old - Fazer Owners Club - old
General => General => Topic started by: Hedgetrimmer on 22 January 2014, 12:49:26 pm
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With the progress of the new year, I thought it might be useful to start a thread on camping kit, tips and advice to help those who might be considering it for a first time, and also for more experienced people who are always looking to improve on their kit and technique for this hobby that often seems inextricably linked to the biking experience.
We have recently had a new thread on bivvys and bashas, but this method of stripped-down-to-bare-essentials won't be for everyone, although no reason why it shouldn't also be included here. My intention is for anyone with experience to be able to contribute their thoughts, kit reviews and suggestions, but also for would-be and novice campers to ask any questions they might have on the best kit and general how-to stuff.
My personal experience comes from first camping trips with my parents at a young age, car and trailer loaded up with everything including the kitchen sink, to weekend bike rallies and events, to longer bike tours, and also backpacking trips from a week to 2 months duration, using everything from cheap, heavy Millets gear, to light weight and expensive designed-for-purpose kit, developed by companies such as Rab, Vaude, MSR, Western Mountaineering, Mountain Equipment etc etc.
I have found that purpose designed backpacking and outdoors-pursuits items often transfer very well to bike-based camping trips, as the kit is often light, packs down small, and much is multi-purpose, further reducing the load you need to carry, and so allowing your bike to handle better when packed, and being far easier to organise with less specialist biking luggage, which can also be very expensive of course.
However, I think that we should consider here all price ranges, with their attendant advantages and disadvantages, because of course, not everyone who does the odd camping weekend will be interested in spending major bucks for kit that may only be used once or twice a year.
So, if you have a tent, or camping stove, or air mattress or whatever that you have found to be a great buy, or you want to get it off your chest about how crap it was and should be avoided; if you have a query about how to decide where to pitch your tent when the options seem limited; if you want to know what hydrostatic head is, and how it could be useful to you when choosing a tent; if it's pretty much anything to do with camping/bivvying in the great outdoors, why not pop it in here and help to build a shared knowledge-base for all Foccers - then, next time you go to a big bike meet where a tent is a requirement, you'll be able to laugh at all the other hapless goons who make a pigs ear of it all, without fear of being in that category yourself!
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Ohh yes please! I'm planning a tour of Scotland in May and although I've done a lot of touring it'll be my first time camping with the bike so this thread will be useful.
I'm going wild camping and so the plan is pretty much just to pitch up where looks nice and live simply for a couple of days, then move on somewhere else.
Lots of research going on at the moment but I'd like to make outdoor cooking a bit of a feature of the trip and so any advice in that respect would be great.
I think I've settled on a Coleman duel fuel camping stove which runs on unleaded:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Coleman-1-Burner-Sporter-Liquid-Stove/dp/B0009PUQAU (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Coleman-1-Burner-Sporter-Liquid-Stove/dp/B0009PUQAU)
I'd like to use it to make a brew a few times a day, as well as cooking breakfast and dinner.
Ideally I'd like to do a fry up English breakfast in the morning and another meal in the evening.
Can anyone confirm if the stove is up to the job or not? Good choice?
How do you store fresh food like sausages, bacon and eggs? Coldbag good for a couple of days? I'd rather not have to go to civilisation everyday as it's at odds with the wild camping live simply adventure theme.
Any suggestions for nice meals I can cook in the evening which can be done practically on just the one burner?
I know I can survive on freeze dried or boil in the bag but where's the fun in that?!
Andy
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Ive found that the tent is almost the least important thing and you dont need to spend big bucks on one either. I have everything from one man tunnel tents to massive family pop up tents, about 5 at the last count :rolleyes
The one man tunnel tent (coffin) is my least favourite. Claustrophobic, nowhere to put your gear, cant sit up, condensation, have to undress and dress outside. Basically its a glorified bivvy with poles so I tend to use my bivvy if its summer and Im 'sneaky' camping somewhere.
(http://i39.tinypic.com/2s1w239.jpg)
The two man tent is a Colemans, I paid less than £50 for it and its my best 'biking' tent. Room to get my gear on and off inside, you can leave your boots in the space between the tent and the doorway. Packs down to less than 5kgs and is about the same size as my matress.
(http://i39.tinypic.com/xbwsue.jpg)
I said the tent is almost the least important thing because a tent doesnt give you a good nights sleep, thats the job of the sleeping bag and matress.
Matresses - To me, this is the most important camping item, if you have a uncomfortable night, your next days riding isnt fun. You can go from basic foam mat (not comfortable/little insulation from the ground, not recommended).
(http://i43.tinypic.com/m8n501.jpg)
To expedition matresses that you can sleep on snow with and thick enough that you can sleep on your side without waking up with shoulder and hip pain.
(http://i40.tinypic.com/fn5wuf.jpg)
As with everything, with matresses, you get what you pay for. Ive spent enough uncomfortable nights camping to realise when your awake at 3am, cold and uncomfortable, youll pay anything to be warm and comfy, so if you intend to camp fairly often, spend the money upfront!
Sleeping bags - The biggest item you will carry on the bike. Never trust the temp rating of your sleeping bag, the manufacturers always give an optimistic rating, I add 5° to whatever they rate it to and that seems about right. So if you expect your night time camping temp to be 5°, make sure your sleeping bag is rated to 0°, then youll stay warm.
If you want to be cheap and boost your bags temp rating, buy a silk sleeping bag liner. It folds up to nothing, keeps the inside of your bag clean and adds a few degrees of temperature.
Cooking - Unless your going to be away for weeks, dont bother with a multifuel stove, its big and smelly. For rallies or a week or so away, a small micro gas stove is more than adequite and packs away small.
Take a seat!
Nothing worse than cooking on your knees on grass and not being able to sit down and have a brew.
Im sure I'll think of more things to add later :)
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Buy a tent strap it to the back put your clothes and sleeping bag in a bin liner and fuck off
its so simple
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Cooking utensils - I use a Trangia kit. All the pans fold into one, including a kettle and pack fairly small.
(http://i42.tinypic.com/149p9h2.jpg)
Without doubt, the biggest waste of money is a titanium knife and fork set. A normal fork and spoon will be more than enough, add a Leatherman knife for hacking your meat up and your good to go.
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Hi Andy
Haven't yet done any wild camping in Scotland, but one thing to be aware of is MIDGIES!! In May you might be ok if the weather hasn't started to warm up properly by then, but if it has, they will be a scourge! Especially if you camp anywhere near water: burns, lochs, rivers etc. Our Scots foccers will know a bit more about when they start to become a problem, but I would strongly recommend Avon Skin So Soft as a repellent - it works, and you won't smell like a chemicals factory all day. A lot of places in Scotland will point you to it when you ask for an insect repellent. I went to a garage, for instance, at the top of the Loch Leven loop on the main road, and they had it on the counter there.
The Coleman stove you linked to wouldn't be my choice. In fact, I wouldn't use anything requiring petrol, although I note it's dual-fuel. You can get some good little meths burning stoves if you're in to using liquid fuels, although these can be equally hazardous, especially as you can't see a meths fire - the flame is nigh-on invisible. No, personally, for UK use, I'd stick with the usual gas canister type. There are very few places in the UK where canisters won't be available, and if you're heading to somewhere particularly remote, you can always stock up on an extra canister before you go. I find a small canister will last anything up to a week.
I currently have an MSR Pocket Rocket gas stove, which is small and light and fits neatly in the little container provided with it. It has a very powerful jet which also adjusts down to a nice gentle flame when you want to avoid burning stuff on the bottom of a pot. I have also used a Fly-Ti titanium one - ultra light and compact, but I had a problem with the collar that the canister screws on to coming loose - different expansion rates of the body and brass collar I suspect.
Also consider using a heat shield to fit around the stove - keeps wind out and heat in and makes the gas go much further. You can buy purpose designed ones, but personally I've made them myself out of extra strong kitchen foil, which will last a few days, or my current one I made from the bottom of one of those thick foil turkey roasting tins you can get in supermarkets. When not in use, I just wrap it around my cooking pots, keeping things nice and compact and helping to keep the kitchen stuff together. It's high enough that it also helps in preventing me from knocking a pot over whilst in use.
I've used boil-in-the-bag meals, and there are actually some quite good ones out there. I can't remember my preferred brand, but I'll find a link later if I can. But they're expensive, and even the larger sizes don't provide huge helpings. The breakfast ones in the particular range I'm thinking of are pretty good though. I'm pretty lazy on the food front myself, and can't be bothered with fry-ups and the like, so I'll leave it to someone else to give you more on this. I'll sometimes just buy a can of beans & sausages for breakfast, and the other thing I've used is sachets of oatmeal to which you only add water and heat; they already contain milk powder - although I haven't seen these in a little while, not everywhere does them.
You'll probably want a water filter if you're staying away from civilisation for a bit though and again, I'll find you a link to the one I use if I can. Also, take at least 3 litres worth of foldable water storage containers. Then you can filter enough water when you settle down in the evenings for all your cooking requirements then and in the morning - brews, cooking, washing up etc. If it's pissing down when you first wake up in the morning, you'll want a nice hot brew before you get out of the tent!
Here's the water filter I use - you can then get your water from any clear source and not worry about what bugs may be floating around in there:
http://www.backpackinglight.co.uk/bushcraft/PA101.html (http://www.backpackinglight.co.uk/bushcraft/PA101.html)
Photos
1. MSR Pocket Rocket stove
2. Full cooking set up (+ another 1 and a half litre water bottle and water filter)
3. Mountain Equipment air mattress, Vaude Power Lizard UL tent, Western Mountaineering Summerlite goose down sleeping bag, Rab silk bag liner.
