Mine was more of a showerproof really. Just something small and light to stick in a jersey pocket. Those man eating puddles do the job of a monsoon like downpour in less than one second!!

Wasnt technical at all last year. Tiredness makes stuff more techy though.
It will rain. Im sure.

bigyinn beat me to it!

You havent got dyslexia. You have a case of nob-headitis.

paul4stones – You dont ride with Gosforth do you?
Im ofetn on my road bike up round that neck of the woods!

210 miles? in one bash?

And Jens doesn't get road rash. The road gets Jens rash.

Which lance crash? The one where Jan Ullrich waited for him. Lance got up, rode on and promptly pulled his feet out his pedals coming close to smashing his jewels but still rode everyone into the ground?

52mph on road bike too on a hill out in Northumberland.

Hardmen do cry yeah.
Bigringriding is a brilliant site.

Navarro was one who slipped my mind. A right work horse.

I'm doing it solo. Just hoping it's not as wet and muddy as Kirroughtree. That would be tough.

Brilliant interview that.

he sounds like a complete tool. Name and shame!

Spoke to the photographer at the end and he said they'd be on the nofuss website soon!think there'll be some good ones.

Id echo radoggair comments about it being totally different. Theres plenty of chance and time to eat and refuel at Kielder. Kirroughtree was really tough and even if it does chuck it down, theres not too many places where the mud will get anywhere near as bad as yesterday!

I reckon plenty of road training and you'd be fine at Kielder to be honest!

I thought it was a cracking weekend. Weather was dire and the course was incredibly tough.
Finished 6th or 7th in the Sen Solo category. Finished my 8th lap in about 9hr 50 something. Only found out theyd put the time back well when into the last lap.

Had one dodgy lap around 5 hours in where I was making daft mistakes, but a couple of gels and all was fine.
Well done to JB on his 1st place in Solo Vet!

Road an Ali hardtail last year. Not uber light. Didnt feel too broken after finishing it. As has been said, theres nothing on the route that I'd say would be a heap easier on a full sus.

Can't wait now.

Id like to see him gunned down.

pamphlet. It's a leaflet.

steephill.tv
loads of decent streams on there.

I'll be there solo. Camping fri and also driving up from Newcastle.
Can't believe that weather forecast! Unbelievable.

Impressive ride from Armstrong to get back to that group. Still reckon he's going to have a major play in the positioning of the podium come 3 weeks time!

If only we could all enjoy it!!

just noticed the other thread on here! Seems theyre not doing too well atm!

Is boro not classed as cleveland?! Land of the nappy ripper!

j_me – you talk from experience?!

Is it really that bad? I'd assumed it was all a bit over hyped the 'angry scouser' thing!?

I didnt like riding through the storm. He talked far too much about football. Not taking anything at all away from his achievements and his chairty work mind!

4 minutes slower than usual today :cry:
Putting it down to the cross tyres I put on last night as opposed to the big, smooth commuter tyres I usually use. Sweat more than usual too!!

Bike to Work to be scrapped do you reckon?

Where do you work for that kind of menu?!

I love India. Absolutelty amazing place. But I wouldn't work there and I wouldn't move my family out there either. Not exactly sure why – maybe because it's such an extreme, full on country. Maybe thats what youre after though?!
After my last trip there, I was ready for home after 6 months, although admittedly I wasnt working then….

pretty sure JB on here has just bought one from the cl;assifieds. not sure if you can search his details and fire him an email!?

Quayside is dead now. All the bars seem to be located around central station now.

For bars etc, I'd head to the area around the station (Collingwood Street).
If youre after somewhere to eat and like asian food, Id recommend Little Saigon on Bigg Market. Steer clear of Bigg Market for drinks though – bloody awful god forsaken place.
Also steer clear of The Gate. Scumbag central.

If you like Italian, theres a brilliant little Italian called Panni's on High Bridge Street (I think). May be worth phoning up to book though as it gets busy.

Just read that article. Interesting reading! I just assumed the lower gearing would allow more of a spinning approach, whereas on my road bike, there were times when I was wrestling with it to turn the pedals at all!!!

Im sure the extra gearing on a MTB would make it marginally 'easier' even with knobbly tyres? Maybe I'm wrong?

I though Hardknott was easier than Wrynose to be honest. The most intimidating part was when you can see it rearing up in the distance. I agree with the part over the bridge. I could hardly pull the pedals round! Gave myself a nosebleed hauling up there which I only noticed on the way down when a woman pointed it out to me.

Yeah down the struggle in to ambleside. Nice and fast and pretty deserted of cars. Then along through to Skelwith Bridge and over Wrynose. Brilliant day.