Cheers Stu and Dee. Vaguely exciting route, great mix of single track, open moorland and epic scenery. Very glad that the event was on Saturday and Sunday as today we have an amber weather warning in North Wales with all the schools in Anglesey closing due to 70mph winds.

Buy some winter boots, they are an investment that will pay you back over several years rather than short overshoe investments.

I was more broken after riding this route than the HT550.

Guided bike packing? Discuss.

Here is one of my favorite Snowdonia loops....

http://ridewithgps.com/trips/6928513

Does finishing the Wales C2C epic designed by Ian B count towards getting a place, I remember that being properly hard......

The lady in the article is also a writer for Trail magazine.

3 time peak winner Barry Davies organises the North Wales cx series and is well worth entering for anybody living in gogledd Cymru. Amlch and Prestayn are great courses. I rode the 49th edition of the event, never again but I did manage to get my mug shot on the front cover of the 50th edition sport...

I purchased some mavic crossmax shoes after trying some on in my LBS. Compared to my Rimes they are really easy to get on and off, I find the Rimes difficult to 'slip' on after they are inevitably wet from the day before. The mavics seem to have a good sole for bike a hike in terms of grip however t...

Hi folks, I have built up my genesis longitude with a set of hope wheels laced with stans 29er 355 rims and would like to try some plus size tyres. I am currently using continental xkings with a 2.4 inch carcass. How wide can I go on these rims and what advice does everybody have for tyre choice or ...

Interesting, I have been having a social media debate about Chris Smith trespassing in North Wales, on Parys Mountain and in Dinorwic Quarries. http://www.bikeradar.com/blog/article/chris-smith-mines-wales-for-freeride-gold-video-44726/ https://www.facebook.com/CBMEryri/posts/826194357429376?comment...

Damn, ToB starts in Beaumaris that weekend otherwise I would be joining you guys. Instead I will probably on Llanberis pass shouting like a fan girl at the pro riders.

Using track leaders is not mandatory for Tuscany.

With regards to the return leg from the finish I was just going to catch the train and play the stupid foreigner routine.

Tuscany Trail have sent a link for Trackleaders and I am keen to sign up with my hired Spot 3 tracker ready for next Friday. Is there normally a charge for signing up to Trackleaders as I assumed the service was goodwill and donation funded? Thanks, Purty. http://trackleaders.com/tuscany-signup http...

Aye, I have uploaded to my ridewithgps account

http://ridewithgps.com/trips/4408817

Hi Gairy, Thanks for the offer but I will be travelling down with Ian Wilmshurst, travelling from North Wales, England then through France and Switzerland to avoid costly tolls. We will be getting into Massa hopefully early evening Thursday. I am planning on riding between 4-5 days and catching the ...

Hi Stu,

I can confirm that only 2 LED's are lit with Cycle2Charge wired in parallel with nothing plugged into the USB output.

Thanks for the advice on the buffer battery Rufus.

Chris.

Hi, Based on Stuarts review I dashed off and purchased a Cycle2Charge. I have wired the device to my SP hub, everything is fine. However when I wire in parallel with my Revo only 2 LED's light up. I have deconstructed the wiring and used the original Revo cable and the 4 LED's come back. Next conund...

I am running TRP Spyres on my Lynskey Procross CX bike which has a Kenesis carbon fork run in wheel combinations Exposure SP dynamo hub, Mavic Crossmax SL 29er and Hope built onto Stans 29er. All seem to have ok clearance. These brakes are fantastic and I wish I had purchased some sooner - they are ...

I am planning on driving down to Massa in the van.

Does anyone know the rules regarding wild camping in the Massa area and is there anywhere safe to leave the van during the week?

I have emailed the organiser and will let everyone know his response.

Chris.

Force Ten Photon down sleeping bag. Packed weight 850g. Pack size 28x15cm. Rating 2-3 season. I think the down is 400g of 650+. The colour is jet black pertex with bright orange inner. Full length zip. Well looked after in loose original storage bag. Original stuff sack also included. No bad odours ...

I am selling my Vaude Bivi 1P. It is half way between a hooped bivi bag and an ultra small 1 person tent. It is hooped around the head with a single upright pole at the foot. Single skin. 910g packed weight, pack size 35x12cm. Colour yellow. Used a couple of times (BB200, Cairngorm loop) but I prefe...

Some bivy spots for my end of Snowdonia: There is a good spot bivy spot in Beddgelert forest near the lake or the top of the bridleway pass over to Cwm Pennant (I have bivied up here in the summer walking the Moel Hebog ridge). The top of Cefn Du at the trig point or the old Beacon ruin. The crag on...

Response as follows: "In Italy it is made by the family doctor (or medical basis). May fit even the number of medical insurance. In practice in this document must be written that your state of health is correct to participate in Tuscany Trail". Based on this I will quote my European Health...

Hi Giacomo, I rode Iron Bike in 2012, they also required a medical certificate but this was wavered if you held a BC racing licence. If you did not have a racing licence you had to be assessed in Italy and the cost and faff was about the same as getting a licence. I will contact the organisers and s...