[Closed] Inspire me with your bike packing pics

A recent trip, with Metalheart, to Ullapool

[url= https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4513/37242640036_016f846a8c_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4513/37242640036_016f846a8c_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/YK1gno ]P1040609[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/druidh2000/ ]Colin Cadden[/url], on Flickr

[url= https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4359/37260237152_dcf4bfc033_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4359/37260237152_dcf4bfc033_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/YLysnW ]P1040616[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/druidh2000/ ]Colin Cadden[/url], on Flickr

Earlier this year on a nice loop round Ben Alder area with Metalheart and Piemonster

[url= https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2811/33123480623_baf37fc2b0_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2811/33123480623_baf37fc2b0_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/St1uMv ]P1030930[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/druidh2000/ ]Colin Cadden[/url], on Flickr

[url= https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2933/33806247631_b809767a6c_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2933/33806247631_b809767a6c_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/TvkRCt ]P1030974[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/druidh2000/ ]Colin Cadden[/url], on Flickr

[url= https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2918/33092752394_2c25db899c_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2918/33092752394_2c25db899c_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/Sqi1ms ]P1030982[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/druidh2000/ ]Colin Cadden[/url], on Flickr

[url= https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2875/33092685574_e3b7cfae91_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2875/33092685574_e3b7cfae91_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/SqhEuo ]P1030999[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/druidh2000/ ]Colin Cadden[/url], on Flickr

[url= https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2821/33778684132_108d30c56e_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2821/33778684132_108d30c56e_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/TsUzXJ ]P1040008[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/druidh2000/ ]Colin Cadden[/url], on Flickr

In Moray

[url= https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3862/32567566473_39fcb01671_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3862/32567566473_39fcb01671_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/RBThSM ]P1030748[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/druidh2000/ ]Colin Cadden[/url], on Flickr

[url= https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2860/32567582043_8f3b477933_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2860/32567582043_8f3b477933_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/RBTnve ]P1030732[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/druidh2000/ ]Colin Cadden[/url], on Flickr

Descending the Corrieyairack

[url= https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2934/14294799270_36cd4b42a8_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2934/14294799270_36cd4b42a8_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/nMbzNo ]Enjoying the descent[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/druidh2000/ ]Colin Cadden[/url], on Flickr

Glen Kinglass

[url= https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8231/8540729384_ffe240aa09_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8231/8540729384_ffe240aa09_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/e1HthU ]P1050319[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/druidh2000/ ]Colin Cadden[/url], on Flickr

Loch Etive on the same trip

[url= https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8087/8539622317_5c429458b3_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8087/8539622317_5c429458b3_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/e1BNcx ]P1050348[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/druidh2000/ ]Colin Cadden[/url], on Flickr

And a couple of much earlier ones...

[url= https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3065/2844771429_a79665bfc5_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3065/2844771429_a79665bfc5_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/5kocrg ]PICT3465[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/druidh2000/ ]Colin Cadden[/url], on Flickr

[url= https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3109/2845601934_22fea4741f_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3109/2845601934_22fea4741f_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/5kssjj ]PICT3455[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/druidh2000/ ]Colin Cadden[/url], on Flickr

[url= https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3029/2845611376_4baa3c9907_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3029/2845611376_4baa3c9907_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/5ksv87 ]Camp spot, Glen Affric[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/druidh2000/ ]Colin Cadden[/url], on Flickr

More here... http://www.blog.scotroutes.com/

Looks awesome better than my view at moment from hospital window

[img] ?oh=6b1f0cd6e2d7778d65ef1a4df51e2944&oe=5A69CFFF[/img]

Feeling very claustrophobic, cooped up in here but my wife takes priority at the moment and I know I’ll get out again some time soon , hopefully new year

Have you seen this?

http://www.theracingcollective.com

Maybe pick something to help you plan for the future?

There is a long thread here somewhere with tons of great photies and reports. Well worth searching out or someone posting a link.

