bicycle camping

Quoted message said:

Cycling stuff aside (eg: I have a toolkit now, spare tube, patches etc)

let

Quoted message said:

me ask these questions:

You are never goping to get a definitive answer to your questions below as
everyone has their opinion of what is best for them but here goes for
starters....

Quoted message said:

1) what's the MINIMUM camping gear you'd bring with you to go bike

camping?

Tent

Quoted message said:

2) as above but with the added requirement: "to be reasonably comfortable"

Tent and sleeping bag

Quoted message said:

3) what would be considered a "luxury" bike-camping kit selection without
getting stupid about it? (eg: a porta-potty is ridiculous)

Tent, sleeping bag and thermarest.

Usually take a lot more than I need to and your questions have honed my list
of things not to take with me the next time I camp shedding 10kg on the way.

On 06/12/2005 22:11:43 'C.J.Patten said:

Anyone here cycle camp?

Quoted message said:

I can't afford to credit-card camp so I'm looking at taking it all with
me.

Quoted message said:

I bought a tent last year with car-camping in mind so it's a bit on the
large side... Mountain Hardwear HammerHead 3. (the HammerHead 2 would
have been better for a bike but I wanted something comfortable - I
probably won't outgrow this one...)

Try http://www.touratech.de/shop_uk/enter.html for lightweight camping gear
it is geared towards motorcyclists but the same rules apply.
--

Buck

I would rather be out on my Catrike

http://www.catrike.co.uk

"C.J.Patten" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Anyone here cycle camp?

Quoted message said:

1) what's the MINIMUM camping gear you'd bring with you to go bike
camping?

Sleeping bag, bivy sack, knife [Swiss Army for preference] , lighter or
matches, food, water

Quoted message said:

2) as above but with the added requirement: "to be reasonably comfortable"

Tent [in place of bivy sack], sleeping pad, pillow, radio, light [lantern
type]

Quoted message said:

3) what would be considered a "luxury" bike-camping kit selection without
getting stupid about it? (eg: a porta-potty is ridiculous)

[Awwww. I was going to suggest towing a winnebago.]

Small propane [or other fuel] stove, A bigger tent, Water filter/treatment,
air mattress [in place of sleeping pad]

See:

http://www.mec.ca/index.html

For some equipment ideas.

"vernon levy" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Tent

Tent and sleeping bag

Tent, sleeping bag and thermarest.

LMAO! 😄

Thanks Vernon.

I suppose you could even forego the tent for an axe if you wanted to build
your own shelter.

Failing that, a bivy bag might be the lightest way to travel but it seems
most writers online prefer a tent for anything more than an overnight or
two.

That aside, I own a tent and can't afford a lot of extra gear so it looks
like a tent wins over the bivy.

I don't have a travel size sleeping bag yet so that'll be next on my list (I
have a winter weight, down-filled bag but it's about the size of medicine
ball when packed.)

Glad my questions were thought provoking! 🙂

Any traveling sleeping bag suggestions? We have some pretty good outfitters
locally (Mountain Equipment Coop for one).

TTYS!
Chris

C.J.Patten said:

Cycling stuff aside (eg: I have a toolkit now, spare tube, patches etc) let
me ask these questions:

1) what's the MINIMUM camping gear you'd bring with you to go bike camping?

Same stuff I'd take backpacking:
Tent
sleeping bag and camping pillow.
backpacking stove, fuel, matches
camping dishes and utensels (plasticware).
a few changes of cloths.
camp soap (for dishes and you)
Towel
small flashlight
clothsline cord (for making a clothsline to dry stuff on if it happens
to rain)

Quoted message said:

2) as above but with the added requirement: "to be reasonably comfortable"
3) what would be considered a "luxury" bike-camping kit selection without
getting stupid about it? (eg: a porta-potty is ridiculous)

Small cooler (a small fabric one). It's light and doesn't take up much
space as you can put other stuff in it (your cloths/stove/towel/etc).
AFter setting up camp, you can bicycle to the nearby store and fill it
with food/drink/ice that needs to stay cool before dinner or overnight
for breakfast.

We bike-camped along the Michelson Trail (highly recommended) and this
worked for us.

Rich

C.J.Patten said:

3) what would be considered a "luxury" bike-camping kit selection without
getting stupid about it? (eg: a porta-potty is ridiculous)

When I did the Raid Pyrenees my kit list was: tent, sleeping bag,
sleeping mat, stove, saucepan, mug, bowl, spoon, penknife, 1st aid
kit, wash bag, cycle shorts, normal shorts, 2*cycle shirts, t-shirt,
sweater, fleece, cycle shoes, sandals, underwear, wash bag, towel,
tool kit, maps, guide book, camera, cash, credit card, passport, lock,
head torch, water bottles, GPS.

C.J.Patten said:

1) what's the MINIMUM camping gear you'd bring with you to go bike camping?

I'd bring a gun to shoot myself in the head. I hate camping, I hate
camping with a passion. I hate camping so much I can't begin to tell
you how much how much I hate it. There are no words to describe my
aversion to camping. Sleeping on the ground with the bugs. Swatting
mosquitos, never feeling clean, hiking through poison ivy, running into
snakes, waiting up to find the critters ate all your provisions, not
being able to use a blow dryer. What the hell fun is there in
camping? If God wanted us to leave in the woods, he would not have
created four star hotels. ;-)

Maggie.

in message <[email hidden]>, C.J.Patten

(') said:

Anyone here cycle camp?

