I have been commuting for a month now with a laptop in my backpack. It has been ok, has survived an off as well. Only padding is my work shirt and a lunch bag. I use a waterproof cover over the backpack as well.

I have been running a MM upfront since August, very impressed with it, especially in the mud of Scotland. High Roller out the back so a wee bit more effort required on the climbs.

I also have a 2013 Nexus 7, no issues upgrading.

Well got around to buying a Bikeray battery. However it arrived without a battery pouch. Slightly dubious to how waterproof it will be or am I just being silly?

Cheers guys, some nice suggestions. I’ll be heading into Go Outdoors this weekend as it looks like a good shop to start with.

Heading to see him at Glasgow on Tuesday, wedding anniversary pressie for Mrs Prophet2.

I think Icycles at Inners may be selling one. They have a built up ASR5 in the shop front.

Love my ASR5, such a fun bike.

Well the trailer passed the Mrs Prophet2 test so looks like this will be our new show to watch :-)

Timely thread as I have a need for a new commuting backpack. Have just purchased the dhb Luggit Slice, cheers for the recommendation guys!

10 of us are heading up to Torridon next weekend, staying at the YH. First time for me, can’t wait and those photos just wet the appetite even more. Thanks for sharing Grum.

Cademuir was quite busy yesterday evening with the locals….

My mate gave me his entry, we cleared it with the Tweedlove organisers and they swapped over the entry details so just drop them an email with all the details.

And will there be mincers? Yes, I will be there :lol:

Trail closures for the weekendhttp://www.7stanesmountainbiking.com/Glentress—Innerleithen

That pic is the new exit from Betty Blue, just as the last left that takes you to the exit along the fence. So some sort of Spooky\BB section, then that leads nicely into Brown Trout.

We did Zorro and Five Year Plan last night. Very wet and muddy. Can’t see either of them in the KOTH. new Ho-Chi-Min, ZoB and the Fort for sure I reckon.

Ta for the replies, think 140 seems acceptable, just will need to be aware that steep climbs may be a bit more “interesting”.

Nice one, will try the path that splits off to the right to loop you round to the Black walking path climb. I have done the walking trail climb that takes you to the end of Britney many times. Nice it is not, however it makes for a good workout!

When we finish the EWS stage we usually turn right and head back up the landrover track for 5 mins. It takes you to the fireroad that you can join, turn left and follow it to take you to the start of the Tower Trail climb. Or turn right ride past the exit of The Goat Track until you reach a push up track on the left. Push up that and it takes you to the start of The Goat Track. Either rejoin Black or turn right and head along the fireroad and you will eventually hit the start of Anderson Rd or continue a bit further down and you will get to the freeride. Apologies if you know this already!

Half Moon Run, the song Full Circle. Nice.

Re late entries, I had to pull out of the GT7s solo due to illness in the week leading up to the race. I contacted the guys at Tweedlove to see if my entry could be passed over to someone on the waiting list. However it was too late as all the race numbers etc had been sent off to the printers so there wasn’t scope to register a new rider. And I am sure they don’t approve of riding under someone else’s entry.

Cheers Captain, thanks for the review!

Is that the section that was called Deer Dodger? If so it’s history as the FCS has logged all the trees in that section of Glentress. It’s getting to be less a forest with every passing year with the number of sections that are being logged. And some nice sections disappearing as well as a result.

I have done the Route Sanny mentioned, GT Black, across to Lee Penn, then around the Inners XC Inners trail, then up through Cardrona Forest and over Gpysy Glen. Lots of climbs, 50 miles all in. Done it twice but to be honest it’s not the greatest of routes but some amazing views, especially on the way to Lee Penn. needs to be done after a period of dry weather or on a cold frosty day. Nice one to have bagged though!

Hey skindog, cheers for that.

Parts of the Upper Blue are still closed as a result of the storm damage a few weeks back, update from 7Stanes site is;
“Trails: Mostly open, except Upper Blue Route and Pennels Vennel (post 28 – 13) on Red Route, closed (7 days/week) due to tree felling operations until end of Feb 2014.
Note: Betty Blue section is open to ride but Upper Blue Route is closed as a loop because no access is possible back to Buzzards Nest carpark from post 27 (Blue Velvet, adjacent forest road and Berm Baby Berm closed due to tree felling operations).”

So after Betty Blue it would be fireroad for yer wife or a gentle introduction to some of the Red.

