GRX are impressive. Lever shape is a big improvement and its the levers, rather than the calipers where all the good stuff happens. Different pivot point also makes braking from the hoods feel better. Before GRX I would have put SRAM very slightly ahead on braking performance, but now GRX are superi...

I've been lucky enough to do it several ways, road and off-road and multiple routes too. Stu will no doubt have a good option for you. My choice of start for a fun, scenic route would be Llandudno Junction/Conwy. Then up onto the common from there, but of road, Llyn Cowlyd, Beyws y Coed, Penmachno, ...

I have far too many helmets and have tried so many different ones over the years for photoshoots and testing. Personal favourites are either the MET Manta 3k or Abus Airbreaker. Giro Aeon also pretty good, not sure thats still made now? All meet what you are after, being cool and also nice and light...

Depends what bike and time you have, as I have heard Nant Briach y Rhiw is slow and rough, lots of walking. Happy Valley to that point, then decide road/off-road. Either way, after that up to Llanegryn and over the stunning track above Fairbourne that takes you out onto the small road that leads to ...

Pretty much agree with what people have said. Even using a Gatewood cape shelter, which is open a bit all around there is no reason why it will get wet, just a little damp perhaps. Jackets, I personally prefer down but I would only take a down jacket and wear it if it isn't raining. If you know you ...

I think every night with some form of groundsheet, but it has only ever covered 1/2 of the interior. Just enough to put a mat over.

Oex Xenon Ultra is a 217 gram down jacket. I love mine!! (it's the one in MattPages video of his around Wales trip) And a lot cheaper than £200, if you can find one - I think they may have stopped making them now Think it was £80! Absolute bargain. Really light and packable. Goes into its own pocke...

I have a PHD autumn race bag. No longer made, but a form of the minim I think. It is a light bag, but a different outer than I seem to remember was thinner/lighter, but downside is some down comes out from time to time. But it is 336g without a stuff sack. 353g with the standard one, although I use ...

Same here. Just get the width right for your rims.

psling wrote: ↑Sat Jul 25, 2020 5:33 pm (p.s. I know you were just a bit tired (!!) but it's the Wye at Bigsweir Bridge on the way to Tintern, not the Usk )

Doh! Of course I did know that.

Bearbonesnorm wrote: ↑Fri Jul 24, 2020 1:03 pm

I have to do the 200 before the 300?

No, he means the Big Bear 530 Matt. It's simply a route and not an event ... although finishing will feel like an event

Tell me more!

Dean wrote: ↑Fri Jul 24, 2020 5:55 pm My Endura bibs are like this, but they might not have originally come in the box with this feature...

Endura have always seemed to have a strange chamois pad placement to me. Way too far forward.

:-bd just bought some cento evos to try. When are you going to hammer around the big bear route, it passes your foot door ;0) I have to do the 200 before the 300? :wink: ASSOS bibs, assuming the ones you have are the same miss out a section of stitching in the middle of the chamois and I think this...

Fairplay fella that was some route. One I won't be taking on :lol: out of interest what bibs had u got on matt? ASSOS Equipe. My backside isn't too fussy with bibshorts, but for longer trips I stick to ASSOS and they work. Not a tiny bit of discomfort at all despite not taking them off (literally) ...

Bwlch y Groes definitely feels higher and its significantly harder... but not (quite) the highest. For once I am glad of it. Doing Bwlch during TINAT, which would have been maybe 250km in the legs, but a light bike and gravel bike gears was hard enough. Loaded and 36/30 smallest gear I am sure I'd h...

It has been dry, so maximising the gap underneath where possible.

I've had the idea of riding around Wales for a little while and given recent circumstances it became more possible. Changed the plan a bit, so went to each furthest compass point that can be reached by roads, or road bike at least and also crossing the highest road pass (Gospel Pass). Tough route, 9...

It has varied, but times when its been worse I haven't and also elevation/locations different.

Maybe I was just unlucky then.
On some nights there was a drop in temperature of ~10 degrees, others there wasn't.

Not every night has it been an issue, but several to a point where it is absolutely soaking inside.
But still beats a bag for me :)

Cheeky Monkey wrote: ↑Thu Jul 23, 2020 5:03 pm
Halfway there ;-)

I think I am down to test one. I've not used the Bosche CX and it will be interesting to compare against the Fazua, which seems more like to go to for companies at the moment.

I think the way MTBs are developing now, either they are XC race bike or longer travel "trail centre" bikes. Gravel/adventure seems to be taking over more the XC/trail market and the types of routes/rides that drop-bar bikes are capable of going makes them pretty ideal for this. Plus you c...

I know a few here use them and overall I think it is great. Can't see much else beating it for space & weight. But it does get heavy condensation on the inside, even with the hood open and door open. Any tips or suggestions to remove it? Not the end of the World, but makes multi-day trips more d...

Yup... gp5000 in tubeless flavour. I can't fault em though as I was taking em for off road jaunts every so often for tiny stints of rocky and a few times I probably ran em at lower pressure than I should have (50psi)... Lasted since when they were released and tubeless throughout that time so given...

GP5000?
They perform well, but exactly the same happened to me and in less miles than I'd usually expect from a tyre.

But no, don't bother riding much on them.

Mucoff drivetrain cleaner is very effective. Used with a Fenwicks chain cleaning sponge which is absolutely brilliant and cheap. Far better than those drivetrain cleaning machine things IMO.

For the rest of the bike just a basic, cheap general cleaner.