Bivvy a month 2020.

[ScotRoutes]

Oh dear. Turns out I was quite sleepy.

This is a hill I've only been up once before. I'd forgotten how steep the final climb is - and that there is no path through the knee-thigh deep heather. Still, a great view, less than 3 miles from my house.

Fantastic sunset, when it eventually did. Didn't really get dark though, just a spreading of the red glow as the sun moved round just below the horizon. I fell asleep about midnight and then was awake for the sunrise at 4:30. Had another wee nap and headed home.

After asking on here, I took my quilt and just my lightweight bivvy bag. I was glad I did as temperatures dropped to around 5C overnight, with a wee chilly breeze at the summit too.

I don't know how long it will last but I feel so, so much better for having had that night out.

DSC_1168 by Colin Cadden, on Flickr

P1060540 by Colin Cadden, on Flickr

P1060542 by Colin Cadden, on Flickr

DSC_1172 by Colin Cadden, on Flickr

DSC_1169 by Colin Cadden, on Flickr

DSC_1175 by Colin Cadden, on Flickr

P1060552 by Colin Cadden, on Flickr

P1060553 by Colin Cadden, on Flickr

Edit: for the Keeper of the Records, that's 5/5 for 2020 and 42nd consecutive month.

[RIP]

Jealous . What with a number of people's outings, the cracks are showing a bit. Not sure how much longer I can hold out. How much different now is the field 300 yards away, ALLE, to my garden; the principles seem to be becoming very blurred. All the fishing people round here are now doing night bivis, and there's unlimited time & distance for exercise. Hmm. Admittedly it's not the point here, but I've never understood the concept of 'private garden' anyway, both sides of the hedge are the same. And there's no difference getting some rest by the wayside in the dark compared to in the daylight apart from 'the law'. But been through all this numerous times, sigh!

[ScotRoutes]

The guidance here is

"Broadly 5 miles maximum from home" for exercise.
As many times per day as you want.
Stay at least 2m away fro anyone not in your household.
You can stop for a picnic / bird-watching / sun-bathing etc.

AFAIK the risk does not increase just because the sun has set.

[fatbikephil]

May 5/12
Well I finally got out for a real one last night and what a pleasure it was, given the weather. Left late afternoon into a stiff, but cooling easterly, my destination the spot I used for my Feb 2018 bam, although 25 degrees warmer.....

Looking across the Howe of Fife to the Lomonds from Pitmedden forest.

Route was mostly on road but a few nice trails thrown in for good measure. Got to my spot just before 9....

First (proper) use of tarp
I'd brought tea in the form of a boil in the bag effort so also had the soto stove with me. A dram or 4 helped me nod off fairly quickly but had a lengthy period of wakefullness in the night listening to Owls. Woken by the dawn chorus (hurrah!) then nodded off again.


Fairly TLS despite lugging the big stove and much grub. Looking west up the Ochills. It may not be the Highlands (or Wales) but I've got some fab scenery and terrain within a short distance of home. Followed a few more trails home via my pals place for a socially distant cuppa and chat. Hoorah!

[BigdummySteve]

5/12 41 in a row

Not a first outing in my new Altaplex
Just in the garden, a few beers and kipped on the kids trampoline with the bag. Not as comfortable as you imagine. Came in a first light. Very unsatisfactory, if the fishing people are out Bivvying I think I’ll be out in June.

[JimmyG]

Another BAM undertaken north of the border last night. I left the house around 9 p.m and headed along the coast to Levenhall Links on the eastern edge of Edinburgh. It's an area I'm very familiar with, particularly as I’ve been using its network of dirt and gravel trails regularly over the last couple of months while we’ve been advised to exercise close to home. Last week I’d identified a suitable bivvy spot. However, on my approach last night I could hear what was clearly a gathering of male party animals giving it large. As I drew closer my suspicions were confirmed – a group of around a dozen late teen/early 20s-types were standing round a fire, necking back the beers. As one might expect, there was zero evidence of any social distancing going on. A Plan B was hastily hatched and a short while later I found a better spot, closer to the sea with an earth mound at my back blocking out the noise of the revellers plus any traffic noise. After a couple of beers I settled down to an excellent night’s sleep and awoke to find another glorious day. After a leisurely coffee and breakfast, I was in no real hurry to leave and passed the time soaking up the sun and watching the wide variety of bird species that inhabit the area.

