The canoe thing sounded lovely, but I had a nagging feeling in the back of my mind that it woulnd’t fly…then I remembered that the missus doesn’t swim!

Thanks guys, will check some of these places out tonight, but it sounds like there’s a couple of winners at least out of those suggestions!

Congratulations on the epic ride!!! It was certainly a life affirming experience for me too!

I did two big adventures last year (LEJOG and 3 months of travelling in Asia/China). I got over the comedown by doing a blurb book for both. It was a most therapeutic thing to do, and means that I’ve got something to look back on with a smile in years to come!

LEJOG Book

Travelling

Preview comes up small at first, but there’s a view fullscreen button on the bottom right.

Thanks for that Bunk, I guess that clears things up.

I think its all or nothing – ie if you requested 4 tickets for a particular event then the ballot will either give you the whole lot, or none of them.

Can’t see it being any other way, otherwise it’d be a nightmare as people would change their minds if they couldn’t get the quantity they needed.

Thanks again! I was going to take it to the shop, but maybe an evening of bike-love is the better way.

Thanks chaps, I may give the DIY option a go. What type of scotchbrite for this job?

Solarider, I’ve dropped Seven an enquiry about replacement Alaris decals, but if they don’t have any left, I may well get in touch. Cheers mate.

Glad to hear that the OP’s alive well, hope you get over it soon.

I kinda dig what LittlestHobo is saying, but lets face it, there’s some right twunts on the forum who take great pleasure in gloating over the misfortunes of others and telling the world how they would have done it better. Its always been that way, I wouldn’t let it bother you.

Here’s a side on shot my Seven Alaris as it was back in 2006. A bit old fashioned by today’s standards, with its skinny tubes and skinwall tyres but it still rides like a dream.

I’ve got two. A Seven Alaris, which has done me good since 2005 and a Lynskey Sportive which I built up for LEJOG last year and now use for touring, winter riding and commuting.

Hello! Came to this rather late. I think all of your choices are good to go as they all appear to take mudguards and panniers.

Here’s a few random thoughts about bikes and kit.

– IMO mudguards are a must.

– If you’re riding unsupported, then a triple is also a must, unless you’re travelling VERY light. Normal triple and 12-27 at the back should be fine.

– Panniers are great and the most stable way to carry kit. However, a big seat and bar bag is much more aerodynamic and you’ll notice the difference on descents and flats at speed.

– Try and get all of your mates to rock up with new tyres with good puncture protection (eg Conti Duraskins). They’ll always be one who goes for the race tyres hoping to get a lick of speed, and they’ll be the ones who you wait for as they puncture 6 times over the ride.

– Better to carry one decent mini track pump (e.g. Lezyne) in the group than 5 crappy mini pumps.

Here’s a book of my LEJOG – there’s plenty in there about routes and kit etc, and even more pics and inane banter!

http://www.blurb.com/books/1931111

I rocked a Lynksey Sportive on my LEJOG and it was the shizzle.

Yeah, heading via Arran was a deliberate ploy to get us on to a route that headed through Scotland via the Lochs. Definitely the nicest way to finish the last 3rd of the ride. Its a shame we didn’t have more time to explore the lochs and highlands.

2010 was a bit of a year of travel for me, also did a book on our travels through asia and china:

http://www.blurb.com/books/1931111

Thanks guys!

You’re in for a treat, its such a fantastic concept. My only tip would be don’t try and emulate the fast lads, take your time and go for the scenic route!

And you don’t need to be mega fit. As long as you can pace yourself and have a decent gear range, then you’ll be okay. As long as you have some easy days just before midway, you’ll actually get stronger as the ride goes on.

Thanks Jedi!

I must pop along to one of your bike skills courses one day…after 8 years its about time I learnt how to handle a mountain bike!

Please, tell me more.

Thats a work in progress…these readers wives things always sound better than they’re cracked up to be.

Yup £65 is quite steep, but alright when you see it from the perspective of something that you can keep and look back on for years to come.

I agree, there’s no way any of yer mates are gonna fork out £65 for one of your books (unless its one of those “special interest” books with pics of the missus in a lederhosen), but its free to share it with em online.

Check the saddle too.

Too far back and tipped down and you end up putting more weight on the bars.

If you want a comfy combo, I found that Charge bar tape and gel inserts (both can be found on Wiggle) work a treat. I did 1000 miles over a fortnight in 2nd half of July with no achey hands.

Think you are the only person in the UK who thinks badgers are rare!

Well the bloody well are if you come from saarf london!

I'm trying it with square wheels.

IE is utter sh*te…though it took me about 10 years to cotton on.

Tried Chrome, but couldn't get used to the interface. I'm using firefox now and it works for me. Layout/menus are fairly similar to IE but its faster and more stable.

I used to think that it was par for the course to have yer browser crash a couple of times per session until I ditched IE…basically anything other than IE is a good start!

Cheers petrieboy, I've been looking at that one too…will find out if it fits a civic!

