I’m not arguing, I agree it’s not the right way. But several sites advise doing it.

https://www.marshalls.co.uk/gardens-and-driveways/blog/how-do-i-lay-a-patio-on-sand

As the the guy that laid it.

I’m debating (after failing to get him to resolve) pulling up and doing it properly.

We had a patio the same as that laid on sand. Apparently that’s the way to do it now!

As expexted, it’s rubbish. Lots of moving slabs.

That’s horrible. Must be feeling crap.

Try to remember, MOST people are good people. It only takes a tiny percentage to ruin it.

Brand new white Vans

I did KAW on my gravel bike. The ridgeway was one of my favourite sections. Perfect bike, when it’s dry

You could use Maltodexterin at high quantities as it’s not so sweet tasting

If it’s a hard ride, I add sugar at 5g per 100ml to my bottles, in additon to a SIS hydro tablet. Find it easier to drink the carbs than eat them.

Not sure if this is bad. Proepr sports drinks use Maltodexterin. But I’ve suffered no adverse affects

I’m roadie, turned MTB, turned mostly gravel and a bit of road (80/20). I still own all three, gravel bike gets picked most of the time though. Bloody love it.

Maybe it’s marketing that spurred it initally, and of course there’s a lot of BS gravel lifestyle articles – as there is in road and MTB! But it’s incredibly popular now hence all the posts, that isn’t down to marketing, it’s becasue they’re bikes that people love to ride for a variety of reasons.

What are the Sonder wheels like?

Heavy OEM, not nice. First thing to replace.

The V3 is a different beast though isn’t it?

No, V3 is pretty simialr to V1/V2. I have V3, 2021 model. V4 is the newer, gnarerer one.

V3 Camino Al here. Most loved bike I’ve had. I have a hardtail and a Tarmac SL6, Camino always wins.

Only wish I’d bought the Ti version

Buy one!

Honestly, many thanks for your stories/responses everyone! It’s been something I’ve wrangled with for ages. I have spent a LONG time considering it, researching, asking friends who’ve had it done etc. Asking for feedback from nice like minded people on cycling forums! And it’s always a mixed bag of responses. Some say it’s the best thing ever, others have had “issues”.

Bottom line is, it’s elective surgery, for convenience. I don’t NEED it.

I work in IT so stare at detailed information on screen, and my commute is around 45/50 minutes on driving each way. If I had any postoperative vision issues, night vision problems etc it would significantly impact my (and family) life. This tips the balance.

So I’ve drawn a line under it now, it’s not the right decision for me.

Wife just says, why don’t you splash out on some prescription Oakleys for riding! So if anyone has recommendations for direct glaze cycling glasses I’d be grateful.

Yes there is.

“The loop” to us locals. Details here (Credit to another local guy for creating this guide)

https://www.outdooractive.com/en/route/kayaking/united-kingdom/salisbury-loop-on-nadder-and-avon/215766644/#dm=1

I haven’t been on my board since end of summer, so there could be the odd tree down to negotiate.
It’s a cool little loop with lots to look at.

Was just dicussing yesterday, on our gravel ride.

Are they late?? I can see lots of the plants in the usual spots but very few to hardly any flowers

We moved to Salisbury couple of years ago, so not too far away, similar terrain. I quickly ditched the MTB and bought a gravel bike! Only time I ride MTB now is with my kids, messing in the woods.

The area is gravel bike heaven (when dry!!), just miles and miles of beautiful rolling countrside. Lot’s of old roman/drove roads, interspersed with gorgeous little villages. Stunning scenery and big open skies. Lots of it is chalk and clay, so a f**%king nightmare when wet, but fast and fun when dry.

When I first starting riding out, looking for routes, I found it quite eerie at how quiet it was, having come from a large town where the riding consisted of a lot of urban MTB routes. You can go for a long time and not see a person of vehicle. That freaked me out. Now I adore it! I’ll often stop and sit for a bit just soaking up the solitude and watching some Red Kites soar.

