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

Thanks s8tannorm, already read the blog :).

The MSR one is heavier than the pole I'm currently using and I think the Ultralight will be too flexible.

I've been using the longer pole tarp from Mountain Laurel designs for the entrance (which is an Easton Carbon Fibre one) but it needs something chunkier to hold the tarp up inside.

I was hoping somebody had made a "tent pole like one" out of reasonable diameter carbon fibre but haven't found anything yet.

Stu.

PS- incidentally your Blog is responsible for me buying a Freeload rack so you've been leading me astray already...

volrish, what camera are you using? Those images are stunning!

@TBC where are the PO bags from? Their site seems to be down.

@Miki Thanks. A Canon 5d mkII - the one I complain about in my blog post for being too heavy 😉

jamest - Member
I have just bought myself a pocket stove, yet to fire it up, but have used a bush cooker quite a bit and really like the wood fuel option, the pocket stove just seems smaller and lighter, look fwd to getting it lit.

Let me know what you think of it as I'm considering buying one of these. Pics would be good too 😉

@ nickswolves: Have a look here:
http://www.theoutdoorsstation.co.uk/2012/02/the-2012-pocket-stove-stainless-steel-and-titanium/

I have heard on another podcast that backpacking light uk are soon to release another wood burning stove that like the bush cooker uses regasification (means you get maximum burn from the wood) except it will be much smaller, it's going to be called the wilderness stove and out anytime soon, might be worth the wait..

@Vorlich - i can get you some from madison if you like,

Scrub that - they have run out. Sorry!

@TBC

No worries. Having just bought a 29er frame off here to build I'm skint anyway. 🙁

Completed my first ever kip in a bivi last night. Admittedly, it was in my back garden, but still enjoyed it.

Hoyed it down about 3am, but was kinda cool and the Hunka kept me dry.

Definitely looking forward to venturing further afield.

Amazingly the sun just came out here in the Burgh so excited now about a potentially drier night than originally thought.

Will report later or tomorrow of whisky n stuff depending on the 3g's.

Here's a question for you - Do you put your mat in your bivi bag too, or leave it out?

Using a tent here so can't help with that one i'm afraid.

Here's a question for you - Do you put your mat in your bivi bag too, or leave it out?

For me, it depends on how wet the ground is. If it's soaking, i'd cram the mat into the bivi as i reckon it's more water proof, and i don't want my mat to get soaking. But if the ground is fairly dry, the mat goes on outside, as i have a tendency to roll around an awful lot in my sleep.

I just thougth I'd share some pics of a South Downs shake down bivvy ride a few of us did in preperation for the WRT. Focus, as usual, wasn't on milage but the food and rum. I'm sure that our relaxed training regime will ultimately lead to us being punished in the hills of Wales, but ah, it's not a race.

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And a nice dawn view.
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nice pics, Hoojum.

Here's a question for you - Do you put your mat in your bivi bag too, or leave it out?

My preference is to put the mat inside the bag, but I make sure I only buy bivy bags that have enough space in them to allow it. If it's going to be a squeeze I'd rather have the mat outside.

Hoojum does that big stick fold down and go inside the frame bag? 😉

That was a friends clever design. All he needed was a scavenged stick 5 pegs and a single guy line. I thought it worked well.

I don't think he plans to stow the stick away for his next camp... 🙂

Pedalhead - I always put my mat inside the bivvy, otherwise I end up chasing it around all night. I know there's loads of reasons for having it outside but I prefer to have a groundsheet and mat inside.

This thread will never die!!

With a bit of luck....

@hoojum

nice pics, looks a laugh. Whereabouts on the SDW is this? Approximately, if you prefer.

Location is East of Southease Station, East Sussex across the A26 Beddinghsm - Newhaven road, overlooking the River Ouse - Up there on that there hill...

We ate well that night, veggie and chorizo kebabs, snags and morrocan rice, desert custard, brownies, caramel rocky biscuits, blueband wafers, just chucked it all in with a splash o rum, yum yum!

Woop Woop 29er coming through!!!