Meant to get up early today and do a fifty miler on the road bike. But just as I was about to hit the sack at 1, I caught the start of City of God and ended up watching the whole film and staying up till 3.30, totally **** up the next day.

For my punishment, I've just done 50 miles on the turbo trainer, which was a horrible experience.

Thanks for the help guys! I stayed at brynafon last year over a long weekend in mid-wales. Nice food, but my room was a bit musty.

Hope's customer service is excellent. I have a similar story to tell on a Hope HID. As the HID was out of production and unfixable, they sold me a replacement 4-LED system at trade price. More than fair considering that the HID was 4 years old and well outside of warranty.

While we're fatty bashing, can someone do something about their smell too?

I love fatties, where else can you be incredibly cruel and discriminating without being labelled a racist or sexist?

Thanks for all the input. Its heartening to know that many have done it and didn't have to train like champs in the process. Must remember to travel light!!!

Should have bought a Ti frame!

Nah, just get the replacement and enjoy!!!

All this worrying about longevity and most of us have never kept a bike for more than 2 seasons!

Hopefully its a one off.

I think CF's been around long enough now and they're not disintigrating left right and centre like some of us first feared. Having said that, my three bikes are Ti.

I had a mate who cracked a Cervelo R3-SL when he knocked over a workstand. He was unlucky as it hit a rock and it probably would have written off a metal frame too…but still, writing off a 2K frame's gotta hurt!

Good god! That Genius is an absolute steal! Fox forks and SLX/XT groupset including brakes and decent wheelset for £799!!!

I'd deffo go for that and whack it on the steel frame of your choice. The Cotic Soul would be lovely.

You might need to do a bit of research on the following to check that there's no hidden costs when transferring:

– Seatpost/Seatclamp – will it fit the Cotic?
– Brakes – IS or Post mount? Might need adaptors
– Front Derrailleur – Top or bottom pull?

You should find transferring the bits largely a piece of pish…its just like playing with mechano. You can always take it to the LBS to do the finishing touches (headset transfer and any necessary fettling with gears and brakes).

Damn I've just read the thread and realised that I'm just parrotting what amphill wrote earlier…

I can heartily recommend http://www.gastrobiking.com

Fantastic, varied riding in the Vercors region. Its run by Phil and Sophie, great banter, laid back atmosphere and just the right mix of riding and chilling.

Phil know's the region like the back of his hand and can put together rides to suite your mood.

Its a self solving problem for me. This time of year, I lack the requisit range to get to the "good stuff" so I just knock around the bridleways closer to base. There is a set of steep roll ins along the way, but they scare the bejesus out of me in the summer when its nice and grippy, so wouldn't even dare to ride it in the wet!

We're all free riding GODS in our own minds, living life on the edge, so lets not make light of dying out on them trails, eh. Other than that, good effort…i'd give it 7/10.

Looks good!

I was considering the Satmap, but it just looked too bulky and easy to trash.

I'm a big fan of the etrex legend/vista in that they're compact, simple and rugged, but they're looking a rather old now (though reception is still excellent) in terms of maps and display.

If this the memory map offers the same basic rugged form factor, with a solid bike mount but with OS mapping and a high res display, then they could be on to a winner!

Not a problem for me, I'm Malaysian/Chinese and have biked out there before. Its no worse than biking in Southern Spain in late July…I did that this year and it was bloody hot, but you do get used to it of you keep remembering to drink!!!

I don't normally get too excited about yet another pimped up FS…but that nomad is sex on a stick!!! Love the green ano…well done sir!

Having consolidated down to a Ti456, I've been resisting the urge for a Blur LT…but if its available in that color then its possibly only a matter of time…

Man, they don't make bridges like that anymore…er…well certainly not in London anyway. I can see why it'll be missed.

rowemasters, you won't be disappointed with the ksyriums. I've always gone for a good set of handbuilts as you can get a strong, light and easy to maintain wheel for reasonable money. But having been given those on permanent loan from my brother in law, I'd have to admit that I'm very impressed. They're noticably stiffer than my previous hoops, a big confidence booster when descending on the big mountains!

That last shot from mingsta is ace, where's that?

That was the Col Du Galibier, you'll get to know that one pretty well if you ride La Marmotte! Its one of the most memorable climbs that I've ever done, though there are some equally stunning climbs in southern spain.

More pics here:

http://gallery114241.fotopic.net/c1073033.html
http://gallery114241.fotopic.net/c1073035.html

…do you want rid of yours?

No.

Its gotta be the Pegoretti and the Cinelli for me. Its always the slightly different ones that stand out. I think you become desensitized to all of those £4K CF uber rigs once you've been on a few organised cycling holidays. Having said that, a De Rosa Idol would still do it for me.

Here's my trusty old steed…its had a varied life, from hopping potholes in south london to sampling the rarified air of the Alpes and Sierra Nevada. Wouldn't be suprised if I'm still riding this ol' bag of metal tubes in ten years time.