Not in the first wave :| Not that surprising as my cairngorm loop was only strava'd and not complete (missed out the sting in the tail) and the braunton 150 isn't on the qualifier list (although I reckon that it is a much tougher physical challenge than the cairngorm loop, albeit obviously less remo...

too soon and some stuff is impassable, too late and

you'll get eaten alive

I sent Alan an email - more from hope than expectation given a less than impressive CV (Braunton 150 and cairngorm loop)

Lioness arrived today Dave, thanks very much!

Ian

looks good Paul, wish I'd had weather like that! I was planning to tour it too but with the rain and midges I just decided to semi-ITT it, but with a full load of camping gear, stove, change of clothes etc. etc. Ashy, that looks a nice trip - pretty relaxed days by the looks of it. Hope the weather ...

Hopevalleypaul - how did it go? Or are the midgies picking at your bones by the side of the Feshie?

I'd like the lioness please!

PS, the rivers are so low that I crossed the feshie twice rather than dragging my bike across the washed out trail bit above the river at the bottom of glen feshie...

I had a good time - the first 85 km were a cruise up to loch morlich, then the hard work begins up the shoulder of bynack mor. A bit of HoB past the fords of avon then a great descent down to the linn of dee. Unfortunately I crashed hard and stupidly on this descent, but luckily only landed on my fa...

ha! the warm weather following a bit of rain is going to be a midge fest, I know... tent not bivi for me!

Having had to miss the torino-nice rally due to lack of funds I've got a bit of time off and was planning to do the cairngorm loop weds-fri. But then I remembered it was stalking season . Does anyone know if this is likely to be a problem?

I've got a set of B+ wheels that I've tried in my solaris - they're fun. Definitely more comfortable, but definitely heavier. I've done some biggish days on them on the hardtail (the gap + a variation of the black mountains killer loop - over 100Km), but for really big days on mixed terrain I'd go n...

hmmm - still umming and ahhing about whether to do this starting on Saturday. Forecast looks very good this weekend - the wind is dropping and temps rising - but that brings the risk of substantial thaw and high rivers. I'm pretty familiar with most of the route having lived up there for 10 years bu...

hmmm - I was going up to do this next weekend (fri-sun). Will have to keep a close eye on the weather. It's a long way to go from Bristol! I'd say it was looking unlikely

Maybe do the transcambrian route instead.

Trekker tent stealth is what I use. 800 gms with alloy poles and heavy pegs. Big enough for me at 5'10", big enough porch for your gear. Bit tricky getting in with a central pole but overall I like it, and not too expensive.

Hi Whitestone - yes, that was me! I stopped just by the toll road at about 1.30am, Gabe carried on. Glad I did stop for a bit of a rest as that section after the toll road across the moor was brutal and would've broken me I think. The really bad weather on sat hit me at about ilfracoombe so I just p...

I could be interested in the toupe teetotalsugars.

Good luck Javi, going to be wet after yesterday, but it's a bit calmer today at least...

That was tough today! I finished around 3.45, after 4 hours of sleep. Was so cold I couldn't unlock the van :oops: Sorry to hear about the DNF mountainbaker. You were going well! Pretty glad I had the Chinese light excuse to go to bed. Passed a few people that had ridden straight through today -hope...

Boring flat 143mm specialized saddles (toupe/riva/henge) or selle italia max flow for me. Both last ages and fit me, which is all you can ask for from a saddle! Can't believe a brooks failed after 4000 miles - that doesn't seem right?

Liamg, I'm heading down from South Bristol on Friday morning - leaving 7ish I guess. I've got space in the van for you and a bike... email me on i dot s dot penton-voak AT bristol dot ac dot uk if that would suit you! I'm heading down to bideford to see family after wards, so no lift back unfortunat...

Maybe I'll stick on the B+ wheels I built up. But I think I'll need all the help I can get fitness wise, so will probably just stay 29er...

Looking forward to this but will come down in the morning from Bristol. 11.00am start sounds good.What are the likely conditions under wheel? Not sure whether ikons or beavers are the way forward...

weird/luxury one this, but I just got a pair of these in the post: http://barefootbritain.co.uk/products/o1m-onemoment-100-biodegradable-shoe I hate having wet feet at night and always change into spare socks overnight. Plan to try these as camp shoes so I can get out of wet riding shoes. They may d...

I've got a lamina 35 and am not that impressed with it. I find it massive - I'm 179, 70kg, and I float about in it which doesn't help. I think the 35f rating is pretty generous. Just bought a cumulus 350 quilt which is loads warmer, and half the weight. But obviously not synthetic!