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Like I said, I am new here.

Pistonbroke. Well put.

I am new on this forum.
If negative reviews or opinions, based on a lot of personal experience is not appreciated on here, then please tell me.

I don't mean to step on anyone's toes.

Removed. Alcoholic content.

Picture removed.

Those prices are nuts! Why are people paying that? @confused.com

A few years ago, someone was hand stitching made-to-measure bags in Colorado or California. A 3 month wait. Justifies the price.

Apidura and the rest are made in China for less than €5 a bag. Taking the pee pee.

A big thing that never seems to be mentioned - a backpack will give you cold hands. You probably don't notice or think about it. But the shoulder starps will reduce the blood flow to the arms. If you ride in extreme cold you will notice it straight away. Even a light 8 litre daybag. Also a heavy pac...

A set of Ortlieb bike packing bags weigh more than the Ortlieb 'light' panniers and a lightweight tubus rack. And costs silly £s.

Mine is 2 years old. The velcro staps are very good but the buckled straps are rubbish. They don't tighten up properly and stick out.

I have a non-waterproof Apidura frame bag. It has a water proof zip and material. A couple of years ago they were advertised as almost waterproof but 'recommended to use a waterproof bag in extreme wet weather'. Due to the top of the bag, under the frame, being flat, it leaks like a sieve in just a ...

Wild camping in Spain is not a problem. You will only be moved on if found. The main problem is the miles upon miles of barbed wire. Some fences are over 20 miles long. Don't sleep in those fields. Effing big bulls hidden over the horizon. The hostals are not full of kids but serious hikers who are ...

Hola! Albs, Quite a report there. Sounds like you have a fair bit of experience. I have always wanted to do S de C south through Portugal. But I hear nothing but bad reports about Portugese drivers. Not that they are bad, but because Portugal is not big into cycling so the drivers are not used to th...

I did it from S de C southbound to Seville then Malaga.
Remember to get the accomodation card in Seville. You can't get it along the way except in Salamanca. Without it you can't use the discounted hostals.

I can't believe it! I have a lot of experience in the mountains and yesterday I got my first ever frostbite injury. I was stuck on a mountain - high altitude and extreme conditions of course - and the car wouldn't start. So I used cold start spray (ether?) in the air intake. I could feel my finger g...

For cold and snow I use ex-UK army Altberg boots, two sizes too big. With plastic flat pedals. Inefficient but warm.
If there is a big snow fall overnight, then I may have to hike out dragging the bike.
Otherwise neoprene over-shoes which are very warm but leave the feet sweaty.

Old Quinzhee feb18 by Hola Siesta, on Flickr


This is what it looked like 2 months later. Last week. The roof is still solid but the whole thing had sunk down about 1 1/2 metres. It would still be possible (and safe) to sleep in.

Quinzhee Dec17 by Hola Siesta, on Flickr


This is the quinzhee that I built in December. The one I went to check on, in my 1st post "Hello!".

If it was -18°C outside, then in a tent it would be -16°C. A well made snow hole will be above 0°C. Gairym I made one around the corner from you in Cirque du Fer a Cheval. A top place for this. I usually make them in remote places, so I don't fill them in, but I do mark them with branches. If there ...

A basic trench with a tarp roof can be made in 1/2 an hour. But the nights are long and cold. So I make them big and comfortable, with a thick snow roof for insulation. 2 hours ish. Any faster and you will sweat too much. If there isn't much snow, then you can build them from the ground up. A cross ...

Okay. Strange. It is now working, so trip and pictures now posted.
The Flickr forum has lots of posts with the same issues as me. It seems the problem may not be Flickr but Chrome etc.

I have just been out on an overnight trip in the Ubaye region of the French Alps. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4701/39762754414_5e5ddd1645.jpg Ubaye feb18 by Hola Siesta , on Flickr https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4612/40429735852_4f2aaa79c3.jpg Ubaye trench feb18 by Hola Siesta , on Flickr https:/...

I guess my above reply may be interpreted a bit cocky. Snow shelters are warmer and quieter than tents or bivis. Inside they usually never go below freezing, regardless of how cold it is outside. And a shovel weighs less than 1/2kg. I have just been on another shovel packing trip. But Flickr is not ...

Thanks. Foto was taken today. Near Col de Vars, France. I don't use a tent or bivi bag when the snow is deep. Just a shovel to build a quinzhee or snow trench. Today I went to see if an old quinzhee from 2 months ago was still standing. It was. The shovel was to dig out the entrance. Supposed to be ...

Hello!

First post. No idea what to say other than hello! So I will practice linking a picture as I have never done it before.

Hello!

IMG_3057 by ant ant, on Flickr