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Sorry ImMe - I'm going through a lazy phase this weekend.
Tommy - when are you free to bivvy the south down way?
Myself and Objet were talking about this yesterday, hows your diary looking?
Also: sat / Sun or could we take one weekday off...?Prav you skanky bitch - are you trying to edge me out of the ginger twosome that was already planned?
No point doing it until April or May at the earliest. Short days and colder temps don't make for a fun combination when you're trying to do 100 miles offroad in two days. We'd have to take loads of extra kit which would just make it much harder (and more expensive) and the short days would just add to the suffering.
I still want to do a day into night ride on the north downs so why we don't we do that first? Ride a bunch of trails during the day, take some lights and keep riding in the dark, then bivi somewhere nice before coming back to London the next day after a singletrack breakfast!
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Excellent idea.
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I just bought a book called "The book of the bivi" so I'm all about lots of adventures this year!
Edit: I reckon that May/June/July would be best for the SDW as teh days will be long and the weather will be better. If we're going to do it we should make sure that the bit between riding and sleeping is as enjoyable as possible!
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I just bought a book called "The book of the bivi" so I'm all about lots of adventures this year!
Link to info about book?
I'm planning that this year too. We need to share some ideas. If I had the money for the kit and air fair to make it over to Alaska I'd love to do something like this.
I've got a list of stuff to buy / make. Going to get me a light weight DD tarp for wetter weather and found some excellent ideas for light weight stoves, not just a pepsi can ones. The heaviest bit of my kit will be my sleeping bag, can't afford a down one but have a lightish weight synthetic one but it's only good warmish weather..
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Here's a link to amazon The Book of the Bivvy (Cicerone Guide): Amazon.co.uk: Ronald Turnbull: Books It's meant to be a great book that's half about the mindset of bivvying and half about the kit you need.
I've never actually bivvied because I like the comfort of a tent and split between two people my tent works out at 900g per person, which is on par with a weatherproof bivvy system. I think I might get an alpkit hunka though and try bivvying when the weather is meant to be ok. Mind you, bikes add some good opportunties for anchoring a very light weight tarp to cover the openings of a hunka.
That MTBR thread is inspiring and I would love to do some stuff like that - maybe a future plan for Lapland? I'm going on holiday in April and October so have the whole summer to do things in the UK. Going to Snowdonia for the first May bank holiday and Cairngorms for the second (both hiking) and want to do some epic mtb trips.
BTW, I just found some cumulus down bags which are going pretty cheaply for the weight (i.e. around 120 - 140). Otherwise wait for the alpkit pipedream 400 to be back in stock. I know it's still a chunk of money but it will have the biggest impact on the weight and volume of what you are carrying.
We should get together for a drink and a chat!
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I've never actually bivvied because I like the comfort of a tent and split between two people my tent works out at 900g per person, which is on par with a weatherproof bivvy system. I think I might get an alpkit hunka though and try bivvying when the weather is meant to be ok. Mind you, bikes add some good opportunties for anchoring a very light weight tarp to cover the openings of a hunka.
Never appealed to me either. I use a 3 man double skin tent when camping with Jo which comes in at 2.9 kg, so if you had three people in it a little heavier than your setup. The idea I like a about a tarp + the hunka bivi is that you're out of the weather more than pure bivi but more room than a tent so cooking if raining sitting and chatting for a bit is less of an issue. Plus I thing the DD light weight bivi could do 3 or 4 people so averaged out makes it mega light.
That MTBR thread is inspiring and I would love to do some stuff like that - maybe a future plan for Lapland?
Defiantly. First gingers to cross Lapland on bikes.I'm going on holiday in April and October so have the whole summer to do things in the UK. Going to Snowdonia for the first May bank holiday and Cairngorms for the second (both hiking) and want to do some epic mtb trips.
Sounds like some good trips planned. I think Wales has some good possibilities for some easy to get to but highly challenging adventures.
BTW, I just found some cumulus down bags which are going pretty cheaply for the weight (i.e. around 120 - 140). Otherwise wait for the alpkit pipedream 400 to be back in stock. I know it's still a chunk of money but it will have the biggest impact on the weight and volume of what you are carrying.
I know you're 100 % right and from everything I read a down bag is actually a worth while long term investment, but my money situation is dodgy right at the moment so I have to be careful. I can explain another time.
We should get together for a drink and a chat!
I'll drink to that.
Edit: Those cumulus bags are well light even for down bags!
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Sounds like some good trips planned. I think Wales has some good possibilities for some easy to get to but highly challenging adventures.
Definitely - proper mountains with some great trails on them! Would love to bivvy up snowdon then ride down in the dawn...
I know you're 100 % right and from everything I read a down bag is actually a worth while long term investment, but my money situation is dodgy right at the moment so I have to be careful. I can explain another time.
You'll be fine with what you've got anyway. It's like bikes - a 2k carbon wonder bike might make things easier but it's not necessary. We're not talking about climbing everest so worst case is you have to wear a hat while you bivvy and use a bit more energy to carry your stuff.
I'll drink to that.
like the sound of it!
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Stop post building.
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I want to start riding offroad again, used to ride mountain bikes when I was younger. I'm currently building a bike for this, and since I have not ridden mtbs since I was quite young I'm not sure what to get. Should I try to get a dirt jumper or a normal mtb (both SS)? The dirt jumper looks like a lot more fun, but also more pain to ride longer distances on (no sitting down). What do you reccon?
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Are you going to do any dirt jumping?
If the answer is not really I'd go for something more cross country oriented but don't necessarily build it up with ultra light parts so you can still ride hard it you're that way inclined.
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Dam you that's exactly the bike I'm planning to upgrade to. Jealous Tommy.
What rims / hubs / other parts are you going for?
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I'm no expert so am looking for ideas too on the rims.
I found these Kris Holm 29er rim that like the look of for the rear because it has reviews of being the strongest 29er rim out there. I am and always have been paranoid about wheel strength, specifically rear wheels. I do take alot of care building my bikes but tend to like them to give minimal input once they are built.
Front rim I don't know. Halo freedom disks (complete wheel set review here) are meant to be strong too and good enough for the rear too. I don't know alot about all the29er rim. Momentum is the man with knowledge on this front.
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Dam you that's exactly the bike I'm planning to upgrade to. Jealous Tommy.
What rims / hubs / other parts are you going for?
Ha ha, me 3!
Have been drooling over these frames and reading this thread about off-roading for ages. Just need to make sure I land a new job tomorrow and it will be on.
Like the look and review these hubs get. Laced up to:
And chuck one of these chain rings on my RX7 cranks
Pure sex! -
Neither can. Plus you can add gears if / the need arises.
Momentum and prav are (or where in December) both running 1x9 setups.
Oh a converted rear wheel will be dished as all geared hubs are so a weaker but I think it depends on your riding style / and weight e.t.c on how much of an issue it is.
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Regarding the rear hub, should one go with a pure SS hub, or convert a geared one? I don't see any real disadvantages with converting one, besides maybe the chain line.
Main advantage is you get a stronger wheel with a proper SS hub. The flanges are further apart and evenly spaced either side of the centre line so you can get a symetrical wheel build. Plus they look way better, no need to have all those dirty spacers in there.
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Let's offroad / mountain bike / mtb / ride dirt
Posted by
I'm rubbish at keeping a diary or making plans too far in advance. That said:
Next weekend 2009-01-30 looks doable
the following two are out (the wife can plan ahead for me)
Weekends from 2009-02-21 onwards would, from this distance, appear to be clear.