[Closed] Joining the bandwagon (27.5+ & bike packing....)

Enough room in a Revelation with 2.8 NN on 45mm rim.

I'm dipping toes in the water here too, have done a very quick bivvi recce with my GP bike - really to check kit, storage and so on.

I used a bivvi bag rather than a tent - I've picked up a one man tent of forum, but the poles are a complete arse to carry and it ends up quite bulky all round. Bar bag on Wildcat harness will take most of sleeping kit, then small part frame bag for bits and bobs, seat post bag for cloths and bit of gear, rucksack for - IIRC - sleeping mat.

Plenty blogs out there on bivvi kit - scotroutes, dRjOn e.g.

Having said that re the bike, have taken a Swift with similar wheelset, so hope to use that as capable bike packing for rough stuff..

dry bags and a lot of kit - Alpkit. frame bags - Wildcat. rucksack - Osprey for comfort and solidity.

just my thoughts..

I've just done a weekend from Edinburgh to Newcastle.

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Seat pack (wildcat harness and tapered Alpkit bag): Lunar solo tent, neoair mat, exped pillow, flip flops, travel towel.

Bars: cumulus quantum 150 quilt and a set of clothes.

Frame bag: single carbon tent pole, bike spares.

Montane batpack 6 for electronics and toiletries.

@boxelder: roverpig was running revs with the wheelset. I was under the impression it was a bit nippy at the bulge also ( but not as bad as my Reba's I doubt!).

Plus I'm running at 100mm travel, find a Mk I Solaris a bit wandery on steep climbs. Suspect increasing travel would magnify this.

@kcal: yeah, I'd a feeling tent pole would be a pain but thought they could be stowed in frame bag (or rucksack?). I can see a bivi being handy if mat & bag rolled in a oner (quick to set up too!) but I'm prepared to suffer weight penalty for extra space and ability to stow gear under the awning. Mind you at 1160g it's not much heavier than my current bivi bag...

Don't suppose you have urls/links for mentioned blogs handy?

I've studied Greg Mays, like the idea of the OR (hooped) helium bivi @550g! Just not sure about pertex...

@dknwhy: single skin tent... How does that work for midgies/rain?

Less is definitely more. Trying to limit what else I have to buy in order to keep spend down....

Rucksacks can be OK, if light enough, and if they are not the rigid structured walking type ones that you seem to have there. They are not comfortable riding.

Currently on a shonky network connection but my email and blog are in my profile. Let me know if you're going to be in Aviemore and you can see, feel, chat about my Revelate gear, tents, bivvy etc.

Andy and Rob at backcountrybiking are usually happy to let you check out stuff.

@scotroutes: that would be pretty useful, thanks! I'd also like to check out your Pact if that was possible too... .?

How does the Revelate hold up to water ingress?

I'll drop you an email later in the day, cheers.

Wasn't you on the beach on the loch on friday night up a muick looking at me like you knew me was it ? Apologies if it was I had no idea. One thing on my mind at 11pm 🙂

@molgrips: rucksack is an Osprey Mutant 38, it's a good sack. The problem is the weight (and bulk) on my back. Distributing that to (over) the bike makes a lot of sense and make things more comfortable. I have a Osprey Talon 18 (or a camelbak running sack) that I intend using for water, clothes, spares, knick knacks..,

@TR: naw, photo is at Loch Eanaich. I'd probably have called you a snob or something if you'd blanked me...

There's a thread on the Bearbones forums about B+ [url= http://bearbonesbikepacking.co.uk/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=7708 ]Talk to me about B+[/url] where I've posted (same username) about my experiences so far with my setup so won't repeat all that here.

I've a Mk1 Solaris with an X-Fusion fork (set at 120mm) and a pair of the Alpkit Rumpus wheels, these have a 45mm rim. I'm running a WTB Bridger 3.0" up front and a WTB Trailblazer 2.8" in the back. There's about 2mm gap at the brace bulge - get very occasional rubbing but I've a set of Travers Prong carbon forks on the way 😀

Bags: I've the Wildcat bags/harnesses, all bought separately as I've got into bikepacking but the bundles do look good deals. If you want to try things out then the Alpkit Airlok dry-bags are a good way to go: the tapered one will work as a seat bag and the dual 20L will work on the handlebars. Then if/when you get the harnesses you can just use them as the dry-bags in those. I also use Exped dry-bags - the disadvantage of these on the front is that unless you pack them evenly then they can slip out of the harness, the dual Airlok has webbing loops you can feed the harness straps through. A point about the sizing of the Wildcat Ocelot - I've a large frame and got the XL bag, probably should have got the large. If in doubt send them a template of your frame and they'll sort it out properly.

I can get an Exped Winterlite sleeping mat, a PHD 2 season sleeping bag, a Cumulus 2 season quilt and an Alpkit Hunka XL bivy bag in the 20L Dual Airlok on the front. Weighs 2Kg This would be a winter setup - I have the quilt layered around the sleeping bag for cooler nights. It's a much more flexible system than having a super-duper 4 season sleeping bag that you might only use one or two nights a year.

I/we use a tarp rather than a tent (not had problems with the flying death so far) and I made the poles up from some old tent poles I happened to have. I measured the frame bag and cut accordingly so they fit in the smaller pocket on the Wildcat Ocelot.

Invariably you will start off by taking too much kit or the wrong kit but over time you'll figure out what works for you and what you *need* for a given trip. On last year's Yorkshire Dales 300 I took nearly 10Kg of kit (plus food and water) but it was my first ITT and one of my early bikepacking trips, this year the weight will be around 3Kg depending on weather. The weights include the harnesses and bags BTW.

There's no *one way* to do things, start with how others have things set up but if they don't work for you then change it. Have a read through the "Review" section on Bearbones, it's actually the blog part of the site and isn't just reviews there's stuff about setting up tarps, using gear etc.

Ruck sacks are utter pish they are for times when you need to carry extra food.

Fwiw I have the wildcat stuff -very happy with it. Bought a revelate sweet roll as I preferred the long thin shape - turns out it mounts to the bike back in the dark ages. Much prefer the removable dry bag system wildcat uses.

Will tell you how waterproof the revelate is when I brave the garage to unpack 🙂 - it got a soaking on Monday

Ah ok you were up einach.

Some ladswere on a similar beach at muick and seemed to be excited to see me as I rode past.

@dknwhy: single skin tent... How does that work for midgies/rain?

Great for midges as it's fully sealed and the front opens up fully so you get a great view if dry.
Single skin is ok but you have to pitch it well. We had rain over the weekend and I stayed dry but you have to be careful not to touch the outer and to use the additional pegging points to keep the walls out. Great tent though. Pretty perfect for bikepacking.