Untitled by Jimmy G, on Flickr

Untitled by Jimmy G, on Flickr

Untitled by Jimmy G, on Flickr

Untitled by Jimmy G, on Flickr

Untitled by Jimmy G, on Flickr

[ChrisE]

May done

https://strava.app.link/47iCDyloY6

Chris

[Specialist Hoprocker]

Thought I'd give the BAM a go last autumn but only made Oct and Nov before my BAM buddy got shouted at by the tenant of a field we'd camped in (with permission). This kind of took the wind out of our sails. And then of course the rain started....

So fast forward to April. I was feeling slightly normal again after a nasty bout of suspected C19, so I decided to give it a go with my youngest in the garden (in line with the BAM 2020 lockdown rules). We'd been for a cycle earlier in the day, which involved a river crossing (in the spirit of BB) and then set up camp for the night in the back garden.

My bivvy partner abandoned me about 10pm as her teddies were missing her, and I braved the night alone. At about 2pm the security light went off behind the garage (right in my eyes) and I was serenaded by a barking fox for about 30 mins. Other than that, an uneventful night.

May came and my BAM buddy was back on it. To avoid annoyed tenants we disappeared into the deep forest nearby and found a lovely spot amongst the bluebells. I was half expecting to be woken up by a police helicopter using infra-red because a local chap had recently gone missing in the woods. The police, S&R, and even the army had been in there, with regular night-time chopper searches. But they must have given up by then because we slept through to the dawn chorus which at one point had a buzzard, and owl, and a cuckoo competing! In fact it was so nice we repeated it the week after



June's BAM is planned for this Friday, up on the downs. Might test out the new Alpkit Elan and MH Lamina (if the latter arrives from the dodgy French website in time....)

[JohnClimber]

6/6

40 miles into a strong head wind.
Lucky I brought my bivi bag and quilt as an emergency back up, as I'm too tired to ride home and I don't want to risk getting the emergency services involved ;-)

edited to add photos

[RIP]

Your name is Dominic Cummings and I claim my £5.

Yep, compliments to you JC for realising that you weren't in a fit state to ride .

[benconnolli]

Back gardens bivis are for testing out tarping so I decided to go sans poles and made use of the skeleton of a plum tree and holly bush. Shielded from two sides and easy in out I quite liked this set up. In more extreme conditions the tip could be lowered considerably, but that removes the walk in benefits.

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Conciously chose a night it would rain so was luled to sleep by the rhythmic beat of water above me. Had possibly the most mundane dream of my life; the fairy lights that my brother had set up for Leafy Hollow(our socially distant pub, fitted with wood chippings and free street sofa) were faintly glowing and rainbow coloured. They were off and are all white!

Woke up with a cold head at sunrise, even with 14 degree minimums a hat is worth packing. Napped again until 7 then went for a run with the kit on my back as cycling from the fringes of Birmingham where my parent live in does not excite me.

Seeing as I told them to redecorate my old bedroom into an office as I had "moved out for good" I will likely stake claim to the back garden bedroom until this all blows over.

[Boab]

Decided to invoke the emergency BAM regulations and get June over and done with. So setup the Scout dining shelter and then headed out for a short loop into the gathering darkness. I'd forgotten how puny my little front light is, must start saving for the beefier MTB Batteries Lumenator 18:



Probably the best night sleep under the tarp so far, but still waking up far too many times. Obviously the benefit of sleeping in the garden means I can use my normal pillow, but that's not an option when we're allowed out again:



Got up an hour later than normal at 06:30 and found that my cold brew coffee hadn't dripped properly overnight. So it was a rather grumpy Bob that headed out for a slightly longer loop. The weather was marvellous:



I've was struggling to think about where to watch the solstice sunrise, but cycled passed the ideal spot. I'd noted it last week, and had added it to the list of possible bivvy spots, it will be ideal to stop and have a brew while watching dawn. The rest of the ride was uneventful, more people out that I'd like in some places, but then I was out later than normal. Some of the trails are getting a touch overgrown already, and they were all back to being dry and dusty after the rain this week:



2020 BaM: 6/6

[RIP]

6/6

I'm just picturing JC sound asleep oblivious in his bag as all this kicks off around him .

https://www.sthelensstar.co.uk/news/185 ... -lockdown/

[JohnClimber]

6/6

I'm just picturing JC sound asleep oblivious in his bag as all this kicks off around him .

https://www.sthelensstar.co.uk/news/185 ... -lockdown/

No that was a great party last weekend not this one just gone.
There were 2 rave's in Manchester this weekend but I didn't get the invite....

