Ops tired double post..

Looks like a great way to spend a Thursday evening Joe.

One slightly concerned question though. I’m out on Dartmoor bivi manoueveres this evening and your mossie net has got me worried. Was the moor heaving with midges & other little biters on your above trip?

Hi Slugwash!

Mossie net was a precaution really, as I knew we would be stopping in the trees in the valley. In reality the breeze kept most of the midges away and a good coating of deet should deter the others

Cheers Joe, I think I’ll pack adequate precautions anyway. Don’t really want a repeat of another June bivi some three years ago. Ooooh, it were ‘ell….

176/365 – Poorly Defended Against Biting Insect Onslaught…. by Slugwash, on Flickr

Well, went out for my first attempt at bikepacking this weekend after wanting to try it for a while. The wife decided she didn’t want to be in the house over the weekend, so decided yesterday lunchtime that we should load up the bikes and head out.

Fairly tame first attempt, 30 all-road miles from Durham to Middleton-in-Teesdale. With not much in the way of lightweight and/or small cooking equipment we decided we’d use local eateries on arrival (this needs to be changed, NEEDED a brew this morning and had to wait).

Used cheap Tesco kit in the form of a 2 man tent, self-inflating mats, sleeping bags and drybags. The tent poles were wrapped in my mat to take some weight off my back. All seemed to work quite well, though the tent was a bit on the short side for me. Looking forward to another attempt soon.

The Bikepacking Machine by durhambiker, on Flickr

Camp by durhambiker, on Flickr

Just had a mini adventure in the Cairngorms

Quick last-minute bivi into the Goyt Valley again.

Gear highlights
Bag holders: Wildcat Mountain Lion and Tiger
Bags: Alpkit Airlok Xtras (13l front 8l rear)
Hammock: UKhammocks Woodsman X
Tarp: DD 3m x 3m tarp
Sleeping Bag: Mountain Hardware Lamina 35
Water: Travel Tap (kept refilling at all streams)

Shining Tor – just before heading down into Shooter’s Clough to camp.

–

(see large)
View from the hammock in the morning (6:30am)

–

View of the camp at Shooter’s Clough after taking down the tarp

–

Water-stop half-way up the Goyt.

–

Brunch stop at the bottom of Cumberland Clough.

–

Hi Ive just set up a new Bike and Bivi UK Facebook page, reviews, adventures, pics you know the genral kind of stuff. Link Below:-
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1375318136020037/

Looks nice Alex

There’s also ‘Bike Packing UK’ community on Google+ for G+ers too (not created by me BTW, am just in it) 🙂

Don’t forget Bear Bones Bike Packing

http://bearbonesbikepacking.co.uk/phpBB3/index.php

On the water carrying front I use one of these.

It weighs nowt, packs down small, and you simply fill it up at the last pub stop and bungy it on to the bike. Not ideal for wild camping (where a purifier would be handy) but ideal for extra overnight water when in the lowland areas where streams are not an option.

http://www.charliethebikemonger.com/deuter-flexi-bottle-20l-2831-p.asp

Deejayen… “Any recommendations for sleeping gear for a cold sleeper?”

Get some of the £1 disposable pocket warmers, they look like a tea bag. Throw one in the bottom of any sleeping bag to add a season to its warmth rating. Dead cheap, dead light, right toasty.

Wot no stupidly sunny photos from the weekend? I was camping with the family on the Gower and thinking what a fantastic weekend it would have been for a bivvy…!

Pics of my gear and trip/fail here: http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/have-a-go-hero-tries-lakeland-200-and-fails

Hi managed to get some holiday time in Scotland next week so planning a couple of one nighters away. I had ordered a seat bag from Uraltour in Russia. they said 2 to 4 weeks delivery and it arrived after 25 days so all is good, and it was trackable through Russia post web site. Bag weighs about 300g its made from a good tough looking nylon has a roll down top with velco fastening and some decent size straps to secure it. Its a good size, as pictured it has a light weight down bag, Terra nova 1 man tent and all my cooking gear in it. They sell frame and bar bags too.

