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Here is my different take on the Siltarp set-up. Rain coverage is excellent and provides a nice shape from head to toe. One side goes to the floor for wind protection, the other is raised about a foot for greater coverage and a better view of the surroundings. The fabric is nice and taught which creates a very stable shape.
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Like Ian's, weight is around the 300g mark including decent pegs. With the 2g Terra Nova pegs from my laser comp tent it would be around 230g but useless in anything other than lawn turf!
Tube bags??Oh they may not be called that the half frame bags like these
https://www.revelatedesigns.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=store.catalog&CategoryID=1&ProductID=5
Looks like we've all had adventures this weekend 😀
Just back from last night's bivi with the kids (my two, Sharki, Si & Shinythings 😉 ) I'm currently trying to remove marshmallow remanents from the fabric of my six year old's sleeping bag. They're now banned from further excursions, (kids [u]and[/u] marshmallows). The highlight of the trip was all being woken up at 5.30 in the morning by a cuckoo calling from about five feet above our heads 🙂
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Slugwash, Thats brill nothing like a couple of teddy bears to keep you warm.. Would love to take my girls but not sure if they would like it..
Cracking looking adventure there Slugwash my girls love camping so looking forward to taking them soon, will probably be a walking bivvy rather than bikes though
Cheers for the comments guys 🙂
my girls love camping so looking forward to taking them soon, will probably be a walking bivvy rather than bikes though
It's often easier to transport smaller kids several miles by trailer rather than making them walk and ending up carrying them as well as all the kit. My son (who was cycling) jettisoned his rucksack on the climb out onto Dartmoor and I had to stick it in the back of the trailer. He'd brought along tons of crap that never got used like extra shoes, toiletries and tins of beans. I'll be implementing draconian baggage charges that would put Ryanair to shame next time he comes along 😉
I guess your right but my 2 are still little so would be a park up in forestry and a 30 min walk tops into the woods/wherever to give them a taster. 😀
That way if it went tits up we could pack up and be back home pronto 😉
Nice rigging on your tarp there Anthony, a bit of tensionmakes all the difference! I have the backpacking light duo tarp and may have to try the bike as support method, I usually bivy on foot and using a hammock, however this opens up options for more open (treeless) country or even campsites!
I just got back from my fist trip. Bit of a cock up, forgot to pack the lighters, so couldn't boil any water for food & coffee 😳 . Thankfully I had gone a bit overboard on trail mix and energy bars for 2 big days of riding, so was able to survive (with an added visit to a garage on day 2 for snickers bars and some cola).
At least next time I know I can either take less energy bars & trail mix, or leave the cooking stuff at home to really save weight.
oh and I also learnt that carbon forks don't take away enough of the clatter for 2 long days riding. another day of that and pron would have been no use to me for weeks.
No way of making tea!! ... I'd have to go home 😉
I agree Stuart I'd have to start rubbing sticks together to get a brew on 😉
@stevemorg2 - no problems - will post up some more details this week. We've got about 10 fabric blanks with the logo on to turn into harnesses.
@Dave J - didn't realise Carnetown was comparatively close to me. What tent are you using there?
@Anthony - looks good. I didn't persevere with that kind of set up as I couldn't handle the slippy fabric, a wheel a toddler and a cat all at the same time when I was experimenting. I can see the benefit if the conditions are more adverse. Will have to have another go. However, it looks tricky to get right though, and would those be 26" wheels?
@Bigface - yes, we're doing partial frame bags. Dubbed the Lynx, they'll be comparable to the American equivalents. Drop a mail to the wildcat address if you'd like to discuss features/ cost etc.
@slugwash - like the look of that trip. Kudos for taking the kids. Ours are a bit young yet (one nearly 3 years and one four weeks), but would love to get them out into the hills when they're older.
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@IanB, The tent I was using was a Coleman Bedrock,it was a bit heavy at 2.5 kg but I wanted comfort over weight and I did,nt have far to go as I live in Cilfynydd. I bought the tent off Amazon for £28,I found the tent really warm compared to large family tents,I took a load of thermal gear with me and ended up sleeping in shorts.
Not sure if this will be worth it for people, but just saw this on the Aldi special offers: [url= http://www.aldi.co.uk/uk/html/offers/special_buys3_18649.htm ]http://www.aldi.co.uk/uk/html/offers/special_buys3_18649.htm[/url]
Good find, although somewhat large for bike duties!
Ian, they are indeed 26" wheels but I suspect a 29er would still allow enough fabric to play with. It's actually really easy to rig up, it takes 1 to 2 mins tops and uses 10 pegs as some guys are shared. Once you have got all the guys fixed there is no real danger of wheel slippage unless you boot it by accident.
Chaps, bit of a school boy error...Stu's got me work email address and Im off this week... If anyone has already got the grid ref email Please can someone forward it to me, Ive got no kids, wifes out for the day and Im home alone, Bring on the route planning!!! 8) scott.manleyATo2.co.uk
Sent.
