A paltry 2687 miles for me in 2016 ; but a slight increase on previous years .
2/3 commuting; 1/3 off-road. Must try harder.
Put me to shame: what's your total?

Javi wrote:As I'm unable to enjoy Christmas with my family I've decided to ride from London to Lands End. Hope to finish tomorrow very late or early 28th.
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/18193797

Javi - stunning stuff! The indirect route, on a single speed MTB as well .
Well done!
How did you get home?

Handle bar bottle cage secured to the (long) steerer tube by jubilee clips, for filth-free mobile refreshment. Recently added a chalk-bag thing on the left-hand side for food. Handling is still fine. 2 litre water bottle squashed into the bottle cage and secured with velcro around the down tube. Gre...

Thought u might :). Nah no latte this time. World's most expensive cafe (no I tell a lie, that's Monsal Head Cafe). Actually I don't begrudge the price at all cos it goes to charideee but the lady in charge is a female Basil Fawlty. I think the coffee price includes the ticket price for the show - ...

I have visions that the memento would be a 3" x 3" piece of Tyvek arriving in the mail with the word "nutter" hand written on it...with love by a bloke in a shed in Wales. I like the understated nature of this: it's a very "British" approach to awards and a refreshing ...

Just nipped up the woods to blow the cobwebs away, stopped for a sit down on this chair and found out that my "small" size bike frame is considerably more bijou than I thought. R http://i1296.photobucket.com/albums/ag14/chris_stevenson1/a20161220_114206_zpsobqdhmng.jpg I recognise that ch...

An unexpected Christmas treat on the last C2W of the year, today!

Karl wrote:...not sure either of your photos depict bikepacking...

There seem to be elements of both in all of my adventures .

"Sedbergh Sunrise"

Will there be categories for professionals...


...and rank amateurs?

I believe there may be quite a difference.

The Chilterns SE bivi stove nerd-off.
Some were minimalist; others, less so...

...food eaten (reindeer)...and still smell like a bothy - Only those who have experienced it will know that heady next day fragrance of yesterdays whiskey and wood smoke oozing form every pore. A nice but strange feeling being sat at my desk in work and smelling of "adventure"... Even tho...

Pickers wrote:Many thanks to Sam and TBD for the overnight spot, also thanks to Ben and James for route and pub organising.

Hear! Hear!
It was great to meet you all and thanks for making it a week-end of Type 1 fun , despite the grim weather on Saturday.

We certainly earned our gingerbread lattes.

Check your train times!
Southern trains are cancelled due to a strike tomorrow . This site has further details: http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/
I'll be at Tring at 12.09.

TheBrownDog wrote:... Tring station about 1130 so could meet ya there if you want to get the early train, and we can toddle into town and get a sarny.

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I'll aim for Tring station at 11.30 too.
P

Bearbonesnorm wrote:And finally, the entire meal should be cooked using a single meths stove

I've just been experimenting with a Christmas pudding and a bottle of rum. I'd forgotten just how impressive the flames can be .
Breakfast that cooks itself: that's me sorted.

Have we got a cafe/soft option for breakfast in mind, or should we bring some with us? :cool: Do you really expect a dozen blokes to resist having a "camping stove nerd-off"? :ugeek: Bring some breakfast. :d Then we'll ride to a caff and have some more breakfast :-bd. Rumsey's chocolate c...

There's something about old bikes which appeals to me, but I'm not really sure of the look I have in mind... Perhaps it's the same sort of "agricultural charm" that makes old Land Rovers popular :wink: . https://www.dropbox.com/s/wpacoakx7kodc02/bring%20a%20trailer.jpg?raw=1 https://www.d...

TheBrownDog wrote:...rigid Inbred 29er. I honestly don't like it much but it does the job.

What don't you like about it?

Loads of choice here:
http://www.bikepacking.com/bikes/plus-bikes/
The 2017 Surly Karate Monkey 27.5+ seems the most versatile. I haven't ridden one, though.

TheBrownDog - PM sent.
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RIP wrote:Firepit??

You mean like this one?

TheBrownDog wrote:They'd just be jealous

Yup

Speaking of bivvi spots, I told a friend from my MTB club about the winter bivvi and he volunteered his woods near Little Kimble as a venue for the overnight. To quote him: Firewood supplied free, round house available (sits 8 comfortably with fire in middle), there is also a small shepherds hut wi...

...old bike...'death traps'...off-road riding...pictures...tales of derring-do... Guilty on all counts! :-bd. Six months after I bought my first 'mountain bike' (a previously-enjoyed bouncy, V-braked iron horse of unpredictable durability, for a mere 60 of my English pounds) I spent a winter long w...

RIP - Dec bivi - Yes looking forward to it, as "stuff" is getting in the way of a November bivi.
P

boxelder wrote:

Were they on 'gravel bikes', by any chance?

Are such cycles frowned upon in the alpine borderlands of Beds and Bucks?

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Absolutely: it's just mud and concrete around here. Not very alpine at all.
They're just racers with knobby tyres, anyway.