Anyone "into" mountain bikes?

[aws]

Following on from the bike post a few weeks ago.
I am toying with a cross country trek on the bike this Xmas.
I was wandering about ant recommendations and if there is an online community such as the DSC, that would be a good starting point.
I had thought about the Pennine Way, but that's not possible and then again The West Highland Way.
I have to make it reasonably rigorous as it's got to see me out and about for a week or more, so if needs be, I link as best I can. several together.
I also appreciate that I will be camping along much of the route(s) since it'll be 22 Dec +, which in turn means I guess I'll need some sort of panniers (?) for the bike.

This is just an idea as I like to have an adventure at Xmas.
All info greatly received.

Cheers

Tim

[Iconic944ss]

http://www.bikemagic.com is a canny place to start

[madmav]

Just BE normal Rack up loads of Debt spend time with the familly and pay it all back over 2005!:lol::lol::lol:

[aws]

Not my style at all.

Still need the info but thanks any way for the thoughts!

Tim

[aws]

Good idea.
Did it on foot when I was 14 yrs old one Easter - took me 6.5 days too, but I was in some sort of decent shape then!
The worse moment was getting back up that darn hill at RH's Bay!
And not getting served in any of the pubs bar one!

Keep the thoughts a-coming.
Thanks

Tim

[LesPaul]

Have a look at this site www.singletrackworld.com. I read an artical in one of there magazines where they did 4 or 5 day trek and used mountain bike trailers to carry all the camping gear.
Might be worth looking around on this site too www.mtbuk.co.uk

Darren

[chillo]

Originally posted by dogcockred
The Coast to coast would be good, for all your needs try Andy at bike treks in Ambleside.

www.biketreks.co.uk

Top man, if you need any kit talk to keith.

Have fun

DCR
I would recommend them too, got my Orange sub5 from them recently and have been spending a bit of time riding that area, some great climbs and decents:sing:

[Lily]

I would suggest a good tool kit would be worth investing in.

But if you really want to do a hard mountain bike ride, then i can heartily reccomend this:
http://www.grand-raid-cristalp.ch/www/GRC/grc.nsf/99a34670a5962fba412567970035ceaa/3b6aa54edc05295141256bd0005694ab!OpenDocument

:rolleye:

I can say this was probably the hardest thing i have done!

[aws]

Too cold and wintery at Xmas.
Need to carry all my gear for the week+ that I hope to be out.
Too much walking too.
I have a groin strain that won't heal - hense the bike option.
Otherwise I'd be out there trekking hard.
Keep the options coming as I came across a good site
http://www.sustrans.org.uk/
and
http://www.mbwales.com/
This last site I will look into as if all else fails, maybe I can do all the Welsh trails, plus whatever else crops up, not ideal, but may be an option.

Thanks thus far

Tim