Seat bag was £38 delivered.

Has anyone used one of these, the Honey Stove….

http://www.backpackinglight.co.uk/wood-burning-stoves/RD103.html

I am a lover of the Trangia, used one for many years, which is good for car camping!

So now looking for something a lot smaller and lighter so that I can give bikepacking a go! 😉

Has anyone used one of these, the Honey Stove….

http://www.backpackinglight.co.uk/wood-burning-stoves/RD103.html

I am a lover of the Trangia, used one for many years, which is good for car camping!

So now looking for something a lot smaller and lighter so that I can give bikepacking a go!

Mounty, if you fancy using wood as fuel then the Honey stove works okay. When all said and done it’s just a box you burn stuff in. If wood is going to be your fuel of choice then a wood stove with an inner/outer wall will work much better. Here’s a few ideas for MYOG wood stoves.

Bear Bones simple wood stove

Bear Bones wood-gas double wall stove

If you really do fancy something light then wood might not be the ideal option. Meths will (as long as you’re not using something like a Trangia) be a much lighter option.

8g and 22g meths stoves

Meths is my main source of fuel, I love my Trangia, but its just too bulky and heavy to carry.

The White box stove looks impressive too. I was looking for something that will use multi fuels, as I have a gas burner too for the trangia.

I have a Mytimug from alpkit and I wanted a small/light stove to cook, simply.

I like the ikea stove, we are going there tomorrow and that has put a whole new approach on looking around ikea, brilliant!

I have a Mytimug from alpkit and I wanted a small/light stove to cook, simply.

There is a Myti mug stove set available that includes, stove, windshield, pot cosy and fuel bottle. It will work with other mugs/pans but was designed for the AlpKit mug.

I have a Mytimug from alpkit and I wanted a small/light stove to cook, simply.

Bearbones meths burner or for the cheap/DIYer, a coke can stove. I made a couple of coke can stoves and have used the same one for perhaps 30 nights and mornings worth of ‘cooking’ with a mytimug. 20mls per mug-full of stodge, so 60mls does an overnighter.

edit.. that mytimug kit looks spot on! I use my fleece-lined stuff bag / pillow as a pot cozy and now it smells of a mix of mold and spicy noodles.

Got out for my first overnight bivvy just over a week ago. Headed out about 7.30pm with a mate on a Thursday night with the aim to head to the coast via a few cheeky PRoW, find somewhere to camp over night and then up early the next morning to go to work.

Pretty much went to plan, and apart from being underdressed during the night and getting cold, I quite enjoyed it! Best commute of the year…actually ever I reckon!

As the mozzies have just started to take notice of me again, what are peoples thoughts on repellant sprays (currently use Jungle Spray)or those coil things that look like this? I’ve found a lovely spot on the edge of a lake but it obviously the mozzies like it too 🙁

8 gram Micro burner testing

boil time out of the wind 8 mins

Ooh Nice email from Alpkit to wake up to!

Indeeed, didn’t know the airlock duals were in stock so have one on order now in teh hope it arrives for the inaugural bivvy this weekend!

Managed to get out for a cheeky one nighter up on Dartmoor recently. Cycled up out of the village and up on t’moor, found a cheeky spot with a nice sunset view, a nice view from the bed and a pub not too far away for a few ciders before turning in…

[IMG]http://i1309.photobucket.com/albums/s632/NorthernPaul/P1020211_zpsa43b52f4.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

Bike all packed up and ready to leave – I could probably have packed lighter but I like a certain level of luxury, especially when it’s just for a night.

[IMG]http://i1309.photobucket.com/albums/s632/NorthernPaul/P1020212_zps686c931e.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

[IMG]http://i1309.photobucket.com/albums/s632/NorthernPaul/P1020214_zps069edf55.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

Mid afternoon cider fuelling.

