as above, Nice is errr..nice but also use the train to get to Monaco.

Also a massive open air market in Ventimiglia (sp?) which is in Italy but only a couple of stops further on the same train and you can cross an extra country off on your ‘done’ list.

(P.S. make sure you go on market day).

did you hear the fan on talk sport with Stan Collymore?

so we did it. The outskirts of London to Paris (292 km) in less than 24 hours.

Friday evening
https://www.strava.com/activities/310579038

Saturday
https://www.strava.com/activities/310593100

actually that site was for joining .FIT files, this site shows how to join .TCX files

http://www.velozone.com/forum/longest-day-road-challenge-324/combining-separate-garmin-files-into-single-ride-152481

I appear to have answered my own question

https://www.fitfiletools.com/

Thule Euroclassic here. Only had it six months but have borrowed the same model from mates in the past for numerous alps trips, both road and MTB.

I think it is superb. Rock solid and locks on the tow bar. I’ve also borrowed the lighter Thule version pictured above and those two racks are useless. It’s really difficult to secure your bike to something that has a free range of movement across 180 degrees.

The Euroclassic handles three bikes well (alpine freeride/DH stylie bikes). Ok so it’s a bit of a Tetris-like challenge to get them on the rack but they fit, and padding etc protects them from rubbing.

I’ve done four bikes too but four big bikes, four adults plus a weeks MTB luggage is too much IMHO (I’m running a Volvo V70).

yeah, my money is on dehydration too.

I suffered for a whole year during 2013 with loss of performance, feeling low/tired, not wanting to ride. Even went to the docs and had blood tests for everything under the sun including diabetes (my wife is a type 1 diabetic and has been since age 13 so I know a bit about this and she wrote the book).

Nil, nothing, nada was wrong with me. A bit of self-diagnosis and I realised I had been cutting down on the hydration for various reasons. Upped it to correct levels and here I am aged 50 still bashing out the miles.

Edit: Oh and get a ‘proper’ XC style lid. Pisspot may look cool (in your opinion :lol: :wink: ) but you need one that vents much better. It may also be worth layering your clothing so you can shed the warm stuff on weekends like the one just gone by.

this is the one I had in mind

follow the PDS signposted trail? It’s a monster to tackle in one day but you could bite off chunks of it over a few days.

EDIT: quick Google search and see below. not sure if this is the actual signposted trail as there was plenty of ‘up’ and not just ‘down’ last time I attempted it

http://en.portesdusoleil.com/portes-du-soleil-mtb-tour.html

that reminds me, I must go and see my Aunty Marge this evening, she’s been unwell for ages.

I can’t believe she’s not better…

don’t bodge it, these are expensive things that you will ruin.

I use a local firm who come along and dismantle your existing window and then reseal it using the same major components (like frame, glass etc) with a few new bits like sealant so they essentially service rather than replace. We’ve done circa 7 or 8 windows over the last few years and they really are good as new.

Much cheaper option. I’m in Surrey, shout if you are nearby and I will share the details. If not then I’m sure you can find a similar resource locally.

just as an update to this thread.

Alan (OP) and I have roped in one other rider we know and decided to tackle London to Paris in 24 hours.

So it’s a self-organised, unsupported trip with just the three of us and the itinerary goes something like this:

• Leave Ewell/Cheam (South-Western edge of Greater London) Friday evening and ride circa 60 miles to Newhaven on the South coast
• Catch the 00:30 ferry from Newhaven and catch some zzz’s
• Ferry docks in Dieppe, France at 05:30 Saturday morning (local time – four hour ferry crossing)
• Ride the 190km to Paris following mainly the Avenue Vert
• Average 15mph pace should see us arrive in Paris late afternoon in time for some celebratory beers
• Make way to Eurostar terminus @ Gare du Nord
• Catch the 20:10 Eurostar back to London
• Arrive St Pancras, London circa 22:00 Saturday night and make our way home

Ferry and Eurostar booked for 22/23rd May i.e. Bank holiday weekend.

Wish us luck!

glad you appear to be remaining positive and also glad they got the driver. Keep us updated

Another distance commuter here. I ride 18 miles each way and have done it for eight years. My distance covered has built up to 12,000 km p.a. for the last few years (all cycling including commuting).

I built up to it gradually tho, three days a week for circa 6 months before progressing to four. Five days commuting is just too much when I’m riding at weekends too although I have noticed that I have distinct peaks and troughs in fitness even though I’m not doing anything noticeably different.

When I’m on a peak I can ride five days commuting plus weekends without any problems. But this will only last a few weeks and then I will always, always ‘crash’ in terms of fitness and be back to 3 days and have to build up again for a couple of weeks before I peak again.

In terms of sore legs I learn to live with it. I find that I now recover much quicker even though I was 50 in October. A day off mid-week and I’m raring to go again.

However drinking plenty of fluids (far more than you might think) is important as well as spinning more as mentioned above. Pushing a big gear really drains your power quickly and will leave you with sore legs.

I’ve also noticed that my calves swell when my legs are sore. Whilst I may think it’s great that my calves are ‘beefing up’ it’s actually a sign that they are full of lactic acid. A very gentle recovery spin will drain the acid and my calves return to ‘normal’ size.

peekay wrote:
MTB-Idle. If you are able to find the M25 MTB route I would be interested…<snip>
Okey dokes, will send a reminder to myself to check the garage this evening!

Garage checked – numerous other MBR glossy route cards found but not this one – soz :cry:

OP. what’s your general fitness like and what sort of stuff do you normally ride? (I’ve no idea what ‘Quest Stars’ is)

peekay wrote:
MTB-Idle. If you are able to find the M25 MTB route I would be interested…<snip>

Okey dokes, will send a reminder to myself to check the garage this evening!

nice one Alan.

