Nice job, whats it weigh?

I was looking at that on the map just last night … is it good?, map would indicate some interesting parts. Not technical perhaps but some nice riding.

Most certainly a mental element, it plays a massive part. Learning how to “re-think'” their riding is often one of the most important things people learn on a skills course.

Obviously, practice will help a tremendous amount too, unless you’re pracicing the wrong things 😉

Me Me Me! … but I can’t tell you where 😉

@DoctorRad, I picked up the Helium from Field and Trek … no sign on the website though. I assume it’s an in store offer.

I do have a brand new Terra Nova Argom 900 I’d sell for £100 if anyone fancies it. 2 man and sub kilo.

5:10s but I’m the odd one out 😉

Once heard uttered by someone who was under a car at the time “**** me this f**king f**ckers f**cked”

I picked up a Force Ten Helium a few weeks ago, brand new from the shop £100 … pretty much half price 😀

Only being 5’7″ means it’s like a mansion inside!

Well, thanks to the power of the internet and more importantly peoples generous spirit … I’m now sorted 😀

Looks nice and snug that does Paul, I shall be back in the trees later this week 😉

Pete, If you end up needing smaller clothes, you’ll have more competition for all those bargains … like you jacket!

I have a few mantras for life one is ‘regret nothing’, another is ‘it’s easier to ask for forgiveness than permission’ … oddly, the GF thinks I live life like a pirate 😉

Think these are the things

http://www.traveloutdoorsleeds.co.uk/vango-8.5mm-alloy-pole-set/

Can’t remember which kit it is now Steve but I seem to recall there was only one with the right diam’ poles … but I could be wrong 😉

Like steve says, the poles aren’t up to much … however it’s easy enough to buy a Vango Aluminium pole kit and make some new ones, shaves quite a bit of weight off too. For the money there isn’t much out there that compares, nearly everything else will be single skin and just as heavy.

If you don’t mind a little bit more weight / cost then take a look at a Vango Banshee.

Aye the lightest stuff is the stuff you don’t take … but being geeks means we like to play about with stuff 😀

My bivvy bag’s eVent so doesn’t trap/contain air very well, I’ll have to continue using the old fashioned method 😉

EDIT: Ian did you receive that email I talked to you about last week?

@Steve … DD tarps are very good for the money. The normal sized one is still pretty big, set up as a simple roof you’d easily get 3 folk under it. Plenty of room to erect it as a more complicated 1 or 2 man also. Alpkit tarps do look very good and the fitted tie points are a real bonus … you pays your money, etc.

And besides, he seems to make a handy guying point if the bottom picture’s owt to go off 😀

You leave Rufus alone … it’s not his fault, he was obviously born that way!

I’ve told you … plastic, string and pebbles, it’s gonna be a winner 😀

Alpkit tarps, I believe flatfish has a nice new one. I’m sure he’ll be along to tell you about it in a minute.

I’ve used 24″ high Rollers in the past (still a pair of 2.7s hung in the workshop I think) and they work well. The compound will make quite a difference to how quickly they roll and how well they grip. The softer compounds will possibly be overkill for use on the rear but will allow massive libertys to be taken when used on the front.

He should find the dread pattern/design fater rolling than his current Swampthings.

I’ve always found 24″ Halos to be stupidly heavy, they may have changed though, its been a while.

Valleydaddy, Cuben fibre … very light and strong (for its weight) but very difficult to work with as it doesn’t take kindly to been sewn.

Pockets not deep enough for Cuben fibre … but my experiments with plastic, string and pebbles are coming on nicely 😉

Filler = boring, not as good, uninteresting, less technical.

I’ve lived in worse 😉

Mach’ is nearest station … about 12 miles if you go via the road, around 8 if you go via mountain and forest 😉

Don’t worry Vallydaddy, I’ve already had words with OO!

EDIT: Pedalhead, I might consider sticking another tooth or two on the back. I run two cogs on the back of my monster cross thing, 18t and 20t as a bailout option 😉

You’ll be fine … with a little time spent studying maps you’ll be able to make it as hard or easy(ish) as you want. I suppose 3 back to back days loaded, is never going to be described as easy 😉

Anyone else fancying it, don’t be shy. Email stuart@forestfreeride.co.uk and ask for an entry form.

Stu … you have got some feed holes at the base of your inner wall have you? When the things lit, try warming the outside of the stove with a lighter and see if that starts it going.

Sometimes it can take 3-4 minutes for the things to start blooming.

If you’re planning on sticking your mug straight on top then I wouldn’t bother with top jets. I’d put 8 holes in, about 10mm down from the top … and I’d be using a drawing pin to put ’em in with too 😉

Stu your jet holes area bit on the big side. Think pin hole size rather than knitting needle 😉

Also tend to find with 2 sets of jets the top ones will light up first, side ones should follow along later. Putting your mug straight on top will often put the top jets out and bring the side jets in earlier … I’m thinking your mug’s putting the top jets out but the side jets aren’t chiming in due to the size (massive pressure loss through the top jets). Nowt wrong with your fuel, any meths’ll do.

Drink more ale and do it again.

17mm … the clue’s in the name 😉

Is the 17t sprocket machined/stamped off centre, so eccentric on the hub? I’ve had 2 cogs like this.

@Bigface, of the top of my head I think there’s 30 odd confirmed which is about right for this time in the proceedings. Always get a mad rush in the last 2 weeks when people get a reminder 😉

Nope, surprisingly sturdy. Might be a different story if you started to angle the legs down towards 45 degrees though.

For anyone interested, you’ll find what I believe maybe the worlds lightest stove over on the WRT blog

http://welshridething.blogspot.com/

Luckily, I also think it may be the cheapest 😀

Daren’t go on the Phd website … within minutes I’m designing outragous sleeping bags, costing hundreds 😉

I’ve spent part of the afternoon conducting solid fuel experiments … I’ll put my finds on the WRT blog later. Many lessons learnt 😉

Stove looks nice Bigface!

Anthony, what sort of burner are you using with the solid fuel blocks?

You could always use an Old Man Mountain rack … don’t need mounts. Think Carradice sell them over here.

There was an article in Adventure cycling mag last year about a bloke that takes his two kids. Tandem and trailer out into the mountains. You might find the article on the Adventure Cycling website … I think it was called something like, 24 hour adventures.