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

Your name's on 'The List' so you're already involved 😉

Your name's on 'The List' so you're already involved

ok I'm game the hunt is on for lightweight lumo gear then 😉

pink camo gear ought to do, now where did I see that???

[IMG] [/IMG]

for starters 😉

tons here

http://www.zazzle.co.uk/pink+camouflage+gifts

I think it should be mandatory for everyone to have something 80’s with them or on.. I'm going to an 80’s style ‘Globe Hypercolour’ T shirt that changes colour when you sweat… Oh well I guess that’s just going to stay the one sweaty colour then…!

Back on Page 25:

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

In between changing nappies, I finished off my Clone with some holes punched around the edge. In the end, I've put about one third of the holes that are shown on the template, with a single row of 21 holes around the top rim, and 19 on a double row on the bottom, but only partially around the base which allows me to direct it or not towards the wind.

[url= http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5268/5574809611_2f7bcddef0_m.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5268/5574809611_2f7bcddef0_m.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/15512491@N08/5574809611/ ]Completed Clone with holes[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/15512491@N08/ ]ianbarrington[/url], on Flickr

So, to the boil test. To keep the test method in line with my previous [url= http://ianbarrington.com/2011/01/09/stove-test-whitebox-vs-vargo-triad/ ]stove test[/url], I boiled 450ml of water in 8m 7s, once the stove is fully primed, which is 4m 21s faster than with a standard windshield.

[url= http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5146/5575395150_a7f4918e12_m.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5146/5575395150_a7f4918e12_m.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/15512491@N08/5575395150/ ]Boil test[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/15512491@N08/ ]ianbarrington[/url], on Flickr

With the significant reduction in boil time, it's definitely worth the effort to make one.

ponce around the forests and mountains singing the theme to Fame

Real world performance test, using the above setup: cup of tea made outside in 8 mins 54s total time in quite windy conditions too.

[url= http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5063/5577107064_9467c414d0_m.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5063/5577107064_9467c414d0_m.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/15512491@N08/5577107064/ ]Outside boil test, with lid[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/15512491@N08/ ]ianbarrington[/url], on Flickr

Very pleased with that 😀

Told you they were good 🙂 Don't burn your decking though

Also good to see you making good use of your paternity time.

I boarded the loft out during mine

Stu....As its April tomorrow, does that mean I get to spend all day enjoying WRT Coordinates your about to email out???
OR
Have I got another day spent doing boring paperwork wishing I was out in the Hills?

@Bigface ... you misunderstand, today is the last day to enter but GR and map details aren't sent out until the end of April, the 28th to be exact. Sorry about that but hey ho back to your paperwork 😉

@Ian, how robust do you think it'll be, get a year out of it do you think?

YOUR JOKIN......NNOOOooooo Gutted thought for some reason it was tomorrow, Going to have to buy myself something now to cheer me up 😥

Something lightweight i hope?

Yeah need a cooking pot...Alpkit?

Alpkits as good as any but i recommended this to Valleydaddy who thinks it's the dogs doodah's,

GSI Halulite Minimalist
[img] [/img]

Tibetan titanium pans are about the lightest you can get. I use a combo of a small 550ml pan and a 450ml mug for extra versatility without incurring much extra weight.

Stu, I think the Clone would reasonably hard wearing. It withstood being blown across the decking earlier without loosing much shape. It is most prone during transit, so if you can roll it and store it in a pan it should be fine.

Bigface, evernew ti stuff is very, very nice. It'll pretty much last longer than any of us will and it's not that expensive all things considered.

http://www.backpackinglight.co.uk/page100.asp

Ian what size of gap is there between the top of your stove and base of your pot when everything's in place?

If your looking at Evernew get it bought sharpish as stocks are low and the factory/staff were affected by the Tsunami in Japan a few weeks back so stock won't be replenished for some time.

