I’ve a Pugsley going spare, just need to sort out photos. medium, 18”, set up single speed with offset front wheels…… let me know if it’s of interest. I’ve also got a Ritchey, which is a weird looking bike. It’s in pieces at the moment, but will get rebuilt when the Pugsley has gone. Love the Ritchey when the weather is hot & dry on local trails.

im 60 in a few weeks and feel better than I did in my 30s or 40s. Sorted my diet, work stress (teaching), and improved my exercise regime. I’ve learnt that some injuries just take longer to heal, so I rest, & have convinced myself that a low geared single speed has helped massively….football when I was younger was responsible for the worst & longest injuries…..it’s possible to turn things around

Wonder if this will work as  a pic  (nope, didn’t) – yesterday was great off-road, looked like riding in Wales, but rode to Tarbes and back for lunch due to the forecast and an achy knee.

Don’t think this is a ‘named storm’, but we do have a ‘danger to life’ warning…… just had the first of the rain, thunder and lightning with a welcome drop in temperature from 30 C to 23 C in just a couple of hours.

Boost or not boost?

I run non boost deore, single ring, 38t as it’s what I had. 142 rear  hub. Couldn’t get a narrow wide over 38t, though I didn’t look too hard. woul like to move to 40t at some point so will get a new crank then

Try this one – it’s by a river, on a voie vert route, nice town nearby, via Ferrata, an hour south of Caen…..
Try this one – we were there a couple of weeks ago, sounds like it covers all you are looking for too – next to the river, via Ferrata, nice town an easy walk away, about an hour south of Caen</h1>

Camping les Rochers des Parcs (sorry about the weird formatting, happened when I did the cut & paste)

Have a look at the ‘pitchup’ website, it’ll give you an idea for many campsites along the route. Pretty sure the Nantes campsite is open then and that website is one we use for looking for sites when already away.
I did that route some years ago, but in the opposite direction to you, and enjoyed it. August was really busy and really hot, so May sounds good. Expect a lot of sand and pine forest.

Which tyres are you running? I’ve had no problems with Dirt Wizards, in 2.8 or 3.0 sizes

Surly Bridge Club and also Surly Lowside are available new – depends if you want suspension or not, sizing, and what standards you are running + also what she wants to use it for.

If it’s £1000, that’s 3 months repayments on a reasonable size loan, I’d pay it and the enjoy another 150000 miles loan free. My van is similar age & I plan to keep it for at least 10 more years.

Small D-lock at Biarritz airport, which was still in my hand luggage. Think I’d flown out with it there too. I asked what the problem was and the customs bod made a gesture suggesting that I could hit someone over the head with it. We both then looked at my heavy, spikey pedals in a plastic bag……she let me keep them.

Pretty sure Coastkid (check out his blog) used the split-tube method years ago – I’ve tried gaffa tape with limited success, but I’m not a tubeless fan as I’m a tyre swapper.

TVR Tasmin?

I’ve discovered ‘Spice Taylor’ – lots of Indian type meals, many of which need a tiny amount of water & have 2 minute heating times. They taste great, add your choice of flatbread. On offer for £2.50 in a Waitrose I pass.

I’ve stocked up and eat them on DofE training weekends as they are soooooo much cheaper and nicer than the dehydrated meals. Pack carefully though, you don’t want one of the sachets to burst on a bumpy downhill

Elon Musk for the win

I’ve used a quilt and also a sleeping bag on different trips.

Hardanger plateau (sorry if I’ve spelt it incorrectly), in early August, snow in pockets and the bag rating you described was perfect. I was solo in a tent.

I had a great time

I’ve got a dog trailer sitting unused in the garage – it attaches to an old fashioned QR wheel. We used to take our 25kg lab in it, it worked a treat. Folds too. Am in Swindon if you are interested – you’ll need to collect though.

Plenty of cuckoos round Glen Nevis over the weekend, plus a few swallows too. Tawny Owls were calling overnight.

Me too – it’ll be a long, slow drive from Wiltshire on a Friday night. Camping in Glen Nevis & cycling up too.

Have gondola ticket for Saturday practice, getting feet on the ground on Sunday.

Will make the most of the daylight and get a bike ride in locally after watching each day. Jjust need to decide on a trail centre for a ride on the way back down south on Monday (suitable for rigid, single speed slowcoach).

