I can promise you that you haven’t seen/read the last of me. Me and @justinbieber have already loosely planned our third enduropacking trip! You’ve got the second one to look forward to in issue 156 😁

Thanks so much for the kind words everyone. I’ve loved my time here and I’m so excited to see what James does with the magazine. I might subscribe.

I found this site by searching for Ocean Clean-up jewellery… it’s not the one I was looking for, but it seems a good fit for your needs!

Waterproof Necklaces

I think it’s really important to talk about these things openly, if you’re comfortable doing so. I have friends who chat away on a bike ride about their perimenopause symptoms and without them, I’d have no idea what to look out for. Making something seem like less of a big deal makes it easier to talk about.
I probably should have gone on Sertraline or equivalent much sooner, but I gave therapy a really good go and just needed something to pull me out of the other side really. I take it for a severe anxiety disorder, which I’ve had for years but it became unmanageable after a particularly stressful situation at home.
I didn’t go to the doctor and say ‘hey, I’m really anxious!’ … I walked in, sat down, realised I needed to find some words and just burst into tears. It took months for me to settle into using it though – grinding my teeth, not sleeping, actually feeling more anxious than I previously did, but then one day I had this realisation that I was experiencing life as it’s supposed to be. I could read situations better, I could manage my time better, look after myself, stop stressing about minor issues, and just generally felt a balance I had never (and I really mean NEVER) had in my life.
I’m on a reduction cycle at the moment, so my next Kit List may have ‘Sertraline 25mg’ listed 🙂
Thanks for picking up on it, and more importantly all having a conversation about it. Anti depressants are not a big deal!

If I go I would like it to be known that I live by the rule ‘lick it, it’s mine’

What song do you sing in your head on scary trails? I have a bad flute music version of Indiana Jones.

Thanks everyone, I guess now is a good time to mention that I’m working on the next diary, from a far more challenging ride across the Alps this summer :) Preview coming in issue 153 of the mag, too!

I’d like to see what the eierschalaballabah can do to a tough Terry’s Chocolate Orange.

@ahsat First ride impressions: Patagonia have better coverage on the lower back! Can’t deny the fit and length of these Rapha’s isn’t great though…

In my defence regarding the lack of knowledge here, when my RE homework in school was to talk about my beliefs, I asked my mum what religion we are. She very matter-of-factly said ‘you’re a heathen’.

Can I just point out that this could be a great picnic bag… folds out to be a wipe clean tabletop.

@hightensionline You haven’t, I’ve just received a nudge and I’m getting the photos ready for the remainder of the trip. Honestly I didn’t expect this diary to be so popular and had it as a low priority task, and somehow a full month has gone by! Apologies, and stand by…

Sorry, that is a typo and I meant seatpost not saddle.

The Di2 had a loose connection the battery, the cable didn’t ‘click’ in to place as it should, so I electrical taped it. That worked for a couple of rides, and then I went back to experiencing it showing no signs of life completely at random. I rode in -2degrees and took the battery out to warm it up, which worked on that occasion. Another time I set off for a ride and got as far as the first gate before it cut out, so I turned around to go get a functioning bike and the gears came to life when I got to my front door.. I wish there was a pattern or consistency to the failures that would make me able to fix it, but it’s just intermittently failed.

As for the downtube storage – mine has 2 x CO2, a CO2 pump, a tube (easily fits in the snake bag), pump and multitool, which is more than it could carry with zero downtube storage. I don’t want to be putting sandwiches in my bike, just the sort of tools you always want on a ride, so to me that’s a really useful space.

I’m grateful for the confirmation that my cultural references aren’t wasted here. Hey Bernaaaard.

I’m really looking forward to tights. It seems like one of those products that nobody can quite get right – they also feel slightly lesser quality that shorts (in my experience). Bring on Winter 2024 😅

Good grief, how long have I worked here?

I have really burnt myself out with 152 because the content is so overwhelmingly great that I have been obsessing over every page. James’ ridgeline is, in theory, accessible, yet reading the article and taking in the photos makes it seem like one of the most extreme and high consequence rides we’ve ever featured. Pete’s Purposeful Adventure is beautiful, and everything he writes makes me happy to be a mountain biker, even when things go wrong. The Classic Ride is another that just makes me happy to be part of this world – full of smiles and young riders that have more style than I can even dream of. And then the international adventures are a great mix of aspirational vs making me grateful of UK winters not actually being that bad. There aren’t many print mags left, I think it’s a bloody good job that ours is full of actual words, that matter, and not just a shopping list of overpriced components…

@pmurden dhb have a base like the Albion ones, but the body is much longer, therefore better for mountain biking as you can tuck it in!

There’s a lot of emphasis on how this was my first proper bikepacking trip, that’s why it’s full of mistakes in terms of kit and route planning. I think the diary gets nicer from here. The final days of the trip were glorious!

My excuse is that my Diablo mount doesn’t fit on my road lid, and a loaded bike has no cockpit space! So actually, that’s not an excuse, it’s a reason.

That is so exhausting to read, I have no idea how you find the energy. Electrolytes are great, and just make sure you fuel the workouts and have a decent re-feed. I only recently learnt that carbs after cardio is important but I don’t do enough/any strength work to advise on that!
I think for weight loss, your diet is as important as the exercise. Work out how much fuel you need for all those classes, try to record everything (do you have a fitness watch?) and just make sure you’re not running on a deficit. If you hit the perfect balance, you’ll know. If you’re over-fuelling, you wont see fast changes, and if you’re under-fuelled you’ll feel like c r a p.
Also a book recommendation: ROAR

@matt_outandabout that’s my favourite UK climb! I’d probably write about that 😂 Last week I went up the highest paved road in the Alps, and to get to it I had to go over a really big (but beautiful) mountain. Have taken to measuring climbs in ‘how many Cragg Vale’s is this?’