Went to the Peak District last weekend

My strava record of it here (which includes quite a few pictures)

https://www.strava.com/activities/1265630602

https://www.strava.com/activities/1265630590

It was a short ride as my mate was completely killed by the climbing and his lack of form. But it was excellent and I'm looking forward to going back

What we do is not really what most of you think as bikepacking but it will do for me. This is our outfit
[url= https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2830/9494048998_f242c94e6b_k.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2830/9494048998_f242c94e6b_k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/fsXtZY ]01 heading into the mountains[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/25846484@N04/ ]TandemJeremy[/url], on Flickr

And my favourite pic. This is what we do it for
[url= https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3213/2533150443_ab590ea72a_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3213/2533150443_ab590ea72a_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/4RR4nD ]20 Camping at Carrour[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/25846484@N04/ ]TandemJeremy[/url], on Flickr

Cheers guys benp1 can’t seem to view your pics in Strava

Not bike packing in the sense of barbags and bivvys, but here are some pics from a wee overnighter i did earlier this year.
Left straight from work, picked some steak and tomatoes up from the shop then headed out to Dartmoor for the night. Up early the next morning- did some more trails and then back at the office by 9!

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Heading round to Gobernuisgach Lodge, Ben Hope in the background

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Downhill hike-a-bike! This drop has been ridden but the landing's so soft he sank and couldn't pedal away 😆

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The start of the climb from An Dubh Loch to Bealach Horn

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The start of the descent from Bealach Horn

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Bivy behind the split boulder at Lone

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At the end of the Ledmore Traverse (10Km of very frustrating ground)

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Mid Wales in January

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Coniston from Parkamoor on the 2016 Jenn Ride

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Experimental bivy setup (using Tyvek) on the Jenn Ride

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The Sandstone Way

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Pinetree that’s what I call spontaneous!!
Whitestone your part of the world not dissimilar to here in the Mournes

None of those are from my part of the world (Yorkshire Dales)!

Apologies Whitestone for any offence to your Yorkshire heritage 😀
My Swedish grandmother was raised in your neck of the woods and always raves about its beauty

Wash your mouth out sir! I'm a Lancastrian born and bred though the bit of Lancashire I grew up in is now part of Cumbria. Just happen to live in the Darklands now and have to put up with the tykes bragging about their inferiority complexes 😆

some brilliant ideas here, we are off to slovenia next year

http://www.bikepacking.com/bikepacking-routes/

I think I need a shovel !!!

Gravel 🙂
[url= https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4396/37280302675_4dc7c1ca06_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4396/37280302675_4dc7c1ca06_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/YNkiae ]Untitled[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/nzrich/ ]Richard Munro[/url], on Flickr
Child in tow with friend
[url= https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4287/35777200826_b884f7c57c_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4287/35777200826_b884f7c57c_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/Wvvvm7 ]Untitled[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/nzrich/ ]Richard Munro[/url], on Flickr
Local bivvy
[url= https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4227/34709715180_ab1544d882_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4227/34709715180_ab1544d882_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/UTbn4b ]Untitled[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/nzrich/ ]Richard Munro[/url], on Flickr
Bob scotts
[url= https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2884/34176469885_3769ff1e1f_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2884/34176469885_3769ff1e1f_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/U54kNM ]Untitled[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/nzrich/ ]Richard Munro[/url], on Flickr
More Local
[url= https://farm1.staticflickr.com/581/32824546554_e0cbaabc2a_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm1.staticflickr.com/581/32824546554_e0cbaabc2a_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/S1Ao6Q ]Untitled[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/nzrich/ ]Richard Munro[/url], on Flickr

Beside a loch in the Cairngorms:
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On top of a cliff on the moray firth:
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At the bottom of Mount Keen (in the funnel) with ScotRoutes & piemonster:
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My mate crossing the fords of Avon:
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Daybreak at Loch Achall (with ScotRoutes):
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Looking back to Castlebay and the Oban ferry:
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Camping by Boulder River on the Divide

[url= https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2158/32865283295_f98509b51a_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2158/32865283295_f98509b51a_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/S5caHr ]Boulder river camp site[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/jimbosussexmtb/ ]Jim Barrow[/url], on Flickr

Round the IOW this summer

[url= https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4442/37059252410_6ff58b3548_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4442/37059252410_6ff58b3548_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/YsNmBL ]JB104274[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/jimbosussexmtb/ ]Jim Barrow[/url], on Flickr

Wessex way / NCN4 this summer

[url= https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4424/36350134704_51508e6b24_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4424/36350134704_51508e6b24_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/Xo8WCq ]Wessex Bikepacking Trip[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/jimbosussexmtb/ ]Jim Barrow[/url], on Flickr

Ferry hopping on the NCN 2 this summer

[url= https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4356/35994384913_8d4ab16289_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4356/35994384913_8d4ab16289_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/WQGCBk ]NCN2 Trip - Hamble ferry[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/jimbosussexmtb/ ]Jim Barrow[/url], on Flickr

Inspirational thread! More like this please 😀

Not sure if I'm more jealous at the time some of you have available to ride, or the locations you find yourselves in! Great thread, some fantastic photos.

