The real fun starts when you end up with two prescriptions for near and far, expensive variofocal land. I either wear my spare set or distance prescription Oakley transitions and have the readers in the bag in case I have to fettle. Transitions are fine until you hit a dark wooded section at Glentress (for example)on a bright sunny day as they don’t react quick enough, it can get exciting.

Unfortunately he has abandoned at JOG, from his Facebook page:

Arrived John o’groats cause of numerous probs I will be ending my record attempt here.we have learnt lots+its been v good training for RAAM

Still 3 1/2 days into a freezing headwind is a bloody fine effort.

There is a good photo account here:

http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/a-cairngorm-loop

I did that as a day ride last July, really good. Not sure it is a clear cut decision on the tool for the job. I did it on my P7 which was fine. A full bouncer might add some comfort and be preferable for some sections.

Also worth keeping an eye on this:

http://www.wheresthewater.com/?q=river-levels/scotland

For the likely river level on the Feshie.

I am 5’8″ with a 31″ inside leg, I have a small BFe and it is one of the best fitting bikes I have ever had.

My son has an XS BFe and I can ride it, it is a hoot downhill and for general messing about. It is problematic uphill because I can’t get the seat post high enough to get the full stroke and the top tube is a bit short. I have ridden it is as an all day bike but it is tiring.

Have a look here:

http://www.bikeadventuresuk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=12707

It has a link to some recent photos.

Two hour blast from Keswick, go to Whinlatter.

You can add to the fun if you ride up the road through Braithwaite and pick up the trails at Masmill car park. Follow this round and do the South Loop back to the visitor centre then the North Loop. Back at the visitor centre pick up the bridleway down to Thornthwaite and then the road to Keswick.

True but the Remedy is not a poor climber.

I just can’t get on with them and certainly wouldn’t opt to buy a set.

Had one bike with Juicy 3’s which were fine when freshly bled but would rapidly deteriorate. Invariably the things would need realigning if the wheel was taken out. The pistons would stick. They rubbed and made horrible noises. It became of feature of just about riding trip to do some serious brake service on the Avids at some point, while not evening thinking about other types.

Bought a Trek Remedy with Elixir R’s at Christmas, the front brake was useless from day 1 with rubs and stuck pistons. I thought here we go again so having a spare SLX I just put that on and had done with it. The rear was fine and worked really well. However, it stayed in the garage for a month without use until about a week ago when I took it to Scotland. Guess what the previously functioning brake was now a mushy mess, lever to the bar no problem and one piston stuck in place. Completely lacking any confidence in it I decided to fit a Deore rather than have to constantly live with yet another rubbish Avid.

I am not much interested in why they do or don’t work or how easy it is to sort things out, I can’t be arsed. None of the Shimano, Hope, Magura and even Quad brakes I have (or have had) on other bikes present me with none of the problems routinely associated with Avid.

Thanks all, looks like lay flat is the only option with some karimats between the frame and imagination for the other kit.

I did a week in Wales with 2 bikes and full camping kit in a Ford Ka with bikes flat so should be a p*ss easy in a Golf. I’ve been spoilt over recent years with a Mondeo Estate where these sorts of issues don’t arise.

The problem with laying flat is where do I put all the other kit, for two, that will include a couple of rucksacks and North Face duffle with cycling and climbing kit. I thought upright bikes would be more efficient use of space.

Problem is I don’t have the car to experiment with. Pick it up Friday evening and once done so the dye is cast as it were.

This one has been doing the rounds for quite a few years, not saying it won’t happen just don’t hold your breathe.

If in a group I usually stay here:

http://www.innerhaven.co.uk/

Very flexible and another that is more than bike friendly. Andy is a top bloke, really knowledgeable and always up for a chat about biking in the area and beyond.

If you want a short route then Redmires, Pole, Hollins Bank, turn right at road along to Dennis Knoll car park then up the Causeway, Pole, Redmires. Anything else would be longer.

It is the bridleway to Hollins Bank car park below the Plantation. The first video shows the ride over from Redmires Res via Stanage Pole.

He’s fifteen, he’s not subtle

I’ve got one of those, he has a BFe.

I swapped from SPD to Speedplay a few years back as I just couldn’t get on with the single sided entry of other road pedals. The only downsides are they can require a positive click in and the cleats do need a bit of TLC.

Top effort all round, and great write up.

Another vote for Osprey Escapist 25, I reckon it rather generously sized which is a good thing. It is remarkably comfortable and “out of the way” when riding and can easily take enough stuff for a day riding or walking off the beaten track.

Compartments are well sized (including the top phone/camera) and easily accessible including the little zip pockets on belt/straps for on the go nibbles. The “Lid Lock” is a bonus and even with cold/wet/gloved hands is simple to use.

Customer service is pretty good too. I broke one of the zip pull tags the first time I used it, mailed Osprey and they send a pack of 5 new ones by post straightaway.

Communique to BaldyGeek Towers [stop]

Thanks for update [Stop], Debit card at the ready [Stop]

Souls are utter rubbish, get a BFe

I intend to once they have some stock at BaldyGeek towers, if anyone at the towers is tuned in perhaps they could give us an update on that.

