I still have one lens that escaped the scumbags' atention from my Cannon DSLR so it'll be little use if they replace it with something else. I'll factor that into the arguement for a start!

Ok, sounds like I'll need to fight my corner and see what they'll cough up. We genuinely haven't added anything to the claim that wasn't stolen so I'm not taking the piss, but it sounds like they will if I don't stand my ground. Thanks all.

Exactly Cougar, so did you manage to get a cheque for your valuation of the HiFi or their's?

My worry is they'll say "here's a replacement for your Dell laptop (RRP £600)" and it'll be crappy £300 Micky Mouse Samsung with 'similar' processor, memory and HD. I'll say "thanks but no thanks" and they'll hand me a cheque but only for the £300?

There's a few Oxford based people who meet regularly on a Tuesday night alternately in east or west Oxford to ride some local trails. It's all very informal and the rides are not too technical. There's an occasional Chilterns foray thrown in now and again and someone is usually riding somewhere most weekends. Drop me an email (in profile) if you fancy joining us and I can let you know where and when we'll be out next week?

I was underwhelmed by Follow Me but have high hopes for this. I really liked Home and I'll in Bristol watching the double bill on the big screen.

I use these[/url] myself. They're a fraction of the cost of Gore, last better and are all black.

Rather than having a continuous inner liner (like the gore ones) They use sections of thin outer to cover the cable between stops, and similar caps to those you linked to.

Whose benefit is this for?

It is a mode of transport? In our case to get to and from nursery on cycle paths.

if you hit something and the bars twist round you could hurt his legs

I'm not sure I've ever hit something hard enough to do that sufficiently, and that includes when I've ridden off road and not carefully to nursery.

Really I am all too aware of the risks but you can take it too far.

You think the child will remember the sensation?

Maybe not 'remember' but benefit from it….yes I do. And there are many benefits for both of us in spending time with him in a mutually enjoyable way to boot.

I'd echo the above. In a trailer (at least in a Chariot) a helmet is not necessary, and I've tested it twice albeit off road. His little head was nowhere near contacting anything on either occasion he just dangled upside down.

He'd not have liked wearing a helmet (a sunhat is always a battle) and it'd have pushed his head forward awkwardly I reckon.

He's now 10 months old and in a bike seat so the helmet is being worn, and without complaint I'm glad to say. We went for the pisspot with skull and crossbones on the side for added cool factor!

NB: It's my neighbours yard, mines immaculate, obviously. And the helmet's been adjusted properly since this was taken.

PS: He was in the trailer from about 5 months I think, but in a baby sling.

I'm not convinced mass bivvying is the way forward! A few mates and a rough plan is the way to go (in my limited experience).

Sad some may say but I loved it, and riding the trails when most people were tucked up added to the charm.

While I'm on a roll here's the others in BIGGER format,

(There are hills in there honest!)

Chilli 1 or Chilli 2?

Ah ha, just worked out how to post bigger pictures so here are some of those from above again in slightly more detail!

Nuit de Bivvy Internationale is surely known across the world as the 4th Friday of July (or there abouts)? Of course I had an excuse as it's on my STW calendar. You can bivvy on other nights too so I am led to believe 😉

He's triple-jacked over a steeplehammer for sure. 😛

On a side topic, did anyone see Alistair Brownlee in the Triathlon on the BBC on Sunday night? He was in second place with a kilometer to go then all of a sudden bonked spectacularly.

Next thing we see is him crossing the line way back literaly zigzaging his way to the finish. It was horrific to see but at the same time incredible that he could force himself on in such a condition only to collapse on the line. He looked in a similar state to Simpson before being 'put back on his bike'. With testing being what it is I'm 'assuming' there are no drugs involved but it doesn't stop these hard core athletes from pushing themselves to the absolute limits. Fortunately the Beeb reports he's making a full recovery.

I have for a while been a wannabe bivvy-er who, I suspect like many on this forum, had read of the adventures of others, gradually assembled a passable collection of suitable kit, but who realistically was unlikely to ever give it a go. That was until Nuit de Bivvy Internationale appeared on the STW calendar on my office wall. The blurry prospect of a night under the stars came sharply into focus, depending upon the forecast nearer the time of course. A call to arms assembled just three brave souls who were willing to take on the 'wilderness*' of the Chilterns on a Friday night. Maps were pored over – the most difficult task being to locate a suitably isolated spot on which to bed down out of sight of wealthy landowners, their gamekeepers and the local dogging fraternity. Our individual kit lists ranged from 'all the [Alaskan adventure] gear' to 'a few extra clothes and a bivvy bag strapped to the frame' so it was probably a good job the weather was set fair. With planning complete we set off in Matt’s florist’s van on our adventure just as everyone else was returning from work to begin their weekends with a curry and a pint. A circle on a map left with my wife indicated the rough location where three bodies might be found enshrouded in breathable but waterproof fabric should things go horribly wrong.

