It’s not me Valleydaddy … but on a dark night?

Jesus … someone you’ve never met, spoken to and don’t know asks a question. You have experience with the subject, so do your best to answer their question. Someone else also mentions you in the thread because they know you have relevent experience … I suppose you believe Area 51 too? 😉

I have to say the chap in the top picture does look a little like me 😀

Valleydaddy come May 28th it’ll be cracking the flags … a full complement of comedy cycling tan lines will be expected upon return!

Marketing ploy by who? … someone asked a question and people have answered it.

I saw you’d bought another … your kid got your hand me downs then? 😉

I just wear my 5:10s but I’m about the only one I know of who isn’t clipped in … I suppose shoe choice is always going to be a compromise whatever you do.

Munqe-chick, you’re right about the aggression. Some aspects of riding do require / are easier with a certain level of controlled aggression … women are, on the whole less aggressive than blokes so this needs to be coaxed out at times. On the other hand blokes often need to surpress the aggression.

*Women often have an easier time learning how to ride ‘using their heads’ because they don’t ride with dangly bits 😉 … if you know what I mean.

* No offence fellas.

Cheers Valleydaddy.

I’d estimate that over the course of any one year we instruct more woman than blokes (60-40 split). Regardless of sex the majority of folk are looking to increase their overall confidence. If you break it down into skills, techniques or general areas of riding then women most commonly want to know.

• How to deal with speed and avoid panic or over braking.
• How to lift the front wheel (low and high speed) … lots of people believe they need upper body strength, so it’s a nice surprise when they realise they don’t.

Blokes want to know about drops and jumps much more than the majority of women do … but that often changes throughout a course as confidence rises. I must say that after 5 years of instructing one thing that always shines through is, no two people are the same. 😉

Bloke I know is in the High Peak, if you want his details let me know.

Where abouts are you? … I know a few folks who could repair that.

NCB take a look here http://www.bikepacking.net/category/individual_setups/

What’s the rush? … you’re there all night!

❓

By the way the WRT start list for 2011 is now on the blog

http://welshridething.blogspot.com/

76 unsuspecting victims have been lured into my devilish trap this year 😀

Bigface, I’ve not tried one but have been tempted … reviews seem a little mixed with some testers saying the things split along the folds.

Bigface, evernew ti stuff is very, very nice. It’ll pretty much last longer than any of us will and it’s not that expensive all things considered.

http://www.backpackinglight.co.uk/page100.asp

Ian what size of gap is there between the top of your stove and base of your pot when everything’s in place?

@Bigface … you misunderstand, today is the last day to enter but GR and map details aren’t sent out until the end of April, the 28th to be exact. Sorry about that but hey ho back to your paperwork 😉

@Ian, how robust do you think it’ll be, get a year out of it do you think?

As ART says, Pont Scethin would be a fair bet.

Easy enough to get over to the ClimachX from Dol’ but possibly not the most exciting ride to get there but a few hours exploring the Dyfi forest are always well spent … good stuff over in the East side that’s worth a look.

I’ll take a guess at Youth Hostel!

A 13L drybag should pretty much strap on to any bars (I’ve run them on drops without any trouble). Revelate seat packs are very nice as are their frame bags but if you can wait a couple of months then Wildcat stuff should be avaliable … manufactured in Wales so no import duties, less postage and very, very nice.

As for bandwagon Al, some of us have been doing it for years 😉

A 13L drybag should pretty much strap on to any bars (I’ve run them on drops without any trouble). Revelate seat packs are very nice as are their frame bags but if you can wait a couple of months then Wildcat stuff should be avaliable … manufactured in Wales so no import duties, less postage and very, very nice.

As for bandwagon Al, some of us have been doing it for years 😉

Your name’s on ‘The List’ so you’re already involved 😉

Perhaps we can all start to wear 80’s leg warmers and ponce around the forests and mountains singing the theme to Fame 😯

Diawi, not tried one but have looked before. If you fancy the idea of solid fuel / meths then it doesn’t look a bad buy. The brass meths burner won’t be the lightest thing in the world though.

I think developing a tramp like appearance and smell is part of bikepacking … I have spent many years in training 😉

I’ve got some Regatta stuff for evening / sleeping duties (when I remember). It’s a micro fleece top and long bottoms, very warm, packs small and weighs not much … also much cheapness. Go Outdoors possibly worth a try for some, they come packaged as a pair.

pb2 is you fancy the WRT you’ll need to be sharpish, ie within the next 48 hours. Email me if you want in. stuart@forestfreeride.co.uk

Good man … numbers are looking very healthy but I’ll endevour to spread everyone out 😉

Is that a pile of gentlemans mags on the left? 😉

Aye, congratulations and it’s great to know everyone’s doing well 😀

Anthony, nice work there.

Mine next week and oddly it does feel a little different to other birthdays. I shall celerbrate by taking myself off into the hills for a couple of days … drinking and parties are sort of wasted on me really.

Oh and happy 40th to everyone else.

Anthony … email sent.

AJ, I’ve never bought owt so can’t comment but I know what you mean about stock. The Terra Nova tarp thing didn’t get a fantastic review in this months Trail (if that means owt).

Tiger … brewing up just for the sake of it is one of lifes greatest pleasures 😀

Would you like an entry form emailing over? … there’s still time 😀

Yep … it’s a medium in black 😉

I’ve a PHD Ultra vest sat on my desk just waiting for some lucky WRTer to walk off with it in the raffle 😀

‘Tis very very nice.

My advice for the poly tarp would be to edge the short sides with duct tape … it’ll stop the thing tearing, the short sides seem to be the ones that that the greatest stress.

Think it’s down to compromise John … siltarps are pretty expensive compared to Alpkit for the same size, so it all depends whether the weight saving is worth it to you. Polythene tarp’s lighter than anything 😉

@Valleydaddy, I’ve used clips before on tarps, work well enough. Flatfish has some very nice bits and bobs for rigging tarps up without needing to be a boy scout in the knot department.

Very nice job Ian, it’ll be interesting to see what effect it has on boil times. If it works well I anticipate a world foil shortage 😉

Don’t worry slugwash … the Llama is called Ferdinand after the prince not the tosser, just people assume it must be the tosser. I also hate football with a passion.

He got extra carrots too … I’m amazed you remember their names.

No ‘cos I’m still antisocial 😀

EDIT: Saying that though, it was Percy the llamas 16th birthday last week so everyone had extra carrots and a chorus of happy birthday, suppose I can’t be that antisocial 😉