Yeah 2.5 T5 is definitely gear driven .. also has a cam made from chocolate :( .. paid £10,000 for a low mileage van that lasted a day before cam went :(

Is it a 1.9 or 2.5 ???

I am looking for a T4 or T5

Ass Saver such a simple and brilliant product..

I have a standard one and a ‘Fat’ Ass version for my Brooks ..

Done this a few times and 12 hours on a cross bike is more than achievable …

First time I did it on a new years day in just under 12 hours … Second time I added some warm up miles (http://shoestring-racing.blogspot.co.uk/2009/04/blocking-some-miles-true-student-of.html) .. :-)

Living in Newcastle I often ride out to Penrith then train home … Would say last train on Friday night from Newcastle to Whitehaven .. It’s a direct train so minimal hassle … Cheap b&b and an early start in morning. You don’t need extra clothes unless you wanted to go see wildlife in Whitehaven on a Friday night and toothbrush isn’t gonna add too much weight to carry.

IS that a 44mm HT ???

cost ???

Definately mat inside bivvi …

… and I roll it up like that too … mat and sleeping bag set up inside bivvi bag and the whole show rolled up and into a dry bag and onto the bars … I also keep my mosquito head net in the sleeping bag pocket so everything is ready when I need it.

13thfloormonk, Van Dessel WTF was not lightweight but its was built for bikepacking so when I loaded it up it felt as heavy as anything else i had used in the past :)

On subject of Van Dessel .. Full Tilt Boogie disc model would be a very similar bike to this Raleigh

From my understanding of Raleigh UK and Raleigh USA is that they are completely independent companies …

… Think when Raleigh was sold and parted out years ago this was the result.

Night and Day difference between the 2 companies and the bikes they produce … Raleigh USA do a lovely belt drive 29er too ..

Not sure on the Dirty Disco comment … doesn’t even look the same … those seat stays are lovely on the Raleigh

Last years model as raced by Gabby Day was awesome too … shame without importing your own that we will never see them in UK.

I’m using BB5 brakes and the wheels are Halo Aerowarrier 29er wheels … Tyres are Halo twin rails which at around £15 a go are really good value I thought.

You can get a little bit of disc rub but they are very easy to adjust on the go and as already said on the descents they are worth their weight for sure.

The Vaya is definately not the lightest thing around but its a very comfortable bike and can hold its own with a little extra effort :)

Just recently finished my Vaya .. built for a gravel road race later in the year but after first few rides it feels very capable …. disc brakes as you state are alot better than the listening to the noise of dirt grinding away on your rims .. will try and get a few longer multi day rides in on it soon … I’me Newcastle based if you wanted to throw a leg over it.

Any way to electronically enter .. send entry via paypal etc ???

Rode it at Ronde Van Oost Lancashire at weekend .. was comfy and fast :)

I’m looking at the same thing … My head says Mallorca for a cheap week in the sun .. but the little voice in my head says go to Belgium and replicate this ..

Stoepid.com :)

Good starting point…

http://packrafting.org/forums/

Great write up and looked like a great day on the bike :)

Would love to go do this again this year .. did the full distance last year and it was a great day out …

.. hmm might go look at ferry prices :)

DOes anyone know how much Ritte Bosberg’s cost? Roughly talking.

They are EXACTLY £1400 :) .. frame, fork and headset … contact Pearl Distribution[/url] for nearest retailer … there are NO online retailers as personal service via shops has been selected as a preference over shifting boxes.

those ritte frames are just rebadged Pedal Force CG1.
or some other Taiwanese carbon straight out of the pattern book.

http://www.ritteracing.com/blog/2010/02/wheres-your-bike-made/

Unashamed honesty about their bikes :)

Ha … yeah the white stem is an unfortunate hang up from previous build to set up position while I scratch some money together for new finishing kit … although the white saddle and white grip tape softens its impact :)

Well the marketing material quotes percentage increases so it must be based on scientific fact !! :)

Well I personally believe everything a companies marketing material tells me … According to Ritte Van Vlaanderen[/url] my new Bosberg is going to make me 240% more attractive and 312% more intimidating :)

Depending on what size you need I will be selling a brand new Cube Super HPC Litening in teamline colours in next week or so ..

mail me for details if interested.

would take a look through XXCmag.com and get some contacts from there .. I don’t think anyone from UK has ventured over to race it ..

