Sprinkling tarn down to Stockley bridge

That’s Grains Gill. It’s not strictly the normal descent on the 4 Passes (that’s typically Styhead to Stockley), but Grains is far more technically challenging that Styhead. I’d usually take Grains in preference to Styhead but you won’t be watching the scenery much!

But back to the OP and Helvellyn…
20 miles in that terrain is a big ride. You’d be looking at summiting twice and >5000 ft of ascent in that distance (mostly hike-a-bike). When we do a double, we usually either:
Park at Dunmail Raise; up Great Tongue to Grisedale Tarn; Dollywaggon; Helvellyn; Raise; down Sticks; Seldom Seen; Up Kepple Cove; Helvellyn again; down Birkside
or as an alternative,
Park at Glenridding; up Grisedale to tarn; up St Sunday; back into Patterdale; up Kepple; down Sticks; Seldom Seen.

Senencing Council guidelines

If it’s got to be Italy, then my recommendation would be Kronplatz.

https://www.kronplatz.com/en/kronplatz

Brilliant resort. Really good modern lift infrastructure so you’re unlikely to queue anywhere for more than a minute or two. Good ski-schools and restaurants. Probably been there about a dozen times over the years and always found there to be enough to keep family happy for a week.

Really enjoyed Madonna di Campiglio last Easter too

https://www.campiglio.com/

Much older more established resort but a nice place to stay.

If Austria is also a possibility, try Steinplatte

http://www.steinplatte.tirol/en/the-skiarea-steinplatte-waidring-tirol.html

I’ve got one very similar to the one WWASWAS linked.
Best piece of kit I’ve bought in ages.

(most of our usual group have bought ’em now. They’re a life saver. Shoes last longer too. Double win)

Hope part number HS136

I’d go for the steel NX ones personally.

I’ve got the equivalent SRAM x-sync 11 spd steel direct mount ring on two bikes with X01 cranks and they’ve been faultless. Can’t see any good reason to go for an alloy chainring over a steel one. Weight difference will be minimal anyway. The SRAM DM steel rings are very good, last well and are cheap as chips.

Liteville use needle roller bearings in the the top tube pivot of the 301 and in the shock eyes.

They last very well. Certainly way better than bushings in the shock. Haven’t needed to change anything, just grease-up a couple of times a year and they seam to last forever.

Yep, had similar thoughts when on Whiteless, so gave it a go earlier this Summer.
As you say, top section is a bit too lose/unstable to enjoy at that angle of descent. It’s doable but I didn’t fancy my chances on the initial steep section whilst out riding solo, so I chickened out. After the first few feet though, it gets more manageable.
I still found it steep and lose enough for the first half to warrant pulling over and waiting for a big bunch of hikers coming up. Wouldn’t have risked squeezing past them as you’ve little control over the direction once moving and just need to go with the lose surface for the most part.
Lower down is a different character, more narrow lines through the heather type stuff but still very good.

I’ve ridden the bridleway descent from Greenup to Grassmere about a month ago, but approached it climbing past Easedale Tarn and High Raise.
There is Fix the Fells pitching work underway on the top section.
Below that, as you drop into Far Easedale Gill, it’s not a particularly bad descent. Nothing technically challenging/interesting though.

Would I do it again? Probably not. I do like my hike-a-bike, that’s what I do most weekend…. but on balance, this descent wasn’t worth the hike up. Felt a little short changed, so hiked up the other valley side to get the Heron Pike to Rydal descent after.

My personal experience is that walker grumpiness tends to be inversely proportional to the elevation and distance from the nearest car park

This is my experience too. The genuine fellwalkers do seem to realise that it’s big enough for everyone, regardless of what some dotted line indicates. Most I’ve found to be pleasant, chatty and even encouraging.

Lakeside bridleway on Ullswater though – different story.

Affogato

Personally, If you’re going for 46t, then I’d say that 11 speed Sunrace is better than 11 speed XT.
Shimano is a silly big jump between gears 1 & 2, whereas Sunrace is more evenly distributed over the block.

I have the same arrangement through Pedalcover.

I’ve claimed, so can offer some experience.

