Chinese version of TOGs: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MTB-Thumb-Rest-Grips-Road-Mountain-Bike-Bicycle-Sports-Universal-Bar-End/303514733839?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&var=602724969941&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649 I haven't tried them, but I've ordered some to compare against the originals ...

Chinese version of TOGs: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MTB-Thumb-Rest-Grips-Road-Mountain-Bike-Bicycle-Sports-Universal-Bar-End/303514733839?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&var=602724969941&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649 I haven't tried them, but I've ordered some to compare against the originals t...

I use one of these for similar reasons, and I'm not organised enough to pack in exactly the same order every time: https://dragonfly-gear.com/product/large-saddlebag/ It's basically a lighter, synthetic version of a Carradice saddle bag. One thing I especially like is that I can fit my cook kit in ...

Working from home (mostly writing commissioning documents), with a catch up visit to the office once a week and to upload things onto the network. I can see the birds on the feeder through the patio doors, and I'll be going out in the garden soon to do some work related reading. Not bad, considering...

The Guard - An Irish police sergeant in a sleepy seaside town gets caught up in international drug smuggling. Excellent story and cast. The Way - A father walks the Camino de Santiago after his son dies. Black 47 - A former soldier wreaks revenge for his family in famine-era Ireland. Imagine Rambo w...

When I worked in Jordan, one of the local guys had a pet camel spider. He'd tied a piece of string around one of it's legs as a lead and would take it for a walk around site.

I'm another one with an early 90s POD rucsac. It's had heavy normal use, as well as being dragged up various crags and it still looks pretty new. I also have two early 90s vintage Lowe Alpine Dry-Flo Henley base layer t-shirts, which I wish they would reissue. They're great on the hill and look like...

I use one of these for similar reasons, and I'm not organised enough to pack in exactly the same order every time: https://dragonfly-gear.com/product/large-saddlebag/ It's basically a lighter, synthetic version of a Carradice saddle bag. One thing I especially like is that I can fit my cook kit in a...

I have had trouble finding helmets in the past to fit my oversized noggin. Previously, I used Giro helmets which fit with almost all of the removable inner padding taken out. At the end of last year though, I bought a Troy Lee designs MIPS helmet for half price in the sale, and it's a much better fi...

The Cumbrian is the name of a rock climb that I aspired to climb many moons ago, but due to a lack of talent and lardiness I never got anywhere near the grade. And I'm from Cumbria.

Cheers, Michael.

I had one of those blue box Optimus stoves, and the last time I used it was in a howff beneath Gardoms Edge in about 1992. It leaked a fine jet of petrol that I didn't notice until it set fire to my rucsac hipbelt. Two six foot + lads tried to make ourselves as small as possible inside a the tiny sp...

Medium and Large Dexshell gloves (and other stuff) in the Tamarack clearance.

https://www.tamarackoutdoors.co.uk/PBSCCatalog.asp

There are loads of discussions about Aliexpress shelters over on Trek-lite, as well as lots of other topics that segway nicely with bikepacking.

This isn't helping with my procrastinating in my final week on this project.

I can't help with a user review Rich, but I was in the shop last week and they look mighty nice.

I went to look at the CGR, but after seeing the Adventure I had to remind myself that I'm looking for a bike for 75% road / 25% off road, not the other way around.

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It's massively exceeded my expectations.....
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Thanks very much, real world reviews are always good. I think that the Camino has risen to the top of the list.

Unless this winter decides to get it's finger out and get cold again, I think that we have a clear winner so far.

Thanks gents. I'm an experienced user of QR wheels, but I'm particularly interested in significant differences in performance. As I won't be breaking any records (apart from the unofficial "hungriest cyclist" and "Who looks worst in lycra" awards)minor differences shouldn't affec...

One of the bikes that I have shortlisted for when I eventually get around to buying a gravel bike is the Sonder Camino. My only concern is that the wheels are traditional QR rather than a more modern thru axle. I've used traditional QR for years on rim brake bikes and never had a problem. The mounta...

[/quote] Hi Michael, the handlebars are Genetic Digest bars in 480mm width and I love them. :-bd https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/handlebars/440-genetic-digest-drop-handlebars-318mm-clamp-black/ [/quote] Thanks for that, they look great. How are you getting on with the Camino? It's one of the bikes that ...

Jurassic wrote: ↑Sun Jan 19, 2020 8:43 pm A decent Sunday spin today with wintery sunshine and a little snow on the hills.

Which bars have you got on the Sonder?

Cheers, Michael.

A little late, but I jumped through the final hoop for my new job yesterday so I hand my notice in on Monday. After that I went to Ribble near Preston and tried out a CGR Ti in their car park. I also touched an Adventure Ti and the steel version. They were all very, very nice.

Chicken Legs wrote: ↑Thu Jan 16, 2020 11:43 am I have got this Shimano set up on my Salsa ;

GRX 11 speed shifters

GRX812 Long cage derailleur

XT M8000 42 x 11 Cassette

XT M8000 Crankset 36/26t - 2 x 11

That sounds just about perfect, thanks for that.

I'm thinking of getting a gravel bike this year, but I'm not particularly enamoured with the gear ratios on any of the standard builds. In a perfect world (following my brief research)I would like a double chainring with 36 / 24 teeth (like a Sram GX 1000 GXP 11) with an 11 - 42 cassette, operated b...

I had a lovely, but short, spin out today in the western Berwyns. I'd spotted the track on the OS map and Google maps confirmed that it existed, and it was much better than expected. Most of the height is gained on good forestry tracks, but it was windy enough on the tops to make me even slower in a...