Touring Equipment

was hoping i'd hear freehubs ticking and overwhelming wind noise.

folk thread >>>>>>>.

I had one of those. Taped my phone to my barbag and filmed the whole descent of Croix de Fer. Never seen it as my second day after arrival in Madrid my phone got stolen. Funny as I live in Madrid now since a few weeks and I lost my phone again. This city is bad for my phones.

Got one of these Thermarest mats and used it for 3 nights camping over the weekend. Super comfy and packs pretty small - shorter but slightly fatter than a bidon. 620g. £50. Recommended.

http://www.facewest.co.uk/Thermarest-NeoAir-Venture-WV.html

^ I picked up the short version of that for about £40. Lasted 1 1/2 nights before developing a small hole on the underside. Slightly annoyed it doesn't come with a patch kit, one on order, hopefully it'll fix up ok.

Ah that sucks. Mine seems fairly robust. I'll watch out for puncture possibilities though and get myself some patches incase.

Eny recomendations on light and small (packed) 2/3 season sleeping bag? Comfort temprature somewere in the ~0 degrees. I can use max about 200€ in it so about £160 is what I'm ok to spend. Of course cheapper is always better.

That was asked recently. Scroll back.

Oh, did miss that post. Snugpak Tactical 2 sure look ok. edscoble have you liked that bag? "Comphy" down to that 0 degree?
Other option right now is Cumulus Mysterious Traveller 500. Bit expencier at 209€ than the Tactical 2. Tactical 2 packs down little less than Mysterious (18cmx17cm vs 28cmx18cm), but this is bit lighter than the Tactical 2. (885g vs 1100g)

Btw, are those eBay cheap silk liners worth to buy? They are defenetly cheap if nothing else..In general silk liner would add ~ 5 degree to the sleeping bags usage zone. So warms up when gold and cools down when warm.

I paid a decent amount for a silk liner. ~£40 and it's worth it. Not sure about a cheap one. I guess you can return to ebay.
It's also hygienic, so I can just wash the liner and not the whole bag often.

I want to get a Rohloff speedhub but don't want the grip shift shifter. So, I was thinking, would buying a standard SRAM doubletap flat bar shifter and filing the indexing out of the internal ratchet work?

Why not get the new trigger shifter? Will link when not on phone

Touring fork query - any recommendations for a calliper brake touring fork that can take a front low rider that's heavier?

I've been looking at the audaxs fork mk 3 and it looks ok, but I was wondering if there was something a bit more heavy duty?

Thorn audax mk 3

Google show various result from home brew to some supposely production run one, this one I found look promising and ideas on road drop bar;

Thorn audax mk 3

Yup, should fit the majority of light touring/audax frame.

Go for the 55mm rake one, especially if you wanted to carry a little more than necessary.

Would that be fine with something like a TF wide open frame?

I think it's a 73 degree angle, 74 degree seat tube...

Yup, while they don't published the axle to crown distance, it's safe to assumed it'll be a good match as both the frame and the fork were designed with long reach brake and 28mm tyres.

73 headtube and 55mm rake give you approx 45mm trails (paired with 28mm tyres), which is idea for 700c wheels and front load.

Great, thanks very much ed. How is handling on a rando bike (Or 700c version)? I've only ever ridden cross/conventional road...

ed why move from the Klymit x frame to the V?

Is the x frame not enough?
Need a new mat.

Why not get the new trigger shifter? Will link when not on phone

Guessing you mean this one? http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/cinq5-shiftr-thumb-shifter-for-rohloff-hubs-prod32695/

and because I would be mad to spend that much on a shifter, especially as there is no indexing its just a pulley and leaver

ed why move from the Klymit x frame to the V?

Is the x frame not enough?
Need a new mat.

Cause I'm not doing it ultralight, just light.

Because my new touring bike can take a lots more weight in the front without affecting the handling one bit, I can able to get away with a larger/heavier volume.

I loved the X frame because it does exactly what it said on the tin, you sacrificed a bit of comfort, but not enough to deprived you of your sleep.

The only complain I have about my equipment previously is that I would prefer a more comfortable mattress that'll create a larger gap between my body and the ground thus thus keep me warmer without having to buy those expensive ultralight down sleeping bag (sticking to the Snugpak Travelpak 1).

If I'm going to do it ultralight again, I'm gonna go back to that, but with a smaller lighter tent that doesn't required tent pole, which will reduced the pack size in the saddlebag enough to get away with a smaller framebag.

Guessing you mean this one? http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/cinq5-shiftr-thumb-shifter-for-rohloff-hubs-prod32695/

and because I would be mad to spend that much on a shifter, especially as there is no indexing its just a pulley and leaver

Shit!! might as well go for the Alfine 8 with bar end shifter instead.

Thanks. I think I'll get the V for the warmth it'll provide.

Another Rohloff option (although equally £££): http://shandcycles.bigcartel.com/product/co-motion-rohloff-drop-bar-shifter

Would anyone like a Hennessy Hammock safari deluxe for £110? I just got back from a tour using it, works well, I just sleep better in a tent.

£200!!! For a grip shift...