The excess insurance lapses at the point that it pays out. All this means is that your new excess insurance renewal date is now 6 months out of sync with the main policy. (both are still 12 month policies)

In my case, both the AXA policy and the excess policy paid out promptly. Pedalcover themselves aren’t likely to be involved in the payout approval for either, but should be able to expedite if there is a delay.

I’d be struggling to justify driving straight past Calderdale to get to Gisburn.

Stoner is right. There’s nothing broken there. The buckle has just come off the end of the two webbing straps. Both straps should pass through the buckle, laying flat together.

OKO user here too. For about a year or so.

Tried various ratios from 2:1 to 1:1 with water. All fine.

The Hope oem organic pads are manufactured by Galfer (for the E4 at least).

There are three different compounds in their range. I’ve used only the basic one (which I assume is organic) in Hope E4s, including for a week in the Alps last year.

In my view they are very good, at least as good as Hope organics. They are now my go-to pads for the “big” bike.

Andy,

I’m beginning to suspect I need to follow a similar regime. I’m quite happy with big rides in the Lakes but on the occasions that I have worn a HRM with Strava it was typically reading 155bpm average over say 6 hours moving time. I’m 51, so that sounds like I’m falling into the same trap of always going too hard.

It’s weird, feels as though systems are out of balance somehow as I’ll get to the top of a mountain dripping in sweat but not remotely out of breath. Might also explain why I run out of steam on steep climbs and end up pushing/carrying more than my riding buddies do.

Think I need to dig out the HRM watch and keep an eye on zones

We’ve done it a few times. It’s fairly tech but not silly. It’s quite stop/start and the main thing that interferes with your line is that so many of the switchbacks are tight and narrow and full of rocks, so getting around them clean ain’t easy.

There are a couple of spots that you’ll probably end up hopping off to get over/round so don’t expect to get it all “no dabs” but overall 95% ridable,

It’s a good descent, certainly a challenge. It’s on Strava as “Man Bield”

It’s only challengingly tech as far as the tarn. Below that is a (very nice) typical Lakes descent, much more open with plenty of line choices.

Route suggestion: If you’re doing it from Staveley, then after Man Bield come back up Gatescarth, over Harter Fell and then do the conventional side back into Kentmere.

(Edit: Too slow,  Basically what Tomaso said)

Package bank account is usually the best answer for us.

eg from Nationwide Flexplus joint account, for £10/m, we get:

Europe wide roadside breakdown inc home start, for 2 account holders

Worldwide travel insurance for family

Phone insurance for family

Until recently, I was running Maxxis Dual Ply on the rear, tubeless. This was fairly bombproof but heavy.

I’m now running Procore and have been able to drop the casing weight a bit without pinching. Currently running Spesh Slaughter grid on the back of the full sus and one of those £10 WTB trailboss fast/TCS tough on the hardtail. Both working well with the procore.

I had a good read up on the vivid air before trying an air-can service on it.

I was happy that only the pressure in the air-can had to be released, nothing else…

BUT… be aware that there is some specific tooling required even to get the air can off. I tried without it, and failed.

Yes, I’ve replaced sensors due to that tone which you describe indicating a fault.

Get a garage to read the fault codes. This will tell you specifically which sensor is faulty.

Replacement sensors are about £7 each new, delivered, from ebay sellers. Think it’s common to quite a few makes/models. Part number will be marked on it.

There’s a chance that any faulty wiring may also produce same fault codes but sensor is more likely cause.

I’ve bought loads of pairs online from spex4less.com

They have a pretty good returns policy of full refund if you’re not happy. Even though they’ve been built to your prescription, you can still return them for full refund if you don’t like them when they arrive.

Where’s that photo taken from Lowey?

We were on Great Hill on Saturday and later the WWW near Belmont, from where it looked like the whole Eastern flank was alight as early as mid-day Saturday.

…I am 50 next birthday and my wife seems to want to organise a party for me which I would hate.

My wife had the big party for her 50th. That’s what she wanted. That was fine.

I did a big nothing for my 50th. That’s what I wanted. That was fine.

