With the prospect of overflow, I'll be taking 4 spare pairs of socks. (2 thermal liner pairs plus 2 thick pairs).

With a thermal liner inside my thick socks (and seal skins outside of those) blister risk is low. Plus, lots of hike a bike done lately and no issues.

Waiting for replacement hub bearings at the moment

So far, new chain, chain ring, (cassette is ok), brake cables (BB7's) & gear cables, greased flat pedal bushes. Swapped tyres over and fitted lighter tubes and fitted lightweight rotors acquired recently from slowupslowdown.

Hmmmm, never thought about seal skins. As much as I don't like them, has anyone seen any good deals about?

voodoo_simon wrote:Hmmmm, never thought about seal skins. As much as I don't like them, has anyone seen any good deals about?

Are you an xl?http://www.sealskinz.com/UK/outlet/ke75 ... black.html http://www.sealskinz.com/UK/outlet/ke71 ... black.html

Bike all prepped. Bare weight is 30lbs on the nose

I was going to get 3 Thermos flasks from Amazon as they had them on offer for £3. Just logged in and they're on back order for between 2-4 weeks...

I did spot Chilly's bottles in the suggestions, looked on their direct page and they have a couple of colours half price. Looks like it could be a good combo of size/capacity and ease of use (I just imagined me faffing with flasks with mitts on). So £10 for a 500ml steel bottle weight 300ish gms with proper thermos ability. Compares well to a Camelbak Podium Chill, etc. I think I'll have these for later in the event and start off with a normal bottle in my stem cells.

http://www.chillysbottles.com/?f_checko ... line/c1kpk



p.s. Not normally viewing on a PC and I've just seen Ben's quoted me in his sig. Wish the kids at School listened to me that well.....

You do hunt out a good bargain - cheers
For a tenner I've ordered one. Not sure how I'll deploy it yet though.

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Anyone know how much climbing there is on the route? I thought I'd read 1,500m, but having scanned the Rov150 site, I can't find it now. Tried to work it out from the elevation profile, but only got to about 900m. (though I guess it doesn't matter all that much )

Think height gain was 1100 (I think)

Already got my flasks, but they seem like a good buy. Ordering my seal skin socks tomorrow (Thanks for the link Ben but I'll be a medium) and my flint should arrive tomorrow via my parents. Only need to buy some sweets/nuts and I'm all sorted

My bike weighs 37lbs! Could get that down to 30 lbs for the summer but I can't be bothered changing anything now as I know my setup works (but only in England and Wales!)

Ian wrote:You do hunt out a good bargain - cheers
For a tenner I've ordered one. Not sure how I'll deploy it yet though.

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Anyone know how much climbing there is on the route? I thought I'd read 1,500m, but having scanned the Rov150 site, I can't find it now. Tried to work it out from the elevation profile, but only got to about 900m. (though I guess it doesn't matter all that much )

I plan to have one in a stem cell for immediate use and another in my frame bag. There should be GPXs to download from the Everytrail pages. Freaked out a bit as my route came out at 130k but I think the gpx does 2 loops of the course!

voodoo_simon wrote: My bike weighs 37lbs! Could get that down to 30 lbs for the summer but I can't be bothered changing anything now as I know my setup works (but only in England and Wales!)

Shaved 80gms off today by fitting Salsa Bend 2 bars rather than the Totally Enduro 810mm scaffpole that comes as standard. Might not be far off my (better) WRT weigh in score!

I heard yesterday that Joel Martinez from Barcelona has entered. We spent periods of time together during the race between individual issues and eventually stayed together after Cuba NM to the finish. Anyway, if you see him say hello - and send him my love or something - , he is a nice lad, but a bit quiet - perhaps because his English is a second language, good though it is.

On the road to Pie Town:
101_0159 by blackhound59, on Flickr

Cheers Kev. As it happens, I'm sharing a twin room with Joel at the Cumulus - saves us both a bit of money compared to two singles. Nice to put a face to a name before I get there. Might drop him and email in the meantime.

Small world Ian. Going to drop him a line to wish him well so will mention i know you.

Think my food is all sorted, wouldn't mind a but more normal stuff for the ride though. Might check out the supermarket over there
5x energy bars 1000 calories
4x boil in bag 1500 calories
2x fruit n nut 2000 calories
2x bag of sweets 2000 calories
Total 6500 calories

Plus buffet style breakfast in the morning of the start

Flint and steel arrived today, seal skin socks are in the post, as is the rear light (most modern, rechargeable lights won't last race distance, so ordered a new one)

Nigel ... why is your name not on the start list?

s8tannorm wrote:Nigel ... why is your name not on the start list?

Different start list: http://www.polarguide-logistics.com/66% ... 66%C2%BAn/

He stands a good chance of making the podium

voodoo_simon wrote:Flint and steel arrived today...

Out of interest, is there a reason you've gone with a flint/steel vs waterproof matches?

Greetz

S.

Scattamah wrote:

voodoo_simon wrote:Flint and steel arrived today...

Out of interest, is there a reason you've gone with a flint/steel vs waterproof matches?

Greetz

S.

A friend recommended one to me, said it's never failed him! Usually take a lighter but gas can supposedly be awkward at lower temperatures. I'll also take my windproof matches with me

Gotcha...it's for igniting gas. I can see the point now. Ta for that.

Greetz

S.

Ian wrote:

s8tannorm wrote:Nigel ... why is your name not on the start list?

Different start list: http://www.polarguide-logistics.com/66% ... 66%C2%BAn/

He stands a good chance of making the podium

Alas I'm in the "back to work on Monday" race!

Fun stuff for a change, who is going to see Santa? Quite tempted myself (although it's going to be a rush setting up my bike on Thursday night) as you can send postcards home for Christmas (they store them until December), plus its probably a great way to meet the group

Well, I've been a good boy so I'll be going to see him.

ask him where my bike is

FLV wrote:ask him where my bike is

Maybe you've been naughty...

FLV wrote:ask him where my bike is

He's Santa, not a miracle worker!

johnnystorm wrote:

FLV wrote:ask him where my bike is

He's Santa, not a miracle worker!

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I'll be going. Will be picking up pressies for the kids anyway while I'm out there, so I can say I got something from Santa too.