I have a mwb ducato. When we converted it we built a high single bed that pulls into a double. You can get 2 bikes under the bed with front wheels off. (it doubles up as surfboard storage depending on the trip!)
However, muddy wet bikes in the van are annoying. Water in the van, getting mucky putting bikes on and out. We now generally use a bike rack with big lock and use the “boot” for storage. Bikes on the rack mean less faff etc… Its amazing having bikes in the van, but to make a proper bike boot you need to go a lot bigger or compromise a lot of inside space. A rack has been a great solution for us.

Zipped arm pit vents on all jackets

Just coming to the end of our week in Warth. Its been really quiet here. Went over to Lech today – busy and slushy. Warth has been great, good snow (although no fresh) they get so much there is still plenty of cover and it has stayed cold enough to avoid the freeze-thaw. First time here but will definitely return

Mt7 are much nicer than my XTs. More power and more modulation.
Not tried the others.
Hope tech 4 makes xt and MT7 feel really lacking

Headset and frame bearings. I take the tools for the frame bearings too. Easy job on campsite etc.. When you have everything. I struggled to find a particular bearing one year.
Mechs etc… Are easily purchased if £££

I bought a pretty budget set from eBay. Very happy with them. Lots of fun to use! Im sure better ones do something better but for re wiring grips twice a year they are bob on

Drive.
Go to Davos (yes its Switzerland not France)
Download some gpx
Easy.

I would do BPW on day 3.
The legs will appreciate the uplift. The Gap although lovely with spectacular views is a gravel ride imo so perhaps save the best “riding” to dsy 3.

Who owns Dartmoor?

Interesting. Hadn’t ever really considered who owned what before

I was initially under the impression the court case was just for his land…. Is the ruling actually for all of Dartmoor NP?

Good tyres and brake pads are always worth it

Riding trousers are the best invention since disc brakes and dropper posts

I have the honjo 80mm on the tandem.
They fit over 2.5 gravel tyres and are currently over 2.35 nobby nick.
They have handled some serious abuse and remain solid.
Looking battered, scraped and dented but look better for it and still perform well.
£££ though!

I have some.
First set arrived and finish was a bit poor. CNC edging didn’t match on the 2 arms. You had to look closely but still.
They were out of stock of black arms so told me to keep them and they would send another set in a month or so and to just keep the others. Excellent service IMO.

New set arrived and finish is still not great. Front is fine, rear is not as I would expect. Finish seems to have chipped off quite easily on the ones I have used.

I like the look of them with no logos etc… But unfortunately would struggle to recommend them.

These comments are very interesting so thought i would share mine…
Ive been motorcycling for 8 years now. I hired a caterham 360r a few months ago for a weekend around S wales & brecon. In the next few years i intend to swap bikes for a caterham.
It had the raw speed, exposure and fun of a bike.
But
I could chat with my gf, wear normal clothes, have a snack, drive a rough b road, not get scared of muddy bits, have some heating, wear a woolly hat.
The only place for me that it felt lacking was the overtakes compared with a bike. But if you are stuck doing 40mph you can talk etc…
It made me smile as much as a bike, but with some added practicalities but definitely still as silly and ridiculous to be a toy. I can’t imagine anything else with 4 wheels coming close.

Grogley/hustyns/bishops woods by Bodmin are excellent.
Grogley is steeper but easier to find trails.
Hustyns a bit less steep.
Trailforks is your friend

Bit disapponted #bikewashman aka bo barnes didn’t make the list

Exploring, you need this….
Clandestine

Ultra tacky everytime!

We would definitely be seeking trail-enduro stuff. Still worth buying the kennett books? Otherwise we will go for suggestions on here and trail forks probably! Not really interested in big xc loops unless its a lovely day (sounds unlikely from responses!!)

