OK I will stop tinkering eventually, but you’ve got to admit these new #shimano #dxr levers look pretty sweet on my @traversbikes #RussTi by Jim Barrow[/url], on Flickr

I’ve got TRP Spykes on one bike, I used Shimano DXR levers, purely because they were shiney, but they actually have a really strong spring in them so work well and I don’t have any issue with them sticking. The only time I would say the brakes were any worse than a hydraulic was on some of the long descents, ten miles plus, on the divide. Then I did get aching hands and struggle to pull them. Super reliable though, which was exactly what I was looking for.

My Tripster has HyRd’s on it and they are good, but TBH I’m thinking of changing to Spyres because the Spykes are so good on my Travers, I prefer the look of them too.

My “normal” MTB has XT’s on it if that is relevant.

I got one of these, I can charge it from the dynamo while it is discharging with something plugged in too.

Zendure

Last group ride I guided I was the only in and the other 17 were out

I’ve done 1200 miles on my 29+, multiple weekends in Wales with the bike fully loaded with bikepacking gear and I’ve had zero punctures, that includes chasing my mates down trail centre runs. Look where you’re going and you won’t puncture!

I’ve only just changed to Jones bars, I think they are awesome, really comfortable, lots of hand positions and good for attaching your bikepacking kit to.

@tjmax173 and I are in full #tourdivide rehearsal mode on the #WRT
#welshridething this weekend. #bikepacking by Jim Barrow[/url], on Flickr

First time I’ve used my @kinesisbikes_uk Tripster ATR for #bikepacking, it coped well as it got taken on some gnarly bits of trail! The @apidura bags are great too, switch between bikes easily too. by Jim Barrow[/url], on Flickr

I’m in the somewhat unusual position of having both and I’m about to do the Tour Divide!

My Tripster I only really ride it off road, I use local roads and country lanes to get to the Downs, but really I just like to ride it away from traffic. A serious accident in my past means I like to keep away from traffic at all costs as I just don’t feel safe on the road.

I’ve been planning doing the TD for a very long time and as I suffer a bit with a bad back I knew that the Tripster would not be a good choice for me, I need a bit more cush. I also have a Kinesis Sync and originally I was planning to do it on that but because of the low standover height you can’t fit a big frame bag in so when I saw the Travers I knew it was the one for the job.

I tried one for size at the big dog and ordered it the following Monday. After speaking to Michael Travers I made a few changes over the standard Russ Ti to make it the unltimate (for me) bikepacking machine.

I had all the cable runs full and external, so that they are easy to change and also so I could run cable discs. I had a front mech mount fitted, I don’t care how cool it is to have a single front ring or how much weight it saves, if I’ve got to pedal a loaded bike up a 14000′ pass in Colorado I want a low gear. Finally I had two sets of anything cage mounts put on the frame to make it carry any combination of stuff I could possibly need.

So as for is it the right tool for the job I’ll let you know in August ;-)

Finally I’m raising money for cancer research, Jenn inspired me to do this ride, she originally worked at my LBS when she was training for it and she was really helpful when I finally decided to commit to it, so if anyone would like to donate that would help spur me and my son on along the route….

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/jim-tom-tour-divide

LOL Retired

I run mine at 11psi or 14psi if the bike is loaded

The awesomeness that is my @traversbikes Russ Ti by Jim Barrow[/url], on Flickr

@tjmax173 and I are in full #tourdivide rehearsal mode on the #WRT #welshridething this weekend. #bikepacking by Jim Barrow[/url], on Flickr

Here’s mine, I had some custom options as I had a specific use in mind

Tour divide

Some great pics of @h.hollyyy racing at #gosportbmxclub at the weekend, courtesy of Barrie Webb #bmx #bmxrace #haro by Jim Barrow[/url], on Flickr

My daughter and I race, it’s just as competitive at 47 as it was when I was 13!

All I wanted was a bit of attention! by Jim Barrow[/url], on Flickr

Nice

My son and I are doing it too, we can’t make the grand depart as he has exams, we’re flying on june the 24th

We’ve been doing as much extra riding as we can fit in. My bike is finally finished, his just needs a couple of bits. All of our gear is sorted, except for a warm jacket for me, I feel the cold more than Tom does!!

If anyone is interested in helping us raise some money for a good cause: https://www.justgiving.com/jim-tom-tour-divide

Travers Rusty by Jim Barrow[/url], on Flickr

I’ve got the USE Vybe, really good, bought it last year after demo at mountain mayhem. I’ve got a slightly heavier spring than my weight as I didn’t want it moving too much. It takes the sting out really nicely.

I have a Ti post on my other bike, which obviously isn’t as good, but does still offer a degree of comfort, though that is a 29+ so it helps too.

Superstar do a cheap one, I used that last time

Yeah I love those Triton’s, the bike he made for his kiddie was lush! If money was no object it would be a firefly or a Moots for me.

Not sure as I was always planning on running the rigid fork. I think it’s 120mm iirc. Geometry is very similar to my Sync so I feel very at home on it, just a bit wider and comfier for long days in the saddle!

plus 1 for the Sync and the Travers!!

I’ve just got a Travers Russ Ti 29plus and although I stuck with his standard geometry I had some custom changes, mine has external cable routing for all cables, 2 x anything cage mounts and a direct mount front mech. I’m doing the Tour Divide this June and I wanted those changes to make it perfect for the job.

Travers Rusty by Jim Barrow[/url], on Flickr

I commute off road on my ATR and have ridden it many places I ride on my MTB, up on surrey hills trails and all over the downs, stick some 42mm tyres on and it’s a comfy capable bike.

I was jimbosussexmtb before the hack

Then I bought a cove hummer

Yes DrP, I did realise after I posted that he was actually talking about the mount!

