[Closed] Sick as a dog so, show me you Bivi / Bikepacking / Adventure racing gear.....

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
[img] [/img]

Looking for 3 nicely spaced trees as the sun went down
[img] [/img]

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).
[img] [/img]

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

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?

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.

Bugger. Got two... been fine so far...

A manufacturing fault? 😯

Probably best I couldn't find one, but bugger they looked dead useful :I I suppose those topeak big cages for big plastic bottles are a next-best. Oh well!

Hmm Charlie the Bike Monger seems to think there is going to be a 2014 version
http://www.charliethebikemonger.com/new-2014-salsa-anything-cages-fargo-enabler-3762-p.asp
"Charlie says... I anticipate that a new salsa anything cage will be coming along soon. Maybe late summer 2014? Almost no details are known" lovely and vague! 🙂

The Anything Cages have been redesigned and re-released.

I also notice that the newer Salsa/Surly forks have the mounts at the front rather than "hanging off" the rear.

Oh you beat my edit!

Does no one use a Carradice SQR Tour or Kelly kettles?

I've got an [url= http://www.backpackinglight.co.uk/cookers-and-stoves/RD102.html ]M-kettle[/url] that works on the same principle as a Kelly Kettle, and it works a treat for boiling water. That's all you can do though!

Just scraped my September one-a-month. I really must try to be better organised this month.

http://www.blog.scotroutes.com/2013/10/new-horizons.html

[img] [/img]

I'm up your neck on the woods if you fancy a night out for October.
In Aviemore from 26th Oct-1st Nov.

Nice one. Let me know nearer the time and I can work out shifts etc

yorlin - Member
I've got an M-kettle that works on the same principle as a Kelly Kettle, and it works a treat for boiling water. That's all you can do though!

You can cook on them very easily, I have a little crosspiece that slots into the chimney fry off some onions and chorizo then add a tin of beans... that was my latest creation!

You could easily make one to fit the m kettle.

On foot its fine if you have the volume to carry it, its hardly lightweight though and it doesnt hold together so it rattle alot aero press fits in the chimney, coffee and cotton wool in the plunger of the aeropressthen the fire pan sit upside with the wee pot and 'frying pan'inside that with food.

Its awkward on a bike though, hatching a scheme for a harness to keep it all together and strap it at the headtube end inside the triangle.

Has anyone got a solution for a harness for drop bars? Was thinking an old set of aero bars pointing down and dry bag strapped vertically to that type of plan.

Almost completely off-topic but I thought some of you might like a bit of a laugh anyway... this is my "trip-report" of walking the West Highland Way in 1993. What struck me most while typing it in to the blog was how much the path has been "improved" in the interim.

http://www.blog.scotroutes.com/p/walking-west-highland-way.html

Joshvegas - it's not too wobbly? I was going to get a titanium trivet and use the base to cook with once the water is ready... The water boils so quick is there time to cook on top? ❓ Oh mine came in a tight fitting red bag, it had a couple of D-rings for strapping it to stuff iirc.

Scotroutes - lovely gaiters 😀 I think I did the WHW a few years after you, I remember some of the path was knackered. Oh and my friend got food poisoning at the glenorchy hotel. 😳

The kelly kettle has a wider base I think in comparison the the height?

Its not hugely stable but its so blooming hot you have to stir it anyway, so... on hand on the trangia type hand and one hand stirring is plenty stable enough time wise 10 seconds over the heat and you can hear the chorizo sizzling so you get a good stab at it before the water boils. You could always get it started on the chimney then transfer the pot to the base after its boiled. Not used It a huge amount its been pretty successful so far. Toyed with taking a couple of lumps of charcoal next time and fire a couple of snags on the grill.

Actually the biggest flaw I think is probably its fuel, you are pretty scuppered if you can't guarantee wood and dry wood at that! Toyed with taking some hexamine tabs as back up/starter.

Other disasters... over filling e kettle so when it boils it deposits admittedly very hot water but also ver 'put fire outery'water in the fire pan.

Can you carry water in the m kettle?

Double post.

Oh should be doable on a kelly-kettle! The M-kettle has a rubber cork... wouldn't like to transport it on it's side though...

Same.

Pluss the kelly has some rivets etc nog entirely confident there would be any water there by the time I tried to bre up!

Does no one use a Carradice SQR Tour

I've got one, it's super stable but the drawback is it's heavy.

Here's my MYOG frame bag. Pretty happy for a first attempt. Now working on a seat bag and bar harness.
All bits and pieces bought online from Pennine Outdoor.
[img] [/img]
Also just bought a MyTimug from Alpkit and a cheap Terra Nova tarp from Field and Trek.

Itching to get out there now...

Cheez...
I'm in the process of making a frame bag too -I've got some fabric samples but not sure what to use.
Could you link to the fabric you used please-i'm torn between 'crisp rip stop nylon', and a slightly heavier nylon fabric..

DrP

stayhigh - Member
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

last time we were in Peebles we got chatting to a guy in the pub at the bridge. He fished the rivers around Peebles so was stood in the worst midge spots all the time.

He said that oil of citronella was the only thing that worked well all the time for him.

two thousand five hundred!

Looking at having a go at a bit of bikepacking , where do i source the large rear seat packs and frame bags seen on alot of the bikes ?

