Search found 1267 matches

by ZeroDarkBivi
Tue Jun 11, 2019 11:42 am
Forum: Your Trips & Adventures
Topic: Jura and Islay
Replies: 11
Views: 3608

Re: Jura and Islay

Great to read about a trip that inspires me to strap kit to the bike and get out in the wilds again, rather than just day tripping from the van or more comfortable accommodation, increasingly becoming my preferred option these days as I become more intolerant of an uncomfortable night lying awake ‘‘...
by ZeroDarkBivi
Thu May 30, 2019 11:14 pm
Forum: General banter
Topic: Highland Trail 2019
Replies: 514
Views: 98787

Re: Highland Trail 2019

https://twitter.com/Clarionrider/status/1133743846049886209?s=19 Karl had a rucksack on when I took these photos yesterday... He was on top form complaining a bit about elephant legs and planning on putting his feet up for a while to drain them in the bothy. He looked a bit gutted when see later on...
by ZeroDarkBivi
Tue May 21, 2019 3:34 pm
Forum: General banter
Topic: Podsacs saddle bag ?
Replies: 31
Views: 7333

Re: Podsacs saddle bag ?

Anybody tried the bar bag? I need something more durable, and too tight to splash out on the Ortileb bag.
by ZeroDarkBivi
Thu May 09, 2019 4:30 pm
Forum: General banter
Topic: Custom Frame Bag
Replies: 17
Views: 4575

Custom Frame Bag

Who is the go-to supplier of quality custom frame bags now that Wildcat are no longer?

Just got a new FS bike with a very unusual small space that nothing off-the-shelf will fit.
by ZeroDarkBivi
Sat May 04, 2019 12:39 am
Forum: General banter
Topic: Spanish C2C 2019
Replies: 49
Views: 8733

Re: Spanish C2C 2019

How much confidence do you have in an over-the-horizon forecast like this? Having lived my life by daily forecasts for years, in the U.K. I rarely look more than 3 days in advance.

Still getting excited. I’m in the Lakes for a few days warm-up in not-so-warm conditions!
by ZeroDarkBivi
Thu May 02, 2019 2:35 pm
Forum: General banter
Topic: Garmin Killer? New Wahoo content
Replies: 23
Views: 3806

Re: Garmin Killer? New Wahoo content

DC Rainmaker doesn’t think so, and he knows more about these things than anybody:

https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2019/05/wah ... eview.html
by ZeroDarkBivi
Thu May 02, 2019 2:27 pm
Forum: General banter
Topic: Transalp video
Replies: 5
Views: 1466

Re: Transalp video

Why would you try to sleep on the ground when there are networks of great huts-with-a-view that will give you a comfortable bed and decent meal?

Perhaps I’m missing the point...
by ZeroDarkBivi
Tue Apr 30, 2019 11:45 pm
Forum: General banter
Topic: NC500 video
Replies: 20
Views: 4211

Re: NC500 video

ScotRoutes wrote: Mon Apr 29, 2019 7:28 pm
whitestone wrote: Mon Apr 29, 2019 5:45 pm Marc Beaumont and Si Whatshisname from GCN do the NC500 in 3 days.
Well, some of it...
So, what would you have done differently?
by ZeroDarkBivi
Tue Apr 30, 2019 5:20 pm
Forum: Classifieds
Topic: WTD: Canyon/Ergon Seatpost
Replies: 0
Views: 595

WTD: Canyon/Ergon Seatpost

The 'leaf spring' comfort version:

Canyon VCLS 2.0

Or

Ergon CF3 Pro Carbon

I believe they are identical, just rebranded.

Hard to get hold of in the UK, unless on a new Canyon bike.
by ZeroDarkBivi
Mon Apr 15, 2019 8:58 pm
Forum: Anyone playing out?
Topic: Dales Divide.
Replies: 153
Views: 35572

Re: Dales Divide.

Thanks guys - Hardtail MTB it is then. I'd much rather lose a little bit of speed on the roads but enjoy the trails without getting beat-up. I've always contended that the best gravel bike is a HT MTB anyway; drop-bar 'gravel bikes' are only a good choice when the route is at leats 50% road, linking...
by ZeroDarkBivi
Sun Apr 14, 2019 11:59 pm
Forum: Anyone playing out?
Topic: Dales Divide.
Replies: 153
Views: 35572

Re: Dales Divide.

One question: what bike? I am totally unfamiliar with the route or general area, so no idea how knarly the off-road gets. There is clearly a lot on roads, by distance, if not time, so would a drop-bar bike be quicker, and would I need knobbly tyres? Thinking about 47mm semi-slick byways, or 2.1” Sch...
by ZeroDarkBivi
Fri Jan 18, 2019 12:06 am
Forum: General banter
Topic: Talk to me about Rohloff
Replies: 64
Views: 11028

Re: Talk to me about Rohloff

Similar experiences to Trail Rat; I might consider using it on a long sedate-paced tour in an isolated area, but for general riding, not really. Aesthetic aside (Fugly, but that’s subjective), it is definitely draggy, and the concentration of mass on the rear axle does make the bike feel dead. I als...
by ZeroDarkBivi
Mon Jan 14, 2019 1:59 am
Forum: General banter
Topic: Burrally 2019 I'm In Anyone Else Interested?
Replies: 5
Views: 1424

Re: Burrally 2019 I'm In Anyone Else Interested?