I’ve got the garmin touring plus, with 1:50000 OS maps. It works really well, I used it for the coast to coast and welsh ride thing.

Hopefully it’s going to get me down the Tour Divide in June…..

I did battle on the beach for the first time last year, and no I wasn’t in with a chance!

The first twelve minutes were flat out down the beach, I have road raced in the past so am used to riding in a pack, I was in a bunch and when I glanced at my garmin I was doing 28mph.

Ultimately it was all fairly pointless as the first singletrack had a queue and we were all standing still for a while while it sorted itself out.

I’ve entered again for this year anyway as IT WAS AWESOME!!

The dynamo cable won’t let me put it the other way @stato

@acyclistforlife I have the tubus airy ti and use backrollers on it. They work really well.

Kinesis Tripster ATR by Jim Barrow[/url], on Flickr

I’m going this year, I’ve been dreaming about it since 2008, I’m going to ITT with my son, can’t wait! – https://www.justgiving.com/jim-tom-tour-divide

I’ve got a 54cm in sussex if that helps bumpy

Holmbury was OK today

It pissed it down the night that picture was taken and it didn’t leak

IMG_20150726_094219 by Jim Barrow[/url], on Flickr

I’ve got one of these, I used it last year for a two person trip to paris and back, it’s nice and spacious. Two full size sleeping mats will go in and it’s nice you each have a door.

I’m using it for the tour divide this year…..

Me, for the same reasons as you! 3 x 10 on my Kinsesis Sync

Though my new bike is 2 x 11, but only because it’s 29+ and a triple won’t fit

Nope, sold my 26″ hummer and my 26″ pivot mach 5.7 last year, 29 and 29+ only for me, though I really want a Surly Wednesday, so I guess I will go back!

I’ve had Ti bikes since ’94, I love the feel of them. I have a Kinesis Sync, a Kinesis Tripster ATR and a lush new Travers Russ Ti which will hopefully get me to the end of the Tour Divide this year (I realise my legs may have something to do with this too).

Travers Rusty by Jim Barrow[/url], on Flickr

Any chance of the gpx please?

@officerfriendly

I work in the bike trade, so it wasn’t too bad, but that £55 really stung, serves me right for being a tart I guess.

The Revo is great, I have a SP hub on each of my bikes now and just swap the light between them. It’s fine for MTBing, the only time it struggles is if you have someone with a light like a six pack behind you, doesn’t quite cut the mustard. It’s great having the set up that I can get my stuff charged while I ride.

I really wanted a plus bike as I loved my genesis longitude, the travers team were at the big dog last year so I got to try Michael Travers Rudy Fat (as it was called then), size wise it was spot on for me. The geometry is very similar to the Kinesis Sync I have so I just felt immediately at home on it, just with a bit more cush from the tyres.

@officerfriendly

your Travers looks absolutely amazing, I am genuinely in awe. It looks fantastic! – Cheers, I took ages to decide what I wanted and then took ages to decide the spec! Sad thing is the weather is so crap now I’ve only ridden it a couple of times. I want to keep it in good nick so I don’t have to replace the drive train before it gets to america.

I love the Dually rims and the Dynamo setup! Super Jealous. – I Had to have the silver ones imported from the states, cost me £55 p and p, eek!!

Are those clamps for the bar extensions custom machined? Never seen anything like them before. – Do a search on facebook for BarYak and you’ll find the chap, they are made in the states, it was cheaper than a set of Ti Jones loop bars by a long way so seemed like the obvious choice for me.

The Tour Divide sounds amazing, good luck! (: – Thanks, I’m equal parts scared and excited, I’ve wanted to do it since I first heard about it from Jenn, I can’t wait to go, hopefully I can raise a load of cash for cancer research at the same time.

And ooh, does anyone know if there are any frame out there similar to it, as in semi fat with an adventure tint to it (short tt) but cheaper? – As I said I spent ages looking and couldn’t really find anything else that tickled my fancy. Had to sell all my worldly goods, but the end result was worth it.

Cheers,

Jimbo

That was a Uraltour, great value finners. I’ve had a custom Alpkit one made for my new Travers, it seems a little more robust.

I did have a genesis fortitude adventure

Parking spot with a view by Jim Barrow[/url], on Flickr

Then I changed it for a genesis longitude (that was awesome)

Believe it or not I’m carrying a lot less this time! #bikepacking #microadventure @apidura by Jim Barrow[/url], on Flickr

I’ve done a couple of trips on my Tripster, though they were more roadie in nature

Tripster ATR by Jim Barrow[/url], on Flickr

But I’ve sold three of my MTB’s and bought a Travers Rusty, which is the best mix of my longitude and my sync. I’m doing the Tour Divide this year and this is going to be the beast for the job. Incidentally I’m raising money for cancer research, Jenn inspired me to do it and gave me loads of great advice, if anyone wants to give me some extra motivation my justgiving page is here: https://www.justgiving.com/jim-tom-tour-divide

DSC00514 by Jim Barrow[/url], on Flickr

Black grips, merry Christmas! by Jim Barrow[/url], on Flickr

Just wired up the electronics on my @traversbikes #rusty to make sure it’s all working for the #bearbones #bach2bach #bikepacking event next weekend. Flashing lights means it’s all good :-) @use_exposurelights #revo #cinq5 #plug #spdynamo #BarYak by Jim Barrow[/url], on Flickr

First proper outing will be at the Bear Bones Winter Event next weekend…..

So I didn't quite make it to 5000 miles, which was the plan, but it's still the most I have ever ridden in a year. And next year will be a bit bigger still: https://www.justgiving.com/jim-tom-tour-divide #mtb #bikepacking #gdmbr #TourDivide #2016 by Jim Barrow[/url], on Flickr