Montane Deal

Loving the look of this deal from the Hike-Lite guys.

A Montane Slipstream Gilet and a Montane Dragonfly base layer for 55 quid.

This get up will pretty much sort summer out for me – both hiking and biking.

Brechfa [take two]

I took the drive up to Brechfa again this weekend after Tim emailed me to say the trails were clear and dry.

I rode the blue and green Derwen trails twice – best fun I have had on a bike since I was a kid jumping over lines of my mates. You can grab the trail maps here.

I was enjoying too much to take photos, but check out this handy site to get a flavour, maps and gpx’s.

Going back real soon to ride the red Gorlech.

Tried my new (2nd hand) Ergon grips – these babies are MADE for the forty-something mountain biker. So comfy, I forgot I had hands.

Thanks to my next door neighbour, Steve, for recommending them :)

Google Earth… ocean

Google Earth 5 now lets you explore the oceans too…

With ocean in Google Earth, you can:

 Dive beneath the surface and visit the deepest part of the ocean, the Mariana Trench

 Explore the ocean floor with top marine experts including National Geographic and BBC

 Learn about ocean observations, climate change and endangered species

 Discover new places including surf, diving and travel hotspots as well as shipwrecks

You can check out the HD version on YouTube

Brechfa

I took a drive up to Brechfa today – should have been about an hour if the damned Road Angel didn’t send me on a wild goose chase AGAIN. It is a wonderful tool on the hills, but let it loose on our highways, and no matter what settings you use, it sends you on such a direct route that you end up on all sorts of crazy green lanes.

Tomtom, here I come.

The plan was to ride the two Derwen routes (blue and green) and if I had enough time, to take in the (red) Gorlech trail.

Anyway, I arrived at Brechfa and hour late to find the higher trails under several inches of ice crusted snow – pretty much impossible to ride. I played on the bottom swoopy mile of the Derwen, up and down four times, to make the journey worthwhile. The Raven was closed for logging (open again any day now), but the section down through the car park was rideable and great fun.

It’s a beautiful place. I can’t wait to get back as soon as the snow melts.

A perfect day

Sarah and I dropped the boys off at their (wonderful) Gramps and we headed into the Beacons to climb Corn Du in the snow. Fabulous weather, fabulous snow and first class entertainment thanks to the big yellow helicopter that was on exercise.

We did the hike in trail shoes (I had some scree gaiters to keep out the snow). I don’t think I’ll be wearing my Scarpa’s again in a hurry :)

Java break before the summit.

These icicles were 20 feet plus.

“Just the two of us…”

Never needed the SARF, but it’s nice to know they are there.

In a rush to get a pint in the Penycae Inn.

Hike’n’bike

Being a hiker and a biker, I am loving this…

London Snow

Yesterday, we had a 9.30am pitch at COI, just across the river from Westminster (I’m sure they do it to test our mettle – but hey, we’re up for it).

The travel chaos was pretty evident with constant warnings coming across the train’s tannoy. “Turn back, turn back, it’s carnage…”

London was beautiful when we arrived at 8.30am. The tubes (Bakerloo at least) was ‘as usual’ for rush hour and we arrived with time to spare.

What a lot of fuss.

Pitch went well BTW and thanks to everyone who managed to make it.