We've been working towards financial independence for the last 5 years, after a bit of an existential crisis as covid kicked in, the travel industry collapsed and we'd just moved into a larger house with a much bigger mortgage. We're pretty much ready to pull the plug on full-time work in the next 1...

It definitely has a US bias - most of the main editors and contributors are based in the US and a large part of their sponsorship funding is from US brands. I think Cass and Lucas do a good job of balancing out UK and European slant where possible, but the logistics of shipping gear for testing has ...

Lazarus wrote: ↑Mon Oct 07, 2024 11:17 pmYGM

Not seeing anything...

Lazarus wrote: ↑Mon Oct 07, 2024 10:50 pm

Tailfin AeroPack Alloy Arch with Pannier Mounts

What mount does this come with or is it just the rack ?

It's just the rear wishbone

Hey all Good to see the old faces on the forum, I've not been bikepacking as much the last few years and spending lots of time surfing and wingfoiling so beginning to pair back on cycling kit. Revelate Tangle Bag Red | Large Older design with VX20 material - in good condition although top tube velcr...

I've got a Revelate Tangle gathering dust if that's any use? Older style VX20 material size is large.

Good luck with the sale Chris....

Just how long are those valve stems

Couldn't agree more Simon. Maybe its just the nature of where we live where we are privy to it a bit more. Across all the lockdowns I've seen some really blatant flouting going on, you only need to take a look at some of the Strava rides that have been logged in some of the early lockdowns. I've alw...

https://www.instagram.com/choughstuffcc/
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I've been pondering one of those, mainly because they look nice and well made (having seen the wooden mudguards he made for his big fat dummy, which are fantastic). He seems like a lovely bloke too!
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Yep Mike is a top chap!

My mate Mike over at Chough Stuff is producing some excellent saddle packs.

I've seen it develop from the early prototypes and his attention to detail is

https://www.instagram.com/choughstuffcc/

vaguely exciting news ton!

But wait...you have more than one birthday....are you the Queen?

Moral of the story....

Always carry a spare link in your tool kit and save your cash for retirement ton

Honestly a decent chain on a rohloff will last a very very long time.

Pretty much the others have said.

In really dry conditions I've also noticed Gates to have a tendency to be a bit on the squeeky side - not sure if you've noticed that pistonbroke?

whitestone wrote: ↑Tue Feb 16, 2021 10:42 am The climb up from Glenridding ends up going over Helvellyn Lower Man's north ridge which is a bit rough and steep but it's not scrambling so you can keep hands in pockets. .

The sign of a good walk

Yet another cracking bearbones thread! My car hasn't moved in the best part of a year having started working from home since the start of the lock down, I've been considering chipping it in to get something a bit more utiliarian that will allow me to stuff it to the gills on tip runs, but also throw...

I wouldn't be too put off by Striding Edge, there are a number of paths lower down however there is a steep and loose scramble to get up on to Helvellyn proper. The alternative approach from Glenridding is fairly accesible if you go up Greenside Road to the old mine and then follow the old pony trac...

For me it's less about retiring, its mainly the financial independence bit I'm interested in. Think this sums it up for me. I see it as a balance between having the cash to do the things you want, but also the time to do those things. Being at either end of that scale isn't much fun. Couldn't agree...

Great thread, so many interesting stories. Somebody mentioned the 'Reset' book earlier; thanks, I now have this on order. Ah, that was me, hope it is useful. Lots of great stuff on this thread, great to see so many perspectives, thoughts and ideas. The first lockdown hit shortly after we'd moved in...

If you can get hold of a Stanley flask that will fit the dimensions I’d highly recommend. I invested in big Stanley flask for some socially distanced brews throughout the lockdown. I did a couple of surf trips up in the Hebrides last year. All my mates ended up going out and buying one off the back ...

To answer a couple of the questions above. You need to mixture of investing in both pensions and ISA, if you plan to retire before your pension kicks in you need a cash bridge to tide you over that will depend on how far out you are from your pensionable age. Ultimately you need to maximise all your...

I guess we're all trying to figure it out in our own way based on our own personal circumstances. When I went travelling I realised how little I needed to travel by bike, and my quality of life was infinitely higher than being a desk jockey. It's worth digging into the FIRE movement - Financial Inde...

Wow, thanks for sharing thats incredibly sad to see. Panderia Union is a really special place, especially for anyone that has stayed there, the owner and staff are so welcoming and hospitable especially considering the number of people that pass through every week during peak cycling season. I rode ...

I mainly use it for ride logging and cribbing local knowledge from other riders thats about as far as I go with it now. I used to be super in to the numbers, but I'm doing less and less 'proper' riding each year. With various house projects, I've rarely ridden my bike for pleasure in the last 18 mon...

Plenty of sound advice on here so far. I'd throw in the Sea to Summit Reactor Liner as another option worth considering. As Bob points out, the main thing is ensuring the bag is lofting properly, sticking on more clothes is often counterintuitive. Andy Kirkpartrick wrote a great article years ago, a...

Fly creek is a good lightweight tent but as you say Rich they are compromised when wind changes direction.

I wouldn’t class them as a comfortable tent, headspace is limited definitely more on the compact side.

Tarpent Double Rainbow?