Mounty, I’ve a Force 10 Helium 100 for sale. More stable and easier to pitch than a TN or WC. 😉

Not had much use – £125 if you’re interested.

I have a Mytimug from alpkit and I wanted a small/light stove to cook, simply.

There is a Myti mug stove set available that includes, stove, windshield, pot cosy and fuel bottle. It will work with other mugs/pans but was designed for the AlpKit mug.

Has anyone used one of these, the Honey Stove….

http://www.backpackinglight.co.uk/wood-burning-stoves/RD103.html

I am a lover of the Trangia, used one for many years, which is good for car camping!

So now looking for something a lot smaller and lighter so that I can give bikepacking a go!

Mounty, if you fancy using wood as fuel then the Honey stove works okay. When all said and done it’s just a box you burn stuff in. If wood is going to be your fuel of choice then a wood stove with an inner/outer wall will work much better. Here’s a few ideas for MYOG wood stoves.

Bear Bones simple wood stove

Bear Bones wood-gas double wall stove

If you really do fancy something light then wood might not be the ideal option. Meths will (as long as you’re not using something like a Trangia) be a much lighter option.

8g and 22g meths stoves

There’s some good stuff in the hills above Tywyn and Pennal, easy to make a good loop starting from either of those or from Machynlleth. Another option is ride from Machynlleth to Nant (and back), if the weather’s nice it’ll be cracking.

Or as Stu says, nip down to Rhayader and explore the Elan valley.

Would it be OK to just attach the Alpkit dry bags with the external load loops (Airlok Xtra) on straight to the bars with straps or bungees or does this still move around to much? I’ve 13l for the bars and 8l for under the seatpost, but trying not to now have to fork out for harness system to attach to the bars?

It’ll work okay. It won’t be as secure as a harness but you won’t die. A little ingenious strapping will be required for the rear one though … really needs attaching in 2 planes, eg seat post and seat rails.

Re the weight – serious question – has anyone weighed their frame bag, saddle bag etc all together?

There’s a ‘weigh in’ each year at the WRT … it’s the combined weight of bike and all luggage inc’ food / water and rucksacks.

Those who come in at the lighter end of the scale are usually riding what I’d describe as ‘racing set-ups’ and 30 – 35lb isn’t too unusual. Even though they’re only out for 2 nights, most are carrying enough gear to see them through weeks of riding if required (excluding food). People do ride the WRT with racks/panniers but I can’t recall any that weighed less than 55 – 60lb and many are much more.

While I agree that you need to make your own decisions and choices about kit … just make sure you don’t fall into the trap of ‘trying to be different’. There’s some very good, sound advice on this thread and there’s some other stuff too. 😉

You should find some over here: Bear Bones

Considering the alpkit mats are £60

It’s only the Dozer which is £60 and that’s 7.5cm thick. The other AlpKit mats (which compare to the ME ones) are £40.

They’re not really any different from any other self inflating mat. They’re no lighter, no warmer, nor do they pack any smaller. Just because they’ve been reduced doesn’t mean they’re a bargain.

look through the corner to where you are going.

Don’t mean to be picky but looking where you want to go rather than where you are going will usually work much better … at times there’s a big difference between the two 😉

As mentioned up there ^ by crispedwheel … if anyone’s looking for something else to do then you’d be very welcome at this years Bear Bones 200.

200 self supported kilometers in lovely mid Wales. Besides fitness you’ll need some navigation skills and an ability to enjoy a certain level of suffering, might prove handy too.

It takes place on the weekend of Oct 12th/13th, it’ll cost you £25 to enter (you’ll get fed and the chance to go home with a coveted BB200 badge in 1 of 3 colours, depending how quickly you can complete the route). The present ‘record’ is 15h 18m held by Ian Barrington.

Kings Heath to Llandovy junction

Do you mean Dovey Junction, the other side of Machynlleth?

How about the BearBones 200 ?

200km through mid Wales in Oct … should give you time to prepare.

DETAILS

It’s early days yet, the forecast for this weekend is nothing like they predicted it a week ago … saying all that, I was told yesterday that the forecast for the next two months is heavy rain 😯

Conti’ 2.4 X King seems to be working well at the moment.

What sleeping mat are you using? You’ll lose more heat to the floor than you will to the air in winter.

