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I like using these sauces (plus the pasta you can get in same pouches too)
http://www.sainsburys.co.uk/groceries/index.jsp?bmUID=1331658434777
There I am! Probably the only view you had of my back all weekend Mark.
Hi Matt. Roger took that picture 😉
Not sure it ever got mentioned on this thread, but the EWE seems to be taking shape: http://www.aidanharding.com/ewe/
that looks rather intense!
Bivi ride planned for a 4pm ride off on Friday 30th in and around Clocaenog Forest if anyone's interested.
3 riders confirmed 6 a possiblity.
http://www.bikeandbivi.co.uk/php/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=371
Anyone been out this weekend?
Aye - cracking trip. Cleared overnight, frosty bright morning, sunshine all sunday. Happy )
Pics Report?
Sorry.. not many pics. Couple of camera ones if I can get flickr working again.
I'm partial to a solo bivi trip but normally on foot / scrambling etc, done a few brief ones on the bike but this weekend was my first full-weekend solo - got the bike and kit sorted so was out 9am sat, (chilterns loop -) over to wendover and chinnor via all the good bits i know, then onto stokenchurch for lunch and continued weaving around that area finding new stuff and a couple of fave trails, Turville DH, southend, stonor, onto the oxon way to Bix after a bit of route-faff and then back past Nettleden to a bivi spot. Back via a loop round a new area to me, then to Russell's water, oxon way, then Stokenchurch for coffee and toward W Wickome (sp) and Bradenham trails, then to Wendover and the towpath to Ashridge.
Really happy with the set-up, about 15lbs complete not inc water and food, trad bikepack set up on a 7-spd steel Jones. 19-20hrs riding in about 30 out, as comfy at the end as the start (saddle maybe less so, but good considering!).
The start of goodthings for this summer - 500 miles in Spain in May, maybe the GR5 or similar later this summer.
Was out today testing out my bike loaded with the new frame bag and seat pack i've just got.
Planning a 2 night trip in the Lakes over Easter if anyone is interested?
Great night around Ladybower with the wife, cycle out from Sheffield. Bivi'd low due to the wind, so no views. The new Ti honey wood stove kept us warm big big smiles plus toasted marshmallows and only 112g.
Ace.
Woke to mist, drizzle, cold and wind. Still a fun ride back on before anybody else was out of bed. and planning the next.
This is ace!
[url= http://www.backpackinglight.co.uk/product576.asp?PageID=1 ]Ti honey stove[/url]
75 quid - wowsers!
Yep tis a bit pricey, luckily I got mine a lot cheaper 😀
Bigface0_0 - Member
Anyone been out this weekend?
A cloudy but dry Clocaenog Forest bivi ride over Friday/Saturday
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Did a wee write up on my [url= http://niksbikingblog.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/fidra-overnight-bikepack-packraft-trip.html ]Fidra Overnight bikepack / packraft trip[/url]. Some excerpts:
The weather has been very warm here for this time of year, feels like summer. Inspired by this, I decided to do a trip I had fancied doing for a while, This involves cycling from Edinburgh to Yellowcraigs beach near Dirlton, then paddling across to Fidra Island, spending the night there, then going home.
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It was reasonably windy (about 12mph), and although the incoming swell was zero, the wind was blowing right down the Forth and out to sea, and picking up some chop in doing do. He had said it was quite rough, but looked calmer now. The island isn't far off the shore (about 600m depending on tide) so I decided to go have a look in any case. I unpacked and inflated the boat.
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the gulls gave me a noisy welcome!
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The wind had picked up more, bending the end of the tent toward my face. Sitting here in the dark night, I felt I had really committed myself by sleeping on the island. What if it is really windy tomorrow? I couldn't shake the gnawing worry of having to take my boat out on rough, open water. I knew it was going to be windy, but perhaps hadn't quite appreciated the reality!
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I drive the boat onto the sand, and jump out. It feels great to have my feet on sand! I drag the boat out and drink in the sense of relief and happiness to be back! I look up, and am greeted by the rising sun. Suddenly, it is all worthwhile.
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http://niksbikingblog.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/fidra-overnight-bikepack-packraft-trip.html
nikk - read that last night. Brilliant. I recognised some of those feelings - about being alone on the island. The isolation wouldn't worry me but the chance of getting stuck there would.
