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Wait until they're not on your head but elsewhere 😉
Happy 40th Stu for next week
Can we have a STW party????
No 'cos I'm still antisocial 😀
EDIT: Saying that though, it was Percy the llamas 16th birthday last week so everyone had extra carrots and a chorus of happy birthday, suppose I can't be that antisocial 😉
Was Rio Ferdinand upset he lost the captaincy though??
He got extra carrots too ... I'm amazed you remember their names.
Was Rio Ferdinand upset he lost the captaincy though??
Oh dear! It looks like I'll have to grab my doss sack and a tin of beans and head off into the hills to avoid any football talk.
Crikey, I hate the game It don't belong on a camping thread 😉
Don't worry slugwash ... the Llama is called Ferdinand after the prince not the tosser, just people assume it must be the tosser. I also hate football with a passion.
I thought it was an awesome name for your llama 😀
just one of those random things you remember from time to time Stu 😀
Don't worry slugs we'll get back on track
will we break the 1000 post mark tonight?????
so what is everyone shopping for tonight I picked up one of these today as I needed a mug/bowl/cup and thought as it folds flat it will go in the frame bag really well.
http://www.ellis-brigham.com/camping/sea-to-summit/253192/x-mug
will we break the 1000 post mark tonight?????
not going to happen tonight 🙁
971 - 20th prime number
IGMC
edit - on a more serious note, I'll post up some pics of my Caldera Clone in a mo - just finishing it off
OK then, serious (foil) hat on now: Caldera Clones.
I googled them and found a long and detailed thread on Outdoors Magic [url= http://www.outdoorsmagic.com/forum/forummessages/mps/dt/3/UTN/22357/last/1/V/2/SP/ ]here[/url]. I emailed the guy who worked out a template to create them and he sent me the latest version. It uses PostScript language, which for PC's you'll need to download some (free) software to open it up. I use a Mac, which conveniently turned the .ps file into .pdf without me having to do anything special.
I fiddled around with a couple of paper versions first to try out the various parameters of the template:
[url= http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5258/5454725726_6c66b75b0e_m.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/15512491@N08/5454725726/ ]Caldera Clone - paper trial[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/15512491@N08/ ]ianbarrington[/url], on Flickr
Once I was happy with the a template, I sourced some 0.15mm alu foil from [url= http://www.backpackinglight.co.uk/product308.asp?PageID=110 ]here[/url], and then printed and cut out out my final template:
[url= http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5182/5557109188_0a43411e61_m.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/15512491@N08/5557109188/ ]Caldera clone ready to be cut out[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/15512491@N08/ ]ianbarrington[/url], on Flickr
After about half an hour I had this, though I still need to add the vent holes:
[url= http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5051/5559246327_70fef97034_m.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/15512491@N08/5559246327/ ]Completed Caldera Clone[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/15512491@N08/ ]ianbarrington[/url], on Flickr
The final version I produced had a series of fissues on it that interlock, so I can split it down into two parts, roll it up and pop it in my pan, thus:
[url= http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5225/5559828776_efe30b979b_m.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/15512491@N08/5559828776/ ]Caldera Clone packed[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/15512491@N08/ ]ianbarrington[/url], on Flickr
It weighs 21g, which is a 5g lighter my the other one, but looks more stable and more effective at excluding drafts.
Overall it was all a bit of a faff, but I'm quite pleased with it. It cost me £7 instead of £35 for a proper Caldera one. However, I suspect that the Caldera ones would be a thicker grade foil, as you have to handle this stuff a little more carefully. Because of this, I think it will be susceptible to picking up small creases or folds through use, but we'll see.
As ever, you learn a lot doing the first one, and there is only enough foil supplied to do one, even for a small pan such at the Tibetan 550.
Very nice job Ian, it'll be interesting to see what effect it has on boil times. If it works well I anticipate a world foil shortage 😉
that's great Ian, I like the idea of the wind shield as in the link you put up, but in my quest for weenieness I guess it would be too heavy 😕
Got my alpkit today so my smaller gear is coming together.
