I use an Exposure Revo in conjunction with a Lightcharge so I can turn off the light and get all the power into my phone during the day. It’s not quite good enough to run google maps on an iPhone4 with the screen on all the time but it’s not far off.

If you download maps beforehand to limit the data connection demands and keep screen off when you’re not looking at it, you could carry on indefinitely, so I’d be pretty confident the gps should be ok?

For a lazybones like myself, it means you never have to plan your route again!

Oooh, so close @ShandCycles, but I’m pretty certain I’d be a medium on your geometry chart so I’m going to have to wait…
(That is one hell of a satisfaction guarantee you offer! Good on you!)

Yeh my Portuguese is basic but improving so I did find a few bits and bobs on city riding but no mountain bikes yet, I’ll probably have to drive up country at the weekends. We went out for a recce trip to see what we thought. Totally agree that reputation outside Brazil is overly negative because bad news travels quickly. Planning to take one road bike and one MTB so if we go I’ll post findings back on here!

Ditto Larrydavid, it’s all about prepping porridge the night before so it’s super quick and easy…

Budgie bike to learn on, Stinger Aero BMX which sadly I have no photos of, then an Emmelle Leopard (in fluorescent yellow and orange) which was meant to be a mountain bike! I’ll see if I can find the photos to scan in, truly horrific early nineties neon…

Haha, I don’t know what you mean, I can’t really see where you could slim that down?

Thanks for the Rohloff advice and Shand weights guys, I’ve found a new unused Rohloff (that was sat in a bikeshop for the last 12 years) cheap on ebay so I’ve started, I’m going to do a triggers broom build merging from Pompetamine to something better and without a doubt lighter, maybe Shand, but as and when the cash permits…

I just found this thread whilst having similar thoughts to slimjim78: I went on 3 separate rough/off road 50 milers over the last week on my alpine 11spd pompetamine and it’s blinking’ brilliant, and with a ride Paris to Modena planned for September I’ve got a good excuse to consolidate the stable and upgrade…

So, if leffeboy is out there, I’m specifically interested to know how much his stoater weighs, I’m not looking for a super lightweight racer, but the pompetamine is a proper lard-arse, lifting it up steps is back breaking once you’ve cycled 50 miles!

Also, although I love it most of the time, I have trouble with occasional ghost gears with my Alfine 11spd, even after servicing the hub and adjusting the little alignment markers, anyone got experience of this and whether the Rohloff is better (for the money you’d expect it to be, but you never know…)? I’m going to need more range than the Alfine to get over the Alps anyway so that helps justify it to myself!

Otterbox pretty good (I’ve got one on a 3GS), reasonably easy to get on and off once you’ve done it a couple of times. Bad points are that the rubbery finish attracts dust like anything and it’s not waterproof. It’s also a bit bulky once in the case but that’s not a problem if you’re just chucking it in your bag.

I’d probably try the lifeproof one if I upgrade to an iphone5, looks less bulky and waterproof.

Awesome, thanks all!

We're now boogying away whilst cookin our curry!

Ta very much.