He’ll soon be kicking your ass Rich.

I may need to resort to suspension to keep up with him down hill already.

I cannot comprehend 550 miles over that ground in less than 3.5 days. Did he sleep at all?

Total stopped time 8 hours 10 minutes. 8O

Attempted the route last week and managed just over 400 miles before dropping out – absolutely brutal!! Never seen so much hike-a-bike

Total respect to Tom & Rich for completing – i followed their tyre tracks for 6 days

Rich – i hope you manage to get back with the bikes when the trains are back on

Thanks, fluked getting back home yesterday.

Come back and have another go eh. ;)

Hi Rich, hope to see you and Tom back in Tyndrum after a successful trip.

Yep Bob, fingers crossed. Hopefully see you for a pint on Friday. :)

When is the start

Saturday, May 27th, 2017 – 09:00

http://trackleaders.com/highland17

We’re heading up this Thursday, starting on Friday.

Tom has unfinished business.

It was a good turn out today in Harrogate.

Obviously not a happy occasion, but it was great to hear people’s memories of Mike, and later their plans for riding bikes a long way in the future.

#beinspired #bemoremike

Well done.

If you google his name there’s a good deal of info (sic) via the local newspaper.

http://www.pressherald.com/maines-north-pond-hermit/

Oh and reading about the author of the book, it sounds like he might be at times economical with the truth.

….an alcohol problem, I’m impressed there was so much booze about that he could be fussy.

Alfine 8 – Great

Rohloff – Great

Alfine 11 – Temperamental, oh and the Versa road shifter, don’t.

Anyone done a 24 hour solo off of the back of very little training?

Yes I’ve made that mistake a couple of times. I wouldn’t bother.

This by the same guy is worth a watch too.

It’s a big day out if you are not a regular distance walker or runner.

What time does the race start?
I’m really wanting to enter, but need to be back in York late afternoon!

10am, done by 12, York ~ 2pm.

Any sort of bike as long as it has two wheels and one rider.

ooops [/quote]

I spoke to Mark E Smith, and he gave us the nod.

Which bike?

This one of course.

I must admit, I’ve looked at the Vir Fortis a few times. The geometry looks almost identical to the ICT in a package that should be lighter and stiffer. Not that the weight of the ICT bothers me at all when I’m riding it and I’m not convinced that stiffer is better. But something a bit lighter for the hike-a-bike sections might be nice. At the end of the day though, I prefer the sparkle blue of the ICT to the black/red of the Sonder and I’m shallow enough for that to be the deciding factor.

Just out of interest though, is there routing for a (stealth) dropper?

Yep, stiff and light, though no stealth routing for a dropper.

Did a 100 miles at Strathpuffer on the Alpkit Vir Fortis the other week.

Congratulations.

Tom loves riding the ally Transmitter.

I’ve ridden the carbon one, similar geo and lighter. Fast downhills and easy to pedal back up them.

Wrote a few words about our 3rd ‘puffer.

http://minipips.blogspot.com/2017/01/strathpuffer-2017.html

There are always nobbers at this type of event.

The people who are podium riders will just nip round you when it’s safe, because they can.

The nobbers are the ones who try and force you out of their way as they haven’t got the skills to get round neatly.

The highlight this year was some dude bellowing on your Left as he rode up the fireroad, then pulling into his pit where there wasn’t even a changeover.

Nobber.

Tbf though, I’ve never done a friendlier event than the puffer, don’t let the tiny minority put you off as it is an ace event.

For the record the 11 year old aka minipips isn’t in any club.

Well chuffed with his 16 laps, and 37th place as a soloist though. ;)

I get it, but this link seems to cover most things.

http://www.momthisishowtwitterworks.com/%5B/url%5D

Thanks for the info. Yep, I tried shooting from the bike with my camera and got lots of rolling shutter. ;(

Yep as crazy-legs said, wet.

I can’t make it ‘cos we’ll be up at Strathpuffer.

Can I recommend either the Packhorse or the Sportsman for post ride drinks though.

From towing him down the old ‘4x’ track at Delamere to media darlings

I enjoyed seeing that piece on C4 (Life on the edge ?) and hopefully some coverage of this puffer as well.

Good luck to you both.

Cheers Marcus ;)

I am acutely aware of the impacts sport in early years can effect the rest of your life.

I think it has many positives. Self confidence, maturity, and a general knowledge that helps greatly at school.

If it ceases to be fun or enjoyable, then she shouldn’t be doing it.

This.

Though if they want to be competitive at sport at that age (and there is an argument that they shouldn’t be) then they’ll have to work hard.

There’s lots OF BS about damaging their poor little bodies, though I’ve yet to find any proper studies.

Ton did mention to me that his lad had Osgood-Schlatter Disease when he was younger. But that disappears as soon as they stop over doing it, afaik with no long term effects.

What a coincidence. :)

We haven’t been out on our bikes since NYE, though we have made a video of our #festive500 rides.

Grand Raid Cristalp

Mega Avalanche

Quite fond of Aldi super noodles with a bit of chilli sauce for a cheap snack.

Fresh samosas are another fave though I don’t live close to a suitable shop these days.

Looks ace Rich.

Top year, looking forward to more of the same,

Richpips –

Distance 5,016.1 mi
Time 571h 13m
Elev Gain 326,181 ft
Rides 127
Biggest Ride 215.5 mi

Minipips –

Distance 4,757.9 mi
Time 542h 47m
Elev Gain 301,050 ft
Rides 120
Biggest Ride 215.5 mi

We’ve done a lot this year, but the highlight has to be our month long 3200 kilometre French trip. The photo below was taken on the last day.

It’s all about bikes, my boy, oh and one picture of me.

All done, we fly back tomorrow. We will be out on NYE though.