I also remembered I had one of these
http://www.trekmates.co.uk/569/Trekmates-Bivvy-Bag.html
that I had from TK Maxx last year reduced to £5
only 366g so may come on WRT if the weather is looking good to reduce weight and bulk.
Do you lot use these on tarps
http://www.alpkit.com/shop/cart.php?target=product&product_id=16304&category_id=250
as in this
[IMG] 
[/IMG]
I think it would be a good idea, as it will speed tarp set up, as you can just move the clips to the right place and lash it down. No fumbling around undoing knots etc.
Next thing I need to practice my knot tying 🙂
I hope there's room for two under that Tarp pete - you know how pissed off I get when there's no space!
🙁 Try again...
Looking at tarps its a fight off between the Alpkit rig and the integral siltarp, anyone use a siltarp? Its lighter than the alpkit rig so getting pulled towards it, but not seen either in the flesh.
Think it's down to compromise John ... siltarps are pretty expensive compared to Alpkit for the same size, so it all depends whether the weight saving is worth it to you. Polythene tarp's lighter than anything 😉
@Valleydaddy, I've used clips before on tarps, work well enough. Flatfish has some very nice bits and bobs for rigging tarps up without needing to be a boy scout in the knot department.
So if i'm looking to build up a new bike that is bikepacking friendly, any suggestions?
Has to have gears and no 29ers (i'm lazy and short)
@s8tannorm - once I've done the vents I'll do a boil test to the same standards as my recent test for a close comparison.
@Anthony - I got my silnylin from Quest Outfitters in the US. Carrington apparently make it in the UK, but it appears impossible to get hold of
@Chew - something like an On One Inbred would be a good starting point I think. Being short doesn't necessarily preclude a 29er, check out the WRT blog for the bike Stu is building: that's a 29er and he's not known for being lanky
I've got a Scandal but I reckon on Inbred (bit more give/comfort) would be better. Idea was just to keep it simple.
All easy to service / trail repair
3x9 XT/SLX drive train
BB7 cable brakes
Coil forks
Whatever was cheap at On-one that week, that sort of stuff. (Hence the comedy disc brakes!)
[img] 
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For one end of the ridgeline (Niteize knotbone)
[img] 
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And to tighten it all up (Figure 9 rope tightener)
[img] 
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The Encylopedia of Knots and Ropework by Geofrey Budworth is worth getting if you want to learn knot tying fir yourself
Mini Lineloc's and 1.5mm dyneema makes for great guying btw.
Thanks for the info Ian. I suspect the siltarp is the easiest option then, especially as it's notoriously difficult to sew anyway.
Thats the 200g Rab Survival Zone-Lite and a Siltarp1 now on the wish list for this summer then. £160 to save 200g, it's about the same cost as saving weight from an XC race bike!!
So thats Sleeping bag, bivvy bag, tarp, cooker and down vest all in under 1KG, Nice.
We had a great time bivvying in the caves on Stannage Edge Friday night, it was cold and uncomfortable sleeping on the uneven rocks though. Fortunately I had my down jacket to suppliment the 8'C sleeping bag so was toasty warm 🙂
So thats Sleeping bag, bivvy bag, tarp, cooker and down vest all in under 1KG, Nice.
Sounds very good indeed. Just remind me exactly what this comprises of again?
No need for those flatfish, just use an italian hitch knot. 🙂
Think it's down to compromise John ... siltarps are pretty expensive compared to Alpkit for the same size, so it all depends whether the weight saving is worth it to you. Polythene tarp's lighter than anything
Cheers, think im going to go the polythene route with some of those tarp clips
My advice for the poly tarp would be to edge the short sides with duct tape ... it'll stop the thing tearing, the short sides seem to be the ones that that the greatest stress.
