now what do we need to make a half fat 29er like Ians?? You need to be a bit careful with the list Stu posted ^^ there, as the enabler fork is spaced to take a rear caliper (the offset from the mount to the disc is different from front to rear). Thus, if you went the enabler route, you would need a...

Still planning on using the tarp, so perhaps a bit of tree cover would be nice.

I could sell my mint 29er reba fork...

To me, perhaps?

Never done it, but if I was going to try I would study another jacket with some pit zips already installed to see how they've stitched them in. In theory, if you're adding a zip you should have a couple of cm's to play with by the time you've unpicked your other seam.

Where have you been DNF - best part of two weeks without you? :shock: I was thinking of starting a poll: Has DNF...: a) got lost b) got blown off a Welsh hilltop c) sunk into a Welsh Bog somewhere NE of Nant-y-moch d) been eaten by midges e) sustained severe burns from an exploding gas stove f) some...

The cuben stuff sack is a good deal larger than necessary - I could easily fit my Moonlight bivvy in there too, except for the slightly awkward non-frame bag friendly shape that would result. The cuben stuff sack may yet pass over the sewing machine to make it small (and lighter :twisted: ).

I think they have an application beyond snow. Very rocky terrain, soft upland stuff - both of which we have aplenty around here - are more easily dealt with with added tyre volume. I was impressed by how much quicker I could ride rocky stuff, still with a rigid fork on. It would depend on price, but...

singletrack descent down the side of a firing range somewhere

Pretty sure its the bridleway between Three Riggles and Haines Mill.

I'll be setting off from West London at 4-5pm....travelling in an old Landy so should arrive just in time for the start

17 hour drive, wow.

The tarp is cut to make use of a single pole and allows room to stretch right out underneath and/or sit up, neither of which I could quite to comfortably with the siltarp (photo from Z-packs website). http://www.zpacks.com/images/shelter/hexamid/od_hexamid_front_l.jpg It needing a pole to pitch it i...

Stu - yes, slightly see-through :D http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6194/6109369739_12ddb01153.jpg Z-packs Hexamid Solo by ianbarrington , on Flickr All up with 8 wire pags (49g), carbon pole (32g) and stuff sack (4g) it weighs 179g. WIll have it for the Radnor Ring next week, so proper photos/review ...

So basically it's cut down 3, 4, 6, 8 or 12 times table, like you used to have at primary school?
It's even got a cute bear on it too

That Colin Ibbetson chap has made one out of an old karrimat that I quite liked the look of. Might have a go at one myself now you've given me the idea.

I've just entered.

Wasn't just me that left it late then

Thanks for reminding me, I've now entered.
How many entries have you got so far?

I seem to recall there's a brilliant piece of singletrack descent down the side of a firing range somewhere broadly SW of Radnor Forest - haven't ridden that way for many years.

Singlespeed will be OK, will it?

No, there isn't. There is a way of doing it though - it's a bit of a hack if I recall, which I used on a local cycling club forum I ran for a short while.

No goats, but I did pass customs without any charges, which I'm particularly pleased about.
Full details and will be pics up in a day or so...

A very small and lightweight package arrived from the US today :D

are you counting posts/pages again Ian???

Not specifically, no. However, given my previous track record on such matters, I realise it could be construed that way

Congrats Pete - that was the 1000'th post to the General Banter forum.

And this is the one thousandty first

In short, no I wouldn't spend that much on a bag that only had 100g of down in it. I had to think very careful before buying the PHD bag, which has more use over a greater proportion of the year. That makes it better value and worth the extra weight, imo.

Right then, train ticket sorted for 29 September, arriving Colwyn Bay at 10am (6.30am start for me in Abergavenny). Suggest starting here http://g.co/maps/84ba at 11am for second/ third breakfast. Depart around 12pm. Coed-y-brenin is probably a reasonable target for Thursday night, beyond that I'll ...

Put me down as a tentative...

OK, after a month of DIY and next to no riding, I'm now good to come in this trip :D

Any more details on the route?
The Sustrans site is pants for getting any decent info off it...