@thenorthwind- go on then, I'll take it if that's ok. I have a trip in mind.. Thanks Boab.

Any interest on here?

Yes - will DM?

^ that's a great find! Very nice. Always been interested in one for a travel bike that my Brompton never really lived up to being (for me - brilliant rail commuter and chuck-in-back-of-car bike though).

Until about 20 mins ago, techno on the turbo trainer. 8 weeks into a get-fit-again plan and it seems to be going well enough
Well enough that maybe I can stop using the darn thing soon

Depending on the fork spec it's either an EC44/40 or a ZS/30 lower, with a ZS44/28.6 upper using the SHIS terms. The bike has a 44mm ID head tube. https://www.parktool.com/en-int/blog/repair-help/headset-standards Any bike shop dealing with bikes like this should find it pretty easy tbh. If they hav...

Is the frame bag the triangular or rectangular shaped version? may be interested if it's the rectangular. Thanks.

Interested to find some discussions online about plastics absorption through the skin (partic. while sweating) after looking up some material properties, checking rayon's water absorption rates etc. A bit OT but if you were going to have any take up of anything from plastics .. polyester boxers or a...

fwiw I'd avoid bamboo/rayon or merino undershorts, they hold moisure longer than polyester and that can be a main cause of multi-day saddle discomfort (it's why I don't lke padded shorts either). ime polyester boxers are the way to go. Slim fit bike baggies over the top and take a small pot of chamm...

Tapered or straight fork steerer? Either way it's a common headset type. The head tube is 44mm ID so it takes a ZS44 28.6 upper, with either a ZS 44 30 lower for a straight steerer or EC44 40 for a tapered steerer. Hope, FSA etc all jhave them. Hopefully the shop have one. Sorry, typo there - the l...

Tapered or straight fork steerer? Either way it's a common headset type. The head tube is 44mm ID so it takes a ZS44 28.6 upper, with either a ZC44 30 lower for a straight steerer or EC44 40 for a tapered steerer. Hope, FSA etc all jhave them. Hopefully the shop have one.

non tubeless wheels

What rims? Some do OK when converted, some are just a waste of time or a guarantee of faff and may be better off with slime tubes combined with relatively light tyres.

I'm wary of unbranded/rebranded hubs, and the availability of spares down the line. Fair, there are some very good ones though - I have Taiwan-made rear hubs that I rate as well as both DT and Hope (given I've had DT and Hopes crack/fail in the last 12 mths with massive proviso that the use isn't d...

https://www.justridingalong.com/product/monitor-carbon-gravel-wheelset/#single-or-pair-of-wheels I'd trust these guys. Well.. with wheels if not graphic design ; ) They built the last set of wheels I put on my Jones and that was over 10 years ago now. The rims are looking beat but they've stayed imp...

Sounds like you might benefit from more easily adapted layers? .. he says, without knowing what you do use! : ) Things like white arm warmers can be great for warmth in the mornings as well as cooling in the sun, roll up or down as needed. Same with leg warmers. Gilets with insulation that can be op...

Does Komoot have the user rides heat map feature? That's pretty useful user generated content, especially for making off road route choices. I think Strava originated it, but RwGPS have implemented a version and it's pretty good. It doesn't. It's a useful tool on RWGPS, I don't use strava so it's m...

Just found this while looking for MYOG tarp info .. the tarp design I sketched out came from my frustrations with the central poles on the otherwise excellent Gatewood cape and Bearpaw Lair I have. It's a neat trick, might see what I can do with 2 poles I have here. I'm thinking A-framed to each sid...

"... if you never felt this (ride) should go on forever."
"... if you never wanted this (ride) to end emmediately."

I really like that. And going looking for the first can get you the second!

.. you'd find many people using it and sharing their rides (and crucially, comments and photos on sections and trails) who are just regular users. That unfortunately doesn't seem to happen with rwgps. Komoot understood the community aspect and why people share stuff, mostly - to get some level of r...

Aidan Harding wrote something about bike riding being a test of mindfulness and this comes back to me often. There's immense reward to me in hints of the ability to be in the moment and smell the flowers as well as staying aware of all the things you and your bike need to keep moving on unimpeded b...

It's true that minimising stoppage time is as important as fitness. I don't have much race experience but I've always been a low faffer and enjoyed being efficient on time. Unplug the airmat as soon as I wake up as a motivation to get up and pack up, that kind of thing (in a race or time-focussed tr...

Thanks Bob - I'll give that a go, it's similar to what I set up that got me thinking about the 'winged' tarp shape - this pitch here with a 110cm Gatewood pole and a short walking pole https://i.ibb.co/1GtNnpjd/IMG-20250321-144513555-1.jpg Then I added a line under the tarp, from the taller pole to ...

(green dots are where the pole/s go, orange dots are tie-outs, loop/lifter tie-outs along the dotted lines)

I couldn't find anyone online who makes tarps to spec, any tips? I don't have a sewing machine and 20D silnylon seems slippery to work with for a DIY project. Got a Gatewood Cape that's light, compact, very easy to set up, great coverage. PITA to get in and out of for me at a bit over 6' though. See...

For a day ride loop on easy terrain I think the western half of the Ridgeway offers some great riding and scenery, as long as it's dry and has been for a few weeks (would be good right now I expect). If you're on a gravel bike, maybe some of this adaptable loop of just under 100k - https://ridewithg...

I think any kind of rules for cycling are fairly pathetic, have always hated the element of road cycling that indulges that. An exception for self-supported rules? More of an ethics discusssion than written rules but it's similar, a structure for people to compete within. But, yeah .. cycling for m...