CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Events, rides etc.

CCE Bikepackers Section Outing

(27 posts)
  • Started 7 years ago by I were right about that saddle
  • Latest reply from Mandopicker101
  • poll: Just how keen are you?
    I've set off already : (1 votes)
    11 %
    I've ordered knobbly tyres off Wiggle : (3 votes)
    33 %
    I'll ask the cat for a day pass : (3 votes)
    33 %
    I'll come if I can stay on the NEPN : (2 votes)
    22 %

    9 votes


  1. I were right about that saddle
    Member

    Fellow Roughians,

    Following discussions with @nedd1_eh and @Iain McR, I have a suggestion;

    A CCE outing along the Borders Drove Road involving a bit of wild camping one weekend this summer.

    Because everyone has such different attitudes to riding I don't propose to attempt to lead such a ride - just to suggest a camping spot and attempt to find a suitable date. That way navigation, logistics and indeed survival, becomes, as it should always be, the responsibility of the participants.

    I'd encourage anyone who's even remotely curious about bikepacking to give it a bash. Cycling on trails with a tent and a stove has been the source of some of the most satisfying and rewarding days I've spent on this planet. I can also vouch for the fact that you don't need a bike made of unobtainium, a tent made from spider silk or the legs and lungs of an SAS trooper to have fun doing it. A refitted nineties hybrid and the legs and lungs of an ageing office worker are quite adequate. (I actually do have a spider silk tent though.)

    So. Who would care to participate in such an outing and which weekend might be best?

    Posted 7 years ago #

  2. dougal
    Member

    I am interested in the *idea* of bikepacking and wild camping and such but I am not so experienced in the practicalities of camping and touring that I feel ready to combine the two in a minimalist fashion. That's certainly the direction I'm heading though.

    Posted 7 years ago #

  3. crowriver
    Member

    @dougal, indeed! I've done cycle camping before, but not bikepacking. I do like the idea, but I'm going to test out various combos of solo tent/bivvy bag first, in more easily accessible (by road/farm track/forestry track followed by short off-track push) first before attempting anything nearly as adventurous as the Borders Drove Road...

    To those who do venture across the Pentlands, God Speed!

    Posted 7 years ago #

  4. Arellcat
    Moderator

    Is bikepacking basically cycle camping on mountain bikes without pannier racks?

    Posted 7 years ago #

  5. dougal
    Member

    @Arellcat From what I can tell that is correct, with the obvious inspiration of mountain bike allows you to tour wherever you would go as a backpacker.

    Posted 7 years ago #

  6. Arellcat
    Moderator

    My old school mountain bike is distributed around the house in about ten different places. :-/

    Posted 7 years ago #

  7. gembo
    Member

    Well yes that sounds right arellcat. One on Tarmac the other off road. So Markus stitz's Pentland loop is 75 miles then camp then another 75 miles, all off road. Not how I would go round the pentlands personally.

    The drove road I am keen on as I like the history of such things. E.g.cattle from the highlands came down Loch Lomond then Falkirk then Carnwath and over towards elsrickle I guess?

    Posted 7 years ago #

  8. minus six
    Member

    Peter D. Koch-Osborne's bikepacker books of the glens are ridiculously cheap second-hand these days

    Not forgetting Storer's excellent Exploring Scottish Hill Tracks, also to be had for a penny

    Invaluable reference material for those about to embark on the wild side

    Posted 7 years ago #

  9. crowriver
    Member

    @bax, aye, useful for walkers too. Be aware that the Storer volume is pretty out of date now, so worth checking the routes: one reviewer of Storer discovered a track had ditches dug across it every 5 metres, thus making it useless for MTBing.

    Posted 7 years ago #

  10. minus six
    Member

    sure, the books are no substitute for a local ordnance survey map and a sense of adventure

    unexpected deep river fording where a bridge should have been

    up to your knees in bog for miles on end

    its the trips full of adversity that are remembered most fondly

    Posted 7 years ago #

  11. gembo
    Member

    @bax, I know what you mean but I find I get a lot of earache after those escapades from the family whereas the walk we did in the Dysyni Valley last week was much better received as it turned out the village ahead which I had guessed was tall-y-llyn (no OS map till next day) was in fact the one after tal-y-lyn called Abergynolwyn which was indeed where we were staying. Much increased striding and happiness when this was made apparent.

    Dem Welsh shepherds used to live at the top of the hills and indeed some of the farmers still have their sheep up there with the little lambies being born right at the top of cadair idris. Man I am sick of lambs, everywhere you go in north wales, lambs, feckin lambs gambolling and frolicking.

    Posted 7 years ago #

  12. I were right about that saddle
    Member

    I am interested in the *idea* of bikepacking and wild camping

    Then you're probably hooked.

    Posted 7 years ago #

  13. I were right about that saddle
    Member

    Is bikepacking basically cycle camping on mountain bikes without pannier racks?

    Or a ratty hybrid with a trailer.

    Posted 7 years ago #

  14. steveo
    Member

    Or a cross bike and a Carradice.

    Posted 7 years ago #

  15. I were right about that saddle
    Member

    Or a unicycle and a designer handbag. Ain't no rules to bikepacking.

    Posted 7 years ago #

  16. Nelly
    Member

    I am up for it.

    Got a Carradice SQR block on my MTB, just need to get a light one man tent as my 2 man will be too bulky.

    Posted 7 years ago #

  17. steveo
    Member

    Maybe you could try a bivvy bag? Much lighter and adequate for single night trips.

    Posted 7 years ago #

  18. gembo
    Member

    @steveo especially on a dry summer night

    Posted 7 years ago #

  19. Ed1
    Member

    I use a cheap two man tent on my bike that was £8 out a bargain store its only single skin so does not weigh that much, its the weight of drinks that always makes my bike heavy on tours. I suppose could take water tablets.

    Posted 7 years ago #

  20. Arellcat
    Moderator

    I suppose that's as close as we'd get to packets of dehydrated water.

    "Pop one in your bottle and simply top up with water!"

    Brought to you by the same team who invented frozen fire. All you do is defrost it and pour it onto logs for roaring flames.

    Posted 7 years ago #

  21. steveo
    Member

    I got a micro filter bottle from amazon for £30 easily worth its weight if there is a decent water source on the route.

    Posted 7 years ago #

  22. Nelly
    Member

    Not keen on bivvy bags, picked up a lightweight one from decathlon.

    About to be made redundant, so will have plenty of time for these kind of expeditions this summer !

    Posted 7 years ago #

  23. I were right about that saddle
    Member

    Sorry to hear you're redundant, happy to hear you're up for a ride-out.

    Now, anyone got a preferred weekend for this jaunt?

    Posted 7 years ago #

  24. dessert rat
    Member

    http://bearbonesbikepacking.blogspot.co.uk/2017/05/msr-trailshot-lighter-way-to-carry-water.html

    Posted 7 years ago #

  25. I were right about that saddle
    Member

    Nice looking product. Highland river water I drink as is. Borders water....less so.

    Posted 7 years ago #

  26. DaveC
    Member

    I'm arriving late to the party but keen to join in.

    Have MTB/CX with alsorted tyres to chose from.

    I moved everything off my bike as it made it lighter to carrying over styles etc.. but have a light tent, sleeping bag, stove etc...

    Where are we going?

    Dave C

    Posted 7 years ago #

  27. Mandopicker101
    Member

    Even later to the party (I probably had a flat...), I'd also be interested in a bikepacking type ride if it isn't turning into a cast-of-thousands production. Advice welcomed from seasoned hands on CX or MTB...

    Posted 7 years ago #

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