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Would love some links pls!

Just two I think. Morning on Birnham Hill, afternoon on whatever the hill north of Dunkeld is. Did a few laps of each. I was easing in as only just got over a bit of a chesty bug and my back still a bit mullered from a crash 3 weeks ago! Will deffo be going back as my brother loves it and he's moving to Dollar, which is not far down the road. Jealous.

Just done another three days (mainly) in the Caringorms - did a write up in the off-road thread - but will be easier for me to find in the future here:
....

My brother lives in Edinburgh, so a Thursday afternoon train had me sat on his couch by the early evening. He's converted a massive Merc Sprinter, so we set out Friday morning for some van life adventure.

First stop was Dunkeld for some proper chunky riding. Couple of well known descents before a slightly more secret bit of gnar. Tricky rooty roll overs and heavy compressions. I was very chuffed to make it out in one piece. If you like a mix of flow and tech (who doesnt), I really recommend Dunkeld. Some of the best bit are not on trailforks though, so I was very thankful for the local knowledge by brother has picked up. It also has some sweet views -was hella' muggy though - the waist pack was there to avoid a sweaty back!

With Dunkeld survived we jumped back in the van (after a well earned shandy and fries at the pub on the riverside) and headed over Glenshee to Braemar and then wiggle over to a cracking little van life camp spot at Linn of Quioch. Quick shot of the boys toys for the weekend:

Next morning we had our sights on Bein a Bhuird, a not insignificant Munro with a well reviewed descent from the top. We plotted a loop and kicked off with easy landy tracks taking us up Glen Slugain. After a few km the landy track gave way to some trickier walkers path. However, after a short section of hike a bike the trail turned into a ribbon of perfect gravel. An easy tail wind shoved us up the gentlest of inclines, winding our way through the most beautiful deserted valley. It was like riding along a brand new forestry commission green trail - but in the middle of nowhere.

After about 4km of perfection we got to the meat of the climb. We were heading up to the saddle between Bhein a Bhurd and Ben Avon called "The Sneck". It was bikes on back time as we trudged up towards the clouds.

The saddle came surprisingly quickly though, and the clouds lifted just enough to reveal a stunning U shaped valley ahead. The wind was whipping over our backs up here, so we found a spot to shelter, stuff some food in our mouths and enjoy the view. Looking at the map I realised I'd been down at the far end before, slugging up towards Faindouran bothy on this trip.

After our brief but beautiful stop we were back on our feet to polish this hill off. The next section was the steepest, so bikes were back on backs for an almost scramble up a very loose ascent to the summit. Once the hardest part was over it's a very flat summit, so finding our way to the top in the now pretty thick cloud was a bit of challenge - paths appeared and disappeared randomly. Some pedalling and some pushing later we found it. Views were sub optimal, but at least afforded some privacy.

With load lightened, we were now ready to begin the descent. It heads south west from the summit, and the early part is gentle but with some big rocks to pick your way through. It does take you close to the cliff edge and some alarming looking drops to a lochan below. fortunately the cloud lifted enough that there was only limited danger of certain death.

The trail soon became more defined, another ribbon of perfect single track. The only thing slowing me down was the thought of smashing myself up this far out of town. The trail swooped down a ridge before traversing across a stunning valley. The main obstacles were the periodic drainage bars, but unlike some other mega descents, they seemed to have been built by riders. The uphill side generally angled as a little launch pad to help hop over the downhill one. Much better than some of the monsters out there that seem to want to eat tyres and rims for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Views weren't too shabby either - just a shame I had to focus on the trail!

Anyway, the 7km of flowing descent ends with a short loamy section through some Caledonian pine, which was a great little bonus before a couple of fords and some good old landy track brought us back to the van. A smashing 5 hours of fun all round. This edit makes it looks super easy, but there are loads on youtube if you want to live vicariously.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KgR9I6zk­7oc&t=8s

Sausage buttys were consumed back at the van before we got back on the road and drove over to Ballater for dinner and then parked up in a nice forestry commission spot by Cambus O'May with the plan to hit the legendary Heartbreak Ridge (HBR) in the morning. For some reason, we took no photos of this, but you can trust me that the day dawned bright and blue, with a decent breeze from the south west. The climb is a bit of a slog, nice landy track but at a gradient that, given our tired legs, does just seem to just keep going. However, the reward at the top is something else. We had that gorgeous tail wind pushing us all the way down. It's an epic descent on the grippiest of Cairngorm granite. Swoopy, techy and stunning. Given the absence of photos, this video from McTrail rider will have to do.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KgR68Xnh­bos

With smiles plastered over our faces, we had time enough to do a quick run in the hills behind Cambus O'May on another awesome little loop, before a dip in the Dee to refresh ourselves ahead of the drive back to Edinburgh. I was pretty relived to come out unscathed as I've had a few too many crashes this year. A great trip though, that will live long in the memory. The Surrey hills do not quite compare.

