I had considered going to the Bivi event at the Isle of Wight Cycle fest which simon72 went to until I saw the description on the website Hi sean_iow, yes that was the fire pit left from the event and I was there when that location for the fire was chosen. I was aware that this was not the best cho...

Towards the Eastbourne end, there is great spot at the top of the Southease Hill on the SDW, just off the path behind the tress on the north side. TQ442055. Friston forest has a great spot I like that is sheltered yet still has views. TQ548004 For really bad weather there are some nice deep grass co...

I had a really good 2 day bivi last weekend in the Isle of Wight. There was a cycle festival on and I attended an organised bivi with a group called “12 nights before Christmas”. It is a bivi a month gang. They are on Facebook. It was so good that I am planning to have another bivi this weekend alon...

Had a lovely weekend bikepacking. I was helping out with a DoE assessment and so rode a part of Sussex I would not normally bother with. Started at Haywards Heath and cycled to Ardingly Reservoir before hitting the bridle ways. There is so much terrain up there, however, I can tell that most of it w...

In Reverse - Name is Seventy Two, born in the year of Simon...

Just replied to a post and noticed is was exactly 6 years ago today that I joined the Bear Bones forum.. [Joined:Mon Jul 09, 2012 9:11 am] 6 years! Which is how long l have been bikepacking for.. Does that make me old school yet? How long ago did you discover bikepacking? PS: This is a similar exper...

@outandabout - well done! That is a lovely part of the SDW. You had perfect weather for a first bivi.. @browndog - I reckon as long as you bivi it counts, even though not technically a BAM.. I have had a few of those this year, as well as a bivi that was in a campsite :o (not by choice, I was helpin...

Hey, nice to see more activity and interest in a Sussex bivi a month. My plans have been scuppered through injury. I had to take March and April off the bike. I still managed a few bivi's, but was just hiking. Now getting back on the bike slowly and looking to resurrect my BaM plans. Please shout if...

Was great, and no, it was not a one off.. I'm in Scotland for my April bivi (bothy) but if you can suggest a date for May?... we can get Sussex bivi on the boil..

I call a Sussex Bivi tomorrow night!! Heavy snow forecast. I know a perfect little valley likely to get a big snow drift. I’ve met the owner and have permission to build a decent fire. Just a 10m ride from Brighton up in the Downs. Just shout if you’re keen to join.

Is turning the bike upside down really a "thing"? I thought it was ok, please enlighten me if I am wrong. I am used to being embarrassed..

@Alex Gold, another year for you? They now have a section for people with 30mm tyres and we can propose a new event: “throwing a CX bike 10m in frustration”. Haha. Hope to see you again this year.

2/12 done... (in a new tent)
Untitled by S, on Flickr

I have a set of fairly new Shimano SLX M7000 hydraulics brakes that are being odd. I have bled them very carefully (twice!) and put some new pads in - but they just wont bite. They are very spongy to the point I can ride with them on sometimes, then other times they will grab after a few rotations. ...

I've been going tubeless on and off with varying degrees of success. I decided to hack up a blast pump, but after three attempts I gave in spent £50 on a specialized one - regretted it immediately and then saw the post above about the garden sprayer.. Doh. Anyway I thought this photo might give you ...

BAM 2/12 done . I was up in Dartmoor for a few days and had a 2 night bivi in a new bit of kit.. I finally bought tent for mid winter outings. Much prefer the comfort of my hammock, however, it was nice to be cocooned from the weather. The tent is a 1 person Vango F10 helium. Super light at 1kg and...

I’m driving up from Brighton, Sussex. Happy to collect others on route. Room for three passengers and their bikes.

The average intelligence of riders on the WRT just dropped.. I'm in..

Hey Billy and Gordon! Great to know there is a bivi scene in Sussex. Really keen to meet up for a bivi or a ride. I usually ride every Sunday morning around 830am from Ditchling with a mixed crew for a leisurely 15-20 miles up and over the downs (easy going, very mixed fitness levels). Please join. ...

1/12 done! It was a close call, last day of January, but I commuted to work on a fully loaded bike and then after work headed off a bivi less than a few miles from home.. I never would have gone out if it wasn't for BAM. A real motivator.

I have tried just this type of experiment. I’ve got a PD600 and a Rab infinity down jacket. The Rab has as much down as my summer bag, it is a monster. I would often get really cold legs in winter despite using the PD600 and Rab in combination, until... a very cold night outside the star inn when I ...

Family duty calls, and so my BAM month plan for 1/12 this weekend is out the window... And so is my New Year's resolution.. thanks to a nice bottle of red my wife just bought home... So much for a dry January..

Hi Ben, Thanks for getting in touch. I live near Brighton and usually ride / bivi anywhere between Eastbourne and Amberly. I know this area quite well. I am also planning to explore more of the South Downs Way between Amberly and Winchester this year. Keep me posted if you are going for a bivi in Fe...

Hi, I am wondering how many bike packers there are around the Sussex area? I am keen to try bivi a month this year and would welcome some company. If all goes well I plan to get 1/12 next weekend - the 12th or 13th Jan - rain hail or shine. Simon

ok guys, thanks for the wealth of quality advice, as per usual. You have given me the confidence to give it a stronger whack. I like the idea of using a roll of tape for support.