We did this on 1st October this year and I was anticipating day full of snakebites, not a single puncture between the 3 of us. We stayed at the Ranger YHA so started and finished there, this has the benefit of maximising the singletrack and finishing on fun down bit.

There are two tracks to the top of the Telegraph one at SH5729 5528 which is the bridleway and one at SH5747 5533 which is marked as a footpath. Both have marker posts.

Try here:

http://tinyurl.com/8fnn394

Last winter when training for a big road ride I got feed up with cold feet on evening rides clipped in. Solution V8’s and 5.10’s worked a treat.

No, he bails on the big gap jump and is rescued by his faithful companion the dog.

November, likely cold/wet/windy and white on the top but you might get lucky. Two things for sure though, short hours of daylight and a long way up.

I’m liking the Bolle suggestion, used to collect Bolle clear and tinted safety specs for riding they were excellent for the “price”.

Get the SLX you won’t regret it. All three of my bikes have unmatched pairs and it has never caused a problem.

I’ve used both Julie & Louise for a few years on different bikes. Do the job well and easy to live with.

You shouldn’t need a triple. Get a 50/34 chainset and a 27 cassette on the back assuming the mech can handle it that combination should get you up most things.

Most likely in the rain.

You could try some with double poppers offset to one side like these:

http://www.altura.eu/products/men/baggy-shorts/summit-baggy-shorts.aspx

Avid Juicy 3 Brakes
Torx bolts
Race Face X bottom bracket (current pet annoyance)

I have tried to do the Lairig Eilde/Gartain loop twice in winter. One time I turned round at the high point and returned the same way, the second time I continued down to Dalness in Glen Etive knowing I could get a lift back, good descent. The problem I had in winter was crossing the river about 1km from the road, the second time I went up there it was in spate so had a frustrating hike up the side of the river for about 1,5km before I found another crossing point. If you get across the river I don’t recall any dramas although no doubt bits were boggy and there was some pushing.

Map & Compass

On the matter of fit, mine came with pads of different thickness to help with the fit. Worth experimenting with these when trying it on and before parting with the cash.

I have had once for about 6 months and can’t fault it. It is no hotter or colder than any other helmet I have worn. It is (perhaps) surprisingly light and comfortable, I wore mine on an 65km all day ride in the Cairngorm recently and it stayed on my head throughout except for food stops. I quite like the fact it comes quite low on the back of the head compared to traditional helmets.

voeckler is the man of the tour for me

Agreed, top turn yesterday and seeing him “sprint” last week to win the stage shows the effort he has put in. Hopefully he has something left in the tank for today and can get the spotty shirt for keeps.

I’ve ridden from the col between Pitridh and Geal Charn (having pushed up on a Munro type expedition) to the the SW End of the Loch. The first part was good singletrack, once heading down the Allt Coire Pitridh the track soon widens out as it seems to be an old estate road. It is fast and the ground varies. I did have a look at the other way which is probably more singletrack and technical but didn’t fancy it on my own on winters day.

Orange sub5, it can start the day silent as sleeping baby. Gradually various elements of the cutlery drawer orchestra would tune up and by the end of a ride the whole lot was going full bore. Nothing the conductor could do about it. Adding a set of Juicy 3’s beefed up the percussion wing of the orchestra to good effect.

Indeed, it just seemed more obvious on Sunday. I didn’t add to the scar tissue.

Nukeproof Warhead bars in bright yellow, makes it easy to spot the bike outside the cafe.

I was at Cannock over the weekend, first visit for a while, and noticed much bark damage to the narrower gaps between trees at bar end height.

That is what the video shows. I guess if that oil is not drained and one puts the full recommended volume in the leg there is too much oil in the system.

I then suppose that when one has completed the job and cycles the fork a few times the oil goes back through the port to refill the damper.

This is where I find things a bit confusing. I’ve no desire or need to a cartridge service but this video:

Shows oil being drained from the unit, about 1 min 50 secs in. Also the Fox help seems to suggest the same thing.

Presumably, before putting the lowers back on a refilling with oil one has to drain any residual oil from within the damper unit itself.

32 mm Fox Float RL 140mm vintage 2010

If I go the recommended route, how do I get the blue lock out thing off the top of the leg?

Cheers, it is open bath needs 160ml damper side.

Thanks all, looks like the Blender should be on my list.

just stand up and pedal all the way up to the top of afan..!. of course you could just get a longer seatpost I’d go that route as it doesn’t work as well the other way.

He didn’t believe me on that one so I took his 13″ Rockhopper to Cannock, dropped the seat and pointed him uphill. Long seat post is now on the shopping list.

I was thinking of starting with at 100mm because that is the fork we have and then upgrading next year to something longer. A frame with some flexibility would be ideal, would a small Bfe be rubbish with a shorter fork or just missing the point?

I should have said it is a birthday present and the deal is a new frame with other bits perhaps not. Intention is to go 1X9.

Can’t believe we’re on page 3 and no one has noticed this

Noted on page 1.

+1 for Lefties, just plain wrong.

Don’t have one but look good:
kelly kettle

They are remarkably good, bit of a techique to getting them going but thereafter very quick to boil. Bit bulky for a bike I would have thought compared to the MSR and a metal cup.

whimpering around the coast road to Glen Coe, up the Glen on whatever trails we can find, back onto WHW”

Follow the old road through Glen Coe village, passed the Clachaig to where it meets the main road again, cross this and pick up a track on the south side of the road. The track goes between the Loch and road. Follow it passed and below the parking areas on the main road to Allt Na Ruigh. Cross the road and pick up a trail on the North Side (you may have to do a short road section here). You should be able to follow this all the way to the big layby opposite Lagangarbh where you can rejoin the WHW.

My original reason for Ae was that it is close to the M74. This has advantages because I probably won’t be passing till after lunch on March 7th and the daylight hours will still be short. I have to be in The Fort at a sensible time on the afternoon/evening of the 8th to get sorted for others arriving. I’ll wake up on the morning of the 8th with all sorts of good intentions about departure time. Such intentions are likely to go AWOL once I start riding; “That bit was good, I’ll go round and do it again. Oh I wonder what’s up there” etc

All these half an hours add up and are likely to result in my climbing mates standing around in the cold/wet saying things like “Where the f*** have you been? Probably p****** about in the woods on a dandyhorse!” :-)

I thought the closures at Mabie were partial, not knowing the place do they have a big impact on what one can do?

Thanks. Perhaps Plan B might be better, afternoon at Mabie stay at the bunkhouse then a morning ride at Ae before continuing to The Fort.

I wonder is it this ride:

http://www.viddler.com/explore/johnnyfuel/videos/9/

Seems to only take them half an hour :-)

If it were me doing it then I’d be worried about falling asleep and generally feeling yuk due to jet lag.

As you don’t seem to have prepared the ground you only have option 1). It may cost you more than you imagine so I hope you have allow for a peace offering in your budget. My new P7 doubled in price post purchase!!

I had a play with one of these

http://www.staples.co.uk/commtiva-7-android-tablet

the other day at the local Staples. They are now a bit cheaper in store.

I use one of these:

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/topeak-mini-morph-pump/