Just had an absolutely banging long weekend in the Highlands. Thought I'd do a bit of a write up - ended up pretty long. TLDR - It was really good!

My brother lives in Edinburgh, so a Thursday afternoon train had me sat on his couch by the early evening. He's converted a massive Merc Sprinter, so we set out Friday morning for some van life adventure.

First stop was Dunkeld for some proper chunky riding. Couple of well known descents before a slightly more secret bit of gnar. Tricky rooty roll overs and heavy compressions. I was very chuffed to make it out in one piece. If you like a mix of flow and tech (who doesnt), I really recommend Dunkeld. Some of the best bits are not on trailforks though, so I was very thankful for the local knowledge my brother has picked up. It also has some sweet views -was hella' muggy though - the waist pack was there to avoid a sweaty back!

With Dunkeld survived we jumped back in the van (after a well earned shandy and fries at the pub on the riverside) and headed over Glenshee to Braemar and then wiggle over to a cracking little van life camp spot at Linn of Quioch. Quick shot of the boys toys for the weekend:

Next morning we had our sights on Bein a Bhuird, a not insignificant Munro with a well reviewed descent from the top. We plotted a loop and kicked off with easy landy tracks taking us up Glen Slugain. After a few km the landy track gave way to some trickier walkers path. However, after a short section of hike a bike the trail turned into a ribbon of perfect gravel. An easy tail wind shoved us up the gentlest of inclines, winding our way through the most beautiful deserted valley. It was like riding along a brand new forestry commission green trail - but in the middle of nowhere.

After about 4km of perfection we got to the meat of the climb. We were heading up to the saddle between Bhein a Bhurd and Ben Avon called "The Sneck". It was bikes on back time as we trudged up towards the clouds.

The saddle came surprisingly quickly though, and the clouds lifted just enough to reveal a stunning U shaped valley ahead. The wind was whipping over our backs up here, so we found a spot to shelter, stuff some food in our mouths and enjoy the view. Looking at the map I realised I'd been down at the far end before, slugging up towards Faindouran bothy on this trip.

After our brief but beautiful stop we were back on our feet to polish this hill off. The next section was the steepest, so bikes were back on backs for an almost scramble up a very loose ascent to the summit. Once the hardest part was over it's a very flat summit, so finding our way to the top in the now pretty thick cloud was a bit of challenge - paths appeared and disappeared randomly. Some pedalling and some pushing later we found it. Views were sub optimal, but at least afforded some privacy.

With load lightened, we were now ready to begin the descent. It heads south west from the summit, and the early part is gentle but with some big rocks to pick your way through. It does take you close to the cliff edge and some alarming looking drops to a lochan below. fortunately the cloud lifted enough that there was only limited danger of certain death.

The trail soon became more defined, another ribbon of perfect single track. The only thing slowing me down was the thought of smashing myself up this far out of town. The trail swooped down a ridge before traversing across a stunning valley. The main obstacles were the periodic drainage bars, but unlike some other mega descents, they seemed to have been built by riders. The uphill side generally angled as a little launch pad to help hop over the downhill one. Much better than some of the monsters out there that seem to want to eat tyres and rims for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Views weren't too shabby either - just a shame I had to focus on the trail!

Anyway, the 7km of flowing descent ends with a short loamy section through some Caledonian pine, which was a great little bonus before a couple of fords and some good old landy track brought us back to the van. A smashing 5 hours of fun all round. This edit makes it looks super easy, but there are loads on youtube if you want to live vicariously.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KgR9I6zk­7oc&t=8s

Sausage buttys were consumed back at the van before we got back on the road and drove over to Ballater for dinner and then parked up in a nice forestry commission spot by Cambus O'May with the plan to hit the legendary Heartbreak Ridge (HBR) in the morning. For some reason, we took no photos of this, but you can trust me that the day dawned bright and blue, with a decent breeze from the south west. The climb is a bit of a slog, nice landy track but at a gradient that, given our tired legs, does seem to just keep going forever. However, the reward at the top is something else. We had that gorgeous tail wind pushing us all the way down. It's an epic descent on the grippiest of Cairngorm granite. Swoopy, techy and stunning. Given the absence of photos, this video from McTrail rider will have to do.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KgR68Xnh­bos

With smiles plastered over our faces, we had time enough to do a quick run in the hills behind Cambus O'May on another awesome little loop, before a dip in the Dee to refresh ourselves ahead of the drive back to Edinburgh. I was pretty relived to come out unscathed as I've had a few too many crashes this year. A great trip though, that will live long in the memory. The Surrey hills do not quite compare.

