[Closed] Sick as a dog so, show me you Bivi / Bikepacking / Adventure racing gear.....

No one says owt nice to me 🙁

I think I got a manly 'thanks' from Dave last time I ordered from them 🙂

No one says owt nice to me 🙁

[img] [/img]

😉

Explains everything.
😉

I'd forgot that existed ... 'tis true though 😀

😆 I thought you were a such a friendly fellow?? 😆

Steve told me I was anti social the other weekend when we were out ... perhaps it's to do with where I live 😉

Is that why you run the WRT to invite a heap of folk you barely know and let them ride all over your playground?? Hardly anti-social, Steve should know better 😉

So much against my better judgement I might have to try a bivvy bag. My only tent is 3 kgs so for occasional nights on my own a bag could be worth trying.

So - Design?

I have a few m of goretex coming so will be making my own. Just a sleeping bag shape and use some sort of tarp as well or get a wet face, or a bigger bag with some sort of pole to hold it off your face? Or what? Mat inside bag or not?

TJ - look here

http://www.backpacking-lite.co.uk/diy/make-your-own-bivy-bag.html

Ta.

and here

http://www.backpacking-lite.co.uk/diy/make-an-army-bivi-bag-much-lighter.html

with some sort of pole to hold it off your face?

*sigh* not another instructional on how to make things!

After fun at work making a WRT-esq pop-can stove (thanks for the instructions still s8tannorm), I was a little disappointed with how it worked and, quite frankly, how heavy it was. Must have been the Pepsi Max tins.

Anyway, I decided to build another one using power tools at home instead of a rusty multitool in the office, and the new one is much better! Fanta tins are a lot lighter and a lot shinier. They are also hi-viz orange.

I have no problem with actually making a bag. The issue is whether as a rather "active sleeper" to have a bag that is snug and leaves your face exposed thus needing a tarpp or something or to have a bigger that closes completley with a hoop or pole

simplified version of
[img] [/img]

or this plus a tarp?
[img] [/img]

Ones a tent, the others a sleeping bag cover.
BTW Miss Poland is nice, is she riding WRT?

Lightweight and flexible, what more do you need in a pole? 🙂

I haven't had an entry form off her yet ... she'd best pull her finger out. You'll also be pleased to hear the weather out there on the tops today was fantastic. I've just retured with a father and son pair, both smiling but also both very knackered 😀

If only I could see that pic for some reason the work PC doesnt like that one... Glad youve had a nice day in your office stu, mine more..... lets say crap!

I've had a spiffing day in my office too around bristolshire and north zummerset. Question is, do I put small block 8's on?
Bonus part of the ride was spoiling a photo shoot with oli beckinsale as I trundled on through. 😀
Edit: got 900th post before ianb.

Hi guys I was reading [url= http://welshridething.blogspot.com/2011/03/question-of-weight.html ]Question of Weight[/url] today, and realised the tarp I had on my shopping list: [url= http://www.ddhammocks.com/products/tarps/tarp ]DD TARP[/url] is overweight. Does anybody have a similar underweight suggestion for me. I've noticed everything else on my shopping list is under the max weight, its probably not that big a deal but I am not sure how much the pegs are going to weigh on top.

Rig[7] from alpkit with pegs and cordage should sneak in under 600g

I have a DD 3x3 and will be using it on the WRT, 50g is neither here nor there to me.

I think if I was buying fresh I may now rather the Rig7

or the [url= http://www.uttingsoutdoors.co.uk/Product/206/100559/terra-nova-tarp-shelter-1-43ts ]Terra Nova[/url] if I ever lose the 3st of body fat first!

but I have the DD and I'll use the DD 🙂

I've a couple of DD tarps and they're great ... for winter / nasty weather or a group. Flatfish speaks the truth, a Rig7 ready to go should be under 600g and offer loads of pitching options and plenty of cover.

