PS. Due to the low levels on this route it is probably a good route for bikepacking newbies or anyone who has doubts about their fitness levels.

After having seen Loch Etive on a map a while back I have wanted to ride around it. The route I have put together is a 90 mile, mainly low level, 2 day trip. I am very open as to when to do it but it will have to be during the summer out of college term time. The exact dates will need to be decided ...

Being a skinflint I have never before purchased any pre cooked camping meals and have instead taken stuff like store brand "pasta n sauce" etc but I fancy a change. Can you recomend me some tasty (and hearty) pre cooked stuff be it boil in the bag or dehydrated, thanks.

Has anyone any experience of Tresspass dry bags as they are half price in my local Tresspas shop?

"My own bike is a shed"

" My bike has a nice layer of filth I've been cultivating for the last 4 years too..."

You two should get together and your OP OCD would compell you to look after each other's bikes.

My consultation bill is in the post.

It's been built with bikepacking in mind but gets used for everything except round town work as I wouldn't risk it getting nicked. When I ran the deore cable disc on the front it required constant adjustment, sometimes even half way round a ride. I don't have this problem with the deore on the rear ...

Bon voyage. 8-)

I understand OCD but what's OP?

Just wondering what people run, I have both on mine, the hydraulic is on the front. The reason I ask is that I have had to bring the angle of my brake levers up from what I like because when I strapped my drybag under the bars the hydraulic hose was forced into an extreme angle at the point it exits...

Well he didn't look too approachable and there are plenty of nutters in Edinburgh so I think I did right.

Whilst waiting for my wife to pick me up after doing the weekly shop I noticed a Halcyon Sonama hybrid bike locked up. Something just looked wrong about it so I went and had a closer look. Turns out the forks (straight bladed) were fitted back to front with the reflector facing forward properly and ...

"it may make you crave chocolate"

I crave chocolate lots and I lied about my available tools, I also had a big hammer,

Hi Gairy, sorry but i'm pretty much tied to starting on the tenth. Stepdaughter is back at college soon after that so I will be back on horse care and driving duties. Keep in touch about when your coming over and maybe we could arrange something.

Yes, doing it on a loaded rigid, hopefully over 3 days. Starting in Edinburgh and following the canals to the start. Hopefully a 70 mile first day, 50 of which are on canals. First night I hope to bivi at the Burn of Mar on the climb up to Conic Hill. I have seen a post on here somewhere saying that...

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7201/6880103174_fc9ed5ee9a.jpg Quality Item. by youngray50 , on Flickr Here is my home made pot stand /windshield. When I had completed it I hated it because it looks so crap, however, it has now grown on me due to it's Heath Robinson, look at me, i'm so crap style. It...

Hi Gari, I'm in Edinburgh and am doing the West Highland Way in a couple of weeks. Later in the year I am wanting to do at least one highland tour so may well get in touch if your up for a 3 dayer, Ray.

'shipped from Hong Kong' I might just be a pessimist but personally I wouldn't touch non branded carbon. As has been pointed out a lot of carbon is laid up in China etc for British, American companies and if you buy this stuff then it will have been designed properly,passed quality control, passed s...

Hi Gairym, I was watching an older style pair of on one carbon forks in good condition on e bay a little while back and they went for about £94 so your newer ones must surely get more. Sorry, can't help with the rest.

22/32/44 with 11/34 9 speed.

[quote(without going deeper into things than i've got the time, skills and inclination to do).[/quote]

Best just stick to sharp knives then

I like the look of the windshield/stand but £20 a bit steep. Will make my own to start I think, thanks though.

Group trip to France anyone? :mrgreen: Me,me,me, pick me. :D Scottish access and camping laws are good too. We basically have the right to roam and camp just about anywhere. I very seldom come across walkers with bad attitude either. Having said that I only had a few run ins with people in England....

Hi Gairym, was just wondering what the access laws are like in France, also what's offroad nevigation like in the Ardeche, easy, confusing or somewhere inbetween?

Thanks Stu but i've taken your original advice and bought a ready made brass stove "trangia" style. Will need to fashion a pot stand and windshield.

PS is a 750ml alpkit mytimug of sufficient size to cook in? When I say cook I mean rehydrate dry meals etc..

didnothingfatal wrote:Valium, vicodin, marijuana, ecstasy, alcohol

Diverse riding styles! Navigational problems?