I picked up a couple of Tesco bags for me and GF for a tour in Spain, hoping that I can either double them up or use one with a synthetic bag over it for solo trips in colder weather.

Spending too much on kit at the mo so figured a bit of experimenting with a cheap bag and existing stuff rather than buying an expensive bag would be worth it.

TT101 – code for an extra 10% off jackets at cyclesurgery today.

Shit dude, hope you’re ok! Drivers seem to have been especially bad these last few days.

Thanks josemctavish – I couldn’t find a calculator on the customs site but my google-fu may not be strong. That is a lot better than I was working on so may weel go for the six moon, I think it ticks most of my boxes and I’m not too bad with a needle and thread so may well be able to sort a couple more ticks myself.

The Vaude Power Lizard looks like an interesting option too…

I hate having to make decisions and I’d better do it soon or it’ll be whoever can deliver on time I get it from and not which one suits me best!

p.s. I know my selection criteria are different to yours so my suggestions may be somewhat irrelevant! 🙂

get a flat plate with bolt/screw holes in it welded onto the end of some rebar then bolt/screw the ornaments on?

josemctavish – what was the import duty on that do you remember? I’m trying to work out the final cost of getting a six moon designs lunar duo as before I place an order.

Elsa – some more thoughts here

p.s. I’m still a bit stuck between the lunar duo and the shangri-la

Rik – I think Hilleberg may just be pushing the budget a tad too far!

As I cycled home, on my fixie, last night I was starting to seriously consider the Muxu jeans. The intersection of seams in the crotch of my jeans was really rather uncomfortable.

It’s doesn’t bother me when riding round town on my mtbs but you put more pressure on it, on a firmer saddle, on the road bike.

I usually commute in my lycra but it’s a bit ott as its only 4miles. So more ‘normal’ trousers designed with teh cyclist in mind look like a good bet.

I saw the Levis a few weeks ago on FGG (haterz gonna hate) and thought about ordering a pair from the ‘states, but skinny jeans don’t really do it for me. The Muxu are a slightly more straight leg cut by the look of them.

Got a link for that Mike? Sounds like just my cup of tea 🙂

Euan – interesting, but would I still spend the night with it punching me in the face while you snore away starfished in the middle 😆

Big Agnes – they’ve got that American thing of doing tents in light colours, but not as bad as Easton!

The lightwave and Voyager xl dont really appeal, I think they’re getting a bit big and wouldn’t be so useful to use as a solo when I’m on my tod.

Keep em coming folks, plenty of food for thought, but currently I’m still swithering between my two originals with the Aspect hovering on the periphery.

Me, picky much?! 🙂

If you’re tiny i know someone who wants to sell their love hate

Could you not pop the lock ring off an Opinel when carrying it so it’s no longer a locking knife then put it back when you want to use it, or just be very careful about how you use it?

Im going to get one when I’m in Spain later this year, but I can’t remember what number it is…

hmmmm….. I wander if we could get away with just a floor and not a nest – not sure how buggy it’s going to be.

There is something about that Golite that appeals.

I’d probably have a go at making a 1/2 nest myself at some point for solo use.

I am tempted by the Vango for that price but I think it’s just too small for two, especially for an extended tour. I guess you could drop the wait a bit with a pair of scissors, some Dyneema and Ti if you felt so inclined…

Was told recently they’re not turning things round as quickly as they were – i guess it’s a bit like CRCs postage; they’ve raised expectations by being so quick in the past. Give them a couple more days then re-send maybe, they might have just missed in if their inbox is busy.

I decided to save money and just get a reclining seat on the overnight ferry Portsmouth > Santander; worst money I ever saved and I can usually sleep anywhere and had a fair few jars before hand.

TSY one summers day in Edinburgh:

Edit: AS32? I have a funeral that day.

and I’m washing my hair! 🙂

the cordless niterider[/url] lights are pretty good, I’m running two 250s and they seem to give enough for decent paced night riding. They give actual measured outputs, and check each individual light is giving at least that. Unlike all but 1? other company’s theoretical maximum they like to quote.