My list to date

..............................................Weight.(g).............Cost
[b]Sleeping./.Shelter[/b].................................4076.5.........£707.97
Bivvy.Bag..............Alpkit.Hunka.XL..............525............£50.00
Tarp...................DD.3x3.Tarp..................650............£30.00
Rope...................15m.of.1.5mm.Dyneema.cord.....19.5...........£9.99
Pegs.&.Rope............6x.TiPins.....................39............£15.00
Sleeping.Bag...........Mountain.Equip.Xero.250......730...........£160.00
Mat....................Thermarest.NeoAir.Regular....410............£89.99
Pillow.................Exped.Air.Pillow..............85............£18.00

[b]Cooking[/b]
Stove..................Coke.can.stove................16.............£0.00
Pot....................Alpkit.MyTiMug...............110............£25.00
Pot.Cosy...............Alu.backed.foil...............25.............£0.00
Mug....................Lifeventure.Ti.Mug............54............£18.00
Cutlery................TiFoon........................18.............£6.00
Fuel...................Meths.300ml..................325.............£2.50
Windshield.............Caldera.Cone..................34............£35.99
Lighting...............Waterproof.Matches............10.............£0.50
[b]
Clothes.(Camp,.emergency)[/b]
Waterproof.Jacket......Rab.Drillium.................375............£99.00
Insulation.............Patagonia.Down.Sweater.......346............£85.00
Hat....................North.Face.Hat................50............£13.00
Gloves.(stopped).......Rab.Powerstretch.Glove........45............£15.00
Thermals...............Helly.Hansen.Lifa.Top........150............£30.00
.......................and.Leggings
Socks.(stopped)........Point.6.Merino.Wool.Socks.....50.............£5.00
2x.large.food.bags...................................10.............£0.00

Does anybody have a similar underweight suggestion for me. I've noticed everything else on my shopping list is under the max weight,

How about a cheap standard tarp from a hardware store?

I've got the Alpkit tarp and it's cracking. However, if the weather forecast dosen't look too grim then I'd take the cheap tarp and use it as a groundsheet unless the skies looked too grey, when I was stopping for the night, in which case I'd use it as a shelter. Best thing is you don't worry too much about damaging it.

[img] [/img]

I'll probably use the one above on the WRT if the long term weather forecast looks okay (and my current bout of achilles tendonitis has gone 😥 )

Apologies if I've already made the above suggestion/points on this thread but it's been running for a long time now and my memory's not what it used to be 😉

Is that a gas stove in shot?

Burn him!

Is that a gas stove in shot?

It's tim_41's (of this forum). And in mitigation please accept that he's only a recent convert to this bivi malarkey! 😉

Is that a gas stove in shot?

didn't I borrow yours Tiger when the one Stu made for me was struggling in the cold and wind last time we were out??

Feeling the need to weigh all my gear and compete in the weigh off 😉 going under the knife for some lipo tomorrow 😯

Is this the type of Pole you have in mind TJ?

Edit: got 900th post before ianb.

Also, busy out in the garage trying to extract stuck seat post from frame...

So wildcat frame bags, how much? And I read somewhere that wildcat may have her hands full in a short while, is the frame bag making on hold?

I'm not playing anymore now that you've all noticed

haha - we are on to your game!!! good fun though 😉

Also, busy out in the garage trying to extract stuck seat post from frame

are you trying to save the seat post too?? or can you drill through it apply a bar and twist/pull it out???

thinking of a head torch for the bivvy site, to save 'leccy in the bike lights has anybody used one of these?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180598310636&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

saw it in Go Outdoors and looks ideal.

Stu had one of those but upgraded now to a petzl tikka with the core battery, the old one didn't produce a whole lot of light.
Wouldn't bother with bike lights either as you should be knackered by the end of daylight hours on WRT.

Wildcat Gear is on hold short term. Plan is for some product development over the next couple of months and then launch properly around the end of May.

Seatpost saga didn't end well, but I didn't use a hacksaw to get it out 😉

ok ta I'll check those out, just thought the one above was light weight too 😉

Yes, you're probably right about not needing lights for WRT, didn't think that through - still in Winter mode in that it's dark early. So bring on the weekend and the lighter nights 😀

@IanB let me know if you need field tests undertaken 😀

Pete - I've got one of them - not that bright but very small and great to stash away - I'm not sure about having something brighter for the WRT though - looking for a bivi site and water in the dark (if we ride for that long) may be a bit of a pain.

