Jottnar are based in Cardiff

Interesting – I’d always thought Jöttnar was Norwegian or Scandinavian at least (although I knew about the UK connection with the ex-Marine chappies).

Just shows the effect an ‘umlaut’ can have! ;-)

So, at what price point can we expect a decent warm jacket having just wasted £300!

Depends I guess – I picked up an Arc’teryx Thorium SV a couple of years ago from SportsPursuits – RRP is £300, but only paid £150. Has kept me toasty on Arctic Expeditions with temps down to -29 celcius, however I was wearing 5 layers in total (2x merino, 1x fleece, 1x synthetic 1x down).

If your missus really feels the cold that much then some nice thermal/merino underwear/base-layers might help.

If you are already cold a down jacket won’t heat you up much, but if you are already warm a down jacket will help keep the heat in!

They’re just cagoules, FFS

But they’re not are they? If they were just cagoules there wouldn’t be endless threads on this forum discussing the holy trinity of waterproof-ness/breath-ability/durability in jackets.

My memory of cagoules in the 1970s was that they had none of the above properties …

the bouncer wouldn’t let me in, i asked why and he said “no North Face allowed in mate”!

Sheffield has higher than average participation rates in general ‘outdoor recreation’ especially climbing and they can be fiercely brand partisan – it wasn’t The Lescar was it? :lol:

They were one of the Gucci brands to be seen in around the base in Poole, after North Face got a bit passé. Been replaced by a couple of niche micro brands based in mid Wales mostly now though

Such as?

Paramo are one of the few UK companies I can think of but they are based in East Sussex.

Genuinely interested as I’m struggling to think of any outdoor clothing brand based in Wales who are targeting a similar demographic to the likes of Arc’teryx, Norrona, Patagonia, Sweet Protection and Haglofs etc … i.e. high end gortex clothing suitable for extreme conditions:- not just picking junior up from his therapist during a light ‘mizzle’.

Arcteryx will be the next big must-have brand

The lovely Prof Alice Roberts has been rockin’ Arc’teryx’s gear for some time now – but despite it being pretty much ubiquitous in any British Columbian ski town, I can’t see it being a high street brand over here just yet …

I think TNF flooded the market with kit that people who aspire to an outdoor image wanted to buy … and they also suffered from cheap far east copies and heavily discounted items which from memory is why they bought a 5% share in Blacks to try and prevent the ‘brand’ from being further diluted.

Arc’teryx still make some of their premium range (such as the Alpha SV) in Canada – supposedly to maintain intellectual property rights and manufacturing techniques such as seam welding.

Piriformis muscle

which is also ‘targeted’ with the yoga Pigeon Pose stretch …

Worth considering yoga – it can be very useful in maintaining and improving flexibility, strength, conditioning and increasing range of movement – especially in areas of imbalance/previous injury.

As featured in the Sunday Times this weekend. (In Serre Che, no less!)

A big phatt no from me!

In the words of Dr Frasier Crane:

Tracey – sorry to hear that – that’s really bad news.

Bike theft sadly seems to be endemic (boarding on pandemic!) in North West Sheffield at the moment – I guess the downside of the rise in popularity of Sheffield’s cycling scene is that the local low life scum see it as rich-pickings … especially at this time of year.

Plus there is a seemingly a large market of people willing to purchase high-end bikes and components without too much concern about ‘provenance’.

Supply and demand …

These aren’t substance abusers nicking stuff and selling it dirt cheap for a quick fix. I reckon this is an organised group of well-prepared, tooled-up thieves with a van hitting pre-selected targets.

Have South Yorkshire Police attended the scene?
My understanding is that they no longer attend thefts that take place in garages or outbuildings. Not sure about when it’s a house. I’d be interested to know as apparently a number of police forces were said to be no longer attending house burglary incidents.

Sadly student housing is a target as they can get multiples of everything like bikes and laptops etc.

