Have you looked at Quoc? They have a Gravel show but the Tourer is comfy and has (IMO) a great retro look to it

+ 1 for Troy lee ace. Fit like a proverbial

Depends on your chainset. Easy on mtb, do-able on a compact road but quite tough on a standard road chainset if the road is wet…

Belugabob – your ride sounds good. What is it and when do you do it? And do you take hangers on? All this talk of 20mph and 25mph sound very unpleasant…personally I’d be happy with a solid 15-17mph and still be able to enjoy my pint at the end

The hamax ones are pretty good and if you have a Lidl near you they seem to be doing a copy for £30 which seems a bargain

My bike set up seems to need changing regularly. I think I have worked out the main reason for this is that my back is in varying degrees of discomfort according to how much my kids need lifting up that week!

It’s mostly simply the length though…which I adjust (fairly unsatisfactorily) with the seat. If only I had an adjustable stem 😉

Thanks all. Yes…re Cycle Ops. I have used that one previoulst but was looking for some other options.

Think I’ll try Mike first for servicing and then a bit of ‘research’ in the others 😉

Always secondhand. Only ever bought one bike new and that was my 40th birthday present 🙂

Thanks Flange – will PM you now

Curtis AM Explorer for proper off road
Reilly Gradient for road and off road

Looks a bit like a skinny tyred Stooge to me…

It’s faster, cheaper and less faff for me to drive. But I cycle 2 or 3 times a week purely because I have a 2 year old and a 4 month old and it’s the only time I get to ride my bike.

It means walking 20mins to nursery pushing my bike with one hand and pram with the other (have to do that so my wife can use pram in return journey) and then off I go on a lovely 13 mile cross country ride.

I’m usually late for work and late home meaning a bit of grumbling from both parties but I’ve got myself some riding so it’s all worth the bother 🙂

But in all seriousness my experience is that if you are sticking to roads they are not a bad idea. Also helps prevent front wheel lifting on nasty climbs…

Knob end hipsters have also taken to front racks so I’d say it must work

There was a nice feature in the mag about this. Charlie and the Bike Monger et al

Get lightest possible wind proof and then proof it with a wash in proofer like Nikwax TX direct.

Or the light Rab thing reviewed on here – flashpoint I think.

I have both but go with the wind proof for mot road rides as I’m never usually out for more than 3 hours or so. If of road I’m more likely to be out longer and more likely to do something stupid like get lost and end up cold and wet…so the flashpoint is better for off road

Another Gradient owner here. With two sets of wheels (some hope XC 27.5 and hope road wheels) I’m all set for pretty much anything the South of England can throw at me.

Have had it for 9 months and it’s been awesome. Mark is also a top guy – great customer service and he’ll help you spec out what you want/need

Depends on the role. Cycled to mine and think it helped them work out I was right for the role. But please don’t go to interview if it’s purely speculative. Time wasting.

Love what I do now. Work for Nikwax so finally working in the outdoor industry.

Previously spent along stint in the city working for tech companies and spent every spare hour either replying to pointless emails or reading about tech. Which I realise now I wasn’t really interested in. A kind of Stockholm syndrome I guess!

Tell them the actual salary. They’ll be able to work it out in the end anyway. And then you’ll look like you’ve lied. Which you have. Honesty is the best policy when starting at a new place.

I just rebuilt an old-ish Kona Lava Dome. I did a full year adventure on it so it had some memories and didn’t want it to die, nor stay in a loft somewhere. So I got some disc mounts brazed on to it, fitted some overly bling hope brakes that I had intended for another build that didn’t happen and single speeded it. It now does child carrying and the odd commute when my knees are feeling up to it

I think you’d be surprised. But I’d try eBay first.

I sold an old ibis mojo 26er on here the other day and think I put it on too low! There was loads of interest and the guy who got it seemed delighted! Still, I got a bargain myself so guess it’s karma

Had this the other day with same mech. Unscrew the clutch bit to get at the spring and you’ll probably see it’s a bit seized. Tiny bit of oil and a wiggle and it’s good to go

Don’t bother with tensioner. Get bmx half chain. They come in entertaining anodised colours too. And are reassuringly stout 🙂

I’ve tried both. The Brompton was far more adaptable even if I felt like a knob to start with. Ability to nip out at lunch to meet a mare the other side of town is handy, and you never have to worry about bike getting stolen as it’s with you. Also tend to be fitted with mudguards and so better for cycling in normal clothes. Oh, and they are really fast off the lights. It’s great fun pissing off the Lycra clad folk by beating them off the lights 🙂

+ 1 for the Aqua hi viz. bit sweaty when it’s hotter though

The Fargo. Looks lovely

Got myself a Reilly Gradient recently. Ticks a lot of boxes

I’d go for a cheap-ish carbon offering if you’re a roadie

I ran a 2.8 no problem. Plenty of clearance

Just recently sold two bikes on here. I prefer to use the forum I always feel like I’ve got good deals and like sharing the love the other way round. Would always rather see my old steeds have a good new home

I went for some Lake MX145 Boots. Started off with the mz303 but as you say a bit stormtroopery. The MX145 feel kinda normal but keep my feet toasty. Went wide fit too so my feet can waggle and don’t freeze up

Yes @davewalsh – that is a great plan.

Have you tried elete? Just a few drops of water in your bottle. You can barely taste it – which is good imho

Guess I’ll just have to get some quick links. They always seem to get lost in my bag and it be there when I need them! They are also ridiculously expensive!!

Have you tried any other Paramo stuff? I ride in the Velez smock with a thermal baselayer and it keeps me toasty. Depending on temperature I interchange thickness of the baselayer.

Going to be interesting to see how an MTB celeb branded company works out shifting a high cost product.

I always kind of cringe when folk like Hoy, Wiggins and Pendleton try and build brands out of their name. To be fair to Boardman he’s actually done pretty well out of it, but the brand is still a bit naff isn’t it?

Kind of think/hope the Athertons might be able to buck that recent trend, but guess we’ll see.

Not sure I agree with ‘weight’ is everything for cycle touring. I would 100% favour strength and reliability. Guess it depends what kind of touring you are doing. But most long distance tourers in my experience tend to favour steel bikes, more spokes, dynamos etc which all add weight but also make sure you don’t get stuck in the middle of nowhere with a knackered bike and no light…

Best ones I ever had were actually macpac. But they were stolen and they don’t seem to make them anymore. So….Ortlieb. Had the pair I have for 18 years and still going strong. Although a little hole in the bottom that leaks when it’s really rainy