TJ - thought your tent was 2.6 not 3. You haven't cottoned to the idea of the bivi,ordering goretex. Useless idea. Sinylon is where it's at. You can lose the book too :o)

@Steve - as a cub scout at heart "be prepared" so I'll probably take my Joystick or Diablo as they can be used as a helmet/bar/torch light and nice and light to boot with a decent amount of output.

But on the other hand we'll be in the Travel Lodge all nice and cosy by night fall 😉 as if 😯

don't give away our secrets or there won't be enough room!

Joystick with Piggyback cell and a beacon diffuser. Should provide light for night riding and light your campsite. Then Hope Vision One headlamp, as I can put AA batteries in it and not worry about no charging facility.

[img] [/img]
Alpkit rig[7], stuff sack, pegs, 12m of cordage and tensioners all in, for under 600g

Them's some posh scales ... proper blingy 😀

\didn't I borrow yours Tiger when the one Stu made for me was struggling in the cold and wind last time we were out??

Shhhhhh, nope, not me guv, you what, me? gas user? nah, how dare you!, it's just not possible....

In my defence though, Gas was completely the right choice for the conditions (apart from it freezing and not working) and the faint roar of a gas burner is a not only a prerequisite camping sound it is also a well known bear and rouge camel deterrent. You just don't get the same effect with meths.

Also I seem to remember I got my food and cuppa on pretty sharpish while you, my friend, worried about the prospect of a cold curry and whether or not a litre of red wine has enough calroies to see you through a night.

In fact in the unspoken competitive environment of stove wars. (we all do it but never speak of it) I was only beaten by Steve on the speed to boil stakes who in fairness brought an industrial petrol based flame thrower capable of boiling water at 1.04 gal/sec. The only thing I have seen make bigger flames are the gas flue burners on a North Sea Oil rigs.

Although I did try (well, Steve insisted I try, tactics you see) some orange juice created on said petrol stove that turned out to be as hot as the sun!!! (if not actually hotter) I do remember orange juice instantly blistered my internal organs making anything my tiny Gas stove could boil taste luke warm. Had I had meths I may as well had just gone for a swim in the stream.

So what do we know:

In the unspoken clandestine stove wars Steve won with petrol.
Gas was a happy if not blistered second.
Meths lost

Anyway meths is usually the first choice.

[img] [/img]
Sleeping bag w/stuff sack
[img] [/img]
Cooking pot w/cosy, cup w/cosy, windshield, stove, lighter and Lahoon
[img] [/img]
A weekends supply of meths

In the unspoken clandestine stove wars Steve won with petrol.
Gas was a happy if not blistered second.
Meths lost

What do you mean meths lost?

Steve nearly burnt the wood down.
Your gas froze.
I ate like a king.

[img] [/img]

Valleydaddy:

thinking of a head torch for the bivvy site

Ive got a Alpkit Gamma, They're great, 51Lums and come with a couple of 'AAA' included in the super cheap price of £12.50....

I ate like a king.

Albeit a few hours later.....

What was the rush? Nobody was going anywhere for a few hours anyway.
I seem to remember it took around 10 minutes to prepare my banquet.
Stu ate quickest though, only because he had cold bacon butties so he won i suppose.

Do I get a prize? ... they were just bloody cold too 😉

I used to have some scales like those, until they broke. Not the best for weighing bike bits.

I'm starting to get the weight of my gear down in preparation for the WRT. Mark II tarp is shaping up in my head, just need to unroll the 1.1oz silnylon and sew it 🙂

Found a super lightweight sea-to-summit dry bag in Cotswold the other day too - very thin and light.

I've nearly made my lightweight windshield ala a Caldera Cone - will post some pics of that soon.

argh the weight weenies have started 🙁

I am gonna strap on the Ortliebs again and be the support crew for you all 😯 as if!!

