2 boxes with round things, new wheels from those lovely people @keeppedalling
Thanks guys

Bargain (I think) courtesy of winstanley bikes

https://imgur.com/a/O7hHTH2


Can't get the image to appear!

Some Drj0n Bagworks bits and bobs.

Very much a fan of the stuff they're putting out (and makes me want a 3D printer even more!).

Not in the post (in person at Keep Pedelling) - picked up a Shiny Titanium Rack from Tumbleweed for the Pipedream Sirius!

L2R24 wrote: ↑Sat Apr 20, 2024 4:57 pm

yourguitarhero wrote: ↑Sat Apr 20, 2024 10:13 am

L2R24 wrote: ↑Sun Apr 14, 2024 9:49 am

yourguitarhero wrote: ↑Fri Apr 05, 2024 5:23 am a Sea to Summit Cinder Down Quilt from their sale.

I'd tried the Alpkit quilt before and found it too cold (seems it is generally poorly reviewed) so hopefully this is one works better for when I don't want to take my sleeping bag.

The bags and info leaflets it comes with are quite nice :)

@yourguitarhero - which one did you go for if you don't mind me asking? I'm tempted by the "2 degree C" version but their site isn't clear if that's a "comfort" rating...
I've also got the Alpkit cloud base and agree it's not terribly warm...

I went for the warmer version.
I've got a decent 3 season bag which does me fine down to freezing point so wanted this for summer camping - have a month camping in the Pyrenees in summer so thought it would be good for that.

I'll be in Northumberland next weekend so might try it then...

I ended up getting the cooler weather version...my Cinder 2 arrived this morning and is currently in the tent in the back garden. Feels very warm in 15 degrees ...size wise the regular seems pretty good for me at 5'8" and quality seems spot on. The straps also seem to allow some wriggle room whilst keeping you covered. Was really torn between the 10 degree and 2 degree versions, but figured might be easier sticking a leg out on warmer nights being a quilt rather the Aegismax bag with 3/4 zip I've been using. @yourguitarhero - What's the lower functional limit on your 10 degree version? Sounds ideall for a summer in tye Pyrenees!

Finally got to test the 10c quilt out properly over the last few nights walking the Northumberland Coastal Path.

Overnight temps were around the 10c mark. Slept one night in my tent, second night I just slept out in the open (insulated exped mat and quilt, no bivvy bag).
I wore thin merino long sleeved top and tights and a thin (200g) Patagonia down pullover.

I would say that I was on the limit of "comfort" - I woke up once or twice in the night and thought "Hmm, I'm a bit cold" but then rolled over and went back to sleep. Wasn't helped with my mat having a slow leak which I think is why I got cold as I was just on the ground really.
Any colder and I would probably take my 3 season bag.

Key seems to be to get the quilt strapped round the mat OK and then to cinch up the toebox and shoulders.

And dropped of a sea to summit summer quilt and x bowl, all part of their half price sale. Now the sun's coming out it'll be perfect to test out.

...and dropped off a Mont-Bell Torrent Flier GTX jacket to replace the 9 year old RAB Flashpoint. Looks like it'll get a good test next week.

Greetz

S : )

After looking in vain for a Hilleberg within budget I came across the Kuiu Storm Star.

It makes for a tight pitch with its X-Pac reinforcement even though I know this has already been used for a few nights.

200 grams heavier than a Soulo but lots more room and two doors.

The flask from Banana Industries came for the wifey, she’s pleased with it (which is handy as she was after mine). No more tepid water on a hot day

The free three pairs of socks look decent to be fair, so a bit of a bargain there for me. The sunglasses are alright, not quite my normal style for polarised glasses but great for driving (and for £8.50 too).

A small but rather expensive (for me) thing from Tailfin, as a wee late birthday treat to myself. It's very nicely packed, and it seems extremely good quality and versatile, with good fittings.

faustus wrote: ↑Tue Jun 11, 2024 4:58 pm A small but rather expensive (for me) thing from Tailfin, as a wee late birthday treat to myself. It's very nicely packed, and it seems extremely good quality and versatile, with good fittings.

Looking forward to your thoughts Faustus. I've seen it briefly on a friend's bike and they look rather well made and very rigid/stiff/shaped for the size. Only thing stopping me was the size.

Thanks Shaf. I've not taken it for a ride yet, but have trial fitted to all my bikes. It's big, as I went for the larger version - for me it'll be used for extended journeys with food and a layer/phone in it. The smaller one looks a good size and a bit narrower. I'm very impressed though. Fitting is easy and solid - basically Tailfin version of voile nano straps make it rock solid as it has 'feet' that grip the tube. Even comes with a 3rd long strap for chunky headtube/downtube/toptube junctions. No need for a steerer strap as it is solid, and i've always hated straps there. It has lightweight latticework stiffening on the base and sides, a foam insert like an insole to cover the feet/bolt holes (can be bolted, bolts supplied), so the whole thing doesn't move. Little sleeve pocket for your phone (which fits mine in this size), and the closure is great - I specifically chose to forgo a zip - it opens wide straight away so you can find stuff, and almost closes itself due to the way it's stuck together, and the closure is a magnetic clip that is easy and secure.