Wouldn’t rule out a move, however we are both fortunate to be PE teachers in Devon, which is a popular and hard to find job so once we leave its probably for good! No plans at the moment that’s for sure

Some really helpful advice, thank you.
We are planning to hire an empty van then air bnb etc. Already pre-empyed the challenge and cost of campervan, in winter with bikes and boards.
Definitely interesting to hear which trails would be closed, we are both teachers so time of year is fixed, if we could go in their summer we would.

Some super helpful stuff, thank you.
Taking our own bikes and boards is important to us so probably time to start looking for decent bike travel boxes, fly with boards often and no the dangers but riding trips are always in our own van!

Thanks for all the advice, really helpful.
Redwoods will go on the list for sure.
Both islands would be the initial idea, id like to see both.
Books are a great shout, i will have a look!

Yep. Very happy with it. 2020 bike. 6k miles now.
Although set to change next year as most riding is with a pillion.

If I rode on my own most of the time I would keep it.

You just need delicious full fat milk from your local milkman…..

Rice crispies are far worse!

Triumph speed twin. Really like mine,

I got back today. France is all closed.
I can confirm what Tracey said about Verbier. Weekends only for all except le chable lift.
We have spent the last few days in Visp / Aletsch. Some incredible singletrack.
Visp requires buses and some pedalling but don’t let that put you off.
Aletsch map is poor, looks like not much, once you get up on the lifts its a goldmine, Davos good levels of riding….

Interesting. I wonder why no one has checked mine! Just to be clear I have bought a ticket everytime and will continue to do so – even as a non Swede it would be equally unbearable!

Uberbike race matrix have been awful on the alps trip. Good power but squeel! In magura’s and hopes.
I find oem always best and worth the extra money. New hope green ones are superb!

Great listen. 2 legends so I had high hopes….

We had a day at carosello 3000 last week.
If you like tech then don’t do the tutti frutti. We didn’t as it misses out the black runs…
There are 2 black enduro trails which are fun. The rest is super flow (pretty dull flow in my opinion).
I didn’t do Livigno side.

Mother in law lives there but i’m afraid i can’t offer her drive! Ships & castles has closed down, proper van life going on there for sleeping, could easily leave it as many people are living in their van there! Could even leave it on the seafront by Castle beach. There is a lot of van dwelling going on in Falmouth so sleeping in it is easy.
If I was leaving it for a week or so I would choose a bit of suburbia, one of the roads near the rugby club, no one would notice or care!

@agentdagnamit the lift is “not guaranteed” before Sept…

Found a fun black run out of Monstein via trail forks rather than the blue

Just finished the alps epic from Glaris.
Fun, but not as amazing as other trails in Davos. I probably wont/won’t rush to do it next time. If i did it again i would finish at Wiesen instead of filisur.
We had 3 days here, based near Kublis. We planned our riding on the last 2 days around 2 bahnentours from herbertbike. They included a lot of trails not on the maps which was good. We finished the first 2 days with long trails down into kublis, they were dar better than the alps epic in my opinion. This trip is part of a big trip so not spending long anywhere, will be back for a week another time.
Happy to share any gpx with anyone of the big routes we did.

Have you greased or replaced the headset bearings? Mine felt fine, replaced and creak has gone….

Mine goes in the dishwasher at home. Currently away on holiday, i did a similar thing last night, used a plastic scourer we have in the van, cleaned it up perfectly

I would be buying the downhill etc… One.
However I normally use world nomads. Doing my quotes now. Snowcard is easy 4x price! Although i am gone 6 weeks which seems to put premiums right up!

Clandestine combe….

I have altura dryline. Very happy with them, clip on and off fast, i run a strap round them for offroad touring to stop rattling, not needed on road

Pi at Clandestine.cc has been singing the praises of long headtubes for some time. I have 2 of his bikes now, lovely things.

Great tips thank you. I will try the cafe.
Joe Browns carpark was on my list as a possible but thought it may well fill up quickly with the bank holiday!

Thanks

Clandestine combe, love mine.