Good excuse to build a road bike Stu? :D

I finally stumped up the cash to buy a Hope Race Evo X2 (or whatever) rear brake to go with the front one I bought a few months ago, so the bikepacking bike will finally have matching, lightweight, brakes. Take two sets of pads into the shower? Not me! They are admittedly a bit down on power though so I've also swapped the front 160mm Aligator rotor for a 180mm & will see how that performs.

A big box from Field&Trek with:

A Karrimor / xlite Ti stove (for no other reason than it was so cheap and I'll either keep it as a spare, second kit or give it away at Xmas).
A Karrimor travel mug / mini-flask thing.
Two 5l exped, eVent bottomed dry bags (for the TQ and UQ).

Unsolicited was the mahoosive Sports Direct mug and even more mahoosive catalogue but most mahoosive still was the box - I could have bivied in it. Menthal

I've got a few of those Sports Direct mugs now (though they keep breaking).

Today the nice post-person brought me the final (I hope) little finishing bits for me to eventually complete my new 29er build (just in time for a planned bike/bivi trip this coming weekend).

Expect to see some pictures of the beauty once she's finished.

as promised (threatened!):









i LOVE the look of this bike!!!

hubba hubba, very nice Gairy!

Some weird metal thimble and a diddy plastic bottle - one UL stive courtesy of Stu 8-)

Looking forward to burning it

These arrived yesterday.



Rated at 2200 lumens, I've no way of checking that output but I can say that they turn darkest night into glorious day. There's four settings, the lowest would be ample for less technical stuff, fire roads, etc. Run time on low is a massive 50 hours so I'm told Quality of everything seems really good, battery's well sealed and easy to frame/stem fit.

The same lights are available from various on-line shops under different names. I got these from Trevor at Bright Bike Lights - http://www.brightbikelights.com/ . Price was £116 with free next day P+P and there was also an added bonus of a free helmet mount and free headtorch strap.

I'll venture out over the weekend and report back.

Oh those look similar to Smudges new ones, slightly cheaper
Let me know how you get on as I quite fancy these for the size

http://www.mtbbatteries.co.uk/mountain- ... lumenator/

Oh those look similar to Smudges new ones, slightly cheaper
Let me know how you get on as I quite fancy these for the size

Exactly the same as far as I know.

PHD Minim 400 sleeping bag arrived yesterday - can't wait to try it out!

Oh those look similar to Smudges new ones, slightly cheaper
Let me know how you get on as I quite fancy these for the size

Review here - http://bearbonesbikepacking.blogspot.co.uk/

Two black bags arrived from John at Bearpaw today!
Arrived just in time for an overnighter tomorrow.
Her majesty only took £3.75 from me which was nice, John is quite conservative with his customs costings.

Two black bags arrived from John at Bearpaw today!

What did you get? A Trailstar nest and something else?

A set of 29er wheels, and a set of 29er reba's waiting for me at home according the good lady.

My first 29er build is coming soon. looking forward to it.

New saddle. A Selle Italia SLR gel flow. Bargaintastic for £67.50 from Merlin
Cost was £75 which was cheapest I could find then a further 10% at checkout
Happy Daze

Some Glacier gloves from the Window Cleaning place. Went for a medium and they fit ok. Bring on the cold weather!

One of the cheap Karrimor LT Down jackets in large.

Seems just fine. Thought it was heavy but weighed it (WTF ) and it was (only) 310g including supplied stuff sack. Will probably pack down to c.0.5l.

For the brass I don't think you can go wrong for a lightweight jacket. By lighweight I'm comparing it to an Alpkit Filo or Rab kinder and it's not as thick / lofted / warm. The Karrimor is much more in the weight / style of Uniqlo stuff.

Cheeky Monkey wrote:One of the cheap Karrimor LT Down jackets in large.

Seems just fine. Thought it was heavy but weighed it (WTF ) and it was (only) 310g including supplied stuff sack. The Karrimor is much more in the weight / style of Uniqlo stuff.

Ah glad to hear it. I've just ordered a snot green one, I've got a uniqlo gilet and a filo and hoped it would fill the gap. I cant see myself riding in conditions needing a filo for the foreseeable ! Combo of uniqlo & karrimor should cover most things.

Are those uniqlo jackets any good?

I've only got the Gilet and haven't tried it in testing conditions but.... It feels like its decent quality, packs into its own pocket and is cut well. Certainly better than a Peter Storm one for similar money I've got. I got it mainly as it squashes into a small camelback easily.

sillybigfella wrote:Are those uniqlo jackets any good?

My Uniqlo gilet is great. However, I think F&T / Karrimor are doing a "lightweight" gilet at £18 (NB: £4 P&P):

http://www.fieldandtrek.com/karrimor-li ... ens-443339

If this is the same spec / qulaity / build as the jacket I've just got (no reason that it shouldn't be, it's the same range) then, for the money, I'd get that. It's half the price (of the already cheap) uniqlo. Should do you just fine. Plus, whilst I'm not a princess about gear, this stuff being such good value means I don't get too upset if if gets the odd hole / bit of filth / suffers the effects of being used bivi-ing.

TBH I'm gobsmacked at how cheap both the jacket and gilet are.

The postman has been a few times in the last week culminating in this...

Nice looking bike Restless. Your canti's are set up how i like them. I never really got on that well with the Midge bars when i had a set. What gearing have you used?

Cheers. I found the bars good so far though it's only had 1 outing at the weekend. 42:20t freewheel and 18t fixed when I pluck up the courage

Yeah, nice looking machine!

I've a pair of those bars but never found an occasion to fit/use 'em???

Am just at Lyon airport awaiting the arrival of my Mother-in-law (and my new Planet X 'Sl Pro Carbon' frame!!!).

So that's kind of like the postman arriving - no?

Also means I may be the first bloke in history to be eagerly awaiting the arrival of his mother-in-law :)