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Weekends set up up the left - Monday night fords of avon. ..... good weather so set up in midge proof through wind set up.
If weather was in at least 2 sides would be pinned to the floor and into the wind.

One or two quick thoughts/addenda to what I wrote above.

You've two enemies when taking kit: weight and bulk. The easiest way to reduce both is not to take stuff! Take a sheet of paper (or use a spreadsheet) and divide in to two columns, in the left column write down everything you take on a trip. After the trip cross out all those items you used and worked as expected. For the rest, if you used it but it wasn't up to the job then make a note in the RH column. Everything else is thus stuff you didn't need to take. Obviously things like toolkit and FA kit you hope you never have to use them but you are going to take anyway. Also items like waterproofs are likely to be useful on most trips.

After a few trips you'll notice that there's stuff you just don't use - you've packed it "just in case". So without spending any money you can reduce pack size and weight 😛

You can also reduce the size of items. On the YD300 I took one of those Life Systems First Aid kits. No problem with the kit itself but it weighs 200g and is something like 8cmx6cmx4cm in size. I'm not a trained paramedic so most of what's in the kit is in the "nice to have" bracket - it's not going to be of use dealing with a broken leg for example. Generally once you get past cuts and grazes you can improvise - cut up a shirt for a triangular bandage and so on. I know (having had to do it) that I can walk out if I've a broken arm or other upper body injury and if I do break a leg then it's going to be 999 and call out mountain rescue. As a result my "FA kit" is now a few plasters, a couple of medi-wipes, a couple of safety pins and some blister patches. Weight of 10g and it fits in one of those credit card sized zip-lock bags.

A lot of gear comes with its own stuff sack - don't bother with them, they create dead space in your bags so just shove everything as best you can. When you get "hard" objects like pans or whatever then this lets you pack around them so that they don't rattle around and possibly damage other stuff.

Finally pack so you can get to stuff in the order that you need it. Having one bag for all your bivy stuff makes sense: roll up to bivy site; get poles and pegs out; tarp out and put up; rest of bivy kit out of bag and under tarp; inflate sleeping mat; allow sleeping bag to loft. Now get rest of kit out, get changed in to dry clothes, make a brew, etc.

@metalheart - scotroutes links should be on their way. dRjOn's blogs are here -
https://drj0nswanderings.wordpress.com

I'll see if I can can find typical kit list entry - there are a multitude..

Here's some blogs from my bookmark list:

Ian Barrington http://ianbarrington.com/ (his wife is behind Wildcat Gear)
Dave Barter: http://phased.co.uk/
Aidan Harding: http://www.aidanharding.com/
Greg May: http://www.gregorymay.ie/
Alastair Humphreys: http://www.alastairhumphreys.com/

Need to add a few more so interested in seeing what else folk come up with.

Interested in why the swap to 650b+ - how much betterer is it than a large normal 29 (2.4" Ralph or similar?) - assuming you tried it specifically for bike packing?

Fantastic, great to see the wheels getting used.

I'm pretty sure my old 29er Revs (2012 Dual Air jobs) are still kicking around the shed somewhere. You are welcome to borrow them and see if they work out. I think the 2.8 NN just fit, although maybe I just didn't push them hard enough to make them rub. I doubt you'd get a 3" in there though and personally I'd always vote for the new frameset 🙂

Wow, lots of good info here. And lots of links. Thanks everybody.

@whitestone: Thanks for your posts (and links). What you are saying is kind of what I'm thinking. The other week was just a tester to see what was needed and how it went. It was a fantastic weekend weather wise and nice to have favourable conditions for the first outing. I've been checking out the TDR prep stuff and that's forming what I think is the way forward. Less is definitely more.

I'm ambivalent about tarp/bivi v. tent. Combined weight of tent & bivi is not far off 1.5kg. A tent would be lighter. However, I already have both bivi/tarp... Tent additional (significant) expense... hmmm.

@TR: any chance I can get a shufty at your Wildcat set up? Like to see options before I commit to anything... If I can find your e-mail address I'll ping you a mail.

@roverpig: yeah, done about 10 hours total on them so far. Only problem was getting to the bottom of a descent to find out the skewer had done its self loosening thing that Hope's are want to do... I was even taking air (admittedly, very teeny-tiny air, but air all the same). For me 20psi on the back and 16-18 on the front seems to work. Lower on the back and I get some tyre squirm. I'd like to take you up on the lend of the Rev's offer. Be good to see if 120mm works for me or not as well. Happy enough with the NN upfront at present, 3" was just what I could go in the future...

@brassneck: I just fancied trying out fatter tyres. roverpig was selling (at an enticing price) and that allowed me to dip the toes in using my existing 29er. I now find myself with more or less a complete bike (bar frameset) and thinking something that would allow me to get fatter still if I fancied. I was looking at the Genesis because Bothy Bikes have one with the APidura bikepacking kit attached in their window. I was up there to go bikepacking (and my 650B+ wheels were left on it, as much to let my mate see as anything). A rigid bike would make sense for bikepacking I thought (plus it wouldn't preclude sticking on sus forks if necessary later on). I like things loose-ish and dry and the 650B+ was fun on that stuff, better on that than in the tech/rooty stuff for me (momentum?).

I have toyed with the idea of getting a new (Mk II) Solaris & forks but that would double the budget and that's not practical these days.

Got a bit of a personal (parent) problem on going at the moment, might not get much chance to post/reply back on here until tomorrow. Not being rude if no response...

No worry's metal heart although I'm away this weekend. All my gears still on the bike.

I have the wildcat set up and an alpkit kanga and fuel bag as well + a revelate sweet roll + a uraltour frame bag and seat pack so you can see a few options.

Drop me a mail - it's in the profile.

Interested in why the swap to 650b+ - how much betterer is it than a large normal 29

Well this is a good question.

I have 29x2.4 currently, and I find I do notice the drag on smooth surfaces or road if I run them at 25 or less. I actually prefer riding at 30+ psi because the bike feels generally quicker and all the other feelings that go with it. I only drop it if I know it's going to be bumpy, which I do sometimes. If I am on a mostly rocky or bumpy ride I'll drop them.

So depending on your route/geography, b+ may not be as good as 29 as if it's smooth it'll slow you down. Conversely, if it's rough then b+ might be better to ride and lighter than suspension.

Of course with two sets of wheels you have the choice, which is the ideal place to be. I will get some b+ wheels when I get the chance.

@molgrips Pretty much my take on B+, the Alpkit Rumpus wheels and WTB tyres add about 1.5Kg to the bike but the increased plushness (for want of a better word) takes the sting out of small high frequency judder means you can maintain speed better.

