Forum menu
I've made two frame bags, a seat pack and bar harness from heavyweight PU-coated polyester from Pennine Outdoor fabrics. It's pretty heavy duty and stiff enough to give a bit of form to whatever it is you're making. Not as light as the fancy materials use by Wildcat, etc but has worked very well for me.
[img] 
[/img]
Cheezpleez is that an on one inbred 29er with a 16" frame? Just wondering as my bike is still only at the frame and drivetrain stage.
I used this fabric for mine:
http://www.abakhan.co.uk/fabric/multi-purpose/water-repellent-pu-coated-grey-150cm.html
It's damn good, and very cheap compare to the P18 stuff.
[img] 
[/img]
On the bike here:
[img] 
[/img]
While custom built is nice, if you search for Ibera frame bags on eBay, you can buy one for around £15.
Fit isn't as tidy, but £15 is cheap.
[url= https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7225/14047452572_44df9b4f8c_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7225/14047452572_44df9b4f8c_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
^^ that's what I used, lined it with some other lighter waterproof stuff from the abakhan off cuts bin.
@ Rowlapa1974 - it's an 18 Inbred.
If you need custom made bike packing gear with a 'green' touch then Judy is your girl. She can do you full frame bags, Salsa Anything cage bags all made from used inner tubes & old brewery malt sacks. Any doubts check out Gerard De Bruin who used her bags on the Rovaniemi 150 in Finland & loved them. www.beerbabe.co.uk
Rowlapa...
Will email once my mental child is at the Childminder.... (Which should be 10 min ago..)
DrP
good call on the bike bivi group on fb.
^ good call on good call, just looked that group up it looks ace.
Thanks have had a look for dimension polyant fabric but can find any other than from that place in Germany and it is very expensive 🙁 . what would be the next best thing then?
p.s The anything cages look interesting not sure how they attach to bike though? 😕
The anything cages look interesting not sure how they attach to bike though
They fit on the bottle bosses.. Salsa spec three on their forks/ down tubes..
OK only have some on my down tube and would get in way with framebag 🙁
Could you not bodge something with Jubilee Clips around the forks? http://www.jubileeclips.co.uk/products/original/
Cable ties perfectly servicable. Just don't overload it, I use mine for my tarp.
[img] 
[/img]
+1While custom built is nice, if you search for Ibera frame bags on eBay, you can buy one for around £15.Fit isn't as tidy, but £15 is cheap.
My although mine fit's much nicer, I giess that's an odd sized frame and a small/medium bag?
Also got a set of cheep drybags from on-one, and some brightly coloured webbing/straps off ebay. Total cost so far << half the price of one branded frame bag.
Is the Eastern European manufacturer still doing bike bags?
[img] 
[/img]
Med Possum that someone asked about earlier - 23" ETT frame.
on that jones you could put two thin long bags along the strut fork,zipties should do it.
why not a single full framebag plus bladder?
for those making their own, how did you seal your seams?
seamseal tape seems the obvious one - http://www.pennineoutdoor.co.uk/seamseal-tape-pu-coated
I've got some seamtape (stripped from an old waterproof and some sealant) to add to mine eventually, but it's not currently taped. That said, it's got very wet in the past, and only a small amount of water has got in.
You could but I try to keep weight off the front as much as possible. PR make some cool truss fork bags, £££ tho.on that jones you could put two thin long bags along the strut fork,zipties should do it.
I've not quite figured out how to do that without the emptying bladder creating space and rattles / loose packing, and for this trip I didn't need that much space generally. But it's probably the best compromise. I've used a full bag with a 800ml bottle in the top in the past, works ok. Maybe I'll try a 2l plastic bottle with a hose next.why not a single full framebag plus bladder?
Not a big fan of this side-access bottle set up after the last trip, it's ok but not as easy to use when you need to stay at a pace or on rough ground. Main aim this time was not to need a camelback and that was a good experience.
I've got some seamtape (stripped from an old waterproof and some sealant) to add to mine eventually, but it's not currently taped. That said, it's got very wet in the past, and only a small amount of water has got in.
cool, was wondering whether i could get away with not sealing a fuel tank style bag and keeping anything vital (phone) in a separate waterproof case. Probably reasonably safe if i design the top to be covered.