I’ve been using an Enlightened Revelation X quilt for most of the winter. Rated to roughly -20 and about 1kg, combined with an Exped Synmat UL it’s been fine even on the coldest nights.

Pont Scethin would get my vote. I’d start/finish in Barmouth which does mean a climb to start but also means ice cream at the end 😉

3. Orienteering – I fancy a go at the Welsh Ride Thing at some point.

Well you’re in luck … you’ve still got until midnight tomorrow to enter 😉

Those little coke can stove things I’ve seen some using,are they any good at burning long enough for cooking rice or pasta or something,say 10-15 mins or so?

You can if you use one like this 😉

I’ve ridden with some of the fellas attempting this … they’re tough cookies.

Jedi would def disagree with this

So should any good coach/instructor.

The dry bag shortage seems to have come a little early this year – it usually happens a month before the WRT 😉

some of the further out bits on the Mach trails look interesting — at least on the OS map

Anything further out than or as high as Glaslyn was under 2 feet of snow on Friday night.

Have a look in the opposite direction too, some good stuff above Pennal, over towards Tywyn and Aberdyfi .. all fairly obvious on the map.

A Tempest 200 will be okay but they are fairly snug … the old model Tempest was actually a very good tent.

In all honesty the best stuff around Mach’ isn’t waymarked but isn’t that hard to find. Get yourself a copy of OS OL23 and explore.

Have just done my first weeks commuting on my shiny new cx bike, and it’s been a while since i rode drop bars so i’ve had a fun week getting used to it.

But boy do my forearms hurt!

Not complaining though as its great and goes like a rocket compared to my other bike, and sometimes i even remember how to stop – not had so much fun commuting in a long while and even took it off road through the woods on the way back home tonight. great fun

I’ll look forward to seeing the butch new you then … will you look like you’re carrying an invisable carpet under each arm? 😉

Plenty of options in Rhayader as there’s plenty of pubs. Llangurig is much more limited, the Blue Bell would be your best (and possibly only) bet.

For transfers try Mach Taxis: 01654 702048

I only own one bike with any suspension these days (hardtail) and that only gets used for coaching. I guide on a rigid 29er … people often give you ‘a look’ when they see it but it soon gets forgotton 😉

I agree with you there andypaul99 , multi day and large wilderness type rides are so much more of an adventure.
Heading off on a 100 mile loop is so much better than riding round in circles.

May I suggest the WRT … last weekend in May

WRT details

I just wish there were more in the Peak District area

Keep Sep 28th/29th free 😉

Elmer trett … he was one of the first people to really see how much you could push a ‘fuel’ motor in a bike.

Paul Gast … could pretty much get the best from any engine. As a kid he was just a picture in magazines and books. I never thought that 15 years or so later I’d be stood talking engines with him in the pits at the world championships in the US – happy days 😀

The map certainly shows ‘the routes’ but I believe that bits of the Mach3 and possibly 2 were getting re-routed/signed but I don’t think that’s happened yet.

You weren’t thinking of coming this weekend were you? Parts of the 3 will be a cold, snowy death march 😉

BearBones 200

I can’t really describe it as a 24hr event, although for many their goal is to complete it within 24hr … sometimes that alters part way through and the goal changes to simply finishing 😉

Same folk.

Rob the manager is fine as is Fred (Salmon) the owner … although Fred can at times be a little manic, although catch him on a good day and he’ll go above and beyond the call of duty to sort you out 😉

just signed up. are there pubs on route?

There are if you decide to include some in your route.

The WRT wouldn’t be the WRT if there wasn’t at least one story a year about a ‘lock in’ in some bizarre pub in the middle of nowhere 😉

I found insulation tape works okay … but I’m very cheap 😉

IMO bike handles better with weight on bars, rather than under the saddle.

I’ve used a Mountain Lion with Salsa Enabler forks. No trouble, although the straps will rub on the crown but it’s nothing a bit of tape doesn’t sort out.

http://www.adaptiveMTB.co.uk/

Might be of some use. Graham and Jackie who run it are great and well worth talking to.

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I use a small Roberts one Tony. Can only usually get LW here and it was one of the very few that still have LW on 😉

Further to the above is it best to park up in Mach and is there a connecting trail for the mile or so up to the start of Cli-Mach-X?

Who told you it was a mile ? … it’s 4 or 5 from Mach’ to the start of the ClimachX. You’ll have to either ride up the main road or the minor road which runs alongside.