Well impressed.
You look like a normal bloke but you are far from normal. Thanks for doing something magnificent and inspiring me to do something out of my comfort zone too one day.

I've no idea who you are Slarge, but thanks to BB forum, yours is the story of the Divide for me.
Go Slarge!

I once was getting really chaffed ass whilst doing training laps of a trail centre. Really needed some chamois cream but had none.
Then I remembered I has a pot of Vicks vapo rub in the van. That's mainly Vaseline isn't it?...
You've heard the expression 'gingering a pony' right?

Thank you. That's very kind of you.

I see the station has a 1 week pass for £16. That's pretty good value.

Cor Avenue Road looks lovely. Very quiet and peaceful. Every time I'm in the area I make sure to stop for a bit at Abergavenny. I've heard that the town was/is a bit rough, but I find it charming whenever I'm there.

Thank you, that's really helpful.
I'd want to leave it for up to a week and know how irritating that could be for residents.

Would you have any advice on parking roadside in or near this town for a number of days. Obviously I could just leave it on any residential street but does anyone local know a road where it wouldn't put the residents out? Somewhere with lots of room.

Well said Ton

I always imagine the Bearbones routes to be very natural and hence utter mudfests over winter. Is this unfair?

Perfect! Thanks Ton.

I like Lael. Can't help it. She's cool.
I think if I was her I'd ride and document these trips but not claim the rights to an fkt. I'd go back and do it on my own if I wanted the record.

Last February, a mate and I rode most of the YD300 over 2 and a bit days. It was fantastic. Bitterly cold with snow up high and a savage first night, but rewarded with a blue sky day 2. What made the trip, apart from the magnificent scenery was that the riding was mostly on stony tracks. Indeed we o...

I never liked his childish presenting style, but I learned loads about bearing alignment, types of bearings and what the numbers on them meant etc.

I hate having cold hands so wear ski gloves deep into spring. Nothing fancy, just cheapo ones. Have a couple of pairs; the lightest fill with the most windproof shell are my favourites.
You get used to the bulk and it compresses down on the palms fairly well.

I use £15, 10ah powerbanks to supplement my exposure, garmin and phone. Love the fact that everything came with usb leads when I bought them. Real progress.

Same here. My Strada came with the remote button. I've mounted it on my road bars just under the hood. My thumb falls naturally to it. Never get flashed by cars when the light is dipped so it must work OK. Not very bright in dipped mode but great when full beam.

I really like the Downslink. Lovely way to get between the N&S Downs.

Hiya.
I live in Tonbridge. I get down to Jevington on the Downs via Heathfield and then the cuckoo trail. Usually takes 3hrs but climbing over trees added a couple of hours that night!

More rufty tufty adventures this weekend riding the YD300 route. Had a very chilly bivy on the Saturday night. Still snow on the ground above 500m.
Gaining confidence in my kit now.

I've been packing tonight for a trip this weekend. Popped the Revelate harness on with a strap, strap, cinch, cinch, strap, clip, done.
So simple, so relaxing, didn't need to remove the lights and GPS already on the bars and I know that in use it's bomber.

Practiced being ruffty tufty out in Storm Eunice yesterday! Left home after the peak windspeeds had passed and rode/clambered over trees for five hours to get to the South Downs. It was wild on the tops so we bivied inside a hawthorn thicket like sheep. It worked perfectly. Up at 6am to savour a sub...

Just home from a night on the South Downs. Went with a mate and we set off at 3pm after the peak of the storm. 5hr ride down including clambering over about 30 fallen trees. It was actually quite a pleasant evening. Hit the SDW about 7pm and it was crazy windy up there. Really vaguely exciting tryin...

How long would you guys allow for this based on current conditions. I've got bugger all experience of both this part of the country and bikepacking at this time of year. I'm thinking 3 days. Two bigies and a shorter final day. Have you any recommendations for a b&b on the second night? I'm not b...

Just spotted this. I'm interested.