A swift or swallow nest box would be my choice.

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/men-s-rob ... ed%20black
These are good. I have several pairs

I think it was on the Tuscany Trail that my front brake went really poor. Quick check of the reservoir, empty! Turns out that the sunflower oil out of a tin of tuna is a pretty good substitute. It's OK on the chain aswell as I hadn't got any chain lube either

Montane Extreme, I have 3 2 smocks and a jacket. Great piece of kit

If you're not using a dropper try a carbon seatpost aswell. If you've never tried one I think you should. That little bit of flex makes all the difference .

Madison Flux on all bikes, happily spend all day on them!

I made 1 of these a few years ago. I think I made it 10% bigger!

https://oldieoutdoors.wordpress.com/201 ... icro-tarp/

These are really good, we use them at work! Take 2xCR2032 batteries so tiny enough to carry spares.

https://www.swimthelakes.co.uk/product/ ... i29olGAoq4

Building your own really isn't that difficult. I've done all of mine and I haven't died yet. Built from scratch or re-used old spokes, taped new rims next to old and transferred the spokes just get a rim with the same ERD. You don't need a jig or any fancy tools just use the frame, a spoke key and a...

Thanks guys. Looks like the original loop has been updated for 2024 and there is also a shorter 125mile version
https://www.cairngormsloop.net/cairngormsloop-map

My 1st week long tour in 1986 aged 14 with a mate was on a handbuilt steel road bike with 14 speed downtube shifters, a couple of pages torn out of an old road atlas, a cheap steel rack and even cheaper nylon panniers. Everything worked, nothing broke and I survived! Happy days

I rode the loop a few years ago but seem to remember there was a thread about an alternative route to the very top section that was a better option. Anyone have any ideas or have I imagined it! And if someone has a gpx that would be great. Cheers

+1 for the windmaster. Very good stove

Here you go Taylor
Used it for Italy, France and Spain

https://www.wanderreitkarte.de/garmin_de.php?lang=en

We are about to get a pair in Wyre Forest. Large enclosure is nearly finished. Dont think they'll stop the Severn flooding though! Not sure how safe they will be either as they are on a busy public route, hope they put some cameras up.

Yep smear a bit of spit, shove it in and twist it a bit. no more leaks!

Theres a pair just been added to STW if anyone is interested. Not mine btw.
https://singletrackworld.com/advert/tra ... oost-fork/

4 arm please depending on what you have but more interested in the chains. Thanks

Interested in the 8/9 speed chains and rings if you have a pic

30-36 on the camino and 22-34 on the 29er. Could do with a bit lower on the camino at times

For those that like old photos I just came across this Bikepacking the NC500 in 1925. The cycling journalist Kuklos (William Fitzwater Wray) and his wife Emily cycled a large part of the route (with additions through Fort Augustus and Skye) in the summer of 1925. producing a series of lantern slides...

Yes please pmd

Ygm

I built myself up a pair of m502's after destroying some stans arch's on the HT550. Slightly heavier, I reused the old spokes and built a 3rd wheel with a dynamo and haven't touched them in nearly 5 years. Bomb proof so far on a rigid. I would recommend, reasonably priced aswell from zee germanz!

For those interested in the progress

https://www.northwalespioneer.co.uk/new ... v2-MWznTz6