Sorted now, thanks all. It’s a bit spur of the moment & I haven’t been to the DH for years.

Will take a tent & have booked into Glen Nevis campsite. I’ll cycle to & fro once there – say hello to a slightly battered Stooge if you see me.

cheers

David

Thank you – sadly, I think the auction location is closed, unfortunately the pop up campsite is full for vans….

I just use flat pedal shoes on and off the bike – nothing, literally, takes up less space or weighs less. You could consider Teva sandals or the most basic Vevos

Inspired by Stridsland’s 26” frames (but unable to afford one), I decided to build a bike with some hardly used 26+ dynamo wheels that I couldn’t sell, so had sitting about.

First really long ride today, via The Roaches, and it was great! Surly Bridge Club frameset has worked out perfectly. Saw a hare, lots of calling & displaying Curlews, plus a male Hen Harrier!

Had a nice chat with a lad on a road bike as we both steamed in the sunshine after the mornings rain.  Fantastic day.

Can’t believe that I’ve not seen a mention of Brexit- that policy worked, but the promised outcomes haven’t.

They are doing a great job at running down every section of education, and the health services too.

British Gas appear to be doing nicely……..

3 max, usually 2. Same rules apply to t-shirts.

One pair to ride in, one pair drying after being washed the night before.

3 is luxury.

Best not mention the microplastics already in the water from your tap, or the plastic used in many brands of tea bag……

From choice, centrelock. Packing a bike for travel? You can remove the rotors easily so they don’t get bent in transit. Much easier to swap between wheel sets too.

Have just built a new bike, with gears, it’s silent. Love it. On any bike a creak will only last one ride until I sort it – helps that I mainly ride single speed.

Mine had been adjusted, by a garage, with the van full of kit (i.e. tail heavy). Got them adjusted again once emptied, big difference. I’ll be putting Osrams in when they need changing.

We’ve been over at Corran on the west coast all week – not a drop of rain + blue sky + no midges.

if it’s the Komba then I think you end up with a really wide bed, we had the equivalent conversion on our old T4 (had that for 16 years & 148000 miles). Diesel heaters on both vans were brilliant, but very sensitive to battery levels.

I was torn on the bike rack decision. I’ve got twin doors and went with the Fiamma 2 bike rack (newer ones fit 3”tyres). If it had a tow bar then I’d go that route. The boot rack is very convenient though – try the California forum for a second hand one. Do put protective tape on the paintwork as the attachment points do rub the paint over time

We’ve had Bilbos vans for 20 years this November, cracking choice. Current van is T5.1, SWB with a proper loo at the back (Lezan  I think). Which conversion is yours?

I bought some Vitoria terrenos this summer, replaced the Cx tyres, massively faster and more comfortable. That, plus a full frame bag (Apidura) instead of a rucksack has massively increase my speed.

Fallen out of love with mine due to a foot injury – what size feet are you? I’m normally 9.5, so 10 in their  (Vivo Barefoot) sizing I think.

Happy to pop a (well worn) pair in the post if you cover postage. Seemed a shame to bin them

Got it back – massive improvement to ride quality, steering feels better, no more klunking or squeaking. Sachs springs, bilstein dampers, top mounts etc all done. Brembo rear pads & discs, worn engine mount also replaced for a total of just under £1900, parts labour and vat. Sits much higher now too.

I’ve gone from the old Guides to Freerider Pros, and find them better for the exact riding you describe

2011 2.8 tonne camper van – getting my suspension done tomorrow, dropped it off tonight. Standard height, but garage are replacing rear springs with upgraded ones to cope with the rear bias of the conversion. Front & rear springs, shocks, bilstein dampers etc. Will try to remember to update post with cost and ride comments once I’ve got it back

Another vote for Keens, think mine are Newports too.

Saw them as I cycled home tonight, following the Ridgeway just outside Swindon. Will miss them locally as I love the sound as they fly over

Try this, from Buff, I find they work well (have a couple)

https://www.buff.com/gb/adventure-bucket-beanie-buff-acai-khaki-khaki-125343854.html

GR70 in France, the Stevenson trail (named after Robert L S himself). You can even hire a donkey for part of the route to recreate his journey (I think the hire periods are for you to choose). Some of the accommodation on route is set up for your donkey overnighters, looked delightful as I cycled past them.
However, the donkey will walk at its own pace….