One other thing, something to place under the sidestand on muddy ground. I use a square of thick stainless with a cord threaded through a hole in one corner. Tie the other end of the cord to the handlebars, so when you're ready to leave the campsite, just pull it up like an anchor, wrap the cord round it and put in the tank bag. Might look a bit weird, but it works.
Quote from: robbo on 09 May 2019, 06:51:21 pmOne other thing, something to place under the sidestand on muddy ground. I use a square of thick stainless with a cord threaded through a hole in one corner. Tie the other end of the cord to the handlebars, so when you're ready to leave the campsite, just pull it up like an anchor, wrap the cord round it and put in the tank bag. Might look a bit weird, but it works. I carry a plastic one under my seat - think it came free with a bike mag once, they are called side stand pucks. And once you have almost ended up under the bike whilst trying to pick one up you realise how cleaver the little piece of string is.
I’m more of a Brut man myself 😂.Some handy tips so far guys, thanks for those I don’t have one of those puck things yet but that’s been mentioned to me before so there’s probably something in it. I’ll get one made up in work I think.
Old piece of wood or flattened coke can also work 😀
Quote from: Trebus on 11 May 2019, 01:53:43 pmOld piece of wood or flattened coke can also work 😀So while you're wandering about in a muddy campsite looking for a coke can to flatten, or a piece of wood....your bikes fallen over. I'll stick with my chunk of metal and piece of string thanks . It's always there and has never let me down.
Soft panniers are ok, but offer little in the way of security. In the past most of my journeys are completed in a day without stopping off siteseeing etc, so soft luggage and a back box have been fine. Used hard luggage for the first time last year, only small 21 litre panniers, but found them useful as spares/tools etc could be packed in the bottom of one and just forgotten about. Topped that box up with cooking gear, food etc. I have cobbled together a stainless adaptor plate, that moves the givi rack a little further backwards, in order to be more comfortable with a large Lomo/Ortleib type bag across the pillion seat. That wouldn't be necessary if you steer clear of pubs and pie shops .
Ok what would I take, a small decent torch cree for example, paracetamol and ibuprofen as I get a bit of back pain when I'm in the saddle for long periods. A water bladder is good, you'll need water for cooking if you're doing the camping thing. oh and another thing deodorant, go for the stick type rather than the spray, its the only one that works properly.
Haha! I too have a wooden disc on a piece of string!!I take a small kettle, a trangia method burner and a pan so a cuppa and a bowl of soup is never far away.I take a small plastic bottle of engine oil in case a top up required, and a mini pump and some puncture plugs.I have a led bulb on an extension lead I plug into the bike that can charge a phone or provide light at night. Also added a usb socket to the handlebars.And I always seem to take too many clothes
When I started this biking/camping lark many moons ago, I compiled a "to take" and "to do", lists regarding camping essentials and preparation. In later years this morphed into a laminated sheet that could be ticked off, and wiped clean ready for the next trip. Dickturpin's tip to take a small container of your favourite oil is something I've always done, placing it inside a latex glove. The taking of too many clothes is also very relevant. A towel takes up a lot of valuable space, but a 180x90 cms microfibre travel towel packs about the size of a paperback. I use the xl size from The Little Bodhi, on Amazon about 12 quidish. Boil in a bag type meals by Look what We've Found are also handy,tasty and don't take up much space. The list goes on and on and.....
What, no "stay in a nice comfortable hotel" ? You lot are slipping
What, no "stay in a nice comfortable hotel" ? You lot are slipping [/size]
Quote What, no "stay in a nice comfortable hotel" ? You lot are slipping [/size] I did the North Coast 500 in 2017. Camping was the only option, as all the B&Bs were booked up months, if not years in advance by foccing softies.
Quote from: mtread on 12 May 2019, 05:44:01 pmQuote What, no "stay in a nice comfortable hotel" ? You lot are slipping I did the North Coast 500 in 2017. Camping was the only option, as all the B&Bs were booked up months, if not years in advance by foccing softies. Me and my beloved toured for 14 years on 2 pan euros,always as "foccing softies" in hotels and B&Bs,we loved it,especially in France and Holland fuck that camping lark,cold and soaking wet,aaaargh! no way Tell you what we did find though,some underwear that you could wash at night and it would be dry in the morning,I cant remember the make just now but if I think of it Ill let you know.
Quote What, no "stay in a nice comfortable hotel" ? You lot are slipping I did the North Coast 500 in 2017. Camping was the only option, as all the B&Bs were booked up months, if not years in advance by foccing softies.