Thanks guys. Agree r.e. the drop-outs. Would love to do away with the tensioner. Might play about with magic ratios eventually.

A little parcel from John @ Borah - How light on some crap kitchen scales coming in at 240gm Bag looks well made. Im impressed
Oh and no customs to boot :) Happy Chappie
Mart

A pair of Monkii cages for trying, initial thoughts: http://bearbonesbikepacking.blogspot.co.uk/

Much better pics than their website!

Interesting to see how they work

Very nice Stu, can you check what's the max diameter that would fit the cage? I'm looking for something that could fit a cooking system, something like the jetboil sumo and the anything cage is a complete no-go until it's fixed.

Very nice Stu, can you check what's the max diameter that would fit the cage? I'm looking for something that could fit a cooking system, something like the jetboil sumo and the anything cage is a complete no-go until it's fixed.

I'm hoping they'll be ideal for cooking kit. I've not tried too much yet but I have tried a few pots in there, an AlpKit Mytipot fitted like it was made for it (roughly 100mm diameter).

Gone a bit nuts this month, I blame it all on Stu for putting ideas into my head

First bits to arrive aren't very exciting. Pot cosy material, alu foil and digital tyre pressure gauge.

Bought the pot cosy material and alu foil literally the day before Stu announced he was going into production! I am a complete DIY numpty so I dread to think what mine will turn out like :?

I went tubeless late last year and have loved riding around on big low pressure tyres (more to arrive on that theme) but the pressure guage on my track pump isnt very accurate so I thought I should apply a bit of science to see just how low I can go.

Thats all for now, waiting on her Her Majesty's customs and hard-working craftsman for the rest.

I'm now a fully paid up member of the Mountain Bothies Association :D

Ian wrote:I'm now a fully paid up member of the Mountain Bothies Association :D

Well I trump your membership...I'm now a fully paid up member of the YHA cos I'm youthful.
Real reason is that we're staying at the Llwyn y Celyn hostel next week. Looking forward to escaping out on my bike for a bit...

Garmin etrex 20 + dodgy os maps! spent the whole night playing with it on the sofa annoying herself

Shame I managed to order a handlebar mount that doesn't fit it so I've just had to order another

Ian wrote:I'm now a fully paid up member of the Mountain Bothies Association :D

Very good 8-)

I got myself a cheap parts washer from machine mart at the weekend.

http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/produ ... rts+washer

Dirty filthy chains go in, clean chains come out. Makes life soooo much easier :)

not quite The postman's been ..... but I picked up one of these FOC to test today

http://www.myfenix.co.uk/fenix-bt20-bike-light

Initial impressions - well put together, looks like it'll put up with some abuse and I like the idea of being able to swap the batteries if out for a couple of days. Not as bright as my Troutlite but output seems decent - will post more of a review (if thats OK mods) when I've used it in the dark!

will post more of a review (if thats OK mods) when I've used it in the dark

Fire away Steve, it looks interesting ... however I do wish that they'd (everyone not just Fenix) would just use AA batteries rather than cr's as they're more expensive and obviously harder to find in many places.

I know what you mean - there is a AA battery box available for the Fenix BT10 which I think was supposed to be compatible with the BT20 but that doesn't look like the case now.
18650 batteries are getting easier to source - especially mail order but the ability to drop off the hill and pop into a local Spar and get some AAs is always going to be useful.

Postie brought me a very reasonalbe looking CandBSeen 1000lm light,

Looks a good light in the storeroom at work but will reserve judgement until used tomorrow.
I normally use a diablo whick I love but will add this for night rides and use it alone for commuting.

at £34 it should be pretty good
http://www.candb-seen.co.uk/bikehead-li ... 6-led.html

Just got my pair of Vivobarefoot Ultra shoes, I might have found my holy grail of camping/2nd pair shoes.
With the insert (which has a rubberized sole) you basically get 3 shoes for the price of one.
The outer shoe with 240g/pair could be a tad lighter though.

1.5 x 10 metres 2 oz waterproof nylon, tarptent project to start in earnest as of tonight :D .

Invent a word: "Stuism" ~ The use of both metric and imperial measurements in the same calculation.

18m of Amsteel in 3 different colours.

Be still my beating heart

s8tannorm wrote:A pair of Monkii cages for trying, initial thoughts: http://bearbonesbikepacking.blogspot.co.uk/

Did you get a chance to ride about off road with cooksets and things in them yet?

Did you get a chance to ride about off road with cooksets and things in them yet?

Yep, tried them in anger now. I've also been trying the Monkii Wedge pouch thing and the Monkii clip that lets you fasten stuff to places that don't have cage mounts.

It's all good so far ... hopefully I'll get an update and more pics up on the blog over the weekend.

Zippy wrote:I got myself a cheap parts washer from machine mart at the weekend.

http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/produ ... rts+washer

Dirty filthy chains go in, clean chains come out. Makes life soooo much easier :)

At the risk of repeating myself, here's a photo demonstrating my excitement.


Parts Washer by zippyonline, on Flickr

I have a slightly blackened one of these to giveaway FOC now if anyone's interested, although tbh I think they're a waste of time and did it manually with degreaser and an old toothbrush anyway...

Not exactly via the postman (came over the pond in a relative's luggage). Tidy little package:



Gear:



Set of straps with cinch buckles, pair of Stingerz, pair of tarp flyz and 2 pairs of buckles.

Funnily enough there was little to be saved between buying direct from the States using this cheeky import route and stuff on Ukhammocks site.

Sadly the Edge tarp from Warbonnet didn't come through quick enough to come over on the same trip.

Why do I need all this gear? Er Spare sets to take the boy out hanging as well ........

"pair of Stingerz, pair of tarp flyz and 2 pairs of buckles."
Interesting looking widgets but I'm ignorant, how are they used?

oooooooh, titanium :D