AlasdairMc wrote:

Bearbonesnorm wrote:

I was reading about those on the bikepacking.net site, you can get them in the UK for roughly the same price. Be interesting to hear how you get on with it, It sound like it would be worth it for "race mode"

Just check the sizing, I've heard some people say that it's not big enough to fit a sleeping bag inside ... ie, it's still an emergency bivvy rather than a 'real' one

I'm not intending to put a sleeping bag in it. I've got a Terra Nova Moonlite which is a superlight bivi bag that I use with a sleeping bag - this is to carry as a race weight emergency sleeping bag, where it's debatable whether I'll need it or not. I've taken a Blizzard bag before, but never had to use it and hope not to as they're horrible to repack.

This seems to be a Tyvek style material albeit with reflective coating

I've got the one that is like a bag made from orange coated space blanket material. That arrived with a hole when new that I assume was put in it when vacuum packed. My mate has the tyvek style one and has used it as a "proper" bivi bag with no issues in summer conditions (so probably a thin sleeping bag) and I think Mountain Baker used one on the Tour Divide. I think if you wanted his it's in a bin near Phoenix as three weeks use left it a bit ripe.....

A 29+ Vittoria Bombolini tyre tp replace my (much hated) Knard.
Initial impressions are the sidewalls are much more robust and much better tread for the mud
Went on the rim OK with a tube. Will leave it to stretch overnight before I set up tubeless

johnnystorm wrote:

AlasdairMc wrote:

Bearbonesnorm wrote:

I was reading about those on the bikepacking.net site, you can get them in the UK for roughly the same price. Be interesting to hear how you get on with it, It sound like it would be worth it for "race mode"

Just check the sizing, I've heard some people say that it's not big enough to fit a sleeping bag inside ... ie, it's still an emergency bivvy rather than a 'real' one

I'm not intending to put a sleeping bag in it. I've got a Terra Nova Moonlite which is a superlight bivi bag that I use with a sleeping bag - this is to carry as a race weight emergency sleeping bag, where it's debatable whether I'll need it or not. I've taken a Blizzard bag before, but never had to use it and hope not to as they're horrible to repack.

This seems to be a Tyvek style material albeit with reflective coating

I've got the one that is like a bag made from orange coated space blanket material. That arrived with a hole when new that I assume was put in it when vacuum packed. My mate has the tyvek style one and has used it as a "proper" bivi bag with no issues in summer conditions (so probably a thin sleeping bag) and I think Mountain Baker used one on the Tour Divide. I think if you wanted his it's in a bin near Phoenix as three weeks use left it a bit ripe.....

I've got the emergency one for when I assume I'm not going to stop, but conditions suggest that I'd be in trouble if I had to. This breathable one looks like a useful thing to have when you are umming and ahhing over a sleep, and save the Hunka for certainties.

DrMekon wrote:I've got the emergency one for when I assume I'm not going to stop, but conditions suggest that I'd be in trouble if I had to. This breathable one looks like a useful thing to have when you are umming and ahhing over a sleep, and save the Hunka for certainties.

That's what I figure it would be useful for, especially in summer. If there was a possibility of rain then you could take a tarp as well since rain generally doesn't equal cold in summer. The SOL + a tarp like the bicycle 3.5 would only come to around 600g

Generic knock offs cree front lights from eBay. Tested in the house and very bright, when the three year old finally goes to sleep I'll be mounting them up and giving it a test! I know they probably won't last but for the first forays into night riding £16 seemed a reasonable punt! Oh, and a new camelbak reservoir!

A new iPhone so I can find some wifi and ignore Norman.

Two XT shadow mechs here for £30 each turned up today

I've not been 'home' for 3 weeks so I had loads of post.

Most exciting were some maps and the LOMO drybags Stu posted on that thread about bags for Gorilla cages.

They are bloody massive!! Look to be pretty tough material though.

5L Lomo and 8L Alpkit.

Sweet mudride shorts and a pair of beavers. It's winter...

RobMac wrote:

RobMac wrote:

JohnClimber wrote:Aldi tomorrow
5200mAh Powerbank just £8.99

Got mines this afternoon, lovely

Anybody else get one of these, is your on/off switch OK? UPDATE : Looks like its working as it should do.

I'm really impressed with this so far

2 books
-Father Christmas needs a wee!
-Night before Christmas

2 pairs of pants
-Arcteryx alpha comp semi waterproof things (not allowed until Xmas)
-Insulated 3/4 pants from Pyuo, look stupid but seem very warm

1 pair of smartwool socks for the wifey

Mont-bell down T just arrived...thanks Zomarsi! It's a good fit.

Greetz

S.

a very bright and reflective 'Fat Lad At The Back' jersey, that is designed for a fuller figured rider.
why oh why does close designers think that a bloke with a 54'' chest has got a waistline to suit? some of us big blokes still have a wide shoulder/narrow waist shape and not a upside down triangle shape...........aaarrrgghhh.

Shimano MW81 shoes from the link I posted last week.

Winter clothes! :D
Thermal bib tights, merino top, oversocks, and a Underarmor hoodie from the Wiggle sale that's on on clothes atm :D

Packet from Shona at Keep Pedalling containing a rather large cassette for the rear of the Stooge - 'tis a whopper I shall report back once fitted / tried out.

That's a ninja death star!

'tis a whopper

Either that, or you've got dinky hands.

Well, he's been a few times and I've finally got my finger out to bolt this together

DSC_0331 by Colin Cadden, on Flickr

DSC_0333 by Colin Cadden, on Flickr

DSC_0334 by Colin Cadden, on Flickr

DSC_0335 by Colin Cadden, on Flickr

DSC_0330 by Colin Cadden, on Flickr

Frame by Brant. Decals by Retrodecals :)


Bar/stem tweaks required, then cable/hose tidying.

I've a set of Rebas for it too.

Very nice Colin, I like that.

Is the frame called Wildcat or is that an attempt to recoup some of the expenditure via advertising?

That one never occurred to me!

Brant has been giving a few of his models xxxcat names. I took a liberty and named this one myself. Conceived in Speyside, it seemed appropriate.

That bike looks great (although black hoses would be more my style!)

You won't be able put revelate luggage on that now, will you?

--

Postie came today with a box containing a pair of 26" rims.

They say 26 ain't dead, but these took a helluva lot of finding - 26" by 1 1/4" Dunlop Lightweight Stainless in 32/40 drilling.

And a Brooks Competition Standard B17 saddle.

Got a little vintage project going on :)
Might be some proper rough stuff riding coming up in a while

They say 26 ain't dead, but these took a helluva lot of finding - 26" by 1 1/4" Dunlop Lightweight Stainless in 32/40 drilling.

And a Brooks Competition Standard B17 saddle.

Got a little vintage project going on :)
Might be some proper rough stuff riding coming up in a while

Ooh you too.

Ooh you too

What was it you said earlier?
"Before you can understand where you're going, you've got to understand where you've come from"