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From this morning.
Has that stove only got 2 jets? 😉
If I had a picture account thing then I'd show you a pic of my new tarp set up ... very nice it is too.
Hope you had a good time.
3 jets on that one, I'll post some more pics up later or tomorrow evening on Bivvy Night MKII as we got guests coming for dinner tonight.
You're having dinner ... you don't know how lucky you are!
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Had to pump the shock up some!!!
The rucksack has Terra Nova Laser,Stove,pots,sleeping mat and too many clothes!
I had a sore back for about two weeks after my C2C.
Fantastic fun for my first but not my last bike adventure!
C'mon 'still s8tannorm' You know you really want to show us PLUS I wouldnt mind a cheeky look 8)
Will be running some beginners' bikepacking trips in 2011 but at this rate everyone will be an expert. Some great tips and kit suggestions.
Basil, is that the 200g Terra Nova pack?
Yes it is. Oh so light ,waterproof, straps made of barb wire.
LOL, and so thin it's see through!
grittyshaker: whats the deal with the course then?
Bigface0_0.... yep, used one a few years ago on the LAMM in Assynt. Got one for my race partner too... I had a great nights sleep (and I'm 6'3" and none too light) but he had a few balloons loose some air so felt a bit let down by the whole experience! Could have been operator error/dodgy balloons/bad luck/poor knots etc. I thought very comfy for the weight but I'm planning on trying a NeoAir for the next trip out I think.
Anyone tried out the NeoAir yet... interested in the comfort v. weight tradeoff there as I do like a comfy night!
Cheers
vdubber - thank you. 🙂
I have a 3/4 neo air for super light walking trips, can't state enough how much more comfortable it is compared to pevious thermarest matresses, its air volume is higher, it is made of superior heat reflective materials, and is lighter as well, a real upgrade!
Bit of a tangent on the thread but how long a trip do people make? Anyone done any long winter trips in Scotland?
Personally I don't camp in scotland in winter. Long cold dark nights are not fun and you need a lot of heavy kit
The most food I happily carry is a couple of days so camp / bivvy a night or two then town, resupply, pub for dinner (maybe bed and breakfast) about 6 nights is enough for me
Bigface I'd love to show you, I'll send flatfish a picture and see if he'll put it up for me - fingers crossed.
We've been running bikepacking / bivvy trips for the last three years. Details of 2011 trips are now on-line, if anyone's interested have a look at www.forestfreeride.co.uk
Also, for those who don't know, the Welsh Ride Thing will be on again. The date, as usual will be May 28th/29th/30th. If you fancy it then keep your eyes open here. If you've attended in the past you should get an email at some point ... if niether of those seems to happen then just email me. The WRT does have a blog so you could keep checking that too http://welshridething.blogspot.com/ 😉
Cheers,
Stuart
Heres s8tannorms tarp set up
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That looks neat flatfish, im thinking adding of one of those Aussie Hoochie tarps like Ray Mears use`s for sitting cooking under to my kit, pricy but wraps up really small 😮
Try the Hennessy Hex to go with your hammock coastkid, i used my hex on the winter bivvy pics on another thread recently.
Haven't seen s8tannorm's tarp in the flesh in that config. but he'll tell you how it works when he's on here later.
Think it was yourself that recommended a Hex before to me flatfish 😮
i like that Hammock, after a cold back the 1st night i used it i now use a 3/4 thermarest and its cosy
One of the warmest things to use is the same kind of foam that is wrapped around new tv's, hi-fi's etc. I got some from a sign makers as they should have 1.5 metres wide on a roll. two metres should be plenty.
Great thread and some superb information. Really fancy a bit of an epic Scotlandshire multi-day ride next year.... Lightweight hardtail or full-sus hmmm
Cheers for putting the tarp pics up flatfish.
If anyone's interested it's a 3m x 3m set up with a single pole. The idea being that you're covered on 3 sides, with a 'built in' ground sheet and a decent sized 'porch' for cooking and you can sit up. You can't really tell from the pic but the are forward of the pole under the beak is quite a size, so enough room to store gear too. The front guy can be dropped to lower the beak for really bad weather too, so you're almost enclosed.
The key is finding a way of attaching a pole to the tarp. The pole needs to sit inboard of the tarp, not at it's edge, otherwise you don't get the beak and steep sided back. I ended up making a 3" pole sleeve from nylon webbing (not much fun to sew) which is attached to the tarp using 'tarp clips'. The pole weighs 110g and folds to 30cm so it's easy enough to find it a home on the bike.
Right I'll take my anorak off now then 😉
OOHh that looks good, makes my 'Cheap' army surplus one look a bit rubbish...((
It's all in the set up Bigface ... any tarp'll do, tarp choice really comes down to cost v weight 😉
Slugwash - what's the pot your using in your pics - looks an odd shape?
Just been fettling my new epic designs sling on the bike a minute ago. Santa brought me that and the seatpack/waterproof liner. Going to order some of the posh fabric Eric uses for my mk11 frame bag. Going to be a good year 2011.
Think I've fully dialled my bikepacking set up now (although I still intend on making a new tarp before the spring arrives based on the mld trailstar - comparable weight and size but a total cost of £35 rather than £140).
Basil, is that a Z-Lite mat you have there? How do you find it?
I'm trying to de-hassle my camping gear, and if I could replace my Prolite mat with a lighter, cheaper, more robust closed cell mat, that would be great!
