Yeti
Some are huge sizes though, so choose wisely. Also some wont (fully) seal without a different lid.
But I have a rambler mug & bottle, very well made & keep things hot/cold all day. The mug is very useful for around the house/garden/shed as I usually forget my brew & it goes cold.

I use one of the iterations of a Bell Super, which has a central gopro mount. I don’t use an exposure head torch, but believe you can get exposure mounts for these too.

Same as the above. Had it my my mk5 golf. Went through some water and then parked up fairly quickly – needed more time to heat up and evaporate the water I think. Not had it since.

Uniqlo

Just buy a dh tube? But I’ve found the wtb tough stuff to be as durable as most.

I do it via iPhone a fair bit with the garmin connect app. Download the route from the site/app – sometimes I just email it to myself. Then select open in and choose garmin connect. Should open up in there (I’ve found it helps if the app is already open prior) You should then be able to add it to your ‘courses’. When saved, open the course in the connect app, tap the top right ‘more’ dots and send to device.

Hope are the best I’ve used, I think Galfer may actually make them? Fibrax are also good, get ’em from the eBay store. Others just don’t last.

I had this, very strange. Ended up sending them off to TF Tuned who said it had been cross threaded as above.
Still bizarre though as, like you, they were working all fine until I came to drop the lowers.

Mountain Hardwear super chockstone. Can get with or without a hood. The best softshell I own. Really thin, light, stretchy & comfortable. I don’t do any running or riding in mine to be fair, but I wear it so much, was £49 on Sports Pursuit.
Also have other Mountain Hardwear jackets and find they are great.

Vaults were good, though required maintenance as said above.
Have had Burgtecs on my bikes for a few years now, only needed to service a pair once.

Have a ‘problem’ on my external transfer with the cable release, when you press the lever to put some tension into the cable, sometimes the cable housing won’t return to rest at the lock. If that makes sense.
Anyway, normally a change of cable sorts it, not had any stickiness.

Size down. I’m usually a 10, but found a 9 was best. Enjoy the break in period!

My mate went through his quite quickly. Rear ended up being written off. Replaced with Dt Swiss 511s. Quite a hard rider though, depends what sort of riding you do.

Really enjoy the ‘off-piste’ stuff at Ae, turn down for what & IVO are the highlights for me. Last time I went (summer) a lot of the tracks were unrideable due to the felling. It’s also been really, really quiet too, but perhaps that is just because people ride the trail centre (or the better natural stuff!).

Can anyone confirm what tracks are/aren’t rideable at the moment? Or is Trailforks the best place to look still?

It’s a lot closer than Innerleithen for me so I hope it can bounce back from this!

You can get the non-boosted Pace RC127 for £319 I think. They have a boost version and are bringing a new frame out next year. Do everything on mine, love it!

Yep, it’s here http://www.pacecycles.com/shop/rc127-frame-only-in-yellow

 Maxxis when they’re worn.  WTB have the tread design and compounds sorted but the carcass is either too thin and prone to slashes while still being heavy or really heavy and a bit wooden

Maxxis aren’t much better! Make sure you get at least a double down on the rear, I’ve slashed both double downs but they have held up with a patch in. You pay a lot for that yellow writing though..

I’d really like a 2.6 Vigi front & 2.3 rear but you can’t get them at all! Can’t even find the 2.3 in a fast/tough rolling.

I bought these last year – https://www.amazon.co.uk/544-96-40-01-Husqvarna-Dryer/dp/B009X7T296

Don’t get really hot, so do need a good overnight/during the day period to dry them but they do work. If the shoes are fully drenched it would take a good two days or so.

The ones above probably better but I don’t have a permanent place to put ’em!

Drop them a message, they have added an extra one or two on for friends who have had a similar situation. Though think it helps if you’re a regular!

I use the Viper, not much of a serious runner, usually under an hour on decent tracks on the moor, suits me fine, goes through batteries though. The Viper has a second button which boosts the lumens up which can be handy when needed, though would be good to be able to toggle this on and off.

Petzl seem to be the default answer here, so worth looking at those too.

Bought a Minion SS from evans, warped the bead a few rides in, raised a return, took it back and got a new one a week or so later.

Yep, done this to a Minion SS too, I warrantied it with Maxxis and got a new one believe it or not.

Also done that to a Bonty SE5. Bit of a bugger.

Sram had the big bus there last year and fixed/serviced my reverb for nothing, was quite a wait mind.

I think I’ve read Specialized are doing something similar this year.

I reckon if you’re there early enough you’ll get it sorted.

Learn to ride what you have. Generally I ride a tyre to destruction.

