Bivi tonight - will I die? « Singletrack Forum

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Bivi tonight - will I die?

81 posts & 51 voices | Started 3 months ago by 40mpg | Latest reply from charlie the bikemonger

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40mpg - Member

Trying for a bivi-a-month since november, each time I spend a night in discomfort, work out the problem and upgrade.

But each time the conditions get a bit worse, meaning another night of shivvering and looking at the underside of branches.

November - just a chewy bar for breakfast, no way to set yourself up after a cold night for a ride home. FAIL. Bought a little gas stove.

December - cold night in old synthetic bag, no sleep. FAIL. Bought an Alpkit PD800.

January - very cold night, but comfier. However my lightweight airbed gives no therma;l insulation below so frozen assets. FAIL. Bought an Alpkit Thermarest thing (and a titanium folding spork, because, well, just because).

February - just as cold but now damp, possibly snowy. I've got my hunka bag, PD800, thermarest and can look forward to coffee and boil-in-the-bag breakfast.

So what will it be this time, frozen squirrels falling on my head?

Posted 3 months ago #
sefton - Member

not if you have a pair of these http://heatholders.co.uk/uk/index.php

Posted 3 months ago #
b r - Member

Apart from, you are MAD.

Keep your gas canister (and water) warm(ish), otherwise it'll give poor power tomorrow.

And eat/drink something warm before turning in, plus spare gloves/socks/hat just in case.

Posted 3 months ago #
cynic-al - Member

Hat makes a big difference, layers will help.

Posted 3 months ago #
soma_rich - Member

Have you got a tarp to keep the rain/snow/wind off? If you find a nice wooded bit of the forest you will be fine.

Posted 3 months ago #
xcentric - Member

A companion helps both to stay warm and pass the time

Posted 3 months ago #
crispedwheel - Member

Envious - but will be out in a few weeks.
How about also doing a few star jumps or whatever to get a bit of circulation going just before turning in?

Posted 3 months ago #
40mpg - Member

No tarp yet, I've got a feling that could be next on the shopping list. TBH i've been avoiding a tarp as I like looking at the stars (but not ALL night), and it seems a bit too tent-like with one, i'm trying to keep it all very minimal.

Not in the forest either - probably an exposed hill near Stockbridge / Chilbolton NW of Winchester.

Posted 3 months ago #
sefton - Member

have you made a will?

Posted 3 months ago #
s - Member

Have you space for a wood burner in your bivi?

Posted 3 months ago #
sefton - Member

burn the bivi!

Posted 3 months ago #
Mark N - Member

Something for breakfast then..

http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/15/how-do-you-clean-and-cook-a-squirrel

Agree with keeping the gas cannister warm or you will not be cooking much in the morning. If you can keep it off the cold ground when cooking that will help as well.

Posted 3 months ago #
Mbnut - Member

Sounds like you have it sorted, I always wear a hat and keep my clothes etc in my bag to stop them freezing.... how cold it is doesn't matter as much as getting out of the wind so careful selection of the spot you bunk on is vital.... having a good fire helps too

Posted 3 months ago #
40mpg - Member

A companion helps both to stay warm and pass the time

You haven't met my friends < shudders >

PC111109 by Newforce Photos, on Flickr

Posted 3 months ago #
AlexSimon - Member

Good for you! In theory I have the gear, but haven't quite plucked up the courage.
I know I would choose the woods though.

Posted 3 months ago #
40mpg - Member

Alex, perhaps a plan like our next:

Cycle to cider festival.
Wake up in bivi in the woods behind the pub.
Try to piece together the previous 12 hours.
Go home.

Posted 3 months ago #
benslow - Member

Envious !

