Search found 7863 matches

by whitestone
Tue Dec 12, 2023 2:47 pm
Forum: General banter
Topic: Yay, it's cheery Friday.
Replies: 3962
Views: 497790

Re: Yay, it's cheery Friday.

Ah, the "You will obey" look :lol: Be prepared for several months of him getting into everything as he learns about his new home. Once he's got the lay of the land he'll stop then it's just him finding the nicest, most secure places for him to sleep - tops of cupboards, that sort of thing....
by whitestone
Tue Dec 12, 2023 1:05 pm
Forum: General banter
Topic: Yay, it's cheery Friday.
Replies: 3962
Views: 497790

Re: Yay, it's cheery Friday.

Finally got my van back :-bd Jeez - you could have read a Tolstoy novel in the time it's taken! Being a Euro 6 compliant diesel vehicle it has an Ad-blue system. That went mammaries up in March and was replaced by the garage (a national dealership) under the extended warranty/service agreement that ...
by whitestone
Sat Dec 09, 2023 10:54 am
Forum: General banter
Topic: Bikepacking / ITT specific coaching.
Replies: 35
Views: 12735

Re: Bikepacking / ITT specific coaching.

Physical training is well (but not completely) understood - push your body, recover, rinse and repeat. You can do the same basic things year in year out but eventually you'll suffer the law of diminishing returns and hit a plateau. It's why you see headlines like "Tennis player X has parted wit...
by whitestone
Mon Dec 04, 2023 10:29 am
Forum: General banter
Topic: HT550 - 2024
Replies: 37
Views: 10694

Re: HT550 - 2024

Applied but didn't get an entry....and i had not even mentioned my gravel bike! :lol: probably a good thing! Not sure if there's any point applying again mext year, considering the number and CV of applicants. Always try. I think Alan welcomes new faces Indeed. Looking at the list so far https://hi...
by whitestone
Sun Dec 03, 2023 7:01 pm
Forum: General banter
Topic: Winter bikepacking trousers
Replies: 6
Views: 6711

Re: Winter bikepacking trousers

Have you considered gaiters for the lower part so that you aren't so concerned with the length?
by whitestone
Tue Nov 28, 2023 10:27 am
Forum: General banter
Topic: Pls keep an eye on your carbon forks/frames/bars!
Replies: 8
Views: 4765

Re: Pls keep an eye on your carbon forks/frames/bars!

Everything has a finite life - technically it's called MTBF (Mean Time Between Failure). As James says, the makers of the forks will be a CF specialist who supplies a lot of bike "manufacturers" amongst other things, a bit like car component manufacturers who might make a fuel gauge that g...
by whitestone
Mon Nov 27, 2023 6:27 pm
Forum: General banter
Topic: Winter Hammocking
Replies: 13
Views: 8352

Re: Winter Hammocking

What's the thoughts on the DD hammock with the pocket for a sleeping mat? Looks like less faff and will keep the hammock spread out a bit... Double skinned hammocks tend to be stronger, i.e. have a higher weight limit, than single skinned but unless you are American then it's a bit of a moot point ...
by whitestone
Mon Nov 27, 2023 5:45 pm
Forum: General banter
Topic: Yay, it's cheery Friday.
Replies: 3962
Views: 497790

Re: Yay, it's cheery Friday.

Saturday marked the tenth anniversary of having my hip replaced :-bd

Celebrated by trying to fix my mother-in-law's vacuum cleaner :lol:
by whitestone
Mon Nov 27, 2023 5:43 pm
Forum: General banter
Topic: Winter Hammocking
Replies: 13
Views: 8352

Re: Winter Hammocking

The first thing I'd look at would be the cinched ends of the UQ: not an easy thing to get right especially if you are on your own. They want to be just snug enough to pull the material up against the hammock but not too snug. If there's a gap then it feels like there's a draught and you get Cold But...
by whitestone
Fri Nov 24, 2023 7:02 pm
Forum: General banter
Topic: Bargain Alert Thread
Replies: 4931
Views: 1207751

Re: Bargain Alert Thread

rudedog wrote: Fri Nov 24, 2023 6:48 pm 1.24kg? That's the same weight as my 2 man Vango helium tent
Indeed! Our spacious 2-person Big Agnes Copper Spur is just 1.5kg including a footprint. I can sit up without hitting my head on the roof in it, no way I could do that in that bivy.
by whitestone
Fri Nov 24, 2023 10:30 am
Forum: General banter
Topic: Let's all do the time warp
Replies: 2
Views: 2560

Re: Let's all do the time warp

fatbikerbill wrote: Fri Nov 24, 2023 10:25 am Of no importantance at all unless you are desperate for an alibi or wanting to stalk someone on here but I have just noticed all the timestamps are in BST

Mine are in UTC/GMT. Might be your settings.
by whitestone
Thu Nov 23, 2023 9:37 pm
Forum: General banter
Topic: HT550 2023
Replies: 303
Views: 66072

Re: HT550 2023

I haven't watched Part 2 yet but.....are they super strong and making it look too easy or are they skipping the notorious boggy sections on video?? This has made me considering entering in 2024 :lol: Looks like the film crew couldn't be bothered trekking into the tough bits.... Sorry i was referrin...
by whitestone
Wed Nov 22, 2023 8:08 pm
Forum: General banter
Topic: Exped winter synmat replacement
Replies: 5
Views: 3798

