I just took delivery of a trek procaliber 9.6. After some scrotum broke into the house and stole my giant.

Third ride out today and it’s an absolute beast for fast riding. So much nicer to ride than my giant. A dropper post would make it the perfect fast xc bike

Agreed top of lower cliff is probably the best view out over the trails.

The coffee cup holder has being added to the wish list.

ah now I’m conflicted. So it’s a myth it can be repaired easily. I still like the feel of my Kaffenback thats steel. But now alu and ti adventure bikes?….. this opens up a whole other procrastinating afternoon looking at bike porn.

Wonder if Alpkit could make me a bag to strap on the bike for my nose hair trimmer?…….

I need to find a stockist of Surly so I can go have a look at the ECR.

Wow there has being a lot of activity since I last logged in yesterday.

I have used my 29er front sus for bike backing (sorry off road touring) and it was good but I think I am a bike whoare and just like building bikes. My Kaffenback has being used on and off road, done some epic trips on it but as soon as I hit the rough stuff it just feels like it could throw me at any time.

I’m liking the sound of the Jones loops as I like drop bas but I tend to spend most of my time on the hoods or tops. not very often on the lower D’s

I’m torn between a Fargo, Singular Gryphon, and Genesis Longitude. There are some amazing bikes on here but I’m not sure I could afford some of the custom frame builds, titanium jobs. I do like the steel idea as one day I would love to go ride in some far of countries and if some how something happened to the frame I like the idea it could just be welded back together.

I’m cycling from Amsterdam to Paris next which will be a road tour, so the Kaffenback will probably be used then.

I think the bike will be a mixture of gravel, roads and off road. so an all rounder. I love my 29er but want something which will be set up for bike packing souly.

that STOATER is fooking amazing. Way out of my price bracket though.

I’d also not heard of the ECR that’s looking tempting!!!

Well I got myself a 105 10 speed triple front mech braze on.

And I have got it to work with an xt triple chainset and xt triple front shifter.

I just put a little slack in the cable, adjusted the stops and now I can get on all three rings. There is a bit of rub on the granny ring on lower gears but I am happy not to use these. It means I now have a steel road touring frame that I can take up stupidly steep off road climbs.

Thanks for all the advice

Alpkit Pipe Dream. Best bag I’ve ever had. Use it for bike packing in winter with fleece liner, summer just open with silk liner. Super light but super warm

I’m hopeful my wheel will be back in time so it will be full 29er again.

Currently sorting kit just dont sure what to take.

ah ha, I shall perhaps give it ago. Thanks

recommend Wildcat for def saddle, as just set mine up.

Was mightily impressed with beer babes bags when I saw them at a race, in Feb.

Are fingerless gloves now a cycling fashion no no? I’m so not down with you kids

Be my tenth time doing it, always done the 50k route preiously, doing the 100 this time.

Wondering if I should put cross tyres on my 29er. make the drags and roads more enjoyable.

I’ve opted for the wildcat harness type ones as I have some dry bags already 🙂

Next eBay some stuff to raise money for titanium mug and meths burner

Brilliant thank you will have a look now, silly I’m debating over a bag I feel like a right girl.

this would be toture for me, been a visual person. I’d use the stlye of the fonts and text to make it visual thing.

Alter size of text and postion and aligment.

good luck with no visual aids

How hard are the UKGravity enduro events? I did my first 4 hour enduro last year in the summer and will admit I was as slow as a snail by the 3rd hour but really enjoyed it.

Making the phone call tonight with my freind to book some events into the calender

Oh how could I forget the welsh ride thing?! definatly doing that again. My list is getting bloody long!

Wow thanks I’ve copied all the links to the events everyone has said, trying to sneakerly look at work isn’t working so got them all saved in an email to look later.

Can you do the 3 peaks ona 29er? always wanted to do it.

I know all of what you say makes perfect sense, only attraction of the 29er was it could take me off up long rides in the mountains with some wild camping kit.

I did think of getting super skiinny tyres at same time.

Thats the thing my mate lives down in Luton and I’m up in Staffordshire, it’s along way to go if it’s not going to be an epic achievement. So might give it a miss then, theres one in chase the following week, could do that one if I feel like it.