[IMG]http://i1309.photobucket.com/albums/s632/NorthernPaul/P1020234_zps6f8b1276.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

Early evening cider refuelling

[IMG]http://i1309.photobucket.com/albums/s632/NorthernPaul/P1020248_zps7cb849d5.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

Spreading out under the Tor that was to be home from home for the night

[IMG]http://i1309.photobucket.com/albums/s632/NorthernPaul/P1020255_zpsee05b5a1.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

Sunset

[IMG]http://i1309.photobucket.com/albums/s632/NorthernPaul/P1020257_zps78869815.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

More sunset

[IMG]http://i1309.photobucket.com/albums/s632/NorthernPaul/IMG_4643_zps65a64453.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

Not a bad morning view – I chose to sleep away from the rising sun to get a bit of a lie in and it worked a treat.

[IMG]http://i1309.photobucket.com/albums/s632/NorthernPaul/P1020260_zps2a25b538.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

Looking back to last night cider refuelling pub stop, whilst making breakfast.

[IMG]http://i1309.photobucket.com/albums/s632/NorthernPaul/P1020266_zps6703e54a.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

Sunny morning, beautiful singletrack, a longs days riding ahead – what could be better??

[IMG]http://i1309.photobucket.com/albums/s632/NorthernPaul/P1020293_zps6d1957db.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

And after 80 miles in 2 days, nothing to clean expect the dust off the bike…

Nice pics Northerner. What Tor is that and where did you start from? I don’t recognise the singletrack?

Cheers julioflo. I bedded down under Hookney Tor – the pub you can see as a white splodge in the distance is the Warren House Inn. I live in a small village just outside Plymouth so started and, er, ended there. The singletrack is the trail over Headland Warren ridden East to West. Gert lush!!

Thanks, thought it was the Warren House Inn I could see. Don’t get up to the Headland Warren area much. An overnight trip like yours would be a good way for me to get up there I think.

This looks familiar:

The Mytimug stove set mentioned above – where can those be found? Looked at Alpkit etc but can’t see a set.

Clues in the picture.

The Mytimug stove set mentioned above – where can those be found? Looked at Alpkit etc but can’t see a set.

Clanton email me if you want one – stuart@bearbonesbikepacking.co.uk

I bike-packed into work today!

Off to the woods after work. 13 litre Alpkit jobby strapped to the bars with hammock and tarp, sleeping mat, wolly blanket. 8 litre Alpkit jobby on the back with bike bits, clothes, silk sleeping bag liner and sundry items.

While I’m going fast n light(ish), it’s not quite bare bones camping, I’m meeting a few old school mates. Someone’s driving and bringing a BBQ, steaks and 36 pints of ale!

Love Dartmoor! Those pictures look great.
Reminds me of a dissertation I did a couple of summers ago. Took 2,300 measurements across 70 Tors/clitter fields. Took the bike along for most of them. Would love to spend a few nights wild camping like that.

Took my 11yo out for a quick bivi trip last week. He really seems to love it.
Only a short ride though.

The woods on the left is where we were heading for to camp

Looking for 3 nicely spaced trees as the sun went down

This is in the morning as I couldn’t get a good shot at night. We’ve already taken the tarp down, but it was a single 3mx3m DD hammocks tarp over both of us.
Very glad of the midge nets on these UKHammocks woodsman hammocks as it was particularly bad over the slightly damp ground. (my old hammock didn’t have this).

Breakfast spot overlooking one of my favourite local descents.
We used our home-made wood burning stove to rehydrate some couscous.

This was the first time I’d used the Wildcat Tiger on both bikes. Really love it. I’ve got the large (with 8L bag), Niall’s got the small (with 5L bag) which worked out just right.

It was nice to have company for a change (plus he can tie knots better than me).

Ah this thread is amazing 😀

But I’ve been trying to find the Salsa Anything Cages for sale… are they an old thing?

But I’ve been trying to find the Salsa Anything Cages for sale… are they an old thing?

They got taken off sale due to a manufacturing fault. The welds between the cages and the mounts where prone to snapping.

But I’ve been trying to find the Salsa Anything Cages for sale… are they an old thing?

They got taken off sale due to a manufacturing fault. The welds between the cages and the mounts where prone to snapping. [/quote]

Bugger. Got two… been fine so far…