New WTBs look good

Great ride Tom!!

Greg if you read this while waiting for repairs etc, stick at it, get it done! sub standard happens but how you ride it out is what you'll remember. Best of luck.

Gas canisters - have found them in Europe but not that easily. Usually push-fit Colemans not screw ons. Meths is far more common in France and Italy. Resupply points are regular, daily at least. Gentjim, if you post up the type you need I can ask if Sergio can arrange it. He could earn enough beer t...

Will add co2 to the list. If Stuart hasnt drunk the meths maybe he can do some pyrotechnics with all that. Hostel owner best get his fire evac drill figured out..

One thing I can do is get a few litres of meths arranged for the hostel so we can fill up easily. It's cheap there but generally 1l plus bottles, more than I'd carry on the bike.

I can see it being a fantastic big guy touring bike. I have the steel std Jones with truss fork for all sorts of touring, rate it very highly. Lack of guard mounts only drawback but Jeff recommends clips anyway. Only had a brief car park type ride on a plus but it's bigger in a good way, can see it ...

Mention the Torino-Nice when you've arranged the Tomato backpacker lodge booking, I'll chat to our man in Turin so that they know it's part of the same booking. It's his friend's hostel. Don't know if there's any benefits, prob not of the kind Justin's booked anyway : ) Route info update. Had intend...

Bravo indeed. Can only imagine how happy he must be with a new record after the 2013 reroutes. Maybe just getting it all lined up so well and pushing hard counts for more. Either way, good work MH!

Lael rules : ) was thinking it was only time before a woman proved that the longer the race the more even it gets between the sexes. Great thing for cycling in general I think.

Listening Stuart yes, thanks for reminder .. will get it sent over asap

Is it really 200,000m? I thought it was around 160-170,000m though I don't have a gpx file etc. But if you add up each individual ripple of -----ing washboard, you double the height gain of the route.. Anyway, it's got some big climbs but I found 100 miles of local terrain far harder on the climbing...

Lock-on foam grips have been pretty poor ime for long distance comfort, the plastic sleeve reduces the cush for a given diameter so unless you find unusually thick ones they're not as good as photo-mounted foam non lock-ons. Got some lock on foams you can have to try for postage. Silicone grips are ...

Thanks Ian, will PM. Got a multimat for a fiver in Millets this am, 180g for full size, will try both or a combo.

http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/TYMAMA/max ... lding-tyre

Maxxis Mammoth 26" x 4" tyres, 120tpi TLR, £30 seems good? As a rear tyre anyway. Looks like a super-Ardent.

Apolgies, I read clockwise then posted based on going the other way round - ignore my comments on the Crete. 'RTFM' to self. The Bonhomme that way would be a very tricky descent and a carry down in places, plus a section after the open meadow that's tricky but not beyond normal alpine tech. Getting ...

I saved 5 grams but wasted 2 hours :oops: Classic .. :grin: and there was me worrying I was getting weenie. Thanks Ian. I'm after something that can be used on ground with thorns etc, something totally reliable. But pre-flatted might pack well and have some insulation ..? Basically it's for quick k...

Ha! That's nuts.. Those things are grim but effective. I think for me it was cumulative effect, slept more than you did, but it all got a bit weird riding through the rez area at night. Got attacked by a pack of dogs that I now think might not have even been there, was having hunted sort of paranoia...

Si, true, but it keeps things clean and a bit warmer than just grass. It'd be used with a half-quilt open bag so I'd like something for the upper 3/4. Difference in comfort between a bench and a foam mat on a bench is enough for me to take it if it's compact enough! Good point on fitting it between ...

.. has to be said, your route from Contamines to the Lac Roseland does look good and brings you onto the road near the top.

Hi Alan, by taking that route up the Roseland you do miss the tough but pretty climb to the Notre Dame des Gorges (past refuge La Balme) then some carrying and riding before a HAB up the Bonhomme but you also miss the descent that takes in the Crete Gites, remembered as one of the best bits of trail...

Got a ride in mind, would like to try something more minmal/quick. But needs to be compact, ideally fitting an Alpkit 8l drybag with a couple of mytimugs worth of space inside the roll. Any recommendations for foam roll mats that don't take up a lot of space? I guess thin means uncomfy but on the ri...

They are all suffering, I'm sure, but they all look so damn happy about it!

Delirium : ) or it may be by NM : )

I think I've found out that SP dynamos are cheaper for a reason. They are, it's a shame that the bearings are part of it as it's a faff to rebuild a wheel. I think they could add 30% to the hub cost and put all of that into the bearings and shielding. It'd still offer good vfm. I think that the use...

1/2 pounder Bacon cheese flamethrower combo burger meal

... only 1?