The Bear Bones 200 is coming in October … you’ll either love the idea or hate it, I don’t think there’ll be much middle ground. Details are still been finalised but this will give you an idea.

http://www.bearbonesbikepacking.co.uk/pages/news.html#BB200

Just ride it and enjoy it. When stuff breaks replace it. The frame should be worth upgrading as time goes on as long as you don’t go mad.

There are possibly better spec’d bikes out there for the same money though.

Chers Ferrit … just the inspiration I was after 😀

Tazzy it’s just like building a den at the bottom of the garden … that’s what’s so good 😀

See … there’s lots to go at 😉

If any bivvy virgins are looking for a trip you’re more than welcome.

http://bearbonesbikepacking.co.uk/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=34

And yes Matt, nice without being flowery 😀

I’m starting to wonder if a ‘virgin’ bivvy trip could be in order like UrbanHiker says 😉

Are all the ‘virgins’ based in the same sort of area?

Yea tent can count, as long as it’s either, small and cramped, very expensive or crap 😉

This made a nice spot Bigface. Over 2000ft, near to a lake … fantastic.

http://www.bearbonesbikepacking.co.uk

http://www.forestfreeride.co.uk

1 and 2 day courses, one to one tuition at no extra £, free bunkhouse.

Reckon there’s more of it goes on than you think 😉

http://www.bearbonesbikepacking.co.uk/

In it’s purist form it can be a touch marmite but add a few refinements and it’s great. A trip doesn’t need to be days on end either. Out after work into the hills and back for breakfast is just as valid IMO.

You’re right about the Carver having a shorter TT. I’ve got long legs (if you can have long legs at 5’7″) and a short body. My Carver is a 16″ with a flipped 90mm, 6 degree stem, fit’s great.

I’m a 5’7″ person of restricted growth and have a couple of 29ers.

16″ Haro SS with drops

16″ Inbred

Both are fine. Tend to use them for big days out and often don’t realise/forget I’m on a 29er. I’ve also got a Carver 96er which is great.

Pete I imagine they may diagnose a bad case of shite dancing! 😉

I’ll lend you a 96er if you fancy Steve … that way you can have a foot in both camps, however you may look like a monkey on a mangle given our differences in stature 😀

Watch out for the ticks in France … total PITA last year. I also discovered it’s illegal to bivvy within their national parks 😉

Yea Flogging Molly are well worth seeing live if you get chance.

P1ssed up Pete? 😉

Hope it gets better soon.

Some more ideas and thoughts here too.

http://www.bearbonesbikepacking.co.uk/

@ guitarmanjon if you really want a go on the cheap just use a polythene dust sheet … with a little care it’ll last a few trips.

Try the 7th post down here http://welshridething.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2011-03-06T09%3A15%3A00-08%3A00&max-results=7

Never heard of companies who hire panniers and racks (although that doesn’t mean they don’t exist). Have you thought about a wanted ad for some secondhand stuff … it does tend to go quite cheaply.

I was going to suggest a Siltarp 1 but the usual suspects don’t seem to have any stock.

How about a GoLite poncho tarp … less than 200g and someone was flogging one on the classifieds last night for £30.

If it’s just something to cover your head, have you thought about making one out of polythene? lighter than anything else and certainly much cheaper.

It’s not very big, if you’re there for a couple of days you’ll have chance to sample pretty much everything on offer.

The temp rating range of the bag is massive. The +10 value is likely to be the comfort rating. the -12 is the extreme rating … the bag isn’t designed to keep you warm at -12, it’s only capable of keeping you alive at those type of temps (alive may include hypothermia).

@ Slugwash 😀

@ Grantway … there was a post on here a while back where someone was using a Tarptent they’d imported from the US which looked very good. IMO the majority of 2 man tents are too heavy (even when split between 2) but some of the stuff from the US would fit the bill … Tarptent, six moon designs, Bearpaw, etc. I do use a GoLite Shangri-la 3 sometimes as you can see here:

http://www.bearbonesbikepacking.co.uk/pages/trips.html

Light and very roomy but there are compromises.

Nice job Slugwash … about time we had some good weather for it 😀

How cold was the water?

Have a search back through this http://welshridething.blogspot.com/

There should be answers to your questions … except route.

If you’re hot (possibly sweating) in your bivvy bag then there’s a good chance condensation wll form inside. As said the problem will be eased if you use an eVent or Goretex bag but the condensation can still be present. I’ve always found it worse at the foot end … perhaps this is due to, the bag being smaller there so having less surface area to breath or it’s the part furthest away from the big hole at the top where your head is.

Either way, what you’ve experienced is condensation not leaking.

Just like to second DoctorRad … it’s a great read, well worth the price.

More bikepacking goodness can be found over here > http://www.bearbonesbikepacking.co.uk

Sorry … obviously I’d not spoken to Nicks mate at the WRT 😉

The only comments I heard about post mounted racks after this years WRT were along the lines of … I won’t be using one of those ‘F’ ing things again.

My own experiences are along the same lines. As BWD says, much better to strap things to the bike in drybags, etc.

It would appear that Aidan’s frame is repaired and he’ll be back in the race very shortly …. yay 😀

Aye, real shame that. Fingers crossed he’ll get sorted quickly and back out again … yea, you’re right he’s riding a Pegasus.

@ Bigface … 2 Lurchers, Roo (the one who can go) and Dennis (the one who most certainly can’t) 😉

@ Rochey – You don’t need to spend vast sums but a little outlay will stand you in good sted. If you pick your night/spot then you could be alright with nothing more than a sleeping bag. A bivvy bag will give you lots more scope though, as will a sleeping mat of some sort. If you just want to give it a try then I’d pick up a cheap foam mat (easily under a tenner) and something like a Hunka bivvy bag from Alpkit (£30). If you really don’t like it you’d sell the bag for £20 pretty easily. As for a sleeping bag, if you wear your clothes and pick a sheltered spot then just about any bag will stop you dieing at this time of year.

@ Santacoops – I’ve taken one of mine. She stays with you all night, you don’t really know she’s there. I wouldn’t dream of taking the other one, he’s fine in a tent but I think a night in the great outdoors would blow his mind!

You pick a date … my vote is for July 16th if that’s any help!

Don’t let us stop you … try it, you’ll more than likely enjoy it.

It can add a whole new dimension to your riding and empty your pockets faster than a crack habit 😀

See … told you I could be wrong regarding the tarp 😉

I too am in the hard mattress brigade, I find a hammock very comfy and easy to sleep in.

I think (yet could be very wrong) that the HH don’t come with a tarp and it’s an extra.