So, scratching the bike packing itch has been a while coming for me, this trips been brewing for a while, its my first. I wanted it to be a ride from my doorstep in Stroud & into Wales. I wanted it to be a challenge but achievable.
I wanted an N+1 on a budget (£1000 for bike & all the kit) for this and other trips, I was initially looking for a small Inbred 29er to run rigid with 2.4” tyres but ended up with a small Surly Krampus from the STW classifieds. It was running i21 rims and I had always fancied the look of those 3” tired Krampus when they came out, so I broke the bike down, sold some bits on, raided my parts bin & brought some i40 rims & 3” rubber for it. I built the wheels using the Halo rims the bike came with, opted for an On One Geoff bar, 2x gearing with 24/34 front & 11/36 rear, fitted a load of accessory mounts and cages, botched some brakes and was sorted:
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48451811731_6d7092968b_z.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48451811731_6d7092968b_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2gPwcAk ]Only a mother could love it.[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/martinddd/ ]martinddd[/url], on Flickr
I used it along the canal locally, I took it on one trail ride & that immediately showed that those bit wheels slow down on inclines, and that it was in fact rather hefty.
I’ve had a previous bad weather experience where I didn’t have the correct gear for the weather, so a shopping spree was required as I don’t own any proper outdoors kit. I used a number out outlet stores & ended up with my bigger purchases of: Montane Prism insulated jacket, Wild Country Zephyros 1 tent, Gore C3 jacket, Madison Zenith zip off trousers / shorts, AlpKit Skye High 500 sleeping bag & Berghaus Peak Pro insulated mat, Sawyer water filter, Belkin 15000 powerpack.
I’d been on the look out for routes, those of interest were:
http://www.aidanharding.com/ewe/
https://katherinebikes.com/wales-off-road-bristol-to-manchester-the-rough-way/
https://www.theracingcollective.com/gbduro.html#
i figured I could ride from home & pick up a route from Aust, head on as far as I wanted and return via another route. My final route & direction wasn’t decided until the day before, I opted for: EWE from Aust – Machynlleth, GBDuro from Machynlleth – Bala, and then I’d reverse Katherines route from Bala – Aust.
Bar resupply points and a profile of the route, I didn’t research the route, I just down loaded the files onto my Etrex.
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48451803221_95b39146da_z.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48451803221_95b39146da_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2gPwa4B ]Uppy downy[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/martinddd/ ]martinddd[/url], on Flickr
I was aware of biting off more than I could chew, this became my grounding thought process:
“Enjoy it, don’t lose sight of how lucky you are to be out there and above all, manage your expectations. If we treat all things as a pass or fail test we can torture ourselves over the outcome, but if we consider it more as an experiment with an uncertain outcome from the start then at least we always get an answer.” M.H.
I was nervous, I had no safety blanket as my partner & son were overseas, I had no friends to come & get me, no family available. I didn’t have a Spot Tracker. I did sign up for Strava Beacon which I pinged to my partner but failed to make a plan of what to do if I don’t move. I did however have a whistle, a tent & bag, always had some just in case noodles. If able I could hunka down dry & warm for a while and wait it out.
Being a small frame & having no frame bag, a lot of my weight was on the front, I was a bit concerned about this & could for see some over the bars moments, but it was unfounded. It may have helped having no benchmark.
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48445742196_f2c35cfea7_z.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48445742196_f2c35cfea7_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2gNZ6kb ]Loaded and all set to go.[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/martinddd/ ]martinddd[/url], on Flickr
Day one was an early start, good weather forecast with rain tomorrow.
