Coffeking. I have a few tents as well and to be honest would use them over a tarp when I’m not on the bike. I have a MSR Hubba Hubba, but have owned a huge number of light weight tent over the years. As well as weight savings with the tarp/bivi the pack size is also important. I’m also not carry poles etc when the bike can double up as my transport and pole system.

In terms of comfort the tarp can be set up in a number of ways and I find it more comfortable than a small light weight tent.

http://www.bikeandbivi.co.uk

The dyneema was easy to sew. The extra white strands of fibre running through it were the sections that were difficult to cut. Its still a pretty light piece of fabric.

Stoner – I agree. This tarp is a – “lets see if that works”. Its getting me ready far a catanary cut silnylon tarp in black.

Not going to use eyelets, I’ll be using some more grosgrain for tie points.

I’m pretty fussy about my sewing and have even started inspecting the kit you can pick up in shops. On a bad day my sewing is often better than some of the big outdoor manufacturers.

Combined with a bivi I find the setup is as good as a tent.

One of my larger tarps (3m x 1.6m) weighs under 250g with pegs and guys, my bivi bag weighs in at 470g.

So thats less than half the weight of your 1.5kg tent.

Cupra – what tent do you use?

RRP on the fabric is £75 per metre!

http://www.bikeandbivi.co.uk a few more myog stuff added.

redthunder ?

Pertex microlight and Siberian goose down.

Bits are ready for the no sew build.

cynic-all – looks like a lot of leverage on the seat post/ rear drop outs. And hows does person 2 pedal/sit down?

Planning a sil tarp. Materials arrived from the states earlier this week. Stealth Black!

Thats got serious injury written all over it.

I use a few suppliers but this lot came from ebay. Uploaded a few more pics – http://www.bikeandbivi.co.uk

Here is one of my top quilts. 800 fill goose down. Pertex Microlight fabric

It’s also dead easy to make a tarp like this without any sewing at all. Not even using glue. That will be my next project. Just need to pick up a few bits and bobs.

The above was mark I currently out on test. Mark II is longer and with different guying points. I have a few MYOG projects under my belt – pertex hammock, hammock underquilts, top quilts and now a couple of ultralight tarps.

Most are on here – http://www.bikeandbivi.co.uk

Centre Parks just outside of Penrith? You can get a day pass for the place.

The self amalgamating tape is pretty good. i have it on both of my bikes.

http://www.bikeandbivi.co.uk/php/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=48

Bike in the last post.

i use helitape elsewhere. Both recent lots were bought from biketart.

Currently using a Thomson elite on both bikes. OS and 70mm long.

Last post

http://www.bikeandbivi.co.uk/php/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=48

I have a few tents a couple of bivis, but for maximum comfort a hammock if definitely the best. Although you are limited to where you can pitch up.

http://www.bikeandbivi.co.uk

I dont like being too close to water as the midges seem to find me pretty tasty. I like to find somewhere relatively shelter. Not directly on a track, so behind a wall, just over the ridge, in amongst the trees etc

Most of my kit is alpine climbing related so is not very stealthy. My newest bivi bag is a marmot model that is ORANGE! So its good to be out of the way as much as possible.

Pics of the bivi – http://www.bikeandbivi.co.uk/php/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=39

It works really well and has been on two trips since I purchased it.

How urban do you go without meeting a load of Chavs or Bagheads?

Lots of trips out. Really good way of extending a ride.

http://www.bikeandbivi.co.uk

Kit lists, bike setups, reviews, make your own gear etc.

I would have thought an RAF base would be pretty secure. CCTV? Guarded entrance gates?

Length of trip (hrs & distance) – Overnight.
Area of world – UK, NorthEast. Moors/Dales
On the bike – Tarp and sleeping bag slung on the bars, water bottle in cage
On my back – Talon 33 containing my neoair, spare clothes to sleep in, merino top/LJs, Ipod, petzl head torch, 3l bladder with water, disaster kit, map/compass, GPS
Food – Few chocky/cereal bars. Hoc Chocolate. Hip Flask with current whisky fave.
Shelter – OES Mac Cat Tarp & OR Bivi
Warmth – Rab Endurance 250 for this time of year, with a sea to summit silk liner. Thermarest Neoair.
http://www.bikeandbivi.co.uk

Other than weight pack size is the next major advanatage.

Here’s one I made at the weekend, 157g with the stuff sack and 8 dyneema guy lines –

More pics and info

http://www.bikeandbivi.co.uk/php/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=124

A few here –

http://www.bikeandbivi.co.uk/php/viewforum.php?f=9

Plus plenty of other bivy info

Most bags dont have full length zips so I can see condensation being an issues if the bag is quite a snug fit. I use Rab bags that are made from pertex endurance so they have a little better water resistance.

Keswick bike have some with blackchilli compound

I try and keep the tarp high enough to allow a fair bit of air flow, unless the weather is really wild.

Few options here – http://www.bikeandbivi.co.uk/php/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=11

Biggest site – http://www.bikepacking.net-mainly US based. Some good general info.
Biggest UK site – http://www.bikenadbivi.co.uk – seems to be growing pretty quickly but still only a few weeks old.

Thats http://www.bikeandbivi.co.uk 🙂

I have a 140 Fox 32 Vans on the soul. Handles well.

Check out my post on the BushCraft Uk site or BikeandBivi

Flatfish its 800 grams, i’d happily use it into winter.

Spent a rainy Sunday Making a new quilt. Full pertex microlight with 100% 800 fill siberian goose down filling.

🙂

You can swap the gubbins over. Just loosen it off, slide it off, flip it around and put it back on. I have mine setup like this. Should be some details in the paper work.

TheBrick, you should be fine.

I’m hoping to get a few shots on my bike loaded up today. The weather is pretty bad, but hopefully will post a few pics on http://www.bikeandbivi.co.uk before the day is out.

In the pic above it looks like a sea to summit compression stuff sack on the rack and a Talon 22 in the foreground.

Looks like a couple of pipes on/in whatever is mounted below the bars. What is it?

I’m thinking that if they have not produced a new contract then my SO can say thankyou very much and walk at the end of June.

Lots of employment stuff on the net but nothing really on this scenario.

It has really taken the edge off the fact she has secured a better paid, better holiday entitlement job (back into teaching).