At 19m51s on this video the track splits. Guy takes the right track and the descent looks great but he says after riding it, they decided to change the route to keep left snd go straight on and descend down the road. Does anyone with local knowledge know where this is and got some directions where the good descent brings you out? Thanks

there’s only so many times you can listen to Guy Kesterven saying ‘bee-yoo-tiful’

I love history, roman stuff, castles, burial chambers, hill forts, henges etc and he points them all out so I put up with it. I think his videos are far better than most. Hopefully keep smiling adventures will cover it shortly.

It’s “brand new”, just been publicised today

Yes, looks that way, the route guy did in the video is different to the official route as it was over grown and a bit hikabike in places. Sounds a bit rushed. Hopefully it won’t have the same problems as the other routes they’ve done recently with access issues.

 It were hard on the CX bikes with gravel tyres on

Having watched the video it does look like there are some good hills so you need good gearing if your carrying gear. I think I’ll still be doing it on a rigid mtb with very fast rolling tyres.

@Intheborders

I’ve a Scandal, got a full-frame custom bag from Alpkit

Please can you post a picture?

I have a half frame bag and a bottle cage on the downtube with an adjuster to offset it lower (XL frame). I’m about to drill the frame (it’s out of warranty and cheap to replace it it fails) to put some more bottle cage mounts lower down as the bottle has damaged the bag.

I might put some mounts under the downtube for my repair kit that fits in a short bottle.

I have also been considering a full frame bag but I was concerned about side winds. Thanks

@jamiemcf what’s the tallest you can get away with on the 20 inch version?

How do they get on with the weight? I’m guessing the plus tyres add a lot compared to his hybrid.

@dove1 I was looking at the to broken road in the sonder shop a few weeks ago. It’s a lovely thing. How do you get on with the sliding drop outs? Do they ever give you any bother?

I found the q factor to be short on the xtr M9000. I had to get a m9020 I think which was slightly longer.

I had a chain guide that was fixed by the drive side bb. I had to remove that. Then the plastic locking pin fitted into the hole on the non drive side crank arm.

How much spline is sticking out? How many spacers on the bb do you have?

Im thinking of ditching my xtr cranks, far too fiddly and the chainrings are far too expensive these days.

I love my on one scandal with a trek 1120 carbon fork for bike packing.

My 4 year old was amazing on a balance bike but struggled to adjust to pedals. He didn’t understand why you bother with pedals as it slowed him down and made riding difficult.

I wish I’d have bought some of these clip off pedals rather than removing them and putting them back on all the time.

Rock bros sell them for £20. Unfortunately they are metal. Haven’t seen any plastic versions. Maybe you could add something to make them less sharp? “steel nails” don’t sound great. Maybe they are removable or can be filled off?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/265758891017?chn=ps&_ul=GB&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=710-166974-033325-9&mkcid=2&mkscid=101&itemid=265758891017&targetid=2327185221301&device=m&mktype=pla&googleloc=9191227&poi=&campaignid=20411889018&mkgroupid=170432968230&rlsatarget=pla-2327185221301&abcId=9318057&merchantid=101716137&geoid=9191227&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwmOm3BhC8ARIsAOSbapXbo3yz1HEqfdFvwwBg9vcniPYNt4n4zKt-n90LX4bJMYKl8o0P9Z4aAlysEALw_wcB

Re the spada trousers. What size would you recommend for someone 6ft3 and 34 waist? I’ve looked at the size guide and still not sure. Does the waist cinch in well with that ratchet design? And does it dig into your waist at all? I’m leaning towards a large and hoping they are both long enough and stay up.

Thanks

Better video here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ

I just know that’s going to be a Ric Rolling video after this comment. If it isn’t, I’ll be disappointed :-)

So what’s the trick, get people to click on a link with out a description?

@mugboo which gpx route do you recommend to use? I just downloaded the one from the official site but I’m confused what’s open and what isn’t. Thanks

Hi,

Im Just researching this route after spending time around there in the campervan with the family. I was really looking forward to it until I read @martinhutch review.

Anyone made it there and back on the train from West Yorkshire? Is it possible for 2 people?

Whats it like for picking up food on the route? Looks like it should be pretty easy.

Looking at doing this middle of September weather permitting.

Which way is best? South to north as per the guide book?

@didnthurt have you ridden it? You always wrote really good reviews. 

Thanks

Thanks for responses. I got the £29 Anker in the end.

I think the anker ones allow for the power bank to be charging from the mains and charging a device. Not all power banks do this.

Its worth doing a test to see how much power you can put into it in an hour. So if your running low you know how long you need to stay in a pub to get enough charge. Some take 24 hours to fully charge. Make sure your plug and power cable is decent to speed it up. Do the instructions tell you what power plug to use?

Just a quick update and a review.

Just about to replace the boreal crux shoes as I’ve a decent sized hole in the right foot. I’ve probably worn them a few weeks too long to be worth spending money on resolving them.

They are probably the best shoes I’ve owned. Lasted nearly 8 months climbing 3 times a week, that’s 2 months longer than others I’ve had.