You got some serious foxes. Brick has been sufficient for our wimpy Kingston gang.

Brick on top. When it really stinks, two bricks just to be sure.

Hats off. Ours came bang on time this morning and street already smells loads better! Nothing quite like the whiff of 50 kitchen caddies baking in the sun. Just hope the flies piss off now too.

The continental speed king is my go to if you can push towards 2.2. They like a wider rim profile, but no doubt they are super quick. The tiny bit of tread on the shoulders makes a big difference compared to a full slick too. Just wish they were tubeless.

Aren't they renowned for having the air spring full of grease? Drop the lowers and see how much they wasted in there?

Surely the Halo negates the need for the roll hoop to be a safety feature in the same way.

I half buy this - but he was already seen as a great batsman, but for whatever reasons connected to him and previous off field leadership team - could not get this side to play anything like how they have in the 4 matches since he stood down.
When he sits alone with a beer and replays his captaincy there must be a decent slice of regret.

No doubt he has Stokes's back - but it would be hard not to reflect somewhat self critically on what might have been.

Wonder how Root feels - turns out we've had the best test side in the world for years - he just sucked at captaincy.

Unreal. Cannot believe this is England.

doubling down on the reverse mockers.

Nope.
https://youtu.be/ZqzXRbZi7E8

Epic batting.

Yep. There was no single there. Such a shame for Lees. He'd played beautifully.

But generally, this is just fantastic cricket. First half of the summer has been an epic advert for test cricket. Endlessly good stuff.

Woof. Get back to leaving Zak!

Yep, just be aware you can't bring in any booze to the blast/hundred. I've smuggled rum and coke and a flask of ice to that oval before though. The queues at the bar a few weeks back were pretty much a T20 innings long.

On the plus side, daughter collected nearly £50 quids worth of discarded cups / carafes so she was happy with her night's earnings.

Just re-read the Lords rules, and looks like you can take booze to any international though, regardless of format. All very confusing.

A page worth of tube strike related cycling stress and no one has used "strikealists" as a derogatory term. I am disappoint.

I love me a good tube strike - but if you try and ride like you normally do you are in for trouble. Of all the days, its the one to set off 10 mins early, and ride super chilled around the carnage, taking it all in.

Marvel at the machines dragged out of sheds/hedges and employed for this brief period as that individual's primary transport mode.
Wonder at the clothing choices, backwards helmets and arse cracks on display
Be amazed at the lack of road craft and perception.
Smirk at the other regular commuter's frustrations at their presence.
Rejoice when they return to their metal tubes.

Dibs pending feasible collection option. You have pm.

Do we have a recommended affordable sunglasses for sunny days in and out of the woods. Mine are too dark in dense shade. How quick do photochromatics adjust? Are there any out there with just a base light tint to take the edge off full sun, but not darken things too much?

After many years riding fixed, I can do little skids to knock a bit of speed off fine (basically if you're clipped in just hop/unweight the back wheel a little and try to lock things up) but i've never got into those massive whippy things you see in the videos. However I have learnt skidding is heavily influenced by certain conditions: road surface, tyre size/pressure and gear ratio.

Skidding a hard skinny tyre in the wet on a slight downhill with an easy gear is a doddle. Skidding a softer 32c on heavy dry roads is very different. Big ratios are also much harder. Somewhere in the middle is what you're probably riding. For learning, try pumping your rear tyre up a bit more than you'd usually ride and find some smooth tarmac perhaps on a gentle downslope.

In terms of leg muscles, even after plenty of years of 25 mile a day fixed commutes, I would not have wanted to try brakeless - but this winter I did loads of lunge/squat exercises for ski fitness and it made a huge difference to my fixed riding. Suddenly significantly easier to control speed, particularly on descents. Just felt like I suddenly had a new set of muscles to help. Still never taking my brake off though!

My manager just uttered that they "want to build wellbeing resilience across the piece".

Shoot me.