4. All my kit, including clothing for a week pretty much packs into this luggage, and is not at all heavy.
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Looks like Im not the only one who is serious about camping Nick ;)
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Looks like Im not the only one who is serious about camping Nick ;)
Well Matt, Knoxy has a good point too about stripping it down to basics - when you're pissed and stoned in the middle of a muddy field at a bike rally, you probably won't notice the rain much - been there, done that too :lol
But camping has become more of a hobby in itself than that for me, what with all the backpacking I used to do too - then you HAVE to think carefully about your kit, cos you've got to lug it all about with you up mountainsides etc, in all weather - it'd better be light, and it'd better work when you need it.
As said in my opening post here though, anybody that's done any kind of camping can contribute here, not everyone has the same ideas, as already shown, and the more variation we get here, the more likely that a novice can go, well, he thinks like me, so I'll pay more attention to his way of doing it. If you see what I mean. :)
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Normally I advise not bothering with camping on tours, go for cheap B&Bs/hotels. But seeing as I'm being made redundant I'll doing the camping thing. I had planned to go to Croatia this year for a 2 week trip, but now I'll have loads of time.
I've done loads of camping before over the years, but nothing too recent. The last time I camped with the bike was WSB at Brands years ago when at the bottom of Paddock Hill bend a new pond appeared. The pits flooded too, so did the campsite where about 1/3rd of the tents were sitting in water. I gave up bike/camping after that.
I have bought a load of kit to replace my older, larger items.
All this I've fitted into a 46l topbox:
Tent - http://www.nevisport.com/pr/8958/hoolie-2 (http://www.nevisport.com/pr/8958/hoolie-2) - packs down to 42cm x 15cm
Its a lot smaller than my current 2 man dome tent, but as there is only me I'm not too bothered.
Sleeping bag - http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/vango-ultralite-600-sleeping-bag-p196171 (http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/vango-ultralite-600-sleeping-bag-p196171) - packs down to 20cm x 17cm (4.5L). I was going to get a Nitestar 350 as they looked good VFM, but when you compare the size when packed down, due to different materials and also a tighter fit, it was a no brainer. Twice the cost though.
Stove - I pondered about this for ages, but went for a petrol one rather than gas. You can get some really small gas stoves but finding fuel might be difficult in some places. http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/coleman-sportster-2-camping-stove-p118560 (http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/coleman-sportster-2-camping-stove-p118560)
At least I will be carrying a 17l fuel tank at all times.
Pans - http://www.blacks.co.uk/equipment/107901-vango-non-stick-cook-kit-2-person.html (http://www.blacks.co.uk/equipment/107901-vango-non-stick-cook-kit-2-person.html) . I could have gone smaller with the 1 person set, but the frying pan might not be big enough for an egg (http://www.street-triple.co.uk/Smileys/street/001.gif)
All that fits into the top box comfortably, and isnt too heavy either. I can fit in my puncture repair kit, wd40, chain lube, toolkit around it.
I might also get some tarpaulin to go under the tent http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ECONOMY-TARPAULIN-TARP-LIGHTWEIGHT-WATERPROOF-GROUND-SHEET-COVER-GREAT-VALUE-/400270626376 (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ECONOMY-TARPAULIN-TARP-LIGHTWEIGHT-WATERPROOF-GROUND-SHEET-COVER-GREAT-VALUE-/400270626376)
The sleeping mat, one of those self inflating ones when you roll them out like this one, http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/hi-gear-explorer-5cm-sleeping-mat-p143981 (http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/hi-gear-explorer-5cm-sleeping-mat-p143981), Top it up with air after. That will go in a kit bag with my clothes strapped to the pillion seat on the grab rails. I was thinking of getting some new throw over panniers, but the bag should suffice.
I wouldn't mind going on a mini trip away to test it all out, but not to keen on the weather at the moment tbh (http://www.street-triple.co.uk/Smileys/street/190.gif)
This is a useful website for camping in Europe. http://en.camping.info/campsites (http://en.camping.info/campsites) eg Lake Bled in Slovenia - €7.52 a night. Germany/Austria/Belgium/Luxembourg etc are more expensive, €10-€20 a night but will be better equipped than the €5 ones in Montenegro/Romania. They seem expensive in Croatia, but I've only had a quick look so haven't found any cheaper ones. There seems to be a cheaper mini-camping market where people with a bit of spare land on their farms/hotels etc offer cheap basic camping, just toilets and showers, no bar/kiddies creche/swimming pool etc
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I think I've settled on a Coleman duel fuel camping stove which runs on unleaded:
[url]http://www.amazon.co.uk/Coleman-1-Burner-Sporter-Liquid-Stove/dp/B0009PUQAU[/url] ([url]http://www.amazon.co.uk/Coleman-1-Burner-Sporter-Liquid-Stove/dp/B0009PUQAU[/url])
I'd like to use it to make a brew a few times a day, as well as cooking breakfast and dinner.
Ideally I'd like to do a fry up English breakfast in the morning and another meal in the evening.
Can anyone confirm if the stove is up to the job or not? Good choice?
How do you store fresh food like sausages, bacon and eggs? Coldbag good for a couple of days? I'd rather not have to go to civilisation everyday as it's at odds with the wild camping live simply adventure theme.
Any suggestions for nice meals I can cook in the evening which can be done practically on just the one burner?
I know I can survive on freeze dried or boil in the bag but where's the fun in that?!
Andy
I've bought one of those Coleman stoves, so I hope they are good. I've boiled a pan of water ok so far :lol
Food wise I'm going to take salt, pepper, dried mixed herbs, then buy every day or 2. Otherwise you could end up carting around loads of heavy bulky foodstuffs.
I did a 3 week windsurfing trip to Sardinia a few years ago. I slept in my van. I had a cooler box plugged into the fag lighter slot but that only works with the engine going. Thinks like butter, milk etc lasts 1 day before going off or melting.
I think rice probably has the best calorie to cc ratio. At a push, rice + cup-a-soup = risotto
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Similar to you nick, My first camping experiences started young with regular camping holidays (at least 2 a year) with everything we could fit into a huge trailer!
I've only just started camping on the bike, but so far love it. I invested in a slightly larger tent that would probably be best as a base rather than one to take somewhere different every night! But the best investment so far is a couple of decent sleeping bags for me and the mrs that pack up small. My 2p here is essentially get the warmest sleeping bag you can afford, you can always unzip it if it gets too warm!
Biggest lesson so far though is don't let your mrs choose the tent, you'll end up chasing it across the field when you try and put it up as it's an inner first. SO not only have you chased it across the field, it's also P**s wet through!!!!! Definately go with a fly sheet first tent.
I saw someone mention tangias. While Nothing against them, I think for the price you can get slightly better separate pans and burner, as when I used trangias on DofE they took an age to boil 0.5l of water! (and burnt the sausages =[)
Good idea with the thread though, and i think as camping season progresses It will be popular!
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I'm a fan of the Coleman stove when motorcycle camping. Used it many times. Lots of heat so really quick at making a brew etc. Bit bulkier than some others but having the fuel in your bike tank means you don't have to carry spare gas canisters. To fill it I have a length of small flex tube and a small syringe, like you get for filling printer ink cartridges, to get a siphon going. All goes in one box.
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To fill it I have a length of small flex tube and a small syringe, like you get for filling printer ink cartridges, to get a siphon going.
I bought a 1m length of 6mm tubing from B&Q. Put most of it into the tank, put your finger over the end, then take most of it out and when the end with petrol in the tube is below tank level you are ready to stick it into the stove and it will start siphoning. I think I will get an interim container and siphon into that first. Petrol is a bit smelly though.
I had a failure with a gas canister seal once. Having a 1/4 of a can of gas escaping out was a bit scary, it was a good job the stove wasn't hot.
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Tent wise I'd recommend one of these. Like a tardis but packs up really small for on bike stowage. I've had mine for about ten years. It's been used pretty regularly and has never let me down. It's been up on the top of the Yorkshire moors in some horrendous weather and still kept me nice and dry. Fully erected in less than five minutes once you get the hang of it.
http://www.khyam.co.uk/detail.asp?p=335 (http://www.khyam.co.uk/detail.asp?p=335)
For out door living these jetboil kits are the mutts nuts. The burner is good enough to rustle up a fry up in the morning. We use them at out arb shows, when not drinking beer.
http://www.frjonesandson.co.uk/products-page/miscellaneous/outdoor-living/cooking-systems/ (http://www.frjonesandson.co.uk/products-page/miscellaneous/outdoor-living/cooking-systems/)
This is also a natty little gadget. I'm a fire starter.
http://www.frjonesandson.co.uk/products-page/miscellaneous/things-you-didnt-know-you-needed/light-my-fire-firesteel-fire-starter/ (http://www.frjonesandson.co.uk/products-page/miscellaneous/things-you-didnt-know-you-needed/light-my-fire-firesteel-fire-starter/)
I always take a one man first aid kit and a bag of this... Haven't had to use yet (touches wood)
http://www.frjonesandson.co.uk/products-page/celox/first-aid-kits-knifes1/celox-emergency-hemostatic-agent/ (http://www.frjonesandson.co.uk/products-page/celox/first-aid-kits-knifes1/celox-emergency-hemostatic-agent/)
If your traveling by bike take the usual stuff. Tyre repair kit, can of instant tyre weld and a few self tappers (various sizes).
Roll mat or self inflating mat.
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I did my first biking/camping trip in Scotland last August at the ripe old age of 48 , I decided to use Fort William as a base and stayed at the Glen Nevis site which has excellent facilities , i rode out and back from there rather than stay in different places and take down and put up a tent every day .
I took a 3 person tent with a porch area which was great for storing my kit , a self inflating roll mat and a good sleeping bag which goes down to -15 , all this fitted in the hein gericke roll bag and was secured to the rentec rack with bungees and a cargo net , I also wrapped my motorcycle cover around the roll bag , which kept the bag dry and in case of heavy rain overnight kept the water out the electrics .
As I was out on the bike all day and having my meals in the site pub I only used the tent to sleep in , I camped for 4 nights , if I was gonna stay longer I would want a bigger tent ( standing room ), a duvet , and a decent inflatable mattress ( any recommendations ) . Although I took insect repellent I was lucky and didn't see any midges .
