All the cotton topped ones fail at the nose eventually - some sooner than others, depending I suppose on the weight of the rider and the type of riding. This may be why they've been discontinued and replaced by the nylon topped 'all weather' model. The cotton topped ones were user serviceable (if yo...

Rights of way in uplands of Brecon Beacons mostly closed now, a few exceptions, eg the Sugarloaf. Upland car parks widely closed. Mon and Brec canal had been on the closure list but now not. I'm going to claim a bit of credit for that as I wrote yesterday to the RoW officer arguing it was an importa...

Wow the consultation is like some kind of weird logic puzzle designed to trip you up. 1. To what extent do you agree or disagree that knowingly entering land without the landowner’s permission should only be made a criminal offence if it is for the purpose of residing on it? How are you meant to ans...

I'm another doubter on super bright flashing rear lights. Especially on dark rural roads, lit city streets are another matter. I find a very bright and concentrated rear light makes it hard for drivers to judge distance (I find it hard when I'm driving - really bright dot of light has a sort of halo...

I suspect Hibell's racks were as much about improving strength, rigidity and bracing. So as to avoid the rack itself breaking and minimising the tail wagging the dog effect you can get with a heavy load on a rear rack. Hibell was probably the most accomplished adventure cyclist of all time so knew h...

As discussed on the CTC forum ten years ago. And reaching a similar conclusion. Great minds and all that. https://forum.cyclinguk.org/viewtopic.php?t=29456 Thread mentions Ian Hibell, who had his rear rack brazed to the frame. But then again he was doing serious load-lugging for years on end in some...

‘other route with public access’, as per the OS map legend, is annoyingly vague. It can include RoWs as well as permissive paths (no right of access but the landowner allows access). Permissive access can be rescinded at any time. There is a notorious case of this not far from me, just outside Merth...

Uniqlo Kando are excellent. Light, fast drying, slight stretch. I've worn a pair for a few years now and they're very hard-wearing. £14.90. https://www.uniqlo.com/uk/en/men/bottom ... ndo-shorts

I'm a big fan of Paramo Montero trousers (though less so the Montero Trail version). Work well on and off the bike. Very lightweight. Windproof(ish). Dry quickly. Side vents and some subtle reflective details. Can roll them up into a 3/4 short. https://www.foothills.uk.com/paramo-montero-trousers-me...

A great illustrated write-up by Mike Hayes:

http://www.seasurfdirt.com/2019/04/02/w ... e-weekend/

Includes his Sunday ride (er...walk/carry) along the crest of the Berwyns.

Screen Shot 2019-04-01 at 12.50.20.png plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose Was a really great weekend, thanks to all who made it happen and all who came along. A very fitting tribute to Wayfarer and his ilk. There are so many wonderful memories from across the decades of riding that track. Of ...

c12-03-01-054 copy.jpg Thus did we three travel over the top of the Berwyn Mountains on the penultimate day of March. At Llanarmon it had been a case of "'Try not the pass,' the old man said", but we decided to chance it - to face such risks as there were, and, in the event, our enterpris...

Here's the menu for the dinner on Saturday night. Not quite the 10 course banquets that Wayfarer's Anfield Bicycle Club used to enjoy in the 1890s but looking pretty good for £25/head.

Many of you will know the track up to Pen Bwlch Llandrillo on the old drovers road between Llanarmon Dyffryn Ceiriog and Cynwyd in the Berwyn Mountains. Many of you will know it as the Wayfarer and perhaps know something of its importance in the history of off-road cycling in Britain. Well this Marc...

Looking ahead, Brexit is very likely to cause a total economic meltdown of hill farming in Wales, so maybe there'll be a chance to return to questions of land use and economic potential of outdoors activities sooner than we think. In the 30's / 40's the meltdown resulted in forestry. Be nice to thi...

I'd be interested to hear the inside story on this. Whose voices were in the minority of consultation responses but powerful enough to sway the decision? Locally to me, the Brecon Beacons National Park Authority opposed all the changes relating to increasing bike access, for no good reason I could a...

Immense ride James, I can't believe you came in so early. You looked about as empty here as your pint glass. james.JPG A brilliant event, great to see people riding from 100km up t0o 600km all enjoying Wales, cycling, the paths less travelled and remembering Mike. If it happens again I think the 400...

Seriously, does anybody else go riding to enjoy themselves? Are you all disappointed if a trip on the bike doesn’t involve multiple mishaps? It's a good question. Clearly the Cranes were interested in seeking out adversity and pushing things to their limits: Before they set of the Cranes considered...

Bearbonesnorm wrote:

Which is why I wrote - when touring in the modern sense

Well obviously touring in the modern sense is a relatively recent thing. That's what the word modern means.

I'd disagree that touring is a modern term in cycling. 'Tour' is just another word for a journey, but one made with the intention of seeing something interesting along the way. As in the 18th century "Grand Tours" made by the English upper classes to see the relics of Greece and Rome, or t...

Thanks for the replies - very helpful. If I see a pair for a tenner I'll buy them and have a go myself sometime.

I wrote this for R@pha's Mondial magazine a while ago and now they've put it online. Might interest anyone with an interest in the modern origins of bikepacking: https://tinyurl.com/y8ccta2q And you can read the whole of the Journey to the Centre of the Earth here: https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/do...

I know there are some expensive down trousers for mountaineers out there but I'm thinking of the £10 ex-army ones, made by Snugpak. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GENUINE-BRITISH-ARMY-ISSUE-THERMAL-SOFTY-TROUSERS-M-L-XL-BNIP-FREEPOST-ACF-SAS-/123073241673 Pair with the insulated jacket that I'm already ...

Leaving no trace with a fire can be done, Can I ask, how? I'm not saying you're wrong. I'm just curious as to how to actually do that? Personally I've never felt the need to light a fire when out bikepacking. On a family campsite with designated firepits etc, I think it's fine, and sometimes fun wi...