Why nick the signs then?
Why not just ride the pre-existing trails in whatever direction they like regardless of the signs? That’s what I’d do.

Unless the signs are now stuck up the un-sunny end of some pompous twit who told someone off for riding the ‘wrong’ way.

It’s how markets work.

I hope never to know how they feel so I’m not going to criticise them but I don’t think I would react in the same way.

I can’t imagine what it feels like for a parent to lose a child. But when I saw the story my thoughts were that, compared to the grief of dead child, the letter would be pretty much insignificant. In fact (and maybe it’s just me) I thought that if I were in their situation and got the letter I would find it a brief moment of humour. It’s not likely that they’d forgotten their daughter was dead and the letter brought it all back, is it?

…though they act exactly like men in panda suits would.

Sure you saw actual pandas?

Have you thought about trying to get hold of a 2nd hand Blur 4X?
~4″ travel, will take a big fork and a hoot to ride.

I managed to empty the contents of a 3L camelbak bladder into my camera on the first night but here are some pics from day 1: http://gallery126268.fotopic.net/c1575877_37.html

We did an excellent 3dayer round the Cairngorms last year. In short it was Blair Atholl – Loch Morlich – Braemar – Blair Atholl. We stayed in hostels but obviously you could wild camp instead.

If you email me via my profile I can send you the route as a Tracklogs .trl (or anything I can get GPSU to convert it to)

I like it.

The two times I’ve done it I’ve ridden over from Edenfield to make a ride of it.

I’m looking forward to going back in a few weeks to see the new stuff.

… so the only warranty with them is whatever crc are willing to offer

No, the warranty is whatever CRC, as the retailer, is legally required to provide. This is the same whatever the status of the part.

Mojo’s view of the situation is irrelevant…

‘Retail’ part – warranty is with the retailer
‘OEM’ part – warranty is with the retailer
‘Grey’ part – warranty is with the retailer

p.s. we got ours when Halfords had them on special offer at £29 – all six for less than one of those Recaros.

I’ll see your three, Matt and raise you.

We have six of the Graco ones – three each in two cars. Agree that Kids have never complained, fall asleep in them etc. Easy to fit, easy to clean.

Likely to be going to Lee Quarry.

I’ve been there twice (a route from Edenfield) but I think more trail’s been added since I was last there.

a) when I remember
b) I forget
c) mud, gritty water etc
d) ~50% (‘cos I keep forgetting)

Hang on whilst I find that photo of a fella with a stick in his eye

Don’t.

I will vomit.

Mine all seem to be important notifications to update my security details with banks I’ve never used.

Bizarrely I seem to have had mail purporting to be from just about every bank apart from the one I actually do bank with.

Don’t take the road through Entreves. There is a nice bit of singletrack that comes down on the other side of the Ferret river. This should be marked on a walkers map if you have one.

I’ve found Entreves now – I was looking in Switzerland and it was in Italy. I’ve also found the riverside single track on the map, thanks.

I think we’d probably have ended up using it anyway. In that when we got to the point where we had a choice of jumping on the road or following river-side singletrack that looks like it’s going in broadly the right direction, I’d like to think we’d pick the singletrack every time.

Hmmm…. Chris and Rich doing it clock-wise too.

Someone must have done it anti-clockwise?

Don’t sell it. Put some proper forks on it. I’d recommend Pikes. Vanillas would be good too.

Don’t take the road through Entreves. There is a nice bit of singletrack that comes down on the other side of the Ferret river. This should be marked on a walkers map if you have one.

Where is Entreves? I have the walker’s map (IGN3630) and can’t spot it. For most of the Val de Ferret I’m hoping to track parallel to the road (and river). The only place it looks like the trail uses the road is around La Fouly.

I did have a look at a variant – coming from the Col Ferret, there’s a path that turns left at La Peule and contours the hillside dropping down at Ferret rather than going straight down to the valley floor. I’m quite tempted by that nit of trail but haven’t been able to find out much about it. The map shows a ‘ravine de La Peule’ which concerns me a bit – I try to avoid ravines!

Thanks – it’s all useful info.

We’re planning on doing it the other way round so it looks like Champex to Forclaz will be a push up the ‘steep awkward rocky’ bit then a long singletrack descent into Forclaz. I’m obviously looking forward to the long singletrack descent more than the rucky carry but we accept there’s going to be a degree of push/carry on the route.

The two .kml files I managed to find on the web both go anti-clockwise and both go offroad from Champex to Forclaz. I know one of them was Sian and Carl from endlessride, both of whom are stronger riders than me by some margin. I’ve no idea who rode the other route – it could be Hans Rey for all I know!

I really in two minds about how long to plan to take. I know (from the GPS info) that Sian and Carl did it in four days. It looks like they did a short day (4 hours) then three 8 hour days. On the one hand I’m thinking – it’s only 23miles a day. On the other hand I understand that they’re alpine miles. If we do go with a four day plan, I’ll book flights to give us the flexibility of another day.

