Reply from Nikwax:

After consulting with the Lab Department they have advised that the link you provided shows that the pannier is made of waxed cotton and therefore if the care label allows washing in the machine, use Tech Wash initially as this will remove the dirt/dust and other contaminants that would hinder the reproofing process. Once cleaned then spray with Wax Cotton Proof.

How effective it is compared to wax I don’t know.

I've used Nikwax not on Carradice but on my Berghaus mountain jacket, which is just nylon canvas with a layer of Goretex on the inside. The way it works best is to wash the jacket in the washing machine, put it through the dryer at the approved temperature on the label, and to apply the Nikwax in a light layer when it is bone-dry. Just the hot-air drying already improves the waterproofing, the Nikwax improves the waterproofing further -- but also makes the jacket hotter because it interferes with the passing through of moisture. On the whole, I prefer just the washing and hot-air drying as more comfortable but that is not a full day's waterproofing, while the Nikwax lasts longer.

That sort of slight fluffiness on the weather side of tightly woven nylon (or whatever polypropylene) is apparently a major part of waterproofing with breathability, according to a plastics specialist* who once climbed one of the Irish mountains with us.

* He came with us only once because he was an Englishman over here on a local consulting job but I remember him because he told a really good joke. He said of a sleepy town we drove through on the way to the mountain, "Dunmanway is a town so dull, at six o'clock every evening the council rolls up the pavement."

Re NC500. Unless you are intent on riding as far west on it I can suggest taking the A836 from Tongue to Lairg as an alternative. The road is very smooth and a real pleasure to Altnahara. From there it’s a bit bleak and exposed. Lairg is a nice place to overnight and to ride off elsewhere from.

I did the Hebridean way last year and just loved it... but I found it bleak and exposed (but beautiful!) - would you think that going west from Tongue to Durness (and then south to Rhiconich/Laxford Bridge) is not worth it? It looks like there are some nice lochs and a few cool sights along there, but if it's filled with caravans and motor homes maybe that's not worth it.

That's great to hear that the Orkney's are so great. I'll look into spending a few more days there.

When riding with derailleur gears (which could be a few years old) there is often the thought at the back of my mind that the chain might slip on a sprocket (or as a worst case have chainsuck), or a mech can get knocked or go out of adjustment so the chain ends up in the rear wheel, or the chain can drop off / fall between chainwheels.  The probability of these things happening obviously increasing as the gear system ages……not a worry with Rohloff.

That kind of thing can happen. I have done about the same distance with derailleurs as with hub gears, and have destroyed only two rear derailleurs in about 130,000 kms (both times after picking up metal debris, once off road and once on a proper road). So with a reasonably well maintained drivetrain I reckon it is a fairly rare occurrence, except perhaps for serious off-road riding.

Shortly after I got my lightweight tourer in 1977 I did have a chain come off the inner ring and get stuck between ring and frame (making some unsightly small dents in the lightweight Reynolds tubing), but I reckon that was due to bad adjustment on my part. 

Chain skipping is a feature of derailleur gears when the chain and/or sprocket(s) are worn. This also happened on my hub-geared Brompton, but doesn't happen on hub gear bikes or single-speeds with an eccentric or sliding dropout that eliminates a derailleur-style tensioner.

Anyone used the Nikwax alternative to waterproof wax products?
I’m wondering if the Nikwax product is more effectively applied than the usual cloth, wax and hairdryer solution.

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TIA
PS Happy New Year to everyone. Here in slushy UK Matt’s Thailand trip sounds like a great idea. 💡