The more I read about the TD, the less interested i am in riding it! A month of rancid saddle soars on washboard roads, eating processed junk whilst avoiding rabid dogs, frostbite, sunstroke, serial killers and with almost no single track sounds a bit daunting...! Can anybody who has ridden this mon...

Neoprene socks are from triathlon wetsuit company BlueSeventy, designed for swimming. Yet to use them in anger - they will be tested either this weekend or next. http://www.wiggle.co.uk/blueseventy-neoprene-swim-socks/?lang=en&curr=GBP&dest=1&kpid=5360388337&sku=5360388337&ci_src...

+1 on the Topeak fuel tank zipper fail!

Having suffered increasingly troublesome cold feet problems, I've just bought some mid-length neoprene socks which I will use in place of normal socks. Sure my feet will get very sweaty, but in conditions where staying dry is impossible, I'd rather have warm damp feet than cold wet numb blocks on th...

Will this fit a normal QR dropout? I don't think I can easily swap the dropouts on my Travis frame.

Patagonia would definitely get my vote, although most of the options sound pretty exciting. I'm sure I can engineer 3 weeks away from work/home, but not sure I could justify buying a fad bike on top of what will be an expensive trip!

I used TN Dicovery on last years WRT. No rain (or tarp) but the down bag still got damp and I would only use a bivi on its own now with a synthetic bag.

Sounds intriguing and definitely gets my interest. Antarctica? Sadly my feet don't cope well with extreme cold these days...!

Alpkit (large) was too floppy - completely unstable (even with a bungee used to provide longitudinal tension) and ended up being thrown into my backpack. Topeak was much better until the zip puller detached on the first outing.

I'm guessing you bought a Stages PM?

Just under 500 hours, with far too much of that in front of the TV! Can't imagine I'll find more time this year, but I must get out more...

Anybody got a gas tank style bag they're really happy with? I've tried a few, each with different problems - if only Wildcat made some, I'm sure they would be perfect, like my front & rear harnesses are...

what a simply fantastic write-up of this mini-adventure. Glad I'm not the only kit spreadsheet geek...!

Can anybody recommend a large capacity top tube bag for carrying trail snacks and other bits that need to be easily accessible? I've tried the Alpkit fuel pod (far to floppy and unstable) and the Topeak fuel tank (better, until the zip puller broke off on the first ride), but need something that act...

So many things I'd like to achieve, if I can avoid the usual pitfalls, including: - Bivi a month Apr - Wales ITT(?) / Liege-Bastogne-Liege Sportive May - Cairngorm Loop / HTR June - Norway Artic Exped (Road Cycling) / YD 300 Jul - Peak ITT(?) / CTR Aug - Breck Epic / Welsh C2C Sept - tbc Oct - BB200...

Is it a press-fit BB? Most modern bikes are; fine for road use, but I have had all sorts of problems on both my Cannondale (BB30) and other MTBs with both BB30 and Shimano PF BBs. They might be salvagable if you strip down the BB immediately after it gets exposed to water ingress, dry out the bearin...

I've had loads of Garmin models over the years, and they are good when they work, but have all been quite 'buggy' (esp the Edge 705) and all died earlier than I expected. The Edge 800 has just went into 'diagnostic mode' which I can't escape from, so another one for the bin, I expect. Trouble is, I ...

As its's been a year since the last debate on tyre choice, does anybody have more advice based on recent experiences or new products on the market? I need new 29" rubber for general bikepacking on my HT bike, and specifically focussed on the demands of HTR type events. I always run tubeless to ...

The general consensus from my MTB buddies is yes, they want to do it, but not that weekend. So, next year it is for me too, when the weather looks promising.

The Mrs will be getting a few good bikepacking books. I'm sure she will appreciate them, but if not, never mind...

HH merino tights for me too, plus silk liner. Don't know how anybody can sleep in cycling shorts - my bum needs plenty of post ride admin to stop it from turning into a massive sore!

Anybody fancy a Devon C2C ride from Plymouth on the 13/14 Dec? Probably follow the EWE route, unless somebody knows a better trail. There are return trains from Barnstaple or Taunton, depending how quick progress is made. Obviously Dartmoor can be pretty wild at that time of year, so will need a rea...

htrider wrote:For flips sake don't give Alan Goldsmith ideas!
Although you could eliminate the crappy west highland way bit of the current route....

What's wrong with Tyndrum to Kinlochleven? Probably the longest stretch of rideable off-road on the current route.

Many thanks for the advice. I have heard from a local source that there will probably still be snow in the mountains (or just lots of mud) in June, in the far North area I am looking it, so it looks like a coastal ride, hopefully starting in Nordkap and either terminating at the SE end of the Lofote...

320 km is a long ride in one bite - what about a BB 300?