Anybody reading this who has their bike secured (either indoors or outdoors) with with a 9mm steel ‘Sold Secure’ lock, then forget it.
Get a 16mm Pragmasis ‘Protector’ Chain & Squire lock.

I’ll keep my eyes open for the lads’ bikes.

Also – genuine question here – does the sharing of the stolen bikes on social media like Facebook actually do any good? or does it only advertise the theft and make it easy to trace the owners via their public profile?

Just need boots now. Do people still size up? I remember getting a half size bigger for thick socks before

Depends on the brand but generally either shoe size or half to one size down rather than up since the boot will pack down over time.

Personally I prefer thin-ish socks to thick socks as they rub less and double socks is a big no-no/recipe for sweaty feet & blisters.

If/when the liners pack down you can pop another insole in to take up some of the volume.

I didn’t particularly enjoy Chamonix if I’m honest but it’d be boring if we all liked the same things

Absolutely – a lot of folks don’t like the fact that the ski areas in Chamonix Valley are really spread out and it can be a real grind on busy buses.

All kinda depends on what you like I guess. Personally I love Chamonix, but I do appreciate it might not be to everyone’s taste and conditions have been pretty mixed there for the past few years.

What primer (if any) do you airbrushers use?

I’ve used Humbrol, & Tamiya rattle can primers but have settled on Mr Surfacer 1500 thinned 1:1 with Mr Color Thinner.

Primer is pretty much mandatory I’ve found – especially if airbrushing acrylics as they need something to ‘bite’ into to adhere properly.

Agreed about rattle can primers monkfish – they can be easy to over do and hard to avoid loads of over-spray/wastage.

Can anyone recommend some decent but not expensive sunglasses for snowboarding?

Unless you’re touring I’d forget the sunglasses and buy some goggles that fit with your helmet if you’re wearing one.

Glasses invariable don’t offer the protection from glare (unless they are the Jublo Glacier glasses or similar), make your eyes prone to watering when you pick up speed or the wind is blowing and they tend to go flying off when you bail …

Goggles for sure … :-)

I use a CP103 AIR BRUSH COMPRESSOR from Axminster.

I don’t think they do them anymore but if I was looking to replace it, I hear very good things about the Bambi Budget Range. Although not cheap they get good reviews.

Big plus points for me would be the 9l tank and very low noise. (downsides are you have to change the oil periodically) but it would mean I could airbrush late in the evening without disturbing the neighbours.

I kinda wish I’d just bought a Bambi in the first place rather than a low-end tank, as the 3.5l of air in my Axminster doesn’t last very long so it can be noisy and get quite hot during a big airbrush session.

Guess it depends what you want to use it for and how much you want to use it.

Back then I seem to remember choosing a board really by whatever came up to your chin and adjusting slightly for fun or fast

In terms of sizing, weight and foot size are probably more pertinent these days.

Most decent board manufacturers will state a weight range or maximum weight.
If you take a boot size > UK10 then you might want to look at a wide board. Broadly speaking a longer board gives you more ‘float’ in powder whereas a shorter board is more ‘maneuverable’.

To be honest if you are only doing a few days here and there and in a fridge then I wouldn’t worry too much. even at 90kg+ you don’t need float for riding in a fridge and a short board can allow for shorter radius turns*

As igm says: Have a look at rentals from Ellis Brigham. And have a look at the 2nd hand market – you don’t need to spend a fortune to have fun

… but please … avoid the Flows! ;-)

*subject to board design

How fast does airbrushed acrylic with IPA thinner dry and how long before it cures hard enough to be masked?

Depends on the paint, the amount of thinner, the thinner used, the airbrush pressure and the distance from the model.

Too high pressure and low amounts of thinner mean that the paint can be ‘dry’ before it actually hits the model – leading to a powdery/dusty surface.

