If you take your water from high ground, from a fast running stream then you should be fine … watch me be i'll now next time I'm out 😀

"The track is visable from the road" … just 😉

flatfish sorry to hear about that … has the dog got any teeth left? My outing into the mountains had to be put back too. Trip to Aber' A+E with a customer, got back around 5 to find Stephen Lord (bloke who wrote Adventure Cycle Handbook) here with Peter his mate who's 5 years into a round the world ride. Best laid plans, etc.

Over-active … just a thought, you're not planning using 1:50000 maps are you? They don't really have enough detail on them IMO.

Stuart

Paulio I can see my house from here 😀

Sound advice there Ian … I'm expecting the countryside to be covered in little green bags this weekend as people get out for a trial run. I myself shall be out in the Rhinogs (or maybe the Arans, can't decide) tomorrow evening … not for a practice but just because 😉

Stuart

Chew you're so right … all about having fun, riding your bike and seeing some fantastic places and possibly getting slightly wet feet. There's also the added bonus that all monies raised go to a good cause, it's win all round.

If anyone's bothered about being on their own you could always follow (stalk) flatfish 😀

Over-active you'll be fine … just take your time with the route. There's always the option for a bit of road work to ease the load.

Wrap your sleeping bag in your bivvy bag and strap/bungee it to your bars. Everything else should really fit into a 20l pack if need be. You should be able to locate some food on route so you shouldn't have to carry too much from the off.

Trust me you're not alone 😉 If you run into any problems feel free to email me or just ask on here.

Cheers
Stuart

alfachippy there's a slightly infamous BW which may or may not lead to or from grid reference 12 … this is what's meant when people are talking about a bog 😉 There might be a way around it but it doesn't appear on 1:50000 maps only on 1:25000.

Also a little psa … if anyone is wanting a cheap (er) down jacket I bought a RAB microlight online from Cotswolds yesterday for £70. Weighs just over 300g and packs down to nothing. RRP is £130. They only had s and m in a rather fetching acid colour.

Over and out.
Stuart

Bubblewrap will work for a night as long as it isn't too cold … honest.

I think me and a few others are waiting for our copies to arrive from the US … so there'll be a showing for my mrs and 2 dogs, not that they'll be interested.

Terry Jones still has the house but we don't see that much of him, see his lad more.

Star Inn … erm what can I say 😕

http://www.forestfreeride.co.uk

It'll take about 1.5 hours to us from Liverpool.

Stuart

Don't worry any roads will be quiet … it's not uncommon for me to ride all day (8 hours +) and not meet a sole 😀

Aye you're right John it's about enjoying the journey … shame though as I was looking forward to a go on your Jones 😉

There are indeed single speeds taking part … with the right ratio they'll be fine 😉

My mate much prefers his to his On One 29er … very difficult to go wrong for the money. I had one of the first models and once I'd ditched the stupidly high SS ratio (something like 39:16) it was fine.

(awaits call of 'whats wrong with 39:16 you girl)

In this part of Wales the locals call that "Welsh Time" … You think you know what time it is, then when you look it's 3 hours later than you thought. It doesn't happen in winter though only summer months. It'll be the reason I never manage to get my tea until 9.00pm 😉

Stuart

"Speed is your friend" … there's always one 😉

I think it's fair to say that anyone thinking about attending a skills course wouldn't be disappointed with any of the instructors/companies who reply to posts on here. Whilst no one is going to turn you into Sam Hill in the course of a day, you will leave with more confidence and a far greater understanding of what you should and shouldn't be doing. I'm sure I'm not alone when I say one of the most common comments is "I'd never have ridden that before today".

Courses vary in cost depending on which company you go with, our prices are;

1 day (9.30-5.00) £75 either in a group or on a one to one basis.
2 day £125, again in a group or one to one.

Those prices inc' use of the bunkhouse if you want to stay, T shirt and extensive course notes … and enough tea to drown in.

Stuart

pistonbroke does it link SN837793 to SN773790 ?

