I came across them filming this on my way to work one morning. I wondered why the road was shut and there were police and an ambulance not doing much.
Not quite a reconstruction as he is travelling the road in in both directions. Nevertheless there is no doubting the message.

Any idea what Laggan is like as heading North this weekend?

Kaiser, the Italian forum is very interesting, thank goodness for google translate. Have been looking at the Tour Mont Combin, there appear to be a clockwise route taking in Col Ferret or a shorter anti-clockwise route. There also seems a way to combine it with a route around Mont Fallere, have you tried any of these?

B.A.Nana, sorry router failed at the weekend. Could you get in touch, my email is in my profile. The book sounds good, happy to paypal postage.

Ta

Allthegear – where did you fly to and how easy where the trails to find? We are more xc than downhill, Pila seems more of a freeride/DH area but i may be wrong.
Banana – there is a book on Amazon with some 61 trails in it. Was looking to see if it was worth splashing out £30.
Ideally i fancy a couple of days riding in the valley with maybe a 2-3 day trip using huts.

Took the family whale watching in Husavik and Reykjavik a couple of summers ago. Saw Minke whales on both trips, I think theses are the main ones you are likely to see, not the most active whale on the surface. A bit underwhelming in some respects. Probably had more fun whatching a family of killer whales of the cliffs at Arnastapi.
Fab place and aiming to go back.

That dosen’t look good. Is it possible to stick to landy tracks but still get a decent distance eg Bonaly – Castlelaw-Loganlea-North Esk-Borestane-Listonshiels etc

Agree with RD 2.4 Ardents are huge but ace if you don’t mind the weight.

I have mixed feelings about XT wheels. I had a set for a couple of years when the freehub seemed to go. It was in fact the axle threads that had stripped. I couldn’t get the hub replaced as there where no after market ones you could use with the rims (according to Alpine bikes). On a plus note Alpine Bikes sent the lot back to Madisons who sent me a new wheel despite its vintage. This was despite me buying the initial set from Merlin.
They are very easy to run tubeless and until the freehub/axle issue had been faultless.

Superstar feedback appears very variable but the wheels look worth a punt. Anyone tried the Fulcrum set?

Thanks, two replies and I thought it was going to be one of each. Looking at the map clockwise looks better. I tried it once before on a rigid steel monstrosity in the early 90s but didn’t make it much beyond 1/3 of the way up aMount Keen and walked the rest. Hoping to do better this time!

I am running a 2.4 Ardent and I wondered if that was the problem as it sits quite high on the rim. Rocketdog – I wondered why the chain wouldn’t stretch!

I haven’t managed to set the screw yet as I cannot get it to fit onto the seatpost. I have a dual pull mech and it is worse!

When converting a triple to a double is there a limit to the size of the larger chainring. Can you for example go 38/24?

Forget it – no VAT/duty on prices!

You could try the MTBR maverick forum. There are plenty of knowledgeable people there I am sure would be able to help.

I will have to dig out Kenny Wilson’s book although after the last time I said never again….
Drummond Hill sounds a possibilty, any one with more up to date info?

How did you find the Christalp? Am thinking about giving it a bash this year although entry looks a little expensive.

We did a circuit this September starting and finishing in Blair Atholl and staying in Aviemore and Braemar. I logged the 3 days into walkjogrun.net. You can find them by typing in the start location (Blair Atholl, Loch Morlich and Braemar) and looking for TCC. It is very similar to the route from the Vertebrate Graphics book.

You get a real feel for being in the wild at times but it is not technically challenging with a max 15-20% singletrack. If it has been raining prepare to get your feet wet crossing the burns – we did!
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DSCF0784[/url] by BigR02[/url], on Flickr

I had the freehub fall off an XT775 wheel recently and tried to get a new hub. Madisons don’t have any and there doesn’t appear to be an alternative. Thankfully they replaced the whole wheel despite it being ~2years old.