And I've still not fitted the 29er wheels to my Pact. I really must get around to it, though I'm enjoying B+ too much to worry about it.

with all the names above its like a thread off Bearbones in here 😆

with all the names above its like a thread off Bearbones in here

I don't know what you mean 😆

Someone lend me some b+ wheels and I'll see if I'm quicker up my local test climb. I bet I would be actually given the surface.

Well, had a read of some of the blogs and its certainly fired me up (the Ian Barrington one especially) to do some proper stuff.

Trail Rat and Scotroutes are being very helpful and letting me check out their kit. Thanks to both. Its appreciated.

Roverpig is lending me some forks.

All I need now is to sort out the frame 'option'...

Anyone any experience of the Longitude in 650B+/2016 flavour?

What else to look at (nothing exotic please, I've limited budget...)

Can you not just ride what you have?

FYI Neill

Deeside trail should be going live in next couple of weeks. Nothing to do with me but a local bike packing event.

Some good responses there. Have a feeling my 29er is going to be a bit challenged for space, but I'm tempted now to blag a set and give it a go.

I have 29x2.4 currently, and I find I do notice the drag on smooth surfaces or road if I run them at 25 or less. I actually prefer riding at 30+ psi because the bike feels generally quicker and all the other feelings that go with it.

I agree, I think it's mainly down to where I live and ride 99% of the time, so I've not much to compare with. On harder surfaces, more rock, a little fatter and lower pressure might be fun, more effective or both (or neither ofc.)

@brassneck The B+ tyre sizings are all over the place.

I've a WTB Trailblazer 2.8" on the rear, it's only 2mm wider at the tread than the Bontrager XR3 2.2" on my 29er rims (The Bontragers measure up within a mm or so of the stated width at the pressure I run them), of course the TB has more volume in the tyre. The 3.0" WTB Bridger is 74mm, so basically the quoted width.

Do a search to see if anyone has run the wheel/tyre combo with your frame or one with similar clearance. Very hit and miss at the moment.

You can bikepack on regular wheels..

Or fat wheels or 26 inch wheels or 26 x1 3/4s

Exactly.

Whilst you need the light tent/sleeping bag/luggage and whatnot, pretty much any bike will do that's capable of the trails you want to do.

You can bikepack on regular wheels.

Yeah, obviously.i don't think that I've suggested otherwise on here. You are missing the [b]&[/b] in the thread title. I did try and bold it but you can't format titles. I had the wheels before I started down the b/p trail, and the other weeks bivi could just' ve easily been on the 29er wheels. ETA: the other two bikes used (and in the photo) are 26" Lapierre FSers....

The issue is my forks don't work with the NN, I don't fancy the t/blazer up front and I have most of a bike just sitting about in boxes. I'm liking the 650B+, I like my 29er, hey why not build a 650B+ bike that I can [i]also[/i] use for bike packing. I know it's just crazy thoughts... 😆

@TR: you got a link/info on that Deeside Trail thing? Post up or email! ta.

Well, a week on and I've a) borrowed a set of Rev forks (thanks roverpig) b) seen Trail-rats set (hope the back is sorted!) and c) taken backpacking introduction theory course courtesy of ScotRoutes (most kind, very jealous of that Pact set up).

So now I need to take the plunge.

It seems that a harness set up is the way to go. But when did I ever listen to other people... 🙄 think I'm going to go for the Ortlieb bar and seat pack (I can pick these up locally @Craigdon MS, where I also happen to have a discount card and some history). SR was a lot of help with shelter info. As I have both a bivi bag and a tarp I have no need to rush to spend more money needlessly.... Tent purchase therefore on hold.

A visit to a Bothy Bikes has thrown up potential show stopper on the Longitude front as it might not be possible to convert the evo II to boost 110.... Should find out Monday with a bit of luck.

Having seen SRs Battlecat has given me boost envy though. Hmm, wonder what I could sell to raise cash.... 🙄

I never mentioned the most important thing about using bivvy and tarp.

Smidge

Smidge I also have....

metalhart, If that front hub is a pro ii evo then Hope appear to do a boost adaptor for it. I think you need a normal 15mm adaptor and then you buy the special boost part (which is essentially just a longer right hand 15mm adaptor). The wheel then needs re-dishing.

Can't wait to have my new longitude built up 😀

https://deesidetrail.co.uk/

Oh and my backs back to normal thanks to some help from glupton.

Still wierd feeling it locking up like that.

I never mentioned the most important thing about using bivvy and tarp.

Smidge

I was wondering about this. No-one uses some kind of mozzie netting in some arrangement...?

No-one uses some kind of mozzie netting in some arrangement...?

If you can, you pitch up somewhere with a bit of breeze to keep them away. A bit of a balancing act though between being in too exposed a location and midge hell. You can get bivy bags where some or all of the upper half is no-see-um netting but these need to be used under a tarp. Sometimes a tent is the best option though.

@T_R: oh that looks good actually (nice and handy kicking off point too...). You going to do it? Glad back is sorted, it looked weird too!

@mols: my bivi has a midge net/opening. But you still need to get your 'shelter' set up and get into it. If you've ever had a massive midge cloud attach (with little breeze) then you'll know that you need to take appropriate action! I can still recall waking up in Glen Affric and having to high tail it out of there ASAFP due to the buggers...

@whitestone: exactly, which is my dilemma kind of...

@nixie: yeah, I'd kind of worked that out. It's all getting too complicated/expensive so I'm going to try roverpigs forks and see how that goes first.

If I could find a tyre that was 'aggressive' as a NN 2.8" but not quite as wide physically then that would be the least problematic/expensive... 🙂

They were pretty bad yesterday morning in the Dales. Overnight the breeze had dropped and it was still and muggy. Quite some incentive to get going!

Quite some incentive to get going!

Or a 'tactical retreat at speed' would be another. Breakfast at 2,800 ft and a breeze!

re mozzies ....

i take full skins , long socks , liner gloves and a mozzie net for head.

- most of all i camp where there is a breeeze if at all possible.

failing that i go for zero exposed skin option.

when i go to sleep i get into my sleeping bag - mozzie net stays on head - as i sleep - no exposed skin no need for a further mozzie net.

I've got a similar set up. Solaris with 35mm WTB Asyms.

I'm running a Yari (Boost) fork and 3.0 Nobby Nic up front. If your buzzing the non boost Fork, scale down to a 2.8 NN.

Expensive error on the rear. You can only squeeze a 2.8 in and I'd bought a 3.0 Rocket Ron.

Never ridden...fitted once with a cup of stans. Any takers?!

@mccraque: it is a NN 2.8" that's buzzing the fork (Reba), so need something to scale down from that...

I've a set of Rev's to try which should work (albeit with little clearance, but in a different place, higher up, from the Reba).

Has anyone got a list of forks that will take 3.0" B+ tyres?

