2012 Bivvy* a month challenge

Anthony · Post by **Anthony** » Sun Mar 11, 2012 8:05 am

Walk?

Pretty sure a lot of us have ridden through Welsh puddles deeper than that

pedalhead · Post by **pedalhead** » Mon Mar 12, 2012 11:54 am

I've posted up some pics & a brief write-up of our weekend in the Berwyns here... http://bearbonesbikepacking.co.uk/phpBB ... f=10&t=623

Some amazing trails & scenery. Hard riding on a loaded bike, but very satisfying when the sun & the views come out.

Bearbonesnorm · Post by **Bearbonesnorm** » Mon Mar 12, 2012 12:15 pm

Very nice Mark ... I'd just like to say, anyone riding this years WRT and who'll be looking to get the miles in, would do well to take a good look at Marks post

pedalhead · Post by **pedalhead** » Mon Mar 12, 2012 12:33 pm

s8tannorm wrote:Very nice Mark ... I'd just like to say, anyone riding this years WRT and who'll be looking to get the miles in, would do well to take a good look at Marks post

The main reason we chose that area for this trip, as you'd alluded to it being relevant to this year's WRT a while ago :D

gairym · Post by **gairym** » Mon Mar 12, 2012 1:52 pm

pedalhead,

looks like a hell of a nice ride!

that climb looked like a bugger too.

shame I can't make it for the WRT but maybe I'll hit this area next time I get a chance to head to Wales.

gairy.

pedalhead · Post by **pedalhead** » Mon Mar 12, 2012 2:17 pm

Let us know when you plan to ride it if you fancy company. I'd certainly be up for another visit sometime.

Chew · Post by **Chew** » Mon Mar 12, 2012 10:08 pm

Got out for my March trip at the weekend. We were riding the Rangers Path down Snowdon, so it all seemed to fit in nicely.

Be careful in the forest

Feeding Time by matthew.cockerham

Morning View with Snowdon hiding in the background

5 am by matthew.cockerham

Jack · Post by **Jack** » Mon Mar 12, 2012 10:10 pm

Friday night (9th) saw the first bivvy of this month and the first of this year. Just a one night in the local hills (Shropshire) to test some new gear and have a short ride, in between doing college work, with a friend. Still good fun though and the weather wasn't too bad. Nothing like cooking and eating breakfast without leaving the sleeping bag. :D

Using a homemade frame bag which worked nicely (the first chance I've had to test it) but the stuff for making a harness for the bars has only just arrived, so I had to use sleeping bag stuff sacks on the bars and seat post as a temporary solution. Surprisingly successful though. Anyhow, that's March done.

slugwash · Post by **slugwash** » Mon Mar 12, 2012 10:41 pm

I didn't think that I was allowed to post on this thread as I had a bivi free February. However, as late starter Jack has ^^ I'll also post up some piccies from the weekend's Dartmoor trip

...

We Started off on the high moor but as a cold wind whipped up we sought shelter elsewhere...

Windfree destination down below....

Top bivi nosh...

Tested out the Jetboil at last that I got free with a subscription to Trail Mag....

Morning view from the bivi site...

Freezer bag cooked porridge not quite up to my usual standards (leper's gruel) ....

Water was not a problem.....

Errr, floating folding cup....

gairym · Post by **gairym** » Mon Mar 12, 2012 10:54 pm

pedalhead wrote:Let us know when you plan to ride it if you fancy company. I'd certainly be up for another visit sometime.

Will do.

I'll be over Cymru way in early May but not sure what days I'll be around and so will have to get back to you.

Cheers.

gairym · Post by **gairym** » Mon Mar 12, 2012 10:56 pm

slugwash, jack and chew,

them's some nice looking mini-adventures!

seems like there's a lot of us getting out there for this time of year.

'tis inspiring!

gairy.

pedalhead · Post by **pedalhead** » Mon Mar 12, 2012 11:27 pm

Lovely spot there Slugwash!

Bearbonesnorm · Post by **Bearbonesnorm** » Sat Mar 17, 2012 10:40 am

Flatfishy and myself made the March bivvy with plenty of time to spare, a nice 2 night trip out in the hills of north Wales ... proof below that you shouldn't let an idiot be in charge of a camera

Chew · Post by **Chew** » Thu Apr 12, 2012 10:32 pm

Aprils trip already ticked off.

