Winter Bivvy South West - Details

[darbeze]

When - Saturday Dec 12th at 1:00pm. We shall set off at 1:30pm. That should give us plenty of faffing time!

Where - Princetown, Dartmoor. Meet in the main car park. It is a pay and display car park and you can leave your vehicle overnight. I shall check charges and let you know.

What - As with the Welsh event, come prepared for a night out and bring lights. I am proposing a 24-26 mile loop out of Princetown which features disused railway line, tracks, open moorland and some rocky going (a small amount of country lanes too). The loop usually takes about 3 hours to complete on an unloaded bike with no stopping.

There a couple of route options for Sunday morning. We can either complete the planned loop, or we can add some open moor, very soggy (stream crossing and tussocks) going if people fancy. This would add another couple of hours to the return leg.

There is nothing on the route that is too horrendous; and the idea is to have a pleasant social ride. Being Dartmoor, you can expect much wetness underfoot and wheel; although this will be no BB200! I have a couple of bivvy spots in mind, depending on the prevailing weather. Everyone welcome.

We should be back in Princetown early to mid morning, where I suggest we take breakfast at the most excellent Fox Tor cafe (http://www.foxtorcafe.com). They have top notch grub and are very cyclist friendly. They also have a bunk house if you are considering staying over on the Friday night.

Bring waterproofs and warm clothes. There is not much shelter en-route, and the bivvy spot is not too sheltered either! I imagine we will have several hours to socialise when we stop to camp. There may even be a little daylight left too, which will be a bonus.

If you have any questions feel free. I shall answer as best I can.

Cheers,

Si

[slugwash]

Thanks for taking the initiative Si I've pencilled this one in the domestic calendar and, failing any sudden last minute Christmas events being sprung on me, should be able to make it. However, I might not be free to start as early as you intend, so may need to get the possible bivvi site GRs off you before the big day and track you down.

Cheers,

Rich.

[somersetpaul]

This looks interesting..... as a first timer with someone other than my son, what basic kit would I need and only have a full sus. or a cross bike, which would be better suites?

thanks

[darbeze]

Hi Somerset Paul,

Given the choice between a full sus and a cross bike, I would choose the full sus. I have a rigid steel Genesis Fortitude 29er and a steel Genesis Croix De Fer and I am taking the 29er. Bigger tyres will be more comfortable.

In terms of what to bring. I think the best way I can answer that is to list what I will be taking. I can only speak for me. Other setups are available!

Rigid steel 29er
Lights (helmet and bar mounted)
2 x 750ml water bottles
pump

Bar harness which holds a 13 litre dry bag containing:
3/4 sleeping mat
Synthetic sleeping bag
Bivvi bag
Tarp with 4 steel pegs
Plastic groundsheet

Alpkit small Fuel Pod containing snack foods

Seatpack harness which holds a 13 litre dry bag containing:
Down jacket
Thermal longjohns
Merino wool jersey
Thick socks
Thick gloves
Wooly hat
Micro towel
Polar buff

20ltr rucksack containing:
2 spare inner tubes
puncture repair kit
Two multi-tools (with different tools on)
Folding Knife
Spork
Headtorch
Water purification tablets
Power Monkey auxiliary power supply for phone
Mobile phone
Small Primus gas stove
Small gas canister
2 disposable lighters
AlpKit MyTiMug
Enough food for trip
OS paper maps covering route with route highlighted
Compass
Cash for lovely hot grub on Sunday

Clothing:
Helmet
Thin buff worn under helmet
Clear sports glasses
Two lycra short sleeved jerseys
Merino arm warmers
Padded bib shorts
Lycra leg warmers
Seal Skins socks
SPD shoes
Gloves
Waterproof jacket

Seems such a lot of gear when you write it all down. I would say that I don't worry about being as light as I can possibly be any more.

As long as you are happy lugging around what you need, then weight isn't the be all and end all.

If you need anything else, just ask.

Cheers,

Si

[Taylor]

Where's the "cook off" food?

[darbeze]

I'm not sure the SW posse are ready for a "cook off" just yet!

[Taylor]

Nonsense

[darbeze]

We may not have a cook off on the SW bivvy, but I am including a location featured in a Hollywood blockbuster...

[somersetpaul]

Thats A LOT of stuff..... I am missing some key bits... I have bags but no straps / harnesses so will have to Macgyver something...... Also, it seems that eating and sleeping is where I am lacking.....which I guess is quite important!

MISSING:
Bar harness
3/4 sleeping mat
Synthetic sleeping bag (have lots of sleeping bags but not the kind to wrap down small)
*Tarp with 4 steel pegs (I have a homemade 'tarp')
Alpkit small Fuel Pod containing snack foods
Seatpack harness
Water purification tablets
Small Primus gas stove
Small gas canister
Compass

[darbeze]

Don't panic,

The list I gave was a list to cover a much bigger outing than we will be enjoying!