Has anyone got a list of forks that will take 3.0" B+ tyres?

I might have some rocking horse poo if that's any help 🙄

I'm assuming you mean a suspension fork? A WTB Bridger 3.0" on an Alpkit Rumpus wheel (45mm rim width) has about 2mm spare either side in an X-Fusion Slide 29er.

The main problem is that the widest part of the tyre is now around the same distance from the axle as the collar around the fork seals which is the narrowest point of the forks. A Boost standard fork should give you another 5mm either side.

Yes Sorry, suspension fork

Edit: Are all boost forks, plus compatible?

boost fox 34 will take up to a hodag in 27.5. they will take a 29+ as well. the rockshox yari and pike can fit 27.5+ i believe for the 29 version but there are 29+ versions of both as well.

HTH.

Finally joined the B+ bandwagon with my Next Gen Sherpa with 3" Ranger & Trail Boss combo:

[url= https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5826/30306496905_ca508415cb_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5826/30306496905_ca508415cb_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/Nb5HEH ]New Sherpa (Next Gen frame - L)[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/77564901@N06/ ]Metalheart-UK[/url], on Flickr

[url= https://c4.staticflickr.com/9/8128/30220702851_5fd6723f99_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://c4.staticflickr.com/9/8128/30220702851_5fd6723f99_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/N3v15T ]Front[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/77564901@N06/ ]Metalheart-UK[/url], on Flickr

[url= https://c4.staticflickr.com/6/5472/30306525915_00c908ff77_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://c4.staticflickr.com/6/5472/30306525915_00c908ff77_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/Nb5ShT ]Back/Trail Boss 3"[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/77564901@N06/ ]Metalheart-UK[/url], on Flickr

[url= https://c1.staticflickr.com/6/5350/30190899472_ff64a58cc2_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://c1.staticflickr.com/6/5350/30190899472_ff64a58cc2_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/MZSfzw ]Top tube[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/77564901@N06/ ]Metalheart-UK[/url], on Flickr

She took her sweet time. I now have a "personal" relationship with Dan @Stanton 😉 i.e. they know who it is when I say hello its.... on the phone.

ETA: I'm not one for naming bikes but this one is called Edie (kinda after my mum, she died in July #****cancer)

Not had the chance to try it out in anger yet. Currently checking the forecast for a break in the rain... 🙁 what do we expect though, kids holidays atm...

My bikepacking plans are advancing and I've picked up:

Ortlieb Handlebar-pack, Seat-pack & Accessory-pack
Pole-A-Bear 1m carbon poles & guys for my tarp
Rab Neutrino Endurance 200 (got made an offer I couldn't refuse)
Alpkit Kelvin ti mug
Ergon grips (with int bar ends)

Weather permitting (well it's absolutely pishin it doon outside atm) I'll be off on a mini "adventure" next week to put the theory into practice...

Thanks to ScotRoutes, TrailRat & Greg for varying degrees of assistance, encouragement and general good will.

S'nice, got some mud friendly tyres for the next few months?

got some mud friendly tyres for the next few months?

Got an HR upfront on my 29er for that... 😥

Looking at that, I continue to be chubby curious. It seems that a HT with moderately wider rims, and ability for me to run more cush in tyres would be a nice balance of speed, comfort and grip.

And that green is nice...

I like the look of that bike!

Bikepacking set up:

[url= https://c8.staticflickr.com/9/8550/30306924471_93142c99c5_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://c8.staticflickr.com/9/8550/30306924471_93142c99c5_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/Nb7ULx ]Ortlieb Packs & Wild Cat frame bag[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/77564901@N06/ ]Metalheart-UK[/url], on Flickr

[url= https://c7.staticflickr.com/6/5471/30276410382_bb312576ed_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://c7.staticflickr.com/6/5471/30276410382_bb312576ed_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/N8qvZy ]Ortlieb Handlebar Pack[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/77564901@N06/ ]Metalheart-UK[/url], on Flickr

[url= https://c8.staticflickr.com/6/5503/30393052015_9121bca725_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://c8.staticflickr.com/6/5503/30393052015_9121bca725_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/NiJkuc ]
Ortlieb Seat Pack[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/77564901@N06/ ]Metalheart-UK[/url], on Flickr

I'm not sure how interested people are but I put the theory in to action last week and did the Inner Cairngorm Loop as a two day bikepacking expedition with an old mate of mine.

I'm going to do this in installments. So here goes:

1) INTRO:

First off, this is going to be teaching yer grunnie to suck eggs but it was a bit of a voyage of discovery for me. If that bothers you, please move on... 😕

I'm a fat aul mannie, okay. I've 'let myself go' and I'm currently sitting round the 17 stone mark, so it ain't gunna be pretty.

I've been on mountain bikes on and off since, oh, the mid nineties. Got distracted recently by motorbikes (did the approaching 50 best get my bike licence then...) less exercise=weight increase... However been more mtb focused the last 12 months (there has been injuries and other external 'issues' that have stymied my best efforts, but I'm getting there).

4 years ago I went through a mtb/cycling renaissance and did shitloads, mostly solo. The idea of doing the 'around the outside of the Cairngorms OL3 OS map that I did as a much younger and fitter man (I did a couple years entering the SCUMB series back in the late nineties) was bubbling up in my mind and after reading a thread here on STW where a guy (Jose McSomething?) had done it pretty much all offroad (I'd done the Glen Feshie to Loch Morlich section on the road via Inverdruie in the past) and it just wouldn't go away.

Problem was it took me 7.5 hours when I was ([i]a lot[/i]) younger and (race) fit, it wasn't going to be easy or happen any day soon.

The stw thread had it as a two dayer and that's the seed that took hold. Thank you Jose 🙂

Fast forward 2 years and my interest is now well and truly piqued. The TD threads are popping up and Greg Mays blog swims into my view...

My folks were both seriously ill (in and out of hospital, etc., #****cancer) and a mate (who lives in Aviemore) suggests that we head to Loch Einaich for a bivi. Turns out it was an absolutely stunning couple of days so we headed out for the two hour cycle (nothing like jumping into the deep end, eh?) and arrived at the loch and set up.

[url= https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7783/27505495545_3b819de0b6_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7783/27505495545_3b819de0b6_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/HUyRxP ]My nights lodgings...[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/77564901@N06/ ]Metalheart-UK[/url], on Flickr

Absolutely beautiful and a very welcome respite from my parent(al) issues.

Up for breakfast and we were back at my mates house by 9.30am....

