Oddos Raleigh Ronniewagon, Brexit Crust Wanker Hybrid, Gravel Bieks and anodized aluminum

Thank you, everyone, for the kind words on the Wömbät (seems more fitting than #brexitcrust Wombat since it's in Germany with my parents).

In other news: I paid a quick little visit to your lovely island to take part in Brother in the Wild. Last year I thought it would be my last one due to the move but when the tickets came up for sale I couldn't resist.

There was a new route and mistakes were made, life choices were questioned. The brand new YTF (why the fuck) route was named on point as it was mostly riding through long stretches of mud hidden by hip and up to shoulder high nettles. No pubs, no swimming and seems like only a handful of other people did it so we didn't really meet anybody.
Next time it's classic routes again for sure.

A few brave souls rode the new Woods YTF route, I had several people come up to me and ask, ‘Are you Tom?’ and proceed to tell me off for creating such a horrible route, admitadly the stinging nettles are in full bloom, and on the YTF, Will and James had certainly not been out trimming the hedges.

src: https://www.thewoodscyclery.co.uk/journal/shop-news/brother-in-the-wild-2023/

Bluebells, stinging nettles and singletrack were the themes of my test ride on the southern part of the new ‘Woods YTF’ route a couple of weeks ago.
For the brave souls who took on the route over the weekend, well done. For the ones that had to go to hospital due to swelling from stings, I apologise 😬

src: https://www.instagram.com/p/Csi2s3lsVhw/

Other than that it was an amazing weekend as always with BITW.
It was my fourth one and I continued with the trend of bringing a different bike every year. This year I was lucky enough to borrow a Fairlight Holt so I didn't have to fly one of my bikes over.
The Holt I got was a medium which was an okay fit but I guess if I were to buy one I'd go for a large. In general, It was a super fun bike to ride. I think I never rode anything with a quality squishy fork before. It is way lighter than my inbred and the gear range is crazy I think I didn't use the largest or smallest cog that much whether it was a fast road section or steep offroad climb. Might need to buy an XT group for the Inbred now. Genuinely sick bike. Would recommend.

One thing I knew I wouldn't be okay with was the contact points though. For long days I prefer my own saddle and pedals and after my accident, I just can't ride straight bars anymore. Luckily all the mtb controls are clamp-on so it was a piece of cake to swap bars and stem.

I also briefly met fellow LFGSS Holt rider @spinnnout and we got a double bike portrait in.
See his CP here: https://www.lfgss.com/conversations/381070

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