I am planning to go to Scotland again this year taking the cage and the missus , so I will be buying a bigger tent , and a camping stove ( recommendations ) , it will be the wife's first camping experience .
I am also planning to spend a long weekend biking/camping in Snowdonia /N. Wales , so will take the smaller tent there .
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My general guide for what size tent you want is:
If it says one man = very pokey
two man = one man
three man = two man etc.
Remember if you're camping with the bike, you may well want to keep some of your bike kit in the tent at night too, especially if you don't have a top box/hard panniers.
Fly sheet up first is definitely the way to go. Means you can be in shelter very quickly, fit the inner later when the weather has improved.
The tent I use most is this one:
http://www.vaude.com/en-GB/Products/Gear/Tents/Power-Lizard-SUL-1-2P-green.html (http://www.vaude.com/en-GB/Products/Gear/Tents/Power-Lizard-SUL-1-2P-green.html)
I actually paid less than £300 for mine - I know, still pretty expensive, but I judged it to be the most suitable for what I wanted it for, and it has performed really well. It comes with titanium wire pegs, but I've added some titanium V stakes for good measure. Silnylon, so totally waterproof, lightweight mesh inner, like silk, room enough in the porch bit (just) to cook without setting the tent on fire, and plenty of room to get all my kit, including bike gear, inside at night. I'm 6' 2'' and can stretch out full length in it with space to spare. Very high hydrostatic head on the groundsheet (i.e. very waterproof). The inner goes up in one with the outer, but can be detached to use outer only. The inner can also be tensioned independently from the outer to a degree.
Sleeping bag is this:
http://www.westernmountaineering.com/index.cfm?section=products&page=Sleeping%20Bags&cat=ExtremeLite%20Series&ContentId=69 (http://www.westernmountaineering.com/index.cfm?section=products&page=Sleeping%20Bags&cat=ExtremeLite%20Series&ContentId=69)
I'd say it was a 3 season bag, i.e. warm enough on it's own for everything except winter temps, somewhat too warm for mid summer really, but then I unzip it all the way and use it like a duvet, or use just a silk liner. Goose down, packs down pretty small, much smaller than an equivalent warmth synthetic bag. Pertex equivalent outer shell, water resistant. The downside of down bags (excuse the crappy pun) is that if they do get wet, they take forever to dry out again, but all in all, I prefer them. Don't let them get wet in the first place, is the easy answer!
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Tent
VANGO Equinox/Omega 350 3 Man tunnel tent , light, packs up small, plenty room for 2 and all gear plus roomy porch for inclement weather sitting/boozing.Have had the Equinox for years and its never let us down but is getting a bit tired so now use the Omega its recent replacement .Dont be tempted by the lower price Beta , similar tent but not as trick ,heavier and larger pack
Sleeping bags
North Face Pyrenees , excellent combination of small pack and warmth
Mattresses
Pacific Outdoor Compact Ether superlight and very small pack. recently got Multimat Camper Air similar pack size but a bit heavier Both inflateable and much smaller and lighter than foam ones plus double up as a bodyboard when camping near the beach
Pillows
One posh one from Blacks and one cheap one from Aldi , both inflateable, fold up small and tuck easily in the front pocket of the panniers( where the useless waterproof covers live)
Couple of cheap Kagoul type things so as not be walking about in the rain getting bike gear wet
All the above packs easily into an Ortlieb 49 litre Rackpack and straps onto a Rentec rack on a 600
Stove and pans
Coleman F1 Lite , known as turbo stove , boils a litre brew pot in no time and has cooked Confit Canard, Merguez, full english countless times no bother at all . Vango cook kit 2 pans and Aldi camping cutlery , kind of clip together set with all you need . Collapsible mugs, cant remember the name Stove and cutlery fit into the pan set and mugs sit on top ,the whole lot sits easily in the tank bag.Always cook proper food or eat out, to use boil in the bag shite in Europe is just wrong!!!!!!!
Got gadgets too just to make the camping experience more homely, I Pod touch ,slim and easily slipped in anywhere ,Travel speaker £1 from asda ages ago, Solar charger to keep phones and I pod going , couple of very slim but very bright LED camping lamps.All this goes in a tupperware box in the tankbag ( Bagster ) Maps ,documents ,passports kept in a zip up plastic wallet ( Rymans etc) that slips in the tank bag lid pocket
Main luggage is Oxford X60 panniers
Have done countless 1000`s of miles round Europe two up on a 600 using this gear .We can now stop set up camp and be ready for beer in about 15 mins, breaking camp and ready to move doesnt take much longer .Using this gear we have never been cold wet or uncomfortable
Saying that , have also done 1000`s of miles with Knoxy and his method works just as well , tho he does scrounge our brew water of a morning
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Mattresses
Pacific Outdoor Compact Ether superlight and very small pack. recently got Multimat Camper Air similar pack size but a bit heavier Both inflateable and much smaller and lighter than foam ones plus double up as a bodyboard when camping near the beach
Pillows
One posh one from Blacks and one cheap one from Aldi , both inflateable, fold up small and tuck easily in the front pocket of the panniers( where the useless waterproof covers live)
I used a Pacific Outdoor air mattress but found it punctured too easily, as it uses a very thin, lightweight material. Which is a shame, as otherwise it was excellent. It uses a foil insulating layer inside to help keep the warmth in. If only the second puncture hadn't been right near a seam, it could have been repaired, but any repair I tried didn't hold.
Pillows?! No, you don't need one. Multi-use items, a good way to keep size and weight down. I use a waterproof roll-top bag, which I usually have something else in when packed. I stuff my Primaloft jacket inside, or use the liners from your bike jacket and trousers, and wrap a light fleece pullover round the outside. Most comfortable thing I've ever used for a pillow whilst camping!
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Ive got a bit of a different setup. Ive gone down the hammock route, and have owned a DD hammock for about 5 years now:
http://www.ddhammocks.com/customer-photos (http://www.ddhammocks.com/customer-photos)
great bit of kit. a bit of a ballache to setup where theres no trees about, but generally not an issue in the uk (especially not in the highlands where i go most). built in midge net, and a twin layer setup so you can slot a rollmat into it to stop your arse from freezing during the night.
IT does need a tarp etc to go over it when its raining though.
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Tent
VANGO Equinox/Omega 350 3 Man tunnel tent , light, packs up small, plenty room for 2 and all gear plus roomy porch for inclement weather sitting/boozing.Have had the Equinox for years and its never let us down but is getting a bit tired so now use the Omega its recent replacement .Dont be tempted by the lower price Beta , similar tent but not as trick ,heavier and larger pack
I went with the beta a while back, it's a good tent and to be honest only a kilo in it. I've managed to get it re-packed into a sleeping bag bag which drastically reduces it's size. Poles just strap onto a pannier!if I had had the money for the omega at the time it would have been that, but at £45 from go outdoors the price outweighed the weight.
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Pillows?! No, you don't need one.
Er yes we do , done the roughing it shit using bike gear , fleeces etc but as the pillows take up no room at all why not use something designed for the job .Multi use just means average at lots of uses not excellent at one thing
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Weve used the Pacific Outdoor mattresses for 5 years now and had no leaks/punctures at all , even used em in the sea for numpty surfing so it must be how you treated it to puncture it
The Vango Beta 350 is a decent tent , I just found the guys and TBS bands of lower quality than the Equinox and the weight diff is actually nearer 3 kilo, yep I weighed them both , sad fucker :rollin
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I bought a three seasons sleeping bag, turned out to be this summer, next summer and the summer after? sill should have known at £19.99
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Weve used the Pacific Outdoor mattresses for 5 years now and had no leaks/punctures at all , even used em in the sea for numpty surfing so it must be how you treated it to puncture it
Hmmm, yes, perhaps I shouldn't have slept on it? :\
Oh, one other indispensable item - a head torch. Invaluable.
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I bought a Vango Milano 2 a couple of years ago at a bargain price. The extra canopy space gives you room for your kit without much extra bulk. Essential I think.
I'd make a slight adjustment to Nick's size chart:
If it says one man = very pokey
two man = one man
three man = one man + one girlfriend
four man = One man + two girlfriends :)
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surely wild camping isn't about taking a stove but about hole in ground camp fire
or taking shop bought meat more a telescopic fishing rod and a snare. but with the dream not practical I would find a local butcher with a vacuum packing machine and buy my meat from them and get them to vacuum pack it in portion sizes[size=78%] [/size]
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My camping mantra is - Any fool can be uncomfortable...
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I have had a few bike camping trips now and try to refine my kit each year.
I have the sportser dual fuel stove which is a bit bulky but has the advantage of all the fuel in your bike tank. Like others I carry somesmall bore tubing to siphon out of tank as required. It is a good stove giving plenty of heat.
I also have a Trangia meths burner which are about £15 and I carry some thick tinfoil to make a windbreak. three 4'' nails in the fuel well make a perfect pan stand! Very compact and lightweight but you do need a bottle of meths with you!
Surprised no-one has yet mentioned the £4 collapsible hexamine tablet stoves, I have two of those with plenty of tablets works very well and nothing to spill. On one I have cut a circular hole in the base so the trangia burner can sit inside.
For sleeping bag I use a down filled rectangular bag...a bit more expensive but down does pack smaller than man made fibres.
I use a Givi top box with soft panniers for luggage with my tent and sleeping bag strapped to the back seat with elastic bungee rope.
I have toured Scotland and moved on each day but that means packing up each night and riding fully loaded...when I tour to Cornwall or Devon I tend to base at one point for a few nights and day trip unhindered by luggage.
I use a three man tent which gives space for clothes/boots etc in the tent. Last year I had what I now think was 'over the top' tent. I'm sure it would have clung onto the side of a mountain in a storm. Now I prefer something cheaper and lighter that is quick to erect given that I camp in good weather at short notice I hopefully avoid the worst of weather conditions!
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I'm on the verge of buying new gear after recommendations from people! The season is almost upon us.
