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I think it's actually the wheels spokes that you are bending

I have recently got myself a camping hammock with a bug net. I intended to just get it for my garden, but ive now fallen in love having slept quite a few nights in it. Its much more comfortable than sleeping on the floor!

Has anyone used one for touring, and what were your experiences?

How was finding suitable locations?

what type and shape tarp roof did you use?

did you use any insulation or pads, or did you just use a thicker than normal sleeping bag?

Id like to make the hammock even lighter by removing the metal S-hooks, but i dont want to have to tie knots every time i put it up/down. is there a neat solution?

if you have a tent of around 2-2.5kg, you can easily get below 2KG if you replace the poles and pegs for aluminum, and ditch the repair kit and other extraneous parts. i just got the parts from millets, but you can probably get even lighter and cheaper parts on the net. my tent is advertised at 2.4, but its now down to 1.6kg, but i did go as far as replacing the guylines and metal tension adjusters for lighter weight. a cut down rubble sack is lighter than the origional tent bag. anal weight weenie stuff.

Ive just done a tour where me and friend split the tent between us. i carried the outer and pegs, he carried the inner and poles. i think this is the best way to travel, but obviously you need a riding partner.

yeah but in reality its not like you are going to be swapping it very often.

I have also done this with a SA AW hub with a roller brake, on a fuji track frame. the bike that the hub originally came from had a band on stop that i just reused, and a bar-end to shift it. smoooth shifts with the dura ace bar end.

its actually a pretty nice setup, but i didnt really ride it that much and its now fixed again. the bike isnt very comfortabe for any decent length rides when i have more suited road bikes, and the limited gear ratios and extra weight dont really make it any faster for commuting than when it was fixed.

the rear roller brake was pap on any proper country hills, but fine for around town. i would just fit a normal rear brake and have it there permanently even when fixed.

the only problem i can see really is the gear ratios. for touring, depending on your luggage weight, distance ect, you will need nice low gears, but with only five options you dont want to be stuck under geared. there are people who run hub gears with triples up front, but thats hardly a quick convertion.

SILLY QUESTION: why have more bottom bracket hubs not been invented?

thinking about doing the Kent Invicta Grimpeur 100, but i havnt really had time to look at the route. can i get away with just following everyone else?

anyone used a drybag in place of a proper ortlieb style pannier? im thinking about doing away with panniers altogether, but the beards from the CTC seem to think that friction from the rack will ruin the proofing.

also, how do you pack a wet tent with an inner and outer? keep them separate so the inner stays dry, or sod and stick them in togather?

its also what anyone else with some common sense would do.

i concur on contis having shit sidewalls. nice tyres to ride, but the last 4 sets ive had have all had holes develop. i shant buy them again.

just ride slower and build up a beater like everyone else. get mudguards and something to carry spare clothes. dont use a messenger bag or rucksack because they make your back very hot.

a la bikesnob.

a la practical solution actually.

If your scared getting your bike nicked- get a beater

wearing things on your back makes your back sweaty- put it somewhere else . for commutes carradice saddlebags are the obvious choice for stylish gents with a penchant for racing bikes.

You shouldnt be smelly if you wear clothes suited to the task, and that your not a fat fuck. This doesn't necessarily mean wearing lycra. dont be a pussy and wear a coat if it isnt raining. wear a quality merino long sleve base layer for commutes, and you can easily wear it all week before it begins to smell. a quick 5 minute change at work has to be better than the underground or driving.

just ride slower and build up a beater like everyone else. get mudguards and something to carry spare clothes. dont use a messenger bag or rucksack because they make your back very hot.

VimFuego- sounds well up my street. do i need to be a member of a club or some jive to do this?

yeah i tend to ride to go west from maidstone. ive ridden all the hills youve mentioned. i especially like hollingbourne and birling hill. the ones leading off the pilgrims way are regulars for me as they are close to home.

Gibbs hill: wierd arch thing:: http://www.bikeroutetoaster.com/Course.aspx?course=206832

Fen pond Rd: i like this one for the view:http://www.bikeroutetoaster.com/Course.aspx?course=206835

gorse hill: quite a busy road but the view is good as you get higher. i normally use this road to test my progress http://www.bikeroutetoaster.com/Course.aspx?course=206837

for some reason bike route toaster seems to give different elevation statistics every time i load the map :s

Sam- its wierd, all the hills youve named are my local haunts. i mostly ride along the downs, i even went up hunton today. what other hills do you ride round ere?

im also a massive fan of uggs. they are slippers and should be worn as such, but much better because you can still do stuff in them. dont knock the comfort till youve worn them.

i dont actually have real uggs, but some very nice copies.

yeah but i use the steroid based inhalers, they dont contain any useful steroids for enhanced performance.

im looking to do an extended LEJOG camping tour this summer. im more or less there with equipment and bike, but i have still to sort out the gearing and route.

starting in london i want to travel anti-clockwise down to LE via the south devon coast, then back up through north cornwall, wales and north towards JOG. once at JOG id like to return to london by the east coast.

i was wondering what places along the way are particularly worth riding through. have any of you guys done an end to end of sorts and which parts are worth recommending?

what does being asthmatic indicate?

i dont think the leather last very long on those clips. not worth it IMO.

i think plastic clips are probably less damaging than metal, but it depends what kind of shoes your are using. i dont think theres much you can do really, other than use leather straps with a wide section under the clasp. i often use pliers to slightly bend the clips into shape.

no you should always undo them. easier to get in/out, proper fit. stop being a bed wetter and use them proper.

it sounds to me like you are leaving your straps set to one size.

your supposed to tighten or undo the strap every time you get in out or out of the pedal.

stop riding massive gears!

ive been fancying that paint job for a while. anyone got an idea where you can get (obviously not powder coated) a finish like this done?

i wouldnt expect to do any great distances if your loaded on a fixed gear. anyone with any sense would choose a nice low gear to make it up all the hills and preserve the legs for the distance. obviously this is massively subjective and people have done it (myself included). but with a low gear, weight on the bike, as well as adverse weather it gonna be a hard slog unless you go very light, or pussy out and avoid the big hills.

i reckon if you insist on doing it fixed, just use your normal bike with a saddlebag (carradice) and some bigger tyres and brakes front and back if you can fit them. i dont think the "you only need a front brake on fixed gear" people have ever spent 5+ hours riding in the country.

that sherpa thing is actually pretty sweet, for MTB. but i think with a road bike your better off getting the weight as low as you can for best handling. as such a simple pannier rack that attaches by p-clips is probably the best option

i reckon the TOF will be hot this year. Evans and Basso arnt going to be tired after a fucking hard giro, and both are gonna want a decent result. theres always ol Menchov and Sanchez lurking

with both shlecks in action i cant really see them easily beaten in the mountains.

for the classics id be surprised if Thor didnt win a race and Cancllera is blatently going to try for something. id like to see gilbert take a win as hes great to watch, and vino is always dangerous.

i like that zero above, love to see it with some light low profile carbon rims.