Tour de Kent and Sussex

[xerxes]

Re:

I don't know as I'd like a bivvy, I might find it a bit claustrophobic and the tent I have is quite nice. It's a North Face Tadpole that I've had for a good few years. It weighs about 2.5kg, I know there are lighter tents available now, but it isn't too bad and it pitches really quickly and easily.

It's supposed to be a 2 man tent, but you'd have to be pretty friendly with whoever you shared it with, OK if spoons is acceptable. I use it solo and use the extra space down one side for my gear as there really isn't much room in the "porch" outside the inner tent.

 

[fiendish feet]

Yeah bivi bags do take a while to get used to , their a pig to get in and out off.
especially when every muscle is aching
A tent gives a feeling of safety and protection , its a compromise on weight really.
my bivis weight 480 grams sleeping mat 560 grams
2.5kg tent that's heavy your racks probably 2.5kg
Did it feel like you were pulling a caravan ?

 

[xerxes]

Re:

Actually, I was quite pleased, it didn't seem to effect the handling much at all. I had the tent on the handlebars, the poles and pegs lashed to the top tube, sleeping bag, clothes, toothbrush, etc. on the rack. So I had the weight fairly evenly distributed over the bike, rather than all hanging on the rear rack as you would with panniers, in addition it was probably only 5 or 6 kilos in total.

I had another couple of kilos of stuff in a rucksack too, tools, pump, rain jacket, etc. and Ideally I would like to not have to use a rucksack, so I'll look into ways of having those things on the bike too next time.

 

[hamster]

Have a look at http://www.lomo.co.uk/ they mainly did kayaking gear (which I've always found excellent) but have now launched some nice bikepacking bits.

 

[xerxes]

Re:

Thanks for the link, I'll bookmark that.

I ordered one of these yesterday: http://www.blackburndesign.com/en_eu/ba ... edium.html. I'm hoping I can fit everything in it that I usually carry in a rucksack; If it arrives in time, I'll try it out this weekend.

 

[fiendish feet]

Re: Re:

Thanks for the link, I'll bookmark that.

I ordered one of these yesterday: http://www.blackburndesign.com/en_eu/ba ... edium.html. I'm hoping I can fit everything in it that I usually carry in a rucksack; If it arrives in time, I'll try it out this weekend.

Frame bags are great that one should do the trick. Ive toured with panniers and tents and heavy rucksacks ,its a young man's game.
They say you pack the same amount of gear for one night as you would five, Here's my setup for a night out, all Alpkit UK gear
[url=https://flic.kr/p/28BtapE][img...r.com/1789/43064566952_2a587c4d1f_c.jpg[/img]Alpkit Bags by Wholly Spokes, on Flickr[/url]

 

[xerxes]

Re:

The frame bag arrived. Pretty much everything fits in it, apart from my rain jacket, so I'll have to find somewhere else to stash that.

The other issue I have, is that I have a titchy frame and I can't fit a frame bag in it along with a water bottle. I might be able fit a small bottle on the seat tube; I'll have to mess about with that.