Xan – 30km of trails in Cambu is pushing it a bit.
A veritable maze certainly and enough to keep you happily occupied for several hours.

In Carron Valley, Meikle Bin is always worth an explore.

"They're looking for 200 words on "The Joy Of Filth" at the moment. "

Ooh – I could do something on the joy of a bedroom bivvy.

:oops:

I've written articles/reviews for VeloVision and now get a free subscription.

Which reminds me, I have 600 words to write on the LOCT….

How about PG Wodehouse?

I can read and re-read his work.

(and Terry Pratchett must have done the same)

http://www.pgwodehousebooks.com/quotes.htm

Russell Jones & Walker Solicitors

http://www.rjw.co.uk/ctc

I occasionally overtake a lass that's well cute ;-)

How about a Revolution Streetfinder Women's '09 from Edinburgh Bike Co-op.

Clicky

Yeah – I'm going off Ti and I'm going off VN.

This is from the Van Nicholas website and it contrasts completely with their email. Humph!

http://vannicholas.com/ResLib/WbmFAQ.aspx

Will my Airborne guarantee still be valid?

Yes, the normal conditions still apply (include link to general policy and material warranty details), if your Airborne frame is shown to have a fault, it will be replaced by a new Van Nicholas model of equivalent specification to the original model purchased. Of course if your requirements have changed, you can always take the opportunity to upgrade to a different model if required. In any event, our aim at Van Nicholas is to get you back riding as soon as possible with a new mount, so we will work closely with our authorised dealers to rectify the situation.

No!

That sucks.

:-(

If anyone cares:

From Van Nicholas:
I am sorry to hear about your frame failure. As you might know Airborne
went out of business 3 years now and this means also they cannot give
any support for Airborne product anymore as they do not exist anymore.
Having said this we will try to help you if we can to see if we can
claim your frame with the factory as we use the same factory as Airborne
did. What we need from you is:

– Proof of purchase (so original invoice)
– Frame Serial number.
We will then send this to the factory and see if they can warranty your
frame.
Please note we cannot guarantee anything because we are not Airborne. We
are Van Nicholas and so it is not our duty to warranty products from
another brand. But again we will do our best to help you where we can so
if you can provide this information to us we will let you know the
outcome.

Supermarkets stock a range of "stain devils" – wee bottles specific for removing different types of clothing stain.
Well worth getting the one for "chain oil" etc

As others have said: try a P-clip

My commuter ran a P-clip for years with no problems.

Canon Powershot 590.
Superb camera.

http://www.ukdigitalcameras.co.uk/prod.asp?i=5533

lister-hooded – Yes.
A friend has just received a new light set and various spares, getting caught for import duties , VAT etc.
Looked to come to about 15% of the original price.

I really like AtoB.

It probably doesn't really class as a MTB mag though (as it covers folders, electric bikes and, occasionally, kettles)

Get yourself an Eagle Creek Pack It Folder.
http://www.safariquip.co.uk/acatalog/Eagle_Creek.html#aEAGFO

I use mine for conferences and it works well.

Problem 1) Section breaks.

Problems 2) Putting images into a table works but they can go walkabout too. Right click – image properties. There are then options for wrap around, anchor with text etc. You probably want the latter.

If you're still stuck email it and try and fix it for you.
(I do this sh!t for a living….Word 2007 is way better than 2003, it just takes some getting used to)

Cheers!

Two +ve chambers?! eek!

I found some instructions on the Windwave site
http://www.windwave.co.uk/documents/techinfo/sl%20set%20up%20guide.pdf
.
I haven't emptied the PAR though – oh well, start again tomorrow. I can see the rigids going back on!

Oops – yes, just checked the fork: it does have doppio travel adjust?

Travel adjust is by changing the negative pressure.

That's a bargain – the dynamo set up is worth £250 alone!

If I didn't already own two touring bikes I'd be raiding the piggy bank.

Tyres are a bit narrow for roughstuff though ;-)

I can sense micro-nicheing…..

SBC used to play grass-court bike polo with the Johnstone Wheelers.

Good laugh and somewhere I've got a photo of my butt cheek with a ball firmly imprinted on it. That taught me to get in the way of a full-pitch clearance!

And make sure you go for a B&B that isn't tourist board registered (because that costs a lot) – you want the ones run by a wifey for a bit of pin money and some company.

This way you get enough tea, cake and porridge to last you a lifetime plus you get to meet the family, walk the dog, and then invited to visit her son next time you're in Ontario. May need to drive a bit out of town for one of these though!

