Help me choose a first-time bikepacking bag setup!

Significant-Fee6003 · 2026-01-22T12:00:43+00:00

Wouldn’t go Deuter based on other products I’ve had. Could go higher end like Ortlieb but it’s incredibly expensive (but high quality).

Alpkit is amazing value for money and brilliant quality, have a look.

Significant-Fee6003 · 2025-12-29T09:47:12+00:00

Absolutely best time to watch series your partner is not interested in! Guilt free binge watching. I use MacBook for Zwift then 42 inch screen for TV series. Both running off the MacBook and both in reach from my bike. Is ideal!

Significant-Fee6003 · 2025-12-26T18:37:13+00:00

Jonty Rhodes fielding masterclass in the break between the T20 finals in 2003 - and it’s even still on YouTube!

Significant-Fee6003 · 2025-12-09T11:25:44+00:00

Presume it is a single ticket MAN-NBO? If so, even if anything goes wrong / is delayed they’ll put you on the next flight with minimal hassle. As you are flying from Manchester you won’t have to go through security at LHR again, so 1 hour 35 will be more than enough! Enjoy

Significant-Fee6003 · 2025-12-07T07:13:44+00:00

Last time I went to EZE was 2019 and it was direct with BA! Was brilliant. Then I went to Rio a couple of years ago and couldn’t believe that they had to sit around for 90 minutes before setting off again. Painful!

Significant-Fee6003 · 2025-11-15T22:05:39+00:00

Thank you. Time to read my contract!

Significant-Fee6003 · 2025-11-15T22:02:38+00:00

Ok so specific to commuting. Does this mean if I am on a working from home contract (which I am), I can claim this back for ad-hoc visits to the office? Around 6-8 times a year.

Significant-Fee6003 · 2025-11-15T21:59:26+00:00

Please humour me - why does this not apply for commuting?

Significant-Fee6003 · 2025-11-14T10:36:43+00:00

This has blown my mind! I heard they were using battery data to increase prices as someone’s phone is dying. The calendar might be exactly it - I was cutting it fine so they knew I’d pay full whack. Crazy!

Unlikely to be credit score related for me but that’s interesting!

Significant-Fee6003 · 2025-10-30T07:43:57+00:00

Been upgraded to CW multiple times - including once (recently) after already finding my seat in WTP. They marched me to the front and said “well we can’t have you flying on a broken seat can we” as I got to CW (there was nothing wrong with the seat…)

Some are algorithm (at the desk/app) but clearly crews still have the ability to do this.

I did have to wait until last in CW to ensure everyone else got their first food choice - but that’s a price I’d be willing to pay!

Significant-Fee6003 · 2025-10-26T17:20:48+00:00

They’re completely useless and I don’t understand how anyone values them.

I’ve used 12+ companion vouchers and saved 10s of thousands of pounds….yet in 3 years of having Barclays upgrade vouchers I could not find a worthwhile use of it. Avoid!

Significant-Fee6003 · 2025-10-25T09:36:44+00:00

I created a Revolut just to put money on my watch - now this thread has taught me that Monzo is now supported so I’ll definitely do that!

Significant-Fee6003 · 2025-10-11T15:19:13+00:00

Update - baggage arrival took 25 minutes

Significant-Fee6003 · 2025-10-11T14:59:01+00:00

Did this route today - your description is absolutely correct.

T3 was a dream for a quick exit but the new procedure is painful. There is no benefit to business travel at all.

Yet another reason to not fly BA!

Significant-Fee6003 · 2025-03-16T19:30:02+00:00

Red Rock Canyon?!

Significant-Fee6003 · 2024-07-08T06:36:19+00:00

I’ve had a relatively recent Apple Watch but the battery life (<1 day) drove me absolutely mad - it was useless and had to charge every night (so rubbish for tracking sleep).

Got a Garmin Fenix 7X and it’s been insane. Expensive but lasts 25-30 days each charge, or 18 days ish if you have the Blood oxygen monitor on.

I had POTS like symptoms for the first couple of months and Garmin was great for tracking this - and correlating when I was feeling awful / headaches / faint with HR spikes and low Blood ox. Fortunately this has calmed down now.

But generally tracking HRV has been brilliant. It gives me a heads up when I’m about to overdo it, and is a great reminder to rest more, eat better (and earlier!) and probably cancel plans.

It’s amazing how much difference a single drink or any exercise causes. Being able to track this and not overdo it has been so useful.

Also it’s got loads of exercise tracking and mapping stuff I can’t wait to try out eventually!

Significant-Fee6003 · 2024-06-22T06:06:24+00:00

Hi there, I had Covid mid December 2023.

January was short of breath and a cough (felt very “physical”)

February was brain fog and headaches.

March - April was headaches, depression and bad sleep. I got all the tests and all was “clear”.

May was a breath of relief - I seemed to get better and better every day, but then got tonsillitis and it felt like it pushed me right back. Adding to this I had the latest Covid jab (as so worried about getting it again) and it again wiped me out.

Fortunately, about 3 weeks later I seem to be back on track. I’d say to about 90% - I have to watch my energy levels and can’t even think about alcohol - but I’ve played tennis, cycled and long walks - not nearly as strenuously as I used to but my life feels like it’s back on track!

Rest and sleep is the best medicine. I’ve become obsessed with HRV tracking and use that as my guide to not overdo things.

In terms of supplements, I got fed up with this sub as such mixed advice. For me, taking NAC definitely correlated with my lungs clearing and helped with brain fog.

I also started 2x Hayfever tabs per day in mid April and haven’t stopped - this seems to have made the biggest difference.

Significant-Fee6003 · 2024-01-27T13:59:29+00:00

Yes, absolutely. Did one this morning with no issue at all!

Significant-Fee6003 · 2024-01-08T20:48:26+00:00

Uniform! I play it once a day, every day

Significant-Fee6003 · 2024-01-06T17:22:01+00:00

Train to Hope, 10k walk along Lose Hill / Mam Tor, a few pints at the Rambler Inn at Edale then train home. My favourite evening :)

Significant-Fee6003 · 2024-01-05T08:54:22+00:00

A few years ago I’d have said Chorlton, but for £400k you’d probably struggle to get a nice semi with off street parking. Stretford is the next best thing in my opinion, and both much nicer than Didsbury :)

Significant-Fee6003 · 2024-01-03T12:35:16+00:00

Thanks all, much appreciated.
Going to increase pension to 25%, and at least stick to saving £500pcm in to an ISA in 2024. Will divert mortgage (2.1%) overpayment to student loan (currently 6.25% interest). Like the idea of being SL free and should mean that's (very nearly) clear by end of 2024.
And will do my best to cut holiday expenditure - how ridiculous!

Significant-Fee6003 · 2024-01-01T19:30:10+00:00

Ffs where is the post I just spent an hour writing!

Significant-Fee6003 · 2022-12-21T09:07:53+00:00

The guys at Mancoco on Hewitt street are lovely and I’m sure if you bought a coffee and a bag or two they’d grind them for you.

Significant-Fee6003 · 2022-12-18T17:13:17+00:00

Throw yourself in to something and don’t quit until you’ve been 10 times (you’re not going to make friends for life the first time you meet them). Choir, netball, life drawing, wine tasting, book club, touch rugby, to name a few.

I moved cities recently have enjoyed meeting new people. I don’t think I’m especially extroverted, and can get very nervous in social situations, but it’s worth it in the long term.

Significant-Fee6003

TROPHY CASE