Stuart

Don't worry about those not coming John … the Air Ambulance will still get their money 😀

You have remembered to include the good descents in your route and not do them back to front turning them into climbs? 😉

Stuart

Riding on flats with the ball of your foot centred over the axle (as with spds) means that your ankle is quite 'weak'. This means your foot can more easily slip off the back of the pedal particulary when landing something … resulting in shin – pedal contact.

Moving your foot slightly forward helps reduce the problem, your foot will still fall into the concave of the pedal but will be much more stable.

Try standing at the side of your bike and putting a foot onto the pedal. With your foot centred over the axle you'll be able to drop your heel a long way down, apply some pressure and it should be possible for your foot to slip off … now try it with your foot more forward.

Stuart

All my 5:10s fit like 'normal' trainers … I take a ten in shoes, boots, etc and 5:10s are just the same.

Tomahawk, techniques remain the same regardless 😉

We do one to one tuition (doesn't cost any extra) which we can tailor to suit individual requirements. One thing we always aim to do is alter the way people think about riding … altering your thoughts can make a massive difference in removing the fear factor.

Cheers
Stuart

You is mad sir … good effort 😀

So did Brian Lopes

Might not be too far forward … the common problem is people riding too far off the back. It'd be good to see a pic of you in your normal position.

Stuart

Just as an aside … has anyone tried a backless sleeping bag/quilt?

I like the idea and fully understand the logic behind it but I'm still left with certain doubts.

As long as your flat pedals are half decent and not some plastic affairs that some bikes arrive with, then correct foot position relative to the pedal will make the biggest difference … as BigJohn says, might feel a little strange at first though.

Stuart

Aye, I'm like Nezbo and just stuff a dry bag etc with whatever's handy … works ok as a pillow.

Bigface depends what you mean by best … IMO at the moment if you try and balance out packed size, weight and comfort then I'd say a Thermorest Neo Air would take some beating but you'll have to pay for it.

Alpkit are launching a new range of mats shortly but I don't know what they'll be but it could be worth hanging on. My main mat for the last few years has been a wee Airic and it's been great. I'm now on my second after leaving the first one in a bothy last year. 😕

Stuart

Got both and mountain bars seem a bit bigger in every respect … drop ends are certainly longer but they do seem to have a touch more drop and perhaps a little less flare. I'd struggle to say which I prefer though.

Stuart

http://www.forestfreeride.co.uk

.duncan the cycle expeditions are done pretty much the same way as walking expeditions. Groups are expected to camp and carry all their own gear (panniers etc). Daily ride time is meant to be 6 hours in the saddle covering around 50k per day … for various reasons (poor nav', being lazy, etc) I've seen groups out for 12 hours. One group of lads from a very posh school once took 7 hours to ride 9K 😯 over part of the Sarn Helen.

The hardest part is making sure atleast some of the group have a certain amount of mechanical know how … buckled rear wheels is the biggest problem due to the weight they're carrying and (often) poor riding.

Finding 4 day routes that'll keep they away from temptation can also be tricky … Scotland and mid Wales tend to be the prime areas. Wide open spaces and no shops!

Stuart

I sometimes instruct DoE gold mountainbike expeditions and yes the lads can be hard work at times … they often forget that riding a fully loaded bike off road is hard work 😉

Stuart

Only one route up (and down) everything else is a footpath … the powers that be get very upset with cheekyness.

Did you kip in the "hut" at the top … and are you now mad or a poet? as the myth states 😉

The Snugpak 'forces' stuff might be worth a look but could be a touch bulky.

Nezbo is that a Snugpak Stratosphere in the pic?

How did it do? … i'll be giving mine a go on Mon night.

stuart

Like Nick says, make sure you're warm when you climb into your bag. If you're cold to start with you'll just remain cold for a very long time … think of your sleeping bag like thermos 😉

Stuart

I'm not as lucky as you to have a loving wife (I don't have a wife, well I do but it's a long story) who'll drive me to the start and pick me up again when it's over … and you're right, Americans can't make a decent brew and a country without bothies is just wrong 😉

You don't wanna go flatfish … there'll be bears, BIG HUNGRY BEARS!

Carradice bags are great John, I've a couple in differing sizes and they just get better with use.

Oi flatfish what's wrong with beards? 😉