Whatever you do will be ruined by midges so buy lots of Smidge, and take a look at the Smidge Forecast. https://www.smidgeup.com/midge-forecast/ and get some midge nets just in case. Avon Skin So Soft as well. Then have fun – and you’ll have the usual three and half seasons of weather in a day.

Another plug for Talkytoaster. Far more detailed, with elevation data, contours, routable, for Basecamp or not (your choice), just about everywhere worldwide. https://talkytoaster.me.uk/ 

I tried those lobster claw gloves, but they really make a mess of braking. I go to grab the lever and half my hand moves, instead of a finger.

But they are warm.

these’ll run windows, right ?

Yes, sort of. I have Parallels on my Apple M1 which runs Windows (10, then 11). All so I could continue to use AppleWorks, a 1990s Apple programme (ClarisWorks) which no longer works on Macs… circular economy?

Two very active MTB clubs in Swindon. MT Swindon and the Croft (look after the XC course near Nationwide) and Swindon MTB Enthusiasts. Loads of great riding to the south, up on the Ridgeway, hill forts, etc. Year round riding if a little sloppy. I belong to this one and I’m not even local: https://www.facebook.com/groups/SMTBE

I blamed the cat for ages for peeing in the house. Eventually replaced the whole cable.

Hurray, some common sense. None of the GMBN ride faster/gnarlier/shreddier. Just go outside and enjoy it (the miserable bits as well.)

Yes, bamboo bikes are often made with epoxy and linen/hemp or similar in a weave like a carbon lay-up.

I’ve built a bamboo fatbike in 2016 and it’s going strong, though I don’t ride like Mr Pilgrim.

In a few years time I’ll get around to retraining the cat who has decided he doesn’t like the extra 5g weight of the door and just sits by it…

I think the cat’s already won that one.

Well, these stories make me feel much better!🙂

tks everyone.

Outdoor cafe near me has an Ultimate Ears little speaker thingy sitting in a flower pot. Weatherproof and sounds far better than its size, not heard it indoors though. It might be Bluetooth only though.

Yes, but the STW bamboo special builder didn’t set up his jig correctly, so the end result was “sub optimal”!🙂 https://singletrackworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/bamboo-sweat-and-tears-building-a-bamboo-bike/

Yes, I built my fatbike in 2016 and it’s going strong. Talk to James at ‘BBC’ and tell him what you want, he’ll advise. If you build it a weekend workshop he’ll do a custom CAD design, or he has a range of homebuild kits, based on carbon lugs (more recently than my build which was epoxy/hemp wrapped joints.) Tandem, cargo, MTB, gravel, wheelchair, anything is possible.
(How do I attach a photo?)

Rosetta Tharpe was the bizness! Even in a wet and broken Manchester. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-27256401

i bought a Lamy a few weeks ago as a result of this forum, mostly for the doing the crosswords. And also some weird coloured inks just because… What a strange path an MTB mag has taken me down.

The Evoque doesn’t have any room in the back if you’re going to put two dogs in. But I was amazed by what it could do off-road on a muddy Land Rover off road day. Standard tyres, nothing fancy. I stopped deriding hairdressers after that. (But the Discovery was even better with greater clearance. And they float!) I’ve played with all the clever settings in snowy single-lane country roads near me and, yes, it’s much smarter than I am.
Tow bar for the bikes though, not enough space inside without removing wheels, etc.

One Up Components – lots of colours, lots of replaceable pins, seem to last a long time. I’ve got a few.

I was ten years older than that first time I sat on an MTB. You’ve got years left – keep pedalling!

I went from XT3x10 to 1×9 Box drivetrain when the Shimano needed replacing. Simplicity is an improvement and I’ve got almost the same wide range, and same grannies.

My surgeon told me it’s not uncommon to remove them after a while. Sure enough, 18 months on it began to feel too close to the surface and was removed. My shoulder/collarbone have been fine since.

Thanks everyone – plenty of links and advice. I’ll probably redo the BASP one as that covered cold weather as well as head and shoulder injuries that is useful for MTBers. As someone commented above, it’s also good to have a think about remote location skills where an ambulance isn’t going to turn up anytime soon.

@flannol Have you got the details, it’s local to me. Maybe I can sign up too?

Thanks, yes that’s the one I last did, but it’s expired and I’ve forgotten most of it anyway!

I use a 15psi and 30psi one for fatbikes and normal bikes. They’re good, easy to use, they agree with each other (comforting to know), but as BearBack says, don’t drop them.

I’ve been to the north (Tromsø, Lyngen, etc) twice and about to go again. Ski touring, though, nothing with lifts. You’d hate it after a couple of hours – so many mind boggling, jaw dropping, life changing views you have to stare at your skis or you’ll go mad.
Either that or the weather is ‘Scottish’ so you don’t have to worry about the views.

Touché.

Hah, Charlie, all answers wrong, It’s their telephone area code (661). (Special prize if you can tell me what the link is with the Whistle Test theme tune.)

Good job Amanda had a chap there to answer all the difficult questions, the ladies just can’t cope, can they? (Yes, fellow MTBers, that’s sarcasm.) Shut up, Ross.

I’ve had a Five for a couple of years and it’s great fun. I’m no expert, so anything that makes life easier is good for me. I’m generally unaware of the suspension – which is a good thing – it just keeps the bike moving along whatever mistakes I make. Likewise for the Cane Creek DB inline shock – seems to work well with the Five’s pivot.