What do you think of the tent? I'm on the lookout for something other than the Macpac Microlight I'm currently using.
nikk.. your pictures are amazing!!! damn i love the outdoors and your pics make me want the weekend to be here again 🙂
Thanks pease!
druidh - I love the Tarptent, it seems really well designed and made. Putting it up feels like cheating it is so easy, it is at the most 5 minutes at a very leisurely pace. With practice and pace, it could easily be put up in 2 minutes. I'm happy I went for the Scarp, it is a 4 season tent so no problem for 3 season Scottish camping. It is roomy, I love the pitchlok corners, such a great design with carbon rods integrated into the tent meaning room is maximised and you keep your face of off the tent wall.
I have a tarptent as well. If I am in a nitpicking mood, the carbon corner poles means it doesn't pack as small as I would like, and the groundsheet is a bit slippery, combined with my neoair and equally slippery sleeping bag it get a bit irritating. But it is definitely light and roomy.
Nikk, great photos, fantastic trip too
Thanks jameso!
MSP - Did you seal the seams of your tent with diluted silicone? The recommended action is to dab spots of silicone on the floor of the tent at the same time as you do that - silicone diluted in white spirit AFAICR. I did this with a wee bit of square sponge, maybe 2", and it stops the sleeping mat sliding about, making the whole thing much more controllable. Without it, it is like a skating rink, I agree!
http://www.tarptent.com/projects/tarpextras.html
By the way, I can't believe the weather now! You can see the pics from last week, it was t-shirt and shorts weather. Now it has been snowing today, about 4 degrees, there is apparently an 8 foot swell in the Forth, and winds at 40mph gusts. Glad I ain't on the island now!
I hadn~t seen that advice about silicon on the groundsheet. I had been thinking of painting silicon squiggles on the base of the neoair, I guess it would be better on the groundsheet
Anyone tried one of these Pocket Stoves? Looks a nice bit of kit. It's between this and White Box Stove but like idea of being able to make a small fire with Pocket Stove http://www.backpackinglight.co.uk/product571.asp?PageID=118
Was looking at the Honey Stove (anyone got one for sale contact details in profile)
Anyone tried one of these Pocket Stoves?
http://bearbonesbikepacking.blogspot.co.uk/
Scroll down a little bit 😉
Maybe a bit too small, think I prefer look of Honey Stove which might even cook a burger or couple of sausages over it 🙂
Anyone got one of the wildcat frame bags?
I would like to see some pics of how the divider attaches, and what the optional map pocket is like.
MSP ... someone will have some pictures over here >>> http://bearbonesbikepacking.co.uk/phpBB3/index.php
why not just email Wildcat, Beth and Ian are very friendly and will assist you fully in designing your perfect bag I am sure 😀
Any hammock users on here???
Never used on before......but
I'm thinking about trying out a Hennessy Ultralight Hammock but being exactly 6 foot I'm not sure whether to go for the normal backpacker (rated up to 6 foot) model or the longer explorer version (rated over 6 foot).
Will there be a difference in a comfy nights sleep given my height (I'm only light 165lb so well under the weight limit for both).
As the explorer is both quite a bit heavier and more importantly quite a bit more expensive....
You need the Flatfish one, seems to be king of the swingers.
I'll alert him to your question.
Went out last Sunday/Monday on a quiet loop near Beddgelert, North Wales.
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And a bit of a GoPro film of the ride
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oyLdKBmgEQM&feature=g-all-c&context=G28989c2FAAAAAAAAAAA
Six foot is the absolute limit really if you want to be comfy.
I've had a go in my mates explorer and it's palatial on the size front where as my regular exped asym is just big enough.
I'm 6' tall too.
If I was getting another HH I'd go for the bigger one.
I usually ignore groupon emails, but these caught my eye as potential meths containers, what do you think?
http://www.groupon.co.uk/deals/national-deal/aquaskin/4909923?nlp=&CID=UK_CRM_1_0_0_107&a=1664
[url= http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5194/6927576678_fb510d7f4b.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickw3216/6927576678/ ]Buachille Etive Mor[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/nickw3216/ ]nick3216[/url], on Flickr
Revelate Viscacha and bar mounted carrier loaded for 8 day trip. North Face bum bag clips to the Revelate bar mounted carrier for ease of access to everyday stuff.