Went out Tuesday night for a night in my hammock.
Weather forecast was so good, I didn't bother taking any wet-weather gear or particularly warm layers.

Headed out to the Goyt Valley again.

6:00am in the morning
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I packed slightly differently from before. I put more weight on the bike and much less in the backpack. Last time my back was a bit achy. This made it a slight struggle to lift one-handed over kissing-gates, but it was still doable.

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I was using my Wildcat Gear Mountain Lion for the first time proper. It was a little fiddly to set up, but was rock solid. Being able to detach the bag at night and pop it back in in the morning, with no fiddling, was really nice.

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As soon as I set off in the morning, I found a huge patch of Wood Sorrel, which was super-tasty.

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Cycled along the reservoirs

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Then climbed out of the valley towards the cat&fiddle

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Headed to Three Shires Head for breakfast

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Where I used my home made double-wall woodgas stove with some random packet of dehydrated mush 🙂

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Was absolutely spent when I got back (and a little burnt), but what an incredible day! So lucky to have all this within a 15k radius.

Not a trip report, but I'm so excited that my Revelate Viscacha and new Sweet Roll handlebar bag just arrived from Anchorage!

Dammit - why is it whenever I want something from Alpkit, it's out of stock! With a couple of months leadtime!
Every year!
I wouldn't mind, but I only want a couple of Airlok XTras - fairly perennial items.

/minor rant over

Every year!
I wouldn't mind, but I only want a couple of Airlok XTras - fairly perennial items.

Alex, it's getting close to the WRT, it always happens 😉

it always happens

Alpkit make a nice framebag though.. Thanks to Jim and Anna there for one of their first ones, made to fit my steel Jones and used along 600-odd miles of dirt tracks and rocky fun in the french/spanish border area of the Pyrenees and into N Spain to the W coast. Made in the UK and although not VX21 type material, very light (240g for this bag, vs 200-ish for my smaller VX21 spaceframe bag and 500g for the buggybag of similar dimensions).

[url= http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7234/7243394534_3b5eaaa40e.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7234/7243394534_3b5eaaa40e.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/67338272@N05/7243394534/ ]DSCN8499[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/67338272@N05/ ]james-o[/url], on Flickr

It put up with my over-stuffing, ham-fisted zip operating and general ability to wreck rucsacs through careless use anyway, all good so far.

[url= http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7226/7241707860_261d2f2a25.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7226/7241707860_261d2f2a25.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/67338272@N05/7241707860/ ]DSCN8549[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/67338272@N05/ ]james-o[/url], on Flickr

[url= http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5323/7241739014_b68c6b272b.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5323/7241739014_b68c6b272b.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/67338272@N05/7241739014/ ]DSCN8940[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/67338272@N05/ ]james-o[/url], on Flickr

[url= http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7235/7243649250_4f347d29a2.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7235/7243649250_4f347d29a2.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/67338272@N05/7243649250/ ]DSCN8525[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/67338272@N05/ ]james-o[/url], on Flickr

Great trip - 2 nights under a roof and the rest in the woods and hills. Big fan of a tarp i/o a bivi bag now, for summer overnighters it's a tarp only.

Alex. Great pics and your bivi ride sounds great. Your a lucky man to have all that on your doorstep.

Do you always use a hammock?

Do you always use a hammock?

There's something about being off the ground and swaddled that I really like. It feels like a luxury. I find sleeping bags/bivi bags constrictive - I like to stick limbs out all over the place. In my hammock I use a top quilt and can sprawl anyway I like!

Note that I only really like hammocks that allow you to sleep flat on the diagonal (sometimes called asym), then you can lie on your side, front, etc.
Otherwise, my knees didn't like the straight hammock position - I had to put a bag under them to stop them aching.

I've got a new one coming in the post this week! It's got an integral midge net, which was a weakness on my current one (had a separate net, but it wasn't tiny midge-proof).

This is the new one - ultralight although pretty minimal compared to my current Nomad XXL one!

So if we're talking about ultralight set-ups for a 1-2 night summer trip, what pack weights have people got?