Decided to head to the Lakes, to try out some options ahead of my big summer trip to Scotland.

New Frame bag and Seat bag to try out. Need to work out the best way to pack everything in. Few ideas to reduce pack size, to try out next time.

Customery starting point for any adventure

Started in Stavaley, mostly road across to Windermere, and then took the ferry across to Grizdale forest, heading over to Elterwater for the night

Next day had to make my way over to the north side of the Lakes so followed the Cumbrian Trail over to Rossenthwaite. Great views from the top and surprisingly ridable most of the way down the other side to the amusement of a few walkers.

Cycled down and towards Keswick, to Whinlatter forest and around the back of Skiddaw, before finding somewhere to sleep for the night. The forest i had planed to sleep in had been receintly been felled, so found a nice sheep pen near, which was nicely out of the wind, but not the rain. Decided to chance it.....it rained.
Bivi's not really that waterproof and after contiuned showers it started to drip through into my down bag.
Not as bad as i feared, but not in a rush to repeat the experience. Next time the tarps always comming with me, or i'll make the effort to ride on an extra 5 miles to find some better natural shelter even if i'm knackered.

Bearbonesnorm · Post by **Bearbonesnorm** » Fri Apr 13, 2012 1:57 pm

Bivi's not really that waterproof and after contiuned showers it started to drip through into my down bag.

What bivvy bag were you using Chew?

Chew · Post by **Chew** » Fri Apr 13, 2012 7:35 pm

I was being a bit optamistic with my hunka. It was still repelling water in the light drizzle, but it was also soaking through.

Anthony · Post by **Anthony** » Sat Apr 14, 2012 6:00 pm

Are you sure it's not condensation?

Most 'breathable' bivvy bags I have owned have struggled to breathe well enough once wetted out.

That's my April. Just off the the top of Winhill in the Peak District. Tried to snow as we went to sleep and dropped low enough in the night to freeze all the puddles. It was a stunning blue sky dawn.

Cheeky Monkey · Post by **Cheeky Monkey** » Mon Apr 16, 2012 9:52 am

After a long day on Saturday I pussied out of a first hang this year in Dalby before trailbuilding and AGM on Sunday. In hindsight I'm glad because I arrived at 09:00 to snow on the ground and freezing conditions.

Wuss

gairym · Post by **gairym** » Thu Apr 19, 2012 2:05 pm

April -DONE!

Blackhound · Post by **Blackhound** » Thu Apr 19, 2012 7:18 pm

April, me too. Trust knee is ok Gairy.

gairym · Post by **gairym** » Thu Apr 19, 2012 8:37 pm

the drive last night wasn't fun but today it's feeling a little better.

unfortunately my attempts to get sympathy at home have come to nothing!

Chew · Post by **Chew** » Sun May 06, 2012 8:20 pm

May's adventure Part 1...

Always prefer point-to-point adventures, especially ones that finish back home. Had friday off work so decided to make the most of it and loaded up the bike and rode to work.
After work its a short ride into town to catch the trail to Manchester to ride the Trans Pennine trail back home.

Some bits of the route are 'urban' but its nice to marvel at Victorian engineering

Under the Bridge by matthew.cockerham

Didnt get as far out of Manchester as i'd hope, so had to find somewhere before darkness fully descended. Awoke in the morning to a nice view, but was also rumbled by a few dog walkers.

Hid Away by matthew.cockerham

After that its more riding home. The trails a bit flat and straight, due to it mainly being based on old railway lines and canal tow paths, but its good to be out riding.

gairym · Post by **gairym** » Mon May 28, 2012 5:43 pm

May trip - done!

Am writing up a little trip-report which i'll post in the appropriate location when i get a chance if anyone's interested.

That's 5 for 5 so far this year - 7 more months to go (with dates/places for June and July already planned)!

Is everyone else on target to achieve a 'bivi a month' for 2012....?

Blackhound · Post by **Blackhound** » Mon May 28, 2012 6:22 pm

Well done gairy.

I managed mine last week, up into the White Peak. Took one boring pic of the trip.

I have managed 5/5 and June will be WRT.

Chew · Post by **Chew** » Mon May 28, 2012 8:36 pm

5/5 for me too. WRT for June.

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