13th - you should try a Pacific Outdoor Ether elite (see Lightweight Outdoor blog for a review). Got one last year at it's a Thermarest nano for half the cash (around £50 or less - paid £42 for mine). 400g full length packs up small too
Slugwash - what's the pot your using in your pics - looks an odd shape?
It's from a 'storm kettle'. I wanted a Kelly Kettle but couldn't justify the cost so I got this one from an army surplus shop for a tenner. The pot's brilliant 'cos you can fit a pocket rocket sized stove and a 100g gas canister inside and it weighs about the same as an Alpkit ti Mytimug 🙂
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The chicken was not cooked. The fox ate it raw 🙁
That looks an ace bit of kit Slugwash - use a small snowpeak pot I bought 10 years ago.
Been looking at a Kelly type kettle myself - [url= http://www.backpackinglight.co.uk/product526.asp?PageID=118 ]Kettle link[/url] from backpackinglight but just don't think I can justify the cost or the availability of dry wood in a country where it rains so much. Very cool bit of kit though.
Cheers Rik, I'd seen the Neo-airs and equivalents, but can't see how they'd be any more robust than what I have.
It was the combo of lighter, cheaper AND more robust I liked the sound of 😀
s8tannorms - just looking at your tarp again, very nice. It looks a bit like a zpaks hexamid.
Few questions - what tarp did you start with or was it just fabric? Did you sew/cut the tarp for the adjustments, or is it just folded and pegged out? Any closer pics?
This is the bit I don't understand. By the time you have a tarp, pole, guys and peg with a bivy bag as well why not use a tent - the weight is the same surely?
I have bivied with a tarp and bivvy bag and in poor weather its so miserable compared to having a tent.
I think the point is there is a place for both tent and tarp. But a once in a tent you are in an exclosed and small environment. A tarp gives you all the outside space feeling of a bivi but with more protection, you get to see the environment change around you which you don't get in a tent.
I have both and prefer a tarp, but once the midges are around the tent comes out.
Bigface0_0 - MemberAnyone used one of these? Super light and extra small
The Balloonbed is excellent but short! I use a OMM Duomat for my legs, with a GoLite Ultralight quilt it's a fine lightweight system. If it's cold I add Rab Down Socks.
The sleeping bag, socks, mammut pillow, balloon bed easily fits in a 8l Alpkit Drybag, mounted with a Revelate designs harness.
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Also have Epic Ride Designs - Mountain Feedbags mounted on the bars
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The Rest of the luggage I use is Revelate Designs bags with Backcountry Research 'Awesome Straps' to hold various kit to the bike.
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I was thinking of getting one of those Feed Bags. What's the verdict on them?
The feedbags are good, but the service is shocking! Mine took three months with no response to numerous emails. Did get a second one for free though as they acknowledged the crap service! I use them on most rides not just multiday rides 🙂
I think there are times and places for all shelter set ups...
Tents,Tarps,bivvy bags and Hennessy Hamocks...
i like the Hennessy Hammock being off the damp ground and also giving a (small ) shelter to sit and cook under, lying being able to look out either side is nice.Though until you get inside theres no midge protection just like with a bivvy here in Scotland unlike with a tent. and you need trees but i usually prefer to ride near the VW coast when away and apart from Harris always found it as easy to find trees to pitch as say a suitable clearing for a tent,
Midges really are the hardest thing to avoid, less on the coast but if in a sheltered area theres no way to avoid them!, yep a smokey fire and midge net/jacket is good but i find cooking and eating the worst so just change eating times and feast when there not out, er feasting on us 😮
[i]Balloon beds are well comfy. I've only had a balloon burst when I was testing it for the first time on the floor at work whilst simulating leaning out of my 'tent' to put an imaginary morning brew on the go, the outermost balloon burst!
However, when used inside a bivi bag balloon beds do tend to move around with you as you roll from your back onto your side leaving you with no cushioning. Also I wouldn't use one for a multi day tour 'cos I'd get sick of blowing the balloons up every night, but for mountain marathons and one or two night ultra-light bivis they're great.
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Regarding tarps, I prefer them to a tent any day but only now bother putting one up if there's a danger of rain or a strong cold wind. I bought one of those Alpkit tarps, which is great but TBH, a cheap tarpaulin from a hardware store is not too bad, it's what I used for years and there's much less worry about damaging it with a sparky campfire or on sharp branches...
Ok, what's still left in the wild camping snapshot album then? 😉
A riverside bivi...
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Using a Dartmoor wall and a tarp to funnel the cold wind over me...
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The dangers of not securing your tarp properly. When Si crashed out the night before there was a layer of nylon between him and the sky...
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Midges - 100% deet
I am thinking of making up a bivvy bag for this year - I have found a source of gortex and cordura by the yard. My intent was to make a big bivvy bag with a pole. so sort of halfway to a tent. The aim being to have something that can be zipped up completely and provide good shelter in a highland gale
I guess I only need breathable material for the main part of the top.
My tent is good for two but its two big and heavy for a solo effort
didnothingfatal - MemberThe feedbags are good, but the service is shocking! Mine took three months with no response to numerous emails. Did get a second one for free though as they acknowledged the crap service! I use them on most rides not just multiday rides
Cheers, I'm in no hurry so probably worth a punt!
how about a kinda bivvy bag with a hoop and one guy rope TJ?,
i always thought that would be good, i had a Ultimate peapod tent like that once but had no midge net so no use in Scotland!
were planning a few Saturday overnighters on the local Lammermuirs at weekends next year if you fancy it,using the SUW and Herring Road and train stations/cars to get home 😮