Re: Exped winter synmat replacement

I think you've got the models right, I've the Hyperlight and it matches up with the 3R range. The Hyperlight/3R has been fine for year round UK use, Cath used hers on a bivy in Rovaniemi at -16C so capable of quite a bit more. Worth getting the wide model if you can, I felt like I was perched on my ...
by whitestone
Tue Nov 21, 2023 7:39 pm
Forum: General banter
Topic: Wildlife
Replies: 670
Views: 135808

Re: Wildlife

Had a sparrowhawk fly past me this afternoon whilst I was working over at my brother's. No photo as I wasn't expecting it and it was a dot in the distance by the time I'd have got the phone out.
by whitestone
Mon Nov 20, 2023 8:25 pm
Forum: General banter
Topic: Winter Hammocking
Replies: 13
Views: 8352

Re: Winter Hammocking

Oh, hang on, I didn't save it, just ordered a new tarp, Warbonnet Thunderfly :grin: I'll make an underquilt protector as well. The tarp I made from a design on hammock forums is a version of the Thunderfly, thread here - https://bearbonesbikepacking.co.uk/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?t=22668 . I think it's...
by whitestone
Mon Nov 20, 2023 6:28 pm
Forum: Your Trips & Adventures
Topic: Bivvy a month 2023.
Replies: 1037
Views: 196918

Re: Bivvy a month 2023.

Locally to me there is an overspill.into the local.river (.goes under canal) but no inflow ( about a 12 mile pound) I think they gererally try to avoid rivers feeding in . Pounds between locks are easily emptied and sometimes you had to go to the highest lock and let water go all the way down . The...
by whitestone
Mon Nov 20, 2023 5:05 pm
Forum: General banter
Topic: Winter Hammocking
Replies: 13
Views: 8352

Re: Winter Hammocking

OK, there's a few on here with (much) more hammocking experience than me but here's my 2p'worth... I wouldn't *wear* your down jacket but lay it on top of you that way you get the most loft - if the hood's detachable then do so and wear it on its own. I have a 45nrth balaclava with large neck cowl t...
by whitestone
Mon Nov 20, 2023 2:07 pm
Forum: General banter
Topic: EU bike shop charges!
Replies: 20
Views: 8005

Re: EU bike shop charges!

No, no... I'm not trying to dodge the VAT. Bob, they didn't deliver and I paid for DHL but it was Parcelforce that left me the note or they'd send it back. I'm hoping there must surely be a way of avoiding the processing fee, like that £12 Parcelforce whacked. Idnever think about dodging thw tax/VA...
by whitestone
Mon Nov 20, 2023 1:08 pm
Forum: General banter
Topic: EU bike shop charges!
Replies: 20
Views: 8005

Re: EU bike shop charges!

Shaf, the VAT rules changed EU wide prior to brexit as a result the UK has *exactly* the same rules as the EU except that HMRC talks about a £135 limit rather than €150 in the EU documentation. Below €150/£135 the seller is responsible for collecting and then passing on the VAT to the relevant autho...
by whitestone
Sun Nov 19, 2023 5:20 pm
Forum: Your Trips & Adventures
Topic: Bivvy a month 2023.
Replies: 1037
Views: 196918

Re: Bivvy a month 2023.

I've only just realised why they are called under quilts :oops: I wondered how they gave any warmth when you lay on them :lol: Can you not just attach them to the underside of the hammock? I've probably still misunderstood. You don't lay *on* them - they are slung *under* the hammock, i.e. the hamm...
by whitestone
Sun Nov 19, 2023 10:31 am
Forum: Your Trips & Adventures
Topic: Bivvy a month 2023.
Replies: 1037
Views: 196918

Re: Bivvy a month 2023.

I'm trying out a new underquilt for the hammock so drove to mum's as I could bring enough kit to stay warm if the quilt isn't up to it, unlike my BAM where I woke up shivering :lol: The general rule of thumb for underquilts is to use one that's rated about 5C lower than your expected temperature us...
by whitestone
Sat Nov 18, 2023 3:13 pm
Forum: General banter
Topic: New Bike Gear Out And Due Out...
Replies: 974
Views: 120134

Re: New Bike Gear Out And Due Out...

The Mk6 Stooge is out. Apologies if it's been mentioned already. There's a review at https://bikepacking.com/bikes/stooge-mk6-review/ Not sure if 4.8kg for frame and fork is heavy - my Solaris with carbon fibre fork is about 3kg - the review quotes a finished build at 14kg.
by whitestone
Sat Nov 18, 2023 11:20 am
Forum: General banter
Topic: Are you analogue?
Replies: 42
Views: 21796

Re: Are you analogue?

Perfection comes from removing complexity, etc. "Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing left to add but when there is nothing left to take away" - Antoine de Saint-Exupéry Going *slightly* off-tangent - the recommended service interval of many suspension forks and shocks wouldn...
by whitestone
Thu Nov 16, 2023 2:28 pm
Forum: General banter
Topic: Contents / bike cover for many, many bikes..
Replies: 7
Views: 1423

Re: Contents / bike cover for many, many bikes..

Ours is through Swinton. For contents cover we only have to list bikes above £2000 in value. Total contents cover is £80k with high value items (i.e. bikes) limited to £24k. Can't find the actual underwriter. The bike cover is for new replacement not current value. I've just been looking at the sche...
by whitestone
Thu Nov 16, 2023 12:32 pm
Forum: General banter
Topic: Do you like choice?
Replies: 14
Views: 5524

Re: Do you like choice?

I can't remember who it was (Paul someone or other who was an American economist) who came up with the core principle behind modern capitalism - "You need to persuade people that their wants are really needs". I.e. "I want a 50" widescreen TV", "Do you need one?", ...