I hope there's room for two under that Tarp pete - you know how pissed off I get when there's no space!
always room for you Sir yes Sir 😉
cheers for the ideas about knots etc, I will get practicing
PHD Minim Ultra sleeping bag (genuine 900EU fill mmmmmm) 345g
PHD Minimus vest 240g
Rab Survival Zone Lite bivvy bag 200g (claimed)
Siltarp1 200g (claimed)
Caldera stove 16g
1001g, 1g over, sorry Ian! (add in 68g for balloon bed, forgot that beauty!)
At the moment my tarp is 320g, home-made from 2oz nylon and my bivvy bag is a standard Suvival Zone @320g hence the 200g saving from the 2 items mentioned above.
I almost went for the 150g Ultra vest but the Minimus is one that I can wear day in day out so could justify the cost a bit more. My kit is far from money no object, everything is obsessed over then saved up for.
And yes I know that doesn't include the sundries required for them like dry bags, fuel, wind shield, cooking pans, pegs etc. I could list those too but there is a limit to how much of a geek I'll admit to!
(My ballon bed stuff sack weighed 7g, I sewed it in half as it was too big anyway!! most of the time I prefer to leave stuff sacks at home anyway.)
What can I say, the kit prep is half the fun.
I've a PHD Ultra vest sat on my desk just waiting for some lucky WRTer to walk off with it in the raffle 😀
'Tis very very nice.
That is some raffle prize! Is it a med? 🙂
Yep ... it's a medium in black 😉
Yep ... it's a medium in black
I'd slim to fit that 😆
LOL, I'm glad I've only got a 30" waist the Ultra sleeping bag is certainly a slim fit!
I'm running out of excuses not to ride the WRT 🙂
Anthony well sign up then fella it's for a great cause too 😀
If I'm offered post #1000 😉 in 3 posts time.....
Would you like an entry form emailing over? ... there's still time 😀
Where's Ian?
Well post #1000
What can we summarise from this thread:
Well you'll be all glad to hear I am no longer 'Sick as a dog'
Also since this thread started I have spent ~ £500 on 'gear'
I have slept outside 5 times
Twice in the 'bag' three time in the tent
I have bought a hammock I have never used
I have a whole new bike for the WRT
I have a super exclusive Wildcat frame bag for said new bike
I have made more stoves than is healthy
Sometimes I just go and make a brew in the back garden
Damn missed it
Anybody got any opinions on winwood outdoor?
They have loads of light weight stuff but everything seems to be out of stock.
Like the look of the terra nova bivi tarp?
Andy
All those posts at once!!
Stu, fire it over, timings not great but never say never 🙂
Anthony ... email sent.
AJ, I've never bought owt so can't comment but I know what you mean about stock. The Terra Nova tarp thing didn't get a fantastic review in this months Trail (if that means owt).
Tiger ... brewing up just for the sake of it is one of lifes greatest pleasures 😀
My ballon bed stuff sack weighed 7g, I sewed it in half as it was too big anyway!!
Aha! Complete waste of time. I used my balloon bed stuff sack to accomodate my 260g Uniqlo down parka and repacked my balloon bed in my smaller Alpkit tent peg stuff sack, thus hiding my hideously inadequate sewing skills from everybody 😉 ......
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/8308384@N06/5125198769/ ]OMM 2010 Kit - Including Cunning Stuff Sack Reshuffle[/url]
Damn missed it
Me too ! And even more tragic for me as I'd bagged post #500 and had had my eye on #1000 for a week or two 🙁
Life just ain't fair sometimes 😉
Damn missed it
pesky lurkers
How much warmer is the 260g Uniqlo down top than say a 100weight fleece jumper that weighs about the same?
What down is in them? Their price always makes them tempting!
And whoa there, what were you doing taking the case for your Elite on the OMM, it weighs more than the headlight!!
How much warmer is the 260g Uniqlo down top than say a 100weight fleece jumper that weighs about the same?
Dunno exactly, but IMO it's significantly warmer, especially with the hood, more comfortable and packs down smaller.
