I'm planning to use my SPOT tracker updating Spotwalla for family and friends to keep an eye on me. Spotwalla now allows me to upload the route before I start so that they can see where I'm going as well as where I've been. Thing is I'm not sure whether there is any objection to my making the route ...

welshwhit wrote:Greatorex - the other shop, more chance of being open after 10pm, but this varies!

Maybe someone might like to tell them there may be more customers than normal coming in a bit late?

Thanks for the help.

Now I have seen the route I'm cutting weight as much as possible. The less I have to drag up those climbs the better!

So hot food will rely on the cash system (and living with the likelihood of not passing anywhere open).

Hi, Just wondering about packing for the BB200. I'm going to be one of the slower riders and will be stopping for a kip using bivy bag etc. Just wondering how many people carry stuff to make hot food/drinks on a ride like this? Mine is not the lightest kit out there (tiny gas stove and small billy) ...

Farawayvisions wrote:On one Mary bars for me. Waiting for someone to sell a set of Jones Loop bars at a bargain price. Don't all rush at once.

Yeah like any of us with Loop bars are going to be willing to sell them ;-)

I'd be happy to offer a lift but doubt if it will be much use due to tight timing. Leaving Syston, Leicester on the Friday at 8pm and rushing to get to Aleppo Merchant Inn, Carno by 10:30pm Will be travelling back in more relaxed fashion, probably on Monday. Not yet sure what I'll do for Sunday nigh...

My idea of light and fast is very different to those who are any good at this

Light means I can actually fit it in my bike packing bags.

Fast means everyone hasn't packed up and left the country before I finish.

Ian wrote: Although there's always the Stoater - easier to carry than the fat bike

I'll be on my Stoater

H'mm, 11 and 12 have gone. I don't think this is Wales type riding so I'm going for 13mph - lucky for someone

My coffee setup is quite a bit bigger than your whole cooking sets
Still this is enough for several weeks.

Have to disagree with Josh on this one. The warmest sleeping position is on your back with your arms crossed across your chest. Sleeping on your back means there's more of you in contact with the cold ground ... sleeping on your side is generally much warmer. "Sleeping" in a bivi bag with...

My Synmat was replaced in time for my trip at no charge. The replacement has worked faultlessly for the 8 consecutive nights I have used it for since. The insulation hasn't started to get in the way of the valve as it did with the first. So very happy with outdoors gb.

On my first time trial (short, local and very informal) a few weeks ago a front spoke broke. Wheel was immediately pretty bucked. Fortunately I had disk brakes so just carried on. When I did the Coast 2 Coast on a Giant MTB the rear wheel had lots of spoke issues, fortunately disk brake so they didn...

Have you looked at Bilbo?

I generally create my routes using Strava on my laptop computer. I rarely use Garmin Connect as I find it much less usable. However, when on tour this presents a problem. a) I can't edit a route on garmin connect using my phone or tablet. b) Only garmin connect routes can be sent to my garmin by blu...

whitestone wrote:Her: What are you looking at?
Me: A double person bivvy bag
Her: You can **** off!

Hey, were you eavesdropping our conversation?

I see Alpkit have a double bivvy available in oh so lovely eVent. https://www.alpkit.com/products/wide-horizon-bivvy/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Espresso+3rd+June&utm_content=Espresso+3rd+June+Version+B+CID_5f1c78d8f5284640410044e130309854&utm_source=Email%20marketing%20software&...

Although I have a Garmin Edge 1000 it was not bought primarily for Bikepacking where the battery life is a problem.
However, the map display is excellent and enough to navigate around obstructions such as Land Rover rallies without a paper map.
Not enough for everything yet as no contours.

Stu, In the light of what you said I'm wondering whether you would be up for creating a Spotwalla location page. a) it does not require a SPOT tracker. You can also use a free phone app (the limitations of coverage and battery life accepted). b) the location page can be configured to not show speed ...

OK. I hadn't realised that trackleaders was restricted to official races or ITT's rather than a groups of idiots following the same route at varying speeds ;-) It isn't ... but once an official tracking page exists, it becomes a race / timed event / whatever in peoples minds. My participation shoul...

Thanks to OutdoorGB I have a replacement Exped Synmat UL 7 LW ready for riding Leicester to Iona starting on Friday Good service from them.

OK. I hadn't realised that trackleaders was restricted to official races or ITT's rather than a groups of idiots following the same route at varying speeds ;-)

Just wondering if it is possible to get the BB200 added as an event to Trackleaders http://trackleaders.com/ just like the Highland Trail 550 was. Last year I was following a few individual riders doing the BB200 with their spot accounts. But Trackleaders does make it a lot simpler and more interest...

I'm going from one tent extreme TrekkerTent Stealth 1 on my last tour (3 weeks camping, including WRT) to a Vango Banshee 300 for my ride to Scotland starting Friday. I decided a wanted a bit more comfort with space to dress and cook if it rains. Anyway, it fits nicely in an Alpkit 20 litre dual ope...

Thanks for this advice. Really helpful. I'm curious about the river crossings. I use Shimano MW81 Gore-Tex Winter Mountain Bike Boots (but not with sealskin socks currently). I find them warm but they do let water through after a few hours. Do you take these off when carrying your bike across a rive...