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48445898967_5a50377eab_z.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48445898967_5a50377eab_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2gNZTW8 ]Aust & westward bound.[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/martinddd/ ]martinddd[/url], on Flickr
The first 100km were on the road, I did have a little panic thinking that in my GPX file faffing I’d maybe hit the “follow roads” button, but after Abergavenny the tarmac broke and the contours really came, tightly packed contours soon became the norm:
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48445901252_6dab665a2d_z.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48445901252_6dab665a2d_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2gNZUBw ]First off road contours.[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/martinddd/ ]martinddd[/url], on Flickr
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48445903937_542e17dd76_z.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48445903937_542e17dd76_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2gNZVpP ]Groovy[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/martinddd/ ]martinddd[/url], on Flickr
I camped out up high after Talybont On Usk:
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48445906577_eb23348953_z.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48445906577_eb23348953_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2gNZWck ]Outside of Talybont On Usk[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/martinddd/ ]martinddd[/url], on Flickr
I loved the simplicity of being high up, on trails you could see off into the distance, just riding, eating & drinking. I knew that getting food in was a priority, along with water & I tried to vary my intake: sweet, savoury, sandwiches, nuts, fruit etc.
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48445907892_17a7c31d8a_z.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48445907892_17a7c31d8a_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2gNZWA1 ]Sunrise[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/martinddd/ ]martinddd[/url], on Flickr
Its amazing how dry sheep poo just doesn’t stick. However, when wet, and boy did it rain on day two, it sticks like the proverbial. And there a lot of sheep out there all pooping.
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48445911057_ce95042fdc_z.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48445911057_ce95042fdc_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2gNZXwz ]Poo bottle[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/martinddd/ ]martinddd[/url], on Flickr
is there a part 2?
Ooh - hello, yes there is, and a 3 & 4 I think, bear with me whilst I boot up the laptop....
Here you go, thanks for your interest:
https://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/my-first-bike-packing-trip-write-up-pics-part-2a/
https://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/my-first-bike-packing-trip-write-up-pics-part-2b/
https://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/my-first-bike-packing-trip-write-up-pics-part-3/
As a bit of an update:
The experience: I loved the fact of being totally self sufficient and able to test out how long i could ride for before falling asleep along the trail, this is something i'd like to do again, i'll organise an event just for me again!
Kit: I sold the tent as i found it a bit faffy to get up right and too low overhead for me, i think i'd like a kinda tarp with midge net set up that could withstand rain, but i don't think such a set up exists. The 3 season down Alpkit bag is great, but i'd kinda like a 2 season down & lighter bag that i'd use with clothing if required. Forget those bling King Cage USB bolts, i'd go for good old jubilee clips next time or have additional mounts fitted by a frame builder. My short legs on a small frame with a seat pack just doesn;t work, i wore a hole through the Porcelain Rocket seat pack and it rubbed endlessly!!! - rear rack next time.
Bike: The Krampus rocked on the downs and loved the rocky climb over The Gap, but i think it was maybe harder work up the endless fire roads, 29x3" may have been too much for my puny legs!!! I sold it on and am currently looking for a 16" On One Inbred 29er that i'd use a rear rack with.
Enjoy ✌
a kinda tarp with midge net set up that could withstand rain
https://www.sixmoondesigns.com/products/lunar-solo
My short legs on a small frame with a seat pack just doesn;t work
Yeah, I worked this out when 29+ first appeared and was delighted when B+ became a thing. When I had brant put together a custom frame for me I also increased the BB height slightly higher than fashionable as that sets the saddle a little higher too.
I don't have anything against racks for on-road use but don't much trust them off-road.
Enjoyed this immensely! Good effort for a first trip out - wish I had the fortitude.
Kit: I sold the tent as i found it a bit faffy to get up right and too low overhead for me, i think i’d like a kinda tarp with midge net set up that could withstand rain, but i don’t think such a set up exists.
As Colin says the Lunar Solo or either the Deschutes or Gatewood with a Serenity net inner. Even lighter for an "inner" is a Sea to Summit Nano bug net - hang it from the peak of the tarp and just wrap it around your sleeping mat.
It's all a learning process, just never ends.
I really enjoyed your two wheeled travels. Good info and massive respect for the first time route choice. Thumbs up 👍
Thanks for posting these again I really enjoyed them. I'm holding to do a trip for the first time soon, probably not half as epic as this!
Cheers.