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The "Touring Tips" they don't tell you about in the books

(68 posts)
  • Started 14 years ago by kaputnik
  • Latest reply from kaputnik
  • This topic is resolved

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  1. DaveC
    Member

    Just seen this apologies Insto.

    Wild Country Zephros 2 (as I'm too tight to buy the Terra Nova Lazer.

    I bought a Sea to Summit camping wash basin, the 5ltr version which is a few quid cheeper than this one:
    http://www.nevisport.com/pr/6252/kitchen-sink-10l
    Need to buy from Gaffer tape, as I have run out, keep forgetting this. I Bought a Striker for my stove, and White Gas fuel as well. I used to have a Trangia stove but used Meths with it, and everything tasted of meths. Not seen it for years! Good idea about the Spork, buy I have plastic cuttelry for camping and its light enough.

    My Gore tex jacket is the light Oxygen cycle type, and I have very lightweight G-Tex Packlite trousers, which tbh are the same packing size and weight as my w/proof shorts!

    I have a camera, but not sure the batteries (proprietary type) are any good, its not been used for a year.

    Don't need any chargers, as my old Nokia lasts days, and my GPS also lasts days with Lithium batteries.

    I have been rooting through the garage, and popping interesting items into a pannier. I think I'll have to go through it all and weed out all the rubbish I really don't need!

    Posted 11 years ago #

  2. kaputnik
    Moderator

    I have taken heavier-weight waterproofs before, including trousers, and only ended up using them for a walk to the pub or shops. On the bike you're going to get wet regardless. The less "waterproofing" you have on, the quicker you dry out at this time of year when it stops raining.

    I got thoroughly soaked on two days last week, and was in bibshorts (which were advertised as sprayproof and seemed to be), a longsleeve merino base, a heavierweight merino jumper and a lightweight waterproof. And I still got overhot in the rain anyway!

    The shoes had goretex liners which was fine on the drizzly days but in the real downpours your socks simply wick up the moisture and your feet get wet anyway, at which point they warm up rather like a wetsuit.

    +1 for warm hat for evening, in an easy-to-find location where you can grab it before pitching tent for the night.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  3. Snowy
    Member

    +1 for sandwich bags. Especially the ikea ziplock sandwich bags which are tough enough to hold a multitool, or innertubes+levers. They also make a great waterproof cover for a mobile phone (and you can still operate the touchscreen through one).

    As kaputnik says, feet will get wet regardless (it's one of life's laws) but if your shoes (or socks) are windproof, they'll probably stay warm enough.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  4. Instography
    Member

    Zephros is a really nice tent. I was eyeing it up recently cos my favourite not cycling tents are both Wild Country. The build of them is excellent and I can't help thinking that the sales of Wild Country must cannibalise Terra Nova sales, especially in the lightweight end. Who would walk past the Zephros Lite, 300g heavier but £150 cheaper than the Laser competition at £330 (which is essentially the same design as the Zephros)?

    Posted 11 years ago #

  5. cb
    Member

    The Zephros also has the advantage that it doesn't need an external rain cover to be fitted over the pole (different material, seam sealed).

    Posted 11 years ago #

  6. DaveC
    Member

    Funnily enough my Audax tool kit it in two Ikea ziplock bags, doubled up for safety, as is most of my food for my trip away.

    The Zephros packs away quite small despite the huge bag it comes in. Remove the poles and it can halve in size. Insto, you are free to borrow it anytime you like, to see what its like.

    I'll ditch the waterproof trousers on Kappers advice, as I only really use it in the hardest downpours on my commute to and from work.

    I guess Wild Country were bought by Terra Nova? as when I was young, Wild Country Geo tents were the go to tent, for us, over the more traditional Vango Orange Tobleraone ridge tent.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  7. Instography
    Member

    Thanks for the offer but when I was looking and would have bought a Zephros Lite if the shop had had one, I bought a Force 10 Helium 200 to be the lighter but roomier replacement for my little Lightwave t0. Very similar design - single pole, all in one pitch almost the same weight and price as the Zephros Lite.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  8. kaputnik
    Moderator

    The Zephros packs away quite small despite the huge bag it comes in.

    After a couple of cheap Eurohike tents, I was amazed to find when I bought my first expensive tent that the bag was much bigger than it needed to be.

    It was a revelation to be able to bundle up a wet tent in the wind and quickly stuff it into the bag, rather than sit for hours folding and re-folding and attempting to cram it into the bag they have a packing machine for in the factory in an attempt to make a big, cheap tent look smaller than it is by cramming it into the tightest possible bag.

    Posted 11 years ago #

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