What camera do you use Paul so I can gauge size? Pentax K50 I know a few of the guys that did all the pre release testing on the Porcelain Rocket Slinger and their kit is still working well on a bar mounted bag. As the bar mount bag is effectively suspended by straps and movement inside is limited ...

Untitled by paulerrington78, on Flickr

Good to hear the event has pricked some interest. Looking at the dates of the other events people are interested in it shouldn't clash. As for a change i'm the guy on the other side of the clipboard I can't guarantee many (read none) cake stops but I can promise a stand out event that will test you ...

Location for a social bivi now confirmed.

Message me for details or for an invite to the Facebook event.

I have a friend looking to travel from Israel ... any idea what the conditions are like out on the trail now ... snowy ?

Swift Industries pitching in to as we all do ... Encourage people to take a night out and go sleep out.

https://www.builtbyswift.com/swiftcampout

Will be riding out to Kielder Reservoir from Newcastle on June 20th for a camp out ... All welcome ... Social is the name of the game :)

Managed to get a few blog posts together ...

The race

http://shoestring-racing.blogspot.co.uk ... event.html

The gear

http://shoestring-racing.blogspot.co.uk ... -gear.html

I was having a chat with Beth from Wildcat the other day, I mentioned this very thing. My solution was to make the TT bag an intergrated part of the frame bag ... imagine the top velcro strap on the frame bag with a TT bag sewn / attached directly to it. It would work (and look neater) with the Wil...

I have to say if I was designing a bike for bikepacking then massively hydroformed tubing would not be on my list of construction materials as frame bags will never sit well on them :(

Salsa minimalist rack .. provides a nice place to mount my front light too :)

I don't think I have ever seen one that didn't topple.

I have made a suggestion to Alpkit as to how stability can be improved when using a fuel pod in conjunction with one of their frame bags hopefully its a change that will be made.

During recent Cairngorms ride and amid the long push through the valley of doom we ventured in to Kenny from Alpkit came out with ..

"Last time I ever call these things snow bikes" :)

Conditions have to be good or it's a long walk with a snow anchor :)

I guess the issue is if the sleeping bag comes out then its more than likely something has gone wrong and your event is over so I don't plan on using whatever I am carrying :)

If it makes you feel any better I am opting for a foam mat over my exped down mat

Some training .. hoping Rovaniemi will be A LOT more rideable

http://vimeo.com/117805138

You could see if Longstaff can aid you source something within budget ...

http://longstaffcycles.com

Looks like Ison have some tyres in stock..

http://www.ison-distribution.com/englis ... =TYHANF64K

johnnystorm wrote:Ooh, are those the Halo Nanuk (sp?) tyres?

Yeah Halo tyres .. Just awaiting a rear halo hub eventually but think that will be built onto a 650b rim for a summer build.

DSC02839 by paulerrington78


Bike is ready :)

Richpips wrote:Why did you go for the S+S couplings Paul?

Just to make travel easier ... More and more airlines are enforcing their bike charges so in a few flights couplers will of been paid for.

I know Billy at Arctic Cycles uses them to split his bike to fit on a pulk but I doubt I will ever see that use :)

Been waiting a long time for this but it was worth it ... https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7493/16101792317_27abc90419_s.jpg DSC02834 by paulerrington78 https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7475/16287648325_f4a455916e_s.jpg DSC02832 by paulerrington78 https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8576/16261732356_62e892d8...

I will also throw Lofoten Islands in to the mix

Tien Shan Mountains, kyrgyzstan

I got an idea and some maps for an interesting trip

aaaaa1 by paulerrington78

RE: Brakes... I would avoid hydraulics, myself. I think Jeff Oatley used them in the ITI, but he lives in those conditions so he can make sure his setup works. Unless you take both and test them before the race (and have the conditions you want for testing in that time), you're taking a risk. The a...