Tamiya ‘white top’ IPA is dry within a couple of hours. I always try and leave it overnight before applying masking tape and I will frequently reduce the ‘taki-ness’ of Masking tape (even Tamiya’s tape) before applying – there’s nothing worse than removing tape and a layer of paint coming away with it. a good base coat (e.g. Mr Surfacer) and a grease free surface help. As does keeping the handling of a model with your bare [greasy] fingers to a minimum.

Tamiya Lacquer (Yellow Top) is a bit ‘hotter’ and so seems to ‘grip’ better and stand up to a bit more wear & tear. Again I would leave overnight at least before adding masking tape etc.

Rule of thumb – If I sniff the painted model and can still smell thinners etc, then It’s not ready for the next stage …

I’ll treat myself to the new Airfix Phantom

Not really my genre but I’m quite tempted by this as well, although I’ve been a bit slack recently as work and preparation for the winter has taken precendence. Also looking forward to adding the Airfix Hawker Sea Fury to my collection when it’s available next month

@whatnobeer … very nice indeed!

Watch out for those ‘tree wells’ ;-)

Enjoy!

The tamiya yellow top thinner is also good.

Yes – I’ve arrived at this conclusion also. Not as easy to find and like you say you need a good mask and ventilation but as it’s a ‘lacquer’ thinner (rather than IPA like the white lid version) it takes longer to dry but gives a much harder wearing finish – much less likely to be ‘pulled off’ by masking tape removal etc

+1 for the Petzl Tikka RXP

flexible settings mean that I can have it setup for more power/shorter battery life at this time of year for evening runs <2 hrs and then longer battery life in the summer/hut trips/staying in refuges etc

Had it for 3+ years and would buy similar again if I had to.
USB rechargeable but you can pick up spare battery compartment that holds conventional batteries – useful in extreme cold conditions etc

stomp pads are unnecessary and rarely used

Mmmm … depends on the board top sheet and the snow conditions. I don’t have a stomp-pad on my Jones Flagship, as this has a rough ‘natural’ wood finish. The Jones Mountain Twin however has a very shiny, slippy surface that has resulted in a few comedy moments during extended ‘one-footed’ adventures …

Good quality merino Snowboard socks are always a good idea – you can never have too many!!

Snowboard DVDs have been somewhat lacking for a few years I think.
‘Let It Ride – The Craig Kelly Story’ is good for a bit of nostalgia though.

What kind of riding do they do?

It always amazes me how many people at gigs just aren’t interested in the music and don’t give a shit about ruining it for others that are into it.

I think it’s a relatively recent phenomenon, which reflects quite sadly on our times – I do wonder whether some people just go to a gig, just so that they can say they were there, rather than going and immersing themselves in the ‘live’ experience. Why else would people talk loudly throughout the entire set only stopping to take a selfie?

The bigger the venue the more I see this.

Part of it is because the PAs are quite superior these days (and you don’t need Ableton Live to be cranked up to 11) so the volumes aren’t what they were 30 years ago, but also I think live music has been ‘commoditized’ to some degree – for many people music is something to have on in the background rather than something to lose (or perhaps even find) yourself in!

Think of your muscles like a piece of Blu-Tac or similar: If cold the blu-tac will ‘tear’ when pulled, but when warmed up it will become more pliable …

As others have said forget any stretching before running – just start off gently until you are nice and warm.

Do consider some post run stretches/yoga/sports massage etc. Again best performed when warmed up and they can help with niggles/imbalances/injury recovery.

Lyngen Alps look good right now

I’m off to Lofoten next April 8)

A chap I know had a flight leaving Manchester at 3pm on a Sunday, he drove over the day before and stayed in a hotel

To be fair that’s probably leaving only just enough time to get through security at Manchester these days …

Always give myself an extra hour if it’s Manchester – they tend to do a bag search for anything including empty nalgene drink bottles (which I informed should have been placed in a separate tray with the lid removed to prove it was empty) as you can incur 45 min delay if your bag is searched.