There’s a few bit of singletrack here and there, but nothing much. Rooty single track is fun on the gravel bike!

I’ve seen a lot of people saying Will lost the plot.

He reacted with human emotion.

Maybe it wasn’t the right thing to do, but I think he’ll get a lot of empathy over it, even if people don’t say it aloud.

Elbow – Scattered Black and Whites.

I really love Elbow/Guy. But this one makes me quite emotional, instantly throws me back to detailed memories of my dear Grandad, and all the adventures he took us on.

“A high-back chair, he sits and stares
A thousand yards and whistles marching-band
Kneeling by and speaking up
He reaches out and I take a massive hand
Disjointed tales that flit between
Short trousers and a full dress uniform
And he talks of people ten years gone
Like I’ve known them all my life
Like scattered black & whites
I come back here from time to time
I shelter here somedays”

The two garages near me were 178.9 a litre yesterday morning. They are 178.9 a litre this morning.

Shell garage I passed was at 182.9 yesterday, and is 189.9 this morning!

I tend to wear older worn out road jerseys/bibs though, as a lot of the time I’ll sneak down single tracks etc and get snagged by brambles

spandex, all the way.

Same situation here, large-ish area, heavy clay soil, all winter it’s a boggy mess, meaning the lawn slowly dies between December and March – until it’s starts drying out.

I get it back again between now and summer with a lot of work.

I’m contempalted alternatives, NOT astro

We went “off-grid”.

Ice packs rotation (family sites have a freezer free to use). And a couple of Anker power banks for charging our phones, kids devices.

That was perfect. In the evening we went to a local pub anyway, so came back to tent later, and had a little campfire with the kids then all retired to bed – camping with kids is exhausting!

We did it last year for the first time. We all loved it.

I splashed out on an inflatable tent to make things a little less stressful, I could put it all up single handed

We bought one 2 years ago, new build.

Love it. It’s so rapid to warm up. No complaints so far

Apex 1x on my gravel bike has been faultless for over a year, loads of rough stuff and multi day rides.

+1 @guest1 and 90% of the traffic on the road heading the same direction.

70 mile round trip commute. Next week planning to drive/ride combo some of it.

Re. The waggle, as I mentioned you do weirdly tune in to it.

I remember the first ride I did on my gravel bike when I took all the bags off. I nearly fell off the thing as the weight shifting wasn’t there but I was still overcompensating

Just try doing it, see what happens.

Without over-analysing everything, and worrying about which tyre?!? Where’s the fun…

I used one of the giant seat packs for King Alfred’s Way. Can easily get overnight kit in there and then some.

I did not like out of saddle waggle though, but you tune in to it

Edit: Ah ignore that, just saw you said you needed laptop

very tempted to ride in

😬 that’s a decent commute!

Jumbo seat pack, à la lightweight bike packing setup

All of the above, bike fit, tyres etc. I’ve got that, experienced roadie. It’s the long commute plus work that was the quandry.

The drive-ride rotation is likely the way, and glad I asked now, Ta!

It’s not something I HAVE to do, it’ll only be if dry. If it’s freezing, very windy or peeing down I’ll drive.

Well, not as fast as it used to be, but that’s not the bikes fault!

Would be my carbon roadie, which is fast and comfy. Happily ride 4hrs on it.

Top tips, thanks again

I am fortunate, that in our office block I have a dedicated parking space here. Plus they have showers. Car can act as locker for shirts

Yes @thepurist approach does sound decent. I could leave weeks worth of clothes in the car regardless.

Good tips, cheers.

Yes, it’ll be 95% country lanes. And it would be zone 2 effort, keeping it light.

It’s only now that the daylight hours have increased that I’m starting to plan for it. No thanks in the dark wet months!

Get the train there

Not possible, no line between the two

I’m another who uses dailies only for riding. Glasses the rest of time.

I get very dry eyes if I wear contacts through the day in the office.

I’ve often thought about getting laser eye surgery, but worry too much.