slarge wrote:No Ian - Novatech hubs are new to me - according to the blurb on the website I ordered the wheels from, they are the biggest hub maker we've never heard of - making hubs for all sorts of people. In reality they have been around for years, and I think they are big on the continent and Asia, just the UK isn't a big market. If it's any help I bought the wheels from Spokesman Wheels in Devon - £418 posted. Could have been a bit cheaper but I chose coloured alloy nipples and black spokes. Same wheels elsewhere were £500+.

My theory is that there isn't much that can go wrong with a hub - if the bearings are standard and replaceable I am happy - after that it's usually flanges cracking and freehub issues. As long as I don't take them swimming they should last OK (this does mean I can't use them in Wales though!)

Cheers for that. I notice they are available with wheel builds from a few places. Tempted ...


In other news - the postmans not been! I can see that my cuben bivy and down vest (soon to become bikepacking uniform!) are still in customs with parcelfarce. I will provide a fulsome report shortly after they arrive.


Or possibly sit around feeling very pleasantly warm

My back wheel has just arrived home after the Alfine 11 had the internals replaced on warranty, they did claim the reason it was not working properly was when they were serviced Alfine 8 grease was used and not alfine 11 grease. i don´t really buy this as it was bad before the service.

Finally I get to post in this thread (hurrah)

Alpkit bicycle 7, Msr groundhog pegs x 6 and 15m of Msr cord

More stuff on its way ....

Alpkit bicycle 7,

Do you want a pole for that?

In my mind I've got a plan to set it up using just a few pegs ,my front wheel and luck !!!

Is there a 'best' way to set up a tarp with your bike? I assume turning it upside down to rest to the saddle/handlebars is steady, but does it let moisture into the gear shifters?

Just a wheel seems a bit.. low?

I've got a set of Stu's poles and think they're the poodles privates

Yorlin wrote:Is there a 'best' way to set up a tarp with your bike? I assume turning it upside down to rest to the saddle/handlebars is steady, but does it let moisture into the gear shifters?

Just a wheel seems a bit.. low?

This was how I used to do it before I got some poles off Stu.



Right click the pic and select view image to see it properly. (Hopefully the update to the site on Sunday will mean automatically re-sized images.)

These were at home this evening when I got back. Hopefully they will help with my cold feet problems.

Composite - thanks! That pic explained it all. Cheers again!

Nowt exciting but an Alpkit delivery:

Hunka XL bivi bag to replace / be another choice compared to the 20+ year old Phoenix Gore Tex bivi bag. Bivi's get not a lot of use TBH as I'd rahter hang but variety is the spice of life, etc etc.

2x big net bags for storage of UQs. Why don't the blinking things come with storage bags

A Ti folding spoon, because I like brew / stove kits all made up and this'lll go in with the alternative set.

A tube of UHU POR. Contact adhesive suitable for all sorts of foam stuff. All part of the plan to produce THE most vaguely exciting insulated teapot

A tube of UHU POR. Contact adhesive suitable for all sorts of foam stuff. All part of the plan to produce THE most vaguely exciting insulated teapot

Oooh that sounds good.

I was inspired by your blog bit about pot cosy's (http://bearbonesbikepacking.blogspot.co ... -cosy.html).

Have previously done insulated teapots for volunteer brewkit at Stainburn with silver bubble wrap insulation and gaffer tape. Having read the blog I think I could do even better with some 2mm closed cell foam (hence UHU), silver tape etc.

Nowt worse than ten volunteers all making an indivual mug of tea in the depths of a wood, especially when there's a shortage (there's always a shortage) of teaspoons. The pot makes 1.5 litres of tea to share, keeps it warm whilst folks are fannying about and just generally makes the whole thing a "nicer" experience 8-)

Not exactly bivi stuff but it's all buggering around in the woods

A typical scenario and MK1 teapot in full view (bag artfully placed before (succesful) blag of cheap kettles from the lovely Ghillie Kettle people):

New frame bag from Alpkit, seems very nicely made. Hopefully means I no longer need saddle bag for commuting so my lights should be more visible

Rolls of siliver tape and 2mm foam. No blinking kettles yet though

Not exactly via postie but I went to Alpkit a few days ago to pick up a wheel paule was selling on the classifieds on Christmas Eve.

So I now have a Revo dynamo wheel, light and red-eye set up. All looks good. While there I got out from there bargain box a stem cell and 2 different sized fuel tanks for £30 the lot. Used a fuel tank yesterday on a long road ride, looks well put together.

A copy of The Drovers' roads of Wales has just appeared in my pigeonhole. :)

BenS wrote:

New frame bag from Alpkit, seems very nicely made. Hopefully means I no longer need saddle bag for commuting so my lights should be more visible

Ben, are those 29er mudguards? If so what are they and where did you get them from?

They look like the ones I have on my Fargo,

SKS bluemels 28" 65mm wide.

£21.51 from http://www.bike-discount.de

I can fit 2.2 Halo Twin rails under them.

I've cobbled a bracket to fit them to the dropout eye rather than fit to the fork rack mount.

*edit*
The bracket on the front mudguard from the top to the fork crown is a bit short on the Fargo because of the 80mm suspension correction. I've bodged it with a zip-tie.

Just picked up an Aldi down gilet.

johnnystorm wrote:They look like the ones I have on my Fargo,

SKS bluemels 28" 65mm wide.

£21.51 from http://www.bike-discount.de

I can fit 2.2 Halo Twin rails under them.

I've cobbled a bracket to fit them to the dropout eye rather than fit to the fork rack mount.

*edit*
The bracket on the front mudguard from the top to the fork crown is a bit short on the Fargo because of the 80mm suspension correction. I've bodged it with a zip-tie.

Thanks Jonny, I already found this when running road tyres and mudguards on my fargo, so have a bracket ready for the job. Might have to get some of them mudguards ordered. I am rapidly building up quite a collection to fit all the tyre widths I run

Me too. I've got a 45mm pair and some 37c tyres on the way for my commute. Realised that the Twin-Rails weigh 890gms each. Decent bit of resistance training there.....

I've gone for some guards with a single support to try and route it to the rack mount as the brake mount workaround looks 'orrible.

I've been to the postman...

Collected parcel from John at borah today. 22£ import/vat so not too bad.

Inside was a down vest, cuben bivy and a few cuben stuff sacks. All look great, well stitched and disturbingly light. Not had the chance to have a lie down in the bag but looks generously sized.

Vest is a small and I'd say its European sized rather than US size. Nice fit with a low neck.

Ian, what bivvy did you get and how much was it? (Real price not wife price!)

She's not on here so its ok

Tis the cuben bivy normal size. Weighs 123g with a half mesh 'head end' to stop any splashes getting on me. Have got home and had a lie in it. It's huge. Easily fits a neoair and winter bag with me at 5'9" 10 stone . 175$

Also vest is 90g in size small was 100$

Post was 25$

Plus ended up paying 21£ import. Not sure what the total is...

Funded by recycling a camera lens I'm selling so its all cash neutral :)