Doncaster/Robin Hood however is a total breeze. Park 100m from departures, swan through security and away you go …

nae bother Wallop :-)

And just to wet your appetite, this shot is of the valley west of Courmayeur that can be accessed via the Arp cable car (the top one of the two that look like something out of a Bond film and date from the late ’60s)

The valley pictured runs all the way down to the valley below La Thuile – it’s a great ‘tour’ but can be a bit of a ‘commando exit’! :-)

Pictured here is the ‘Yula’ cable car:

Just a question of whether there’ll be enough there for me and the other half

As I said I’ve been riding in Courmayeur for years and never got bored even when riding ‘inbounds’ with the missus.

But I guess it depends what kind of piste skiing you enjoy. If you like to just tick off all the runs in the resort and clock up some mileage (km?) then you will quickly tick off all the runs (conditions permitting)

If, however you like to find a couple of runs that are in good condition and do laps getting you’re groove on then there is quite a lot of opportunity.

You could also hire a guide and go up the new Skyway to access the vallee blanche from the Helbronner side. Not especially technical (unless you do a ‘variant’ off the tourist route) but the views are stunning!

What is Courmayeur like for beginners?

Pretty good actually – it has everything from a ‘magic carpet’ to avoid having to use any lifts for those for whom it’s a first time on the slopes to big wide open slopes for linking those first turns.

Plus like many Vallee D’aosta resorts, outside of Italian school holidays they can be pretty quiet mid-week which means nervous first timers heading up a bit higher don’t have to worry quite as much about heavy traffic.

Depending on the lift pass purchased you can also ski/ride at La Thuile and Pila etc.

A word of caution though as I know there are lots on hear that like to head off-piste – some of the lift accessed off-piste around Courmayeur is not to be taken lightly. Whilst I was in Courmayeur in March earlier this year there was a tragic avalanche accident just off the Gabba lift with 3 killed and 5 injured.

I’ve ridden in Courmayeur regularly for over a decade now – usually when based in Chamonix as the conditions on the Italian side have often been better, but have also done a weeks holiday there for the past couple of years.

It’s a nice little resort thankfully devoid of of too much apres nonsense, it’s frequently very quiet midweek and although it isn’t a massive ski area, there is quite a bit of variety with some wide open runs and some trees on the Val Veny side (good when the visablity is low)

There are also plenty of opportunities to head into the backcountry off the Yula & Arp lifts, or off the Helbronner on the other side of the valley.

Oh – and the coffee is great!

Courmayeur – Italian Espresso – 1.20 Euro
Grand Montets – French Brown Gritty ‘Coffee’ – 5 Euro

Mt Norquay is apparently open today with bragging rights as first resort open for Winter in Canada

Yeah – I got an email yesterday saying that Nakiska (Closest resort to Calgary) was opening this weekend.

East Kootenays have had a good dusting but it don’t mean diddly as a lot can happen between now and the end of Dec/start of Jan …and yes Fernie I’m looking at you in the rain …

And a pretty good brewery

Yeah – quite fond of Nelson Brewery’s ‘Faceplant’ Winter Ale

a bit like a Mountainous Glastonbury, the place not the festival

Yeah – otherwise it would be Hunter Wellies; Birkenstocks; denim shorts cut-off just a bit too short; and loads of “gap-year-yah!” types :-)

This the one?

JP Auclair RIP

#TriviaFans

From memory the ‘All I Can’ segment was filmed in Trail near Rossland (you can see the smelting factory in Trail in a few of the shots)

‘Imagination’ is filmed in nearby ‘Nelson’ (where the Steve Martin film Roxanne was also shot). Home to a number of American hippies who settled there to avoid the Vietnam War)

Arcteryx Atom

I can’t recommend the Arcteryx Atom AR enough – it’s frequently my ‘goto’ jacket and has been warn for pretty much everything from Greenland Expeditions (as mid-layer insulation) to casual drinks in the pub.