I had the meat balls from booths so nice, but did take a while to heat and in a tiny pan it was a bit difficult, when i say pan i mean take away tray on an open fire, which did eventually burn through on. Pan next time!

might do the autumn epic in wales instead then

oh really, i was hoping it would be a really good event, in that case I might find something else to do then. 🙁

I’ve talked myself out of it. Plan now is to try putting money aside each month and see how I get on and then save towards a van. I will own one, one day!

A friend recommend Bus Fest. I can only go on the Sunday as doing the Tour 100 mile ride on the Saturday. Perhaps might pop there first and then decide what to do. Thanks for reminding me.

My brother use to have an old beetle so I like the scene of VW’s ;-P

Well I’m still toying with the idea. Part goes yay, part goes no. I might just go have a look at the van and waste the owners time tomorrow properly. I can but have a look and see under the bonnet and hear it run.

I have grand ideas of setting up a teaching workshop business, so a van would be ace for that. I’m quite spontaneous in the fact I like to just pack up and head off and camp every month or so so sleeping in side of road would be cheaper then camp sites. But partner puts a dampener on that these days, but I still try.

Thanks for the advice think I am talking myself out of it a bit. Going to have a look around and see what else is about and work out the finances as well.

Not thinking about repair costs and should be. Durrrrr

What does Jedi do?

Kids on bikes is another avenue I could pursue, had a similar conversation with my partner as she rides horses and said a similar thing about children on horses.

But I need to ensure what I do I enjoy doing, I don’t want to turn it into a mundane day job where my only concern is quick photos for a quick buck. Quality is my biggest concern, silly as it sounds the money is second priority. Hence why I’m a bit s*** as a business man.

Well done on the photo though at least you’ve got some money coming in, even if it is a few pennies.

I agree about the photography aspect been extremely difficult to make a living from, this is why I’m doing my research to see what is so unique about me, my ideas and what I do. I do have some confidence in my abilities I just need to hone my skills down and target the right place and clients.

I’ve no intention to give up the day job just yet, tempting as it is.

I didn’t mean to buy the photos of the olympic guys, but have photos of ordinary human beings shot in a similar way. You and your mates out enjoying a ride, or a post ride shoot covered in mud and grim. Stick it on the wall, look what we did, sort of bragging rights.

piemonster that was helpful because if the answer is no, then as a business I need to find another route to approach. Negative feedback is good feedback in my eyes, if everyone agrees then I have no balance and can’t learn 😀

Brilliant idea avdave2 I never thought about contacting cycle holiday companies. I’m working on my fitness at moment, think it’ll have to be pretty good to carry a camera out with me, but that may mean having to save to buy a lighter camera to take with me oh damn!

Riding photographic workshops would be ace. I did attend one two years ago with Benji Halworth who works for singletrack. Was a great experience but I did know most of what he was teaching. That idea did pop into my head when I was doing it but then got complacent with my job and forgot about my photography and setting up. but now is the kick up the backside time.

As for arty shots, I would love just follow people on my bike with camera or find out their routes and be able to get into a location where I could shoot them. Get some off guard shots but make sure they were arty and cool.

Did also have an idea for a personal project about people and their bikes. Would need willing volunteers for that to turn into a book or an exhibition. 😀

I agree about the shit MTB photography out there. Theres so much of it and I have no desire to be a sports photographer like ones working in press covering races. Competition is far too high. I like doing stuff like this.

Set up, with artificial light, that was just a quick play around trying my speed lights out.

I’d not heard of Joolze Diamond but just had a look, some really ace images on there. Thank you.

I’m working with the national midlands XC vet at the moment on some photos and trying a few ideas out as well as got a few cyclists lined up as my would be guinea pigs.

I would like to get some work for magazines I guess sort of cycling lifestyle, much like the ace photos you see in single track magazine. Think this is partially what is inspiring me.

Right back to researching. Event photography probably ticked off, defiantly not really what I was wanting to do.

Going to cycle upto it after work today, no lights but I’ll have a look and see if I will brave enough next week.

i have just read you can ride through it but you need lights. I’m at girlfriends at mo and my lights are back over Lichfield way. Apprently its so dark in there you can not see your hand in front of your face. Wet and puddley might be worth a go though.

I quite like the canal ride to brimingham except the bit under the M5 and through Smethwick/sandwell. Don’t feel overly safe. ‘Trying to make most of nice weather and commute in a few times