Dragon rally soon :rollin
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I also use a Highlander reeded backpacker inflatable matteras which seems sturdy enough.
I have wired a strip of led lights to a cigarette lighter plug soldered to a length of speaker wire to give me light in the tent at night.
Take any accessories that charge off a usb socket and fit the plug to the bike. I have one under the seat and
one on the fairing infill.
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and do take something to put the side-stand on in a field! I have a disc of plywood about 8''....then the bike may still be upright in the morning!
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I follow some strict guidelines about camping.
AVOID AT ALL COSTS!! :lol :lol :lol :lol
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I follow some strict guidelines about camping.
AVOID AT ALL COSTS!! :lol :lol :lol :lol
I would have thought you loved camping, judging by the amount of time youve spent lying beside your bike in a field :rollin :lol
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I follow some strict guidelines about camping.
AVOID AT ALL COSTS!! :lol :lol :lol :lol
I would have thought you loved camping, judging by the amount of time youve spent lying beside your bike in a field :rollin :lol
:rollin :rollin :rollin :thumbup
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I follow some strict guidelines about camping.
AVOID AT ALL COSTS!! :lol :lol :lol :lol
I would have thought you loved camping, judging by the amount of time youve spent lying beside your bike in a field :rollin :lol
Let it be known, I have never crashed in a field!! :rollin :rollin :rollin
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I follow some strict guidelines about camping.
AVOID AT ALL COSTS!! :lol :lol :lol :lol
I would have thought you loved camping, judging by the amount of time youve spent lying beside your bike in a field :rollin :lol
Ooooohhh someone call an ambulance for Christo - those burns must be nasty! :lol
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Im getting on a bit now so i nee d my creature comforts. I take an inflateable air bed in my tankbag, cooking stuff etc. in one soft panier and clothes in the other. My 3 man tent and sleeping bag go in a 60 litre drybag which is to big for that purpose but my helmet and leathers fit inside and i use and exonet steel wire security thing to keep them and valuable suff safe. I run the cable through the centrestand. The bikes not exactly perfect for the twisties carrying that lot but when im touring im not in a rush so its a good compramise for me. The main thing is to get out there and do it.
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I have been looking on the Go outdoors site , a lot of the burners and stoves seem to have mixed reviews , biggest criticism is they get through a lot of gas , does anybody know how long the canisters on the coleman burner that was mentioned in previous posts last , for instance if you were using it to boil some water for a hot drink in the morning and evening would a canister last a week .
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If that's all you're doing, a canister should last easily a week. Some stoves use gas quicker than others, and of course it depends on how you set the flame too, but yes, easily a week for just a couple of brews a day. As mentioned above, use a heat/wind shield to make it go further. But I usually carry 2 canisters just in case, replace one as you use one, and never been caught out that way.
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If that's all you're doing, a canister should last easily a week. Some stoves use gas quicker than others, and of course it depends on how you set the flame too, but yes, easily a week for just a couple of brews a day. As mentioned above, use a heat/wind shield to make it go further. But I usually carry 2 canisters just in case, replace one as you use one, and never been caught out that way.
Thanks for advice Nick , I will take a spare in case .
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cant add much but this seems very popular with the carp anglers
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/151037885102?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649&clk_rvr_id=577859269365&afsrc=1 (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/151037885102?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649&clk_rvr_id=577859269365&afsrc=1)
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I carry two of the calor gas burners with gas cans and one spare. they come with a plastic cover so even i can work out which is the unused one. one burner comes in a case and the other fits indide two saucepans which fit into eachother so saves space. it means i can boil the kettle and cook at the same time thus dispelling the myth that men cant multi task. I did try ironing once and burnt my ear when the phone rang.
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By the way, good thread Nick.
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How To Turn A Beer Can Into The Only Camping Stove You'll Ever Need on Vimeo (http://vimeo.com/64726512)
Thought this was pretty cool
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My favourite bit of kit is my self inflating mattress
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Pillows?! No, you don't need one.
Er yes we do , done the roughing it shit using bike gear , fleeces etc but as the pillows take up no room at all why not use something designed for the job .Multi use just means average at lots of uses not excellent at one thing
Plus one on the pillow, i like to travel light & minimalist, but i've gotta have a pillow, scrunched up jacket just doesn't pass the muster.
Can recommend Vango's half moon pillow, fits in a mummy bag a treat.
Few more musings,
I believe gas stoves generally produce more(ie quicker) heat than spirit burners, I use a tiny coleman F1, if using gas, get the larger sized canister (440g) as it gives you a more stable base.
Get a warm sleeping bag!
Take the thermal ratings with a pinch of salt, should be three numbers, the lowest is a survival rating, you will not be sleeping warm at this temp!!! then a lower & an upper comfort temperature.
Temperature ratings are calculated in conjunction with using a suitable sleeping mat. I don't care to use one, most sane people do! :lol
If touring Scotland, take enough cash for a possible nights b&b, This is not wimping out ;)
When you've been riding through days of rain, pitching tent in the wet etc, your previously thought of as waterproof clothing may turn out to be anything but & you'll be glad of a chance to dry out.
Ahh yes ~the midges, that brings back a few memories...
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Ok, let me clarify a little more on this pillow set up I use. Firstly, yes I've tried various methods of wrapping different types of clothing up that weren't particularly successful or comfortable. What I now use - you've seen the roll-top waterproof bags I spoke of? I keep clothing, electrical items etc in them usually. So, I take one of those, and carefully fold up a Primaloft jacket inside. If I want it a bit thicker, I can fold up some other clothing underneath it in the bag. It's not all just scrunched up in there. The bag allows me to trap more or less air inside too, so it's even adjustable. Primaloft is almost as soft as down, with the advantage that it doesn't "migrate", so you don't wake up with it all stuffed in one end of the pillow. Then, I wrap, again neatly, a thin fleece pullover around the whole thing. Fleece doesn't absorb much moisture, so it remains pretty dry, unlike a cotton cover would. I promise you, this is a very comfortable set up, and means I don't have to take an extra item of kit (this is me I'm talking about - the shorter the kit list, the less likely I am going to forget something :lol ).
So really, it's just a suggestion. It took me a few trips to discover that this works well, and is very comfortable. I DO appreciate that others have their methods, this is just another. But that was my intention when I started this thread, to get as many variations and suggestions from as many people as possible, so anyone can pick and choose what works for them, give some alternatives to consider.
My experience, as I have said, largely comes from backpacking in the hills, where you have to be a bit merciless about every piece of kit you take - weight and bulk are far more important than being able to just pile it all up on a bike. Multi-use items allow you to do this. For my Lake District kit, I weighed EVERYTHING and spent much time agonising over what I could leave behind, and still have a combination that worked for all likely scenarios. Do I leave the tent inner behind? Do I take a bivvy bag too? Do I really need that extra cooking pan? I looked at all the combinations of stoves and cookware, checked their weights, read reviews about their efficiency, and so on, and so forth. In 2 months, I faced every kind of weather from snow and freezing, howling winds, to hot summery days where the air was quite still.
This attitude came from walking for 2 weeks on the South West Coast Path - up and down 200ft combes in Devon, one after another, carrying heavy, cheap kit. I still wanted to do long distance backpacking, but had to face that this particular one, often in hot sunshine, just killed me, and I needed to go MUCH lighter.
You don't have to do all this when camping with the bike. God knows, I've done the luxury camping method (as far as that's possible on a bike ) - big, 3 man tent, foldable table and chair etc etc. I've enjoyed both methods. Both have something to recommend them, as does tent and sleeping bag in bin liners and f**k off.
Didn't mean to start a pillow fight! :lol
Gassit, I did not mistreat my Pacific Outdoor mattress. Again, I looked at all the available alternatives when I chose it, and it seemed like a great, lightweight option. I did read of others having problems with them puncturing easily, including Chris Townsend writing for TGO magazine, who also used one, on his walk of, I think it was the Pacific Crest Trail in the USA. Maybe he and I were just unlucky. As I said, the 2nd puncture was near a seam and couldn't be repaired so it would hold. But I would only use one again on a backpacking trip where weight is the supreme consideration. For bike camping, I now use something a little more sturdy. That's just my experience.
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This is what ive been using for the last couple of years......halfords 3 man tent.came in a kit of tent and 2 mummy sleeping bags for £100....light weight and packs small.fits in the roll bag in front of my top box.along with one of those foam roll up mats.had some heavy scottish downpours last year and no leaks...has a porch to put your biking gear, nice to have somewhere to put your wet gear....oh...I make my own pillow from my jacket thermo lining...did the job....a few beers help for a good nights sleep aswell ;)6
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My matress bag is also the inflator for it and is sponge lined, chuck a few clothes in it and its my pillow :)
I use the Exped DLX9 matress, I rate it as one of my best purchases.
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For a pillow, just take a pillow case and stick some of your clothes inside it. Pack a foil blanket and put it under air bed. Keeps you warmer. Invest in a small rubber backed doormat. Keeps your knees clean when scampering in and out and it folds up flat so easily put under luggage on seat.
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Ok, let me clarify a little more on this pillow set up I use. Firstly, yes I've tried various methods of wrapping different types of clothing up that weren't particularly successful or comfortable. What I now use - you've seen the roll-top waterproof bags I spoke of? I keep clothing, electrical items etc in them usually. So, I take one of those, and carefully fold up a Primaloft jacket inside. If I want it a bit thicker, I can fold up some other clothing underneath it in the bag. It's not all just scrunched up in there. The bag allows me to trap more or less air inside too, so it's even adjustable. Primaloft is almost as soft as down, with the advantage that it doesn't "migrate", so you don't wake up with it all stuffed in one end of the pillow. Then, I wrap, again neatly, a thin fleece pullover around the whole thing. Fleece doesn't absorb much moisture, so it remains pretty dry, unlike a cotton cover would. I promise you, this is a very comfortable set up, and means I don't have to take an extra item of kit (this is me I'm talking about - the shorter the kit list, the less likely I am going to forget something :lol ).
