Bearbonesnorm wrote:

0/12 for me , not going to do this this month with work and stuff.

Just throw your bivvy bag ont' floor in next doors garden ... you don't have to go out there till bedtime and you'll be having breakfast at home.

Sorted for tomorrow night.....cycling up to the wife's mums sleeping in garden..yay..

jaminb wrote: I think I need a new thread on here as I cannot contemplate my first Welsh Ride Thing with such an over loaded bike but neither can I see where any weight savings can be made without the risk of freezing to death!

Lose the Trangia for a foil shield, meths burner and Ti mug.

FIRST POST...........

This year is the year, the same as last year but this year is going to be different. I am actually going to complete a bivvy a month……

However.....This month so nearly got away from me (again…)…. Cutting it fine is an understatement…….

There are the rules…. And then a few I have made up…. I will be out all night… I will take a picture… I will make coffee in the morning and I will make sure that I cycle a respectable amount and not just fall into the first field near home……

All normal excuses aside, kit checked, bike packed and it was a Monday night out…. From work 15 mile loop, and bivvy.

Normal for me is my hammock set up… In the rare times I fail to find 2 x trees (I normally keep moving till I find some) a suitable distance apart I use the hammock like a tarp…..Air matt inside sleeping bag eliminates the need for an under quilt…. Toastie…….

Up at 6 am (don't count the 2 times in the night to empty the bladder)….

Instant coffee (s***) note to self-remember to buy some filter coffee bags. Been down the home made ultralight fuel stove v’s jet boil… jet boil every time……

Pack up and cycle back to work.. shower ready to face the day……..

For all the budding photographers out there I apologise for the poor quality of the picture.....Graveyards are a bit dark for my camera phone......

Forgot to say thank you to my long suffering wife....(might be a chance she finds this forum one day...)
Other Stuff....

Bike - Singular Gryphon 1st Generation (Had a 2nd Generation stolen from a car) 650b 3in up front 2.8 on the back Singlespeed....
Sleep set up - Henassay Hammock
Cooker - Jet boil

TheBrownDog wrote:greasyhamster, welcome aboard. Best. First. Post. Ever. I'm loving the look of your camp site and the fact that I am no longer the only person on here I know who regularly takes a folding sitting apparatus along for the ride. What are those shelters under the tarp? They look like a hooped bivvy bag or similar. Superb.

Hi mate,

Yep, they are a hooped bivi - Vaude 1P to be accurate. Had mine for a few years now, seems to work well except when you get locked in with a gang of scotish midges for the night... looked like the elephant man next day.

I have a distinctly gamny leg right now so the chair is a necessity rather than a luxury but it dose give one the opportunity to taunt ones non chair using friends about being "floor sitting peasants"

Late decision to join in and try this last night, ended up with a late night ride to a local orchard. Left zip on bivy bag open as it was so mild ended up wet when it rained for most of the early morning!

Will try and plan a little next time

Snuck January's BAM in last night.

Rode to my local nature reserve. Was drizzling lightly when I left so risked just the hooooooped (speeeling just for Reg) bivvy.

Light rain continued. Dozed off felling almost too warm but work up at 4am feeling chilly despite the thermal top and longs, down jacket and merino beanie.

Alarm then woke me at 6.15 and home by 7 to make daughter's packed lunch.

Was nice to be out again....

1 of 12 done and Nick heads off to bargain alert thread to find the details of that almost half price down bag to replace my aged synthetic one...

Rubbish phone pic just before bed last night:

Is that a ex-Dutch army hooooooooped bivi ?

good spot! It is indeed

You're not worried someone walks/rides over you in the dark then?

Sorry, what hopped bivi are we on about? I can see a bike, some trees and some leaves but that's it.

Managed to get the first of the year in.

Bloody freezing but at least the rain stayed away. 70 miles in total which is pretty massive for me. And a wee blog too.http://www.farawayvisions.com/bivvy-a-month-january/

Got January sorted over the weekend, in Edale.

Bloody freezing

I'm not surprised pitched there

no its warmer next to the sea since water temperature is 6.7 degrees c. (as long as there is not much wind)
there was less frost

01/12 on the last night of Jan,,Didn't think would do it but quick late night ride to the mother in laws garden ... phew...chucked it down all night and morning...was worth it though had a good nights kip.

and good night from him..

January done (30.1.17)
Up to the River Koros where I managed to find a spot where most of the snow had blown away. Tent up, took a wee mallet to get the pegs into the frozen ground (local gravedigger informs us it's frozen down to 80cm following six weeks of sub zero temperatures). Contemplated going for a ride on the river, but thought better of it, incidentally the Tisza and Danube are frozen too.
A comfortable night with the thermometer measuring - 9.5 Celsius. Used an old Mountain Equipment Redline sleeping bag which kept me toasty warm all night, so a pleasant experience. Only 35 Km out and back, but the minor roads and 'bridleways' are sheathed with ice at the moment so enough. Thaw arrived last night with rain (which turned everything into a skating rink) so February might not be so cold.
Peter

no its warmer next to the sea since water temperature is 6.7 degrees c. (as long as there is not much wind)
there was less frost

Sorry Dan, thought it was a lake

That's it, I'm out

Trying to become an adult got in the way

Australian duck broken in mid Jan.

50km ride into the hills to check out some new gravel and learn about Aussie style camping shelters and rights of way.

Good to meet up with and ride out alongside the southern hemispheres equivalent of you lot!
Its fun sleeping under mesh. Shouldnt need a tarp or fly sheet for another 3 or 4 months!

Fast ride back on the usual gum lined empty country roads in time for work. Its been a while but it felt great!

Out next week in the Flinders ranges to try out the MSR nx1 which i accidentally bought...

Good to meet up with and ride out alongside the southern hemispheres equivalent of you lot!

We're not alone!

Let me have your address Pete and I'll send you some 'soft' stickers for the Aussie contingent

10/10 from me
2/2/ this year
Feb the hardest month bagged early just in case it turns sh!te




My Bear Bones adjustable carbon poles were spot on, cheers Stuart great idea
Even though it rained I was nice and dry overnight

Good work on the 2/2,Feb is looking hard. This weekend was taken up with my boys 8th birthday and the next two weekends we are in Devon. Unfortunately I don't have a carrier so can't take my bike. That leaves only one weekend sh!te it not!

JohnClimber wrote:10/10 from me
My Bear Bones adjustable carbon poles were spot on, cheers Stuart great idea
Even though it rained I was nice and dry overnight

What bag are you using under the tarp?

Is that some sort of mesh shelter?