[Closed] STW forum bivvy ride Dec 4th / 5th from Machynlleth.

Probably won't look like this next week.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/vellender/3354456864/

Or at the moment for that matter 😉

I can't make this. Not been well and off the bike so think a cold bivvy would be the least sensible thing I could do.

Hi Teetosugars, I may take you up on that offer if that's ok? I'm based in Sheffield and could drive over to yours early Sat, doesn't seem to make sense to both take cars over to Wales

@stevemorg2

I guess to be in Mach for 1pm (for bag of chips and a pint) I would have to leave Aberdare about 11am (ish) what time were you thinking of?

@Ambrose - you are not allowed to drink calvados anymore 😉

Trio ... we'll see you at the WRT in May then 😉

How deep is the snow there now?
I expect it's a lot deeper than our inch or so.

4" ... it's nearly up to my waist!

Bar mitts ordered this morning too. Later I shall be investigating which bag fits best into which bag without stopping either one lofting ... we know how to live, we do 😉

To me or to you? Bar mitts that is.

Still S8tannorm next week...
[img] http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcR7_4jrQjvfJc3LF_LbZITWF8s24Zek_hYbpIG7H261YB31rF0oJQ [/img]

Valleydaddy - was aiming to leave Cardiff @10.am - my only concern atm is how I'm going to carry all the kit - was OK with my 3 season bag and kit in a KIMM sac but I'm not sure where'll I'll manage to carry my Rab bag and the winter kit - will touch base in the week - do you need to borrow anything?

BTW - I posted on your Down jkt wanted post

flatfish ... they're coming to me.

Ambrose ... it took a few seconds but clicked in the end!

ok Steve we'll speak in the week, I think I am ok for kit to be honest, only concern is the sleeping bag but may double up.

I managed to get a duvet jacket seemingly sorted down to -40c 😯

so do we have a back up plan if the snow sticks around?? Bothy??

Shut up you puff. 😉

I'll be in my camper van if it gets too bad! - if bulk isn't an issue then I can get you a sleeping bag from work - OK down to -10 or so

flatfish - I am not bothered either way got all my kit sorted for an artic expedition if needed 😀

really looking forwad to it tbh

I know a few spots nearby with fireplaces and roofs. And a nice man who can deliver coal to the most unlikely of places.

thanks for the offer Steve but I think I should be ok, I'll let you know though if I need anything.

ok rack fitted to HT, panniers found.

Trailrakers fitted, but looking forward to seeing the big wheel monsters in the metal - thinking I may find a new niche to try 😛

need to find stove and check gas situation.

need to attach paracord to basha

then have a practice pack and balance weight over bike somehow.

"shut up you puff"

flatfish Dee says is your mobile number the same and which B+B will you want picking up from? 😉

Oddly my bike seems to be gaining a lb for every degree the temp drops!

We might be OK yet, Stu. The weather link I posted on the last page is now showing a barmy +2 degrees and rain. Lovely.

Good, I'll hang fire from ordering a new pair of spikes 😀

good news then IanB 😀

so do we have a planned meet time yet??

Valleydaddy nowts changed ... 1pm outside the Spar in Mach' or milling about somewhere near stuffing faces 😉

OK Stu I'll be there 😀

@SteveMorg - I'll be leaving around 10ish to make sure I am there on time - for chips that is 😆

You'll be wanting Dicks Diner opposite the Spar ... really it is called that!

still s8tannorm - Member

Trio ... we'll see you at the WRT in May then

Definetly. I would love to come to this, but after a week stuck in hospital I think I should be sensible!

Dicks it is then 😆

Trio, I reckon you're right ... once you get involved with hospitals then sensible has to figure.

... and valleydaddy, don't have sausage 😯

Quarry shop for me, my body is a temple.

Wot no sausage!!!

what's the Quarry shop Ambrose??

Probably the best Veggie Cafe in Wales or may be even UK. My weapon of choice for many years. We used to descend upon the place mob handed at the end of a week in the hills when I worked in Mach.

Oh yes I think I remember having a coffee and a slab of cake there last Christmas when we stayed in Mach.

