Last night's sunset....



FTFY
Very nice.

FF

Hi Gairy... not good - hope you're not in too much pain. I've had some pretty good success with one of those big gym balls. You can position it where you need it to provide support initially then reposition it to provide more challenging exercise as your core strength develops. Cheap too. I'm always...

.... a few weeks ago - I liked Pawel logo and he's sent me a nice jersey... mud is models own from CyB today. ][url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/99percentchimp/8010239944/][img]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8448/8010239944_161fb0c433.jpg[/img] Pawels Bikepack Jersey by 99percentchimp , on Flickr[/url]

Like Gairy I've had Inov8s (only as fell shoe for MMs - not ridden offroad with them) and they are great. The ones I have seem to last well (the soles stay on!), weigh next to nothing and must have pretty stiff midsole to cope with the rough terrain I've been across in them... they seem to stick lik...

Some really nice shots there! Really nice to see.

Hi Gairy, Mavic 719s on Hope Pro II here with DT Swiss butted spokes. First go at wheel building here a few years ago and these have been on my bikepacking bike for a few years now and haven't seen a spoke key since (I'm a touch heavier than you too). Followed Roger Mussons book/instructions (http:/...

Pocket Rocket on a cold MnB last january - needed the gas canister (can't remember if this was propane) warming in a jacket to get any life from it between brews/meal at high camp (?? -8 or so). Was OKish.
MSR Whisperlight would have been better, with a small bottle on the pump, for one night.

Was using Lumicycles halides which have been very good for a few years (but a big heavy battery eventually failed) so now using replacements in the shape of Hope R4s - excellent and light weight - no issues with amount of light for me (and you can cycle through two sets of 3 levels) and battery life...

No direct experience myself as yet but I have a pair to fit this week once I get round to it and a Revelate sling thing.... I'll post up the photos if it looks like it can be fitted both ways. In the meantime I've been looking for ideas too - I think it will depend on the cable routing in my case. T...

You could always email Biff direct at biff@yesweareontheweb.com. He can do paypal too. Nice and easy if he has stock - black or silver.

Looks like a great trip! I don't know the Welsh Border hils well but they look great.

That look pretty impressive..... surely it would work like the current coatings on breathable fabrics Jack - be brill. It would be really good on any non-breathable tent/tarp fabric. I missed what state of development this is in and what the current appications are (other than a year under sea!). Th...

Hi FF, Where did you get to in the end? Cranham/Crickley Hill? Hope brekky is a bit more peaceful or are they still at it down the hill? Have a good ride back!

Hi Stu and Dan, Some feedback for you. I recently ordered from Trekking Lite and was willing to wait for stock to come in from SMD but the day it became available in the US I was refunded by TL in Germany (in Euros).... claiming that the tent wasn't available from supplier in the US (SMD in this cas...

I would FF - my folks live in Stroud too! But stuck on a bicycle in Norway till Friday at present.
Have a good trip... up through Cranham... Slad Valley's nice too but I can't recall where that might link too on the tops.

Flatfish - does God work as a lighting technician for you? :) Excellent....

Chew, one possibility might be a ferry to Esbjerg, Denmark... train or cycle up Jutland and then a loop from Kristiansand in the south, up through Setesdal (fantastic valley with MASSIVE slab climbing) towards the Hardangervidda area then some sort of loop and back along the south coast by train or ...

Hi Chew, Access is great - you can camp anywhere within reason - responsible access is the name of the game. I skied, kayaked and backpacked to stay in huts (excellent system - see Den Norske Turistforening http://english.turistforeningen.no/ ) and camped in the hills without hinderence.... excellen...

No luck first time - but I'll try for the second run for the boys bike!

Stu - looks good and comes with a 'no burn' guarantee Please can I put my name down for one too! Cheers.

Excellent serialisation Chew - really enjoyed the read and great photos! Thanks for posting.

I am! I really like the cold and, with a decent set of lights, the night riding can be a great added dimension. I really lost the 'fear' on M'n'B of solo night riding on unknown trails. Excellent!

SMD Luna Solo arrived from the States (not Germany) in the end.... I thought they'd sent an empty box it's so light! Most of the weight was the box and they were good enough not to mark the full cost so although it caught some import duty it wasn't the full whack :) Even with a carbon pole (which I ...

Some good routes and potential bivi spots on the Clwyds just west of Chester...

http://www.theedgecycleworks.com/mtbroutes/wales

http://www.ridetheclwyds.com/rideclwyds/index.asp

Second Ian's comments - really good photos set!
They must be some good friends if you can throw a battery at one to stop him snoring! Great tyre stitching too - nice work!