So really, it's just a suggestion. It took me a few trips to discover that this works well, and is very comfortable. I DO appreciate that others have their methods, this is just another. But that was my intention when I started this thread, to get as many variations and suggestions from as many people as possible, so anyone can pick and choose what works for them, give some alternatives to consider.
My experience, as I have said, largely comes from backpacking in the hills, where you have to be a bit merciless about every piece of kit you take - weight and bulk are far more important than being able to just pile it all up on a bike. Multi-use items allow you to do this. For my Lake District kit, I weighed EVERYTHING and spent much time agonising over what I could leave behind, and still have a combination that worked for all likely scenarios. Do I leave the tent inner behind? Do I take a bivvy bag too? Do I really need that extra cooking pan? I looked at all the combinations of stoves and cookware, checked their weights, read reviews about their efficiency, and so on, and so forth. In 2 months, I faced every kind of weather from snow and freezing, howling winds, to hot summery days where the air was quite still.
This attitude came from walking for 2 weeks on the South West Coast Path - up and down 200ft combes in Devon, one after another, carrying heavy, cheap kit. I still wanted to do long distance backpacking, but had to face that this particular one, often in hot sunshine, just killed me, and I needed to go MUCH lighter.
You don't have to do all this when camping with the bike. God knows, I've done the luxury camping method (as far as that's possible on a bike ) - big, 3 man tent, foldable table and chair etc etc. I've enjoyed both methods. Both have something to recommend them, as does tent and sleeping bag in bin liners and f**k off.
Didn't mean to start a pillow fight! :lol
Gassit, I did not mistreat my Pacific Outdoor mattress. Again, I looked at all the available alternatives when I chose it, and it seemed like a great, lightweight option. I did read of others having problems with them puncturing easily, including Chris Townsend writing for TGO magazine, who also used one, on his walk of, I think it was the Pacific Crest Trail in the USA. Maybe he and I were just unlucky. As I said, the 2nd puncture was near a seam and couldn't be repaired so it would hold. But I would only use one again on a backpacking trip where weight is the supreme consideration. For bike camping, I now use something a little more sturdy. That's just my experience.
It's the way I was thinking of using my drybag too. keeps belongings close by as well :)
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My favourite bit of kit is my self inflating mattress
Oo yes mine's called Mindy ;)
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So which are best hard or soft panniers?
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my soft pannier caught fire on the M4 last year. bit to close to thw exhaust and i may have been ragging it a bit. my sleepingbag has a built in pillow. Bugger you nick crist im itching to go camping now.
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my soft pannier caught fire on the M4 last year.
:eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek
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I use an airbed for comfort (called tarqui midden). but the air inside it is the same temp as the air outside so an insulating layer is good when its cold
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Hey chis what paniers will you use on your peugeot? haha
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Hey chis what paniers will you use on your peugeot? haha
:finger
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my soft pannier caught fire on the M4 last year.
:eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek
Think Christo has found his next crash. turned corner in to a burning saddlebag
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my soft pannier caught fire on the M4 last year.
:eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek
Think Christo has found his next crash. turned corner in to a burning saddlebag
im waiting for the day he forgets he is in his car, and tries to filter in the peugeot :lol
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my soft pannier caught fire on the M4 last year.
:eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek
Think Christo has found his next crash. turned corner in to a burning saddlebag
im waiting for the day he forgets he is in his car, and tries to filter in the peugeot :lol
Joke aside I'm often finding myself when in car reacting at times as though I'm on the bike.
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Liking the look of Pauls tent. Was hoping they'd pack a little smaller though :rolleyes
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my soft pannier caught fire on the M4 last year.
:eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek
Think Christo has found his next crash. turned corner in to a burning saddlebag
im waiting for the day he forgets he is in his car, and tries to filter in the peugeot :lol
Bastards the lot of ya! :'( :lol :lol
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wouldnt feel bad about that mate. Im the same as Midden, a couple of times ive forgotten I was in the car and reacted to things like i was on the bike :lol
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wouldnt feel bad about that mate. Im the same as Midden, a couple of times ive forgotten I was in the car and reacted to things like i was on the bike :lol
Yeah, but you guys still have bikes....
Back to the OP.
Camping. Bad for your health. Cold & miserable. Support the B&B trade!! :lol
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cant beat camping. wee telescopic fishing rod, p**s off up loch long for the weekend and do a bit of mackerel fishing as well. magic.
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wouldnt feel bad about that mate. Im the same as Midden, a couple of times ive forgotten I was in the car and reacted to things like i was on the bike :lol
Yeah, but you guys still have bikes....
Back to the OP.
Camping. Bad for your health. Cold & miserable. Support the B&B trade!! :lol
Can't disagree on any of those points......but hey I'm on a midlife crisis:)
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wouldnt feel bad about that mate. Im the same as Midden, a couple of times ive forgotten I was in the car and reacted to things like i was on the bike :lol
Yeah, but you guys still have bikes....
You do still have a bike... its completely worthless and doesn't run, but that's besides the point :evil
I haven't ever had the urge, or even reacted to trying to filter whilst driving... but I do occasionally clip corners a bit closer than I probably should whilst driving sometimes...
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wouldnt feel bad about that mate. Im the same as Midden, a couple of times ive forgotten I was in the car and reacted to things like i was on the bike :lol
Yeah, but you guys still have bikes....
You do still have a bike... its completely worthless and doesn't run, but that's besides the point :evil
I haven't ever had the urge, or even reacted to trying to filter whilst driving... but I do occasionally clip corners a bit closer than I probably should whilst driving sometimes...
Wow, thanks - jerk. :eek
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You're welcome, as always ;)
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@ Christo. CAMPING. GTFO!
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@ Christo. CAMPING. GTFO!
Hey, they started it!
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Just a thought on the stoves. I've known a number of people with the Coleman dual fuel stoves and after a while they have all got a bit clogged up, it seems a cleanout with Coleman fuel is recomended but someone I know runs some petrol meant for zippo lighters though it as it's cheaper every so often.
for really light weight camping I've got a Primus Express stove and the windshield
http://www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/primus-clip-on-windscreen-97110044?id_colour=180 (http://www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/primus-clip-on-windscreen-97110044?id_colour=180)
and the feet
http://www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/primus-cartridge-footrest-97110006?id_colour=180 (http://www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/primus-cartridge-footrest-97110006?id_colour=180)
makes for a better set up then on it's own when it's windy
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for what it's worth, some advice on tents:
after a wet and very very windy weekend at the dragon rally, tunnel style tents were just flying around like kites (if they weren't lying flat on the ground). All depends upon what weather you expect to encounter. But i'm now re-evaluating my tent and looking for one with poles that cross in the middle.
Something like this:
http://www.coleman.eu/p-23093-phad8482-x3.aspx (http://www.coleman.eu/p-23093-phad8482-x3.aspx)
Dad had the two man version of that and it's budge an inch. My tunnel style one on the other hand flattened itself twice while we were in the pub!
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http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/tents/p/Vango-Alpha-300/19 (http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/tents/p/Vango-Alpha-300/19)
I've got one of these, very robust as I found out one night camped on the cliffs above Durdle Door in Dorset.
Packs up small, plenty of room and does what you want, easy to pitch.
Also got it cheap for £50 at a local camping shop so there you go.
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http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/vango-turini-200-touring-tent-p290272 (http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/vango-turini-200-touring-tent-p290272)
I'm looking for a bike specific tent this year and clocked this on Go Outdoors site. What do you experienced bike campers reckon?
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I saw that one, depends if you want to get your bike away like that.
If I'm honest, for that sort of money you can get lighter 2 man tents that pack a lot smaller. It honestly depends on what features you want. That one would be great to get your bike out of the elements.
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My thought was that
Plus points is that it's going to have space to cook inside (though I wouldn't use a petrol stove inside) and is tall enough to sit in comfort. One the downside it's fairly heavy and is too short to stand up in.
I've spent a lot of time in tents and can't make up my mind if I'd really like it or if I would find that it's neither a compact tent that's easy to travel with or a big enough to use when base camping with a car.
I guess I would choose it if going camping with a couple of bikes for longer stays.
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Very interesting tent design Demic. I can't comment on that particular one, but I've got a Vango of very similar proportions, just the bike storage area is the "living" area, and it's an excellent tent. It's also 3 man which gives a VERY generous sleeping area for one!
I also have a Vango 2 man tent which I also rate quite highly. Good tents and (usually) quite good value for money.
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having done a few camping trips now I personally wouldn't want my bike quite that close. Sooner or later the bike will get wet so I wouldn't bother about it being covered. I like the bike two or three metres away so I can run a power lead from it to supply lights/ chargers etc but far enough away to not risk landing on you on a sodden field.
just my thoughts...
I use a Coleman Rock Springs 3 or a Coleman Coastline 3
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Thanks guys :) I reckon I'll look for a decent standard 2-3 man tent initially and see how that goes.
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liking this
not sure if it's bike friendly (over the Alps) or if it can be modified to become so.
thoughts?
http://youtu.be/gQyU4lokVe4 (http://youtu.be/gQyU4lokVe4)
vid quite boring but I did chuckle at points :)
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Take a seat!
Nothing worse than cooking on your knees on grass and not being able to sit down and have a brew.
I tried out my new kit this weekend, went over to Weymouth. The grass was still damp and muddy even though its not rained for a while. I will be getting a fold up stool or similar, my knees cant take a lot of squating over a stove.
Other than that, everything was fine. It was about 8c over night, fairly warm for the time of year. My sleeping bag was warm enough, not even a shiver. The petrol stove worked well and can boil water for a cuppa quickly yet very controllable for simmering, didn't burn the porridge.
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I'm thinking about trying one of these camping chairs, as I'd like to have something with a back, without getting too heavy/bulky.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/390630765872?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649&clk_rvr_id=604112002446 (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/390630765872?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649&clk_rvr_id=604112002446)
Not too expensive, not sure about quality, but worth a try I reckon. Or does anyone know of a better one?