I've thinned it all down to 8.75lb / 3980g not inc food and water for my first local SS 2 day trip. Compares well to the 18lbs all-up kit weight I used for the spain ride. 8.75lb plus a bike that's about 23lbs (not weighed it but it's a Ti Jones SF SS, pretty light anyway) - so still not the 30lb or less I thought I could get to.

I think I've got enough to be comfy enough - fleece bag liner and warm, light jacket to sleep in, a small 150g-ish tarp to keep dew off and leave the bivi bag out, a foam mat that's ok for a couple of nights as long as there's soft dry stuff to gather up and go underneath, ipod / phone etc, Tikka head torch, MytiMug and Ortleib coffee filter with MSR pocket rocket stove and small gas can as I like a fast faff-free roacket-fuel morning brew. So maybe there's room to save a pound or so still?

Come on then everyone - show us your photos from the weekend!
Or are you still out?

Come on then everyone - show us your photos from the weekend!

Oh, alright then. Southern Dartmoor trip......

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Is that 2 nights? Looks great. The orange sun with absolutely no clouds looks stunning!
That last photo is a beaut too.

@jameso ... I recall the lightest set-up at last years WRT belonged to Nick from AlpKit and was about 32lb ... that included everything, bike, luggage, kit, food and water.

I'm expecting something sub 30lb this year.

Better add to Slugwash's.... We certainly had a cracker to make up for a crap April with no bivvies.
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It was hot...
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Amazes me how few people come out here
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Here's some close-ups of my stove kit.

It works a treat. Weighs very little indeed and cost about 50p
(one can of tesco value potatoes and 2 cans of peas I think)
I could bring myself to eat the canned potatoes 🙂

It fits perfectly inside an Alpkit mytimug.
It also fits a pop-can stove (made from a Budweiser word cup beer can) inside, a bit of vasalene-rubbed cotton wool and a tiny bottle of meths as a backup.

The only real requirement is that you've got a bit of time on the journey to faff a little - finding wood, setting the fire, getting it hot enough to ignite the woodgas, then constantly feeding it small twigs, etc.
But I enjoy doing all that - it's a highlight of my trips.

[url= http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8012/7286517586_3d539e32d0.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8012/7286517586_3d539e32d0.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/thingswelike/7286517586/ ]Homemade stove kit[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/thingswelike/ ]thingswelike[/url], on Flickr

[url= http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7233/7286517206_695e832ae4.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7233/7286517206_695e832ae4.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/thingswelike/7286517206/ ]Stove kit[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/thingswelike/ ]thingswelike[/url], on Flickr

This shows the warm air comping back into the top of the stove and igniting the woodgas.
[url= http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7222/7286553582_bdcd5af26a.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7222/7286553582_bdcd5af26a.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/thingswelike/7286553582/ ]Woodgas ignited[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/thingswelike/ ]thingswelike[/url], on Flickr

Here's a shot showing the pot-stand/windbreak on top and the room to put new twigs in
[url= http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8154/7286553288_6c26097d05.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8154/7286553288_6c26097d05.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/thingswelike/7286553288/ ]IMG_1642[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/thingswelike/ ]thingswelike[/url], on Flickr

[url= http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7216/7286517890_4389561c6c.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7216/7286517890_4389561c6c.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/thingswelike/7286517890/ ]Homemade woodgas stove[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/thingswelike/ ]thingswelike[/url], on Flickr

Basically you need a cooking pot and a hole drill like this one [url= http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HSS-Step-Cone-Taper-Drill-Hole-Cutter-3-16-3-4-Set-Hex-Quick-Release-Titanium-/320909049595?pt=UK_Home_Garden_PowerTools_SM&var=&hash=item76c23ece1d ]ebay link[/url]. Take it to a supermarket. Find a cheap can that fits inside your pot and 2 smaller ones that will leave a nice gap inside the 1st one.

The inner can has holes top and bottom, whereas the outer only has holes at the bottom.
I used the top of a can to make a raised floor (full of holes) and the 2nd small can to make the potstand/windbreak. Just bend it in a little to fit inside the pot when not in use.