Ta for the advice, not easy to get off but levered it up through the valve hole and then ran a blunt knife round the edge.

Thanks for the quick reply, I take it that won’t stop it working properly in the future?

Not looking too good but we are meeting another 4 in Aviemore and are all booked up. I think the rain finishes tonight so hopefully levels will drop over the next couple of days.

Wind is more likely to be a hindrance than the gradient.

Thanks, no info on traffic Scotland when i looked. Planning to get there 45 mins before they are due.

Steve – there are points for a climb on the Moffat road – hard to believe I know as it is more of a steady drag before the drop into Moffat.

Thanks, I have the Alp-x and they are brilliant althought the first pair delaminated. She is thinking of spending £35-50 so the altura ones may be a possibility, she is a size 10, would that be extra small in the men’s?

Did the TOMB last year with 4 friends going clockwise. The worst bits for pushing were going over the Bovine on the first day (never again!). On the last day above Chapieux was the Col de Bonhomme. It had shut the weekend before so no coffee or beer. Once off the road mainly pushing to the top. The first half of coming down was very rocky/narrow and full of walkers. On and off your bike a lot. The second half was more fun. I think there is a better route further North-West but we were on a tight schedule doing it over 4 days.
The only other long walking section was under the ski-lifts out of Courmayer. Most of the morning was walking uphill with little biking. The descent however was fab – one of the best. Good Luck

Superstar excels it is – thanks

Very safe and minimal risks if not done repeatedly. Shouldn’t be that sore in a shoulder as long as the person who is doing it knows what they are about. Smaller joints and feet in particular (eg plantar fasciitis) are much more painful. NB – steroids won’t tighten up lax ligaments.

I have had a VN Zephyr for 5 years now and it has been fantastic. Built up with a ultegra triple (don’t laugh), open pro/dura ace wheels and middle of the road kit it is 19.5lbs with atac pedals. I am 13 1/2 stone and have never felt any flex in the frame. Apart from the ride the best part was the price from Big Al at Wheelcraft north of Glasgow – £1450.
I have chopped and changed MTBs over the years but have no desire to change the road bike.

It may be worth speaking to Tony at Thumbprint Tuning. Certainly worth checking the valve is screwed in properly. Where you aware it was knackered when you bought it?

Ton – what was wrong with the Gary Fishers? Only asking as I fancy a paragon.

I would agree that a last years model will get you better spec with minimal downsides especially if the frame hasn’t changed. I bought a Kona Kula for my daughter from Pauls and it has been great value. Much better than a similarly priced current model.

Second hand will be better again if you can get a good one. As it happens I have a cannondale caffeine for sale for £520…..
http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/fs-racey-hardtail-rolling-chassis-size-large

How easy is it to get the parts to convert the Maverick? Is it an easy job?

Ta

What type of bike. My FS did the same when the linkage bearings were done. If a FS can you wiggle the rear from side to side?

Thanks for all the replies, working my way through the links at the mo. Looking at the tours/trails on sites like Dolomiti and the Tirol trails I am surprised at the asphalt/singletrack ratio which looks poor. There is another classification of gravel which I presume is like a Landrover track.
If anyone has been is there plenty of easy to find singletrack or do you need a guide?

Thanks for all the ideas, I was wondering about the snow. Walking at 840m at the weekend in the borders and virtually snow free. I was hoping it would be similar.
I think we will pop into the Croft and see what they suggest.

Ben Chonzie sounds fun, i don’t mind pushing a bit. Did you take the bike to the top and how long do you reckon for the round trip. Is it do-able in 3.5hrs?

thanks

AlasdairMc -sounds like a bit of an epic. Will only have half a day as the bettehalves get half a day to MTB as well (silly idea!). Might try the course of the St Fillan Challenge and then the Hairy Coo route.

If the frame is cracked won’t cannondale honour their warranty? Might be able to upgrade at a reasonable price.