I would love to but a long way to go for a short ish event … I’m heading out for Dirty Kanza 200 this year :)

Yeah doesn’t seem best idea to tackle the worst part of the ride at night … everything else will be relatively straight forward even when dark and navigation is straight forward..

That sounds like a great day on the bike have fun

Mine did the same… they really don’t like getting wet.. pretty sure you aren’t meant to get them wet.

Wait till is dries and see where your at .. they reckon tension wise they only ever require quarter or half turn…

.. high maintenance saddle !!! very comfy though

Saying your opinion if you haven’t organised an event is not valid I don’t think is particularly helpful .. unless you only want to attract sympathetic race organisers to your events :)

Okay so events cost alot of money to put on which means the required entry costs just for event organisers to not make a loss are not appealing to all .. so how do we get round this otherwise the smaller events will fall by the wayside and we will be left with very little opportunity to go out and race ???

So no constructive criticism/feedback then ??

Maybe this is a good thread to constructively see what people want and will pay for an event … what style event would you like to see put on and what would you realistically be prepared to pay for it ??

Insurances, landowner charges etc are a given so these costs will always stand … maybe other areas could be reduced… no prizes or prize money .. a simple trophy or token of recognition ??? … a basic entry fee with lots of ‘bolt on’ extras available .. like stage races you can pay for additional services ???

http://www.cube.eu/road/hpc/litening-super-hpc-race-teamline/

mail me if you wanna talk further

What size you looking for ???

I am expecting any day soon a Cube Super HPC Litening warranty replacement I would like to sell … 58cm .. more like a 56cm…

This is Cubes top end frame not available to buy frame only usually.

There is also a big coast to coast linking the West Highland Way and the Speyside Way with the East Highland Way … huge day out or great bikepacking trip :)

Just there and back … its a tough tough route… you get to the top of Devils Staircase thinking you must be nearly at Fort William then have to descend to Kinlochleven and its another trek out before you can descend to finish ..

.. luckily I was heading for the east coast but did think how unpleasant it would be to 180 in Fort William and truck back to Milngavie :(

The WHW is massively underestimated … on paper how hard can it be … ride it one way and see … the best that have attempted the double have made the turn in 14 hours … Rich Rothwell came very close to a 28 ish hour time I think before for safety reasons having to bail.

Joe, how does your current time break down into riding and stopping ???

Only problem with solo riders from an event organisers view .. and this is how cost has been justified to me in the past … is that a course has a rider limit effectively and a solo rider takes up the space that could be occupied by a paying team of 4 ..

Should teams subsidise the other categories ?? huge can of worms there ..

More ITT’s are needed .. throw up the gps routes and a meeting date and time :)

I guess these events cost to put on.. insurances, facilities etc but that still doesn’t make £72 an event any more affordable for a Solo rider…

Solo guys don’t reap the benefit of a social weekend away with the family so you can’t justify it to yourself in that manner.

The more self supported free events that crop up the better for solo guys.

Was going to ride Whinlatter and Skiddaw loop on Sunday .. looks Whinlatter is good to go anyone ridden Skiddaw loop recently ??

Salzkammergut Trophy … the 208km version is epic and scenery is immense !! … plus if driving you can truck back through France and watch a couple of stages of the tour de france :)

These ones …

https://www.revelatedesigns.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=store.catalog&CategoryID=4

yup they are amazing

Next up is the Whinlatter Challenge for me :)