That's nice Stu - would it suit the +6 footer for sleeping and sitting... I hate bloody midges and that might be a solution (hence the fear of a tarp alone - burn the heretic!)

I have a long and fold it into thirds before rolling.. it goes nicely into a Tangle Bag at present. Not noticed the crinkly effect at night either... it is the best sleeping pad I've had in terms of comfort but it went over a very thin closed cell foam mat at Mach'n'Back as I was aiming to campled h...

Is this not the reason that we've collectively moved away from carrying gear on racks in recent years. I wonder where most regular racks fail (must vary from make to make obviously); there must be a common theme though - is it near the frame/rack attachment point? or where the load is suspended (in ...

Sorry if that was a bit steep DNF... I had a quick look at the links you'd found on CRC and if it was me I would be very nervous packing a bike (esp. carbon) for flying into either of the softsided bags you'd linked too. You're a braver man than me if you're hoping to ride your bike at the other end...

Ouch!
Hope the frame survided the ordeal a good deal better!

These http://www.zoogz.co.uk/ from Crateworks seem to be a good price and get good write-ups (on their own site admittedly )

Still thinking of getting one of these (for various reasons including the solo rescue notification making family happier!). Taylor - did you have any joy sourcing the Mk1 versions from France? Please let me know if you did source some and I missed the boat/post? Anyone else got a Mk2 (I see Ian's co...

If you draw a line on DNF map from, Mach' to Llanidloes, then from Llanidloes to Caersws. From Caersws continue your line up to Llangollen then to Bala before dropping across to Dol' and from there back to Mach'.

B*gger me Another ~10k north and I'll be able to use the BBQ at home one night!!

My grandad had one of those - Always wondered where it came from but he'd been in a POW camp in Austria... it was still functioning well into the 70's (unlike his lungs in the end!)

Ian, it strikes me that these [url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/15512491@N08/6841640185/][img]http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7032/6841640185_1e5d70de5f.jpg[/img] These? by ianbarrington , on Flickr[/url] might match very nicely with these [url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/15512491@N08/6777792915/][im...

Hi AW, You could try some of the North Sea Cycle Route http://www.northsea-cycle.com/default.asp?id=1&mnu=1&lang=1 (say Harwich to Esbjerg, Denmark), or north through Jutland on the West Coast Cycle route ( http://www.ctc.org.uk/resources/route_sheets/de4.doc ) - looks like loads of good off...

99percentchimp wrote:
a good very light weight alternative is....

cheers for that - i'll take a look.

For the avoidance of doubt I meant as an extension to the groundsheet not as a substitute for Stu's excellent tarp. :)

Gairym - a good very light weight alternative is the stuff they sell as secondary 'double glazing' - very light and supposedly puncture resistant as per http://www.wickes.co.uk/invt/210014 but also sold by people like Gossamer Gear http://www.winwood-outdoor.co.uk/acatalog/Gossamer_Gear_Polycryo_Gro...

Cheers Chaps, some good ideas in there - Ian I've sourced an alternative from the UK http://www.spacycles.co.uk/products.php?plid=m2b0s72p595 and it's good to know bod uses this too. I've also found a good spare mech hanger too http://www.spacycles.co.uk/products.php?plid=m2b0s72p2602 so those are o...

Recently been adding to the tool/spares kit after MnB.... I was helped out by Alan on MnB with a Powerlink (I didn't know you could get these to fit a Shimano 9 sp chain) and I've now added these along with spare pins for the chain tool (I bent one and was rescued by Alan too - THANKS!!). I've also ...

Washed the Ti Voodoo after Mach n Back today - a bit concerned after all the posts I've seen too on here and STW. Two falls on ice on MnB and I'm a biffa too - I don't think I've seen any issues but when I see mention of cracks under seat stays and the pictures of really fine hair line cracks it mak...

I have to admit to being "inflatable curious" :)

Thread revival :) - I was reading this page http://www.packrafting.de/2011/08/packrafting-european-scene.html and links and thought of your previous curiosity Stu - loads to go at in Europe and Scandinavia and Scotland look to ahve huge potential - makes me want to get the sea kayak out again! I tal...

I looked at some of these a few years ago for the LAMM and ended up with Montane lightweight waterproofs which were only a little heavier and covered the extra function of keeping the wind out (and in :D ) as well as water - good cut for biking if the weather is really poor and the lower leg (with v...

Good - GPS with planned track loaded, new Hope lights (very light in both senses of the word, but only used once my night vision went completely), Hilleberg Akto (kept the wind off), iPod with the News Quiz and some tunes, riding with Alan and his Powerlink on the way back, MYOG pot cosy - cooked dh...

Frosty moring at Tarren Blwch-gwyn (just two Cardiff boys, Alan, Nick and me) -6 C on Nick's thermometer!
http://vimeo.com/35111809

Brilliant weather, good company, very friendly event and lots learnt. Got rid of the solo night riding demons too. Thanks to Stu and Dee for and great event and the coffee and cake. Nice beanie too!

FF - Just a thought - planning on getting up there with the van at some point in May/June for a trip round the Cairngorms - likely to be mid-week, short notice and weather dependant but happy to offer a lift with the bike in exchange for some help with sharing the driving. Mark

First frost for us at 200m ABSL in North Wales this a.m. and now 'bootiful' blue sky and sunshine - squinting out of the window in surprise and wonder :D
High camp for me with thick down bag it is!

by s8tannorm on Thu Jan 12, 2012 1:05 pm

I'm loving the optimism ... solar chargers

I'm lovin' the forecast - BBC has wall to wall sunshine. First time two months! Do we need much spare space for 'emergency supplies' Stu?