The aggressive lip disappeared quickly but they were still excellent on small footholds. Great for smearing.

Pretty comfortable shoe for a performance shoe. My friend were jealous as theirs were killing their feet.

They did stretch more than expected, still a great fit but the heel was a bit baggy. I think I need a half size smaller next time.

As a synthetic shoe they were quite smelly. I’ve washed them a few times and they seemed to get smaller after every wash but not in the heel.

My local climbing wall doesn’t sell boreal anymore. Before I buy some more on line does anyone have any recommendations and links to shoes under £100 mark?

Thanks

https://bananafingers.co.uk/boreal-crux?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw4f6zBhBVEiwATEHFVnfYaTar2I0vfLYGRjc5mZJ2-0W6ZLq7iGoGmG4LBmrX8R0VwJ690xoCkWYQAvD_BwE

Five years and $700,000 later …

And the rest! He’s not skimped anywhere!

I’ve always wondered how much he had in savings when he started this. He originally said he would work on it, then go off and work and save up and come back.

He’s had a lot of free labour but he must have been paying staff for the last year or so. I think no feet Pete was the first full time member.

Patreon and YouTube and adverts must have paid well but I’d love to know what his original plans were or was he confident that social media would work?. Watching some of those early episodes when he’s man handling some of these massive beams was what got me watching it. Thinking how on earth is this bloke going to restore that rotting ship on his own.

Now it’s almost done and he’s got 5 or 6 people working on it I’ve kind of gone off it but I’m committed now 4 years on and need to see it to the end.

Some YouTube shorts pt1.

I’m no expert on hardtails but I love my on one scandal. You can pick them up cheaply to test them out.

Things like this are one of the reasons I don’t buy bikes from Giant anymore.

After the last thread a lot of us said we wouldn’t buy new from giant ever again. The whole point of paying extra for a new bike is the back up of a warranty but if they won’t pay out, what’s the point.

Singletrack did a really good article asking brands what their policy was with warranties.

I’d be kicking off, I’d want it in writing it’s not structural, maybe an xray? Then that means it’s a paint defect that should be covered in tge first 12 months so I’d want it repairing.

They are just seeing if you will give up and p1ss off.

Really good pictures and lots of them. Really good descriptions and a good title. Ebay when there’s an 80% off offer. 99p start, set a realistic reserve. 14 day auction. Hold your nerve. Always offer postage to maximise your audience.

Post it insured. Add costs to the advert but explain it in the ad. Offer collection.

Not going for speed, just want to make it enjoyable rather than a slog.

I’ve seen a few people bail at the corrour station as they ripped their tyres coming down off the mountain. I think you need to find a balance between fast rolling and tyre protection. Make sure you take some sort of tyre boot/floss so you can repair a tyre.

No idea if I’m right but I tend to use copper slip if it has threads like threaded bb and bolts on bottle cages and mudgaurds and pannier racks etc and if no threads I use grease like headsets, seatposts etc.  If it’s carbon, then the special carbon grease stuff.

So far it’s worked fine but I’m sure someone will tell me I’m wrong 😂

Ptfe tape then Grease

If the bottom bracket is the correct size and round then you shouldn’t need Ptfe tape and you shouldn’t be able to fit it if it’s the correct size. But I guess perfect bb sizes are rare so people have come up with solutions. If it’s not round then Ptfe could make it worse where it touches/doesn’t touch.

However, if it’s oversized I can see the benefits of Ptfe tape but ive found my bearings go from the outside, not from the inside.  My frame has a drain hole for any water that gets in.

But I haven’t tried it so I can’t really comment but it’s an interesting idea.

I remember those days but they don’t last forever.

My best ever rides were macride rides, tackling some pretty good long xc rides.

Glad you sorted your travel. Public transport with bikes is a hassle.

I did it on a rigid mtb with 29er 2.6 inch tyres. When we got to the train station a couple of gravel riders were abandoning as they had split tyres. They said they had struggled coming down off the pass.

There was a lot of road on the last half but at no point did I think id have preferred it on a gravel bike, some of the descents were a lot of fun with the reassurance of bigger tyres.

I also needed the easier gearing on my mtb.

I really enjoyed it except the 2 and a half hours of pain after fort Augustus.

We too took extra food but managed to find enough on route but we were glad to have it just in case. The highlight was the post office cafe just after a big descent. Can’t remember the name but the food was amazing.

And the sawyer water filter got used more than any other trip I’ve ever done but probably because there’s a lot less livestock on the hills than I’m used to.

It’s one of the reasons I moved 1x. Road cycling outers are the same, sometimes more economical to just buy new.

I’ve got some triple chain rings in good order if anyone wants some.

I’m 6ft3 3 and I’ve tried all sorts. My friends have the alpkit one. I like the alpkit soloist xl but it’s difficult to get in and out of when it’s wet (opens at the top) and when you open it in the morning it tends to drip into the tent due to how the door is designed.