It's a lot of words for a little rubber bag (and a lot of money to be honest), but I think their attention to the right details is excellent and has worked very well. It's not dissimilar in design or price to the Ortlieb top tube bag, which is a good thing

Nice one for that. The thing that struck me was how solid it felt on a thin(ish) top tube. The way the (quality... ?voila) rubber straps lock everything in place and it doesn't move about, is what sold it to me.

Thing that I'm kinda unsure about (other than the price) is longevity. Especially as (in my head) it's more of a roadie design/designer and after seeing a few of the pannier bags being struck with issues, makes me wonder about the welding on this thing!!

I hate when my top tube bags look a little lopsided (only ever so slightly as I already own a few good uns) and the strap closure like a Revelate is excellent. Will keep an eye on how you get on bikepacking it and if water finds itself in to your electronics!! Thanks again Faustus.

Got two gifts last week, a set of Clarks cable brakes (remind me of a BB5 in a vague way). £30 for rotors and calipers Only going on one of my singlespeeds, so just wanted something cheap. Hoping I can get them set up

All came down with man flu, wiped me out so haven’t yet fitted said brakes.

Man flu has almost gone, so after taking advantage of next doors skip, I’ll look at the brakes. Suspect the brake cables I have may be a bit spongy…

Lots of deliveries but not always bikepacking ish related. This time it was

Four packs of 4 tube steak pegs from big sky international. plus a tent peg bag. I have somehow lost my big Easton nails, they were ace. These are supposedly better as the tops can't come off by accident

A lot of money just on tent pegs but hopefully they'll last a while

A Sea To Summit Frontier collapsible mug. I already have one that's perfectly serviceable but.... the new version is 10cm dia and the original was 11cm.

This minor change of size means it's the same diameter as my 750 pot so will nest on top and fit in the downtube bag

...and left the parcel leaning against the wall next to the (ajar) front door.
Luckily, I got home before somebody helped themselves to it.
Why they think that is acceptable is a mystery to me.

Gore C3 Trail shorts, BTW - my everyday commuting shorts. Saw some on offer, so bought them for "stock"

A rather lovely Enlightened Equipment quilt (from the classified section) and some half price Teravail tyres as mentioned on the Bargain Alert thread.

Join the bike packing forum it's free they said, it just costs all your free time and and every spare penny you have

Likewise got some of those terravail tyres form Lyon (ordered yesterday morning, arrived today) 700x47 washburns. Despite being 'light and supple' they are in fact quite chunky and 700gs. However if this means no more effing, flaming punctures I'll be a happy man.

sean_iow wrote: ↑Tue Sep 10, 2024 8:30 pm A rather lovely Enlightened Equipment quilt (from the classified section) and some half price Teravail tyres as mentioned on the Bargain Alert thread.

Join the bike packing forum it's free they said, it just costs all your free time and and every spare penny you have

The Effin Bar Stewards

.

belugabob wrote: ↑Wed Aug 14, 2024 9:35 pm ...and left the parcel leaning against the wall next to the (ajar) front door.
Luckily, I got home before somebody helped themselves to it.
Why they think that is acceptable is a mystery to me.

Gore C3 Trail shorts, BTW - my everyday commuting shorts. Saw some on offer, so bought them for "stock"

Regular thing nowadays. Other day I found a wet parcel with vacuum inside. Stupid idiot had left it behind the bins without even leaving a card.

Also left a really expensive item in front of the door once whilst we were out. Marked it as recieved by us and a pic uploaded to their servers. Must have issues surely!

(Yesterday) a nice new eXotic carbon fork for the Longitude. Um'd and ah'd about it, having failed to find a cheaper option used, but decided it was worth it to give the bike a new lease of life, and if I was going to it would be silly to wait till after I ride the TNR. Annoying thing is I had exactly the same fork on my commuter and sold it for a third of the price - but that was 5 years ago. Just awaiting a star nut. New (to me) bar on the way too.

Also a carbon fork, a well priced 2nd hand Trek 1120 fork for the Titus. Replaces the exotic monocoque one, as it has all the mounts and a slightly more favourable a-c measurement. Will go on for winter miles and longer trips when the Reba isn't needed. Hoping to get a rack for it as per classifieds ad...may end up doing something custom to have a cradle on the mounts. Also pleased to have an alu steerer as was getting bored of the bung slipping on the other one.

Nothing for a long time has appeared from the postie. Not sure if that means I have enough stuff or what, but I feel like I should maybe start buying stuff again.....