Not doing that again 😳

argh the weight weenies have started

I can't begin to imagine what you had in there though:
[url= http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5245/5239150790_d473ce11dc.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5245/5239150790_d473ce11dc.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/15512491@N08/5239150790/ ]P1030454[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/15512491@N08/ ]ianbarrington[/url], on Flickr

Here's another of you coming of the forest on the Sunday:
[url= http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5009/5238573795_d7cb2d4ec9.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5009/5238573795_d7cb2d4ec9.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/15512491@N08/5238573795/ ]P1030506[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/15512491@N08/ ]ianbarrington[/url], on Flickr

cheers Ian 😳

I think I was carrying enough gear for a week let alone one night 😳

You'll be glad to know:

bike changed
carrying system changed
cooking system changed
tarp changed

all loads smaller and tons lighter - yes I have the bug 😆

plus got a lot better idea what I need and a whole lot I can leave behind and not even miss it 😀

I'd just like to take this opportunity to tell everyone ... I've just been on-line shopping for a new bivvy bag, a nice 200g bivvy bag and instead have left the on-line emporium with a tent! 😯

Wonders off, hanging head in shame.

But what tent - pray tell sir 8)

I'm more interested the 200g bivvy bag?

Bet it's this one
http://www.webtogs.co.uk/Rab_Survival_Zone_Lite_Bivi_Bag_102767.html

One of these

http://www.blacks.co.uk/brand/Vango/product/095560/spirit-200+-tent.html?attribute=166819

At a price I couldn't ignore (certainly not the £200 of this one) The idea is to use it as a 'base camp' and explore from there.

Hmm, nice

Edit: I meant the bivvy bag, not the tent...

Is that sarcasm Mr B 😉

EDIT: With your edit it now all makes sense ... I retract my comment 😉

Oh no!!! you've been influenced by the MBUK article???????????

😯

I've just read several pages of this thread and now want an adventure! anybody want to come? 😛

why not join us on the WRT?

After much reading and getting excited, I've just seen when its going to be - I have to work that weekend. 🙁

that's too bad can you not swop your shifts it's a long way off???, I maybe doing something over the Easter break, not sure on dates as yet and I am sure the others ^^^^^ will be doing loads of other adventures in the coming months - where are you based??

Work in a bike shop / cycle hire shop so busy on bank holidays, so can't really avoid it.

I'm based in Nottingham and Northampton

What's the wrt?
Worlds roughest trip?
Seriously what is it?

[url] http://welshridething.blogspot.com/ [/url]

@Becky, you could always join us on one of our trips
http://www.forestfreeride.co.uk/pages/courses2.html#trips

@Charlie ... if you fancy the WRT just pop me an email across

Worlds roughest trip?

and this is post #953, which is the 18th prime number 8)

Ian, did you source the 1.1oz Silnylon from a UK supplier? I'd be interested to know where, the usual suspects are only listing 2oz+

The Suvival Zone Lite still needs a groundsheet under it!

I'm just prototyping an aluminium front luggage bracket from some 6x60mm plate that slots in place of a headset spacer which projects forward under and beyond the stem to support a drybag securely and out the way of cables. It's being welded up by my local engineers shop as I type, I'll hopefully post pictures once it's done next week.

We are out again tonight, temperature forecast looks promising enough to finally try out my new 350g PHD sleeping bag 🙂

Good luck, weathers looking good pretty much all weekend.

Jealous as superb weather at the moment.

Going to be stuck in a bar at a 40th birthday party tomorrow eve 😆

Had a moment of weakness like you last night Stu and purchased a Rig7 Tarp from Alpkit, got fed up of looking and thought I am sure flatfish has researched the kit extensively so if its good enough for the legend then it's good enough for a valleydaddy 😉

and this is post #953, which is the 18th prime number

your on fire Ian 😀

Yes but this post is 957 which if you divide by 33 then multiply by 2, then add 7, then divide by 3 and add 111 then subtract 92.6 will give you my age next week ... how spooky is that?

You'll not go wrong with a Rig Pete ... good enough for the flat one then it's good enough for anyone 😉

Happy 40th

Thank you Matt.

Hey, found my first grey hair today, it's not good. Think I'll order a Rig[7] as well, might just cheer me up. Although I have just won a Kaffenback frame on ebay. Quite pleased about that. I'll add it to my collection of 'yet to be built' bikes. 🙂

Can't edit the original title but maybe it should be:

[i][b]Getting as old as a dog so, show me you mid life crisis Bivi / Bikepacking / Adventure racing gear.....[/b][/i]