Shortly after transferring from dark-side, hence max. leg extension 🙄

The Fenix range might have something to suit – high quality, good brightness, more of a central spot with a little peripheral light. The lock-block holder is £7 & would be fine on-road (+ the velcro straps that come with it are good for helmet mounting). Just that you may go through a few batteries…
(ps I've found 100-110 lumens-worth fine off-road, when used with another bar-mounted light)

Maybe one to try if you're on a domestic trip…

Gairloch Wildlife Cruises

It's a bit of a 'try-your-luck' case, probably best in late spring / summer. I've seen minke whales, porpoise, basking sharks from the shore a few times. There were even reports a few years ago of a great white a little further north.

I wonder if that was in the design brief (the 'not-causing-of-accidents' that is), considering most cycles will be following the direction of the tram-lines along the road

chickened out of a section of sheet ice on a slope

Dunno Ronan, sounds sensible enough to me…
Grip's not bad, but there's less 'give' too, eg. tyre possibly skipping off where it would otherwise dig in (a scar on my left elbow testifies to that!) Plus you can be content there's less ground-damage caused, & tackle sections you've stayed off for ages (eg. not been down black hill since the group ride)
+1 for a clean(er) bike too 🙂

Coming down thin & slow near Livingstone, not long till GTress takes on a different hue..

Quite glad I've cried off ill from tonights sojourn around the same trail 😉

Edit; note absence of front mud-guard, snapped off earlier this ride, being brittle from -8 degs (nowt to do with amateur riding 'skills')

Another good thing about sunny days, is clear nights. This morning on '1 Tree' / White Hill (Pentlands) –

And night, just a little further south on the side of Capelaw

Maybe not quite Winter, but fairly close (heading into the Pentlands, above Harlaw…)

overrated climb though

How so, TRat? I do think the Bealach itself , while tough, isn't that bad (though I couldn't do it without a granny ring), it's the section from Applecross to Shieldaig that tests, during the HandsOn challenges anyway.

a) getting a lift down

If the planets align Kit, I'll give you (+ new crash-hat) a lift down no probs.

I'll rain-check if that's yer final date George, not back in Embra till 28th I think. No worries though, will keep an eye for other times / New Year alternative!

Is it a sociable ride or drinkin' type meet? I'll be in for a ride aboot if not away on the chosen dates. Could be up for an Inners ride sunday too…

edit; sounds like a mixture of both!

Ton, we need your regular contributions on the lighter side of things.

Oh dear… 🙄
Min. 1hr after each ride – soak with garden sprayer, sponge wash, paintbrush clean nooks & crannies ('radiator' long-handled brushes are dead good), spray chain / rings, brush clean with detergent, wheels off, clean out calipers, do nooks / crannies not previously available, rinse off, towel dry, paper towel dry chain / rings / calipers, wheels back on, use twisted bit of paper towel for bolt heads etc. Possibly borrow SO's kitchen blow-torch to dry rings (low flame). PTFE spray stanchions, lube chain, lightly paint oil onto rings. Have a nasty throat today so did a bit more than usual after Lee Q yesterday… 😈

Night-ride; as good a spray down as possible (above regime next day / night)

Generally make a point of having a bell – have often found when riding with those who don't, they get me to go in front where a few walkers are around for warning purposes. About the only time I get to be in the lead…

Had mine sorted by a relative who knew what she was doing… Took a long vertical triangular cut on the outside of leg, removing about 1+1/2" at the bottom to nothing about a foot up, brought edges together to form a vertical hem inside the leg. Works a treat & you'd think they were bought that way.

Have you considered Fenix Torches[/url] JB? Good quality, excellent brightness / spot from 110 – 225 Ln (I got the TA21, but it's pretty heavy @ 200g wi' batteries). The 'lock-block' holder's good as a road-riding bar mount (wouldn't expect much of it off-road) + has with 2 handy velcro straps for fixing to the helmet.

Some recent discussion on this very subject here !

Wow, the 1st part of that article sums up my experience this morning pretty much exactly! Thanks Bassspine.

Pity I'm down in Lancs, would've been in for that! Was round on Wednesday for my first night ride & most-excellent it was too. A few sections closed near the bottom of the red diverting through 'pie-run', & I'm sure theres a bit of smoothing-out been done at the bottom too.

Had it since night ride round GTress on Wednesday; not too bad today, + down at the in-laws near Bury, so Lee Quarry's calling… Hmmm?!