I can't remember whether I used scissors or a stanley knife to cut the potstand legs, but it wasn't difficult.

I must ask Nick about that set up, ie were they pooling gear or if he could do a solo trip on it.

slugwash, did you catch dinner or have to use back-up food? )

I went for a little spin along the Tweed valley the other weekend. Left home at 16:00 on Saturday and landed in a pub at 15:00 ish the next day. Rode from Midlem (Selkirk way) to Broughton where I used to live by the most off road route taking in some of the classic Tweed valley views.

Bowhill House
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Duchess Drive
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SUW
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Camp
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View from camp
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Traquair
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View to Peebles from Gypsy Glen
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JBW
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🙂
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Nice pics RestlessNative, I like your tarp setup too.

Left home 20:00 sun eve, biked to near the bealach half way round glen finglass and was at work by 9 monday - pretty much a 3 day weekend 🙂

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Love that last one flyingmm

First time last night - loved it

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Having a clear out for those interested.

http://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/fs-bikepacking-gear

All ready for the Welsh Ride Thing tomorrow, all up weight exc water (but inc food and fuel) is just under 45lb which I'm pretty happy about seeing as my On One 456 setup last year was about 53lb inc water.

Plus I don't need a backpack so that's much more comfy.

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Bit more detail [url= http://iwillbebacksoon.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/welsh-ride-thing-2012-setup.html ]here on my blog[/url], will add a full kit list once my daughter gets off the other PC!

Finally I can post on here!
Not bivvying so travelling light, we're doing the Trans-Cambrian Way ITT on sunday.

Got my JandD frame pac yesterday (after import duty grief)

[url= http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7239/7315665120_59d9f08921_o.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7239/7315665120_59d9f08921_o.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/ir_bandito/7315665120/ ]DSC_0327[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/ir_bandito/ ]ir_bandito[/url], on Flickr

Frame pack is full of food, solar-powered ghetto GPS, lights cos we're bound to run out of daylight.

Forecast for sunday is shocking. Bring it on 🙂

Location is East of Southease Station, East Sussex across the A26 Beddinghsm - Newhaven road, overlooking the River Ouse - Up there on that there hill...

We ate well that night, veggie and chorizo kebabs, snags and morrocan rice, desert custard, brownies, caramel rocky biscuits, blueband wafers, just chucked it all in with a splash o rum, yum yum!

Woop Woop 29er coming through!!!

This is so interesting! Drive past the southease bridge every day to work. Really tempted me to do a bivvy now

Went on a mice 32 miler on Saturday with a nice wild camp near Capel Curig, north Wales. Sunday saw a very wet 23 miler through Snowdonia and finishing in Conwy. Awesome if not a little moist!

Full report and pics:
http://northwalesmtb.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=ridedays&action=display&thread=8944

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love the life in this thread 😀

New Revelate gear on my 9Zero7. The Viscacha saddle bags have been out for a while, but that's the Sweet Roll handlebar bag which is newly released. Seems to work pretty well.

[url= http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7072/7349587728_85b9fa9465_z.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7072/7349587728_85b9fa9465_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/druidh2000/7349587728/ ]P1040183[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/druidh2000/ ]druidh_dubh[/url], on Flickr
[url= http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7237/7164522655_a038eeceef_z.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7237/7164522655_a038eeceef_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/druidh2000/7164522655/ ]P1040207[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/druidh2000/ ]druidh_dubh[/url], on Flickr

Hi, loving the bag set ups very much 🙂
Can I just ask tho, why the fat tyres if there is no snow or sand? Just curious as never tried them...........yet.

It's to float over all the bogs due to the amount of liquid sunshine the Jockenese get. 😉

Looks great druid. Proper adventure bike.
(Off to look to see if there's a welsh ride thing thread)

Davetherave - Member
Hi, loving the bag set ups very much
Can I just ask tho, why the fat tyres if there is no snow or sand? Just curious as never tried them...........yet.

flatfish - Member
It's to float over all the bogs due to the amount of liquid sunshine the Jockenese get.