I'd never ridden off-road carrying more than a large lunch, tools and a waterproof, so the additional weight of my overnight kit took a little getting used to on the first bit of singletrack. Trails we'd ridden many times before offered up a different prospect, with the bike behaving unusually with an altered centre of balance. Carrying extra weight the descents were faster, but we battled on the climbs to keep the front end down and bike going uphill. The trails were empty but for barn owls, red kites and rabbits.

We reached our pre-identified spot as the sun disappeared below the treetops and hunted down a suitable location with the assistance of around 3,000 lumens.

In the end we settled on an area beneath the beech trees carpeted with leaves, and far enough off the trail to avoid early morning confrontations with red-socked ramblers. After rolling out our gear we cooked up a storm with a critical ‘come dine with me’ style assessment of each other’s efforts, before settling down in front of a fire in the best traditions of ‘scouting for boys’, armed with hip flasks and marshmallows. That was until Adam, fearing a repeat of the infamous ‘singed gap year fleece in Vancouver incident 1999’ (don’t ask but it wasn’t hot rocked, right), extinguished every last ember, and we retired to the comfort of our bags.

I fell asleep, while trying not to think about the harvestmen crawling all over the ground, looking up into a moon-lit sky through the trees and slept surprisingly well, waking to the sound of distant barking deer, cooing wood pigeons, and not so distant snoring, with a morning mist hovering over the wood. After the essential morning coffee was made, we packed and hit the trail, leaving no trace we'd ever been there.

The Chilterns is usually pretty busy on a weekend, but at this time in the morning we shared the trails with no-one. My pack was lighter after the consumption of food, water and spirits, so the riding felt no harder despite having spent the night 'sleeping in a ditch'. We fairly flew down the first fantastic singletrack descent before the inevitable climb bought back memories (and almost more) of the whisky and chilli. We arrived back at the van at 9:30, earlier than we'd normally start biking most weekends, with 6 hours of riding under our belts and a new sense of liberation. My advice to any other wannabe bivvy-ers – don't wait for the Nuit de Bivvy Internationale 2011, get out there and do it in 2010 before the winter properly starts.

*I know you can't get much less wild but you have to start somewhere and some of the landowners round these parts have big dogs and shotguns!

Think I may have to take up golf…

Don't forget the UK system is for trail centres where everything is nicely predictable and designed. I'm happy flying down most things at a trail centre (fairly) safe in the knowledge that goats won't be coming across the trail, rock drop-offs won't give way and there's not a tree down around the next corner.

Peter, this is the trail you've recently cleared of the vicious Mediterranean vegetation right? If so from memory I would say this would be comparable to a 'red run' in the UK in terms of the rocks, gradient turns etc. However unlike a trail centre any drops do not have a predictable run out, the rocks are not necessarily fixed in place and the vegetation may grab you at the worst possible moment.

The ride down to Cala Sisine was also predominantly 'red' in nature with these same caveats, however the bottom bit, nearest the beach, would definitely fall into the black category. Here there were narrow steep boulder step-downs with tight switchbacks and a pretty long drop off to the side. I still rate that descent as the best I've ever done, even better for being natural. Largely if we three could ride it, it'd be 'red' with the odd bit of 'black' creeping in if we were brave/stupid!!!

The route on our last day that took us down that shear cliff would be predominantly 'black' hence our sore feet at the end of it. Here the trail was ridable in stretches but the terrain so loose that any mistake could have been very very serious.

30 miles each way on an MTB would be tough. I do 14 on a road bike and love it, but double that and on fat tyres I think would be really hard.

It's not just the safety of the road that you need to consider but whether you'd actually enjoy the experience. I could ride on the edge of dual carriageway some of my route, which I think would actually be quite safe as it's wide, however it'd be like hell on earth as an experience!

Your compromise sounds the way forward if the main aim of the game is fitness, and after all it's still less miles in the car. I arrive at work with a grin when I ride in as opposed to a scowl as I search for a parking space!

The two road accidents I've had have involved a pedestrian stepping off the pavement and a corner with wet leaves and too much speed.

all neatly wrapped up in a rubber band (courtesy of the local postmen)

When I get a tube that's beyond repair I often cut a few bands from it to keep spare tyres folded and spare tubes tidy. My postie is less generous/not a litterer! That and the aforementioned chainstay protector put some of that old rubber to reuse.

srrc – You should not cut it as even tiny fragments of root material can produce new plants. Don't touch it yourself but contact your local Environment Agency office or local council for advice.

There's research ongoing with biological controls, in this case psyllids, whereby something (other than humans) are introduced to eat it.

See here[/url]

So that's Giant Hogweed Simon? And what of Japanese Knotweed?

😆
Edit: too slow

Oxford to Watlington takes 20min in the car and there are some great rides to be had into the Chilterns from there. Shotover gets busy with walkers at weekends so depending on when you're there it might be better to head for the bluebell woods of the Chilterns. They're fantastic in the dry!

I think you've got it. I bet that one was a best seller for Mr Hargreaves!

Who the hell is No. 44 Mr Guilty and is that a dagger and a glove he's holding?!?

Oh Happy Birthday.

The Chilterns were still dry today Pedalhead. There was even a little dust in places but in general the conditions were really good around Woodcote and Nettlebed. I think they've coped with the recent rain really well after two or more dry weeks.

