 x 18 - gets bikepacking use during the winter months, eg Winter Event. 26" MTB - 42/32/22 x 11/32 - my regular bikepacking bike. 700c Light Tourer (known these days as a gravel/adventure bike) - 4...

Teetosugars wrote:

Isn't it something to do with reading maps in the dark?

Yup, that's why you don't use a red filter- you can't see contour lines on an OS Map.

Makes sense. I know a few people who must have red filters in their eyes judging by the routes they plan

I've been a bit extravagant and taken delivery of a Terra Nova Southern Cross 1. Not generally a TN fan but they look nice Peter ... more useable space than a Laser? Slightly wider inner and larger porch. What's drawn me to it is the exo-skeletal poles so it can be pitched and moved about before st...

I've been a bit extravagant and taken delivery of a Terra Nova Southern Cross 1. Hopefully it will give me more pitch options than my beloved Phoenix Phreak when I'm using a tent in the hills.

I think the green filter is popular with the hunting fraternity in the USA and maintains eye night vision without being visible to animals or something. I have a Black Diamond Ion which is waterproof, lightweight and has a red light to preserve eye night vision around camp (but no green light). Not ...

What's the accepted Bones views on the Polaris challenge then, 'cos we were doing overnight, competitive 'backpacking by bike' trips before the internet caught on. Rigid bikes, skinny tyres and some even used drop bars. Let's face it, the internet hasn't really been around for very long anyway and ...

A 2 day event referred to as multi-day; I guess that is technically correct :???: Kinesis is a bike manufacturer? We've kind of already discussed on here the likelihood of more and more of this type of event cropping up as bikepacking becomes more mainstream and 'soft bikepacking' [tm] with provided...

Aren't fasted rides only meant to be for an hour or so?
(Having said that, sounds like most of my rides!!)

Bearbonesnorm wrote:Can anyone ID this connector for me? I need a male to match.

Ta.

Looks more hermaphrodite than female?!?

Whereabouts in South Wales are you, there are some good fireroad climbs in the Wye Valley and Forest of Dean easily accessed from Monmouth.

I too would like to send my thanks to Dee & Stu who put a lot of time and effort into allowing me (and you, of course!) to enjoy a weekend of, er, fun in a glorious part of the country (even in the rain...). Ta.

Just watched the BBC weather for the week ahead which is suggesting wind chill temperatures as low as -10 to -12'C in rural areas next weekend Might just have to sneak into a church or chapel for the night....

Not a clue! But I enjoyed (most of) them

Oh, b***er! I've an old OL23 and it's different to the current one - the map heading up towards Bala is landscape rather than portrait so doesn't have the last two church locations :oops: "What's that?" I hear you say, "Any excuse to buy more maps" :-bd Same here whitestone. See...