Something that I saw recently - King John Way https://www.thekingjohnway.com/. At 300 miles it might be a bit long but there's a few stations on the western side of the route so they could start at one and ride as far as another.

A lot of people seem to think that down hates any sort of moisture whereas really it doesn't like to be sodden wet and, as I've always thought/believed, can cope with quite a lot of "damp". So here's a non-scientific take on it that popped up on youTube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aY...

While Cath was partaking in the JennRide I did a bit of Wainwright bashing. When I lived in the Lakes I managed to do around 2/3rds of the named summits. Then around ten years ago I had a campaign and got most of the rest done. So for some years now I've been on 209 out of 214. Time to do something ...

Well that forecast had, shall we say, a passing resemblance to reality thunderstorms on Sat night with localised flooding. Dull and patchy rain this morning.

Saw Rich as I was driving through Ambleside, he said a few had had an “interesting “ night.

Have done once - in Joshua Tree national park when it was about 25 degrees overnight and you are in the high desert. Not done it in this country.

The Lakeland 200 packs a lot in especially since the bridleways in the central Lakes aren't exactly "bike friendly" (or horse friendly for that matter). The main bits of the HT550 are more like the Coniston to Wasdale section but with some sections a bit harder. Black Sail down to Ennerdal...

Hard luck

Here’s my report http://bobwightman.blogspot.com/2022/04 ... s.html?m=1 it were a bit windy

A bit of an odd couple. Both close by the A590 (it's the road that goes from J36 on the M6 across the southern edge of the Lakes to Barrow in Furness). At Levens there's a pair of swans nesting about 5 metres from the dual carriageway. When I first saw them I thought they were just doing a test nest...

Swapped wheelsets. When I got the Cannondale the intention was to have two sets of wheels: one gravel oriented and one road set. It came with the gravel wheels/tyres but the only road sets the shop had were nearly as much as the bike! :o The bikeshop down the road had some cheaper sets ended up gett...

Not trying to talk myself out of it, but is it really as insanely good as people describe it? It's difficult enough to put together a good 300km route, 1000km+ routes can be a bit meh in places....arent there days on TD where the scenery is just the same for an eternity? (which I guess it's part of...

RIP wrote: ↑Fri Jun 06, 2025 11:51 am

Mr Sparkle wrote: ↑Fri Jun 06, 2025 10:47 am

ravens .....speed dating

"Do you caw here often?"

“Grab your cawt, you’ve pulled!”

Mike Hall used Di2 on his sub 14 day Tour Divide, not sure if there's anywhere that states how many times he recharged the system during that time though I imagine there's a lot of ground where you pick a gear and basically stay in it for hours (or even days) so battery life might not be such an iss...

Just watched this factory tour of Carradice - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mxr1OWYjE5E and a visit to Keep Pedalling https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oisZXor6zgE

Not really delivered by the postie but some time ago I'd broken my analogue measuring calipers so whilst in one of the local builders/trade supplies I found a replacement digital one - one of these (not the supplier though) https://wjdtools.co.uk/product/satra-di ... per-150mm/

Shaf, look up ETRTO for min and max tyre widths for any rim size. Here's WTB's take on it https://www.wtb.com/pages/tire-rim-fit-chart

While walling at my brother's I was accompanied by a slow worm - it was a bit soporific in the heat so had to be careful when moving stones.

Also at my brother's: a couple of buzzards sitting on the wall near the gate to the farm. These looked like juveniles.

All three poised at the crossing... And... all across :-bd and just coming up to Larachantivore. In 2017 I was worried about the crossing and asked Jenny Graham about it and how long it took for the river level to drop, she reckoned it started to fall about two hours after the rain stopped. Obvious...

At least she doesn't have to wash her bike! Checking the bearings might take longer though.

Nick Percival is a couple of hours away from finishing - for a while I thought he'd be the first over 60 to finish in under five days but the weather has probably kiboshed that.

Re: FKT - 2015 and 2016 was still about how far could you get on day 1 and make opening time at Contin store. Since Neil B and Chris Hope etc in 2017 the whippets haven't stopped until after the second OB Hotel passing. What was your stopped time in 2015 Tom? EDIT: just found the Trackleaders repla...

Records seem moot, considering Bealach Horn was missed? I don't think Alan is planning to put Bealach Horn back in again. The route has changed (slightly) every year. General trend has been for it to get easier. 2024 vs 2015 I reckoned was maybe ~4 hours quicker having taken out northbound devil's ...

John Climber did a review of a small number - https://www.bearbonesbikepacking.co.uk/take-a-seat/

I remember interviews with Chris Boardman about the work he did regarding aerodynamics and bikes. Seems like the worst possible shape for tubing (and presumably bags though I don't think he was considering the bikepacking version of the Keiran!) is the plain round tube. Hence the elongated tubing on...

I used fork bags (Gorilla Cage with 5.5L bags) when I was on The Old Chalk way. The contents were basically my hammocking kit so bulky down rather than heavy - total weight including cages and bags was probably just over 2kg, the hammock kit is 1.8kg. I didn't really notice the weight but then I'm n...

Has Phil Clarke scratched? His dot is currently at Dingwall.

Edit - TL has him as scratched. Probably ridden out to Dingwall to get the train back south.

24hrs in and the leader is on the track from West Merkland to Gobernuisach Lodge, not long until they start heading south Emma Bateup, the leading lady, is nearing the head of Glen Cassley.

Some very strong wind gusts forecast for this morning