Cheers for the explanation. Seems even more niche than 29er! Mind I bet the actual size will be similar 8)

Anyway The bags look good 8)

I'm slowly gathering kit for a maiden voyage as it were, I have a Quecha self inflating mat, Hunka bivi, MSR clone stove and a cat stove and a cheap and cheerful tarp 🙂

Im looking for a new sleeping bag and have seen [url= http://www.sportpursuit.co.uk/husky-outdoors-equipment/monti-sleeping-bag-blue ]THIS ONE[/url]. I know its not the smallest, lighest, poshest but seems reasonable. They also have this [url= http://www.sportpursuit.co.uk/husky-outdoors-equipment/mikro-sleeping-bag-green ]ONE SEASON[/url] bag but I'm not sure about the temperature ratings and how they relate in real world terms if that makes sense?

Advice much appreciated as its all a bit of a minefield.

stayhigh - Those links are to member only pages, so I can't see them.

Blast, scurries off to find proper links...

[url= http://www.huskyeu.eu/sleeping-bag-outdoor-monti-11-c-blue-d98.html ]THREE SEASON[/url]

[url= http://www.huskyeu.eu/light-weight-cycling-sleeping-bag-mikro-2-c-green-d1403.html ]ON E SEASON[/url]

Hows that?

A low comfort of 10 degrees C is a little high unless you're a really warm sleeper. My summer bag is 5 (and weighs about a kilo), and if feels about right for around 5-12 degrees
http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/lamina-35-p152495

I don't know how that compares to the one you were looking at - I'm guessing a bit dearer.

You could add a liner I suppose, but I've never tried one.

I'd be tempted to strap the one you've got to the bars and get out and see what it's like.

tesco do a sub kilo down bag with about the same ratings for £40. had mine a year and very pleased with it.

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Just finished building my Scandal 29er for bikepacking purposes, can't wait to get out and give it a go. Built mostly with parts from the classifieds. Thanks to Duckman, jameso, chainslapp and crazyknowledge

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I've got my Anything cage and DIY handlebar harness sorted, but need to think about a saddle bag. Is there anyone UK based making them?

Wildcat have got something in the pipeline - give them a buzz:

http://wildcatgear.co.uk/

I may be selling a buggybags framebag - custom made for an 18inch On One!

I may be selling a buggybags framebag - custom made for an 18inch On One!

Interesting. My frame is 19.5", so I'm not sure about the fit. They look bombproof, but also look like they'd double in weight when wet. If the price is right though...

Not sure if anybody on this post might be interested in a couple of brand new ultralight Bikepacking items i'm selling cheap on the classified forum - cheap, cheap.

http://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/fs-sub-1kg-4-man-tipi-shelter-140-brand-new

http://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/fs-golite-shangri-la-3-inner-nest-half-price

bump for this: http://www.alpkit.com/news/alpkit-framebags-at-mountain-mayhem-and-ctc-rally

possibly on another separate thread but obviously warrants discussion here. If they're <£50, I'll look at getting one.

If they are<£50 then I'll be surprised

£50? no chance. They will be similar price to Wildcat i reckon, afteral they have set-up a little mini factory to do custom stuff so they wont be pricing at the bottom end of the market. Buggy bags are your best bet if you want cheap.

ah if they're custom thats different I suppose

oooooooh, wished i still lived in Scotland!

Don't have clue if i'm honest, just know what i like. And that bike looks yummy......

Just a compliment, that's all!!!

Hi we were suposed to going bike packing this weekend but we wimped out due to the weather. It was pretty torential to be honest so I think it was for the best.
The bike and kit was all packed up, so I thought I would post some pics. Its all been done on a pretty tight budget trying to improvise whatever i can.

Stove is a cheap coleman gas unit that packs inside an alloy pan kit from Blacks with a plastic pot for mixing food a home made wind shield ti spork etc

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this packs inside

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to use like this

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bike loaded with everything for night away only sleeping bag goes in camel back

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Drybag mounted to bars with clothes and synthetic down jacket

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Old bar ends mounted in board of levers with an alloy tube between them to strap the bag onto, stops it bouncing against cables etc

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saddle bag is a cheap old rucksack with the waist strap fed up around the seat rails and another webbing strap to suport it.