I can see how seam tape works on flat seams but not sure how easy/effective it is to do for sharp angled seams or corners etc.. suspect a right arse.
Haven't taped mine, whatever goes in it will be bagged or already waterproof.
IME sealing right angle seams on heavy duty fabric is a pain in the arse. I haven't bothered. Anything that needs to be completely dry goes in a separate drybag.
rowlapa1974 meths burner/hexi cooker.
Never really done meths, watched a few torch tents with leaky fuel and careless practice.
Have never costed out meths over gas.
Meths can be put out easily in trianga type burner units, small, easy to carry, easy to light, easy to get fuel for.
Hexi cookers or non MOD the Esbit solid fuel cookers. Not as versitile as meths but on a par for cooking, hand full of dirt/sand puts out a fuel block, needs more care for scorching (try cooking inside a tent with Hexi/Esbit 🙂 )
Harder to find fuel than Meths & gas.
Consider alcohol gel cookers, although finding fuel can be tricky compared to meths/gas.
Done Hexi/Alcohol, MOD and Civvy, it works with drawbacks, Esbit burners are silly light.
Gas. Easy to get cans, loads of choice on burners, clean burn, easy to use, works well within UK climate (not so at extreme sub zero temps or high altitude)
Gas for me, drawbacks, weight and volume of gas cans, offset by fast clean burn times, with "care" can be used inside a ventilated tent.
Safe and easy to use, loads of choice on burners, even the cheap MSR Pocket Rocket clones are good, just don't expect a 10-20year hard use life span from clones.
Petrol-multifuel burners, for serious subzero climates or extreme altitude and third world adventures where finding gas cans and meths may be a major issue.
Set a budget, set a useage area. Do you need ultra light weight ? can you live with the limits of that cook system ?
Gas is bulky in volume, but quick and easy to use, fairly clean, easy to pick up fuel and work with.
Acehtn
That's the sort info all threads could do with. I use a jetboil for my normal camping/work, but as you say it's the size of cookers/gas canisters ect. Found some gel fuel in a local outdoor shop but no cooker to put it into as yet. Had a look at the trianga burners and looks a nice compact option.
Hmmm jetboils, squaddies love em, brill for boil in the bag rat pack food, and now some aftermarket available hanging options, so you can hang the cooking system inside a vehicle/plane/boat/hammock basha or even a rock climbing wedge next to your tent that is also hanging off the side of a mountain 🙂
It's a case of buying what's best for you for where you are.
I am in the UK, so gas is the easy option. Would love a Jetboil, but deep down i feel i need the option of being able to dump a pot on a couple of rocks with wood burning underneath. So far never happened.
Pro's and Con's to all systems. Meths never done it, hexi and alcohol gel, cheap, safe to carry, hexi can be a pain to light sometimes, alcohol easy, gas just wins for me, more bulk but more ease of use.
Went alcohol decades ago but couldn't get fuel. Still have a 20+year old Firestar cooker, about the size of a tin of bacon grill, bayonet the lid off, spark up the gel and boil away in the old 1/2 pint enamel mug i replaced my mess tins with, Firestar fitted in the mug too, bounus to that system was this, when the gel had burnt off, fill the tin with dirt/sand, then add petrol, it becomes a liquid fuel burner, bit dirty but works, when done drop lid back on, smother flames, easier than a hexi to light and control.
Went to an MSR Pocket Rocket years ago, it will out last a clone, bought Mrs Ace one of those little Ti gas burner units, really good performance, uses a bit more gas, but it works fast and about half the weight of my Pocket Rocket.
Some of the gear out there now.... so much choice, the end user can really fine tune what they want or need, 7g esbit burner or 50g gas burner ? set your budget and choose what you fancy.
Gas in 100/125/230/250/500gram containers a 250 is lighter than 2x125g, i use 250g with a 100/125 slipped in somewhere as a backup, beyond that it Ray Mears time and stick the pot on a wood fire, assuming i can get one going 🙂
Thanks again Acehtn loads of great info and help.
Also many thanks to everyone else who has taken the time to pass on there idea's and info
For cooking I just use gas. But chucking a frying pan on an open fire can't be beat! 🙂 obviously not always practical, but for my fair weather camping, ideal!