I know I've posted this one already in this thread but its a good one so here we go again:

[url= https://c1.staticflickr.com/8/7052/27228772000_f14a1944d9_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://c1.staticflickr.com/8/7052/27228772000_f14a1944d9_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/Hu7zhd ]The camp/bivi site (Sandy fannying about)[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/77564901@N06/ ]Metalheart-UK[/url], on Flickr

But everything was carried in a rucksack and even such a short trip it wasn't particularly comfortable and I knew it'd be better to get the weight on the bike and off the back.

So I decides to jump on the bandwagon and order some Ortleib packs....

2) DAY -1:

Whilst waiting on my Ortleib stuff to show a lot happened. My parents both passed, my mum to her lymphoma (did I mention #****cancer earlier) and my dad followed 12 days later. I was busy and mind was elsewhere. I miss my folks...

But through all this I had enlisted my oldest mate (we've known each other since we ended up in the same class at secondary school aged 12) in my madness (I sent him the stw ICL thread link and he bit, big style) and we were busy getting us both kitted out and up and running. Its been an expensive business and I'm still not there as I've discovered the shortcomings in some of my existing camping kit. I'm not one for commercial plugs but my local outdoor shop (Craigdon Mountain Sports in Aberdeen) have been patient and very helpful to me so I'd like to give them a mention. Good people.

Anyway, Tuesday rolls up and my mate David shows with his bike and kit and we proceed to try and make sense of it all.

Mr ScotRoutes of these here parts paid a fleeting visit on unrelated matters and gave some sage like pronouncements and general encouragement.

We ended up with this:

[url= https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8566/29762589824_50c266a4e6_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8566/29762589824_50c266a4e6_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/Mm243q ]Ortlieb Packs & Wild Cat frame bag[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/77564901@N06/ ]Metalheart-UK[/url], on Flickr

And:

[url= https://c1.staticflickr.com/6/5505/30276451432_79aafa7158_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://c1.staticflickr.com/6/5505/30276451432_79aafa7158_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/N8qJcj ]Wild Cat Harness & Dry bags, Revelate frame bag[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/77564901@N06/ ]Metalheart-UK[/url], on Flickr

Game on!

INTERLUDE:

Earlier on I mentioned that I'd more or less done the route before but that I'd done the Feshie to Morlich section on the road.

Discussions on and off fora lead ScotRoutes to volunteering to 'guide' me through the offroad version.

So approx three weeks ago (nursing a suspected broken rib) I ventured back to Aviemore to meet up and ride the 'missing section'.

Just as well, its a bit of a rabbit warren of paths and trails. As we were sans GPS it would have been a completely different undertaking if I hadn't pre-ridden it!

It also meant that I knew about the Glenmore Visitor Centre cafe. This was going to be a pivotal piece of knowledge....

Cheers, Colin. I'm definitely due you a pint!

3) DAY 1:

So, this is it, its really happening. No more talk. Its time for action!

Met my mate in Ballater the back of 9 (picked up a sandwich from the baker, nothing like planning ahead...) and headed to the Linn of Dee car park.

At approx 10.20am we set off.

And the first wrong turn was just before the White Bridge. Yup, good going! The OL3 map doesn't include the car park and we hit the bridge way faster than expected. My 20 year memories weren't too lucid so we took a short diversion up the Glen Dee path:

[url= https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5670/30389639161_2eb7e11ae4_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5670/30389639161_2eb7e11ae4_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/NiqQXT ]The wrong path (duh) - Glen Dee[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/77564901@N06/ ]Metalheart-UK[/url], on Flickr

However that we quickly met a beardie River Dee Trust mannie dancing about the other side of the Dee and he quickly put us straight...

[url= https://c1.staticflickr.com/6/5442/30439737736_83f510eea6_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://c1.staticflickr.com/6/5442/30439737736_83f510eea6_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/NnRBwq ]David, keen eyed and bushy tailed[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/77564901@N06/ ]Metalheart-UK[/url], on Flickr

The going was fairly easy, estate/land rover track interspersed with the odd 'river' crossing. Some with bridges...

[url= https://c5.staticflickr.com/6/5339/30439757716_7b6cd1b04c_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://c5.staticflickr.com/6/5339/30439757716_7b6cd1b04c_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/NnRHsU ]Stream crossing (with bridge, yay!)[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/77564901@N06/ ]Metalheart-UK[/url], on Flickr

Some without...

[url= https://c4.staticflickr.com/6/5570/30389716891_9662607aec_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://c4.staticflickr.com/6/5570/30389716891_9662607aec_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/Nirf54 ]Another river crossing, no bridge...[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/77564901@N06/ ]Metalheart-UK[/url], on Flickr

All went swimmingly until we crossed the Geldie. Yup, we crossed the Geldie, duh! Fortunately my mate noticed this and made me drag out the map. Bugger, we had missed the turn off. So back across the Geldie... And back up the road a ways to the junction and we're onto singletrack.

ScotRoutes had given us an update from Eidart the previous evening 'I hope your Marty Pellow is good'. Man, it was a muddy, gritty, peaty quagmire and very little of it was ridable and after dumping the front wheel into deep, deep black puddles and just about going OTB a couple of times we decided walking was the better part of valour.

[url= https://c4.staticflickr.com/6/5572/30389730451_82bec6afcc_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://c4.staticflickr.com/6/5572/30389730451_82bec6afcc_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/Nirj6R ]David wrestling with the bike over a stream[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/77564901@N06/ ]Metalheart-UK[/url], on Flickr

[url= https://c4.staticflickr.com/6/5758/30476243755_85cda726bc_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://c4.staticflickr.com/6/5758/30476243755_85cda726bc_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/Nr5Hux ]Looks nice (but it wasn't)[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/77564901@N06/ ]Metalheart-UK[/url], on Flickr

See that ribbon of water? Yup, [i]that's[/i] the track....

And so it went for the approx 5k to Eidart bridge.

[url= https://c8.staticflickr.com/6/5779/30476253255_f341621917_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://c8.staticflickr.com/6/5779/30476253255_f341621917_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/Nr5Ljk ]David on the Eidart bridge[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/77564901@N06/ ]Metalheart-UK[/url], on Flickr

[url= https://c4.staticflickr.com/9/8410/30389768811_df9341b062_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://c4.staticflickr.com/9/8410/30389768811_df9341b062_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/Nirvve ]Water falls on the Eidart[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/77564901@N06/ ]Metalheart-UK[/url], on Flickr

[url= https://c1.staticflickr.com/6/5816/30177897440_caa1582dbe_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://c1.staticflickr.com/6/5816/30177897440_caa1582dbe_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/MYHBwy ]Water falls on the Eidart[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/77564901@N06/ ]Metalheart-UK[/url], on Flickr

So a spot of lunch and we struggle on until the route is ridable again.