Of course riding during rain of biblical proportions may not be the same if it's really due to be that bad tomorrow?

Epicyclo, thanks for that comprehensive review of the less established end of the GCW.

(BTW for the guy who is planning trailing his child through this, make sure the trailer has suspension. I can speak with authority about how well 20" wheels handle this stuff )

I was that guy and yes the trailer does indeed have suspension! I suspect my boy will be considerably more comfortable in it than you were on the Dahon! I on the other hand will probably be pushing up a lot of that. Fantastic scenery and I definitely fancy giving it a go. I had thought we'd go round on the east road from Fort Augustus instead but, accepting that there'll be a fair bit of hike-a-biking, perhaps we'll give it a go after all.

Highlandlogger – tough due to the gradient, due to the trail conditions, due to the width or a combination of all three?!

Mrmichaelwright – so you went on the eastern road after Fort Augustus? Perhaps that'll be our best option rather than the off road hills or the suicidal A82?

Bottom line is if I can do what I've done with almost no money why can the manufacturers and distributers not?

Because there is no evidence it has any benefit?

Vader that's a great offer. Cheers, I might just take you up on that as it'd make the journey a hell of a lot easier!

It's 75 odd miles so I was looking at two days with the second (nearer Inverness) being the harder of the two. Stop over at Fort Augustus.

The one down the east shore of L.Ness Vader?

I can imagine the A82 would be a complete nightmare given the tourist nature of the area.

I'm looking at the options of getting back to Fort Bill from Inverness with two bikes, trailer and infant now. I think the cycling will be the easiest bit of the trip but a one way car hire is looking the best option at the moment. I'd be up for riding back the same way but I don't think the wife would be as keen.

It's available direct from Harveys but I actually picked a copy up a bit cheaper off the 'bay.

I'm not planning on doing this until June myself.

Given the proximity of the road much of the way, I'm thinking if the going gets too tough for the trailer we can always resort to tarmac. I've ordered the Harvey's Route Map to get a better look but thanks for the comments so far.

Cheers Ton, I'll be taking a full suss with off road tyres as, and don't tell the missus, I'm planning on taking in the Fort Bill red route at some point!

I must've seen 30 people in several groups in three hours around Nettlebed last night. Word is definitely out!

mountaincarrot,

Has this ever caused problems when your daughter goes to friends or to birthday partys etc, either for her or for those doing the catering? I'd imagine there are far fewer vegetarians of that age and wondered if it's harder for others to cater for your daughter's diet? Any idea if she's ever chosen to eat a chicken nugget or turkey twizler 🙄 ?

chewkw – Member

chewkw – Member
Pandanus roots … dry it then grind into power then drink it like tea. (not processed and must be natural)

You can buy them from Chinese supermarket but only in leaf form (must be roots not leaf) so I am not sure where to find the roots. In the far east people use the pandanus leaf (boil the whole leaf to fragrant the rice) for cooking so it is a common plant.

D'oh! Avoid the above as it is used for joint pain NOT for diabetic.

I wouldn't worry, it's probably just as ineffective for controlling blood sugars as it is for joint pain. 😐

Just a thought, was it you that had blistered foot arches in training? If as a result of that you favoured the outside of your feet, that might well bring about ITB from the change in gait and outward movement of your knees. It amazes me how a pain in your left ear can seemingly stem from a blister on your big toe (a big exaggeration but you get the point I'm making).

Try and think about what it is that is causing the problem and, if possible, remedy that to reduce the chance of it reoccurring on Sunday and in the future*.

*Again I am not a medic!

I should point out that, while I'm highly qualified to give advice on ecological matters, my medical knowledge is purely based on my own experience!

If it flairs up while you are running you'll have little choice but to give up or you'll be crawling to the finish! In the meantime you can't make it any worse by resting and icing it. Have a look for stretches on the Runner's World website but it may be a bit late for that now?

From experience, ITB can flair up quite quickly and when it does can be excruciating. Furthermore, when it starts to hurt you'll probably be subtly changing your gait to lessen the pain, and will in fact make it worse or cause another injury.

As a result, rest and getting to the bottom of the problem through physio/podiatry is the only real solution. You may just need a change in shoe, orthotics or it could be a deeper issue.

However, if you are willing to risk making it worse for a bit, you could probably get through a half marathon using ibuprofen to reduce the inflamation. I sometimes still apply some ibuprofen gel to the outside of my knee and up the outside of my thigh to my hip (where the Illio Tibial Band runs) and it can really help. You can get the gel from the chemists but get the stronger stuff (I think it's 10%) to be sure.

Good luck! I'm doing the Reading Half this weekend myself and have impressed myself with the near lack of training I've put in!

Looks like the Chilterns is the place to be for bluebells.

My vote goes to the misleadingly named Grim's Ditch:

It's far from grim, especially when the bluebells are out. Shame this bit is 'misleadingly' shown as footpath on the OS.

Good to have you along. The Grim's Ditch ride planned tomorrow is a good 'un if you can make it. We'll try and avoid the mad hag of the woods if we can though!