Jam-bo : my plan is to leave vehicle at Crewe and catch trains.

Crewe-Machynlleth

Conwy-Crewe

 

Yes agreed looks a bit lumpy! Hoping to do it in three days.. I say hoping but with bikes booked on trains we pretty much have to stick to schedule.

Took three days to do Pennine Bridleway, which was further but less hilly. Road surfaces are gonna come into it. PBW was very rough in places which slows you down (as do all the gates!).

Would be  interested if anyone else with experience of the Wales route knows how heavy going it is compared to PBW.

Thanks

 

Good news, doing this next weekend. Useful there is the official route now  : )

Looks fun, I’ve signed up. And even already checked the train connections each end of the route ready for a bikepacking adventure later this summer.

Potato Alley was chunky for sure : ) I felt slightly under-biked (well perhaps just under tyred) as me and my mate Bobby skimmed down over the loose stones; taking the smooth line up to the right edge occasionally. Then another rider on a trail bike roared past us down the inside line! awesome. I lost my mate at a rocky drop-off half way down, I slowed a little to have a look at it rather than just charging over on first sight. I am slightly more cautious these days since my heavy fall last summer (as told in Singletrack 146).

Yeah the Beast loop we had saved to last but were done for by then, been a particularly snotty and exhausting winter this one. Most people I know seem to be a bit less than top form. Here’s to Summer, clean air, and strong legs.

Headed out yesterday with a friend and did this loop. Good fun, somewhat wet & pretty rocky as described. Exciting on the XC bikes. Left the Beast loop to last but did not take it on in the end. Tired and the everpresent backache, a little late for dinner, and alas slightly bash up after a prattfall earlier. Good day out all in all tho

I’d don’t support charges for UK nationals to visit any part of Britain & NI. For same reason I don’t support ringfenced locals only housing.

That sort of thing further deepens social divides and inequality. I grew up in a difficult inner city neighbourhood, and rail against any hint of protectionism.

I will not be constrained to my ghetto.

I feel just the same now I live in a picturesque town in the Derbyshire Peak District. It belongs to us all, not just to the locals.

Obvs the funding gap would be far less an issue in the awful Tory party wasn’t so willfully violent towards council budgets.

Exceptionally impacted places should be able to apply for additional funding. Snowdonia has National Park Authority resources for example.

Welcome Gareth – good luck – you’re gonna have a great time. Nice write up.

I ride all kinds of acoustic road/TT/Gravel/MTB bikes currently; but I’ll have no qualms about adding a motor when my rugby knees finally start to creak a bit too much for it to be fun.

Nice write up. I like reviews that are not wall-to-walk enthusing, this one is realistic and relatable.

(linky here!) seems to be missing the URL, at least it’s not working off this iPhone

Well said Hannah. I came to article via the podcast. I see why you checked before publishing! Like you I’m concerned about where government priorities lie.

Opposition also disappoint on occasion. They fret about upsetting potential voters, and duck out of taking strong positions.

I admit I do sometimes bite my tongue on environmental issues so as not to alienate too many acquaintances e.g. as they share stories of jetting off on holiday.

Nice! The Orange/Grey Ridgeback 601GS in the blurred manual caught my eye, looks like my first MTB. I can recall the exact feel of those Airgrips – through Pittards leather – jumpers for goalposts, happy days. I sold mine eventually to a schoolfriend. Replaced with a Raleigh steel road bike. I took the road bike to Uni with me for commuting, and appropriated my brothers Red/Yellow Ridgeback 601SIS for bimbling about on. I guess it wound up at the Recycling Centre about 2003.

Lovely bike, congrats! I have one myself and the redshift stem to boot. I had a Brooks cambium saddle but the carbon rails proved too weak off road : (

Eventually passed on my road bikes and just have the Tempest with a few different wheel & tyre choices.

What style of bike are you thinking of taking? Could be a bit tame if over-biked. I rode Grizedale loops & Parkamoor descent last summer on my gravel bike; it was good fun if a little jarring. Next time I’m in the area I’ll ride a hardtail, that’d be a perfect match to the terrain.

Thinking of paying moore, Roger?

: )

Issue 147 appeared overnight for me – not in a dream like –  just on the downloads page.

Cheers @jeffl It was me wot penned that one. I can sympathise with your collarbone. T’was a dislocated shoulder and broken collarbone that ended my unpromising amateur rugby career. I focus on safer recreations now.. ahem..

Fig rolls- this is the most wisest comment. Although I do like to call ‘em Fig Newtons, which can cause consternation among my ride companions.

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I do clean it off when I switch tyres Ie winter/summer. Though the dry latex weighs next to nothing so you are right – nothing to worry about at all.

Agreed you do end up fairly chunky bar. Suits me personally ‘cos I’ve XL hands

Wrap tape tightly, that is the main thing. Start point / direction doesn’t really matter.

Don’t do the big figure of 8 round the levers as a double wrap gets too bulky there.

Personally I’d invest in some cheap tape for the bottom layer. I had musty bar tape one spring on pulling my TT bike out of winter storage. So I’m cautious regards hygiene.

My Brand X dropper has twice seized up on icey rides in last week. Had to pull out seatpost to get the seat to stay up, and then not use the dropper lever for rest of ride. Will replace the (fairly new – grrr) cable. Short term fix for next ride I’ll just pull the bike into the house overnight to keep it warm and frost free

Hello o/ interesting thread this one. I live a Derbyshire mining town called Wirksworth which has a complex geology. To the east is sandstone and gritstone (the last traces of the Pennine mountain chain). Which affords great grip, though the mud is that gritty damaging type. To the west is the White Peak with those slippy albino limestones.

I’ve switched to flat pedals this last year and am finding it less stressful in slippy conditions.

My house is on a lump o’ clay. So unfortunately for the Guinea pigs the lawn is a quagmire for 6 months of the year : )