[url= https://c3.staticflickr.com/6/5732/30177906170_8998c8dbc9_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://c3.staticflickr.com/6/5732/30177906170_8998c8dbc9_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/MYHE85 ]Colin's Howff[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/77564901@N06/ ]Metalheart-UK[/url], on Flickr

We'd been advised to take the singletrack after Colin's Howff.

Back on the bike at last!

[url= https://c4.staticflickr.com/6/5833/30476319675_00c9c376f0_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://c4.staticflickr.com/6/5833/30476319675_00c9c376f0_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/Nr674v ]David, back on the bike at last![/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/77564901@N06/ ]Metalheart-UK[/url], on Flickr

And on to the Feshie road proper and making some distance again.

[url= https://c7.staticflickr.com/9/8562/30359393302_8e8d86f124_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://c7.staticflickr.com/9/8562/30359393302_8e8d86f124_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/NfKPVy ]Glen Feshie road[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/77564901@N06/ ]Metalheart-UK[/url], on Flickr

Everything was now normalised, route reasonably clear (although David had to stop me from trying to cross the Feshie, what is the fascination for me with crossing rivers unnecessarily?)

The route was becoming familiar from those distant, distant memories. And we passed the Feshie Bothy (under renovation). Learning our earlier lesson the map was being produced more frequently to check our progress. There was still a section I didn't know before we hit the route I'd ridden with ScotRoutes. But hitting the chasm foretold we knew we were still en route.

[url= https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5776/30476352385_8316669158_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5776/30476352385_8316669158_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/Nr6gMt ]The Chasm, or so Colin warned us...[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/77564901@N06/ ]Metalheart-UK[/url], on Flickr

This proved a bit of a struggle to get down and back up the other side but we struggled on and rejoined Onions Blue Route.

There's a nasty cutaway you really wouldn't want to happen on in the dark. Luckily some kind soul has stuck some rocks across the trail in warning...

[url= https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5699/30476367465_2ee573eb0b_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5699/30476367465_2ee573eb0b_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/Nr6mgt ]Who nicked me path!?![/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/77564901@N06/ ]Metalheart-UK[/url], on Flickr

And so on to the tarmac. And on to Feshie Bridge where, en route, we caught up by some dodgy Brummie geezer (called Mike) on a B+ Stooge. There had been a thread on Bearbones where he'd been asking about the weather in the Cairngorms and I'd said if he saw us to say hello. Never did I think it'd happen! We chatted, Mike headed to Inschriach Water Sports Centre (or something like that) for food (he was doing the Loop) and we headed to Drakes Bothy. After some tentative turns (I'd now hit the bit I'd done previously with ScotRoutes) we finally hit the singletrack and then bothy. It was empty but, hell, we'd brought the tent/bivi gear we were gonna use it! Plus Mike was planning on using the bothy. I'd wanted to bivi at Loch Einaich again but it was way too far off, David had had enough by now and there was a nice dry bothy to sit in....

So at 5.50pm, 7.5 hours after our start we finished the day. Not even halfway round and the same time as it took me 20 years earlier for the entire loop, good going! Aul age, disnae come itsel.

Tarp rigged, tent pitched and we retired to the bothy for a seat and some food. We were both running water bladders and I had drained mine just as we turned off the trail for the bothy.... duh. So no brew... I did have a 0.5L bottle of water I'd taken to ensure I had enough for the morning but had half that during the evening.

Mike showed up about 7.30pm with tales of woe about his (non existant) brake pads and his plans to get replacements (which would take him into Aviemore and off the CL route). He seemed to have it sorted out one way or another though. We yapped, shot the breeze, necked a little whisky and about 9.00 me and David retired to the great outdoors for (hopefully) some sleep. Fortunately it wasn't that cold, it did rain but my crap mat and dodgy back meant it was on/off through the night...

Mike completed the route he popped into see me in Kendal on his way home for some strange reason he did not fancy a ride today 🙂

Luckily some kind soul has stuck some rocks across the trail in warning...

All experience is good experience, eh? Now imagine doing the watershed bit in the dark 🙂

Nice report though and good that you managed enough time to get some photos.

4) DAY 2:

A night of intermittent sleep meant that morning dribbled in with the light and we didn't really get it together and sorted out ready to leave until around 9.00am.

[url= https://c7.staticflickr.com/6/5329/30358923142_4ff3e3e1dd_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://c7.staticflickr.com/6/5329/30358923142_4ff3e3e1dd_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/NfHqam ]Davids palacial tent...[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/77564901@N06/ ]Metalheart-UK[/url], on Flickr

[url= https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5474/30474948825_98bd421017_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5474/30474948825_98bd421017_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/NqY5ya ]The tarp rigged in anger[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/77564901@N06/ ]Metalheart-UK[/url], on Flickr

[url= https://c6.staticflickr.com/6/5793/30389346661_693a032d57_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://c6.staticflickr.com/6/5793/30389346661_693a032d57_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/Nipm1M ]Packed up again, ready to go at 9.00 am sharp...[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/77564901@N06/ ]Metalheart-UK[/url], on Flickr

No water, no brew up. But, hey, there was always that cafe...

We were now on what should have been familiar territory but no GPS meant I still managed to make a couple of navigational errors (missing the signed right turn after the gate... and taking a right at the signed Loch Morlich instead of carrying on straight ahead) but the singletrack section was pretty good and we were making decent progress for a change.

[url= https://c4.staticflickr.com/6/5760/29842436923_600be2438e_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://c4.staticflickr.com/6/5760/29842436923_600be2438e_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/Mt5hNx ]Crossing Cairngorm Club Bridge[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/77564901@N06/ ]Metalheart-UK[/url], on Flickr

The detour around Loch Morlich was a nice diversion and it took us through the campsite. And as luck would have it, we passed a water point... We refilled the bladders and took a long cool drink before heading across the road to the visitor centre.

[url= https://c1.staticflickr.com/6/5677/30438503536_3c6f672cae_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://c1.staticflickr.com/6/5677/30438503536_3c6f672cae_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/NnKhD7 ]Lunch Stop - Glenmore Visitor Centre[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/77564901@N06/ ]Metalheart-UK[/url], on Flickr

It was now 11.00am, to late for breakfast and a bit early for lunch... Hell no! A large coffee and the soup and sandwich combo each set us up for the day and after a quick check in with civilisation we headed off towards Bynack More for the infamous trudge (and water bars!).

Some beautiful scenery that we, er, made sure we took ample time to savour....