In combination with the rse lard get some really good bib shorts, which probably means Assos they really are worth it. Wash and dry them every night during the ride.

The full invitation to tender for 2013/2014 is here:

http://tinyurl.com/adfcvgz

Doesn’t include any new facilities.

Presumably the tender referred to is:

http://www.lagganforest.com/news/6-dec-2012-laggan-wolftrax-business-opportunities.asp

If so it is for a relatively short term venture for 1 (or possibly 2) years starting around Easter this year. So presumably would use the existing facilities rather than a new visitor centre.

Will be handing over the cash for a Trek Remedy 8 tomorrow and have a new Cotic BFe frame on order for delivery at the end of the month. So 2 more to add to the 26 list.

To be honest I never even thought about a big wheeler for either.

Cy was pretty insistent with me that its important to get the sag right as this affects how the chain tension interacts with the suspension

That may well have been part, even a significant part of the problem, not sure it was the complete story. There were parts of where I rode it and it felt really sluggish, wallowed around and generally needed more work compared to other bikes I’ve ridden down the same sections (Orange 5 and various hardtails).

More recently I’ve been riding a Trek Remedy 8 and found that much easier to get on with, although in fairness I wasn’t at Whinlatter.

None of which makes the Rocket a bad bike, it isn’t, rather it didn’t suit me or the riding I do.

I had a demo day on one from Keswick Bikes, took it to Whinlatter for the day and did several laps of the Blue Route and South Red.

It was disappointing on parts of the blue route where it goes down through the woods between Mass Mill and the other car park. Part of this might have been the suspension set up but it did give the impression of being rather too much bike for the job in hand.

It pretty much shot up the hill to the top of South loop no problems. First go at the top section of South felt a bit similar to the bit in the Blue woods. However, once things pointed downhill after the fire road it really did come to life and show it’s true colours, absolutely fantastic. Tracks well, corners superbly and will fly off anything. Back up to the top and rode the upper section of south with more Umph and it was better but still felt like a bit too much bike for the situation.

I concluded it wasn’t the one for me as it felt like too much bike for the stuff that I do.

Got a refurbished set for the Teenager last summer, they have stood up to whatever abuse he has chucked at them without any problems at all. I’ve ridden on them and didn’t see any noticeable difference to my own Hope Pro 2 on DT rims.

The Epic stuff is good, I have used on Avid Juicy (shudder), Shimano, Magura and a Quad.

He’d need to get a Stiffee first.

This thread is a bigger time waster than a couple of cats :-)

What way are you thinking of for Bidean? Surely there would be much portage going up and probably down once at the river into Corrie nam Beitheach?

I’d be interested to hear if anyone has ridden Creag Pitridh, Geal Charn and Beinn a Chlachair starting from the A87 near Moy Lodge. You can get to about 850m between the first easy enough on a path.

I’m going Buzzard, they can be pretty big. I regularly see a pair sitting on a fence post watching the traffic at a busy roundabout on the M40.

Once out on the roadie one dropped out of a tree and glided along beside me for about 100m at head height before it landed on another perch. Fantastic looking thing.

There was some quality among the tat, DMR Vaults

Hopefully, amongst the shirts, socks, and assorted tat there will be some quality bits and bobs for the new BFe build coming up in the New Year.

I thought it was up ranger down Llanberis but I’m still doing my homework on this one

Probably not the best way but you might be getting confused.

You can start at the Ranger YHA ride the zig zags and then over the col and down the Tynyraelgarth valley to Llanberis. Up the tourist path and then back down the Ranger. This means that once at the top it is down all the way back to the car including those zig zags you went up in the morning.

End of two week family holiday in Scotland including Glentress, Fort William, Laggan and lots of playing round Aviemore. The last day I got the antidote to trail centres, a 60km solo ride round the Cairngorm from Glenmore Lodge to Glen Feshie. Saw no other bikes and only a handful of walkers, terrific day.

The view is from the high point of the Lairig an Laoigh looking into Glen Derry

A kitten would be better, he’ll end up having to walk the dog rather than ride the bike.

I am about the same height, with relatively long legs and short arms. I ride my sons XS BFe.

It is a right hoot downhill, through the woods and at a dirt type park, I don’t tend to drop the seat right down as I can’t actually pedal with it that low.

The downside is the uphill, the top tube is a bit too short even with a 65mm stem. I also suffer on the ups as I can’t quite get the seat post far enough out to pedal efficiently, have a 400mm post but probably need another 25mm. A full day with lots of up does get tiring.

Even allowing for the downsides I love it and much prefer it to my P7 which will be going in the New Year to be replaced by a BFe.

I have had a pair (pacestar both ends)since September. Ridden Snowdon, big loop round the Hope Valley in The Peak, couple of trips to Cannock and a very wet week in The Lakes. Haven’t really thought about the tyres they just do what they do.

And despite whacking a few rocks with the back end only one pinch puncture (at Whinlatter) which was definitely down to me not the tyre.

That looks superb, hope to take one for a day demo ride next week in The Lakes if the weather is not too unpleasant.