Memorable holiday … If I could get away with it I would just go on a safari with my youngest child

So we did the Safari for our 25th wedding anniversary instead. Just do it. Botswana/Namibia/Zambia. Okavango delta is indescribable.

…at which point youngest child promptly decided she’d have to go do that too, so she’s working in a rhino sanctuary in Kruger NP this Summer under the thin façade of “work experience”.

Just goes to prove that you can’t suit all the people all the time.

In true STW contrary fashion, I find Endura shorts too short as there’s a massive gap between the bottom of my singletrack shorts and the top of my kneepads. 3/4 Humvees are about right (worn as standard length) and just nicely cover the top of the pads but not the knee joint when seated pedalling.

No help at all, I know. Just made me chuckle.

I persisted for about 6 months with my P7 before deciding that it was too long.

I’m 6’2 and XL was the recommended size, but as all my height is in my legs the frame just felt too long on steep tech and I was feeling like I was being tipped forward whenever I had to drop the front end over a slow step.

Got a blue pig in L now and much prefer the sizing. So, yes, if it’s not working, try something else.

SRAM AKA keeps braking chainrings

Another option worth looking at might be steel chainrings for the SRAM.

The main reason I like fancy X01 cranks is the ability to run a steel chainring that costs peanuts and lasts well.

Every alloy chainring I’ve had seems to last about 2 chains (maybe 3 at best).

If you’re doing Garburn, do it west to east

Not on this Saturday though, please. As a few hundred guys doing the Sam Houghton Challenge will be coming up it East to West!!!

questionnaire done.

I tend to stick a traditional tube patch on the inside if it’s a big enough cut, otherwise just trust the sealant to deal with it. Only found it to be problematic if you inadvertently find the sealant has dried up and the original cut may then reopen.

basically, just what nickjb has said.

44mm headtube – yes

traditional 34mm headtube – nope

If Garda and intending to bike, then go to the North end of the lake. Torbole is the ideal location for this. Hire/demo a bike from the Liteville shop in Torbole (disclosure: I demo’d from there and ended up buying two, so I’m biased) other hire shops also available in the town.

Rather than e-bike, use the uplift vans that run from Torbole. Only need to book day before or on the day.

Guiding is not absolutely necessary but will certainly get you the most out of a limited time. An English contact to start the ball rolling re bikes, uplifts and guiding is Michael, contact via his website http://rebbens.com/

Another location further South that balances biking with Family hols – how about Finale Ligure?

Two accounts for two different purposes, we have both

Nationwide flexplus for the package benefits you mention. Definitely make this one a joint account so that you’re both covered (for breakdown etc)

Santander 123 for the interest/utility DD payments – where you put any spare cash.

Todmorden

Hebden Bridge

Longridge Fell

Abbey Village (Brinscal/White Coppice side or Darwen Tower side)

Pendle

Ramsbottom (Holcombe Moor side or Edenfield side)

Farleton Knott/Hutton Roof

Parlick & Fairsnape (when it’s dry)

Accrington/Hambledon Hill (Fairy Steps)

tha’air  – your own mixture of nitrogen, oxygen, and other gases

… for an hour cause there shit

* they’re

Great thing to do once in your life, I wouldn’t do it again though

Done it a couple of times now, first one with Plumber, second with family in tow. Thinking about doing it again next year maybe.

wildest race in the world

…it isn’t wild at all in terms of the riding, just the atmosphere on the startline and the pressure of fighting for position and taking the limited opportunities to overtake. It’s mostly just xc and very pedally! The novelty value of the glacier and mass start is what differentiates it more than anything else.

Stayed in campsite in valley bottom on first time. If you do this you’ll need a vehicle to get up to AdH every day.

Second time around stayed in AdH. This worked much better from a logistics point of view as lifts will get you around without need ing the car but accommodation will be in high demand now. I’d be surprised if anything left.

A lot of folk camp in the field below the DMC lift. Not officially sanctioned but tolerated.

I’d guess the chain is jumping off the lower jockeywheel. Probably more likely at the extremes of the cassette.

I’ve experienced something similar a while ago, tried a new jockey wheel and tried bending the cage a little but it didn’t make much difference and I had to fit a new mech in the end.