First season that the little one will be able to go on ski lessons! Woop woop! Probably back to Ardent and a lads week at some point.

Still trying to find some Norrona trousers on sale to replace my 12 year old westbeach’s!

On the hunt for a new Bern hard hat.

2nd season on NTN bindings so no hardwear required.

Weighing up a decision of whether to use leave to do some adventure training or go home to visit my parents, my sergeant said,

” when you’re old and sat in your retirement home, what are you going to remember, teaching lads how to to ski in the alps for a week, or dicking about with your mates at home like you’ve always done?”

Toga skiing was something I’ll never forget!

Basically, do what your future self will thank you for. It’s my first thought when stuck with a hard call.

I’m bishops Waltham.

Plenty around as mentioned above. Being a jock and not from the local area, do what I did. Get an OS map and go and explore.

Stoke park woods down hill trails are now open and they have a face book page etc. Not used it yet but heard good but scary things.

Lordswood is ok too. Conveniently right next to Southampton bike park.

Well that was emotional. Was in the 2nd wave at 0435 and rolled over the finish line at 1655.

Felt like I really struggled this time round but when I checked Strava, I PB’d almost every segment on the first half. Now considering that I’ve ridden those segments more than 20 times, it made me realise that my pacing was well off. Still bet my previous by 2hrs though.

Had the wife’s trek remedy 8 stolen from our shed a couple of months ago in Bishops Waltham. Camel back with tools and spares stolen but power tools left behind. Definetly mtb targeted.

Been searching ever since to see if it pops up on eBay, gum tree etc but nothing.

Can’t help but think they’re probably abroad now.

I lathered up with vasaline at the start 2 years ago and was fine by the end.

I 2nd the comment about the gravel patches. Pretty drifty.

My plan is to take the first half slightly faster as I know it better than the 2nd and it will be cooler then tone it down after the YH just after amberly.

Don’t know if I mentioned it before but take a bell. 😀 it really is worth it.

I’ll be the one ringing at the start.

I’ll be on my t130s. I’ll look out for you. I did winch to old winch hill and back yesterday at midday. Significantly cooler thank **** with a nice northerly.

I don’t have one but don’t have anything against them. If it gets folks out cycling it’s great.

Just a different perspective though.

How long until ramblers groups etc, start questioning whether they are motorized transport and start arguing about bridleway usage etc?

Do you think they’ll start affecting mtb access in the countryside?

Being a sweaty sock daan saarf I think countryside access is bad enough.

I’m doing it next Sat too. I did it back in 2016 with the BHF.

My training was 2 longish (40 mile) rides a week with 2 or 3 smaller ones. I live 3 miles from the route so used the hills from the route on my training rides.

I Did winch to qe and back yesterday afternoon and the heat was a killer. Drank 4 litres of water, 3 energy bars and a sausage roll at qe.

My tips;

Have a bell. Walkers appreciate it and they might even hold gates open for you.

The chalk is very fast and grippy because it’s so dry, BUT, because there’s nothing binding the gravel patches together it’s like patches of sand/ball bearings. Be careful.

Have a bell.

Make a mile chart of the water stops on the route so you dont miss them. It’s seriously hot.

Have a bell.

Take really stodgy food like sausage rolls, pork pies etc. Proper morale booster. Gels are good for quick fixes.

Don’t stop for more than 5 min.

Pace yourself. There no shame in walking up either. There s plenty of climbing in the 2nd half.

Have a bell.

Start in the first wave.

Vasaline for the bits.

Sun cream.

Have a bell.

Look up. The views are stunning.

Just did bishops Waltham to Amberly 2 days ago. It’s in great Nick but because it’s soooo dry the gravel patches are pretty slippy!

From an ATC point if view, NO.

QE is running really well at the moment. Over the back to Buriton is bone dry but I think their is an archery competition on Sat in Head down plantation.

Are you trying to sell me a bike 

Thanks CG. Gutted for my wife. Very bad start to the year health wise for her. She’s now on the mend and was looking forward to getting out now.

I’m 10 miles away. I’ll keep my eyes open.

Just looking at something different for a night ride tomorrow and saw hen wood near East meon meon. Anybody been there?

I’m racking up miles for SDW in a day training so might take it in as part of a route.

Everything’s drying out nicely round here.

I’ve done the same with my old 26inch trek 6500.

11 miles each way

1 x 11 for simplicity. 36t chain ring.

Can’t recommend continental double fighter enough. In 3 years I’m still on the same pair with 1 puncture. Nail.

Mud guards

<span style=”font-size: 0.8rem;”>always just commuted with a rucksack. I put a high vis cover over it.</span>

Id go for a short travel FS 29er but my day to day riding wouldn’t suit it.

Did it 2 years ago on my t130 and will be doing it again this year on it for the BHF. others were faster but I was comfortable all the way and felt freshish at the end.

Now tyre selection is my head ache this year……

My wife may be interested. Not experienced but has ridden their before and would be happy to gain more confidence.

I live 3 miles from it. This time last year it was drying out nicely. Now…. absolutely not. My winter riding has consisted of stripping down the bike and washing it after every ride. I’m so effed of with how bad the conditions are round here that I’m doing laps if QECP until it improves.

As previously said, sounds like a holding stack. Mine are down south for Heathrow, Luton and Stansted so don’t know this particular one.

When you drive up the A3 to the M25 the Ockham hold is more or less at the junction so you see the same effect you described.