This is cheering me up no end please keep them coming guys.
I’ve just decided also to keep my new Cannondale Habit for next year for the meantime I’m going to use my Cannondale CAADX for my foray into bike packing. While my wife recovers will give me time to gather up some gear.
Xmas list for the kids beckons for some gear!!

Not my pics but i helped make this - http://www.bikepacking.com/plog/joining-dots-highland-trail-550/

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Hong Kong dirty stop-out. 🙂

OK - more not really bikepacking pics
Hebridies tour
[url= https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3848/33428894330_5bc96a0af3_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3848/33428894330_5bc96a0af3_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/SVZPD5 ]IMG_2657cropped[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/25846484@N04/ ]TandemJeremy[/url], on Flickr
Long long time ago before the term bikepacking was ever heard of
[url= https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7015/6440869293_20bf1d8ce4_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7015/6440869293_20bf1d8ce4_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/aPa93z ]jeremy mtb borders trip[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/25846484@N04/ ]TandemJeremy[/url], on Flickr

NO trailer this time 'cos we had to fly and its a pain in traffic
[url= https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4111/5055088636_81c5aaedda_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4111/5055088636_81c5aaedda_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/8GGDJC ]42 Windmills bicycle and us[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/25846484@N04/ ]TandemJeremy[/url], on Flickr
Early days on the tandem hence the tatty luggage. Did you know Dalwhinnie was twinned with Las Vegas?
[url= https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3238/2533976976_0bde9c0f41_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3238/2533976976_0bde9c0f41_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/4RVi5d ]29 Dalwhinnie[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/25846484@N04/ ]TandemJeremy[/url], on Flickr

How did the Tyvek work for a bivvy?

How did the Tyvek work for a bivvy?

Not brilliant to be honest. It was more of an experiment (the material's cheap enough that you can try things out), I'd seen Rich's similar setups using silnylon so thought I'd give it a go.

The material tears easily so you can't put holes into it to attach lines. I just had lines at each corner: I scrunched up some of the material at the corner and used a sheet bend to attach the line around that. Tyvek's reasonably waterproof so you aren't going to get wet.

That particular setup is OK if you need a low profile because it's windy for example but there's obviously only as much headroom as the diameter of your wheels.

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Top one looks like Lochan nan Earba near Ardverikie. Middle one could be anywhere! Bottom one looks like the climb up from Sadgill in Longsleddale.

You're good you Bob ... obviously, the middle one's Wales 😉

Bivy trip over Dartmoor with my old man before I became a father myself:

[img] https://goo.gl/oHzbey [/img]
[img] https://goo.gl/yKRL6g [/img]
[img] https://goo.gl/V13rht [/img]
[img] https://goo.gl/Khh76u [/img]
[img] https://goo.gl/RNUMHD [/img]
[img] https://goo.gl/44i9wT [/img]

Along with a vid:

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Marginally less adventurous, the Chilterns last winter.

Frame bag - gelert tent
Bars - sleeping bag and mat
Saddle bag - change of clothes + cooking kit
Camelback - water + food + stuff

[url= https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5680/29949124750_41b728c13f_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5680/29949124750_41b728c13f_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/MCv6nQ ]2016-10-10_10-21-02[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/7614571@N05/ ]thisisnotaspoon[/url], on Flickr

[url= https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5679/30130515042_11b53ceedf_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5679/30130515042_11b53ceedf_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/MUwLoE ]2016-10-10_10-21-12[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/7614571@N05/ ]thisisnotaspoon[/url], on Flickr

[url= https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8280/29615064674_3b072bda42_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8280/29615064674_3b072bda42_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/M7YWXm ]2016-10-10_10-20-51[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/7614571@N05/ ]thisisnotaspoon[/url], on Flickr

This year's Rovaniemi 300:

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bike packing you say?

