An airshot type pump helps, loads of diy ghetto type ones on YouTube. I've actually made my own using an old fire extinguisher. Fill with compressed air using track pump then I've fitted a Schrader and presta head on the end of the hose. That way it allows more volume of air without restriction unli...

It's easy enough to do if you take your time and have everything to hand. The youtube link I've put on here is worth a watch. TBH loads on the web but this guy is one of the better ones. He did have a business but recently shut it down otherwise I'd have linked you to his tech pages. https://m.youtu...

What is meant was that the start and finish are the same they just go off in different areas to mix it up.

Still in and around the forest, but your in and out of areas that have been harvested plus there's various art installations to break it up abit. TBH I tend to ride and take it as a challenge rather than site seeing.

They've supposedly moved Dirty Reiver to another area so should be a different route. Should anyone want the route i should still have previous yrs gpx files.

Several other tips. Tubeless rocks and make sure the gunk is recently topped up. Decent bottle holders required and don't use 750mm bottles they flip out of the cages. First few fast downward sections are usually littered with them and bike parts. Decent padded gloves and bartape and lower front tyr...

Seeing as your midlands based and looking at less hilly stuff, why not do the white peak loop. This uses the old railway lines a few trails and quiet link roads. Plenty of decent campsites. Plenty of opportunities to go off piste and explore. It can be done in a day but can be split into 2 days. The...

Firstly good luck. Did 130 2023 and it was all 4 seasons in one day, mainly minging till midday. First time I did it on panaracer semislicks, big mistake. 1 grassy / muddy ish single track section with no traction. Where the log piles had be stacked some mud / ruts from logging activity 2024 was a b...

For the last 2 yrs I've seen all sorts of bikes doing it. By far the most stupidest was 2 young lads on fixies, going down hill they just unclipped and kept there legs out the way. Bloody frightening when they flew past me at nearly 30 on one bit. I'd not heard of the dukes one till you mentioned it...

Anyone doing it this year on here. Looking to do the full 200k this yr as a last blast before I'm 60 and slowing down a bit. Done the Dirty 130 the last 2 yrs so hopefully do the big one this year.

Enjoy it and thrash it within an inch of it's life. I looked at the topstone but went with a whyte gisburn with 1k off instead. Ali rather than carbon but handles most mtb red stuff at the lower end of difficulty. Came with sram wireless gears, brilliant.

I was looking at semi retirement at 57 sadly saving interest rates have gone up so my CETV figure has dropped just over 100k in 2yrs. Also my pensions are DB defined benefit aka final salary and most pension advisors / companies won't touch them because it's potentially the next biggest missold or m...

Had charging issue with joystick 12. Sent back they replaced battery and it's been faultless for last 2yrs or so of regular use. Can't fault service department. Recently got a tracer and yes I can see the potential problem point, will see how it goes

Sadly I upset my quack as I exercise, pretty much everything I eat is fat free, sugar free etc. Hardly drink and definitely don't smoke. Only drink decaff. Quack was upset because I have a better 5k Parkrun time than she has.

It's not affecting my running other than advised to not do sprints or sustained max efforts. It's given me an excuse to back off on structured speed and hill work. I do find i get tired more but whether that age, medication or the high BP i don't know. Didn't get on with first tablets as caused issu...

Recent refugee from BR. Just touched 100kg in approx 2017 and went on a voyage of discovery losing weight. Got down to 68kg but looked ill, settled at around 74kg. Fast forward a few years and I'm 85kg even though I run regularly and still bike but not as much. Currently trying to get to around mid ...

Brilliant write up and puts a potential itch on the horizon to be scratched. If I ever get my fitness back to a reasonable level.

I've been tubeless for about 7 or 8yrs and have used Co2 during that time. Some tyres need a big blast of pressure to seat on the rims and inflate. Definitely thinner latex sealant makes a mess if frozen by the Co2 within the tyre. I've some panaracer semi slicks I need to degunk somehow because I d...

A few days already planned. Got a few gravel events first. I'd done some homework before suggesting what the kids got me for Xmas. I'd not really heard of WC only TerraNova. To be fair I've got most stuff i need from car camping and backpacking.

Just seen the video clip and your right he will look on with fondness in yrs to come. I did backpacking with my lads sadly pics only but they loved it. They occasionally bring it up now even in there 20s. Looks like I'll be doing similar to you with grandkids. God help me.

Morning All. Newbie to the forum, just starting bikepacking and getting gear together. I usually car camp and bike out from there, usual tent to big and heavy phad x3. I've got a wildcountry zephros 1 which they say is 1.6kg but I'm weighing in about 1.4 with lightweight pegs and ground sheet ( Xmas...