Lightweight, it packs down pretty small, is breathable (it has mesh under the arms) and washes/dries well)

Anything by North Face

Outside the shed is a partially paved area with a ‘soak-away’ filled with large pebbles in the center. Concept adapted from the ‘French Drain’ idea.

soak-away was dug down about 750mm and it took a few bags of pebbles to fill, but avoids the muddy gravel & sludge situation.

Will probably need to be redone at some point but has lasted nearly 10 years so far and water still drains away really quickly.

I try and use stuff that’s less harmful to the environment to avoid contaminating the water table but still better that flushing straight into the public water/sewage system I reckon.

I’ve never really had a clear explanation about what the actual benefits of having a compressor with a tank are

For me it’s ‘smoother’ airflow for sure … especially at lower pressures where ‘pulsing’ with a constantly on compressor can be an issue (albeit not a massive one). Noise and heat are the other thing as once a tank is full the motor stops which makes for a somewhat more pleasant work environment.

Probably a compressor with tank and regulator/airbrush combo off ebay for about £80

HtS – Just remembered, I have a compressor (without tank or regulator) sat in my attic. I bought it from ‘Model Zone’ at Meadowhall.
You are welcome to it – PM me your details.

You are welcome to give it a go and if you like it you can make a charitable contribution or something – despite the fact that I feel somewhat used and betrayed by the fact that you clearly go to a proper scale model making forum to ask your questions these days … know-it-all mountain bikers not good enough for you? ;-)

If landing in Calgary, I would try and drive out of Calgary as quick as the traffic on Deerfoot permits!

Have a look at Fernie – it has a lift assited bike park in the Summer and fantastic network of local trails. You can pick up a guidebook in local shops.

You should also be able to fly to Vancouver from Cranbrook to avoid having to head back to Calgary.

Oh, and I will also take the piss out of your nice car because you work in IT. And your bike too

I observed this at Llandegla a few weeks ago. It was like a pack of dogs sniffin’ each others bottoms everytime a new vehicle (especially T4 or T5) pulled up in the car park.

Maybe it’s something Darwinian or a ‘Peacock Display’ ;-)

Could someone please tell me which army I’m meant to dislike?

In modern Britain, with contemporary divisive rhetoric in the media etc , I think you are actively encouraged to dislike everyone aren’t you? Including most of the members of your own family!

It’s not like the ’70s & ’80s when you knew who to hate because of the music they listened to i.e. mods, rockers, skins, goths, rude boys, casuals etc …

Like Marilyn said:

“There’s no time to discriminate
Hate every ***********
That’s in your way”

the working classes have now also bought into lifestyle.

Isn’t this just the continuing proliferation of PCPs etc? – now available on high end luxury items like VW ‘Trannies’!

For the record – I’m not knocking it … it makes perfect sense after all, who wants to pay upwards of £30k for something when you can ‘rent’ it for a couple of hundred a month for a few years!

Annoying the ‘Brand Conscious’ middle classes is just an added bonus!

So yeah – not only can us Proles now fly away on holiday rather than just going to Margate or Blackpool for the week, but we can also have access to luxury leisure items like camper vans in which to drink cans of Stella and suck on a vape whilst wearing a ‘Sports Vest’ … ;-)

Arcteryx (or simply just ‘Arc’ to the genuine faithful)

No … no it isn’t – I’ve never heard Arcteryx refered to as ‘Arc’ not even in British Columbia … and I’ve been rockin’ the Arc’teryx for years! 8)

Johnny IT in his lifestyle Van, and clearly brimming with Envy Enve carbon rims…

Fixed that for you! ;-)

I’m about 8 rides in to a set of Raceface Agents.

I’m still wearing my AW15 Raceface Agents – and part a small section of the internal seam taping coming adrift they seem to be holding up pretty well.

The ‘seat’ area is showing a little sign of wear & abrasion but so far they have held up better than any other winter/wet weather short I’ve owned …

I had a pair of Gore 3/4 length waterproof shorts that were pretty much trashed in the bottom dept after one particularly wet gritstone ride