I did it once from Liverpool to Leeds in one day - 134m, nice ride but did get rather fed up with all the gates nd barriers along the route. Good fun though and just when we thought we felt delicate enough from a day in the saddle we got to Leeds and its wonderfully rustic cobbled tow paths - still ...

the start of a whole new look for the WRT . . . .

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news ... hoto4.html

And i got yours too Antony, about the fabric - meant to say it's probably easier if we sort ourselves out so to speak as the postage isn't that huge. But i did find waterproof zipper tape is cheaper it profabrics.co.uk (or something like that!) Sorry for not getting back to you quicker - i'm far mor...

argh when i finally get my arse into gear to sort this - can't find the matt zipper tape on their website, if you can can you send me a link please

cheers!

Hi Antony, I have registered an account and have a basketfull of stuff - but was just waiting for the different colours to come in. Will go on later and let you know - think the postage came to £16 euros or there abouts. Happy to sort so you can collect from Shef, i need to get my finger out as i ne...

I love my nobbly nicks - but again not a help as they are too big.

I was waiting to order some when they got new colours in - and notice they now have the blue again - all they had for a while was lime green or black. if anyone is putting and order together soon - and maybe lives near Sheffield and wants to split costs i would be happy to. Although their postage co...

The fabric was some cheap nylon stuff off ebay, not as light as I hoped but luckily not super slippery. Has the finish of my old thermarest so the sleeping bags have a chance of staying put. Go enough for 3 bed for £8 so a bargain. Will weigh it later. Would love to go into production but two jobs a...

hours of fun with balloons, bed by me - giraffe by my 6 yr old

Made with Qualatex balloons which seem good quality and cheap in big bags.

Guess that would also solve the re-inflation problem of lumpiness too.

The problems i have which is a tricky one is that there are three of us - two of which are small so limited by what they can carry. i have previously used a trailer on all trips, but this time hoped to get the weight down so they could carry their own sleeping gear and a few other bits and bobs. And...

I will be taking them for a few nights and there will be 3 of us with balloon beds, just wondered as we will get through quite a few balloons - not a problem to carry but fear leaving a trail of balloon giraffes across the isle of man

I have the fabric and balloons, and with the help of my eager 6 year old I now have two balloon dogs and a giraffe!

does anyone know a reliable way to clamp the balloons for repeat use?

and if you carry on in that fashion you may end up looking like a storm trooper . . . .

Could do, but I think they want to do something different - we did a Scottish trip last year. Mark, Denmark and Norway do appeal but think I may look at that when they are big enough to go further, will see how may miles per day they manage on the isle of man. May pick your brains about Norway etc a...

Thanks dnf - always wondered how it worked

Balloon bed!?

How? Does it work? - and pictures please. Some things in life need to be seen to be believed!

Would love to Nick, but time and driving all that way with stereo 'are we there yet' may just be a bit much! I think IOM will win this time. I will save a trip to the alps for some me time when i can enjoy it to the full. I see on your blog you are planning on doing a frame bag too, let me know how ...

Been looking at taking a bike on a ferry, and found out that you can get £30 voucher for lots of the irish and north sea routes for £10 of tesco clubcard vouchers, saving up to £210 on return crossings

the train to Harwich is handy, but suffers with the 'you can only book two bikes on the train' syndrome that most of the small services have. And it's a long journey from Sheffield, not that i have ruled it out, but would probably drive down to norwich stay with friends and jump on the ferry with bi...

I did look at the scandinavian crossings, reasonable until you add the price of a cabin. looked at on from harwich to denmark for me a two kids it would be £518 if we ate on board - not sure if i they would just let me put a tent up on deck instead! will look at the newcastle routes later. After loo...

and if anyone knows about rights of way over in ROI that would be handy - found several places referring to lots of private land with no access and their online os maps don't shed much light on it either. sites like this just make it sound horrendous.... http://backpackingbongos.wordpress.com/2009/0...

After having spent far too long contemplating routes and ferries i thought i ask for inspiration on here... At easter i am taking my two youngest off for our annual big cycling holiday (they will be 7&8), each year their goal gets bigger - and harder to fulfil! The hardest bit being the low traf...

Not enough in them, the first time we used them we had one each and were hungry afterwards. Used them again for mach and back when we had two each. Not exactly the lightest meal to carry but tasty and went well with a bottle of red though. For comparison I am a 5'6" and female and one packet re...

If our greatgrandfathers did bike packing....
http://www.dirtragmag.com/webrag/follow ... ting-photo