Search found 182 matches

by sabrutat
27 Sep 2018, 9:20am
Forum: Cycle Camping sub-forum
Topic: Trangia flame: what should it look like?
Replies: 76
Views: 6844

Re: Trangia flame: what should it look like?

pjclinch wrote:Camping on rain-soaked moorland, on the other hand, you'd have fuel issues with anything much where you didn't bring your own.


Indeed, The beauty of it is a Trangia burner is tiny, weighs next to nothing, and can fit in pretty much any wood burning stove. So I'll be carrying a Trangia and a small bottle of meths, but only for back up.
by sabrutat
27 Sep 2018, 3:13am
Forum: Cycle Camping sub-forum
Topic: Trangia flame: what should it look like?
Replies: 76
Views: 6844

Re: Trangia flame: what should it look like?

I've been drifting away from my Trangia and towards wood burning stoves and cooking over open fires the last year or two, because I hate running out of fuel when I'm many miles from any potential meths supply. I've never really engaged with gas stoves for the same reason. Right now I'm testing out different wood burning stove configurations; actually just got back from a quick overnighter in the forest to try out the latest wood gasifying stove, with mixed feelings.

I love my tried and trusted stainless steel Kelly Kettle, but it is heavy and bulky. There are features of my new gasifying stove that I really like in combination with a 14cm Zebra billy pot. My task now is to combine the two kits together in a single,hopefully lighter/more compact configuration to amalgamate their respective strengths and eliminate weaknesses.

Still going to be heavier and bulkier than a gas stove, and I may curse it while I'm climbing mountains,but the pizzas, or stews, or fondues at the top more than make up for it.
by sabrutat
22 Sep 2018, 1:04pm
Forum: Cycle Camping sub-forum
Topic: Heaviest tent?
Replies: 61
Views: 5666

Re: Heaviest tent?

Don't get me wrong, Sweep - I still love my Halo 300 for the oodles of space and the massive vestibules. We've seen some stuff, me and that tent. But I needed a more integral solution to include the hammock.
by sabrutat
22 Sep 2018, 10:13am
Forum: Cycle Camping sub-forum
Topic: Heaviest tent?
Replies: 61
Views: 5666

Re: Heaviest tent?

A couple of years ago with the Halo 300, while touring in Belgium (which is very densely populated), it took me FIVE hours to find an appropriate wild camping spot. And it was over 40 degrees C. Started looking at 3pm, finally found a discrete enough site at 8pm. And I thought at the time: if I had a hammock set up, I'd have found a spot in ten minutes.

Since then, I've pretty much been touring with a DD Travel hammock and their 4m x 4m multicam tarp, which is brilliant for blending into the woodland, even close to a road. But this is only for short tours in Britain. When I head out on a multinational tour again, I want to take a roomy tent, too, because I like a large bug-free base camp if I stay put somewhere for a while, but I've still got the hammock in case of a Belgium situation. The combination of the hammock, the tarp and the Halo 300 was getting into ridiculous bulk/weight territory, even for me, so I've been shopping around for another tent, preferably one that compliments the hammock set up.

After significant research and testing, I think I've come up with the perfect solution; the Hex Peak V4 double inner,

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the dd travel hammock and 4m x 4m tarp,

Image

(NB this isn't my personal setup, I got it off the internet. This setup will leak in the rain) and I can use the Hex Peak inner with the tarp in this configuration if there are no trees around:

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I carry a camera monopod with me for filming, and that doubles as the tent pole. I was initially worried that this pyramid configuration would be troublesome in the wind, but after a few experiments, I've found it to be surprisingly stable in high winds. And the whole lot weighs in at far less than the Halo 300.
by sabrutat
3 Sep 2018, 10:02pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: C2C Whitehaven to Whitby (kind of)
Replies: 5
Views: 908

Re: C2C Whitehaven to Whitby (kind of)

Dean wrote:Across the Moors, I'd be tempted to use the old Rosedale railway, which is all permissive bridleways. Something like this: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/28477708


I did this precise route across the moors a few months ago, and made a series of vlogs about it. This is the first relevant one: [youtube]VIN-yUZTJmg[/youtube]
by sabrutat
8 Aug 2018, 6:36pm
Forum: Cycle Camping sub-forum
Topic: Camping advice
Replies: 3
Views: 671

Camping advice

What's the worst or best camping-related advice you've experienced?

Mine is 'need and want are two different things.'
by sabrutat
4 Aug 2018, 12:03pm
Forum: Cycle Camping sub-forum
Topic: Loaded Camping Gear Weight
Replies: 92
Views: 7857

Re: Loaded Camping Gear Weight

I'm starting to think there's a bipolar scale between cycling and camping. At one end, we have the pure cyclist, who doesn't care much about camping, but wants to bang out miles every day. It's all about the cycling. The camping is incidental, even a hindrance.

