Yes, since I left France, i discovered that more and more paths are getting restricted access. There is a path, "sentier des contrebandiers" around Brittany which is forbidden, due to its popularity and the erosion caused.

I like to try a duathlon sometimes , as long as the bike is a MTB. Where is your event? Do you have a website with all UK duathlon listed, particularly in the South West? (Somerset/Wiltshire/Hampshire?) Thanks!

When I said "combine" I mean I use on my PC the Tracklogs S/W which come with OS maps to draw the route I'm intended to ride. Then I download the route to the GPS (via usb cable). On the GPS screen itself, the route appears as a basic track , no OS map background, but you can work out your bearing by viewing your position compare to the track itself. Fancy GPS like Satmap do have a OS map background, which is pretty good, but still a bit pricey and the bike mount is very chuncky.

I was able to download the tracklog version in my S/W thanks, but didn't try the google earth bit.

map and pencil? when I'm biking I would have to stop and read the map every 5 min as that's the time it take you to the next junction. Map ok when walking, but riding, it's a pain. GPS rocks for that. Nigel, I'm using Garmin Vista HCx and I like it. Bike mount ok and coverage ok except Forest of Dean. I combine it with the Traklogs S/W to download a route to the GPS and it works well once on the tracks with a few uturns needed sometime when spotting the track is not obvious in the field.

is it me or is it just an orange on a tree?

Nigel, it will be nice if a STW ride or Clent Duffer ride is organised on the Malvern Hills one of this week end, so I can join you. I do know the Malvern a bit, and WHATMTB has a loop in it this month, and i got a GPS.

What? Did I see Mel Gibsson next to the Coen Brothers name? Better leave this place now.

perhaps a kind of GPS tracking of the STW users link to multimap or google earth so we can see where they are riding during the day or in the evening or during the weekend, to avoid the "Where are you all riding this weekend? " thread. that will be good i reckon.

Les Visiteurs, frankly, I was thinking to leave Singletrack after that statement, but then somebody mentions "etre et Avoir", so this is all good now (for "Etre et Avoir", Have you also try "The Class"?).

expresso and a shortbread.

He doesn't like mountain biker and prefer cavers, that's right? Or I got it completely wrong?

Rich, you can go there by train Salisbury-Frome, probably change in Westbury. I can't make it tomorrow, but maybe next week, as I'm also interested to chase the snow leopard.

probably, she was blonde.

At the last SPAM challenge, there was a young girl riding for Charge, and she did look that she can fit that thread, but not sure who she was.

Winter 2010:

I predict 2011 will be the first year where 2 members of ST will get married.

I still don't understand why people like "into the Wild". The voice off is so annoying, and keep repeating every 5 min (and I'm not exagerating), "I'm just a cool dude, the society is just pants" (ok i did exagerate a bit). The sceneries are at least superb, like watching a Colin Prior calendar but that's all. And don't get me on with "it's a true story".
"The Live of others" is a good watch.

I think there is something called astonmtb with a lot of SSs involved. So you've been warned.

wait a minute, you did ride from CwmCarn to the gap? It does look far on the map, or did you take your car between the two places?

One day my number will stay up.

Yes i do! See you on Sunday! (not on a SS, I still got my dignity)

I will say a SS will be good as the gear usually get clogged by frozen mud or just even wet mud. The road bit could be a bit of a drag but by that time nobody will be able to be in high gear so it will be a shared experience.

thank you. Spring was in Scotland, somewhere near Ayr.
Sheldon, I know, I should have been there, the roads did look ok at the end. Will try my best next time.

Yes, the South face.

I don't mind riding in wet at all, it's the driving to there I don't like!

Did a quick metcheck and I don't like the look of it. I've been already stuck last weekend in Mendips, so not sure I want to do that again. So so far I'm not planning to come. I know, I'm a wimp. Pity, I might have bought you a calendar.

I remember I took the Clent Duffers to do the Pont Scethin loop in Summer and there were a lot of u-turns involved (and swearings)… But we did it.

that's right, the challenge is more going through the mud or ice or snow rather than the distance. Bikes are going to suffer. Hope there are some soups at the end.

Looks like i will be there as well. I do like the tea towel bike frame from Sheldon.

that would have been fun. And I did have a Christmas costum to wear as well if I had come. At least I didn't have to fight for the pig skins.

thanks for your suggestion.

rm dobo

I found WMTB has a better finished/polished quality than ST, but then ST is working very hard to find original articles/ideas. I wish they will merge and do a What Singletrack or something like that. Go for ST they have Ferrentino in it, a funny outro, and a nicer gallery.

that's the difference between you and me then, you are a warrior, I'm a wimp.

yep, Audition. Really hate needle now.

just done last week end the royal thor path or something like that, it was very good, nice singletracks down to Princetown, easy navigation just following the briddleway sign. Weather was absolutely beyond pants, but i enjoyed it! plus a bit of mist coming as well, on top of the rain and the wind, that was just dartmoor full package. You are going to love it.

mmm…I'mm afraid I've got to add something here. My girlfriend is a botanist and her hobby is looking for very to very rare plants/mosses/liverworts. So if you've got a protected site which belong to the Somerset Wildlife Trust, it's not just to prevent erosion, it's also like a museum for other people who do not ride bikes. she's almost in tear to discover that the last species in UK has been trashed by a mountain bike. Ok, it's not just bikers, walkers, dogs are as guilty as us. Hope you will remember that next time you ride in a SSSI or any protected wildlife area.

Just flagging this thread in my profile.