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I use one that folds up that i paid a tenner for in saisburys at snetterton a couple of years ago. The important thing for me is its about two inches narrower than my mirrors.
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I bought one of these lunchtime. http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/iowa-stool-p152312 (http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/iowa-stool-p152312)
Packs away to 55 * 29 * 2cm. Seat height is 40cm when folded out.
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Whatever you do, don't buy one of those three legged, no back, tripod stool things. Almost impossible to sit on it without one of the leg tops invading your sphincter.
Had a few cans and on uneven ground? You WILL fall of it as well!
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exelent thread guys ,,learning lots ,, have most of my kit although a lot cheaper than some of your guys kit ,,might have to learn the hard way first ,,like to hear more ideas on the cooking side though,,how many different dishes can be made using boiling water ??? roll on summer !!!!
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exelent thread guys ,,learning lots ,, have most of my kit although a lot cheaper than some of your guys kit ,,might have to learn the hard way first ,,like to hear more ideas on the cooking side though,,how many different dishes can be made using boiling water ??? roll on summer !!!!
You can always fry stuff - bacon, eggs etc. Some of the tinned curries can be quite good. I've used tinned chicken curry, and added tinned new potatoes and tinned pineapple and my own spice mix to pep it up a bit, and some of the chunky soups are ok - mostly options I've used whilst backpacking, as you'll eat anything after a hard day in the hills! And you can get dehydrators so that you can cook your favourite meals at home and turn them into dried meals that you rehydrate and heat. Just had a quick look for these but can't find the ones I read about before; most of them are just for fruit and veg it seems but I'm sure I've seen ones that can do cooked foods. You could really cook casseroles, curries etc outdoors, but who could really be bothered? Too much kit you'd have to carry, too time consuming when really you want to be out on the road. For me, bike camping is best combined with cafes and restaurants :D
Personally, I don't think wild camping mixes well with biking in Britain, except maybe for parts of Scotland, but to bring in another question, I'd be interested to hear from anyone who knows different :)
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Another option is the boil in a bag meals, used these of d of e quite successfully, most are high energy. They can soon add up though if you buying loads.
Depends on the power of your burner, I've found some of the really cheap ones can take forever to just boil a kettle!
If it's just hot water you want, have you considered a Kelly kettle? I've used one when at rallies. You fill it with wood/pine cones/ any material you can get burning.
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I tend not to cook when bike camping except for a fry up. I dont realy do wild camping as sites with showers and toilets are cheap enough and i dont fancy road kill haha.
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One suggestion I had was to ask my local butcher to vacuum pack meat for me. Apparently then it'll keep for some time, depending on the meat. Good idea?
Andy
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I was in Towsure shop today and clocked this Vango 3 man tent, £125, last years model. Its quite big considering the size it packs down to, 49cm * 19cm. Height inside is 120cm so you can sit up comfortably.
http://www.towsure.com/product/Vango_Halo_300_Tent (http://www.towsure.com/product/Vango_Halo_300_Tent)
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I tend not to cook when bike camping except for a fry up. I dont realy do wild camping as sites with showers and toilets are cheap enough and i dont fancy road kill haha.
Why dont you just go to local greasy spoon for a fry up????
I bet that it's coz somehow a wild fry up tastes better?
Like even though i stopped smoking 6 years ago i still cant kick the memory of how good an outdoor camping smokarette feels. 8)
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I was in Towsure shop today and clocked this Vango 3 man tent, £125, last years model. Its quite big considering the size it packs down to, 49cm * 19cm. Height inside is 120cm so you can sit up comfortably.
[url]http://www.towsure.com/product/Vango_Halo_300_Tent[/url] ([url]http://www.towsure.com/product/Vango_Halo_300_Tent[/url])
& i prefer to keep my sit up's to the gym & my lie downs to camping :b
Tidy though...i got a vango force 10, heavy as foc but im tempted to strap it to the fazer anyway....not as heavy as the missus & she aint invited anyway. :lol
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Some quite good deals at Amazon on the Phad 2 or Phad 3 at the moment.....I personally use cheaper tents than these but I have read several reports from bikers who recommend them.
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like to hear more ideas on the cooking side though,,how many different dishes can be made using boiling water ???
Custard if you use Birds instant custard powder :lol
I've been using that in 'instant' drop scone (Scotch pancakes) recipe for breakfast. I doubt I'll be having a fry up each day on my next trip.
The usual method is along the lines of this http://allrecipes.co.uk/recipe/2548/drop-scones.aspx (http://allrecipes.co.uk/recipe/2548/drop-scones.aspx) adjusting the amounts for 1 (ok 2 coz I like a big breakfast).
I dont bother with the castor sugar, I add sultanas and eat with honey or jam on the top for sweetness. I've skipped the melted butter as well and it seems to make little difference. So I'm left with just self raising flour, custard powder and a little water. 3 very heaped dessert spoons of flour to 4 level dessert spoons of custard powder is a rough ratio.
For dinners, I'm going to look at taking some packets dehydrated risotto, or just rice and soup powders, for when I cant find anything suitable and fresh on the day.
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Replace custard powder with plain cornflour and you have many more options. Then replace self raising with wholemeal bread flour to make wraps when required and take a little bicarb or baking powder if selfraise is really a must.
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One suggestion I had was to ask my local butcher to vacuum pack meat for me. Apparently then it'll keep for some time, depending on the meat. Good idea?
Andy
Vacuum packing is good but you still should try to keep chilled as much as poss. Also you need to keep a check on the security of the seal because they can blow. One way if you really were hard would be to make a brine bucket and then may be air dry your meat before you go :)
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like to hear more ideas on the cooking side though,,how many different dishes can be made using boiling water ???
Custard if you use Birds instant custard powder :lol
I've been using that in 'instant' drop scone (Scotch pancakes) recipe for breakfast. I doubt I'll be having a fry up each day on my next trip.
The usual method is along the lines of this [url]http://allrecipes.co.uk/recipe/2548/drop-scones.aspx[/url] ([url]http://allrecipes.co.uk/recipe/2548/drop-scones.aspx[/url]) adjusting the amounts for 1 (ok 2 coz I like a big breakfast).
I dont bother with the castor sugar, I add sultanas and eat with honey or jam on the top for sweetness. I've skipped the melted butter as well and it seems to make little difference. So I'm left with just self raising flour, custard powder and a little water. 3 very heaped dessert spoons of flour to 4 level dessert spoons of custard powder is a rough ratio.
For dinners, I'm going to look at taking some packets dehydrated risotto, or just rice and soup powders, for when I cant find anything suitable and fresh on the day.
I walked up cadair idris once...stayed in the bothy...my mates had freeze dried rat packs.....i took a Mattesons family size smoked sausage & a bottle of tequilla :lol .......mattessons are nice boiled..you can use the water for a brew if you dont pierce the sausage bag...plus they're salty & full of fatty energy...& you can eat them cold.......plus shit in the bag........only joking about the last part....shit in your mates bag :b
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Cadair was a slog!
In the hills, I usually carried a tin of sardines, packs of Supernoodles and a couple of choc bars as emergency rations in case I didn't get to any shops in time to get something more substantial :eek
For lunches in the hills in the Lakes region, I took a pack of Krackerwheat, some of that tubed cheese stuff, and, yes Noggy, Mattessons sausage - slice the sausage (cold) onto the crackers, top with the squeezy-cheese and you're done. Packets of fresh (as opposed to dried) pasta ok too - I liked the cheese n ham-filled pasta shells myself. Boil in the bag meals are ok if you pick the good ones, but backpacking uses a lot of energy, and each meal was about a fiver - really needed at least two of an evening to replenish expended energy.
On a bike? Cafes and takeaways has to be the way to go! :D
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Cadair was a slog!
In the hills, I usually carried a tin of sardines,
On a bike? Cafes and takeaways has to be the way to go! :D
Started well but Wtf :eek he's not even got his passport and he's beginning to soften. Won't be long before the b&b list comes out :D
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Started well but Wtf :eek he's not even got his passport and he's beginning to soften. Won't be long before the b&b list comes out :D
Sorry, how many cafes was it you "visited" today? :rollin
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Boef a la mode as the French say Nicky boy ;)
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So I did my first little camping expedition last weekend. Not the Scottish wild camping trip I'm working up to, but Woodland camping as a dry run, to test the kit and see what I learnt.
And I even made some great new friends too which was nice :)
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nice fazer, nice fry up, nice spot never figure out how u packed that bench though :rollin :rollin :rollin
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Which site is that?
Is that a small brain in the pan?
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Hi Dickturpin,
Sorry didn't reply sooner only just spotted your question. It's Newbourne Woodland Campsite in Suffolk. Not a huge woodland but nice spot. I'm building up to getting proper out in the sticks.
http://www.newbourne-campsite.co.uk/ (http://www.newbourne-campsite.co.uk/)
Andy
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nice fazer, nice fry up, nice spot never figure out how u packed that bench though :rollin :rollin :rollin
U beat me to the bench :'(
Think I should start looking to getting some gear :]
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[Think I should start looking to getting some gear :]
What for? I thought you were going tactical? Living off the land an all that? :lol
I'm gonna need a larger waterproof bag for 3 weeks in Europe. 50l is ok for a weekend, but I'm looking for a waterproof bag (seabag type thing?) of nearer to 80l-ish I reckon. Can anyone recommend anything? I want it to strap to the pillion seat, not be too wide across the bike.
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how about the 70l dry bags for canoes on ebay? I've got orange one. not to easy to carry but bunji strapped to bike nice and you can get them with shoulder straps
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I use a lewis 80l dry bag that I got from get geared. Its a bit bulky but takes masses of kit if you pack it well.
