Fortunately having to climb through nettles to reach suitable trees has meant I've firmly ruled out hammocks and all that goes with them

Do bag manufacturer's really make them with less fill on the bottom? Honestly curious, thought it was pretty uniform and "thinner"/less effective fill was because sleeping on it compressed it. Good question. I've 'assumed' that' differential fill' means just that. But, on the basis that a...

Cheer CM, tried the down hood /beanie thing & it just doesn't work for me - just not enough 'cover' for eyes, ears, neck etc.

Hopefully not a hijack but, while on the topic of quilts, some help please. Problem; I sleep on my front & like to have the 'hood' bit of the bag above me to keep out bugs, light etc. (Most?) Mummy bags have a differential fill (thinner on the 'base') so flipping the bag to have the 'long' bit o...

Thanks for posting.. helped make up for not being there.

Excellent idea ...

(...the more I read, the more I wish I were riding - have a great time all)

That was my first approach (and I suspect how it's 'supposed to work' - tho Shimano are very specific about the '8.5mm' measure in the fitting instructions) but it always seemed to shift after/during a ride. Loctiting the adjuster screw only sorted it for a bit longer... :-( Getting the measure as c...

Second pistonbroke's 'mud in the groove' experience. If thick it will upset the adjustment... easy enough to clear tho. Will note that, like the 8, the Alfine 11 does seem to be pretty tough internally - properly adjusted, mine's come through the initial 'skipping gears' issue which had me worried a...

Hi Gari... a steel rule & a whole bunch of bu****ation with a couple of spanners on the cable end clamp is my favoured method. Getting that 8.5cm measurement right on the 11 seems to be the critical setting (and done with the rubber 'crud cover' thingee at the end of the cable in 'relaxed' posit...

I have both an Alfine 8 (bulletproof, stick it in & go. Not overly fussed about setting cable tension) and an 11 which, unless I set the indexing perfectly - get exactly 8.5mm between the cable end lock and the last stop, the 2 yellow lines on the cam EXACTLY lined up and then loctite the adjust...

I'd agree with s8tannorm - it's very usable (as a tarptent - I've not tried it with the inner) once you've got used to the 'slight'y different way of getting it up. Absolute bargain in terms of materials tho.

Not winter list but 'general purpose' one for a few nights out that might be useful as a basis for someone; SADDLE PACK (from Pavel) Shelter: Tarp (MYOG window film) with throwline guys Ground sheet (MYOG window film) Pegs (Alpkit Ti) Split ally pole Clothing: (to suppliment worn bike kit in cold or...

Doing my first 24 solo years back, the most useful advice I got (saw me through many more after that )was from Chris Eatough; "After about 8 hours riding your digestive system starts revolting against food (particularly energy drinks /gels /bars which aren't designed as 'endurance' foods) so ma...

Damn! Looks like it's going to be some fine riding. Sorry to be missing it

Haven't seen your 'scooter guy' I'm afraid, but not surprised someone has taken to the road on one - they seem pretty useful machines in the hands (under the foot/feet?) of a pro; remember a few years back being left in the dust by a guy on one at the Mountain Mayhem... Hop, scoot, hop scoot, hop sc...

Impressive!

:D :D ... now sitting here trying to fit 'gummy bears' into the tune.

To be human is to be competitive.... bikepacking adds 2 big wheels to that basic equation!

Cheers Johnny, most useful

Cheers Johhnystorm.

Q; Did you use it inside a bivy bag/under tarp? (I know I get a deg+out of adding the bivi and another from a low tarp..)

Yup.. same point, same conclusion

Indeed, in my experience they're never as warm as the labels claim and there's no reliable 'common' stat for bags of any sort (for good reason - http://tinyurl.com/d3swn39). Thankfully there are places like this where real users share real experience... always the best help IMHO

Indeed, but then we are talking 'top bags' here so the 300gm is predominantly on the top and definitive makers of 'similar' (using that term in it's loosest sense) bags publish figures that aren't much different eg Nunatak's Catabatic SL: 360gm fill -7deg. (The weight penalty for the 'well insulated...

Anyone have/used one of these? (http://tinyurl.com/d5gsu7c) Would welcome comments if so. Am tempted because; The whole 'no zip', differential fill = lighter weight angle seems to make a lot of sense. I like a hood and none of the more 'popular' quilts I've looked at have one. I'm hesitant because; ...

... together with cast iron three-legged pot, coarse woollen blanket & enamelled mug

('scrumptious' comes to bikepacking... 'twas only a matter of time)