Looks fab, but won’t know when I can take leave until mid March!
by ZeroDarkBivi
Sun Dec 30, 2018 4:06 pm
Forum: General banter
Topic: Crete?
Replies: 12
Views: 2433

Re: Crete?

Interested, but like everything else for 2019, I don’t know when I will be able to take leave until I settle in to the new job.
by ZeroDarkBivi
Thu Dec 27, 2018 6:13 pm
Forum: General banter
Topic: Beard Brothers on youtube
Replies: 3
Views: 1298

Re: Beard Brothers on youtube

Hyperlink?
by ZeroDarkBivi
Thu Dec 27, 2018 6:12 pm
Forum: General banter
Topic: Dales Divide.
Replies: 10
Views: 3235

Re: Dales Divide.

Interest notified. There certainly are loads more of these type of events popping up, which I think is is great. When the BP bubble bursts, some will inevitably disappear, as happened in XC MTB, when Enduro became the on-trend thing. Enjoy it whilst it lasts, and hopefully the best events should end...
by ZeroDarkBivi
Mon Dec 24, 2018 7:29 am
Forum: General banter
Topic: Things that make you happy
Replies: 32
Views: 4788

Re: Things that make you happy

Diving liveaboard in the Andaman Sea.

Thought I’d spend my savings before the pound was entirely worthless...
by ZeroDarkBivi
Sun Dec 16, 2018 3:38 pm
Forum: General banter
Topic: What makes an Adventure
Replies: 19
Views: 2982

Re: What makes an Adventure

Just cracked 215 km on the highway today, and might have to reconsider my previous comments! There is some random driving, particularly overtaking at crazy moments, but balanced by the relative lack of traffic (compared to the U.K.) and no worse than I experienced on the northern parts of the HT550,...
by ZeroDarkBivi
Sat Dec 15, 2018 2:06 pm
Forum: General banter
Topic: Favourite App
Replies: 3
Views: 1328

Favourite App

Leading on from VS thread about best of 2018, how about your favourite smartphone app (with bikepacking utility, obviously!)? I have found a lot of useful examples, many focused on general travel admin (trip advisor, Booking.com, etc), but my fave has to be maps.me; download the maps for the area yo...
by ZeroDarkBivi
Sat Dec 15, 2018 1:51 pm
Forum: General banter
Topic: What makes an Adventure
Replies: 19
Views: 2982

Re: What makes an Adventure

What's the traffic been like? So far the traffic has not been bad at all - drivers use their horn as a friendly warning they are passing rather than in an aggressive manner. Local cops have been great, saluting me as I ride past! There is definitely a right-of-way based on size of vehicle, so even t...
by ZeroDarkBivi
Fri Dec 14, 2018 3:23 pm
Forum: General banter
Topic: 2018 favourites
Replies: 30
Views: 6212

Re: 2018 favourites

Route - this is the easiest one: Colorado Trail. Having dreamt about this one since doing the Breck Epic in 2012, I finally made it happen this year. Having had a super enjoyable tour I might even go back for the race... runner-up: TNR (again). Kit - tricky this one, as there are lots of contenders,...
by ZeroDarkBivi
Fri Dec 14, 2018 2:52 pm
Forum: General banter
Topic: What makes an Adventure
Replies: 19
Views: 2982

Re: What makes an Adventure

Not having a go at bloggers; I learned loads from some of the older HT550 blogs when I started doing this, but the zeitgeist of hipster attempts to win the Turner Prize (or promote their position as prostitute influencers) are a bit of a turn-off. Quite happy to ride my bike without chugging, instag...
by ZeroDarkBivi
Thu Dec 13, 2018 3:37 pm
Forum: General banter
Topic: What makes an Adventure
Replies: 19
Views: 2982

What makes an Adventure

I found out the answer this morning. Currently touring Southern Thailand, and whilst having breakfast this morning I was engaged in conversation by a loud Texan expat and his niece. The bike was in sight and the usual questions followed, culminating in the lady asking if I was blogging the trip. I r...
by ZeroDarkBivi
Thu Dec 13, 2018 3:13 pm
Forum: General banter
Topic: Bar ends on loops? How wrong is it?
Replies: 35
Views: 6325

Re: Bar ends on loops? How wrong is it?

Unless you broke both wrists and the doctor was pissed when he set the bones...
by ZeroDarkBivi
Mon Dec 03, 2018 12:14 am
Forum: General banter
Topic: Bike packing somewhere warmish in December – Any ideas ?
Replies: 38
Views: 18621

Re: Bike packing somewhere warmish in December – Any ideas ?

Being doing some research and found some very cheap flights from LGW to Marrakech, however looking st the climate info for the routes east from there, it doesn’t promise the warm dry days I crave. However, the mountains west of Muscat appear to offer not only good riding weather in December, but som...