Snowpeak Titanium Solo Cookset /MSR Micro Rocket - I love this setup !
RE: Stoves - They won't suit everyone but if low weight and small packsize are important you should be able to get your cooking set down to below 100g excluding fuel.
[url= http://www.bearbonesbikepacking.co.uk/pages/contact.html ]8g meths stoves[/url]
Regarding diy framebags has any one got any experience with alpkit's "webbing ladder" type setup for frame attachment?
It seems sorted, before coming up with something even betterer I was thinking of using that setup.
having said that, it seems something to speed up production more than a benefit to the end user
have a look here, some good info.
I'm a fan of the webbing ladder idea. Works better for varying pack density or stuffed-ness than normal straps ime. Frame tubes tend to be narrower than the bags so the logic works. Its more adaptable if using a half frame bag on more than one bike or combining attachment points of gas tank qnd frame bag.
ok thanks 🙂
A few helpful hints here...
[url= http://www.drpidgeon.co.uk/1/post/2013/11/diy-myog-frame-bag-a-brief-how-to.html ]DIY framebag writeup[/url]
[img] 
[/img]
[url= http://www.drpidgeon.co.uk/1/post/2014/02/i-feel-like-makin-stuff-diy-bar-harness.html ]DIY bar harness[/url]
[img] 
[/img]
[url= http://www.drpidgeon.co.uk/1/post/2014/04/trangia-love-triangle.html ]Write up on meths burners[/url]
[img] 
[/img]
DrP
I love these threads.
That little blue bike kitted out is "da bomb" 🙂 excellent work DrP
I used the webbing ladder idea on my DIY seat pack and bar harness (posted on a previous page up there ^^) and have been really pleased with the extra adjustability it gives. Didn't bother on my frame age as they were designed for specific frames and I couldn't see the benefit.
I'm using a home made Coke can meths burner and windshield, which I'm really pleased with. Seems to boil a mug of water at least as quick as my mates' gas stoves. Alpkit Mytimug nests in the windshield and stove, lighter and washing up scourer plus a plastic mug live inside the mug.
[img] 
[/img]
I've added some air/vent holes since this pic.
For cooking duties i have a choice of [url= http://www.backpackinglight.co.uk/wood-burning-stoves/RD109.html ]a Vargo Titanium wood burning stove[/url], [url= http://www.backpackinglight.co.uk/cookers-and-stoves/RC101.html ]a mini crux folding stove usually with a 100g cartridge[/url], [url= http://www.backpackinglight.co.uk/cookers-and-stoves/RB104.html ]and a triad meth burner/esbit stove[/url] so dependant on where i'm going along with weather conditions i tend to mix and match.
The only pot i use is the [url= http://www.backpackinglight.co.uk/pots-pans-and-mugs/SC119.html ]Titan kettle [/url], and i use a pot cosy - sometimes i also take my Ti mug as i can use that as a secondary cooking vessel or just use it as a mug for a brew as i wait for my pot cosy and titan pot to cook my tea.
Once you get started it's all to easy to go mad with the kit 😀
🙂
Only got 3 gas lamps, and 4 or 5 burners knocking about, and several pan sets from Alu to copper plated stainless, enameled steel to Ti.
If i was starting out from new, Ti Alpkit pan set, and a MSR/Alpkit/Ti burner and battery headtorch..... mostly stuff that wasn't available years ago 🙂
2 trianga burners in the workshop, soooo tempted to get a burner and try one out 🙂 the boss aquired some stainless tubing to make a wood gas stove (his triangas) a coleman multifuel is knocking about as well.
Boss went for a vango knockoff of a MSR pocket rocket, loves it 🙂
somafunk - Member
...Once you get started it's all to easy to go mad with the kit
Oh so true...
I still use cheapo gas stove and old home made tin foil windshield. It has worked well for a couple of decades...
But is also now have 6g titanium esbit stove and windshield. Not perfect (dirty, in really cold weather I have to shelter it really well from wind), but for a quick overnight, with a cheap it mug it is perfect and silly light.
The bag the stove came in weighs more than the stove btw.
[url= https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8083/8267133367_6922761d48_b.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/matt_outandabout/8267133367/ ]Esbit titanium stove[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/people/matt_outandabout/ ]matt_outandabout[/url], on Flickr