Scottoiler here too.
Have used them for four years now and wouldn't use anything else.

http://www.scottoiler.com/cycle/

If you're heading to Carron Valley it's also worth taking in Meikle Bin. Takes 2hrs max and starts from the CV carpark.
Foties and Map

I reckon Glen Ample works best south to north.
I suspect that Garry_Lager missed the landy track climb all the way to the start of the glen (from the FC car park)- picking up the signed walking track instead. This then leaves you with gravity helping you out to Lochearnhead.

As an aside – I'm doing Glen Artney tomorrow (as a circuit from Stirling). This makes a fun out and back from Callander.

Anyway – I'd do the Menteith Hills from Aberfoyle. Then any spare energy can be spent riding the GMBC stuff around David Marshall Lodge.

Dude – I feel your pain.
Where are you?

When forced to endure two weeks at the in-laws (in a crappy mining town in Ontario during the depths of winter) I was driven into the countryside by the mother-in-law, dropped off, and would then spend the next few hours walking back home.

Got me out the house and I got some exercise too.

Menteith Hill Track – which you could start from Aberfoyle.
http://www.stirlingbikeclub.org.uk/ride/mtb/menteith_hills.shtml

From Callander – Glen Finglas / Glen Ample or both together.
http://www.stirlingbikeclub.org.uk/ride/mtb/glen_finglas_240803.shtml

I lived without a car for years.
Even now, with wifey using one, I rarely use it for anything other than family trips with the kids, and will be car-free for 3 weeks as wifey is away :-)

I found it relatively easy to live car-free but it does involve some investment to start with.
– Good waterproofs – top, legs, head, gloves, shoes,
– Brompton – opens up public transport, car lifts etc,
– Trailer – for supermarket shops,
– hack bike – full length mudguards, dynamo lights etc.

For trips to the tip etc you can use a trailer or there will be a local odd-job man who offers an uplift service. It costs £300+ a month to run a typical family car, with depreciation etc, and that's an awful lot of taxi fares.

Good luck!

Wifey is from Scuzzbury (Sudbury), Ontario.

She's been in Scotland for 17yrs now and would never move back. You don't have to shovel rain.

A thread was on here recently about getting copies of Kenny's book.
There were a fair few available second hand.

http://www.abebooks.co.uk/

I've got one – had it for three years now.
Excellent bit of kit.

Doesn't rattle any more than any other trailer I've used and quietens down when has a load in it to keep the wheels on the ground. Can tip readily if it's empty – but that's because it is so light (when dodging through bollards and sideways over kerbs). Again not a problem with a bit of a load in it.

It really comes into its own when loaded – I've lugged some very heavy shopping loads and obscure items strapped to the top (Bromptons, big boxes etc). Way more stable than my old single-wheeler with a load. Not designed for really big lugging though.

Folds slower than my Brompton, but only a minute or so.

Let us know if you have any more questions. Carry Freedom were very helpful and offer excellent support.

How about NCN 7 through Callander.

You can go out and back past Loch Venachar, or north past Strathyre and back (plenty of tea stops).

These are off-road routes with superb scenery. The Laid Inn does good grub too.

Ignore that – Wrong peninsula.

Do Glen Affric anyway!

Can you tweak the route a bit and add Glen Lyon (between Killin and Pitlochry)?
And how's about heading into Glen Affric rather than the A82.

Top route by the way!

I've not had a mumps vaccine – and I was born and dragged up in the UK.

My son caught it when he was 10 months old – there's a window before they get the MMR jag. That's where your infection pool is.

I've only had my Ti frames since 2003 (audax bike) and 2005 (MTB) but they're still quite new compared to my steel touring bike (1993).

Solo or team?
Back in 1994 I trained with a guy that raced it as a team. He was nuts, but in a nice way.
The team packed on day 3 in the mountains – the altitude and heat got to them, together with the fact that the altitude meant they were unable to run the generators to recharge their lights. Things have moved on though.

There was also a programme on ITV4 recently about a UK guy who raced it solo. There was a discussion on here about it. I'd have liked to know how much training he did – I'd argue that you can't train in the UK for the heat of the US (I lived in Ohio – it was often 40C and 95% humidity), or the altitude for that matter.

Oh – and make sure you bring a bungee cord to hold your head up when your neck muscles go.

Personally, I'd aim for Paris-Brest-Paris or something more sensible ;-)

You lot should be over at

Pez Cycling

8)

Info here:
Stirling Bike Club forum

Fit mudguards and a mudflap.
Buy good waterproofs.
Use a Carradice saddlebag to carry your kit.
Fit a dynamo for when winter comes.
Read Cyclecraft by John Franklin.