I agree with many of the comments here, but really just wanted to say that this is a really good article. I love a bit of proper digging into a serious topic.

I concur about the Renogy. Mine started spontaneously collapsing about a week into ownership and has irritated me ever since.

Gutted! Thank you both. What’s most frustrating is that it seems to have given up while just sat in the shed! Absolutely fine when I put it away, and now completely jiggered. Grrr….

Thanks all! Apparently there is a bike version of the route – I just need to see how it correlates to a map now. Have sent a registration request for Bearbones too, so will see what that brings.

Can I ask where you got it from, and how good the match turned out to be? I need exactly that colour for exactly the same frame!

All sorted thanks. I thought the complete lack of any ‘feel’ in the lever meant I’d done something awful, but took advice and restarted from scratch. Looks good now. 🙂

Sorry chaps, work did me over on Wednesday too. 7PM start works for me in future.

No problem, I’m sure there’ll be plenty more rides.

Does anyone know if there’s anything worth doing at Hicks Lodge? I’ve only just found it exists.

Three hours I waited for you lot!

Not really – I went for a bit of a bimble on my own but quickly got lost so will await a future outing where someone with a better sense of direction can come along. Anyway, I won’t take it personally. 🙂

I’ll be there tonight. 🙂

New light arrived today, and tyres that don’t rub the frame should be fitted again at the weekend. Roll on next week!

Great ride, thanks everyone – hopefully should be able to make it along next week too.

Work got in the way so I couldn’t make it, but definitely up for any other similar meet-ups in future.

Next Wednesday sounds good. I’m fairly flexible on time.

I’d be up for an evening or weekend, work permitting – will be coming from just north of Loughborough, so Thringstone area works for me.