What down is in them? Their price always makes them tempting!
Can't remember. Nothing special, maybe 650. Worth getting in one of their spontaneous sales (For as low as £29) if they do them again next winter.
And whoa there, what were you doing taking the case for your Elite on the OMM, it weighs more than the headlight!!
Erhh? ....It doubled up as my bowl and cup? 😉 Seriously though, a good point. Although considering that our tent weighed over 2.5 kilogrammes we weren't exactly the lightest travelling runners on the event!
Picked up my bar-bracket this afternoon. Really rather pleased, the welds aren't pretty but then it was an agricultural engineers I used to tig weld it for me! For just £5 to weld it though I really was chuffed as they do appear nice deep welds and they sorted it pretty much overnight. Total outlay, about £15.00
[IMG] 
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[IMG] 
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The small holes are where I will zip-tie the drain-pipe through to the 'chassis'.
[IMG] 
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I'm going to add a couple of zip-ties to secure it to the stem too, taking out any possible bounce but it feels pretty solid anyway. It clears all the cables nicely which was my main aim. I'm looking forward to loading it up and trying it \o/.
Where's Ian?
You'll have to pencil him in for the 2000th post 😉
We were busy last night with a very important delivery. Our little baby girl was born in the very early hours of this morning. Back home now and all doing well 😀
Beth
🙂
YAY!!! 😀
Anthony we could have done with that on the snow bivvy adventure as a snow plow 😉
Looks a great invention, what's the weight like???
We were busy last night with a very important delivery. Our little baby girl was born in the very early hours of this morning. Back home now and all doing wellBeth
Congratulations to you both great news 😀
Complete weight is an embarrassing 425g without zip-ties. But, if it means that luggage can be loaded more evenly and securly then hopefully the bike will ride better for it.
I've tried various ways of strapping a drybag to the bars but nothing seemed to work properly. I'd prefer to have soft lightweight items in my camelbak and wierd pointy heavy items strapped onto the bike.
I'm pretty sure it's strong enough to support my 2 1/2yr old boy, who would probably jump at the chance of trying it out!!
It does look good and strong though, I'm sure it'll be up to the job and a good value solution.
Beth, Ian, ace news. Well done Beth for being 1st to post 🙂 very happy for you both.
All the best, Matt
Aye, congratulations and it's great to know everyone's doing well 😀
Anthony, nice work there.
Anthony, that thing is a disgrace to your bike!! And shame on you for making something so heavy 🙄
One more thing to mention is about Anthony's balloon bed. Not sure what he's been telling you lot on here but when we camping last Friday night all i could hear as i was trying to get to sleep was the popping sound of his balloons!! Think he confessed to having to blow up an extra 7 through the night 😆 I get the saving weight thing but this bed is not worth it in my opinion 😀
Pish I lost but 3 tis all.
Panic ye all not, my entry for WRT will be posted tomorrow. I'M IN 🙂
Good man ... numbers are looking very healthy but I'll endevour to spread everyone out 😉
Thanks for all your kind words. I'll post a pic of the little angel soon 🙂
Regarding handlebar harness systems, you'll be pleased to hear that we're developing a harness to go with our frame bags. Minimal interference with the bike and maximum stability are two key design issues we wanted to address. A prototype was deployed into darkest mid-Wales for rigorous testing earlier this month, and reports on the performance are good so far.
Beth
Late at usual but hey ho. I have just read all 26 pages in one go and I'm dizzy with info and inspiration. The one question that seems to have not been mentioned is do you wear one lot of riding kit and just put up with the fact its going to be damp and maybe smelly the next day or do you dry it out (how?) or do you take a change of kit for each day ?
I have one of the Scandal prototypes from years ago lined up as my multidayer and I already have quite a bit of light weight outdoor kit from my walking trips. I reckon I could be up and running in a couple of weeks and I'm going to see if any my normal riding pals are up for WRT.