These look cool, well cheap anyone used one?

http://www.backpackinglight.co.uk/product527.asp?PageID=100

Bigface, I've not tried one but have been tempted ... reviews seem a little mixed with some testers saying the things split along the folds.

By the way the WRT start list for 2011 is now on the blog

http://welshridething.blogspot.com/

76 unsuspecting victims have been lured into my devilish trap this year 😀

❓

Now that is ultralight!

Back to Big-face, as a vessel only (ie not for cooking too) 60g isn't 'that' light. Just use a disposable cup from a Klix machine at 5g.

Ian what size of gap is there between the top of your stove and base of your pot when everything's in place?

Is it me or is 8+ mins to boil a pint of water very very slow? I was thinking about one of these stoves but that has put me off totally.

What's the rush? ... you're there all night!

Is it me or is 8+ mins to boil a pint of water very very slow?

My MYOG one a few pages above ^^^ boils 400ml of water in about 4 1/2 minutes with one Gelert solid fuel tablet or a [url= http://jwbasecamp.com/Articles/SuperCat/index.html ]supercat[/url] meths burner. However, Anthony's [b](Edit: Not Anthony's but Ian's) [/b]wins when it comes to craftsmanship & aesthetics 🙂

[img] [/img]

Slugwash, you must mean Ian's, my MYOG I've pictured is far from being a winner where craftmanship and aesthetics are concerned!

😳 Sorry! I did mean to double check it before posting but got distracted. Post two above ^^^ now contains an Edit:

Is it me or is 8+ mins to boil a pint of water very very slow?

As Stu and others say, there's no hurry really. I can get the stove lit and a pan on while I do other stuff and it sits there quietly boiling my water with little hassle. Also, it doesn't weigh much. I just happened to weigh my cooking kit, which comprises of a Vargo Tirad, Tibetan 550 pan, 450 Ti mug, Caldera Clone wind shield and a pot warmer comes to 209g before fuel.

Given the light weight, I'm happy to endure 8 mins to boil up for a brew 🙂

Ian's wins when it comes to craftsmanship & aesthetics

Bigface0_0 - Member
These look cool, well cheap anyone used one?

http://www.backpackinglight.co.uk/product527.asp?PageID=100

I picked up one of these last week as I needed another cup/bowl to go with my GSI Halulite Minimalist as pictured above ^^^^^^^^^^^^^ so I can have a brew whilst heating up more water or food.

My thoughts were that it is light enough for what it costs and as it packs flat it will not take up too much space. If I used a disposable cup I would crush it the amount of times I crash on a given day 😉

The disadvantage with those mugs is that you they can't go on a stove. As my mug is metal, it can serve dual duty as a pan or a mug, and weighing only 12g more and costing about £5 more than the X-mug, I think it's more versatile. All my cooking stuff packs inside the larger pan anyway, so I don't feel I'm having to make extra room for it.

One of my principles of being weight efficient it to take stuff that serves a purpose in addition to its primary one, thereby negating the need to take an additional item if a secondary purpose can be fulfilled adequately.

Ian you are right being unable to use to use the the x-mug as a pan is a disadvantage but I have bought it now so will have to give it a field test and see how I get on with it. I guess if it does fail I will get a tibetan mug like yours if they are £15, can you give me the link for it please so I can save as a fav please?

Congratulations on the new addition to the Barrington family

I got mine from a local outdoor shop where I get a discount, but they have them [url= http://www.penrithsurvival.com/penrith_survival/mia/pid/7826499 ]here[/url] for £15.

Thanks Pete and everyone else for your congrats on our little baby girl - we've called her Sophie.

If you want a gas stove to work in very cold weather you need a piece of copper pipe, flatten it and bend it around your stove and gas canister, a sort of U shape so the two ends are in the flame, bind to gas canister with copper wire. Great heat sink, all the stove manufacturers will recommend you don't do this, I'm not even saying try it, but it works in snow and at altitude.

