Me and the teenage beast cycled from Geneva to Nice last year following the route des grandes alpes. It takes in 18 cols -some real classics (iseran, Galibier, Izoard, Cayolle) and some lesser known. 700km and around 18000m of uphill. We took camping kit  to make it harder but in hindsight hotels would have been better!

From the map to the track where one would turn right to moulzie. Thanks both.

Coverforyou.

they do MTB as an add one but it doesn’t add much.

i have had to claim 3 times with them on various holidays (injury, covid and covid)  and they have paid out in full.

Did this route a looong time ago. But over 14 days but 9 would be fine. From Barra to stornaway, camping, some wild, some on campsites, sometimes outside hostels that allowed us to use their facilities.

You need to cycle both sides of the southern part of Harris. And ride along the track that follows the western beach on south uist.

We cycled back from Ullapool to Inverness-much easier than I thought it would be

Fridge runs off gas and have a solar panel.

Battery is about 4 years old. It gets trickle charged by solar panel.

I would have thought the longest time it would be parked without being moved would be 3 days. So would only be able to fully charge it once I guess.

Thanks – it would be lights, devices charging using the battery so sounds like it would be fine?

Search up
Bike oisans on t’interweb – loads of routes on there

You can pick up cycle route suggestions for rd and MTB in tourist information – they provide great little booklets. Also try the website bike Oisans.

Definitely do the balcony rides on either side of the valley. You can also descent from the alpe towards Allemont – a lovely descent.

La Berade ride is sublime.

Col de sarenne via the balcony route and back down the 21 bends or to allemont and back along the valley bottom is a good day out. There are some good places above AdH on sarenne road to park up for the night as well.

We have always used a bike rack. Locked bikes on with a not particularly roughy lock and then covered them with a bike cover. If necessary reversed up close to a hedge to make it impossible to access. Owned a van for 17 years and never had a bike stolen.

Cirencester

Outdoor and indoor pools

Biking in the Cotswolds plus a419 uplift
FOD not too far away
Lakes at south Cerney for swimming
Lots of pubs and restaurants

Or Ballater. You can swim in the river. Loads of stuff on Trailforks

Coverforyou.

They charge a bit extra to add lift assisted MTB but cover skiing off piste.

Have claimed from them twice and they have been excellent

Someone up thread asked for a female perspective.

I wasn’t sure about kids, lacked a maternal instinct but we got to a point where all the holidays, mountain climbed, weekends biking, meals out and fine wines etc. got a bit same-y.

My son was born when I was just shy of 42. For the first few months I went entirely through the motions of keeping him alive because that is what you do. Really didn’t enjoy the early months- it was brutal and I didn’t have that immediate adoration you are supposed to get. I was so relieved when I met some other mums (not many) who felt the same way.

At about 5 months the love hit me like a tsunami. And it has got better. He is truly the best thing that has ever happened to me. And turns out I am really good at being a mum (which I didn’t expect) – whilst holding down a full time job. And we still have holidays, climb mountains, spend weekends biking, have meals out but now skip the wine as you never get a lie in.

We cycled Newcastle to Edinburgh up the coast to Berwick then along tweed valley and then over the hills at Innerleithen to Edinburgh. We had a night on Holy island which was cool. Got train back to Newcastle.

It is at lot more than 10 years ago that I last took a bike on a plane – haven’t flown with bikes since the oompa lumpa was born.

Thanks all – it seems like we will be fine as long as the boxes aren’t at the weight limit.

There used to be an annual snowdonia etape that started in Caernarfon. The canol (middle) distance is 76 miles and takes in the main climbs. See if you can find it on inter web. There is also the shorter Bach route at about 45 miles.

That kind of spirited driving on B roads in n Wales has led to serious injury and death of motorcyclists. Don’t be one of them. Thankfully a lot of the B roads now have average speed cameras to save people from themselves.

Push up from Llyn Crafnant and descend to Capel Curig. Not super techie but lovely.

Oh and the descent of Moel Fferna near Glyndyfrwydy

Perthshire is glorious in October and whenever I have been, really good weather. Or Cairngorms

Thanks to everyone that has replied to my OP. I think we will have a grand day out.

Colin does guiding as well and weds eve rides.

Try Ed at PedalMTB- works out of coed y brenin

A) pension so I can stop having to work
B) housing costs – live somewhere relatively cheap

Park by the pen y grywd hotel. Get the 10am bus down to beddgelert and ask to be dropped off at start of Watkin path. Where it flattens out take the path up to south ridge and up to snowdon and descend via pyg track back to car.

Oh and check there isn’t snow up top.

Mr lumpa bought a triangular tarp from decathlon, put bolts in the wall and attached two points and then a wooden post to hold the other end up.

You could also try ziptying a dog Carrier box to a rear bike rack on a hardtail. Or use one of those collapsible boxes you can get in B&q. Previous BT was quite happy in the box, whilst he could easily have jumped out he never did. He was a bit spesh though.

We have a BT, when he was a pup we just put him in a rucksack on walks although he did fall out.

He comes mountain biking and on road sections and fire trails he sits on top tube with paws on bars. It’s more comfy downhill if you drop the seat as then his bum Can sit on your knees. If we are feeling nice, we attach a bit of padding to top tube.

Previous BT did this as well. Train em young and they think it’s normal

Yoga. 15mins every day. And a bit if core work if the yoga sessions don’t do this.

But do it later on in the day when warmed up not first thing. I have problems at neck/thoracic junction and also in lumbar area. Yoga has improved the pain by about 90%

Also recommend abi carver. Her instructions are utterly clear.

For each egg, add as much milk as will fill one half of the cracked egg. Whisk with salt and pepper.
Melt butter, twirl around pan, add egg mix and cook slowly until only very slightly runny

I was advised by a neurologist recently to take Vit D. I said I try and get out every day in winter to make sure I get enough Vit D. Neurologist said that you can only get enough Vit D from sunshine in winter in northern hemisphere if you live Rome and south.

Shorts Shredz XS – really tough long lasting

Winter Trousers – decathlon mh500 trousers

Dominic’s sock puppet

I get that you want a holiday – we all do. But we all need to act selflessly right now and just stay at home. Don’t go on holiday just because you can.

The tapas place in dolgellau, very good

Try Bracdy in Llandyrnog. It’s a CL.

Well they wouldn’t if I didn’t tell anyone and didn’t post anything on Strava/social media. Partner is a social media junkie who would find 3 weeks without stealth boasts hard.

Plus I am quite senior so should
Be seen to be doing the right thing.

Thanks all for thoughts.

I am WFH but employer has said would have to take unpaid leave if have to quarantine. This is because those that do have to go into somewhere to work in my company couldn’t if quarantining and would have to take unpaid leave. It isn’t very fair if their is one set of rules for those that go into work and those that can WFH.

Still dithering. Would only lose crossing cost so no great loss.

Planet X ones don’t fit very well. Have to tie knots in ear loops. And don’t have nose wire.

Boden ones are good, fit well and have nose wire but risk of being not very manly although did get some plain ones in the pack.

I opened my it – will I die?

I opened my it – will I die)

you can just about bike up the monroe ben chonzie

there is some biking around the monument and on the trails around either side of the river that goes through the devil’s cauldron, Get an OS map and have an explore

comrie croft has some suggestions for routes outside of the trail centre