I purchased the Lanshan one a few years back and I find it’s the biggest solo tent I’ve ever owned. It’s been good so far. Stood up to some poor weather in Scotland. It was a lot cheaper though when I bought mine. Seems a but steep now for a cheap tent. You also need to seam seal it.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/285045495350?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=twcwmqmrtlc&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=XQz0tf3FQJC&var=586882380623&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

If its popped out its always worth giving it a good clean but your first instinct is to shove it back in ASAP to stop the brake fluid coming out.

As long as you didn’t damage it going back in it should be fine.

I had some on my touring bike that hid away in the bars until you needed them. Then you pulled them out. They were OK, a bit small, too narrow. Never at the right angle and probably too low.

In the end they were more useful for shaving. Eventually they snapped off and I binned them. 

I think the picture in @irc post is the one if go for if I was going to try them again.

Thanks everyone for your help. When I got home I managed to pop off all the clips and lost a lot of skin. Managed to prise the door card enough to get my hand in and pull the rod to open the door.

I’ve used some gaffa tape and a zip tie to hopefully stop it opening again. I’ve now left a flat head screw driver and trim tool in the van for next time!

Luckily my van is set up off grip and I didn’t need the electric hook up and we found enough level campsites to not need the levelling blocks.

Absolutely loved the nc500. Highly recommend it.

Cheers

My lad said you need to Press the plus button twice

My lad has Minecraft on the switch and he sets it up with split screen, 2 players. No idea how he does it. I think he found a setting somewhere. This is on the TV, not when in handheld mode.

Its scares me just how good he is on a computer and Minecraft at just 6 years old.

I’ll ask him tomorrow and let you know.

Alpkit do repairs. They might even do an alteration for you.

I think id just stick a hot metal object through the size you need and burn a hole (depending on material) it will singe the strands and stop it freying.

Or cut a hole and use clear silicone repair glue to stop it freying.

Can you get the door card off?

Its got a Kiravans plastic door store on it secured by plastic rivets. I can only get to a few of them.

Its not looking good!

bash your back doors in?

As soon as I uploaded it I wondered how long it would be before those comments 😂

but when you’re trying to hit a £1000 pricepoint on a decent build

Out of interest, what would you change if money wasn’t an issue?

Seat tube length could of course be shorter for modern droppers,

Mine has a 150 dropper in. Not sure the bike really needs more than that. It’s a do it all bike, not a dh rig.

 I nearly bought one myself when they were on clearance last year!

I nearly bought a 2nd one the other day when a full bike was £550! Incredible value.

Also think the XL should have a longer headtube, but that’s true of most alleged XL

If I was designing a frame the scandal would be the starting point. I would make the head tube slightly taller so I didn’t need to use so many spacers.

Those two folk above with XL’s and 34″ inseams that think it’s got poor standover, the XL frame must either be a seriously different ‘shape’ to the L or you’ve not got a 34″ inseam 🙂

I’ve also 34″ inseam and the toptube on my L is miles away from my ‘bits’ – mine has a 200mm dropper and at least 50mm of post showing.

Yes, I’d increase the stand over height a smudge to get a bigger frame bag and bottle in. I currently use a topeak bottle cage extender to drop the height. I could drill the frame but this works fine.

But for these small changes it’s really not worth spending the money in one when you can pick these up for £150 new in the sale from time to time.

I think @brant got this one pretty close to perfection for me for the money.

It’s not small. It’s just far away.

I’m 6ft 3. Bought one of the first scandals. It’s big, really big, felt too big at first until I rode my XL whyte and that just felt short. Went back to my XL scandal and once I changed the 50mm stem to a 35mm stem it fitted like a glove. When I change my full suss it will need to be a similar size to the scandal as it’s just right. Made me realise all other bikes I’ve owned were too small and never designed for tall people. I always had to run a long stem or have loads of spacers under the bars and riser bars. My scandal currently has flat bars so I can use inboard grips and bar ends for multi positions. XL also means more frame bag space 😎

Having said all that, I’ve never tried a large. If in doubt on sizes, buy a large.

I used to run genesis tarn forks on it. Recently changed to trek 1120 forks with mounts on for bike packing. Feels exactly the same.

Wear a hi vis vest

Overt is covert

I’m still really angry with superstar components. The last thing I ordered didnt have any haribo with them. Not sure I’ll ever use them again. 😜

Congratulations Neil on number 3. You must be mad. One was enough for me to put me off having anymore at my age. Sleep is over rated anyway 😊

I don’t get all the aggressive hatred for companies trying to make a living. If you don’t like them, use somewhere else. I wouldn’t be surprised if Neil did leave cycling. I bet he could make more money and get less hassle doing cnc etc in another industry.

Just keep doing what you do. Haters always gonna hate.

@ton, I went in once, looked at the incredible prices and the 10 staff sat round doing nothing and left.

Its the only bike shop I walk past and don’t go in to have a look round.

That’s cool. Wonder how much it will go for?

I’d like to try one but not sure id like to own one. Especially at the price it going to go for.