Looking at having a go at a bit of bikepacking , where do i source the large rear seat packs and frame bags seen on alot of the bikes ?

[url= http://www.alpkit.com/shop/cart.php?target=product&product_id=16786&category_id=324 ]Alpkit [/url]do custom ones, otherwise head to [url= http://www.backcountrybiking.co.uk/shop-2-bikepacking-gear/ ]back country[/url] for some of Eric's finest...

try here too http://wildcatgear.co.uk/ Ian is a top bloke and his good lady who makes these makes a mean bacon butty 😀

DrP - I used 1000D pu coated stuff from Pennine Outdoors. Not the lightest but sturdy and should be hard wearing. Cheap too and good service. Here's my newly completed seat bag, made from the same 1m piece of fabric, and there's enough left for a bar harness.
[img] [/img]

I think this is the stuff:
http://www.pennineoutdoor.co.uk/fabrics/medium-and-heavy-weight-weather-resistant-fabrics/p18-cordura

My baby:

Genesis Fortitude Adventure
Wildcat Handlebar Harness
Bikebag framebag
Carradice Barley Saddlebag
Spa Cycles Nidd Saddle
Snugpak Tactical 2 sleeping bag
Klymit inertia sleeping pad
Alpkit hunka bivi
4 cans of strongbow
Smiles

Looking good, rivingtonbt

Cheers Cheez!

4 cans of strongbow

Best bit of kit I bought for late summer rides was a tiny packable rucsac, intended for TDR-style garage-raids but turned out to be ideal for safe storage of a couple of tinnies for hobo-living in cornfields.

Some different suppliers for all the differing luggage types.

http://wildcatgear.co.uk
http://www.alpkit.com/shop/cart.php?target=category&category_id=324
http://bikepack.pl/shop/index.php?route=common/home
http://nologobikepacking.com
http://www.backcountrybiking.co.uk/shop-2-bikepacking-gear/

@ Cheezpleez .... that looks like a cracking job on both frame and seat pack .... time to get some stuff ordered and let the mrs loose on her sewing machine :)..
Did you use any special type of thread ??

While this is back to life - do many people use rucsacs/camelbak Mules etc for bike-packing? Or do I want to have no weight at all on me back?

[quote=yorlin ]While this is back to life - do many people use rucsacs/camelbak Mules etc for bike-packing? Or do I want to have no weight at all on me back?
I prefer to have no weight but I've been happy to compromise on occasion - usually to carry some water. These frame bags tend to rule out the normal bottle cages.

yorlin - Member

While this is back to life - do many people use rucsacs/camelbak Mules etc for bike-packing? Or do I want to have no weight at all on me back?

Have just ordered fabric samples (stop laughing !) , to give this a go ... the wife seems quite keen on making a frame and seat pack for for me 😀

Just a heads up if anyone happens to be in NZ in January AND wants a bit of a ride there is an informal 1100km brevet going on from Tekapo to Tekapo taking in some of the south islands finest trails and scenery. Lots of adventurous sleeping locations on that one.

I'll post my setup once i get some snaps - i just ran it through the Heaphy and back and all worked well. The aerobars may not be a popular choice but on long rides they can be a godsend !!

Dose any body run a bike packing setup that's more refined for very tech riding as opposed to mile munching. ie, long travel FS with a reverb. I can get a RAB bivvy on my top tube, 3/4 thermarest inside my frame (specialized pitch) and then hope to fit the rest on my bars and in a pack. I'm looking for a wing nut adventure pack, a light down bag and jacket. A few other bits and bobs ( brew kit, lights etc) to get started. Running a sadle bag doesn't seem to be an option. Advice would be appreciated

I can get a RAB bivvy on my top tube, 3/4 thermarest inside my frame (specialized pitch) and then hope to fit the rest on my bars and in a pack. I'm looking for a wing nut adventure pack, a light down bag and jacket. A few other bits and bobs ( brew kit, lights etc) to get started. Running a sadle bag doesn't seem to be an option. Advice would be appreciated

When you say, techy stuff what exactly do you mean? The idea is that you pack in such a way as not to compromise your bikes handling, so you can ride whatever you come across. There's usually plenty of technical sections on most rides.

If the Reverb's stopping you using a rear bag then, big/bulky stuff on the bars (sleeping bag, jacket, etc). Bivvy bag and mat on / in frame and everything else in (the smallest) bag ... it's surprising how much you can fit in a wingnut Hyper 2.5.

Yorlin - re backpacks etc I think they work fine provided you are travelling light on a short trip, in fact I think it can be an advantage if you have lots of hike-a-bike to do as it is v difficult to carry a laden bike over say Blacksail pass in the lakes. My main objection is getting a sweaty back when carrying anything. If you are doing a multi day trip without access to a shower or a change of clothes it's nice to let the bike carry as much as poss.

Craig5 - I have done a bit on a full suss but found the added weight meant I had to firm the forks and rear shock up considerably which meant it wasn't as fun as I thought. I also had a rear shock blow a seal out through the Schrader valve so I have decided to stick to rigid - trust me it's not that bad 😉

Thanks stummpym4, it's not the neatest job but I think it'll do. I just used ordinary polyester thread in the end and double-sewed all the seams. I tried using v thick, strong stuff but it just jammed the machine.

A lighter material than the 1000D stuff I used would probably be easier to work with and lighter, but obviously a bit less durable.