Let's take a look at your "missing" items:

Bar harness - Not actually needed. Just strap your dry bag directly onto your handlebars.
3/4 sleeping mat - Any sleeping mat will do. Heck, you can even do without for one night if you can sleep easily.
Synthetic sleeping bag - If you can carry it and it will keep you warm, then it's fine.
*Tarp with 4 steel pegs (I have a homemade 'tarp') - Homemade tarp sounds good.
Alpkit small Fuel Pod containing snack foods - Stuff some snacks in your pockets, or anywhere you can fit them. They are designed to perk you up if you get grumpy.
Seatpack harness - Again, as with the handlebars. You can strap a dry bag directly to your saddle.
Water purification tablets - Not essential for a one nighter.
Small Primus gas stove - Only really need a stove to make a brew. I don't envisage cooking a 3 course meal whilst we're out. (Unlike some people!)
Small gas canister - Same as stove
Compass - You won't need a compass on this trip.

I don't want you to think that you can't go bikepacking if you haven't got the "right" equipment. Common sense should prevail. As long as you can keep warm, relatively dry and keep fed and watered, you should be OK. You can carry all of your kit in a rucksack. If you are happy riding with a rucksack (I always ride with a pack), then that is absolutely fine.

The route I am proposing is not very long distance wise. The only thing I can think of that I would want people to know in advance is that the bivvy spot is on a Tor, and therefore is high ground that is exposed. We shall have to decide which side we sleep on the day when we see what the prevailing weather conditions are.

My hope is that this trip is fun. A chance to ride through a lovely landscape, sleep outside and meet new people who like doing the same stuff. It is not a test and willy waving is definitely banned!

Cheers,

Si

[Bearbonesnorm]

Nail and head ^.

[jam bo]

have you been out on the western side of the moors recently? its saturated. I've not seen it so wet in a long time.

might influence your route/bivvy choice...

for the record, found a nice potential bivvy spot the other day. Combshead Tor. Nice flat natural amphitheatre in the middle of the tor with quite a lot of shelter.

[darbeze]

Hi Jam Bo,

I took a walk around the route on Sunday. It is certainly moist. The overriding weather on Sunday was high wind. Walking down Jobber's Road towards the Scout Hut, the wind actually brought us to a standstill walking downhill.

If it is that windy on the 12th, it will make erecting any kind of shelter a challenge!

We may have to seek out a more sheltered spot if that happens, or just make do with bivvy bags. This will impact on the social side of things in the evening though I would imagine.

[somersetpaul]

OK so tried to get some kind of shelter together for Saturday night but its a bit flappy in the strong winds - anyone got some advice?? Thanks

WP_20151205_11_27_22_Pro[2] by Paul Paul, on Flickr

[Bearbonesnorm]

OK so tried to get some kind of shelter together for Saturday night but its a bit flappy in the strong winds - anyone got some advice?? Thanks

Stop trying to hold your tarp up with your bike like that Paul ... it results in a very unstable structure.

Far better, to stand your bike up the correct way and attach a line to the saddle then down to the ground (elastic band round the brake lever's a good idea). You should be able to set the tarp up as an A frame like this with the bike supporting the high end and even just peg the low end directly to the ground if you can't find something to support that end.

You could use one of your wheels at the low end but that then makes the bike less stable ... I'd prefer to use a stick if I didn't have a pole.

You could also try a half pyramid but really your tarp would need 'cutting down' in order to get it to work well.

Just remember that when you bicycle a tarp, you're trying to form numerous straight lines which ideally have an equal and opposite force on both sides

[somersetpaul]

Stop trying to hold your tarp up with your bike like that

I was trying to keep the bike sheltered / out of the weather .... is that just a loose and silly hope??

[Bearbonesnorm]

I was trying to keep the bike sheltered / out of the weather .... is that just a loose and silly hope??

It's a new one on me ... but try this then.

Peg the corners of your tarp down as though you were going to pitch an A frame (depending on the size of your tarp, you might need to add lines to the points along the bottom edges), then put your bike inside stood the right way up. The bike will hold the tarp up and the tension on the tarp will hold the bike up. Obviously, it'll limit how much space you have inside but it's the only way I can see to do what you want. You'll need to have a play about to see where the bike sits best, line lengths, etc.

[somersetpaul]

So who's out on Saturday??

[darbeze]

I am! I shall be in the main car park at 1pm.

I shall try to construct some kind of bearbones signage or similar so you know who I am...

I aiming to set off at 1.30pm. I reckon we will have time to play about with tarps if the wind is kind to us. I shall bring spare pegs just in case...

See you there,

Si

[somersetpaul]

Thanks and see you there Si

[somersetpaul]

Getting my stuff together for the ride....suddenly its got cold and wet, typical.

As I wont be cooking out there, what food do people suggest to bring? I normally eat cereal bars, etc, when on a good ride. Also, how are people carrying water, or is there somewhere to fill up on the ride?

[darbeze]

Pork pies
flap jack
chocolate bars
muesli bars
sweets
nuts
seeds

I will be taking two 750ml bottles of water and some chlorine tablets so I can replenish supply if I need to. I shall also have my small gas stove as a hot brew is always nice if the weather is poor.

Having said that, we will only be riding for a couple of hours on the Saturday and probably about the same on Sunday, so I don't think we will expire through lack of food or water.

Don't forget to bring some cash for breakfast at the Foxtor Cafe on Sunday... mmmm

[somersetpaul]

Good man, kind of what I thought of too, thanks... will have to sort water out tho

[somersetpaul]

Have you seen the weather?? Do we need to swap to canoes???

[Taylor]

Have you seen the weather?? Do we need to swap to canoes???

Looks good to me.
http://www.yr.no/place/United_Kingdom/E ... _hour.html