I remember the carrot cake was pretty special

Maybe a bean casserole or something similar may provide my bivi with self made central heating 😆

I will expect lots of photos though!

dim problem trio25

good news then IanB

Could be worse, it's minus 9 in Brecon at the moment (actual reading from my garden...) 😯

your not "practicing" in the garden for next weekend are you Ian 😉

May have to drop out of this one. Ill know for sure later in the week.

I'm off to buy a new sleeping bag on Monday, something that'll see me good to minus 20ish.
This all sounded great a month ago 😯

who's the "puff" now 😉

Still sleeping outdoors without a roof, sleeping platform and stove and I'm making Christmas dinner when we stop for the night.
Not slumming it that much. 😉
Hang on, I just realized you got a jacket rated -40.
What's that about?

If the weather continues at these temps then there will be clear-fell where the trees your hammocks used to be were. 🙂

Ah F/fish, I put a wanted ad up and a kind gentleman offered me a Rab Expedition jacket at a too good to miss price so we'll see what it's like next weekend - could be a god send for sure 😉

So do you want me to bring anything for this Christmas dinner fella??

Ambrose if these temps carry on you'll have your chainsaw in the trailer and the trees will be on the fire 😆

i'm not bringing a whole bloody turkey.

I guess that would be a bit OTT but I'm bringing the bovril so if you do change your mind I'll have gravy on tap 😉

I was just bringing some butties ... somehow it doesn't seem enough now!

You'll be pleased to hear that it's minus something stupid with no sign of any thaw for sometime. Last March there was no snow in the valleys (hadn't been for a week or so) but the track, the track we'll be trying to ride still had 10"!

How do you cook a christmas dinner for 10 in a Jetboil then flatfish? and shall I borrow some veg of the llamas?

Whitebox stove and a Titan kettle are my kitchen for the evening.
Jetboil would cook the turkey too fast, turkeys need to be basted.

@valleydaddy - the thought of practising in the garden had crossed my mind, even just to see how low my double bag combo will go... but then it was minus 13 here last night...

😯 -13 degrees ouch 😯

If these temps keep up it's going to be a interesting trip for sure can't wait 😉

Going into the garage latter to practice pack the gear on to bike 😉

Ahh, the joys of p1ssing on your freewheel to defrost it 😉

Carefull doing that Stuart it may freeze up the stream mid flow 😯

As long as that's the only thing you'll be p1ssing on next weekend 😉

so do we know numbers for this artic adventure yet?

just so flatfish knows how many to cater for 😉

just working on ideas for food choices, I know Stuart's bringing sarnies but I was thinking more on the hot food side - suggestions?

just sorted my kit out (I think!) - I've managed to get all of it into a 40l daysac which I'll try out on the bike tomorrow night - it should be OK. Just have to decide on a gas or petrol stove - I think if it's as cold as I think it'll be then petrol may be the one.

Re. food - I'm planning on boil in the bag meals but am happy to bring something else if we are mucking in with something.

Anyone know if the route is all on one map (25k or 50k) - I wouldn't mind making sure I have a map just in case.

I'm really looking forward to this!

Every little helps

Steve you'll get everything required on a Landranger 135 ... you'll require 2 1:25k otherwise.

I keep thinking about which way out of Mach', then thinking again 😉 If the weather stays something like, then I'm inclined to think that the path of least resistance would be best. There's always going to be a climb but I figure the weather and added weight might make things interesting enough without us looking for more. This will involve a bit of very quiet road and a fireroad climb to gain our height.

I'll take a ride out later in the week and see what's what ... after the doctors have fixed my arm, fingers crossed.

@Valleydaddy, no idea of numbers really. I know not everyone who says they're coming has posted, 'spose we'll find out on Sat.

I keep thinking about which way out of Mach

I always favour past the 1st (& 9th) tee at Mach golf course, we can bivi on the platform that is the 8th (& 17th) tee. That way we could set off at 5-6pm and be back in 15 mins.

Just checked my sleeping bag and it says;

"Sleepzone 10 to -12°C, Extreme-29°C ;Transition -10°C; Comfort -3°C"

so that with a full length mat, thermal top, a down vest, running tights, ski tubes and a 2 hats should mean I have no reason to jib this.