At the other extreme we have the camper. Someone who enjoys chilling out in the wilderness. The cycling gets us there. This is me.
by sabrutat
4 Aug 2018, 10:13am
Forum: Cycle Camping sub-forum
Topic: camping chair hunt
Replies: 103
Views: 20935

Re: camping chair hunt

I've found, with the Mayfly, that sometimes my bum does actually brush the ground. I'm a 100 kg dude, though. And also the temperature has an effect; in warm countries, say above 40 degrees C during the day, the fabric seems to stretch a little more readily.
by sabrutat
3 Aug 2018, 4:29pm
Forum: Cycle Camping sub-forum
Topic: camping chair hunt
Replies: 103
Views: 20935

Re: camping chair hunt

andrew_s wrote:
Graham wrote:Having looked at a few of the Utube comparative reviews I decided that the H.Groundchair & A.Mayfly were too low.
I did not like the idea of my legs being low down in the insect jungle territory - Insects like to bite, sting and suck(!) me.

The advantage of the Ground Chair or Mayfly is that they are low enough to be usable inside the tent, and won't punch holes in the groundsheet if you do. Handy if it's raining.


Lot of people are seriously not considering this important point.
by sabrutat
2 Aug 2018, 2:10pm
Forum: Cycle Camping sub-forum
Topic: Loaded Camping Gear Weight
Replies: 92
Views: 7857

Re: Loaded Camping Gear Weight

horizon wrote:How do you manage with 45 kg?


It gets me very, very fit indeed. The first few weeks can be hard, but once I'm in shape, I don't even really notice it on the flat or slight inclines. I rode across the Alps with that rig, and found it surprisingly easy. The 10km+ downhills murdered my brakes, though.

Riding, I'd go with my 25kg rig, right up until it's time to make camp.
by sabrutat
24 Jul 2018, 4:42am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Bob Trailer
Replies: 7
Views: 785

Re: Bob Trailer

My first three or four long multi-month tours were with a single wheel trailer. I haven't given up on it entirely, because it has its advantages, but not having a trailer is so much more convenient for touring off road, which is by far my preference. Just the simple act of going over a style or through a bicycle gate, or fording a rocky river were turned into massive logistical operations by the trailer. Without it I can simply hoist the bike onto my shoulder and climb/wade over.

If I was sticking to roads I'm not sure I'd leave it at home, because the increased carrying capacity is a marvel.
by sabrutat
21 Jul 2018, 2:38am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Alps night time temperature
Replies: 13
Views: 1003

Re: Alps night time temperature

I did the Alps a couple of Summers ago, and some of the nights were quite chilly. Probably mid single digits Celsius. I have a modular sleeping system: 2 season sleeping bag, cotton liner, and ultra lightweight bivvy bag - the SOL Escape Lite - so I can layer as needed and it packs small. This is all on top of, at the time, an Exped Synmat 7UL.

The whole thing worked well, apart from the Synmat seams giving out after a month or two, so I've since gone with a Thermarest.
by sabrutat
28 Jun 2018, 10:49am
Forum: Cycle Camping sub-forum
Topic: Loaded Camping Gear Weight
Replies: 92
Views: 7857

Re: Loaded Camping Gear Weight

Vorpal wrote:I guess that doesn't mean anything except that we all have a different threshold for weight / comfort. :mrgreen:


I think it's also a reflection of differing priorities. Most tourists are going to be vacationing from a 9 to 5 job, so they need to keep to a schedule and certain mileages. I don't usually have these concerns.
by sabrutat
25 Jun 2018, 10:58am
Forum: Cycle Camping sub-forum
Topic: Loaded Camping Gear Weight
Replies: 92
Views: 7857

Re: Loaded Camping Gear Weight

+1 for the folding chair. I carry an Alite Mayfly, and consider it essential comfort on long tours. I don't bother on short tours, but by the end of that week or two i'm usually wishing for it.

My heaviest touring load was around 45kg spread across two panniers and a trailer. I haven't been on a long tour for a couple of years, only short ones of less than a month. I'd guess the short tour set up is around 25 kg.
by sabrutat
25 Jun 2018, 10:43am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Please Report Any Security Check Problems When Boarding Ferries ex UK
Replies: 73
Views: 8407

Re: Please Report Any Security Check Problems When Boarding Ferries ex UK

I've never been stopped, despite having my 'It's not the lack of a knife that's stopping me from killing people.' zinger all loaded up.