Sorry to hear about Mark, he was going so well. His partner, who is up there, had DM’ed me via Twitter to say he was having knee issues.
Anybody know anything more about Steve Wilkinson?
Arno Minner got a move on after a slow start. Last saw him just after Kings House and he was 3rd from the back at that point. As a veteran of AZT750 I suppose Scotland is not so tough. A really nice, friendly guy.
Hi Nikk – its Kevin from Friday night / first day. You are going well, you will get through it. Try and each fresh food rather than processed for a bit if you can.
Just having a look at my saddle bolt, I have rounded it off trying to tighten. Oh dear!
I see overnight Mark Goldie has dropped to 4th and Ian Barrington has pushed on into second place. Mark seems to have rested longer. Looks like Aidan pretty much rode through the night to increase his lead.
Bryan is out with sore knees. Steve Wilkinson faceplanted himself and is out but don’t think he had a tracker. According to Matthew Lee SW may need surgery to regain his dashing looks. Hope he is ok. Anothetr of the front runners has knee issues but do not want to give anyone encouragement.
Oliver Webb is on his honeymoon and no great rush. Saw him atk Ossian YH where we had brandy with the warden. Andy Farish went wrong in Kinlochleven losing 2 hours but doing ok now.
My seatpost kept slipping causing a knee problem. After Ossian it could be a problem getting out so on my way home, sadly. I also think I did to much a few weeks ago – I bikepacked across Spain – and was not riding strongly.
Awesome route and plan to tour it sometime. Cannot believe Aidan’s pace. Aidan, Mark and Ian Barrington all on singlespeeds. Arno Minaar is and Oliver even built his own singlespeed.
I never quite got on with the Ergon grips and bought some Specialized ones which were fine. I think thry were a bit hard to the touch and hurt my little handies. The Spesh ones are softer.
I think Campag looks nicer. Had it for some years now and upgraded the cranks a while ago. Just Centaur groupset with Record cranks. When I initially bought it the brake cables were buried under the bartape and looked so much cleaner than Shimano with cables all over the place. Shimano have sorted this one out since.
Get what you fancy, what looks nice and is a decent price. They all work but don’t be put off Campag.
Bit like kinda666 earlier with BR/Network final salary pension. I left 2.5 years ago at 51 and have enough to live on. Its great, off for a 2 or 3 day ride tomorrow!
Would have been tough if I had to pay for it all myself. I did save in share ISA’s and bought a BTL house 14 years ago to help.
Pieface – I have a wi-fi alarm set up in my garage which works fine.
My garage has water ingress from outside (was a thread a few months ago) and I am getting a mastic floor installed after a couple of other jobs are done. Some good tips on this thread. I might *need* a wood stove as well :-)
Only drawback that I have found is that they do not do a long drop version if you run mudguards on your bike. I have Campag Centaur on my summer bike but on my winter bike I had to have Tektro. (Did not want to mix Campag & Shimano on one bike)
On R5 this morning some expert reckoned sausages were better for you than bacon. The presenter did sound surprised at this, as was I. Don’t eat a lot of bacon and sausages very rarely.
Binners was not quite correct ^^ there when ranting on the retired; we go to the Lakes mid-week (it’s quieter and it’s rounds of Cannock Chase:-)
I love listening to Christy Moore and Luke Kelly, beautiful voices. Regularly listen to CM’s 1964-2004 box set is particularly excellent. Bit of anti Thatcher/Reagan/Tory action going on which may offend some but not me.
From his Planxty days and opening track on ‘The Woman I loved So Well’:
Cheers Stoner. Doubt Mrs B will be camping mid winter but I may do so, I do off my bike as it is (every month in 2012) so insulated Pop Top may be a good option if available.
Thanks all. There is a good warranty on either roof but we are likely to be keeping it a long time hence concern over fabric.
My driveway is a little narrow to get the van down with the wing mirrors. It would squeeze in the garage but would need work on the door required first as my Berlingo will not quite fit height wise under the door. Sufficient headroom for a Pop Top.
Space is always at a premium in these vans and any little extra helps
Bit surprised Adrian Timmis did not get a mention as he raced with Gould/Baker/Foord etc back in the day. He runs Cadence Sport in Barton under Needwood (near Burton-on-Trent)and did a bike fit for me about 2 years ago. Saw a pic on his wall sitting down in a field spattered in mud which I recalled from an old cycling mag.
If stw could put a pic of Caroline A on the front page of the mag record sales could ensue!
I have got some vhs tapes of Malverns in 94/9/96 which I should get transferred onto dvd sometime. Steve Peat, Rob Warner etc all racing. Also Paul Hinton who was doing mtb skillz in a mag almost losing at the bombhole. Front wheel down first but saving it. Just.
A lot of good advice above. If you get to 40-50 miles 2 weeks before you will be fine. 10 weeks is enough time to prepare. If you can be bothered intervals once a week would be beneficial as well.
As CtBN says don’t forget to eat and drink regularly. I usually have 2 bottles for that distance. Years ago I used to regularly do 60-70 miles and wanted to do 100 miles. Read an article that said if you can do 60 easily enough then to do 100 just go a bit slower, not to hard on hills early doors, and eat and drink. And this worked.
Got my bill yesterday and I am £52 in credit. Moved house from 2 bed terrace to 3 bed detached last year and bill trebled to about £450 so decided to have a meter installed. (I live alone). In future they are going to charge me £12+ a month so probably about £16 once I have my credit back. Happy bunny with a meter here.
Think you have it right Graham. I also use the ‘big hitters’ or LBS depending on what I am buying or speed I need it. Go somewhere else for a PSA off here sometimes but that would not attract the discount anyway.
Cheap option is to use Alpkit drybags attached with straps to bars and saddle and they now do a frame bag as well. A bit posher, so a bit more expensive is the Wildcat gear:
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Partial frame bags can be got off Ebay. Loads of options really depending on your budget and how much you are planning to do.
West coast all good. Burren and see Fr. Ted’s parochial house. Through Galway and Connemara. Quiet rosds through Mayo, Sligo and into Donegal. You can head along the coast past Derry onto Limavady, Portrush and onto Bushmills and Giants Causeway.
Its all good – just pick the bit you fancy. Susrans maps available for the North.
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