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Frame bag was a cheapy from ebay, hold all my food hip flask etc 🙂

kit laid out

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Tesco down bag in small dry bag inside camel back
Ex army bivi bag
Karrimor inflatable mat
Cotton bag liner
Synthetic down jacket in compression sack

Plan to try it all out as soon as we get a dryish weekend. See what works and what doesnt and change what needs to change.
Keep the posts coming!

The bar end improvisation is a great idea (although haven't seen to many with the split clamp). I do something very similar to your saddle bag with an Alpkit drybag - works well.

STATO - Member
£50? no chance. They will be similar price to Wildcat i reckon, afteral they have set-up a little mini factory to do custom stuff so they wont be pricing at the bottom end of the market. Buggy bags are your best bet if you want cheap.

I wouldn't be so sure about that - they ran a competition recently where if you sent in a template of your front triangle, you had the chance of winning one of their prototype frame bags

I would have thought the point of getting all those templates would be so they could test the feasibility of producing some 'standard' size frame bags? I think they realise there is a market for a more modestly priced product than the custom ones available from wildcat/revelate etc.

Time will tell of course.

I'm still umming over sleeping bags and have been looking at Snugpak Traveller and Travel Lite models. Both are <1kg synthetic bags with a comfort rating of 7o and pack nice and small at 12x14". I'll be sleeping in a Hunka bag (which will improve the rating slightly?) with a mat underneath and a tarp overhead.

I'll be honest as much as I'd like to someday go all hardcore all weather rah rah for now its not gonna happen so I think could be good to get started with. If I get cold during the night I can always put a base layer on/sleep in clothes and it wont break the bank.

Apart from that all I need to do is sort out a pan set, was thinking of something similar to the above set and a windshield. I've seen lots of people saying about making their own using aluminium sheet, what would be the best thickness to get this or can you point me in the direction of something cheap and cheerful?

Finally with getting dry bags, what are the best sizes to go for.

Cheers all 🙂

Sleeping bag ratings normally include the fact you'll be wearing some sort of base layer, so don't figure on that adding anything. Even as someone who "sleeps warm", I prefer my bags rated close to 0C, but then my camping tends to be in Scotland where temperatures can plummet overnight even in the summer.

Remember that, without a tent, you'll also be subject to wind-chill. A well-placed tarp can help minimise that but it's still a factor.

Would the Hunka not reduce the wind chill in a similar way to a tent? I was planning on sleeping under the tarp between the wheels of the bike if that makes sense. I guess I could always use a liner as well.

I'm all the way down south where (apparently) the weather isnt quite as changable and tend to camp from may to early sept time. My first trip out isnt going to be hugely adventerous, more of a make sure everything does what its supposed to type affair about an hours ride from home 😳

what would be the best thickness to get this or can you point me in the direction of something cheap and cheerful?

The aluminium serving platters available at Tesco work okay, not going to last a lifetime but cheap and work better than kitchen foil*

*(also takeaway foil tubs if yours still does tin ones, ours are plastic now, these don't work and tend to melt)

saw the alpkit frame bags at the ctc rally yesterday.
very very nice and well made, and very cheap in comparison to other frame bags available.

NorthCountryBoy - Looks like you're all set to go! Roll on some better weather! 🙂

Just a quick thumbs-up for the Alpkit frame bags here, about 800 miles loaded up on mine now and looks totally sound, if a bit grubby, this weekend felt like winter riding apart from a warmer headwind most of the way out.. if you're after any details pics of the bag etc let me know.

A tarp against the wind will keep you warmer than just a bivi bag. When the wind blows the bivi against the sleeping bag it will conduct some of the coldness into the sleeping bag but a well pitched tarp would keep it away from your sleeping bag, thus stopping heat being conducted away from you.

If you use a tarp AND bivi bag you need to have some sort of airflow over the bivi to allow it to "breathe".

Make sense?

Good.