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....keep talkin'

I got another M5 bolt and screwed it into the hole, for some reason it had no problem catching and it seems to have cleared enough that the barrel will now screw in, think it solved it.

How far in do I want the barrel adjuster when setting up the rear mech (as if it was brand new)? Tightened right up? Half way? I've never known.

Stripped the female thread of the barrel adjuster on a GRX 812 rear mech. 1 year old. Is it now an expensive piece of junk or is it salvageable?

The barrel adjuster won't go in at all.

Surely there some coronation to do? #noraisins

I just had God Save the Queen forced into my lugs by the telly.

Time to wrap this Royal Family thing up.

Thanks for the information, sounds like a cracking place.

Might be ending up in Malaga for a little bit more rain buffer. Smooth roads, dry and warmer than Scotland is all I'm after. With a cheap roof over our heads.

Looking at some cheap winter sun road miles for January.

Flights and cheapness are pointing at Faro....but only slightly over Malaga.

Anyone got good experience with Faro for cycling?

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Unfortunately Scottish XC racer and all round good guy, Rab Wardell, has passed in his sleep from apparent heart failure at 37. This is very close to home for me. He was on Scottish TV last night extolling the virtues of cycling and fitness having won the Scottish XC Championship 2 days ago.

I was lucky enough to have a few small personal interactions with him out on the bikes and he grew up in my home town. Actually saw him and Katie from afar in Morzine last month, he was really starting to get back to his best form and seemed happy with it.

You never know the minute. RIP.

https://singletrackworld.com/2022/08/pro-racer-rab-wardell-dies-in-sleep-at-37/

On my recent tour I stopped by Morzine, an old stomping ground for me from 2013 to 2016. Friends were awesome enough to give me a bed, a bike and a pass for a couple of days so my rest days turned into trail days.

Things had changed in as much as the people I know who are still there would rather go for a road ride in the morning than wake up from a drug binge. Which is right up my street nowadays too....but World Champs is going to be some shin dig!

Damn that's pretty. GLWS

I did 5551 miles on the Pirelli Cinturato Velo in 35c and had 2 punctures (still life left).

One was while tubeless and fixed itself. They are heavy as road tyres but light as touring tyres.

Regravelified the bike I've been touring on and got stuck back into local loops. I was a bit bored by local stuff before the trip but I have a new appreciation of how good the gravel and road riding is from my doorstep.

There is probably some very comfy looking rocks around for a wee nap.

Edit: Looks like he's on the move again.

How long would he have to wait?

Already sick of rain here in Scotland.

It's just on Strava really. Would take some time to plot the whole thing.

https://www.strava.com/athletes/14624985

Back in Montenegro briefly then the Rozaje road over to Kosovo, Peja first then onto Prizren. Lovely town! (Pic 6)

Again over the hills to North Macedonia, wee bit of rain here, my heart wasn’t really in it and I think it reflected in my feelings towards this section, I wasn’t enamoured with Macedonia. (Pic 7)



Back into Albania and then onto Ioannina in Greece. It was here I had decided I was going to Patras for the ferry to Bari, Italy. But first, Delphi and then Meteora which is really cool. 

(Pic 8)

Ferry overnight to Bari and its now I want to straightline home, straight up the flat east coast in frightening temperatures. The hottest I saw was 44 degrees. Cleared Italy in around 8 cycling days and over the Simplon Pass.



I stopped in my old stomping ground of Morzine for a few days (Pic 9) and ended up riding mountain bikes rather than resting which was cool and seeing old pals. 



Now it was time to get straight across France which I did in a week, putting in some big days that ultimately slowed me up in the long run. Roscoff to Plymouth ferry. 

Visited my grandparents in St Austell, took some rest days and ate my body weight before heading home to Dunfermline in 6 days and to the end of a 4 month adventure. (Pic 10)

Had some interest in this having finished it on Saturday (Aug 13th) so will do a wee write up, might be able to help with other doing similar in the area.

With 2 years on Google building a bike and a vague route through Europe I set off on April 19th from Dunfermline, Fife heading for the ferry to Newcastle to Ijmuiden, Netherlands. Hadn't spun a pedal in anger for 4 weeks due to fear of hamstring catastrophe but set off eager. (Pic 1)

Third day in my knee blew up, but I rode on it for another 3 days before admitting defeat. Sure that everything was fucked. 2 weeks sat on my arse in Germany, train to Passau and the Euro Velo 6 which worked and skelped along to Budapest. (Pic 2) Beers, pals, Tool.

The next major stop was Banja Luka in Republika Srpska, Bosnia. Where I was signed up for the B Hard Ultra Race...what with the knee issues I opted to go for the 600km Brevet category which I "won" with a time of 28.5 hours. Banja Luka was hard to leave, I definitely felt some blues with the team disbanding. Bosnia is an amazing country, I adore it. (Pic 3)

Heading south to Travnik, round Sarajevo to the border at Hum with Montenegro
WOW! Right away jaw on the floor that was even before Durmitor (Pic 4).
Made the mistake of going from Zabljak to Kotor, coast road carnage, not for me. 



Very hard day into Albania and the awesome new road to Tamare. Including the serpentine (pic 5), thankfully down the way. 



I'll try get round to it.

Ive got Tailfin, Apidura and Alpkit in my set up. Only the Tailfin system has failed me. (Sheered bolts, no rips or tears)

Alpkit fork bags strapped on with Voile straps, Apidura handle bar roll (more Voile straps) and small frame pack. All flawless for 4 months on the road.

Tend to see quite a bit of Apidura stuff on Ebay etc

I dont know a route from Stirling to Aberfoyle that is particularly fun. As above there are other train stations that are better.

Once you're there, this is my idea of the ultimate Aberfoyle area route. Tough ol' day out!

https://www.komoot.com/tour/591182670?ref=wtd

I think I'm going to be good. Its been more gruelling than fun the last wee while.

Finished my tour today:

5551 miles/8933 km
116 days
16 countries
2 punctures
No bike mechanicals
10000000 ice creams

Tailfin shat it completely in the last two days but bodged it to get across the line.

Passo del Sempio from a few weeks ago. Been straightlining across Europe back to Fife and Sempio/Simplon was the path of least resistance. Beautiful in the early morning light and hanging clouds.