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

I think that a hooped bivvy offers the worst compromise – heavy, not enough room to do anything but sleep and more faff than a normal bivvy bag.
If you want something bug proof look at something like the Lunar Solo or a Terra Nova tent. If you want lightweight and aren’t bothered about bug netting, a bivvy bag and tarp will be your lightest option.
Everything is a compromise really…..

I have a bivvy bag, and I have lightweight (ish, for the amount of money I want to spend) 1 man tent. Was considering getting a tarp or going for one of those above

That is listed at 1.1kg

That’s not the case that a bivy and a tarp will weigh less a hooped bivy – since when did 1 dac pole weigh more than even the lightest tarp?

@noltae – check out: Ultralight outdoor gear

I hear what you’re saying but there are some really light products around….

From this weekends, wet North Wales beach bivi ride
4 x fatty’s

I have more hiking/expedition kit than cycling specific touring kit – I personally.question all this strapping everything but the kitchen sink to ones bike – How much weight do you want to carry on your bike tours? Its pretty much a given you’ll be aiming to go relatively light – under 8kg is really easy to cycle with with just a decent fitting backpack – but I know kit junkies don’t want to hear this right?

Anyone use this type of thing? Your thoughts??

Yes, I do..
Got my old work one, I like it.. Ok, so my tent weighs less, but yeah, I like it.

That’s good enough for me

I have a Rab bivvy bag with a mesh section at the entry. No pole though. FWIW bivvies and tents both have their advantages which have nothing to do with weight.

noltae – Member
I have more hiking/expedition kit than cycling specific touring kit – I personally.question all this strapping everything but the kitchen sink to ones bike – How much weight do you want to carry on your bike tours? Its pretty much a given you’ll be aiming to go relatively light – under 8kg is really easy to cycle with with just a decent fitting backpack – but I know kit junkies don’t want to hear this right?

Far comfier and has a surprisingly good effect on traction, particularly on wee short rocky ups. I also enjoy the freedom of not having a big pack on, especially on a 3 dayer. With everything in small compartments on the bike, I can get to everything pretty quickly too.

I know kit junkies don’t want to hear this right?

I have more hiking/expedition kit than cycling specific touring kit

😉
You can carry all of that weight on your back, but after a few hours it will become uncomfortable as you back becomes sweaty, the straps dig into you shoulders and the extra weight gets transferred through your backside over every bump. The only bikepacking specific kit is the luggage (frame bag etc). The rest is general outdoors stuff.

Here’s my mostly-DIY set up..

See how I made/use most of it in my blog…

DrP

I have a bivvy bag, and I have lightweight (ish, for the amount of money I want to spend) 1 man tent. Was considering getting a tarp or going for one of those above

I’d be looking for a Saunders Jetpacker / Jetpacker Plus on eBay. They usually go for about £80, and are a true 1-2 man tent @ 1.25kg.

I’ve never used one but the hooped bivi bags always seem like they are not worth it unless you are camping somewhere with really extreme conditions.

Hi all its been a while since I posted on this thread but have finally got out for a bit more bike packing.
I have picked up a few more bits of kit since my last trip, most notably a Rab down sleeping bag (half price) and a Revelate designs sweet roll bar bag (from another forum member)
Both items made a difference and were very good. The sweet roll is really well secured, doesn’t bounce around at all.

The trip was last week, while on holiday in Scotland visiting family I managed to sneak away for a couple of days.
The route was a Scottish coast to coast from Ullapool to Adrgay.
Not very technical but good riding across some fantastic countryside with big views in great weather.
I caught a bus from Inverness to Ullapool then road across to Croick, and down the road to Ardgay. Then road from there on the very quiet main road south pitching my tent on the east coast near the Glenmorangie distillery. I stopped in to visit family in Tain the following day before catching the train back to Inverness. Really enjoyed the trip. 😀

Bit desperate starting the fire with whisky no?

Believe me not a drop was wasted!

Looks mint. I need to do more “relaxing by the fire with some whisky”.

scotroutes – Member
Looks mint. I need to do more “relaxing by the fire with some whisky”.

This.
Very much, this…

I’m up for it when you are Nick!

Latest update. 4/4 for bivvy-a-month.

http://www.blog.scotroutes.com/2014/04/count-me-out.html

nice words Colin, and pretty much sums up why I’ll never do these trips as a race, far too nice a place to have your head down looking at your stem 🙂

Nick/Colin me too

Anyways, the bivvy I posted above has now shot up in price, almost three times 😮

So, tarps, buying ex military, DPM = naff of not?

DPM doesn’ bother me but check the weight of these things

Yeah, looking at eBay at the moment, no weights listed, shall contact the sellers

Yeah, looking at eBay at the moment, no weights listed, shall contact the sellers

I’ve just weighed mine for you; 1004g including it’s stuff sack.

They’re very overbuilt, with loads of strengthening points all over them. This is so they can be folded in half and used as a stretcher if needs be (although it’s bloody hard to carry someone on one!).

Cheers duffer.

Teetosugars – Member – Quote

scotroutes – Member
Looks mint. I need to do more “relaxing by the fire with some whisky”.

This.
Very much, this…[/quote]
Northern England or maybe coastal Dumfries-shire? June/July?

So, tarps, buying ex military, DPM = naff of not?

Used to be usefull, kinda went with the job.. But there’s far better/ lighter kit out there.

Northern England or maybe coastal Dumfries-shire? June/July?

Yes, we must sort…

Ex mil stuff needs research before buying.

Some of the curent kit is quite light (value for money) but you can go lighter at cost.

Seen some tarp/bivi/ponchos in the 400-600 gram area, i still have my old 1980’s MOD poncho, weighs in about 1 kilo, my Terra Nova tent which sleeps 2 in midge free dryness luxury is about 1.3kg at minimum weight.
Haven’t handled a current spec MOD Poncho, but as already stated they are tough and multi use, my old version doubles up for stretcher and bodybag duty, can be poppered up one side for a crude bivi bag affair but non breatheable. Keep the nuclear fallout off you as you sleep 🙂

Apologies in advance, the search function on here is dire…

Anyone using Alpkit’s luggage (seat pack, framebag, handlebar harness)? Any feedback please as I’m thinking if diving in head first and retiring my 1980’s Karimor panniers…

I have one of the centre triangle frame bags, very good bit of kit, well made and relatively cheap.

Alpkit Luggage – Hear positive things about the frame bags and the seat packs. Mixed reviews on the handlebar harness.

As you can see from the pic I am a Alpkit fanboi
Harness is fine just a bit of a faff to attach but once its on its fine kit seems well made!
GOPR0062 by Richard Munro[/url], on Flickr
Rich
DSCF3559[1] by Richard Munro[/url], on Flickr
DSCF3492[1] by Richard Munro[/url], on Flickr

Any ‘real life’ feedback? Would you buy again? Any ‘bollux, I wish ……’? Ta.

err!!! it works only 6 months old would I buy again hope not!

V pleased with my alpkit gear, great value.

Koala Review

Yep would buy again, waiting for some bits to get back in stock.

Colin/Nick. Yes, sounds good. Will need to book time off ASAP as always won’t know shifts until a week before