Highly recommend RSF in Plymouth. Great guy, I’m in Crediton and drive down to Plymouth for him, prefer that to posting etc

May 1 week tandem cycle tour on some Scottish islands.

Summer is 6 week tandem gravel tour in Norway.

October Ainsa for a week.

Not a tech teacher but I am a teacher. I wont comment on the injury specifics as I haven’t seen it, wasn’t there etc… I. Hope your son is ok. 

However, you phoned a school with an issue that is not life threatening. No reply within 2 hours seems entirely normal. If I was asked to call a parent at 8am this morning the soonest I would have been able to was 5.15 post meeting. 5 lessons, break time supervising students, lunch time supervising students, meeting immediately after school. Not a hero, just standard fare for teachers, we can’t always phone back promptly, even if we would like to im afraid. 

Agreed, great for intended use. Don’t wear it to tesco please. 

The guy that owns dryrobe worked hard for a long time to get the company and product where it is. Usual story that others try to copy and beat the price. If you are getting one support the original

Have you considered custom? Clandestine.cc /other frame builders could knock you up something nicd

I can’t cope, would probably end the ride early and certainly wouldn’t set off until fixed. 

I did Ainsa for 2 weeks at that time of year. 2 very wet days, cold at night, t shirt and shorts during the day. Happily do it at that time if year again. 

I have this one. Had it about 5 years. Wetsuit boots have made it rusty but dries wetsuit boots / wet shoes overnight. 

I have only done 1 2 week holiday at Easter. However Ainsa is a pretty big place and I get the impression stuff is open year round. It was all open at Easter.

We stayed at camping boltano just outside. It had a restaurant/bar that was always open and busy.

Ainsa would fit the bill. We did Easter 2 years ago. Camped for the 2 weeks. Amazing riding, didnt drive more than 30mins each day, few rides from the campsite. Some super steep and tech, some flow, proper brilliant natural riding. 

July & August I think would be too hot. I am limited to school holidays, Easter was great with some plus 20deg days but also snow high up and 2 very wet days.

Late May – June would be epic…

Its a full days drive from calais. 

I am a 29″ inside leg. The madison seem a bit long, and ion. Fox have been the best for me, have a few pairs of theirs and the length is great for me. 

Tx5 is a great recommendation. I have the shoes which are amazing and intend to get the boots at some point….

Usually ridden by the same individuals that only need a leather waistcoat with some rear embroidery rather than a jacket like the rest of us!

Simworks honjo flat. Not cheap, work very well and very tough

I thought i would put some post-trip notes on for anyone doing a search and planning a similar trip.

So first winter time was amazing. In 6 weeks we had 4 days rain. N island was riding in a t shirt. S island trousers and light jacket/long sleeve merino.

Taking our own bikes was a great decision, almost no hassle at the airport. It cost £60 ea each way. The only place with easy hire was Rotorua. Did 4 days there so easily covered costs. Had surfboards with us too but a trolley each and all good!

Also rode Dunedin, Nelson, New Plymouth, Waitangi and a few other quirky little places while travelling round. Having our own bikes meant we could use them for exploring, half days at small wood spots etc… Nelson was probably the stand out for riding, epic, steep. Rotorua network was pretty extensive!

Hire van and air b&b worked really well, all booked before we left, made 1 change during the trip bit winter season made that easy.

Got some good surf, not as much as if we had chased it but a few stand out sessions that are up with some of our best in the last few years.

The road to Milford Sound was closed due to snow so did Doubtful sound instead. More £ but an incredible day out.

Saw 5 sperm whales at kaikoura and a superb surf!

Hire van was good for stashing things, but pretty terrible on every other way. A hiace (different to euro), slow, poor mpg and uncomfortable. Also terrifying on gravel roads as rwd and little weight means horrendous traction. Next time i would hire a truck, have boards on the roof and bikes in the back for comfort and more confidence heading to the odd beach a long way down a gravel road.