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I met a lovely couple... it was before the site normally opened and so the owners asked some regulars to show me around... since i was travelling alone kindly invited me to hangout round the camp fire with them on the friday night and so i naturally took them to the pub saturday night. Nicest people I've met in a long time got on well and like to think we'll remain friends. And they even got engaged! Still that's what happens if you buy enough rounds ;)
I cooked fresh fish one night, fried in lemon juice and served with new potatoes with butter and parsley. The cooking side is/was one of my big questions and so it's been fun to gain a bit of confidence. I'm really getting in to this camping... I knew I liked the outdoors due to childhood camping but the friendly/community feel from other campers was a nice surprise :) Reminded me of bike community.
Looking forward to the wild camping but think I need another test as still learning:
- Need a better mattress.
- Love the Coleman stove (it's fun) but not sure I can carry enough fuel and it's availability doesn't seem great
- Happy to buy fresh food daily so storage less of an issue, but you still end up buying big loads of stuff that won't keep (butter, etc) seems wasteful
- Sleeping bag good (it was 3 degress fri night and i was fine) but maybe a more compact alternative for summer months
Oddly woke up with two whippets in my tend Sun morning :eek
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Wild camping is a different ball game to using commercial campsites Andy. IMO, the best way to do it in the UK is to take boil-in-the-bag or tinned, or sealed packages of food that will just need heating through, plus some treats/snacks, and enough for 3 or 4 days at a time. By then, you will probably want a shower and clean-up, so go to an established site with facilities for a day or 2, then repeat. I did this on my fell-walking holiday in the Lakes region and it worked well. You can carry more on the bike, so you needn't starve, and you can then have a pig out in a restaurant or enjoy cooking more elaborate meals when you finish each wild camping "session". Only a suggestion of course, but we're not all Ray Mears or Ranulph Fiennes - no need to make it an endurance event to enjoy it!
(http://i1291.photobucket.com/albums/b550/nicknicklxs/DSCF2039_zps9c0d2a00.jpg~original) (http://s1291.photobucket.com/user/nicknicklxs/media/DSCF2039_zps9c0d2a00.jpg.html)
(http://i1291.photobucket.com/albums/b550/nicknicklxs/DSCF1604_zps08f4bf0d.jpg~original) (http://s1291.photobucket.com/user/nicknicklxs/media/DSCF1604_zps08f4bf0d.jpg.html)
(http://i1291.photobucket.com/albums/b550/nicknicklxs/DSCF1764_zps59829844.jpg~original) (http://s1291.photobucket.com/user/nicknicklxs/media/DSCF1764_zps59829844.jpg.html)
(http://i1291.photobucket.com/albums/b550/nicknicklxs/DSCF1699_zps9f565658.jpg~original) (http://s1291.photobucket.com/user/nicknicklxs/media/DSCF1699_zps9f565658.jpg.html)
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Dont worry, dogging is all the go nowadays
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Wild camping is a different ball game to using commercial campsites Andy. IMO, the best way to do it in the UK is to take boil-in-the-bag or tinned, or sealed packages of food that will just need heating through,
All is good he's taking Pizza hut menu to the Alps
plus some treats/snacks, and enough for 3 or 4 days at a time.
For the bit of rough....Not my Heidi tho ;)
you can then have a pig out in a restaurant
I have enough trouble getting a pig come in to a restaurant
but we're not all Ray Mears or Ranulph Fiennes -
Like Nicolas and moi
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recently got a 70 litre waterproof roll bag from hein gerick looks huge havent used it yet mind but serious looking yoke
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Bought a new tent from Go outdoors for Scotland this summer , on the bag it says Hydrostatic head with the number 4000 above it , anyone knows what this means .
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Bought a new tent from Go outdoors for Scotland this summer , on the bag it says Hydrostatic head with the number 4000 above it , anyone knows what this means .
I'm glad you asked that :lol
HH is a measure of how waterproof a fabric is.
It's tested by taking a tube of water and fixing the material over the bottom. If it resists leaking up to 2m (2000mm) of water in the tube, then it's rating will be 2000mm HH. For a tent groundsheet, you ideally want 5000mm HH or more, as your weight is pushing the material down, effectively trying to force water through.
4000mm will most likely be fine in the summer, as long as you don't pitch on particularly wet/boggy ground. In fact, for most commercial campsites, where drainage is usually quite good, you won't have to worry about it.
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camping.............take one of these
(http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k104/homeorwork1/DSCF7050_zps9446cae8.jpg)
fit bike in the back..............sorted
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Cheers Nick , we will probably only use it the once , so didn't want to spend a fortune I will have to pitch it on a slight incline , but I won't tell the wife it will be crap if it pisses down .
Bought a new tent from Go outdoors for Scotland this summer , on the bag it says Hydrostatic head with the number 4000 above it , anyone knows what this means .
I'm glad you asked that :lol
HH is a measure of how waterproof a fabric is.
It's tested by taking a tube of water and fixing the material over the bottom. If it resists leaking up to 2m (2000mm) of water in the tube, then it's rating will be 2000mm HH. For a tent groundsheet, you ideally want 5000mm HH or more, as your weight is pushing the material down, effectively trying to force water through.
4000mm will most likely be fine in the summer, as long as you don't pitch on particularly wet/boggy ground. In fact, for most commercial campsites, where drainage is usually quite good, you won't have to worry about it.
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That's for when I win the lottery .
camping.............take one of these
([url]http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k104/homeorwork1/DSCF7050_zps9446cae8.jpg[/url])
fit bike in the back..............sorted
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Normally I advise not bothering with camping on tours, go for cheap B&Bs/hotels. But seeing as I'm being made redundant I'll doing the camping thing. I had planned to go to Croatia this year for a 2 week trip, but now I'll have loads of time.
I've done loads of camping before over the years, but nothing too recent. The last time I camped with the bike was WSB at Brands years ago when at the bottom of Paddock Hill bend a new pond appeared. The pits flooded too, so did the campsite where about 1/3rd of the tents were sitting in water. I gave up bike/camping after that.
I have bought a load of kit to replace my older, larger items.
All this I've fitted into a 46l topbox:
Tent - [url]http://www.nevisport.com/pr/8958/hoolie-2[/url] ([url]http://www.nevisport.com/pr/8958/hoolie-2[/url]) - packs down to 42cm x 15cm
Its a lot smaller than my current 2 man dome tent, but as there is only me I'm not too bothered.
Sleeping bag - [url]http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/vango-ultralite-600-sleeping-bag-p196171[/url] ([url]http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/vango-ultralite-600-sleeping-bag-p196171[/url]) - packs down to 20cm x 17cm (4.5L). I was going to get a Nitestar 350 as they looked good VFM, but when you compare the size when packed down, due to different materials and also a tighter fit, it was a no brainer. Twice the cost though.
Stove - I pondered about this for ages, but went for a petrol one rather than gas. You can get some really small gas stoves but finding fuel might be difficult in some places. [url]http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/coleman-sportster-2-camping-stove-p118560[/url] ([url]http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/coleman-sportster-2-camping-stove-p118560[/url])
At least I will be carrying a 17l fuel tank at all times.
Pans - [url]http://www.blacks.co.uk/equipment/107901-vango-non-stick-cook-kit-2-person.html[/url] ([url]http://www.blacks.co.uk/equipment/107901-vango-non-stick-cook-kit-2-person.html[/url]) . I could have gone smaller with the 1 person set, but the frying pan might not be big enough for an egg ([url]http://www.street-triple.co.uk/Smileys/street/001.gif[/url])
All that fits into the top box comfortably, and isnt too heavy either. I can fit in my puncture repair kit, wd40, chain lube, toolkit around it.
I might also get some tarpaulin to go under the tent [url]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ECONOMY-TARPAULIN-TARP-LIGHTWEIGHT-WATERPROOF-GROUND-SHEET-COVER-GREAT-VALUE-/400270626376[/url] ([url]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ECONOMY-TARPAULIN-TARP-LIGHTWEIGHT-WATERPROOF-GROUND-SHEET-COVER-GREAT-VALUE-/400270626376[/url])
The sleeping mat, one of those self inflating ones when you roll them out like this one, [url]http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/hi-gear-explorer-5cm-sleeping-mat-p143981[/url] ([url]http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/hi-gear-explorer-5cm-sleeping-mat-p143981[/url]), Top it up with air after. That will go in a kit bag with my clothes strapped to the pillion seat on the grab rails. I was thinking of getting some new throw over panniers, but the bag should suffice.
I wouldn't mind going on a mini trip away to test it all out, but not to keen on the weather at the moment tbh ([url]http://www.street-triple.co.uk/Smileys/street/190.gif[/url])
This is a useful website for camping in Europe. [url]http://en.camping.info/campsites[/url] ([url]http://en.camping.info/campsites[/url]) eg Lake Bled in Slovenia - €7.52 a night. Germany/Austria/Belgium/Luxembourg etc are more expensive, €10-€20 a night but will be better equipped than the €5 ones in Montenegro/Romania. They seem expensive in Croatia, but I've only had a quick look so haven't found any cheaper ones. There seems to be a cheaper mini-camping market where people with a bit of spare land on their farms/hotels etc offer cheap basic camping, just toilets and showers, no bar/kiddies creche/swimming pool etc
Well I left for Brands BSB on April 19th and got back yesterday. Assen WSB, Germany, Austria, Slovenia, Croatia then back home. Camped 2/3rds of the time, sometimes after a wet ride couldn't be bothered with the tent. The tent was adequate, no better. The groundsheet wasn't that waterproof, lucky I took another more durable one as well as I thought the one in the tent was suss. 2 tabs on the zipper bust as well. It let a bit of water through 1 zip in a downpour. Stove, sleeping bag etc were all fine. Fold up stool was a good suggestion, although some of the more customer friendly sites provided a plastic chair for those on 2 wheels. My 6*18 inch plyboard was useful as a tray/table and took up no room.
Didn't put the bag/tent/stove in the top box, packed them separately in case the tent was wet, or the stove smelt. Will post more and some pics at some point when I get my laptop working.