[url= https://c7.staticflickr.com/6/5442/30438520006_d654588864_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://c7.staticflickr.com/6/5442/30438520006_d654588864_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/NnKnx5 ]Looking back down from start Bynack More[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/77564901@N06/ ]Metalheart-UK[/url], on Flickr

[url= https://c8.staticflickr.com/9/8594/30388340751_c7f6607c73_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://c8.staticflickr.com/9/8594/30388340751_c7f6607c73_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/NijbZv ]Looking back down from start Bynack More[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/77564901@N06/ ]Metalheart-UK[/url], on Flickr

[url= https://c3.staticflickr.com/6/5804/30358083482_8527e1306f_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://c3.staticflickr.com/6/5804/30358083482_8527e1306f_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/NfD7ys ]Looking back up from proper start Bynack More climb...[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/77564901@N06/ ]Metalheart-UK[/url], on Flickr

[url= https://c7.staticflickr.com/6/5345/30438580686_e1f5406c1c_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://c7.staticflickr.com/6/5345/30438580686_e1f5406c1c_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/NnKFzh ]On Bynack More[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/77564901@N06/ ]Metalheart-UK[/url], on Flickr

I'm not going to describe the route to the Fords of Avon as if you've done it you'll know... Its not pleasant going (did I mention them bloody water bars?) and it doesn't really get any better when its water logged either.

This was needed (a lot)....

[url= https://c5.staticflickr.com/6/5326/30176717700_8e8b61f7e4_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://c5.staticflickr.com/6/5326/30176717700_8e8b61f7e4_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/MYByQd ]STOP BEING SOFT[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/77564901@N06/ ]Metalheart-UK[/url], on Flickr

[url= https://c4.staticflickr.com/6/5807/30475113435_20dc2d26b2_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://c4.staticflickr.com/6/5807/30475113435_20dc2d26b2_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/NqYVug ]Looking back up to Bynack[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/77564901@N06/ ]Metalheart-UK[/url], on Flickr

Approaching the refuge we met a couple with trailers (!) and their fairly young (barely teenage?) lad on the way up! Don't know if to respect their tenacity or fear for their sanity... But they had already decided not to try the singletrack back to the Geldie and were planning to bail at Aviemore back to Blair Atholl by train to pick up their car. So maybes not that mental.... 😉

They did warn us, however, that the trail didn't improve any... and they weren't lying. But, hey, we still have the Fords of Avon to cross yet!

[url= https://c8.staticflickr.com/6/5808/30475101375_525b74e743_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://c8.staticflickr.com/6/5808/30475101375_525b74e743_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/NqYRUk ]Fords of Avon Refuge Hut[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/77564901@N06/ ]Metalheart-UK[/url], on Flickr

We'd been a bit wary of the Fords, Mike hadn't been too forthcoming other than he'd taken off his socks and shoes to cross.... (he'd stayed at the refuge on the previous night, didn't want to get soaking so early on in the day). We were running later than we'd hoped so no softy shoes off for us, just straight in and over. It wasn't too bad, and we were reasonably prepared for it and stayed reasonably dry considering....

[url= https://c4.staticflickr.com/6/5568/30475143755_9ec537f979_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://c4.staticflickr.com/6/5568/30475143755_9ec537f979_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/NqZ5v2 ]Crossing the Fords of Avon #1[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/77564901@N06/ ]Metalheart-UK[/url], on Flickr

[url= https://c7.staticflickr.com/6/5685/29844541254_3fc89ddd2d_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://c7.staticflickr.com/6/5685/29844541254_3fc89ddd2d_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/Mtg5m7 ]Crossing the Fords #3[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/77564901@N06/ ]Metalheart-UK[/url], on Flickr

So, on to the Lairig and Laoigh.... oh man, this was horrendous, way, way worse than I had remembered. It was like walking along a stream most of the way. Me and David were both suffering the effects of our days on the bike (we normally rarely exceed 2-3 hours, my randone with Scotroutes had been my longest trip, ~44km, to date this year so we were pushing the boat out in that respect) and with loaded bikes we were making mistakes and just accepted we were walking. Mike had told me it got better after the saddle (and it did!) so just after it I decided we were stopping for a brew. This was David's introduction to water sourced directly from a mountain stream. I struggled to find my light stick fore the stove but David had a handy blowtorch(!)... Well, he did spend 5 years in South Africa where apparently you have to burn your used bog paper when oot an aboot). So we got the stove up and running, a brew on the go and some food. It was our first proper stop since the cafe and we only had the decent path back to Glen Derry. Oh, and about an hour and a half of daylight left...

Refreshed we remounted and made the section to Derry Lodge with about 20 minutes daylight to spare.

[url= https://c8.staticflickr.com/6/5639/30388513151_f9ca74984e_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://c8.staticflickr.com/6/5639/30388513151_f9ca74984e_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/Nik5eV ]At Derry Lodge. In the light. As promised ;-)[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/77564901@N06/ ]Metalheart-UK[/url], on Flickr

[url= https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8410/30176807200_6dba44a6fa_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8410/30176807200_6dba44a6fa_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/MYC2rj ]Looking west from Derry Lodge[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/77564901@N06/ ]Metalheart-UK[/url], on Flickr

The rest is just along the land rover track back to the car park. We did the last half in the dark, grateful that I'd packed my front light though it was a really nice touch as we'd felt we'd been 'out there'!

We arrived back at the car park at about 6.30, so an 8.5 hour day.

REPRISE:

It was simply brilliant to finally get out on the route that had nagged at me for the last 4 years, catch up with an old mate and us push ourselves out of the comfort zone a little.

Its ironic that I chose this route as being a nice gentle introduction to bikepacking that we should cruise round with plenty time to spare. We ended up taking a 7.5 hour the first day and 8.5 hours the second. And we ran close to (and over) daylight on both. Okay the ground conditions were mostly to blame (the weather gods otherwise let us be) and my slightly blaise over reliance on my dodgy 20 year on memories. Oh and the insistence this was getting done old skool (no GPS). Although to be fair, we don't have one between us so it was kind of a moot point really!

It turned into a little epic which we both got a hell of a lot out of and I'm really glad we did it. It will live on in our memories for a long time. 😀

However, I was also a bit disappointed that it needed my mate to keep us on the right route (and more than once), I should have been better prepared. I had said I didn't want to sanitise it (and I didn't 😆 ) but I should have noted the major junctions. Hey ho, no harm done, just a river (too many) to cross....

@ScotRoutes: yeah, I did say some kind soul didn't I? Jeez what you wantin, a Blue Peter badge or something?

@Postierich: Can't for the life of me imagine why, it was only a wee run in the country... I'm glad he got everything sorted, all the way round and home in one piece. Pretty hardcore you ask me!

FINAL INSTALMENT - LESSONS LEARNT:

Water management: jeez man, I just messed this up. Didn't really think about it until I drained the bladder dry. Bladders don't readily allow to monitor usage. I need to make better provision (and get a decent 'vessel' for bivi time/morning). 🙄

Nutrition: I need to be properly prepared. Reliance on picking something up en route was a bit slapdash and meant I ate my breakfast for tea... Luckily my research had pencilled in the cafe and without this I would have really struggled. Need to be better prepared in the future...