[BigdummySteve]

6/12 42 in a row

Went for an ramble through the Cotswolds, including down Broadway hill where I was held up by the cars! Still hit 42mph before I had to brake.
Meandering towards Bidford-on-Avon picking off squares I was having a merry time until the first rain drops hit, closely followed by thunderstorms. It really was quite violent and my chips got wet.



By the time I’d been up and Broadway hill and Snowshill a few times I was overcome with fatigue and needed a lie down.




Sat in the altaplex listening to the birdsong and watching the sunset, much needed.

[Specialist Hoprocker]

3/12

Spent June BAM on the downs at the end of a line of burial mounds. Lovely night nestled amongst the beech woodland.

[RIP]

Sat in the altaplex

Just realised HOTT, you need to get a refund mate. You bought the camo version and we can see the blasted thing plain as day there! Honestly for all that dosh I'd've been expecting 'cloaking device' levels of discreetness .

[BigdummySteve]

Aye, but it’s fat more discreet than the white or blue Version. It’s a very nice place to spend an evening, I left the doors open and you have a very nice view. The added height is great, the steep sides mean no contact with the sides and you can kneel inside without trouble, handy at 3am

[RIP]

Aye I'm just jealous and making up feeble reasons not to be in lurve with it!

[ScotRoutes]

Have I told you about our local beerienteering club? It turns out that three cans had been stashed on the way up to Loch Eanaich, which somewhere I've always wanted to bivvy but never managed to get around to. It is close, but would be far too cold in Winter. At other times of the year it is likely to be exceedingly windy or midge-infested. Anyway, encouraged by the beer trail, I set off yesterday evening.

Picked up the first beer after a few minutes of searching.
DSC_1245 by Colin Cadden, on Flickr


Picked up the second after fishing around in the river (which had risen since it was stashed).

DSC_1246 by Colin Cadden, on Flickr

Picked up the third right up at the loch.

DSC_1248 by Colin Cadden, on Flickr


I opened the first beer, then set about finding a spot to put my tarp up. The only grassy spot had previously been occupied by some twats that had used boulders to weigh their tent down and left them on the grass. I moved them off again. Looks like they'd only been there a few days so the grass should recover. As a reward, I found two tent pegs they'd left behind.

That spot turned out to be far too windy so I set off back up the track to the next/only decent bit of ground. This was more sheltered. In fact, it turned out to be TOO sheltered and I was soon surrounded by the deadly hordes. Anyway, midge net on, tarp up, bivvy bag and mat sorted and carry on with the beers. In fact, I didn't even put the bivvy bag under the tarp, I just sat, then lay on it in the open watching the sky turn red in the North

DSC_1252 by Colin Cadden, on Flickr

DSC_1255 by Colin Cadden, on Flickr

Third beer done (around midnight by now) I slid into the bivvy bag and soon dropped off.

DSC_1262 by Colin Cadden, on Flickr


I'd been dreading more midge in the morning but it was a bit cooler and they were reticent to come out to play. I watched the sun slowly creep down the crag of Sgor Gaoithe opposite then packed up and headed back as soon as I knew I'd get some sunlight on the track.

DSC_1263 by Colin Cadden, on Flickr

Low lying mist was still shrouding Rothiemurchus and Aviemore when I got home at 6:30.

DSC_1266 by Colin Cadden, on Flickr

DSC_1270 by Colin Cadden, on Flickr

DSC_1271 by Colin Cadden, on Flickr





So - another one done. That's 6/12 for 2020 and 43 consecutive months. Hoping we'll get news that we can travel a bit further as from tomorrow and then everything goes according to plan for a much bigger relaxation of lockdown on July 15th.

[RIP]

Picked up the second after fishing around in the river (

Beer kept at "river temperature" - nice .

[ScotRoutes]

Yep, and one of the good things about the "game" is that you can enjoy a beer when out without it having been shaken up during your ride.

Genius really!

[fatbikephil]

So much for being able to travel further though

[fatbikephil]

June...
Not quite a run to the sun but a run to the sunset. Pitched as the sun disappeared, woke up at the notional sunrise to the sound of slashing rain.... Crashed until 5.30, figured it wasn't going to stop so packed up and sploshed my way home. Sun now shining.....


