Search found 5035 matches

by jameso
Thu Jan 04, 2024 10:14 pm
Forum: General banter
Topic: Sleep system configurations
Replies: 17
Views: 950

Re: Sleep system configurations

I've found a down gillet or thin jacket adds more warmth as an upper bag airspace filler / blanket collar kind of thing rather than wearing it inside the bag, to back up what Stuart's saying. Maybe it stops some of the warm air getting out as well as adding insulation.
by jameso
Thu Jan 04, 2024 5:42 pm
Forum: General banter
Topic: Happy New Year, and plans for 2024
Replies: 52
Views: 2374

Re: Happy New Year, and plans for 2024

The 20K ultratrail was born.

The track is constantly evolving but some highlights tend to be there

Strada dell’Assietta
Colle delle Finestre
Gardetta Plateau
Via del Sale
A familiar route. You could've done the TNR and saved yourself £250 ; )
by jameso
Tue Jan 02, 2024 12:36 pm
Forum: General banter
Topic: Fitting tight tyres
Replies: 15
Views: 825

Re: Fitting tight tyres

^ exactly. It's one of those things that you're shown once and it's a eureka moment and you understand what a rim well is for. I worked in a Raleigh dealer's as a work experience week when I was 13 or 14 and it was one of the first things they asked me to do - "here, chuck a tyre and tube on th...
by jameso
Tue Jan 02, 2024 11:14 am
Forum: General banter
Topic: Happy New Year, and plans for 2024
Replies: 52
Views: 2374

Re: Happy New Year, and plans for 2024

Sorry to read that Loki. Could you get out on foot with bivi kit? I've been thinking of doing a hiker bivi recently, should have added it to the list here. Since we all have the gear I wonder how often many of us get out on foot rather than the bike. Thanks Dyffers and Psling. Mark Rigby is someone ...
by jameso
Tue Jan 02, 2024 9:32 am
Forum: General banter
Topic: Happy New Year, and plans for 2024
Replies: 52
Views: 2374

Re: Happy New Year, and plans for 2024

More regular 2 night trips from my door into Wales would be good, around the Brecons and Black Mountains. Riding to Eurobike again if I can swing it as a work product test trip (it would be, honest). The new venue is in Frankfurt which isn't as nice as Friedrichshafen as a destination but the ride a...
by jameso
Tue Jan 02, 2024 9:09 am
Forum: General banter
Topic: Fitting tight tyres
Replies: 15
Views: 825

Re: Fitting tight tyres

Plus, ensure the tyre on the opposite side of the bit you are levering on is right in the well of the rim. This and making sure you start opposite the valve and work each side round equally back round to the valve. That bit maybe obvious but I'm suprised how often I see people trying to put a tyre ...
by jameso
Sat Dec 30, 2023 10:24 am
Forum: Classifieds
Topic: Paramo Torres alturo jacket
Replies: 3
Views: 424

Re: Paramo Torres alturo jacket

Thanks - thought so. GLWS.
by jameso
Sat Dec 30, 2023 10:20 am
Forum: General banter
Topic: Which Exposure light?
Replies: 26
Views: 1432

Re: Which Exposure light?

The Strada beam pattern is good for road and MTB ime. It's not got such a defined cut-off that it's no good off road (eg compared to the low, distinct cut-off of the SON Edelux II) Ideally I'd have a dynamo and Edelux or similar on all my bikes and add/use a head torch for MTB as needed, but for the...
by jameso
Sat Dec 30, 2023 10:14 am
Forum: General banter
Topic: Anyone use a foam mat instead of a air one
Replies: 6
Views: 557

Re: Anyone use a foam mat instead of a air one

Interested. I'm getting fed up of fixing holes in mats and never really liked the air mattress roll/bounce. A foam mat could make a useful base or support to a bar roll / bag etc. I was thinking that picking a spot with softer, grassy ground might make it ok. I do like a decent sleep on rides these ...
by jameso
Thu Dec 28, 2023 11:13 am
Forum: Classifieds
Topic: Paramo Torres alturo jacket
Replies: 3
Views: 424

Re: Paramo Torres alturo jacket

Hi Keith, interested but it's probably a size too big for me. I'm 6' / fairly slim and a med Montane jacket fits great. I think this will be more roomy and maybe a bit big, any opinions on that / how do you find the fit? Thanks
by jameso
Thu Dec 28, 2023 11:08 am
Forum: General banter
Topic: Anyone ride exclusively singlespeed?
Replies: 14
Views: 922

Re: Anyine ride exclusively singlespeed?