Posted 3 months ago #
ciderinsport - Member

Yes you will die! Can I have your bikes (but not the silver dream machine!)?

ps. thanks for posting 'that' pic

Posted 3 months ago #
jameso - Member

A hat is a good tip. Sounds like u have a sorted kit list now. I'd add a tot of something to calm childlike excitement and a book.. I love snow bivis but its dark for a long time )

Posted 3 months ago #
ChunkyMTB - Member

Posted 3 months ago #
still s8tannorm - Member

No, you'll be fine ... this was riding back out of the mountains on last years winter bivvy trip. That snow isn't slushy, it's frozen solid

http://www.bearbonesbikepacking.co.uk

Posted 3 months ago #
flatfish - Member

Get one of those hand warmer thingys and if you get too cold, activate it and sandwich it between the top of your thighs(on your Femoral Arteries) and feel the warmth within a couple of minutes. It defrosted my toes a treat whilst in my hammock on the M'nB last month. Stayed hot for the rest of the long January night.

Posted 3 months ago #
hugor - Member

I don't understand why you would do it? It can't be pleasant this time of year. What's the point?

Posted 3 months ago #
singlecrack - Member

How are you finding the Alpkit pd800 I've still not decided on one of these or the 600 ??
Also looking at your kit list I think you will be fine.
What do you wear in your bag ( any extra clothes )

If you can make yourself a little fire it's great for heat and cheering you up when it's cold.

Also as flatfish says try a couple of the hand warmers thrown in your bag before you jump in.

See if you can get some natural insulation under your bivi as well ....if your in the forest get some evergreen pine branches to make a kind of mattress..........that will take the edge off.

Posted 3 months ago #
still s8tannorm - Member

Hugor ... it's really not as bad as you'd think. It can actually be a really great time of year to be out under the stars (no biting things). I think for many part of the 'fun' is thinking of ways to stop it been a long miserable night

Posted 3 months ago #
mrlebowski - Member

A hat & a bivi bag & youll be fine.

Posted 3 months ago #
mandog - Member

check in to a B&B

Posted 3 months ago #
billyboy - Member

Tents are good

Posted 3 months ago #
billyboy - Member

Once you have a tarp...it is a tent...probably not as good and an all in weight heavier than a tent

Posted 3 months ago #
iDave - Member

by this time next year you'll be very ~~dead~~ experienced

Posted 3 months ago #
ciderinsport - Member

What do you wear in your bag

Now thats a question too far!

Posted 3 months ago #
hugor - Member

I think for many part of the 'fun' is thinking of ways to stop it been a long miserable night

If your out there right now freezing your bollocks off alone on the frozen dirt and staring at the stars then good for you.
I'm on my couch in my dressing gown, perfectly warm drinking a fine glass of Aussie white wine, and watching tv while browsing STW on the ipad during the advertisments.

Posted 3 months ago #
flatfish - Member

billyboy - Member
Once you have a tarp...it is a tent...probably not as good and an all in weight heavier than a tent

My lightest set up of tarp and bivi bag is approx 640grams. I could get it about 200g lighter if I tried, quite easily.

Terra nova's lightest offering of tent is 581 grams at the cost of £700.

For the 59 grams extra I'm carrying, I've saved more than £600.

Just saying like.

Posted 3 months ago #
wbss - Member

2 weeks ago to the day I went for a night ride on the malverns. there was some goon 'doing a bivvy' on top of worcester beacon in the pissing rain. I appreciate the that it makes for a sweet brekko view, but if you're going to bother do it on a proper sized hill more than 20 mins walk the bloody pub.

Posted 3 months ago #
pjm84 - Member

A story. Norway. Some time ago

First night - Teepee - too hot.
Second night - 4 man tent - Norg top only no wolly pully. Temp drops to -16 in the tent only because we have a candle (candle watch). Its f**king freezing. Everything freezes. I can't grab my jumper inside my bergen because my bergen has frozen.

My bivi bag start to go hard. I assume its trying to freeze on the outside. I pull my feet up and have a very restless night's sleep. My boots, at the bottom of the bivi bag, are frozen in the morning. The temp the next morning was -26 with gusting winds.

The lack of sleep may be the bigger killer.....

Posted 3 months ago #