The 'X Mug' fits in a MSR Ti Kettle, along with stove, gas, stove, spork and windshield. So definite win imo. Accept I can't bung it in a flame but it will hold coffee whilst I boil water for more coffee.

Any chance of a few more pictures showing bikes / kit overnite bivis etc? Looking for inspiriation.

NCB take a look here http://www.bikepacking.net/category/individual_setups/

great link Stuart that's going to be great wasting a few hours surfing through that lot when the sun goes down 😕

[url= http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5131/5584841245_81628418df.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5131/5584841245_81628418df.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/61239006@N04/5584841245/ ]SANY0503[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/61239006@N04/ ]john502011[/url], on Flickr

Thought id show you my kit so far, mostly from already what ive got from running. Recently bought the polythene sheet, the thickness of it alarms me a little. Stove is a pocket rocket and pan a primus.

What do you guys wear on your feet when bikepacking? Im sticking to flat pedals, if having to walk a bit might wear my walking boots.

[url= http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5028/5584842385_5c76148a23.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5028/5584842385_5c76148a23.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/61239006@N04/5584842385/ ]SANY0505[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/61239006@N04/ ]john502011[/url], on Flickr

I just wear my 5:10s but I'm about the only one I know of who isn't clipped in ... I suppose shoe choice is always going to be a compromise whatever you do.

I just wear my 5:10s but I'm about the only one I know of who isn't clipped in ... I suppose shoe choice is always going to be a compromise whatever you do.

I do use spd's, got some dhb plastic soled ones but theyre no use for walking in. I'll see how im doing for cash and might buy some 5:10s.

Got some old Shimano SPD come walking shoe things, had 'em for years (maybe 5+ years) I use them for everything on the bike. Rubber walking boot type soles with recessed cleats so walking is fine.

Here you go, rock n roll

[url= http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5109/5585586496_e9b0cea288.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5109/5585586496_e9b0cea288.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/fantasticmrmatt/5585586496/ ]

Shoes[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/fantasticmrmatt/ ]fantasticmrmatt[/url], on Flickr

Very cold in snow 😐

Mavic Switchback, fine to walk in and 'excellent traction with Terra Grip Outsole', i do like the way these companies decribed their products 🙄

weather dependant I'll be in Spesh defrosters to keep my feet as dry as possible or if there's a heatwave on I'll be in my Spesh disco slippers 😉

Sorry, back to page 25 again:

Anthony - Member
PHD Minim Ultra sleeping bag (genuine 900EU fill mmmmmm) 345g
PHD Minimus vest 240g

Anthony - How do you find this combination in use, and how cold have you found you can take it down to?

Shoes - just bought some of [url= http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=46681 ]these[/url]. They still feel quite stiff around the uppers, so need to be broken in a bit before they turn up for the WRT. Not everyone's cup of tea in terms of styling (flatfish), but they seemed OK for the money.

Disco slippers for WRT and normal socks. There is almost guaranteed bog to go through at some point and seal skins/waterproof spuds will just hold the water IN. It'll be plenty warm enough so your toes won't freeze anyway.

may have to make some SPD sandels if the weather is cracking as promised by Stuart 😉

may have to make some SPD sandels if the weather is cracking as promised by Stuart

Sealskins with: http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?PartnerID=79&ModelID=46688 would look classy 😉

Oh what didn't realise you could actually get them ready made 😯

I don't think I will be risking my toes with the way I ride 😉

And for the flattiephile [url= http://www.sandalandsoxer.co.uk/home.htm ]Is this Stuart on his day off?[/url]

I have to say the chap in the top picture does look a little like me 😀

Valleydaddy come May 28th it'll be cracking the flags ... a full complement of comedy cycling tan lines will be expected upon return!

I have to say the chap in the top picture does look a little like me

is this you Stuart??

[IMG] [/IMG]

as long as no one turns up like this other wise I'll set a course record 😆

[IMG] [/IMG]

It's not me Valleydaddy ... but on a dark night?