I link these grid references a lot 🙂 (cheers Stu, keep repeating, must not sleep in house, must not sleep in house, must not sleep in house,)
Cheers 😀
A couple of these just turned up:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=310304373027
Look pretty well made, loads of pockets plus rain cover and carry strap for off-bike time. Will try a shakedown on Saturday's 100km circumnavigation of Brizzle.
Gogledd Cymru it is then da iawn
I've not got the money spare for the Siltarp 6'x8' and a lot of places are out of staock anyway so for an extra 150grams and a tacky colour I've just [url= http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/6-x-8-CAMOUFLAGE-TARPAULIN-DPM-BASHA-BIVOUAC-CAMO-TARP-/380305179245?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item588bf4826d ]THIS[/url] for under a tenner including delivery
Any good?
Ha, are you lot too busy plotting WRT routes to notice 1600 posts.
Nothing useful to add though.
Congrats on the 1600th post, now Cmon get plotting!!! just plotted all 15 and thats a lot of climbing!!!!!!!
Looks fine john, the dpm is only on one side so you can always use it the other way up if you dont like the colour. Its just polythene rather than a coated nylon hence the low price. It's a good weight for its size and price. Have fun rigging it up:)
Do I take it the wrt grid refs are out in time for the 4 day weekend?
Ha, are you lot too busy plotting WRT routes to notice 1600 posts.
Nothing useful to add though.
I can't believe you were lurking to catch the 1600th post 😉
Off to get the maps to start my planning tonight for WRT 😀
i'm not able to make it to this year's wrt. but love to know where it's all going, so can I be cheeky and ask for the grid refs so I can take a look?
email in profile..... thanks!
🙂
Wasn't lurking, in fact I thought I'd miss it due to the slowness of my iPhone.
Think i have my route now (no one else in the office), just need to calculate distances and food stops.
*Wonders who has the same route* 😯
Route provisionally planned: all 15 in a day & a half then 24 hours in the pub at Llanbrynmair 😉
Im not sure how you chaps have done it already I've sent most to the day looking at it, Im sure its going to take me about a week before I come up with anything like a route..
Memory map makes it easier - you can zoom right out and get an idea of the overall 'shape' of the grid refs.
I've got some other stuff to do tomorrow and Saturday, so needed to get it out of my system today.
There'll be tinkering in the next foew weeks, not least because my leadout man will come up with a completely different route by the end of the weekend (eh Chris?). 😉
I wouldnt worry about the route too much, as conditions on the ground are very different to the maps. The route I planned for last years WRT and the route I completed were totally different. Part of the fun is making it up as you go along. You'll probably get lost at some point, so its good to be able to think on your feet.
If you know the 'shape' of the grid references you can see which check points are easy to link up, and from there a route will slowly develop. After that its a question of tweaking. I'm not planning on drawing my final route until the week before.
There are plenty of resources on the internet to make your life abit easier, but i'll leave you to discover them yourself, otherwise i'll end up spoiling half of your fun. 😉
Is it wrong to do some pre-WRT scouting?
Hmm.. my competitive instinct is tempted to beat you all with my own ultra-minimal setup...
The route I planned for last years WRT and the route I completed were totally different.
OS map augmented with a Garmin Etrex on the bars with your 'perfect' route loaded means when you diverge from the line you can at least see where you're supposed to be, and use the map to find the quickest/shortest alternative back on. Has worked for me for 2 1/2 years since I got the Garmin.
Is it wrong to do some pre-WRT scouting?
Do you go and scout your other holiday destinations?
From someone who did the WRT ast year.
We spent days/hours plotting a great route, after the third check points in the rain, we chose to cut the bottom few out, then when knackered we missed out the last couple as well.
Don't get het up with the grid refs as they don't get checked and are filed away in the bin as soon as you hand them over (should I have said that?)
Just plot a great ride in the area and if one or two grid ref's are nearby then go for them. Don't go out of your way and get stressed if you don't do them.
Just go for the ride and adventure. But most of all enjoy it.
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Chaps, I think WRT route discussion would be better on the WRT thread?
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Anyone fancy givin me a cheeky look at there route, working on mine but changed me mind about 5 times so far?h
Good Luck Bigface..... You've no chance
Just got delivery of my new bags so loaded up and ready for some testing..
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Revelate Tangle bag
Cleaveland Mountaineering Saddle bag and Harness
Mountain Feed bag
Heading out tonight for a little tester and start the refining process before Grenzstein Trophy in June.. and of course hopefully the WRT 🙂
Paul that all looks lovely and streamline. The Singular still looks remarkably fast even fully loaded!
My 40yr old Bernina sewing-machine has been out again 🙂 This time a bar-harness, again made from recycled bits and pieces I had knocking around.
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It's designed to hold 2 seperate 3L drybags as I found this to the best use of storage space and it allows the cables to pass nicely between the two. It also includes some stabiliser straps underneath to stop it bouncing around.
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You've too much time on your hands Anthony!! Marvelous 🙂