How about extending a day and riding to Paris? You know Greg the Saffer cyclist? He did L2P solo late last year and I’m planning on doing it with him early this summer, just the two of us, under the radar.

Its road rather than MTB but it’s three days riding, he knows the route – sorted!

Zanti/Xanti/Zakynthos

Had a great family holiday there a few years back. just avoid Laganas/Laganna which is where all the teenagers go for their first foreign holiday

With a similar pass I’m going to ride the L-B off road and then the best third of the SDW to Eastbourne after that.

me n Al already did that a couple of years ago. Tackled it in one day though. Great experience

18:58 somewhere en route

20:51, still on SDW

22:04, rockin’ up to Eastbourne station after 14 hours in the saddle

or how about Brighton and back off-road?

You and I have ridden there a couple of times now and know it’s an epic day out. How about arranging an overnight stop in Brighton and back the next day via the same/similar route?

Hi Al,

I remember a few years back there was a route in MBR that looked like good fun. It was basically an off-road lap of the M25.

Now I know that sounds sh*te but just think about the trails that we ride from LOMAC that take us out across and alongside the M25 e.g. Reigate Hill etc. there’s some great riding out there. The route had somehow linked them all together.

I can’t recall the exact details nor the distance (I might have the torn out map/high level directions from the mag somewhere in my garage though) but it’s perhaps a ‘different’ challenge to one you might have been thinking of.

It’s just an idea. Let me know what you decide on and I could be up for joining you.

that’s a sh*t story :wink:

egb81 – How do you miss the toilet when sitting down?

It’s people who don’t sit down on the seat, they either hover or often stand on the seat.

Someone in our office (head office of a multi-national) left a log in one of the dishwashers on our floor.

order a skip?

A mate of mine did this when someone upset his parents over a similar matter.

Ordered the skip in the offender’s name to be delivered to their house (this was actually left in the drive) when he knew the guy would be out. Told the skip firm that ‘he’ would be out but told him to go see the neighbour at number ‘xx’ who was friends of the offender who would pay for the skip

My mate made sure he was peeking out the curtains later to see the bloke turn up, see the skip in his drive and at the same time have the neighbour come outside to claim back the money he had paid the skip lorry.

As Basil Fawlty once said “Zoom! What was that ? That was your life, mate. That was quick, do I get another ? Sorry mate, that’s your lot.”

Go for it. I’ve been in a job I hated too. Best thing I ever did was get away from it.

Plus in these modern days, different roles/experiences/employers on your CV rather than staying in one place your whole life is viewed as beneficial.

So even if you have to move on again if the permie role doesn’t materialise you will have enhanced not only your life but your CV too!

~I’m in Ewell (Borough of Epsom & Ewell). I’ve got a great killer route on GPX, 100 miles taking in all the climbs in the area although I can’t seem to lay my hands on it at the moment.

Yes I know it’s twice what you want but some others may be interested.

wasn’t there a similar thread a short while ago on this? Worthwhile searching out

haven’t read through all these so apologies if someone has the same but some friends of ours have a dog they call ‘Deefer’

and don’t foget London Underground rules:

1. Do not look another passenger in the eye.
2. Where possible, sit two seats, rather than one, away from a fellow passenger
3. Wait at least three minutes before complaining about the tube service/looking at your watch/ pacing the platform
4. Never wait for the barriers to close after the previous passenger before slamming down your Oyster/contactless Card
5. Never try to make small talk with a stranger
6. Shower. Wear Deodorant. Please
7. Always offer a pregnant woman your seat. If you’re not sure if she’s pregnant, pretend you’ve seen something interesting in the distance and move in a “this seat isn’t necessarily for you but it can be if you’re pregnant” manner
8. Do not play your music too loudly. Or talk to your friend too loudly. Or tap your foot too loudly
9. Don’t get caught reading over somebody’s shoulder
10. If you’re going to eat smelly food, make sure it’s from Subway because there’s a pun in there somewhere

same card two days in a row is fine.

Hi Al,

I’ve been running an old-school 3 x 9 steel hardtail for many years and finally decided to make some changes.

I bought a superstar N/W 32T chainring and put that on up front. I did nothing else, same (non-clutch) mech, same length chain.

It works although I do find that I drop the chain perhaps once per ride. I can cope with this TBH.

Saved over 500g of weight too.

It’s got dropsy which is a form of fluid retention. Will probably die but a small chance of saving it. Buy some pond salt (not cooking salt) and mix up a strong salt solution in a separate tank or bucket. Put the fish in here for about half an hour and then return to the pond. Repeat if required the following few days.

Pond salt is the best forM of treatment for a lot of fish ills. It’s worth mixing up a strong solution and adding to the pond for general good health.. Always make sure it’s properly dissolved or the raw salt will burn the fish.

leeroybrown – Member
Morzine?

yeah, although it’s kinda cheating if you were there when I took it!

Mine is uprated with those too, security is better but it’s a faff to get in to now.

I dont bother with the T-bar lock anymore only the two side bolts so you could reduce your 2 keys for 3 locks to 1 key for 2 locks to make it easier for you.

Have that one on me – free!

I’ve got the same up and over with crap cable lock as per the OP but I uprated it with these bad boys

Electric roller shutter types are apparently the most secure

most probably correct but aren’t you supposed to have an alternative entrance into the garage for when it inevitably fails?

is this anyone on here?
Google street view content

I live in Ewell and cycle commute to Canary Wharf but wasn’t even aware of this path (rather embarrassingly as I drove along there on my way to Holmbury Hill yesterday).

where exactly is it?

nah! this is what you want to do with them. Anyone name where this is?