Not exclusively, I'm not that much of a luddite : ) Mostly SS for unloaded MTB rides though, have been for ~13-14 years now. I got fed up of servicing suspension forks or sloppy bushings and cleaning triple chainset gearing back then, went rigid SS for a winter (Genesis iO with Titec H-bars, loved i...
by jameso
Wed Dec 27, 2023 9:22 pm
Forum: Your Trips & Adventures
Topic: R4pha500
Replies: 29
Views: 2153

Re: R4pha500

TNR? You'd be fine there, no problem. Be great to see you out there.
by jameso
Wed Dec 27, 2023 11:11 am
Forum: General banter
Topic: Lachy’s Tour Divide
Replies: 9
Views: 1042

Re: Lachy’s Tour Divide

Will watch this tonight, been looking forward to seeing it.
Fernie in 9 hours!!
:shock: that puts things in perspective doesn't it.
by jameso
Wed Dec 27, 2023 10:33 am
Forum: Your Trips & Adventures
Topic: To Elan Back (No, not that one.)
Replies: 25
Views: 11464

Re: To Elan Back (No, not that one.)

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, ...
by jameso
Wed Dec 27, 2023 10:07 am
Forum: Your Trips & Adventures
Topic: Yet another 2023 TdF trip
Replies: 3
Views: 505

Re: Yet another 2023 TdF trip

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 ...
by jameso
Wed Dec 27, 2023 10:02 am
Forum: Your Trips & Adventures
Topic: R4pha500
Replies: 29
Views: 2153

Re: R4pha500

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!
:-bd
by jameso
Sat Dec 23, 2023 9:16 am
Forum: Your Trips & Adventures
Topic: Tour de France 2023: Injuries, disaster bivies, failure to complete the ride - a great time all round
Replies: 21
Views: 1756

Re: Tour de France 2023: Injuries, disaster bivies, failure to complete the ride - a great time all round

My French is no better than yours James, but I can speak menu fairly fluently!
Mange tout Rodney, mange tout.. :grin:
by jameso
Fri Dec 22, 2023 9:50 am
Forum: Your Trips & Adventures
Topic: Tour de France 2023: Injuries, disaster bivies, failure to complete the ride - a great time all round
Replies: 21
Views: 1756

Re: Tour de France 2023: Injuries, disaster bivies, failure to complete the ride - a great time all round

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

The cup.. :grin: Cut to size to fit into my small ti mug, used for cowboy coffees - it's like tea tannin marks on a mug?
by jameso
Wed Dec 20, 2023 10:23 am
Forum: Your Trips & Adventures
Topic: Tour de France 2023: Injuries, disaster bivies, failure to complete the ride - a great time all round
Replies: 21
Views: 1756

Re: Tour de France 2023: Injuries, disaster bivies, failure to complete the ride - a great time all round

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...
by jameso
Wed Dec 20, 2023 9:54 am
Forum: General banter
Topic: What was the problem with 29+
Replies: 20
Views: 1216

Re: What was the problem with 29+

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 ...
by jameso
Tue Dec 19, 2023 12:31 pm
Forum: General banter
Topic: What was the problem with 29+
Replies: 20
Views: 1216

Re: What was the problem with 29+

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...
by jameso
Tue Dec 19, 2023 11:08 am
Forum: Your Trips & Adventures
Topic: Tour de France 2023: Injuries, disaster bivies, failure to complete the ride - a great time all round
Replies: 21
Views: 1756

Re: Tour de France 2023: Injuries, disaster bivies, failure to complete the ride - a great time all round

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?
by jameso
Mon Dec 18, 2023 2:55 pm
Forum: Your Trips & Adventures
Topic: Tour de France 2023: Injuries, disaster bivies, failure to complete the ride - a great time all round
Replies: 21
Views: 1756

Re: Tour de France 2023: Injuries, disaster bivies, failure to complete the ride - a great time all round

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...
by jameso
Mon Dec 18, 2023 10:00 am
Forum: MYOG
Topic: Ideas for old self inflating sleeping mat?
Replies: 5
Views: 1432

Re: Ideas for old self inflating sleeping mat?

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...
by jameso
Sun Dec 17, 2023 6:58 pm
Forum: Your Trips & Adventures
Topic: Tour de France 2023: Injuries, disaster bivies, failure to complete the ride - a great time all round
Replies: 21
Views: 1756

Tour de France 2023: Injuries, disaster bivies, failure to complete the ride - a great time all round

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...