MLD Solomid, 4 weeks early and no duty

Initial impresions are that it doesn't feel as roomy as Lair, but it's not as drafty and easier to get in an out of.

Need to practice pitching it now and figure out how to seam seal it


Med Solomid by Brother Smith, on Flickr

Bumper delivery from the postie today, a lid for a future bikepacker, a travel tap from here (cheers!) and an FSA headset to replace a crappy Cane Creek 10.

a travel tap from here (cheers!)

Blimey that arrived fast. Here I got a Caldera Cone from boreham in Germany and have just spent a very pleasant 30 minutes mucking about with it. Cheers mate.

On one merino arm warmers and on one hoodie

Currently at work so no chance to try them on

Using my recent 40th birthday money, an extra bumper day for me:

Small Planet X raid has resulted in merino arm warmers, even more lovely thicky merino socks, merino hat, TdF commemorative buff

Golite Shangri-La 1 tarp-tent from TheBrownDog on here

After months of research/deliberation over what brand to plump for, an Apidura saddle pack

Apidura

It really does sound like a medical procedure.

jamiep wrote: Small Planet X raid has resulted in merino arm warmers

Jamie, I was looking at these (curently in the sale) didnt know what size to get, any pointers?

Easton xc one wheel set arrived today for my "race whippet"

AND! AND!

A MSR pocket rocket bought off this very site

Get this, the postman left the wheels outside my door, I shouldn't laugh ....................... could have ended in tears.

Mart wrote:

jamiep wrote: Small Planet X raid has resulted in merino arm warmers

Jamie, I was looking at these (curently in the sale) didnt know what size to get, any pointers?

The small/medium perfectly fit my skinny girl-arms. I.e. Get the large

A near new reversable patagonia jacket for £11.05.

Where to start:
New XTR 10 speed shifter, cassette , KMC x10SL chain, XT rear mech so I can convert the race hardtail to 1x10, and

New Ultegra rear mech, cassette, and KMC chain for the road bike, and

Some bits to fix the shower, but they are a bit off topic....

You want off topic?

A skipping rope.

The pigtails and gingham school dress are in the post

Found this in a box on my doorstep yesterday - very excited!

Just need to put some 'bits' on:

Drivetrain - mostly got (SRAM XX1 - need to swap the 175 cranks for 170)
Gear cable set - need (probably Alligator I link)

Brakes - got (Magura MT8 - hope they are more reliable after the last recall)
Brake Discs - need (probably Quaxar iris)

Bar - need (probably a KCNC Scandium with Mt Zoom bar-ends)
Seatpost & Collar - need (KCNC again I think)
Grips - need (ESI are good but don't last long and a PITA to fit)
Saddle - got, (Specialised Phenom;OK but would like more comfort for looong rides - Spoon or Brooks maybe this time)
Pedals - got (Shimano XT M785 - good, but a bit heavy)
Bottle Cage - need (rhs side-pull, probably Mt Zoom)

Luggage - got (Wildcat / Alpkit stuff). Would love some cuben bags but once US postage and import duty are factored in, probably not!

Lights - unsure! Got some Ay-ups, which are great for shorter rides, but the batteries take a bit of charging so not much use for for multi-night trips. Not sure how much dynamo re-charging can be relied upon on slow UK trails, especially if GPS, phone, etc are all to be charged, so need something that will take standard AA batteries, I think.

Wheels & Tyres - tricky!
Got some good Crossmax SLR 29s with 2.2 Maxxis Ikons, but would like something with a dynamo hub (which one?), so probably Stans Crest rims (is there anything better without spending a fortune?). Also toying with fatter tyres that this frame can take, on the front anyway, that might mean I need to think about the trend towards wider rims...

So, anything obvious that I have forgotten, or recommends for a bikepacking set-up?

My ESIs went on easily with windowlene. :)

Seatpost & Collar - need (KCNC again I think)

I couldn't get on with the KCNC seatpost when I tested the Travers. I found that the splines on the adjustment were very fine causing the saddle position to slip from time to time.

Zippy wrote:Some poles from Stu, just in time for some holiday :) (also awaiting a new intake manifold for the car so I can get away!)

Anyway, popped them on the scales first as you do, 120g for the 1.15m + 0.70m combined.

Here's a photo


GOPR8834 by zippyonline, on Flickr

New tarp ideas also crossing my mind

A little bike I created on a course a while back, now ready for the next generation of bike packers.

Could there be a better present for a little lad?

(don't zoom in on the brazing please).

Fantastic RAB microlight down jacket from InspiredRamblings - ta!
and a Dakota 20 for only £80 from eBay

The postman dropped this off a few weeks back after winning it on a competition on Facebook courtesy of Cotswold Outdoor. And I've got to say its a tad better than the GoPro imo

Not the postie, collected from the nice people at Keep Pedalling

Firestarter forks
Salsa Rohloff Dropout
Blunt 29x35 rims

All to turn my El Mariachi into an off road tourer for a bit.

Back from hols to a nice new set of kinesis crosslight wheels for my cross bike...

Loom bands .... lots and lots of loom bands *

* groans inwardly at the prospect of having to yet again congratulate my 9-year-old for her craftsmanship

Splashed out on some proper winter sleeping mats. Got a small Synmat UL 7 for Beth and a medium Downmat UL 7 for me.

A couple of bits this week, for an upcoming road trip.

Montane Prism Gillet. I love Montane's kit and this will keep me warm when riding in the rain better than down, only ~200g and makes a nice pillow due to a clever pocket shape.

2 ti mugs, 330ml and 450ml. A nested 2-mug compact cookset project using a MYOG mini-stove (Ahem. I copied the bearbones 22g version - note to self, worth buying one next time after spending ages making something less neat from an Alu 5cl vodka bottle, but it does save space) and Ray Young's MYOG coffee tin idea. Tin works so well, 30ml Alu tin from ebay with pin-holes, weighs nothing and makes a great brew with less grounds than the drip-thrus. Now I can drink a coffee while the water boils for a porridge breakfast.

jameso wrote:2 ti mugs, 330ml and 450ml. A nested 2-mug compact cookset project using a MYOG mini-stove (Ahem. I copied the bearbones 22g version - note to self, worth buying one next time after spending ages making something less neat from an Alu 5cl vodka bottle, but it does save space) and Ray Young's MYOG coffee tin idea. Tin works so well, 30ml Alu tin from ebay with pin-holes, weighs nothing and makes a great brew with less grounds than the drip-thrus. Now I can drink a coffee while the water boils for a porridge breakfast.

*takes notes*