Navigation: 20 year old memories are not enough! I need to do proper studying of a route and a GPS is now definitely on the cards as I can see the real benefits.

Packing: okay, its only going to come with experience so I'm not going to beat myself up about it (thanks for your comments whitestone) and I've spotted shortcoming in my existing gear (specifically my sleep map is too bulky, too heavy and not even comfortable, it'll get replaced). The packs moved about a bit as they lost their 'new' shape. The front was easier to fix, tightened up progressively. The rear was rubbing on big drops and I had to stop to add an extra roll on the closer and tighten a strap here and there. It'll definitely take more trips to sort out....

Heres some pics of the resultant damage from the wet conditions, lack experience in packing and lack of adequate taping up beforehand (just as well I didn't take my new bike out on the trip!)

[url= https://c3.staticflickr.com/6/5798/29912748794_d406012052_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://c3.staticflickr.com/6/5798/29912748794_d406012052_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/MzhE5b ]Front - damage - unwashed[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/77564901@N06/ ]Metalheart-UK[/url], on Flickr

[url= https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5665/29910114873_e8ac1905d3_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5665/29910114873_e8ac1905d3_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/Mz4a6K ]Front - damage - washed[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/77564901@N06/ ]Metalheart-UK[/url], on Flickr

[url= https://c7.staticflickr.com/6/5339/30507312606_c2330b20be_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://c7.staticflickr.com/6/5339/30507312606_c2330b20be_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/NtPXbo ]Side - damage - washed[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/77564901@N06/ ]Metalheart-UK[/url], on Flickr

[url= https://c1.staticflickr.com/6/5651/30245112960_8f83e36b82_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://c1.staticflickr.com/6/5651/30245112960_8f83e36b82_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/N5E7mQ ]Fork - wear[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/77564901@N06/ ]Metalheart-UK[/url], on Flickr

[url= https://c1.staticflickr.com/6/5519/29912757304_0eba6bc1f7_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://c1.staticflickr.com/6/5519/29912757304_0eba6bc1f7_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/MzhGAU ]Seat pin - wear[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/77564901@N06/ ]Metalheart-UK[/url], on Flickr

The state of the disc callipers...

[url= https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5796/30455790161_4bc5aeca74_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5796/30455790161_4bc5aeca74_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/NpgTmn ]Rear brake[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/77564901@N06/ ]Metalheart-UK[/url], on Flickr

And lastly, don't underestimate the effort required or the route. We were fine, but we experienced no mechanicals, punctures or offs and we ran close to the daylight allowances (where we needed them).

I have the opposite problem with food. I always carry quite a bit and then end up eating as I pass places or buying more. Many's the trip I get back with as much food as I packed. It's sort of re-assuring that I'll not go hungry in the event of an unplanned stoppage but also means I'm carrying excess weight around.

The only time I've run out of water was because all the streams were frozen. From the bothy area, it wasn't a massive way back to a stream crossing where you'd have been able to refill but it's often difficult to locate a clean source when it's dark.

As for paint damage... have you thought about a Ti frame? 😆

Aye, the problem with water was that I was so caught up with finding the Bothy that I completely forgot about water until I drained the bladder just as I was turning off at the bothy and then I realised I didn't have a scooby where the nearest source of water was (I had planned on bivying else where, as you know, which were besides rivers/streams....).

I had plenty food but it was all sugary crap and I really couldn't face it.

A ti frame? Well you certainly not mentioned that before!

[url= https://c4.staticflickr.com/6/5693/30033296603_3592e6048c_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://c4.staticflickr.com/6/5693/30033296603_3592e6048c_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/MKWuJF ]Sherpa at the start of the Fungle singletrack[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/77564901@N06/ ]Metalheart-UK[/url], on Flickr

Finally managed to get out on the Sherpa...

It was a cracking day to day so made arrangements and headed off to ride the Fungle singletrack above Aboyne. It wasn't the best decision to try the first downhill section as that as a) the forks weren't properly set up (a little too much pressure, too much rebound) and I hadn't played around with tyre pressure (20 psi rear, slightly less front) and they were skipping about on the wet roots... Didn't help that I had the forks on Firm setting neither... 😳

So we decided to head over round the side of Baudy Meg which I know really well...

[url= https://c7.staticflickr.com/6/5705/30367445230_04c7b52e32_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://c7.staticflickr.com/6/5705/30367445230_04c7b52e32_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/Ngt6tU ]At the turn for round Baudy Meg[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/77564901@N06/ ]Metalheart-UK[/url], on Flickr

Well, it was pretty fast... Enjoyed it but need to ride it a bit more before I can get a proper handle on it. Like the slightly slacker HA. Definitely need to get the fork dialled in... Sticking them fully open helped though.

Tyres are the main thing, they felt pretty draggy (compared to Trailblazer/NN combo had on the Solaris). Felt like my old original HR LUST 2.35's on 26". And that kind of hindered on the climbs (what with me being a bit of a bloater). Nice and planted front end though, none of the wandery light front that I'm used to. Should have got a 60mm stem though... Feels a touch short if I'm honest (and I was expecting it too fell a bit longer from the numbers).

[url= https://c1.staticflickr.com/6/5537/30550220472_0b45015a79_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://c1.staticflickr.com/6/5537/30550220472_0b45015a79_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/NxBScb ]Sherpa at the Fungle[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/77564901@N06/ ]Metalheart-UK[/url], on Flickr

Got a biggish run planned for w/c 7th so I'll reserve judgement until I've completed that.

Love the Fungle.

Been ages since I forded that river too. Shoes off, always!

Funnily enough Al, the big route planned for next week is up the Firmounth and down the Fungle.

It's been a while since I've done it (they were resurfacing the Firmounth the last time, now over 4 years ago). I've been a bit wary that the resurfacing has ruined it. But with the harsh winter rains of late I reckon it'll have weathered in by now.

Decision on shoes on was purely time driven, we really didn't have time for the pfaff. I reckon I last did the fords in '97....

Great thread, Metalheart! Really sorry to read about your folks. Hope you are doing more trips like this to help with the head.

Re water. Have you thought of a water bottle filter? Turns a little stream into a source of clean water.

I rode the Geldie in May. It was incredibly dry. Virtually no mud...... :-))))))

Good choice with the Ortlieb kit. I am currently testing it and really like it, especially the front bag.

Have a look at the Exped Hyperlite sleep mat in large. Very light but genuinely comfy! I have the winter version and it is stunning - super warm for sleeping on top of compacted snow.

Great pics by the way!

Cheers

Sanny