TNR? You'd be fine there, no problem. Be great to see you out there.

Will watch this tonight, been looking forward to seeing it.

Fernie in 9 hours!!

that puts things in perspective doesn't it.

Really enjoyed this, thanks - I missed it on here when you posted but I think I saw some photos on IG? Love the shot of Cwmystwyth, one of my favourite roads anywhere. I looked up the map pin spot of a few places along your route as some of it's familiar from my own Wales wanders, some of it's not, ...

Nice one Rich, looks like a great trip. I have a book of past Tour routes and I'm feeling inspired to have a look through it and do a proper TdF sometime (rather than my usual 'Tour In France', to be more accurate). Might do some route checking on google satellite view first though : ) Those fields ...

Well done.. that's a big ride and I know too well what the wind's been like NE of Bristol area recently, haven't been out in it anywhere near that long though!

My French is no better than yours James, but I can speak menu fairly fluently!

Mange tout Rodney, mange tout..

That must've been quite a trip + climb Rich..

The cup.. Cut to size to fit into my small ti mug, used for cowboy coffees - it's like tea tannin marks on a mug?

Dusting off your French.. mine needed a jetwash and a full polish:) Reminds me to recommend a book, Rides of Passage by Matt Lamy. You might recognise his name from the cycling press where he's been a writer and tester for years. It's about him and his father (Arthur Lamy who owns a bike shop in Gue...

I'm a bit sceptical of theories that the industry killed them off out of fear they'd take sales from other formats :) Surly and others would have kept supplying a niche demand if the demand was there. Maybe the more common 27+ gave a bad impression of the Plus thing? They're a small part of a small ...

I don't know much about 29+ from direct experience but 27+ always felt too conditions-specific to me. Which is fine because tyres generally are, but they were at least cross-compatible with 29" standard. 29+ was maybe quite niche? I think the main thing was how few people want a dedicated rigid...

Cheers for reading it Ben, and Phil + others - it's good to have a place to post trips and re-live it a little.

John, thanks - maybe the easier we all make these things (just pack a bike and pedal, what's the worst that can happen?) the more easy it is to be inspired?

La Bérarde is the best ride in the Alpes I think so. Strong competition around but it's also not really like any of the classic cols. I've mapped out a route that follows most of the dead-end roads into the Ecrins but it's 650km in total, a lot of out and backs and climbing meters. I went up to Pre...

I have a very old Fat Airic that has a small delamination bubble. I thought about using a needle to inject some latex solution into it, or maybe getting some seam grip into the area to re-laminate it. Injecting seam grip sounds difficult but maybe with a larger bore needle? The hole the needle makes...

A long post but it's got pictures to help you through if you can face it : ) This July I made it out to the Alps again after 4 years. I just missed the mountains. It felt so good to be back on French roads, simple solo road touring again. It's not epic, it's not hardcore and it's barely worth report...

(just checking)

^ 'El Camino' .. Very good.

A "third way" is something I really enjoy - looking out for suitable old buildings. I've kipped in old barns (supremely comfy in the hay!), caves, churches, doorways, disused caravans, hen houses, industrial buildings, anything with a roof. Or part of a roof. We each have our own "mo...

it also looks utterly f*****g miserable, as do most of the competitors :shock: Big difference between 'tired' and 'miserable' .. though they might look pretty similar! Lael Wilcox in particular always amazes me by how happy she is out there. Good luck with it all Sam. Must be a fascinating line of ...

It's a good website too.

Good luck to the lad.

+1

'it's just like riding a bike'.. so we tend to just learn and improve as we go. Most sports or activities involve some coaching to get better though. Fitness coaching should boost mental strength in an event if only because you're able to cope better physically, which helps mentally? If the training...

This was never a problem when we had bar ends... "when we had ..." ? Some of us still have :lol: This was never a problem when we all had bar ends... :grin: I sort of still do - loop or H-bars. I had Scott AT4s BITD. It was a close call really, almost developed a liking for aerobars. You ...

This was never a problem when we had bar ends...

Nice idea. -Inspiration of the year (media/person/object etc)* - Can I mention a place, a very general one, as well as a person? The English lanes in autumn. Since being back in the Cotswolds and finding my way round again I've had sunny autumn days on the bike that just make me feel inspired and fu...

Sheesh .. Kanye Lemmy-Tempwest, that's the chap, you know who I mean right?

Wasn't a big fan going back a few years, but anyone with that level of creativity and life story is interesting.