I would like to experiment with different tyres but the price of them combined with what you’ve described tells me otherwise.
Perhaps I will do as the poster above and swap for winter/summer.

Interesting thoughts from the guys at Bird.

https://www.facebook.com/notes/bird-cycleworks/hands-on-with-the-new-deore-4-pot-brakes/852367234948828/

Pace RC127, I have one, it’s a belter. They were selling the non-boosted frames at £319 a few weeks back, get in touch see if they have any left. Can’t go wrong that price.

Review on here and Enduro mag did one too, very happy with mine.

Not sure if mentioned but Healey Nab has also been up a bit, deliberate fire. Just the exit of the red.

Belmont/San Marino side has had it. Road closures and all sorts. Really horrid to see. Hopefully Darwen & Great Hill don’t go the same way!

Still going, helicopter involved now.

https://twitter.com/BBCLancashire/status/1012696042570018818

Always had issues with exo tyres on the rear, have slashed DD too but usually sorted with sealant.

Had an SE5 which was really good, if a little small width-wise. Ended up landing a bit dodgy and warped the tread which was bizarre.

On a DD HR2 which has been OK so far. Would have liked to try a WTB tough tyre, how about the convict – if it comes in 29″?

Looking at this it doesn’t look much fun at peak time.. Assuming he didn’t know about the agreement.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUfI-CHMY4c&t=1007s

https://www.pinkbike.com/news/spotted-new-2018-2019-shimano-xtr.html

If it’s Blackburn, Lancashire, then you’ve got quite a bit to go at as above. I’d probably go and park opposite Roddlesworth near the Royal Arms in Tockholes.

Head up to the Tower, take in some moorland tracks, pick your descent down (the long diagonal front is the best) then head across into Roddlesworth woods, again pick your track to cross over to Abbey Village (there’s some good stuff if you know where to look) head up onto Great Hill. Then down either White Coppice or one of the nice trails in Brinscall woods, along the goyt and over to Healey Nab for a lap or two. Then back you go to The Royal.

You could make the loop a longer (add in Rivi) or shorter if you wished too.

Give me a shout if you want any pointers!

It’s interesting that you say you don’t get the pain with the bumbag – is this the case or is it just that you ride slightly less/lower distances in winter or with a water bottle, therefore don’t feel it as much?

Just because I get lower back pain too, it got pretty bad a few years ago, I went to a physio, now regularly stretch it and it’s a lot better – it was down to my riding position rather than a backpack problem.

Stayed at Traquair over the weekend in the ‘bikers’ loft room. Burgers & beer were great, though was knackered by a full day on the trails in the baking sun though so maybe that clouded my thoughts somewhat, we were starving! Still, I’d go back for sure.

As above have plenty of Strava loops that you could use if you can export them?

Just wrote out a long reply of the loop but then realised it probably wouldn’t mean much if you don’t know the area!

Gimme a shout if you need a hand sorting a loop, some good trails to ride around here.

Don’t go braided, I have and it’s annoying to shorten the hoses. Not as powerful as Shimano out and out, but they work, are consistent and also serviceable.

Also drop Hope an email re: the hoses, I’m sure they will sort you out. Excellent customer service.

I’ve just bought some More Mile tshirts and shorts, albeit more for running but I’ll wear them on the bike too. For £8 you can’t complain. Think there’s an extra 15% off at the moment too. https://www.startfitness.co.uk/brands/moremile?clothing_type=2731&gender=98

Had this a fair bit, I always think “it can’t be the tape, it’s new” but then I retape and it’s fine. Luckily have a decent sized roll of tesa tape on standby. If you can’t get the tape to stick, or you decide to retape your wheels in the shed on a cold winters night, leave the tyre with a tube, inflated, over night and it will press it all together nicely.

Used the motorbike tyre repair kit on a few Maxxis tyres (doubledown aren’t so great) lasted the duration of the tyre – here

Used on some pretty big sidewall cuts and all have held air afterwards. Wouldn’t be buying Maxxis for the rear again though.

Roughed up the area a bit, plenty of vulc fluid, pull it through and hung them up with pliers overnight.

Wouldn’t be my choice now but it’s fun, you can go fast. Prefer it on my hardtail than the full sus. The black is not a black. The cafe is great. Enjoy.

Some parts of the trail were closed when I rode it sometime around Christmas, I think they were doing some felling, unsure if it’s still the case.

Have a look at Dirt School on YouTube. Not the same trails but all the same principles.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvQ-vu9B5r8

As above, practice, concentrate on getting the ‘attack’ position as in the video and you’ll soon get it.