Sleep near a toilet

😆

Gonna bump this until I get a response from Paul!

I did see a Peregrine in the flesh in Rond last night and it does look very lovely, pity Sam is soooo tall or I could have got a test ride 🙁

I know Druidh, the head says kaffenbak (if they would ever turn up!) and the heart is torn between this (I’m thinking the yellow Ortlieb panniers for the subtle touring look) and the Singular Peregrine…

It’s a hard life! 😀

Have you used the new mounts that the Garmin twists onto? They are held on the bike by O rings and seem fine to me, stay put on my full susser and rigid hardtail.

honourablegeorge – it’s got a split drive side seatstay you should be able to see the bolt just above teh dropout plate on this one [/url]
WTF: Single speed build[/url] by VanDesselSports[/url], on Flickr

that Garmin appears to be upside down, so it must be labelled as ridiculous, and never be used.

Lol!

But it matches my bike soooo well and no I, won’t post a pic as I have a spacer under my stem! 😛

Realman – is the Garmin edge 500 not the ultimate in small (well maybe not all that small..) and mounted on the stem?

No ugly magnets or sensors cable tied to your frame/forks either (unless you want cadence or to use in indoors)

Paul – you got this built yet?

I’m very tempted by one for a tourer/winter roadie/getting demolished in a cross race.

Is there a third set of bottle bosses under the downtube?

I did this last year.

As csb, ferry to Santander. I then took the train up to Reinosa but you could just ride, then about 14 days to teh sea with a couple of days off. Stayed in a combination of 1* hotels(hostals) and campsites. Just watch for the mosquitos in the delta!

Then I rode and trained up to Barcelona for a flight home, but if you’ve a couple of days spare you could get the train back via Paris then the tunnel. If all the bike spaces are taken you can still take your bike in a box for free. I just asked in a bike shop if I could have a box.

I managed to navigate the whole route with the guide book and a couple of Michelin maps. It’s really easy to follow the markers most of the time. There were two passes that I had to carry the bike over, one small section where the path had collapsed and a wee section that the land owner obviously didn’t want the path across his land, but they were just wee sections (with a bit of Spanish I would have known to avoid them!). Overall the majority was rideable and enjoyable. Some ace technical sections in there too along with quite a lot of gravel roads. Ace weather in the main too.

Good food and wine too 😀

😛

and some quiet contemplation on my own foolhardiness?!

Thanks bajsyckel and Druidh (just sent you a message on FB but you can ignore it!) I shall take your points on board.

Maybe Adam was just trying to extend my route as he promised me a pint if I manage it 👿

*and modest* 😛

TJ – its going to be about a 14 hour day as it is, I don’t like to think how much longer it’d be off road 😯

DGOAB – I’ll get onto druidh, should really have tried him first!

Stupid plan to ride from Edinburgh to North Yorks on the Rd bike on Saturday….

Yep H&M, Topshop kinda level. As mentioned; you can tell they’re Spanish as they are long and slim, works for me. Found Celio when I was in Barca last year which was similar kinda place, got some jeans (along with all the very dodgy designer paint splash gear) to go clubbing in after a couple of weeks touring in my cycling stuff 🙂

stv news[/url]

sssimon – will it actually be getting any forces acting on it with enough torque to twist it? – serious question – I thought the same but then realised it is just stopping the chain bouncing off, not hitting rocks etc, so as long as it is nipped up tightly it shouldn’t be an issue in my mind…

how about one of these for the guide and something along the lines of this or this ?

It’s what I plan on trying for the 29er when I gear it again.

With about 5 edits to sort out my uselessness 🙂

Brilliant, thanks again TuckerUK. I’ve been using Castrol LM grease but think some thick, sticky waterproof grease would be a wise move especially for the winter commuter bike.

Ordered the stainless from simplybearings.

Now; what grease and where from please?

Reggiegasket – is that price per bearing? I think I’d rather slightly higher servicing intervals than paying £20 odd per wheel for 6 wheels!