I am pretty sure that the current route is the one that will be the final route albeit with some very minor tweaks. I have said previously that I have ridden most of the route apart from some small sections that are spread far apart. I would never consider setting a route for others to ride that I had not ridden myself and I so much wanted to ride this route in one go before I post it up for a group start. Last years attempt failed as on the second day I came down with heatstroke, not pleasant at all. This year I set six days aside to ride it, I hoped to do it in four days but five would be more realistic, the sixth day was a safety net. This attempt failed due to a mechanical, ****ing Shimano external BB failure! Five miles into the ride I start to hear a slight click, fifteen miles in I can feel some movement in the cranks, fifty miles in and the BB is knackered, loads of play and loads of graunching noises, arrrrgh! I'm right up on the tops but luckily there is an escape route two miles away so I take it and return via twenty road miles to the start at Peebles. The wife was ok about coming to get me so I am now back home writing this. I was more than happy with the 70 miles I did at a "for me" very satisfactory 7.9 mph overall speed with more miles in me. The plan now is to ride the unridden sections on one "one day ride" and one "two day ride". I still plan on an (English) August Bank Holiday group start which I fully intend to participate in. Third time lucky? Anyway, here's some photos.

Down this track, up that hill, disappear into the distance left of frame.
Borders 001 by youngray50, on Flickr

Pretty.
Borders 002 by youngray50, on Flickr

Yes, I pushed.
Borders 003 by youngray50, on Flickr

St Mary's Loch, a flat bit.
Borders 004 by youngray50, on Flickr

Scottish castle thing.
Borders 005 by youngray50, on Flickr

Bad luck Ray. But then again looking at the weather right now maybe a lucky escape...

I'm keen for the group start at the end of August

Looks lovely Ray ... and can I suggest a Hope BB? I got so sick of BB lasting a few hundred miles that I bit the bullet and bought a Hope stainless. It stung a bit at the time but I haven't even looked at it in nearly 3 years and who knows how many miles, rivers and bogs

Hope ceramic lasted me ~1200miles.
New bearings were ~£120.
Popped in a shimano XT which cost about £20, they usually last me about the same distance give or take 100 miles.

s8tannorm wrote:Looks lovely Ray ... and can I suggest a Hope BB? I got so sick of BB lasting a few hundred miles that I bit the bullet and bought a Hope stainless. It stung a bit at the time but I haven't even looked at it in nearly 3 years and who knows how many miles, rivers and bogs

Taylor wrote:Hope ceramic lasted me ~1200miles.
New bearings were ~£120.
Popped in a shimano XT which cost about £20, they usually last me about the same distance give or take 100 miles.

I have considered a quality BB such as Hope but always seem to have more pressing things to spend my money on, maybe ask for one come christmas .

The ones I had in were Deore, I have just ordered XT's from CRC for less than half price .

most of my early BB failures have been on bike that weren't faced properly. Apparently even an uneven paint job can be enough. Its worth getting the ends of the BB tube sorted either yourself or the good ol' LBS

ianfitz wrote:most of my early BB failures have been on bike that weren't faced properly. Apparently even an uneven paint job can be enough. Its worth getting the ends of the BB tube sorted either yourself or the good ol' LBS

How easy is that to do yourself?

Ray Young wrote:

ianfitz wrote:most of my early BB failures have been on bike that weren't faced properly. Apparently even an uneven paint job can be enough. Its worth getting the ends of the BB tube sorted either yourself or the good ol' LBS

How easy is that to do yourself?

A dawdle.


If you have the right tool.



http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/park ... -prod27044

Seriously though, it's one of those jobs that you should have undertaken at a shop.

ScotRoutes wrote: A dawdle.


If you have the right tool.



http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/park ... -prod27044

. I feel a visit to the lbs coming on, last time I had work done in a shop was 15 years ago!

i didn't realise they were quite that much! That certainly buys a good few shimano BBs....