(unless I can't get back from London on Friday)

Some inspiration;

Points if any of you local boys can tell me where this is:
(Taken on December 24, 2009)

[img] [/img]

Got my Rab jacket in the post today so sorted - bring it on 😀

My only issue now is going to be bulk of kit not really weight, going to get some compression sacks tomorrow to try and help out squishing the s/bag and Rab to a manageable size 🙂

Steve you mentioned stove choice - I've got a gas one will that work ok in sub zero temps ok??

Got my Rab jacket in the post today so sorted - bring it on

valleydaddy: In the event that you find yourself too warm, I'd be happy to "hold" your jacket for you 😉

Tiger6791: you'll have to give me a clue. Which direction were you facing when you took the photo?

http://www.netweather.tv/index.cgi?action=uk7dayx2;page=6;type=free;ct=18950~Machynlleth;sess=#forecast

weather not looking too bad 😀

North

The big hill in the background is "Giants Chair"

Just above a Happy place

Wouldn't be the track heading towards Rhyd-yr-onen if you were heading NW ish would it?

Hi guys

After a bivvy on Friday night in the Lakes we found out that normal gas canisters do not work at sub zero temps. Two of us had meths burners and they were great.

Enjoy yourselves and make sure you have a couple of pairs of socks.

[img] [/img]

Aye, DIY tin can meths stove (bomb) for me 😉

Wouldn't be the track heading towards Rhyd-yr-onen if you were heading NW ish would it

Good call 🙂 and spot on!

Sorry, just noticed whoever slept in the middle must have been hard or is now dead ... no sleeping or bivvy bag! 😉

ok I was thinking of getting something else as thought the gas would be a problem, cheers for the heads up Ruddy 😉

Stuart should I research these homemade bombs stoves???

or would a Triangia style be a safer bet??

He did the infamous bivvy shuffle (normally used for toilet stops) to take the piccy.

Always worrying when you see pictures of yourself asleep on the web following one of these!

Other lesson learn't was to keep you water bottle upside down so that ice forms at the bottom when turned the right way up - otherwise no brew for you.

oh and tin can stove for me aswell, might make a new one tomorrow though. Had an idea for a new design using a redbull can as an internal sleeve.

just had a quick search and look like something to try

is this like what you are planning Tiger

http://www.outdoorsmagic.com/gear-features/make-your-own-meths-burner/6227.html

Valleydaddy, I'm meant to be resting my arm but doing nothing will drive me (more) mental so if you like I'll make you a stove and a pan rest. You'll need to bring some meths with you though.

oh that would be awesome ta Stuart of couse i'll bring some meths and some form of trade payment 😀

maybe you can show me how to make one at the camp?

I'll sort it and bring it with me ... no need for i trade, I like messing about with them 😉

ok I appreciate that, maybe I could just make you a brew with my new stove 😉

is this like what you are planning Tiger

Yep, but rather than making the internal sleeve I've worked out a red bull can is the correct size and I want to try the burners on the outside edge and some fibreglass wool as a wick.

If I do make a new one I can bring my old one. Still works 🙂

Whilst I quite like my home made gear, I couldn't be bothered to make myself and stove and bought one of these instead: http://backpackinglight.co.uk/product129.asp?PageID=99

As the jets go upwards rather than outwards as on a whitebox or coke-can stove, I can use a smaller diameter pan more effectively. Weighs a bit more that a homemade one, but has the kudos of being titanium 8)

Ok packed s/bag into bivvy managed to keep pack size down amazingly small 😉

Squished Rab jacket into a compression sack unreal how small it will pack down too.

Just got to be minimal with clothing and leave space for food and cooking gear and think I will be good to go.

All camp stuff going into one pannier, clothes + cooking gear/food etc into the other side.

Then think I'll only need my camelbak mule to take water/tools in so probably have space on top of pannier rack to take something else for someone if needed.

Looking like conditions will be just below zero according to BBC. Not a lot to complain about really:

http://www.bikepacking.net/forum/index.php?topic=1589.0

Kev

Right,

I can't make this now..

Gutted.

Oh, and IanB... let me know details of the frame bag... definatly very, very interested in purchasing one...

Drop me a line eh?

tollah - Member
May have to drop out of this one. Ill know for sure later in the week.

you coming sheldon?

Hunka XL turned up this morning (better for us fat lads)

Now means I've got a regular Hunka spare (been used a few times but is good), will probably never get round to sticking it in the Classifieds but could bring it along if anybody wants to give me 20 notes for it?