Ian, Re. the PHD kit,

I only bought the Ultra sleeping bag mid-March so have only used it once to date, initial impressions are good though and as a modular sleeping system I'm happy with my choice. The combination of this, an Alpkit PD800 bag, a balloon bed and a neoair give me lightweight 4-season coverage depending on what combinations I take.

The Ultra sleeping bag feels incredibly thin but it is held in very high regard by those that have used it in temperatures below the '8C they recommend. PHD are one of the few companies I trust regarding the quality of their down.

When I used it, we were sleeping on bare rock with only a short balloon bed for ground protection (+Rab bivvy bag). I used a 100g silk liner, Lifa base layers and my 450g 800-fill Montane jacket and was perfectly warm and cosy. Temperatures were 3-4'C before windchill.

The vest is absolutely stunning, it has a huge loft for such a tiny pack size. PHD are very conservative with their stuff sacks. The Ultra sleeping bag fits in the vest stuffsack (0.8L ish) and the vest fits into a spare tent peg bag at around 0.4L. The sleeping bag, vest and silk liner fit in a 3L dry bag without any effort.

I'll be using the Ultra bag and Minimus vest on the WRT.

Shoes - Summer race shoes with WoolieBoolie's. Spare merino socks for evening wear and plastic bags to keep them dry inside the wet shoes. If it rains!!

[url= ]A WRT'er earlier[/url][img] http://www.sandalandsoxer.co.uk/beach2.jp g" target="_blank">http://www.sandalandsoxer.co.uk/beach2.jp g"/> [/img]

😥 My eyes

That lad;s got no trouble packing has he? 😀

Novel solution as to where to pack a balloon mat 😯

right lets get back on track is this a set up to aspire too??

[IMG] [/IMG]

Just found this photo of James Cracknell on the Yukon Arctic Ultra

Note the framebags 🙂

[img] [/img]

[url= ]Big Image[/url]

Tiger nice spot

I would be interested in those but would have to see what Ian and Beth have come up with to look after the local guys 🙂

I doubt Alpkit will be making bespoke frame bags, more universal type ones. Although i prepare to be shot down by somebody else on here.

I suggested they have a go at it 12 months ago when the waiting list from Revelate was about 4 months, they said it was on their radar but low numbers and the variation of frame shapes was an issue, better response than Carradice who just said "we don't do one offs" By the way, my Wildcat one is ace, holds a Jetboil stood up down the seat tube, very pleased. 🙂

It would be the "big" saddle bags I would be interested in initially so I they would be universal, I have emailed them to and will let you know the response.

Alpkit frame bag and Saddle pack, were do I sign.... Would love one of those bad boys...

Nothing new watch this 😀 (i never get the embed thingy to work!)

part 2

<iframe title="YouTube video player" width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/zKfNKNxntY0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Linky no worky 😥

try it now

😆 that's better my dad used to do the same thing back in the 50's on his steel sturmy archer 3 speed and a cotton tent 😯

he can't believe how small/light stuff is nowadays 😉

great stuff, what a feast he set out! Looking forward to having a go myself now.

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This 3rd picture ^^^^^^^ has about the same amount of kit as Ive got waiting to be fitted to my bike, Im sure I 'Need' everything 😉

Who's using a GPS for WRT or are people just 'using the force' I mean paper maps?
I do like the idea of just loading the route into the GPS (maybe a Garmin Edge 705, not got a it yet) and just following the route and enjoying the view.. I will have the paper jobs for just in case but not sure...?

There is some serious gear on them there bikes above and I think I take a lot of stuff!!!

Probably going to use good old maps unless Steve has a magic GPS?

More fun doing it old school surely, may use OS online and print off route on that if I am feeling technically adept at that time.

Terra Nova Laser Competion tent:-
My riding buddy has just treated himself to one of these for WRT, anyone tested, used one of these....?

Oh and

didnothingfatal

Hdwhciwckllc;wkcn

Is the worst blog post ever!