Good to see the youths taking an interest in this :wink: Never thought of it like that, only 1 in the crowd was around 20, Looks like our generation is a dieing breed. Too interested in their gaming now I guess. Reckon for a certain age group "being into bike packing" involves following s...

gecko76 wrote: ↑Tue Jan 30, 2024 7:59 pm Newby was there to climb Mir Samir (19880 feet) with his Diplomatic Service buddy Hugh Carless (who only died in 2011). On the way out they met with Wilfred Thesiger who declared them to be a couple of pansies for using sleeping mats.

I use Heat Holders to sleep in when its cold and really like them, but then I don't especially suffer with cold feet. I have a friend who uses them as well and does suffer from cold feet and now uses them on Duke of Edinburgh as well.

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Stewart quotes from 'A Short Walk in the Hindu Kush' by Eric Newby in that book, which I highly recommend - not just an insight in Afghanistan but also the world in the 1950's.

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Really enjoyed Eric Newby, The last Grain Race was my fave and really enjoyed A Short Walk too.

Just finished The Man in the Tent by Toni Beardsall, He was struggling mentally and in middle age decided to take up camping and that led walking and then moved into a tent full time and much of it wild camping. Quite light hearted and an interesting read.

I've used a flat Tarp for years and no bivvie bag and did so when back packing before taking up bike packing some years ago. Love this setup for all of the reasons listed already, especially the feeling that you are in the landscape rather than isolated from it in a tent. Been out in all sorts of we...

Following on from my 1 minute trailer film earlier in this thread, I thought I'd best put a link up to the 6 minute version. Enjoy: https://youtu.be/PYnWcdtPIjY?si=Jo-OqpA-VhQkP8je Very pleased to have been invited to join in with the fun and have enjoyed the videos!! :grin: Cheers up a wet and win...

Swiss Army knife, bought in 1983 and been everywhere with me. Bit bigger than the normal pocket knife and lives in a pouch on my belt, it remembers the days when it was allowed on planes unchallenged! Blades are very worn and struggle to hold and edge now and it is nearly time to retire it and order...

Alpkit do a 100l (think there is a smaller version as well) duffel with a weatherproof zip and it comes with backpack straps attached but no wheels. Love it's size as everything goes in it and I can travel with just 1 bag. Had mine a few years now and its been bulletproof!

Excellent summary there and thanks to John for inviting we to join his merry band! Had a brilliant time with some really lovely people!

Tomorrow will be a lot cheerier than it might have been. Emergency op to fix a torn retina yesterday, after a previous attempt with lasers two weeks ago. This time they used cryotherapy - freezing with liquid nitrogen. Scary stuff. Only a local anaesthetic. I don't think they actually pop your eyeb...

Enjoying reading these! Inspiration of the year (media/person/object etc)* This Forum, love seeing people doing all the fun, strange, crazy and brilliant things they do. Keeps me inspired to get out and do too. :-bd -Favourite ride/trail/trip if the year WRT, love this event and really wish I'd foun...

Verena wrote: ↑Wed Nov 29, 2023 7:01 am

AndreR wrote: ↑Fri Nov 24, 2023 1:09 pm I'm in, at the deep end. Taking a running jump and it'll be fine they said . Now feeling "powerless, weak and scared inside!!

It'll be fine, you'll have an (arctic??) blast!!

That will finally lead to this!

https://youtu.be/e9OTZCRI2H8?feature=shared

I'm in, at the deep end. Taking a running jump and it'll be fine they said . Now feeling "powerless, weak and scared inside!!

samwise wrote: ↑Thu Nov 23, 2023 7:40 pm Martin Lewis says it best...

"If you were going to buy it anyway, and it's half price, you've saved 50%. If you weren't going to buy it, but do it because its half price, it's cost you 100%"

...and I'm off to the O2 arena on Saturday night to see The Alabama 3 with my grown children and enjoy a belated birthday drink!!

I'm tempted by those 7R bags just for their tagline, "Ride your bike where even wolves are scared to sh*t"! :lol: I'm getting one of their gravel suitcases https://7rbags.com/product/gravel-suitcase/ via Shona and Rich https://keeppedalling.co.uk/ I have two of their bags and am very impr...

This year I am re reading books I have read in the past. Usually I read a book, put it away and get on with the new one. I have done that a bit this year too, it's really interesting to re-read a book you enjoyed and found memorable years later and see the differences in what you get from it now. I...

Just finished Ghost Riders (Travels with American Nomads) by Richard Grant. British fellow living in the USA and delving into what sort of people become nomads and why. Surprised at the different sorts of people in society that are "nomadic" and how the distrust between settled people and ...

Finished Bothy Tales by John Burns and found it very entertaining. Thoughtful in places funny in many others, would recommend Bought the Last Hill Walker by him as well as I enjoyed his writing so much.

...a pair of spiffy Adidas 5.10 SPD brothel creepers. Colour is a lot lighter than the photo on the website but a winter of use will sort that £64.50!! bargain!

Might be of interest to some on here

https://motorolarugged.com/en-gb/motoro ... lite-link/

PaulB2 wrote: ↑Sun Aug 20, 2023 10:51 pm The 23% climb out of woolacombe to get back to croyde wouldn’t be fun

Pretty sure we saw you coming up thatas we were driving down, did yell Boners out the car windo as we passed!

PaulB2 wrote: ↑Fri Aug 18, 2023 11:09 am Off on a family holiday to Woolacombe - I’m even getting to take a bike so all is good.

Very cheery indeed taking the caravan down to Devon not far from Woolacombe for two weeks!!