Bikepacking - a viable alternative to racks & panniers

Dinner stop. Setup v.stable. Got camelbak rucksack too. Must pack less next time, tho reminded one night stuff almost = many nights stuff.

I hope you got the Tofu chilli, that pub is one of the things I miss most about Manchester. This route looks like real good fun, I will have to make a note of it for next time I'm home!

^ chickpea curry, washed down with butterscotch cake & coconut icecream, Perry & Cider.

If you do ride it hope you enjoy!

I started doing a write up of our bivvy trip, but my ipad crashed putting the pictures up... I'll do it later on the laptop.

On the topic of sleeping mats... I've been doing some research... Foam is cheap, light but bulky. Cheap inflatables are heavy. Light, compact inflatables are costly...

What are people using? Anything they'd recommend/steer clear of? What's on trend...

I got neoair xlite, price matched snownrock down to less than 100 but still pricey. It's comfy but narrow.

My TdF wildcamp plans are in tatters, 2nd day in bed from combined chest infection & urticaria (weird skin rash), developed from slight head cold Sat & Sun. Chest improving but energy low and skin is a mess - any contact pressure to legs/arms/face results in explosion of red lumps. If I'm well enough to ride to Woodhead and back Sunday it'll be a result.

Yikes! Hope you feel better soon, I've been trying to sit down and look at the maps/route but don't seem to have a free minute... Tempted to sack it all off, spin over to Anglesey on Saturday, snooze on the beach and then back on Sunday...

Tempted to sack it all off, spin over to Anglesey on Saturday, snooze on the beach and then back on Sunday...

Sounds ace, enjoy if you do...

Quechua, the Decathlon brand do two different self inflating, thermarest style mats.

a 3/4 length one that weighs only 380g and costs £25!
http://www.decathlon.co.uk/a100-ultralight-camping-sleeping-mat-blue-id_8029334.html

and a larger one that weighs around 800g and costs about £30
http://www.decathlon.co.uk/a200-ultralight-camping-sleeping-mat-green-id_8195174.html

I tried them both and seemed plenty comfy and phenomenal value, that being said I will not be help responsible for it deflating on you in the middle of the night up a mountain.

Edit: and just saw come with a 2 year warrantee.

Those mats look like absolute bargains, i think i'll take a punt on one.
Last few tours i haven't used any mat, so doubt i'll cry too much if it turns out to be a dud.

3/4 length is generally enough, I never find myself wanting some cushion on my legs, just my back and head.

If necessary, woolly socks is a must.

When are you going touring in spain ed? I'm leaning back toward ferrying it to santander for mine in august.

Still waiting on getting the holiday, hopefully late August/early September once I'm given the go-ahead.

Should be at least two weeks, they better give me some holiday as I didn't have any last year (my fault really).

Least the bike arrived, just need to finish it off by next week before the manager start moaning about it being hung up in the shop floor.

Thermarest have just put out a new blow up one (http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/therm-a-rest-neoair-venture-sleeping-mat-p292551). The blow up (as opposed to self inflating) tend to pack smaller. The neoair xlite is the best mat around though as it has thermal properties for even arctic conditions.

I'm probably going to pick up the new one (linked one) as I find my self inflating mat low on the performance side for its size.

Soooo 20L alpkit dry bags are FUCKING HUGE

Ha! I've got a 20L one and all it's used for is storing all the other dry bags and stuff sack type things I've got lying around.

Mats, I have one of these 3/4 length Vango ones. It's supposed to be self inflating but I usually end up blowing it up which is easy enough.

Google says it's 585g so not superlight but it cost me buttons, like £15 or so.

I roll my tent up then roll the mat around the outside of that and the whole lot fits in a 13l Alpkit drybag.

I find it pretty comfortable to sleep on but then I do try and find flattish, softish ground to pitch my tent on, I dunno how it'd be on rougher, stony etc ground.

^^ the tent fits in it, which I'll use. I think I may only need to use one anything cage too...

Tent is strapped to the handlebars, sleeping mat, bag and down jacket are in one anything cage and then my saddle bag for other bits and bobs.

Speaking of which, what season sleeping bag are you taking Andy? I fear a season 1 may not be warm enough!?

20L you mad man!!

What have we here...

^^ the tent fits in it, which I'll use. I think I may only need to use one anything cage too...

Tent is strapped to the handlebars, sleeping mat, bag and down jacket are in one anything cage and then my saddle bag for other bits and bobs.

Speaking of which, what season sleeping bag are you taking Andy? I fear a season 1 may not be warm enough!?

Do you sleep hot/cold? I have one sleeping bag I think it's 600 down fill and rated to 0C. May be a touch warm, guess it depends on the weather though.

Nice closeup, but what is it?

Made it to work today so a smaller scale TdF bivvy is back on the cards. Out early on Sat, so just one overnight not two.

Now thinking Ilkley then possibly back to Cragg for day 2. Still not sure which bike to use tho, less time may mean more road miles.

^Apidura saddle bag?

I'm not really sure Andy... I think I may just take the season 2 one just in case and stick it on the other anything cage. Rather be a bit too warm than way cold!

Sounds like a good plan. I'll be taking a silk liner too, mainly to keep the sleeping bag clean if I end up covered in crap but for a tiny bit of extra warmth.

If I can get this busted freewheel off before the weekend I'm going to try and pack everything up and see how it fits...

Always a good idea to take a thin liner; sleeping bags are lined with sweat-inducing, oil absorbing stuff that is your comfort's worst enemy.

Thermarest have just put out a new blow up one (http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/therm-a-rest-neoair-venture-sleeping-mat-p292551). The blow up (as opposed to self inflating) tend to pack smaller. The neoair xlite is the best mat around though as it has thermal properties for even arctic conditions.

I'm probably going to pick up the new one (linked one) as I find my self inflating mat low on the performance side for its size.

The Thermarests look good, found the small Venture as low as £41, tempted to invest in one but the Thermarest foam mats are only £18, better insulation rating and about half the weight... Tempted to just strap one of these to the top tube as it'll make the hike-a-bike sections easier on the shoulders while getting around the the problem of it being bulky to pack...

More things to ponder...