Hello Summer


Stayed dry under the tarp despite much wind and rain

[ericrobo]

Not quite the longest day, but nearly.

I'm up to 30 consecutive BAM's. Last night I was fine. Since this virus thingy I've been just using a bivvy bag, but so many advantages to being free from bugs and flies, not being drizzled on, making a brew in peace, for very little extra weight, if you have something like a Zpacks, which is really a tarp tent.

I took my bivvy bag just in case it was too draughty.

I was aiming for the top of the hill where there is a stone circle, but setting off at 8:30pm I felt tired so tried a "short cut", which ended up in knee high grass (I persevered...) but when it turned into a bog, that was it.

So I lifted the bike through the knee high grass for a bit then set up the tent...
Untitled by Eric Robinson, on Flickr

This one gives a clue to the Lancastrians...Come on Lazarus, get that map brain working !
Untitled by Eric Robinson, on Flickr

Here's a picture of the bike, definitely not your typical bikepacking bike (Canyon Lux CF 8, full sus, Eagle drivetrain which is superb... I put a 30 tooth chainwheel on and with 50 at the back, I can get up a lot of hills where I would have been at my limit...dual lockout helps too)

It's carbon, and weighs in at 25lbs without pedals, which is very light for a full sus.
It handles beautifully too, and has a dropper post.


Untitled by Eric Robinson, on Flickr

As you can see I have the Sandro bags on, and a handlebar bag, and a frame bag, containing tools, pump, zipties, tubes, tubeless repair, first aid, MSR Trailshot, and my 500ml water bottle.
The Sandro bags have absolutely no movement at all, so technical stuff is not a problem, and downhills you don't know they are there.

Using a handlebar bag too gives a lot more options (i.e. take 7 days food) without struggling for space.. and it works well provided you don't put too much in. There's no problem if you put a lot in, it's just like before the Sandro bags.

Full on I would also have a seat bag on.

I usually use a Mudhugger rear mudguard, which usually guarantees no mud, but I've taken it off because I'm getting mud on my bag and my shorts. The reason is the geometry of the frame... from the furthest point of the wheel to the end of the Mudhugger is (was !) three and a half inches.
I've made a plastic extension from an ice cream carton, so the gap is now about an inch, so that should do it.
Thought I would experiment with this SKS detachable mudguard (weighs 142g as opposed to MH being 210g...)

BAM June 2020 by Eric Robinson, on Flickr

I posted a topic when I first got the Sandro bags. I didn't believe they would work. I was convinced my knees would catch, but they don't (you have to pack them in the right way).

Sleeping bag is in the right pocket (in a dry bag, just in case), left bag contains the Zpacks, in the middle there is a Y shaped pocket, which has my NeoAir mat, pillow, Permavent sheet, Alpkit bivvy bag.

I think we have quite a few Luddites around, sounded like outright hostility, "ugliest bags I've seen".... and that from a bike packer
"John Wayne should be ok..."
I submitted an article to Bikepacking.com, but they never came back ! More Luddites !
Yet they post all sorts of sh1te on that site ("Sh1te On the Site" ) admittedly some interesting articles, but loads of sh1te too. And I think they are definitely interested in their income... well, everybody is aren't they...?
I suppose so, but the difference is whether it takes over your life, so you have very few other interests..
Ironic if the sh1te sorry site has to put income ahead of intelligent articles on bikepacking...

I would think that something as fundamentally different as these bags is worth a discussion, in the wider bikepacking world.
And on here not long ago, somebody was discussing I think movement of handle bar bags.
Handlebar bags can be a problem, not just movement, but where the weight is, and making cables go around bends they perhaps would be better not going round... (it the bags are light in weight it doesn't cause this problem as much)

My aim is to put the cat among the pidgeons
I just cannot understand why nobody is interested in something which is so radically different to ANYTHING we've seen before !

Ugly as fook ? Are we bikepackers or fashion writers

Given the amount of "proper" mtb'ing Gian does, I would be interested in his views...

Thanks for putting up with me folks... I definitely am vintage, born in the middle of the Second World War (not the First for any cheeky buggers out there )

Hey up Lu !
I hope you're doing well ?

"Am I still around ?"..... ermmm YES

I don't know whether any of your consultants suggested this, but I read that this Virus thingy can also trigger blood clots.
I know you tested negative, but there's so much they do not know about this virus.
I think you got it, it caused clots, it then "disappeared from the radar", but the clots didn't.

Hope you are soon back to normal...