https://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/its-too-loud-in-here-ear-plugs/

This may be helpful too… 👍

Another recommender of the followme here..!

I’ve used proper moulded plugs since my teens as I  could never find any off the shelf ones that would stay in my ears properly. Pricey but worth every penny from my perspective – not really a compromise (sometimes almost seems like an improvement!) sound wise and stay in really securely.

I’ve got some musicians ear plugs with 15db filter from ultimate ears at the moment, which I rate and have had for a good few years. Think you can get other similar from other providers too. Looks like they now have two options (Inc a cheaper one for ‘concerts’), which they didn’t before.

They’ll sort getting the ear impressions (for extra £30) and then the plugs are made to exactly fit in your ears. Might be worth a look.

https://ultimateear.com/product-category/music/music-hearing-protection/

Not sure what your new phone is, but would something like this help? Just searched for the first one I could find, so not sure if this specific one is any good. I use the equivalent for an iPhone to use 3.5mm wired headphones with it with no issues.

USB C to 3.5mm Jack,Stouchi Type C to Headphone Adapter Aux Digital Audio Earphone Adaptor,Audio Dongle,Hi-Res DAC Chip,Compatible with Samsung Galaxy S22 S21 S20 Ultra Note 20,Pixel 6/6a,Pad mini 6 https://amzn.eu/d/5MbyIhA

I’ve been using a shotgun for a good few years now with kids aged ~2-5. I religiously mtb on my own clipped in. However, I cannot get a comfy pedal stroke clipped in with the shotgun so just use it with flats even when I take the kids on mtb trails.

We were with Pedal cover for quite a few years and changed due to new underwriter and listing bikes separately and reduction in the cover too (can’t remember specifics, but not new for old, and worse for older bikes, which a lot of ours are). Saved a good few £100s and got much better overall coverage now with Aviva found through a comparison site. Just followed moneysavingexpert and did the first one or two comparison site checks. At least I already had the list of bikes and values prepared for the renewal with pedalcover – getting this sorted was one of the reasons I put off looking at other options in previous years as wasn’t needed with pedalcover!

I use an escapist 25 for everything you describe and it’s great. Been going strong for 7 years now too. I would struggle to fit what you describe above in a smaller bag than I’ve got now without it bulging and compromising the fit/comfort though – especially the bulging back on the bike. I find the pack works fine even when it’s not completely full, but when you ram it full it doesn’t sit quite so well (this happens with lots of bags). Not completely full means there’s room to have a shirt loosely folded on top rather than rammed in too, so still looks presentable after. May be worth seeing if you can test fit everything you need to carry in an 18 before you commit.

@v7fmp

We just use ours with standard QR skewers on an old 26” slackline hardtail MTB retired to workhorse duties or our CX bikes. I phoned up before getting ours to chat through mounting options and things and found them really helpful.

We’ve got a followme too and think it’s great. Really stable and pretty manoeuvrable when attached (the main pro for us – no kid on the attachment leaning at 45 degs) and fairly easy to unattach to ride on their own for a bit. Pricey but good if you can stretch to it and look like they may hold their value – although we moved on from the shotgun in the height of lockdown #1 so can’t make comparisons for any bike kit prices from then!

I enjoyed my la Pierre zesty a lot, pedalled well enough for trails and exploring, but could handle rougher days well too – Pyrenees, alps, BPW… especially with DH tyres on it. As suggested above, my Wife and quite a few friends had Orange 5s that were used in the same way they all seemed to get on well with too.

Coincidentally the la Pierre is also just about to be for sale, PM me/bpbrown1986’at’gmail.com if you’re interested, happy to let it go for a non-covid-inflated very reasonable price (~£500?) to a STWer! It can be in Cardiff or Bristol… it’s an XL I think, I’m 6’ 3” and the upper end of suitable height for it.

We’ve had one of these for more than 3 years. It’s back in regular use with our second kid now and still think it’s great. It’s been into the hills and things a fair few times and is comfortable for a good few hours. More comfortable front in facing than front out facing, but both comfortable enough. We found over about 9-12mths they started to get a bit heavy for front if carrying for more than an hour or so (leading to aching back), probably not related to the sling. You can have them front facing in or out, or spin the sling around and carry them on your back with this sling though so can mix things up. We generally used a different back carrier (Osprey back pack) more than this for longer walks once they were ~9mths+, but the sling was good for back carrying when we went away without much space for stuff.

I use this sling on the front and wear a normal day bag on the back quite a lot and find that fine. Sometimes get in a bit of tangle when taking on/off but other than that ok. Balances the weight out a bit too.

We found a local sling library and gave a few a go before settling on this one. Guess most sling libraries won’t be operating at the moment though..!

https://ergobaby.co.uk/carbon-grey-cool-air-mesh-bundle-of-joy

We’ve had a BT mesh system for probably a year now. It’s been great, seamless moving between the different hubs and infinitely better than various extenders we’ve tried before.

This one

I’d like to know more about what makes a horse worth £80k and a drill worth £90k!

Finally! Some days it’s before 9, other days it’s way after 10. Frustrating if it’s not there until after 10 and you’re ready to watch it at 8.30. Lots of refreshing…

What mattjng said for Chepstow to A38, the most direct route (google maps walking directions) is on generally nice roads to cycle on, though you’ll want to be well lit in the dark to be sure you’re seen on the country roads. The google maps walking directions look pretty good from A38 through Bradley Stoke too, pretty efficient roads to cycle on and look worse than they actually are for cycle friendliness. You might find it quicker to stay on the main roads at the end, at the expense of being stuck with the traffic.

If you want to add to your route either way in time, Barry’s Bristol Bash route takes in some nice roads north of the M4 (and south for that matter!).

http://audax.lvis.org.uk/bash.php

I’d also recommend Alpamayo (link) – guys that designed them just finished cycling from Northern Alaska to Southern Chile, designed and tested prototypes on the way then got the products manufactured in Peru. They’ve put their products through their paces and they look great – good for road and mountain bike too. Story about it all on their website.

Thanks for the tips, sounds like clockwise is the concensus.

Any recommendations for other bits to include if we branch out a bit/pad out the two days?

Cheers

+1 for Cyclopaedia, massive fan of them. Great range, friendly service and very knowledgeable advice.

Yep, he hasn’t had anything handed in…