I really enjoyed the road racing. It’s all been great but the atmosphere for both the men’s and women’s road was insane. I love the unpredictability and seeing how each rider acts within a group. Kopecky has always seemed intimidating to me, but watching her pull the group and encourage them to work together made me realise she’s just incredibly focused.

The XCO was great too. One of the best courses I’ve seen. I would have loved to go and watch!

Last week I managed to do one worse than this. 110km with 3,565m ascent. Doubt I’ll ever write a column about it, as I’m scarred for life

If there’s some weird formatting it’s because I’m on my phone in a tent, sorry!

I don’t think your rack is fugly, they are the best place for a big load and while I do love the Tailfin, I’m struggling to justify the cost of them having tried an Ortlieb Quick Rack. Tailfin is like buying a 911 instead of a 350z…

Something I have no reservations about is this frame pack:

https://singletrackworld.com/gritcx/2023/04/apidura-expedition-full-frame-pack-review/

<span style=”font-size: 0.8rem;”>
If you have the bladder it holds a lot of weight in the centre of your bike which is great for handling/balance. There’s a sturdy shelf above the bladder that creates a neat space for luggage – mine is the smallest size pack with the biggest bladder yet it currently has the following in:</span>

– Waterproof jacket

– Velo pouch full of tools

– Small towel

– Washbag

– Sealant pouch

– Spare glasses

– Solar power bank and cables

@nbt Those page numbers are for the Resort Guide previews. You aren’t missing any of the article, I had the same thought though!

@pauly thank you! I think the next instalment is one of the best days, closely followed by some unexpected guests on the last couple of days. It’s quite surreal looking back at it! I’m four days into the next bikepacking adventure, I brought a proper camera this time :)

Hi everyone! I’ve been lurking since 2017 and have probably posted no more than twice in the main forum.

I’m Amanda, I discovered mountain biking in 2015 and have since become less ‘mountain biker’, more ‘cyclist’. I don’t discriminate against any type of bike or ride, as my hormone imbalance and severe anxiety dictate what I’m capable of each given day. I find that mountain bikes go well for 2.5 weeks out of 4. The rest of the time, I’m strong yet uncoordinated, so I stick to country lanes on a gravel bike. Having had a serious concussion in the past, I pay close attention to how I’m feeling and don’t force mountain bikes when I’m not focussed enough to feel safe.

I have a PlanetX Tempest for groad, a Ragley BigWig for the majority of my mountain biking, and I’ve just bought a Cotic FlareMax. I ride most days, even if it’s just the 7 minute roll downhill into town. When I’m not on a bike, I’m either running, trying to use a pottery wheel, sitting in a doctors waiting room in blinding pain from my Womb of Doom, or swapping tyres because I’ve developed a rubber fetish.

I’m looking forward to this forum :)

My time seems to divide itself without me having much say in it. My approach is to commit to things I am 100% sure I want to do, that I feel are a good investment of my time, and if I’m on the fence about something I decline. There’s rarely a time I’d be unsure about a Reyt Good ride, or a bikepacking trip with Rhys, or a local Hope WMNs ride… so if my calendar happens to be dominated by stuff with Rhys, I’d make a point of dedicating the remaining time to spend with Vicky & Co. If it’s full of women-only stuff, I make plans to see Rhys.

Basically, if you’re 100% sure you want to do something, do it, and you won’t have regrets about how you spent the time. Since you get so much from the women’s specific stuff and also have a great partner to share time with, it should naturally balance out.

You could pull them to the side..?
Sort of related – I was supporting a 24hr time trial this weekend and a bloke had fashioned a drain pipe out the bottom of his bib shorts. Fortunately I didn’t see him making use of it.

@matt_outandabout Yes for my 13″ MacBook in a bulky case:

@munrobiker MunroHiker

@mpeacock Yes it’s the Lifeline Adventure Stash – not totally convinced it’ll work well on a bouncy bike but I took it off my hardtail for the commute home. It’s a really good little pack

I echo what @qwerty said, but to add that in my experience (I’ve been three times, most recently last summer) they don’t seem to do much maintenance. Tracks that should have been red/black were so blown out they were dangerous. Les Carroz is excellent, accessible from the top of the Grand Massif if you were set on Samoens, and there’s a rollercoaster through the trees for the kids that looks so much fun I’m annoyed I didn’t try it!

Nice door!

I think they geometry is a bit old for the suggest use of ‘trail centre destroyer’, and I thought it before bothering to look at the actual numbers. To ride it feels like it’d be excellent for a long day out, or a multiday trip, where you aren’t touching on playful trails. It’s a sit-up-straight, good posture, no stress on your arms kind of ride.

The caterpillars become quite prominent as we get deeper into the countryside. Horrible things indeed!

That was a pre-caffeine mistake this morning, I can only apologise. I did think ‘they’re 30 quid cheaper than my new road tyres?!’

Update! It turns out the ‘useless hook’ is actually a headphone cord guide. I guess the placement (right in the middle of the collar at the back) is for when you have a cargo jersey on, but I don’t have wired headphones to try it.

@stanley All will be revealed! But as a teaser, his name is Jack…