Bowls. Or darts (sport? pah!)

PROMO CODE – If you're ordering from the site I suggested earlier, enter discount code 'XMAS'…

(bit bloody late when they send you that after yer order 👿 )
(still a good shop though..)

Out of interest TJ, do you own/use a helmet yourself?

Cookeaa, have you read TJ's posts? He does state his preferences for use or not!

(note I am not showing solidarity, & wear one all the time myself, but I respect others right to their point of view)

Little Caesar were a class '80's / '90s rock band, esp. this album;

Good songs here, but the cover version of 'I Wish It Would Rain' (NOT of the Phil Collins song) has an immense solo on it, guitarist called himself Apache & left after this album.
Unfortunately I can't search for it here at work ( 🙄 ), but definitely worth a listen if you like to make devil-horn hand gestures!

Busy spot, that; used to run down there when we stayed at Dean Village. Was that at rush-hour Kit? Lousy get-me-hame drivers…

Handy thread indeed – was just thinking of a decent pair as my normal boots will soon be rendered useless, + already shredded a pair of over-shoes. Thinking of 80's too (from ProBikeKit – excellent service). Don't the MT-90's laces kinda get in the way??

Have you read the jackets review in the current mag GSI? Don't have it to hand, but IIRC the Pace 3×3 was top for breathability + w'proofing + an Altura marked v highly too. The test seemed to be slanted towards performance while cycling hard in pish weather, so maybe not suited to lighter-duty use, if that's what you're after.

I've always found them too narrow, as well as coming up short. Probably just due to my disproportionate sz. 12 plates though.

Relieved you came out (relatively) unscathed mate – I've yet to experience any helmet-impacts, but won't be riding without one anywhere.

Have a look at this thread – some good hints. I think 5's are essentially same as 3's. But yes, pushing the pistons in using a flat blade on the old pads definitely helps 😳

Were you round the red Colin? Had 1st night ride round there last night & proper mucky upon the return… Probably down to ill line choices on my part / using nasty grabby trail-rakers. Does that permit cover both centres?

Edit; but the trail was in great condition considering recent weather. I'm sure GT gets it much drier than Embra; virtual wet – dry line on the road just outside Peebles last night.

+1 for ice / minus temperatures (broke 2 shifters + front mudguard in 1 snowy /-8 degree lap at GTress last winter. Makes yer plastics brittle + fluids thicken)

If it's tipping down I'll wait till it's passed if possible – don't mind getting caught in the rain if I'm warmed up, but setting off in it… naah! (unless it's an event of some kind)

Finally tried out my LUU light last night, with a lap of Glentress red. IMO the light is great – believe I used the 'spot' lens, on 'medium' power 80% of the time, & didn't want for any more. In conjunction with my Fenix torch strapped to the helmet, felt quite happy. Granted, GT is a fairly tunnel-like experience, but I'd expected major disappointment after the comments above, so pleasantly surprised that it's actually fine.
Bigger thumbs-up to the bar-mount, after an early tighten it stayed rock-solid despite many rough landings & 1 slip-off.

Provided reliability is ok (we'll see), I now wouldn't hesitate to recommend the LUU, whether or not it is 900Ln.
Now, to get on with some night-riding without worrying about how dark it is! 🙂

As we seem to be heading in a certain direction..

Worth the watch for sure (doubly so if you're from Scotch-Land)
Best bought direct from Reset Films[/url] so you can finance future projects…

Gents, your various positive approaches shame me 😳 🙂

Of course, what the lady wants, the lady should have. My biased opinion would miss out that important variable; fun.
As is frequently the case, my own turbo trainer is on loan atm after a year or 2's dust gathering in the garage. If a cyclist (me) finds no joy in them, how could a non-cyclist (she) be different.
B. Bethel – I may be in touch after some ('positive') discussions.

'warm & soft' is definitely covered by the sealskinz mtb gloves mentioned above, woodsman.

Don't forget Pantera / DamagePlan heavy hitter Vinnie Paul

Can't post a youtube link from work, but it would be for 'Message In Blood' if I could.

Bit cheaper here…
Got a pair last year for sub-zero temps – any warmer & they get too sweaty. The inner lining is a bit loose, if you're hands will get damp from sweat I'd suggest trying something else. But at the price above, worth a punt.

edit; waterproofing is good though, often wear them walking in winter rain & haven't had a problem (unless you have to take them off & put back on with soaked hands!)

There was an earlier suggestion about old magazines in this thread, lard et al…