Separation requirement is 3 miles OR 1000ft. 1000ft doesn’t actually look like much!

Cheers folks. It’s a pipe dream at the moment as cobrkai mk2 is due in august.

I say pipe dream, but it will be done.

I’ve got a pipe dream of cycling from rural Hampshire and get the train to London.

Sleeper to Glasgow central, cycle out to milngaive and do the WHW then great Glen to Inverness. Sleeper back to London.

It’s the bit from Waterloo to Euston that scares me most.

Always loved the lynx.  Was doing a job at R31 (or 13, can’t remember) above Newry. Bessbrook to job in a Puma. Straight forward. Did the job and were told we were vizzed in and to wait for next available chopper.

A lynx coming back from Armagh said they’d pick us up. Having never been in a lynx I jumped in, rifle pointing down then tried to find seat strap. See the door gunner snigger and speak into head set. Pilot looks over his shoulder and back. Door gunner sniggers again.

Next thing I know we’ve shot upwards and what could only be described as a rotating fall to the side of the hill. We dropped like a stone following the contours and then practically flew below tree top height back up the river to  bessbrook. I Never go on rollercoaster now because they’ll never match the buzz I got from that.

Also had a Puma land on my shoulder in Norway. Because of the white out the crew need a ground reference when landing. You stand with your arms out until the plexi glass is about to head but you then curl up in a ball. It was at that point the pilot ground my shoulder into the snow.

I forgave him because he was friends with our chief instructor and we  blagged a morning of heli  skiing north of Voss. Tax payers money well spent.

2nd time this year for me.

Everything comes through the post ie, bib number etc, but there’s also route maps at the start point from what I remember.

Didn’t need the gpx file as it’s well sign posted.

Fair point. Didn’t want to knock her confidence but I suppose I should have more faith in her!

Did it in 2016 and signed up for this year.

I worked up to 100 off road miles a week over 3 months.

Whyte T130s

Stopped for 5 min every hour and ate a scotch egg, nuts, energy bar, golden Virginia rollie.

Get a bell. Gets the walkers out the way.

Invest in a tough side wall tyre set up. I didnt and had to bodge it. The flint is bad.

I’m local to the start so knew how bad it can be when wet or dry.

Be in the first 5am group.

Vasaline your bits.

Sun cream.

No shame in walking up towards the end.

It’s great. Loved it.

Wife’s meeting me at the end then attempting a night out in Brighton with friends…….

I am now.

The reason I got it was the rear seat wouldn’t fit my full suss so on holiday I had to take my old boring hard tail. Once the little one was in bed I didn’t fancy going out on it.

Now when I go away I just need to take the full suss and I can have a play when the little ones in asleep.

It just simplified everything for me so it’s the only seat I’ll be using now. The good thing is I can take her balance bike strapped to my dakine on my back so she can get off for a play on her own. Couldn’t do that with the rear seat.

Got to say thanks guys.

First ride out today with the Mac ride and the little one screamed with laughter the whole way!

She loves it!

Much better that I can talk to her as we go along!

Footfall we lucked out 2 years ago. When we arrived the wall had been shut for 3 days due avalanche risk. We chanced it and went up there first day first thing. It had been opened about 15 min before and I think I was about the 5th or 6th skier down it. Best powder run of my life!

British heart foundation SDW in a day is good. I know it can be done on your own but they way Mark the route clearly so you’re not map checking all the time, good atmosphere and a pint and a massage at the end!

I’ve signed up again for this year.

Thanks Stoner, good shout on the family insurance.

Done. Usually come down into Winch on monarchs way by st Catherine’s then loop back out on the sdw. Might stop by next time to break up the ride!

Off to avoriaz for the weekend on Friday then back to Ardent with the family at the end if the month.

Looking for recommendations for off piste insurance. Bank card has on piste and off piste with a guide but I’ll be with a local who is not an official guide.

I had an extremely bad lower back a couple of weeks ago. Never happened before and I consider myself quite fit so took me by surprise. Couldn’t stand up from sitting and couldn’t pick up my 2 year old.

Pphysio says my lower muscles are less well developed than the top 3rd so work harder.

Here is my ultimate cure, I swear by it!

Lower back pain yoga by adriene on YouTube! There’s 2 videos specifically for lower back. 15min and 32 min. Alternate them on a daily basis.

My mum (nurse 35years), wife (yoga ninja) and the physio all recommended it.

As someone who’s never tried yoga it was a complete eye opener.

Once the back pain has subsided I’ve to concentrate on core work instead of leg and CV!

Teamhurtmore, the bike barely needed washed when I got back. Everywhere was pretty dry.

Cracking day. Work mates wife tagged along to.

Yoghurt pots, telegraph then climbed up Leith hill for a cuppa.

Summer lightning all the way to end then back up Leith hill. Played on random single track.

Back over to holmbury hill then a play in some random single track before Barry knows best home.

I don’t mind climbing, especially if the downs are worth it.

So my work mate is coming with a catch. I’ve to pick the route and he’ll follow, making adjustments I required. His thinking is that it’ll help me commit the area to memory, which is a good idea.

I know pirbright well from 10years ago. Spent 2 years running around it, never on 2 wheels though! Might go back for old times sake.

Looking at the map and my vague memory, that’s quite similar to What We did. Figure of eight loop. Is it worth pushing over to Leith hill?

Thanks, I’ll have a look!