Like Nel, we’re planning to do it unsupported. We did a tour of the Cairngorms last summer and learnt quite a bit about just how little stuff we actually need to have with us. For that trip we thought we’d all trimmed our gear right down but I reckon we all took twice as much weight as we actually needed to have.

Nel – did you pre-book refuges or just turn up? Ideally I’d like to pre-book the refuges we plan to use but then have the flexibility to either press on if we’re making good time or stop earlier if we have to.

Actually planning to do it anti-clockwise.

Over 4 days starting in Les Houches and sleeping at the Refuges Mottet, Elena & Forclaz – works out at about 22-25 miles a day.

Are people confusing themselves deliberately here? To me it’s simple…

Most trails (call it ‘natural’ if you like…): Two way (even where some of them ride better one way than the other)

Built trails in trail centres: One way (or if you ride it the wrong way, know you’re doing so at risk)

‘Adopted’ Trails (stuff that was always two way until someone stuck some signs up e.g. Ashton Court and Sherwood Pines): Two-way (but be aware people will innocently treat them as one way)

The Timberland trail in Bristol is a small trail but is sign and map posted for directions and people do cheekily ride the other way.

The trails in Ashton Court existed long before anyone put arrows up. Even then though there was a ‘right’ way round to get the best out of them. Going the other way was fine for a bit of a change though.

http://www.winstanleysbikes.co.uk/product/15315/Park_Home_Mechanic_Repair_Stand_PCS9

i’m doing it; any locals have tips about the climbs?

What do you want to know?

Mow Cop is brutal – it’s not called the ‘Killer Mile’ for nothing
Wincle is long, straight(ish)
Macc Forest is long, narrow and saves the worst for last.
Ewrin Lane is short, twisty, steep (also known as Dead Man’s Lane) and has been resurfaced – it’s a favourite of mine ‘cos it’s downhill all the way to my house from there.

Swiss Hill is a real treat – cobbled, steep, twisty, off-camber – it’s a technique climb. Just hope the rider in front of you doesn’t fluff it.

Not me.

Like OMITN, all the good stuff is local to me. No point driving halfway across Cheshire to ride home, ride out again and then drive home.

As well as Swiss Hill and Mow Cop other treats include Wincle, Macc Forest and Ewrin Lane.

Take it easy on the descent to Lamaload too – some chap had a bad crash there on Friday: http://www.bikeradar.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=12611566&start=40 – it’s fast and narrow and before you know it you’re into a couple of bends with no grip (the road there is always wet and gravelly)

What’s wrong with Easton?

personal – just don’t like it.

Are you ripped and lean with body fat <10%?

No, not by some way. But I’m as ripped as I’m likely to get on the riding and running I manage to squeeze in with the rest of real life. It’s not either/or, is it?

noliC, taht noitnem dluohs uoy ynnuF

yehctiR ta gnikool mA

PCS9 here too.

Use it lots for a variety of mountain, road and kids bikes and it does what it’s supposed to do – holds the bike exactly where I want it and goes back under the stairs when done.

Not going to make it. I’m in for a minor op on the 24th and will be off the bike for at least a week.

(Wouldn’t mind some details of the route though so I can ride it at a later date)

That logo confirms my already low opinion of the whole SSUK thing. If it’s supposed to be witty, it’s not. It’s naff and a bit ‘look at me, look at me – I’m a badass wierdo‘

I ride a SS MTB and a fixed road bike. I also ride geared versions of both. They’re all just bikes. Sometimes I enjoy one more than others. At the moment I seem to be enjoying geared MTBing but fixed on the road. Next week I’ll have changed my preferences. Or I might not.

Saabs in general, yes. Have had a petrol 900S, now on a 9-3SE TID (old shape) – agree very reliable (but expensive IF something big goes), great cruisers, get you there quickly and relaxed. Not enormously ‘fun’ to drive.

Personally I wouldn’t have an auto (having previously had a Volvo V70 auto) – I like to drive the car myself.

(but I’ll be watching the first half on Sky and the second half in the pub)

Or I’ll get a phone call at 6:15pm offering me a free ticket :D

If[/i] they’re just rebadged Adidas, I’ve always found them narrow compared to Shimano. Might suit you but no good for my big, fat feet.

I’m on Virgin and have no issue with iPlayer and the like.

(but I’ll be watching the first half on Sky and the second half in the pub)

as are Titus.

Yes.
No.

Three bones broken in hand, a couple of ribs cracked and lots of skin removed.

Mixed feelings.

When they work they’re a really good fork. I’ve got the ATA2 and don’t think anything comes close for the money.

But they don’t work often enough – mine have been back twice. They’ve now got the latest internal gubbins and are working fine but I don’t know if that’s for the next 5 years or just the first 5 minutes of the next ride.

I have the Thule 9403. It’s the only tow bar mounted carrier I’ve ever used so I can’t judge it against anything else. The Halfords website shows it at £169 at the moment but it was £99 when I got it. I’ve used it loads – short trips, long trips, one light bike to three bigguns. It’s never let me down.