One lot of kit, last 3 day'er I did I got home and my 4 year old daughter told me she wouldn't give me a cuddle and told me to get out of the house as I was very smelly.
Depends on the weather, if it's wet i'll take a lightweight set of dry evening kit then wet kit back on in the morning.
If it's dry i'll probably use one set of kit.
I plan to do the same as flatfish and take my a change for the evening as I detest sleeping in damp clothes, plus it makes for a lot more pleasant trip all around 😀
So the question is what lightweight clothes are recommended??
HH Lifa L/S base-layer and Lifa long-johns and a PHD down vest for me which will then double up as sleeping wear rather than a silk bag-liner. Plastic bags to wear over dry evening socks to stop wet shoes just making them wet straight away.
Long johns are no more embrassing than cycling tights!
I've got some Regatta stuff for evening / sleeping duties (when I remember). It's a micro fleece top and long bottoms, very warm, packs small and weighs not much ... also much cheapness. Go Outdoors possibly worth a try for some, they come packaged as a pair.
pb2 is you fancy the WRT you'll need to be sharpish, ie within the next 48 hours. Email me if you want in. stuart@forestfreeride.co.uk
HHHmm, Im going for these clothes so far:-
1 pair of Gore cycle short
2 jerseys
Lightweight cycle jacket
Base layer (sleeping)
Seal socks
Fluffy gay looking socks (sleeping)
Running leggings (sleeping)
Berghaus jacket (outer, for if its wet eve)
Fleece hat
Gloves
Im sure I wont need half this stuff as Stu's already booked a Super sunny 3 days stretch..
gay looking socks? I'm intrigued as to how a sock can look gay?! Dose it have embroidery one one man kissing another man?
Set of Lifa for the nights, normal cycling kit for the day, plus a microfleece top for extra warmth on/off bike and spare pair of socks.
Couldn't sleep in cycling bib shorts/longs - an overnight chammy is not a pleasant sight/smell 😳
Has anybody used Esbit kit? I'm interested in [url= http://www.lovingoutdoors.co.uk/esbit-985ml-cookset-spirit-solid-fuel.html ]this.[/url]
Right with you now,
So one set of clothes for the bike and one set for sleeping should get you through at least 3 days without a wash 😐
So one set for riding and one set for sleeping
For riding the bike:
I reckon on boggo lycra cycling shorts
Some water proof breathable shorts on top unless it's 0% chance of rain in which case some humvees etc.
Base layer
Jersey
Gloves
For off the bike Clothes.(Camp,.emergency)
Waterproof.Jacket......Rab.Drillium.
Insulation.............Patagonia.Down.Sweater.
Hat....................North.Face.Hat
Gloves.(stopped).......Rab.Powerstretch.Glove..
Thermals...............Helly.Hansen.Lifa.Top.
.......................and.Leggings
Spare Socks.
2x.large.food.bags....to keep night socks dry
I think developing a tramp like appearance and smell is part of bikepacking ... I have spent many years in training 😉
gay looking socks
I wanted some sort of fleece sock/warm ones so I tasked the wife with the job and she came back with pink fluffy ones.... 🙄
Diawi, not tried one but have looked before. If you fancy the idea of solid fuel / meths then it doesn't look a bad buy. The brass meths burner won't be the lightest thing in the world though.
How much do gay looking socks weight then? If they're fluffy then they might come up light on the scales. I might get the old crochet kit out later and do myself a pair of MYOG ones 😉
I wanted some sort of fleece sock/warm ones so I tasked the wife with the job and she came back with pink fluffy ones.
Ha! I'm imagining aerobics style socks now.
Perhaps we can all start to wear 80's leg warmers and ponce around the forests and mountains singing the theme to Fame 😯
Perhaps we can all start to wear 80's leg warmers and ponce around the forests and mountains singing the theme to Fame
What you want to do in your spare time is fine by me but don't get us all involved 😉
We could have a retro early 90's throw back to when everthing was luminous I am sure I have some of that gear somewhere 😯