Boblo – I paid £245 from field & trek. We have one in town but available mail order. Current tent a bit small and in TD want a tent i will look forward to getting in to.
Aidan – thanks again for advice a few months ago. I had achilles problems a few years ago just stepping on a loaded bike to ride all day about 4 days in. Learnt my lesson. Planning steady start and pick it up in Wyoming….

valleydaddy – it is about keeping weight off my back but there will so will use the wingnut on thiose occasions. I should be able to get about 6l on board.

The harness contains a spare set of riding kit, waterproofs, Finisterre Etibicoke jacket, bug net and some Patagonia leggings.

Frame bag water and maps plus tyre levers, puncture repair and first aid kits.

Rear bag has spare tube multi-tool, tent, sleeping bag and toiletries.

Tent is a Terra Nova laser photon I just bought in a sale and the bag is a Western Mountaineering one.

Wingnut will have a Thermarest neo-air mattress, plus personal items such as passport, camera, cash and food for on the go.

@Stuart – can the tortoise beat the hare again? He has already won Strathpuffer this year so he won’t be a sweating mass by the side of the trail after 20 miles! So looking forward to it.

Hi Stuart, seemed to be struggling earlier in year but 2 weeks in Majorca has kick started my training.

Got a 10 week plan I started last week to get me into peak fitness – by my standards anyway. Saw one of my TD competitors ride 20% quicker than I ever have round a club TT course last Tuesday!

This is my set up:

[/url]
P4060689[/url] by blackhound59[/url], on Flickr

It is a Voodoo Aizan 29’er with Epic Designs (now Revelate)harness and saddle bag with a wildcatgear (IanB) made frame bag. Also a wingnut bag as an overflow.

The Wildcatgear bag is very well constructed with 3l of water in the main compartment, but can probably get more in and a map pocket on the other side. I also have 1.5l in the wingnut (the bidon you can see is empty).

It all looks overkill for 3-4 hours on Cannock but it is my set-up for the Tour Divide this year so just getting some miles in to make sure it all works. Everything stayed secure and did not feel to heavy once I got it rolling.

Last time I recall him on here he was whining about Government policies!

Luke is OK, just young and telling it how he see’s it / or it probably is.

I’d join in with a baclpacking club. Would be a good resource.

Have a look at http://www.alwaysriding.co.uk Loads of choice there

£25! You could have got a big ‘toblerone’ bag from Poundland for, err £1. A few about last year at WRT.

Just booked the Eurostar each way – will spin my way from Brussels avoiding any dodgy looking sponges….

Thanks both.

The Nano would have been preferred but not currently available. The Bonty tyres I currently have on Bonty rims were a pain to get on, did not want the same thing all over again with the Conti’s.

My sister analyses asbestos samples – it’s her business.

Look up East Riding Laboratories in Hull.

Did not realise that the euro health insurance card had limited life span. Just had to renew mine.

Still not sorted my Eurostar ticket.

Craft is excellent quality as is ibex. Look here for a number of brands and excellent service:

http://www.alwaysriding.co.uk/bodywear-146/cycling-jerseys-46/

Chrome bumper Naim’s are nice. Sold mine after about 15 years for about £50 less than I paid for them. Got some newer style Naim pre / power amps (72/140)to replace them. And they seem to have appreciated while I have been listening to them after a quick look around a few months ago.

(Ron Sexsmith sounding very nice as I type)

My No 2 has arrived and just remembered I haven’t started No 1 yet!

A lot of truth in there, looking forward to next 5 episodes.

I think you are correct about NL and DS, they are cooks not chefs, but don’t tell your wife she’s wrong!

I believe the difference is that chefs manage menus and staff while cooks get there hands dirty as it were.

Lorraine Pascale is a trained chef and she is a lady, can’t think of any others.

Had a ’93 Clio for just over 10 years and now on a 7.5 year old Berlingo both from new. No problems with either and would buy French again – mind you total mileage is 90,000 since September 1993.

I’ll be at a secret bunker on Sunday during an audax. Not sure if I should take a picture or not!

Chilli, spaghetti and home-made soda bread

Valentine’s day tips:
=http://twitter.com/#!/GhostfaceKillah]

Thought this was another Top Gear thread;-)

Blakes 7.

By the time I caught up with it there was only 4 or 5 crew and none of them was called Blake!

Got my other half a bag and a belt.

Vacuum cleaner is running perfectly…..

Just sent her a text message – free within my contract!

Not helping all those capitalists make a fortune out of me;-)

Use your common sense and think about it before jumping in.

Mrs B and I bought one 12 years ago and the income just covered the mortgage so a small loss with insurance etc. Over the next few years rent went up and the mortgage stayed much the same or dropped and we overpaid and it was paid off 2 years ago.

We do not let to students or the unemployed, though this can of course change during the tenancy. No problems with tenants to date and current one has been in 2.5 years.

One way to look at is if over 20-25 years the rent covers the mortgage costs the house will have been ‘free’ even if the selling price is exactly the same as you originally paid for it. Any capital increase is a bonus but maybe can’t be guaranteed going forward – even allowing for the supposed shortage of housing stock.

dhb make summer weight ones. I have a pair and also their thermal longs, all excellent value.

Spesh make some nice one’s as well. My Rapha’s are excellent but I paid £20 in a seconds sale, not full rrp.

Quite like my Zoic stuff but I think they got taken over by another company, could be mistaken there though.

http://www.alwaysriding.co.uk do quite a few US brands like Twin Six, Ibex (which I really like) Swrve and a few others as well.

Cannock Chase has got some good courses – if the mtb’ers don’t get in your way;-)

I raced from 1974 to 1991and it was great fun.

Enjoying Episodes, amusing rather than rofl. Suspect background story may be more true to life than we think though

Its all here stupid;-)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toilet_paper_orientation

I now use Eye Deal Optics in Derby, Animal prescription glasses, glazed for £80. Was quoted ~£100ish for some chromatic lenses which I need to check out. The shop owner cycles as well.

Can’t remember the exact number but the chance of a driver hitting someone is really high, some have hit people a couple of times. Not nice for anybody involved.

(Recently retired from industry after 34 years in a nice warm office except for odd trips to Craigentinny, Forth Bridge, and worked at Heaton for a spell)

Nothing really winds me up, I can see threads disintegrating and leave them to the usual suspects to do there worst. If anything it makes me smile as I go to a happier place. Or ride my bike.

I had a Nait 2 for years (upgraded to s/h 72/140) and got most of my money back when I sold it. I could probably sell my 72/140 at a profit now if I wanted to!

Would recommend the 2 over the 1. As said above would be better to try with your speakers and in your room if you can.

I did listen to an Audiolab 8000 and did not like it at all, most boring amp I ever listened to. BUT, others like them and you should listen and make your mind up, and not care about what us lot think. Your money and you that has to listen to it.

Yes,colours are advisory only

SSEC that weekend

Group go from the John Thompson in Ingleby pub every Monday night at 1830.

Derby Mercury organise this and a few go out (including me) at other times.

DVATC, of which the_muffin_man is a member, also ride in the Derwent Valley, not sure which evenings though.

Pilates building as well as said above.

Cordoba also excellent. One of my favourite cities.

There was a nearly new Genesis Equlibrium for sale on Road.CC a few days ago.

I have used a Roadrat up to 300, entered a 200k next month. A bit heavy perhaps and might get something else in time. All the fittings though.