There's the odd tap available if you look on houses and farmyards, just be sensitive if it's the middle of the night! I filled up in a peaty stream last year, then emptied it all as soon as I found a tap. There's the odd reservoir as well that should have something resembling drinking water as well....

Plenty of heather - makes a good sleep mat if she doesn't mind.

Check the weather forecast first - last year it was down at -5 and it would have been a miserable night without a mat (unless you ride through the night)

There is a campsite at Hollingworth lake that is ideal for a bit of a stock up on water / toilet / maybe some food from the shop (never tried the shop though) - that's around the 70 mile mark. Should be a good weekend for it!

Fitness wise, I would say fairly fit - I commute 12 miles each way at least 4 times per week, and generally get a 60-80 mile ride in over the weekend. It has been a build up over a few years though. Strava says I ride about 40 hours per month on average. Most rides like this are completed in the min...

Ian
PM me your email address and I'll send it tomorrow

It's not too bad at all. 47 miles or so, and the climbing is not too steep (there's a few bits you might be pushing, but not many). Loads of bivvy spots as well. At the top of the long climb to the Top of Leech (or something like that), there's a quarry with a load of MTB tracks - worth an hours pla...

John
send me your email address and I'll send the GPX through.

(Painful memories have now faded so I am considering finishing this unfinished business - may be next year)

Cannock is the same - the vast majority of people who ride their bikes there of a weekend seem to stick to the MTB trails and are wasted after 7 or 8 miles. There's a fairly small percentage who want to explore, and ride all day out in the hills without stopping at every clearing to talk about how t...

It's a cracking ride, but the only section I would think about an alternative for was the moorland climb up to Tan Hill pub, the road section is fine but the off road bit is 2 miles of bog - unrideable. 3 days of youth hostels was great - better to bivvy though but make sure you get food stops regul...

Considering this myself in early September. I have a couple of days granted as a short bike holiday - would be interested to know how you get on.

Yes and no. They are not meant to be, but if you can (carefully) take the plastic top hat piece out (it is quite brittle so take care) then you can get the seals out of the bearings and give them a clean and regrease. Replacing the bearings I have struggled with as any replacements are 1mm wider, so...

Aches and pains have almost gone! Bike is clean, ready to go again!! Just need the resolve and a working GPS.... Trouble is that I was well on track for sub 24 hours, my recce rides said 22 hours was possible, and up until 150 miles I was on track for 23 hours, then it all went pearshaped. Torrentia...

So, at 5.30 Tuesday morning I got in from my first (and only) PBW double attempt. 26 hours and over 300km of riding, which for me is a record. Started at Middleton Top at 3.30am on Monday, reached Summit at 11.20 (10 mins ahead of my schedule), did the Mary Townley Loop finishing back at Summit at 7...

Balloon beds are a great invention if you want to spend 15 minutes when you're cold, tired and wet, inflating, tying, bursting, reinflating then inserting balloons into an awkward lilo type thing. Then lying tentatively on it to get comfy, with random pops and bangs through the night as the odd one ...

Well impressed. The sort of ride that most of us can only dream of, but that is a seriously good performance. Your mum was worried for a couple of days - you might want to give her a ring!!

I get KMC x10sl - they are blingy gold and have drilled pins etc - normally about £24 posted on ebay from taiwan or somewhere, but delivered quickly and have never had an issue with them. They do x9sl's as well for the 9 speed people. Still look bling!

Am in the market for a Neoair XLite (small) - cheapest place I have found online is the OutdoorShop at £77.

Anyone found a cheaper place for Neoair kit?

Thanks

My first MTB is now the all weather commuter - Dawes Tekarra steel framed gate. It's on it's 4th set of wheels, umpteenth drivetrain, seems to get all the hand me downs off the other bikes. Running 1x8 (how retro is that!!) I reckon it's racked up about 30,000km in the last 13 years. If the weathers...

My stumpy hardtail weighs 20.5 lbs, and my stumpy FSR is 25.5 lbs. Not sure which I prefer riding - they're both great fun.
For the El n Back my kit weighed 14 lbs, but that was only 1 night so it was possible to scrimp a bit (blimmin cold though)

2nd hand gear is where it's at. Rab down sleeping bag £60 on ebay, foam mat (or balloon bed) <£20, rucksack £50, siltarp £35, MSR pocket rocket stove £25, and build up from there. Half the enjoyment is researching lighter/better gear and then finding the cheapest place to get it, surfing ebay and bi...

Tea-Face,
our route is a combination of the route Ian etc have described and the Dave Buchanan WC2C route, and afew other bits thrown in, and I can send you the GPX of our route, although it may be safer after we have actually ridden it!

the route we're doing next weekend drops down from Betws Y coed south west to Pont y Pant, then east along a track to Pont Gethin, then south along a road into Penmachno and Penmachno trails. We eventually come out in the quarries 5km East of Blaenau Ffestiniog. I''l let you know whether that routes...

Thanks Ian!

Nick - if you read this - remember Ian said we'd be fine!

I am truly hoping the ground dries out and the sun comes out as it does look a stunning route!

Bah. She has booked something this weekend so I can't now make it. Am still keen though so if anyone else wants to try a different weekend I may well be up for it.

Hey all - Ian/Jack etc, a couple of mates and I are doing a very similar route North to South at the end of April. The plan is 3 days! (I have been a bit economical with the amount of climbing involved when I described the route I have laid out). Stopping in B&B's in Dolgellau and Llantwryd Well...