Ian what width is your front rim?

Well seeing as it feels like winter again, would people like to show me their fat and half fat bikes please ... sure there must be some out there.

Ta

You might struggle to get shifters and brake levers on the Titec bars as the rearward extensions are quite short. The Jones loop bars have much longer extensions.

Maybe just man up and go SS

SSP you don't have a pic of something fitted with openbars do you?

Anyone else use drops off road? The bar end thread got me thinking ... obviously drops offer lots of hand positions and don't feel quite as odd as they look. Here's my Haro ... feel free to slag it off ;) http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lxFVX7iZe34/TiMTLshMbhI/AAAAAAAAAf4/5BkLrAQSuG0/s1600/monsterx-web.jpg

Try and get a look at the Jones alloy loop bars Pete ... I think Biff of The Outcast was bringing them in. Still not what could be described as cheap but nothing Jones ever is.

DNF, I've got bar ends on my 26" Inbred ... sometimes people take the piss but it works. Varied hand positions on long rides shouldn't be overlooked

I recall we did manage to get part of Steve under the tarp

"Right chaps, I'm going out and I may be some time"

I'm in the lucky/obsessive position to have quite a few bivvy bags at my disposal ... everything from ultralite sub 200g up to 800g eVent with midge net. What's everyone else using? I imagine I'm going to hear Hunka (with good reason) quite a bit.

What's your bivvy of choice?

Pretty much sorted for everything there Nevis

I'd looked at the Esbit solid fuel cookers/pan/windshield set ups ... nice to see some better pics of it. Let us know how you go on once you've given it a whirl.

Okay gear geeks, which are your favourite on-line shops for buying or even just wasting time on?

I'll start with:

www.ultralightoutdoorgear.co.uk
http://www.theoutdoorshop.co.uk

If you think the Blackbird hammocks are expensive ... take a look at these

http://www.junglehammock.com/

Alas, I'm instructing all weekend so won't be doing much in the bikepacking department although bikes will still feature heavily. Anyone else got anything planned?

Hope Matt won't mind me lifting this but I think it possibly sums things up for a lot of people. Think of it this way..... Most people in the UK, for 365 days a year, sleep in a house under roof in total comfort cosseted from the outside world. To sleep outside, to see the stars, clouds, moon. To ex...

Well, thanks to Stevemorg final testing of the Rodir stove is underway. A larger pot was required to see what effect it would have ... findings on the site soon.

Some nice stuff on that link Nevis. The tarps look very good value, not the lightest but you can't have everything

Some really BIG tarps there too if anyone's looking for something to shelter a group.

It was these that took my fancy http://warbonnetoutdoors.com/blackbirds.php (flatfishy dreams about them) ... they do look very nice. Some of their tarps even have doors on. Combine it with some quilts from these folk http://www.hammockgear.com and I reckon you'd have a superb winter sleeping soluti...

I had looked at the MSR stuff but my hands wouldn't reach the bottom of my pockets!

Went for one of these instead http://www.go-system.co.uk/catalog/prod ... tegory/43/ Found it on-line for £25, so thought it was worth a punt ... we'll see.

I know that flatfishy is a hammock fan and I have one which gets used a few times a year.

At the moment I'm using a DD one which is great but I can't help be drawn to some of the more exotic examples Anyone else use one/have one?

Might be of interest to someone. 1.5m x 2.5m and 178g.

http://www.fieldandtrek.com/terra-nova- ... p-1-783187

Short Neo Air mat. £54

http://www.fieldandtrek.com/thermarest- ... mat-782002

Not quite Elan valley proper but near enough ... Devils Bridge. Plenty of riding, walking, etc to be had.

http://www.woodlandsdevilsbridge.co.uk/

You've heard me play the banjo then?

DNF ... do you cook with the neoprene sleeve in place?

Cheers Nevis ... think I'll knock up a basic line and use a stick, bivvy pole, etc for a rod. I'll also pack food as i've never caught a fish in my life :D

I've heard it twice today ... someone wants to try bikepacking/bivvying but they're scared of, well, stuff that isn't there I suppose. It's something I've never thought about if I'm honest, so do you ever get scared, anxious, etc been out there on your own in the dark? If anyone does get scared then...