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Jenn ride 2017 Little Langdale
[url= https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4275/34867371346_82c73d5d4d_k.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4275/34867371346_82c73d5d4d_k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/V87oJW ]SAM_1509[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/146888534@N08/ ]Kevin Brennan[/url], on Flickr

I am really liking the pics guys so keep them coming. At present I’m sitting with two virtually new Cannondales. I’m unsure whether to sell both for a Bombtrack Hook Ext like this.
[IMG] [/IMG]
Or should I just build up a quality set of 650b wheels for my CAADX

[url= http://www.theoutdoorsstation.co.uk/2017/10/no-446-one-wheel-on-my-wagon/ ]One wheel on my wagon[/url]...

Inspirational indeed Montgomery.

[url= https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7535/27607952184_c6842e5c53_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7535/27607952184_c6842e5c53_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/J4BYkA ]Untitled[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/nzrich/ ]Richard Munro[/url], on Flickr
[url= https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7492/27559884174_3b54a99cfc_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7492/27559884174_3b54a99cfc_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/HZnBoN ]Untitled[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/nzrich/ ]Richard Munro[/url], on Flickr

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Bivi view

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Early morning views when leaving a bivi spot

Just got a chance to see the latest posts , great pictures especially the black and white and also giving me ideas for bike kit and camping kit.
Cheers guys

Still mulling over whether to run one bike or two?

Two things;

(a) Try not to focus [i]too[/i] much on the bike. With the right kit selection and routes choice you can enjoy it on anything (though I appreciate that in your current situation, dreaming about kit/bike choice is extremely inviting).

(b) I wouldn't [i]not[/i] have a traditional, "flat-bar" MTB for bike packing, even though I may use other bikes on occasion too. Gravel/adventure bikes can be ideal on the right routes but for me would be too limiting on most others. The CAADX would, I reckon, be fine. The Habit could be made to work too, though you might question the compromises imposed by a FS frame.

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A pic from earlier in the year, Friday evening after work heading to Birchover, Derbyshire

A few from this year's trips.

Top of the Highland Trail 550

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Dropping of the Galibier on our 3000 mile 1955 Tour de France trip.

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Early morning on the Lakeland 200

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Bothy trip in the Borders.

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One more from Scotland.

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[img] https://postimg.org/image/rmk491ijl/ [/img]

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@ scotroutes
A 29er hardtail and keep the CAADX?

Well, that would probably be the most [i]conventional[/i] option. Of course you then start the whole B+/29er game and a frame that would take both tyre sizes would certainly be the most flexible solution.

At the start of the Ridgeway
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My XLS outside the Grwyne Fawr bothy

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My mate Dave coming down from the top of Black Mountains
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Keep em coming.... good inspiration.

Sadly spending another weekend at the hospital but it’s giving me a lot of reading , well browsing time. So I’ve decided to hold on to my Cannondale Habit and kit out my CAADX for some Bikepacking trips locally at first to get the hang of it and refine the kit I’ll need.
As much as I really like steel the CAADX is a sweet ride and will take 650b wheels if the notion takes me.
So more pics and some kit advice would be brilliant while I wait away the hours here.
Cheers Guys

For lots of (confusing and conflicting!) kit advice check out the [url= http://bearbonesbikepacking.co.uk/phpBB3/index.php ]Bearbones forums[/url] There's quite a few of us who frequent both forums. Also worth checking [url= http://bearbonesbikepacking.blogspot.co.uk/ ]Stuart's reviews[/url] (he posts on here as still_s8tannorm)

Bikepacking kit and getting the right stuff is nearly as frustrating as finding the right bike! After you have most of the kit it's usually a case of mix and match - the stuff I use for ITTs is quite different from pottering around and doing overnight bivvies for example.

There was a long thread on these forums on bikepacking but it's probably closed now.

Hope your wife recovers quickly.

Whitestone many thanks for the info and also your message of recovery for my wife.
I have an apidura top tube pack and a frame pack already so going to grab a saddle bag and eventually a handlebar pack. My son is doing d of e so an opportunity for some father son bonding with him once things calm down.