Plus one for the Lakes. I have a set of the mx145s in wide fit. Best riding boots or shoes I’ve ever had. Much better for than the sidi mega I have.

Might be spenny but worth every penny

EBay ex military goretex – job done :)

Wasn’t too grim down in Kent so I went out for a little ride. Then it started pissing it down when I was an hour from home – cold wet ride home but pleased I went out :)

If it’s priced right I find you do pretty well on here to be honest. EBay sometimes gets a bit more but more likely to get people being annoying…

One pair of socks or two? I

Go old school and get some Os maps out on the kitchen table and plot an unnecessarily circuitous route. That’s what I did and now I have a very pleasant 15 mile commute with some country lanes, farm tracks and bridleways. Means it takes me 10mins longer than going on the a21 and I get covered in crap when it’s wet but it’s all good!

yup. especially when she is at home with the kids. To be fair she tries to not ask me to do much but it’s an inevitability. I’m also really easily distracted. For that reason, I rarely work from home. And then I get grief for taking my job too seriously. Which is kind of weird as if i didn’t take my job seriously I wouldn’t get paid. But let’s not go down that rabbit hole.

As it happens I am taking a month of parental leave next week and she is going back to work. Very much looking forward to seeing how that works out!

Lake boots are my favourites so far. Current winter boot of choice is the lake mx145. Already wearing it and my feet aren’t boiling but they will be cosy in winter too

So your battery lights are doing several hundred hours? MYbe battery is the way ahead. I just want to know It’s going to work! And my recent recharging ones have frequently run out of charge by the time I am home. And then transpired they don’t recharge at all!

Do you run hot or cold? If you don’t run too hot I’d recommend a Paramo velez smock or even one of their evolution smocks. It’ll keep you dry and warm. Breathability is its main benefit and quite a few options for cooling down. I find them perfect for all day adventures where i don’t go ‘all out’ but a bit warm if I’m just going out for an hours blast

I do on one of my bikes but not the Mtb which I sometimes use too and need to transfer between bikes

Can anyone recommend decent commuting mudguards if you’ve got the fattest tyres your frame can take? I’m riding a pompetamine with panaracer gravelkings which are perfect for my ride but there’s no room for guards

So if it can all be had already how can they claim the smallest lightest etc?

I’ve got the regular I think…

I’m wearing one now. And I’ve just come back from a ride. It doesn’t smell and it’s not damp. Maybe I didn’t ride hard enough. But Strava tells me I did the usual (it’s my commute) and when I wear my regular jersey it’s not much different other than it stinks.

I have the bag (albeit an older one) and it’s great. I’m 6ff and fitting is fine. The pertex on the outer is very thin so it feels like it might tear but no issues so far. Packs up very nicely into the perfect sized bundle for your handlebars. In fact I can fit in a down jacket too. That way I’ve either got the jacket for an extra later if temperature really drops or I’ve got a comfy pillow ;)

I like them. Today I was reviewing a new template for our company newsletter and showed Planet X as an example of a job well done. Clearly understand their audience and it’s all about the sell. Nice work.

I’ve never had a problem selling on here. Sold two bikes on here in under a week. The key thing is being reasonable about what your bike is worth.

There are a lot of bikes/frames on here that are completely overpriced.

Agreed. Definitely not meant to be a replacement, just saying they make for a better ride and the only real benefit I could detect was the lighter weight. And I’m a pretty crap rider so need the cushioning when I land front wheel first…

Simplify or make lighter?

If make lighter then get some. They do that well. But not sure a decent front suspension fork is that complex. In fact they look a whole lot ‘simpler’ aesthetically. I took mine off recently and replaced with a 130mm fork and it’s a much funner ride. The lauf bounced me about a bit too much.

But, on the crappy road sections of Kent it was great. So my next plan is to use it on an old 29er frame as a winter commuter that does a bit of off road but never does anything where I’ll get bounced off into the bushes

P.s. I live in Kent so don’t ‘need’ anything more than the hard tail I have.

But it’s not about NEED is it?

I had a Stanton Sherpa and loved it but I also had an ibis mojo and now I have neither I think it’s the ibis i miss the most.

Get the GT

sugar and washing up liquid every time. Cheap and effective.

It’s the 8.46 and to be fair it’s still a fairly busy one. I used to catch it sometimes when I was running late back in the London days.

Think I might just have to change tickets :( but going to give it a go and see what happens…expecting to be left on the platform.

I would cycle to London but got to drop the little one off at nursery first and so I’d still miss the 10am train from kings cross.

Just piss poor planning really!

Feels fairly high risk…

What impact did you feel it had on your ride? I have always been clips (well for last 20 years) but next weekend I have a weekend in the Peaks with some mates for a long walk and I am going to take the bike with me to do a couple of rides before and after. As I am travelling by train I don’t want to take two pairs of shoes so thinking flats…but I have a long-ish road section to do as well. Will I notice it much?

My thoughts exactly fasthaggis. Looks like a crap horse riding hat. I’m oot…

Thanks all – looks like it’s going to Anker then…

I like the fact that the full price for what is effectively three bikes is the same price as a secondhand Isla bike!

I jut wear ‘road’ tops as I rarely ride in a pack and like the back pockets…

Nice one everyone – some great options there :) thank you!

I used to have a carbon audax bike but when I bought the Reilly Gradient I’d be lusting after I long term lent it to a mate.

The Gradient ‘feels’ heavier sometimes but I don’t think it is. I just have fatter tyres etc and feel more confident on it. I don’t feel too slow on the roads (use 32mm on Hope 20Fives) and can keep up with my mate on a super lightweight carbon canyon jobby.

I have a lot more confidence than him on some of the sketchy lanes around Kent as well.

The I have a set of hope xc 27.5 wheels with some 42mm Tyres that I take on routes that will be long and mixed.

Happy with my choice but do sometimes wish I hadn’t given the carbon bike away. Just coz…

I’d just stick it on the front.

I think most people with similar bikes ride a narrower tyre on the 700 (maybe a 32) and then a 47 on 650b.

That gives you two different feeling bikes but a similar height…

Deal with it. Chances of you getting dog shot on it again are very slim. You’ve had your bad luck…It’s never happened to me once; as far as I’m aware anyway!

I’ve had a bit of cow shot before but generally just mud and enough of that ends up in my mouth anyway when the trail is really wet!

If not, a mudguard should sort you out.

Bought a pair last year and the sole has already started coming away. I also found them cripplingly uncomfortable. Like I’d just strapped some ill fitting rubber to the soles of my feet

Anyone?

tech wash first and then after you’ve washed it 3 or 4 times you might want to think about reproofing with TX direct spray or wash-in. You’ll usually get better results with Wash-in as it’s not prone to you positentially missing bits etc

Is it just me or do a LOT of bikes get nicked in edinburgh? Sorry to hear you’ve fallen foul of the little scrotes too :(

Another Paramo wearer here. I use the New Velez on my bike and out walking when it’s wet and blustery. They are quite a bit lighter than they used to be. And colours are much improved!

Main advantage for you would be the fact they are very easy to repair. Just stitch it up or send it back to Paramo and they’ll fix it for not much.