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looking forward to seeing the pics bud ,and all about the adventure too
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To fill it I have a length of small flex tube and a small syringe, like you get for filling printer ink cartridges, to get a siphon going.
I bought a 1m length of 6mm tubing from B&Q. Put most of it into the tank, put your finger over the end, then take most of it out and when the end with petrol in the tube is below tank level you are ready to stick it into the stove and it will start siphoning. I think I will get an interim container and siphon into that first. Petrol is a bit smelly though.
I had a failure with a gas canister seal once. Having a 1/4 of a can of gas escaping out was a bit scary, it was a good job the stove wasn't hot.
My method only worked when the tank was full. I'll be getting a syringe. Glad I took one of these and filled it up at petrol stations when I knew the stove was running low.
http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/trangia-trangia-camping-stove-p141011 (http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/trangia-trangia-camping-stove-p141011)
This was useful on my last tour especially when some sites included electricity in the price. Others charged up to €4 a night! 3 point connections are the norm in Europe and the UK at campsites.
http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/mains-uk-conversion-lead-p155315 (http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/mains-uk-conversion-lead-p155315)
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I'm looking at those one man military type low profile tunnel tents, if its goretex then will it still get condensation?
can anyone recommend or not and the pro's and cons for this type of tent?
cheers
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I'm heading down from Hamburg to Spain, then back via France, Switzerland, Italy, Austria and Germany this summer.
I'm planning to go out extreme simple. A tarp pegged one end, tied to the leaning bike the other. With my snoozing bod in a superlight sleeping bag underneath.
Anybody tried this? Any pitfalls? Other than the leaking sump plug dripping on me as I dream!...
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you gonna get eaten alive by crawling insects,,thats where tents win ,not to mention snakes ,european scorpians are about now to sept too.
other than that it will be fun lol :lol
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I'm looking at those one man military type low profile tunnel tents, if its goretex then will it still get condensation?
can anyone recommend or not and the pro's and cons for this type of tent?
cheers
haven't tried them but I do know that goretex stops breathing when the outer layer wets out (i.e. when water stops beading off it). It may be that it will breath fine in dry weather but you get a bit of condensation if it rains a lot. To keep it at it's best I'd treat it to restore the layer that helps it bead (DWR)
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I thought I'd bump this thread to see if anyone else had anything to add after the years nearly over.
After my Spring trip I only camped once with the bike at the Snetterton BSB event. I've used the tent a couple of times on 5 day windsurfing trips down to Cornwall in the Autumn and through to December. Its was a warm Autumn and early winter.
Looking back the only major thing Id change would be going for a bigger tent I can sit up in. Maybe unbendable pegs for the Croatian coastline too.
I think you do meet and chat to fellow travellers camping than hotel/B&B, even if you don't always speak a common language :lol
(http://i965.photobucket.com/albums/ae132/philthewindsurfer/th_IMG_9561.jpg) (http://s965.photobucket.com/user/philthewindsurfer/media/IMG_9561.jpg.html)
(http://i965.photobucket.com/albums/ae132/philthewindsurfer/th_IMG_8893.jpg) (http://s965.photobucket.com/user/philthewindsurfer/media/IMG_8893.jpg.html)
(http://i965.photobucket.com/albums/ae132/philthewindsurfer/th_IMG_0468.jpg) (http://s965.photobucket.com/user/philthewindsurfer/media/IMG_0468.jpg.html)
(http://i965.photobucket.com/albums/ae132/philthewindsurfer/th_IMG_0391.jpg) (http://s965.photobucket.com/user/philthewindsurfer/media/IMG_0391.jpg.html)
(http://i965.photobucket.com/albums/ae132/philthewindsurfer/th_IMG_0132.jpg) (http://s965.photobucket.com/user/philthewindsurfer/media/IMG_0132.jpg.html)
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I've done my first bike camping this year and had some great adventures.
Started off with a dry run on a campsite down in Suffolk, then progressed to my semi-wild camping adventure up west coast of Scotland, then back down to Suffolk for the wedding of the friends I made during my first visit.
It went pretty well, I suppose main things I learnt were:
- Travel light, I went too heavy, some stuff I didn't need, and I need more compact kit, in particular the sleeping bag. Compact is good, just make sure it's up to the job.
- If wild camping or even finding accommodation as you go then dont plan so long a ride that you're exhausted, allow plenty of time and start looking for a place to bed down early.
- Be comfortable with your touring/riding kit, different people favour different approaches, ive found a higgley piggely approach which works for me. Just make sure your comfy, warm, safe and waterproof. Don't let variable weather ruin a trip, be kitted out and don't be too soft. Where possible use kit that doubles up as both riding gear and camping/evening wear.
I'm very much looking forward to more bike camping adventures next year. Definitely Scotland again, probably further afield too.
The only downside is my usual riding group won't camp, too soft, so I find myself alone, which I'm fine with, fairly independent type, but adventures are best when shared. I'm really interested in many of the group trips proposed on here over recent weeks, but haven't been able to commit to anything yet as am changing job in new year and so need to let dust settle.
I completely agree that a tent you can sit up in is a good idea, you need somewhere to relax but be a little out of the elements. Mine is good in that respect, but the flip side is that I get a bit stressed in windy conditions that it's going to fly away. Is that a real concern or am I just being paranoid?
Andy
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Great thread Nick and we'll worth keeping alive. Now I have loads of luggage I'm itching to go - Mrs G isn't and I can't get the three boys into my panniers but I can dream. I camp at the spring meet each year but it hardly counts compared to your adventures. One site I have had recommended for those of us on a budget is http://campinmygarden.com (http://campinmygarden.com)
the first and only website advertising private gardens as micro-campsites; providing accessible, affordable and fun alternatives to traditional accommodation around the world.
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I completely agree that a tent you can sit up in is a good idea, you need somewhere to relax but be a little out of the elements. Mine is good in that respect, but the flip side is that I get a bit stressed in windy conditions that it's going to fly away. Is that a real concern or am I just being paranoid?
Andy
What tent have you got? I cant quite make it out from the photo.
I took spare guy ropes to attach if it was stormy. A bonus is you can use them as a washing line to dry kit on.
I had one really bad night in Croatia, I could hear the next big gust of wind coming as it whipped through the olive trees in the campsite. I didn't use any pegs on the guy ropes as the ground was too hard, I had to attach the guy ropes to rocks. A couple loosely held the inner tent down. A Polish girl was on a cycling/camping trip and did similar. She said she got out of her tent at dawn and saw the wind lift the tent off the ground just held by the guy ropes on the flysheet.
My bike was quite loaded as well, although the panniers weren't totally stuffed full. I left home on the 1st Brands BSB weekend in April so it was cold to start then got much warmer. So taking 2 fleeces to wear in the evening was a good idea, but bulky.
(http://i965.photobucket.com/albums/ae132/philthewindsurfer/th_Fazer8loaded.jpg) (http://s965.photobucket.com/user/philthewindsurfer/media/Fazer8loaded.jpg.html)
This blokes bike was fully loaded
(http://i965.photobucket.com/albums/ae132/philthewindsurfer/th_IMG_0065.jpg) (http://s965.photobucket.com/user/philthewindsurfer/media/IMG_0065.jpg.html)
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From a security point, I always split my money/credit cards into smaller packs. So if I get mugged or lose a wallet I've got a backup. A set locked under the seat or in the topbox is more secure than just having it all in one place and most the time I keep the other set on me at all times.
When I'm abroad I also have a photocopy of all my documents and keep those separate. Also I email a copy to myself so if the worst does happen I might be able to get online somewhere and print them out again.
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Ohh yes please! I'm planning a tour of Scotland in May and although I've done a lot of touring it'll be my first time camping with the bike so this thread will be useful.
I'm going wild camping and so the plan is pretty much just to pitch up where looks nice and live simply for a couple of days, then move on somewhere else.
Lots of research going on at the moment but I'd like to make outdoor cooking a bit of a feature of the trip and so any advice in that respect would be great.
I think I've settled on a Coleman duel fuel camping stove which runs on unleaded:
[url]http://www.amazon.co.uk/Coleman-1-Burner-Sporter-Liquid-Stove/dp/B0009PUQAU[/url] ([url]http://www.amazon.co.uk/Coleman-1-Burner-Sporter-Liquid-Stove/dp/B0009PUQAU[/url])
I'd like to use it to make a brew a few times a day, as well as cooking breakfast and dinner.
Ideally I'd like to do a fry up English breakfast in the morning and another meal in the evening.
Can anyone confirm if the stove is up to the job or not? Good choice?
How do you store fresh food like sausages, bacon and eggs? Coldbag good for a couple of days? I'd rather not have to go to civilisation everyday as it's at odds with the wild camping live simply adventure theme.
Any suggestions for nice meals I can cook in the evening which can be done practically on just the one burner?
I know I can survive on freeze dried or boil in the bag but where's the fun in that?!
Andy
I can highly recommend the stove I used to have one until it was nicked. :(
Boils a pan of water twice as fast as butane stoves and frys up a cracking breakfast in Billy cans,
On tour in Scotland, another in the party had a Butane stove and we ended up just using it as a hot plate and cooked on the unleaded.
I carried a piece of tube which I used to siphon fuel from the bike tank to fill the stove.
Was getting a days riding and breakfast for 4 from a tank :)
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very enjoyable thread guys love the stories and photos last year i camped at the cookstown 100 in northern ireland and co kerry which in fairness isnt as far from home ,although next time i wont bring the kitchen sink :lol
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/aq7kXgMtqEM_9CZg1Kcbq9MTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=directlink (https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/aq7kXgMtqEM_9CZg1Kcbq9MTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=directlink)
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/m_YRDAXRRtqf0ZDxWAIgfNMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=directlink (https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/m_YRDAXRRtqf0ZDxWAIgfNMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=directlink)
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/h_ctb_qynHHfDE5bmK3HH9MTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=directlink (https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/h_ctb_qynHHfDE5bmK3HH9MTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=directlink)