Other than the Pennels Vennels closure the Red is all good, always ridable whatever the weather, just matters how wet you mind getting :D

Road Gypsy Glen this morning, always fun, hard work today as it was under a nice coating of snow and under the snow was a lot of mud!

I always use Ron Hill running tops, find that they are of a very high quality. Baselayers are a mix of Nike and Decathlon. The Decathlon baselayers are very good. Don’t usually bother with a jacket unless it’s really really bad weather. And then it’s an Lidl/Aldi one I bought years ago.

Shorts I have to have pockets in to hold car car key, work ID badge etc.

Socks are very important, I use very slim running socks bought from Run4it, can’t remember the brand, but everyone will have their own preferences. I found that the thicker the sock the less comfortable my feet were.

Gloves are Aldi running gloves and I have a Nike running headband for subzero temperatures. I look like an idiot but at least my ears are warm!

Again the more technical the kit the beter the running experience but no need to spend a fortune unless you are going to be very serious about your running.

Feeling the love for the Flux. Looks good, think I may take a chance….

Yeah Orange suggest no more than 140mm, but thought I would see if anyone had 150mm. Thanks for the replies.

Distance 3,399.8km
Time 203hr 12m
Elev Gain 59,088m
Rides 275

I never got on with the Altura Attack shorts (ripped two pairs, also found sizing a bit weird as I was a size small, eh?). Also ripped a pair of Endura Superlite shorts as well so wasn’t impressed by their durability.

Finally have settled on Endura MT500 Spray shorts, they seem to be a bit more robust than than the others so far, very comfy as well.

Moustache moment

I have 130mm Revs. Previously I ran 120mm forks. The 130mm are great, I haven’t found any issues climbing and the bike is a bit more able to take the big bits with the slightly longer travel. I think the bike may be a tad slower than it was running 120 forks but that may just be my imagination.

Great Robinsons ad. Just put bikes in there and it would be perfect :D

Fig Rolls. In fact just had two with my evening coffee, sorted.

Thanks guys appreciate the advice. Usually avoid cash machines on hols due to charges etc but will take my bank card over with me.

@Organic355 Very good point re the riot shields :D Wonder if you can get ones for the kids as well?

100mm is cheaper. I’ve got a Yeti ASR5 so I figure there is enough room in the frame. Previoulsy I have had a 3″ Joplin3 dropper and it usually was more than enough. Sounds like I have solved my own question but it’s nice to have expert insight!

Well after watching your video Northwind I have downgraded the estimation of my riding skills from “ok” to “not very good at all, must try better”.

I was walking/slipping round most of those turns in the first half of Stage 4, you made it seem so effortless.

Andydicko had it spot on. Console facing had to come off and then Ford garage have to fax serial number to Germany to get code. What a faff. Now waiting for the security code to be faxed back.

Rode The Boundary Trail last night, one of the best bits of GT,it has a little bit of everything. Wonder how it will stand up to the POC traffic as it already has numerous untreated breaking bumps and erosion spots.

The Fort, I actually rode the PoC section of it for the first time a couple of weeks ago (I usually go right, not left). Great bit of tight singletrack but rideable with care for anyone.

Cademuir, I’ve only ever rode the DH trail that cuts through the middle so I don’t know if that is stage 5? Another great bit of trail if it is but not built to take the volume of riders that the POC will bring.

I’m not a very techncial or skilful rider but I manage all those off piste and Black sections so if I can ride them anyone can.

Good luck y’all

Broke my left collarbone, healed fine without any surgery. Just don’t do anything with it until it’s time to get the sling off. Of course each break is different but I’ve come of the bike several times and landed on my left side and it’s held up to the impact.

Really ugly bumpy where the bone knitted together but it serves as a constant reminder that I’m not a biking god :D

Nope no PDI stamp.

For me it’s quite annoying as it is shoddy attitude from the original dealership, not noting the keycode in the car documentation, for something that would only take a couple of mins. Bit of a rant but it’s pretty frustrating as the feckless idiot who is going to end up paying to get a four digit number.

It’s a Blaupunkt FX which seems to be a bit of a pig to remove. No history in the logs of the original dealer, phoned the place that the car had it’s first service with but they hadn’t sold it. I took the car to my local Ford dealer who had thought (when I called them)it would be a simple job to pop the stereo out. However once they had a look it was a case of getting it booked in to get it removed.

Possibly I am being a bit thick about it? Here’s the stereo;