For longer trips I'd like a frame bag to carry heavy calorific food items (cheese, chorizo etc) within the main triangle. Obviously it'd have to be custom to fit under curvy top tube.
Like the OP, I'm currently ill and have just skimmed all 59 pages. I'm dreaming of a return to the Cairngorms soonish. I was up in November for an easy intro to bikepacking around Rothiemurchus, which I wrote up at [url] http://mcalisterium.wordpress.com/2011/11/07/north-miss-teschmacher/ [/url]
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Or if you CBA reading, the video
sums it up:I've replaced my Akto with an MLD Trailstar, so I'm just trying to figure out if/how I can pitch it without walking poles.
[url= http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7134/6963334228_5cf59e71cf.jp g" target="_blank">
Steel Jones at the far end of the Ridgeway on sat. Grade-A 10/10 perfect bikepacker bike imo .. I love it. Rides so well loaded, the geo 'almost' works better loaded than unloaded, playful to ride even with full kit on. But hopping roots and coming up short on a 45lb bike = rim dings )
Anyway, last weekend's ride was a minor fail, rode the Ridgeway from the Chilterns to the other end then onto Swindon for a takeaway and a train to the Cotswolds. That bit was good. Intended on riding back somehow but it's a long ride on a loaded bike, I was tired and a few beers on arrival sealed it ) got a train home via a return ticket so I can ride the other way in a few weeks. The Ridgeway's a nice ride, headwinds and rain in places, sunshine and fast dirt roads in others, a wrong turn, some deep mud (and some nice cheeky trails..)
Anyone been out recently ....?
I've collected some more gear and I'm itching to get out but not had time yet .
I need some more inspiration and a shove .......
Had trips planned for June to start getting into bikepacking but unfortunately I broke my arm last night out riding so I'll be off the bike for 6 weeks at least. Fate clearly knew that I had a shed load of new kit I was waiting to try out. 🙁
Anyone been out recently ....?I've collected some more gear and I'm itching to get out but not had time yet .
I need some more inspiration and a shove .......
You may find some inspiration over here - http://bearbonesbikepacking.co.uk/phpBB3/index.php
Bank Holiday in the Peaks
[url= http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7194/7003520832_bc63cc00af.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/57694603@N06/7003520832/ ]Stanage Edge[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/57694603@N06/ ]matthew.cockerham[/url]
Witha bit of Bivi fun
[url= http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7093/7149670179_5311fb126c.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/57694603@N06/7149670179/ ]Wake Up[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/57694603@N06/ ]matthew.cockerham[/url]
Nice alpkit myog post here: http://www.alpkit.com/bikepacking/diy-saddlebag/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=May+2012&utm_content=May+2012+CID_dc8d93ee94c3a9a7c20ef79014bd10bd&utm_source=Email+marketing+software
"nickswolves - Member
Anyone tried one of these Pocket Stoves? Looks a nice bit of kit. It's between this and White Box Stove but like idea of being able to make a small fire with Pocket Stove http://www.backpackinglight.co.uk/product571.asp?PageID=118
Was looking at the Honey Stove (anyone got one for sale contact details in profile) "
I bought a steel pocket stove recently. First impressions after a couple of uses are that if you rest a pot (I used an Alpkit myti mug) on the top of it it will burn slowly and not boil water very well. If you can use a pot standand keep the mug/pot a couple of cm above the stove then it works a LOT better.I was struggling to boil a full myti mug of water after 15min with the mug sat ontop of the stove (using bone dry wood split to pencil size), whereas keeping the pot 2-3 cm above the stove and using slightly damp wood boiled a full mug of water in 8-9 min.
Also used it with an army style crusader pot (one the water bottle fits in) and got similar results, and used it to cookwith an army style rectangular mess tin with good results (honey mustard and pork sausages, mushrooms and baked beans :-D). The thing that impressed me about the stove was that the wood burned away completely, no ash or residue at all. I think it is a good all rounder, being able to boil water/cook just with twigs or split wood is useful. A gas stove undoubtably faster though.