I didn’t have a choice of season but even if I did I would choose that season again, it was amazing it being quiet and the weather felt like good UK spring. Many of the days where better than UK summer.
<p style=”text-align: right;”>The only things we couldn’t do were some flights due to lack of other people/too windy which was a shame.</p>

My mons royale is quite long in the body. Endura very short so avoid that.

Rockshox… Perhaps reverbs specifically.

VW t5/6 van. Yes not a bike brand bet a very marmite bike accessory!

Any reason you can’t just wear mtb kit?!

Im pleased to see most brands now is pretty low key on branding etc… So very wearable all the time.

Another vote for peatys. Wet and dry

I bought a new battery a 2 years ago and went agm with a b2b sterling charger. It was all a bit confusing – alphabatteries were super helpful in explaining what I needed for what and what was best for my usage.

The set up is still great, lithium may be great now I dont know. I will be speaking to alphabatteries again when the time comes!

Hijack –

My aeropress go literally goes everywhere with me on any bikepacking, camping trip. The metal filter would be easier to carry than a stash of paper. Which metal filter are people using?

As part of my Jogle a few years ago we did bath, bristol, glasto, taunton, Tiverton, Okehampton on quiet lanes and towpaths.

From Okehampton (or just before) you could easily cut across to join the Tarka trail to Braunton.

PM me your email/number and I can send the gpx

<p style=”text-align: left;”>South Wales is the easy answer!</p>

nickjb is right. Smash the drive, enjoy the alps.

We often just resort to motorway services when we are stopping enroute. Not glamorous but usually remarkably quiet overnight.

Thanks all, we are on a pretty tight itinerary to fit everything or as much as possible in so it will be a book and fingers crossed! (plus check cancellation policy!)

Lots to think about.

Not sure what bungy cords are good for, but definitely not for holding helicopter doors closed!

Interesting summary sweaman. Reallt helpful & makes sense

IMO the most impressive archaelogy is on Rousay, i enjoyed the low key and ability to climb in out of things. Nice day visit with bikes.
<p style=”text-align: left;”></p>

My gf is 5″7 with a similar length inside leg.

Rides a small starling murmur. Fits great and she is happy with it

Check the tide times, but a paddle up the river at Calstock is very nice. You want mid tide onwards. Head up with the tide, turn round at high.

I have la sportiva tx4 and would echo comments of incredible comfort out of the box. Lasting really well, not cheap but I will buy again

Clandestine! Definitely full time and making lovely bikes – i have 2!

Same as Tazzy, we fixed for 5 years yesterday at 4%
Decided it could take ay least 18 months for rates to come down and the rate for 2 years meant paying a chunk more over the next 2 years than on the 5 year deal.
Decided I preferred the security of knowing than worry it goes up again in 2 years!

I have a 2017 2.3 ducato. 150bhp variant.
Had since new, now at 111,000. Its been faultless and I will happily buy again.
I much preferred the engine to similar transits when I bought it, pulls from low, i don’t need to work the gearbox hard.
Would happily buy another.

I did 2 weeks in Ainsa last year, its incredible.
So much riding with gpx and signs for all of them. I intend to return to Ainsa again and again for a good few years yet

Not easy physically and some decent tech on the right trails.
However, we did Easter and it was lovely, July time could be very hot for all the climbing

Get the helinox chair zero. Its a complete game changer, really wished we had them on our previous long tour. We even take them on day rides on the tandem now! Weigh very little, take up little space and so much nicer than sitting on the floor in the evening to eat.
We are currently planning nordkapp 2024 for the tandem, so following with interest! Our current plan is to start in Oslo and fly back to there from Alta.

Thw schwalbe with clips for holding the bead on, game changer for fitting an insert

I would get in touch with alpha batteries. They were really helpful when I was looking to upgrade our leisure battery set up

No idea on towing. But my 2017 Ducato that I have owned from new has been faultless for 105,000 miles.
No breakdowns, nothing other than services etc…
The 2.3 150bhp pulls well. I would buy one again.

Yep abus lock, cant remember what its called but it has a cinch function that keeps it tight, on all the time.
Huge motorbike chain when we stop