I can't afford to credit-card camp so I'm looking at taking it all
with me.

I bought a tent last year with car-camping in mind so it's a bit on
the large side... Mountain Hardwear HammerHead 3. (the HammerHead 2
would have been better for a bike but I wanted something comfortable -
I probably won't outgrow this one...)

I think I'll definately have to replace my "BaseCamp XL" Thermarest
with one of the Pro-Lite variety... it's just way too bulky to carry
when rolled up.

Cycling stuff aside (eg: I have a toolkit now, spare tube, patches
etc) let me ask these questions:

1) what's the MINIMUM camping gear you'd bring with you to go bike
camping? 2) as above but with the added requirement: "to be reasonably
comfortable" 3) what would be considered a "luxury" bike-camping kit
selection without getting stupid about it? (eg: a porta-potty is
ridiculous)

Let's split this into two issues: weight and bulk. Cycle touring, weight
is always an issue and it's a good thing to minimise it. If you use
panniers, etc. on the bike then bulk is also an issue. But I'm a
long-time confirmed believer in bicycle trailers, which greatly reduce
the bulk issue. I've done many thousands of miles with a trailer,
carrying stuff you just wouldn't fit in a set of panniers. Of course,
the weight of the trailer chassis itself needs to be factored in.

If you go trailer you can take thicker, more comfortable, more insulant
bed mat. You can also take bulkier clothing (fleece, quilted, etc)
which in cool places can be very welcome.

I would take
* tent (mine is a little tiny Vaude thing which weighs 2.2lbs)
* sleeping bag
* bedmat
* gas stove and at least one spare cartridge
* change of cycling clothing
* warm clothing for evenings
* camera
* phone

Mind you it's some years since I've been cycle camping.

--
[email hidden] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/

;; It's dangerous to be right when the government is wrong.
;; Voltaire RIP Dr David Kelly 1945-2004

"Maggie" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

C.J.Patten said:

1) what's the MINIMUM camping gear you'd bring with you to go bike
camping?

I'd bring a gun to shoot myself in the head. I hate camping, I hate
camping with a passion. I hate camping so much I can't begin to tell
you how much how much I hate it. There are no words to describe my
aversion to camping. Sleeping on the ground with the bugs. Swatting
mosquitos, never feeling clean, hiking through poison ivy, running into
snakes, waiting up to find the critters ate all your provisions, not
being able to use a blow dryer. What the hell fun is there in
camping? If God wanted us to leave in the woods, he would not have
created four star hotels. ;-)

ROTFLMAO!

I have no issue with 4-star hotels Maggie - I just can't afford *that* kind
of get-away right now so camping will have to do.

Bugs, well, bug me. But going at the right time of season usually minimizes
those. I don't get a lot of bugs in my tent anyhow... it's pretty well
screened.

As for critters - they ARE the food. 😉 I build and shoot longbows and my
current fave is a takedown that packs well with me on a bike camping trip.
You can bet anything that gets close enough to sniff my supplies will be my
next meal. :9

BTW: I read another thread where you mentioned the area you cycle. I spent a
summer in Belleville NJ and did some work in Nutley and Hoboken. 😉 I loved
the area - though taking a wrong turn and ending up in Newark isn't my idea
of a fun ride.

Chris

in message <[email hidden]>, C.J.Patten

(') said:

"vernon levy" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Tent

Tent and sleeping bag

Tent, sleeping bag and thermarest.

LMAO! 😄

Thanks Vernon.

I suppose you could even forego the tent for an axe if you wanted to
build your own shelter.

Failing that, a bivy bag might be the lightest way to travel but it
seems most writers online prefer a tent for anything more than an
overnight or two.

That aside, I own a tent and can't afford a lot of extra gear so it
looks like a tent wins over the bivy.

I don't have a travel size sleeping bag yet so that'll be next on my
list (I have a winter weight, down-filled bag but it's about the size
of medicine ball when packed.)

Glad my questions were thought provoking! 🙂

Any traveling sleeping bag suggestions? We have some pretty good
outfitters locally (Mountain Equipment Coop for one).

Take the one you've got and spend the money on a trailer so that bulk
isn't an issue. Seriously. Recommend BoB YAK or Weber Monoporter.

--
[email hidden] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/
;; If Python is executable pseudocode,
;; then Perl is executable line noise
-- seen on Slashdot.

"Simon Brooke" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Let's split this into two issues: weight and bulk. Cycle touring, weight
is always an issue and it's a good thing to minimise it. If you use
panniers, etc. on the bike then bulk is also an issue. But I'm a
long-time confirmed believer in bicycle trailers, which greatly reduce
the bulk issue. I've done many thousands of miles with a trailer,
carrying stuff you just wouldn't fit in a set of panniers. Of course,
the weight of the trailer chassis itself needs to be factored in.

If you go trailer you can take thicker, more comfortable, more insulant
bed mat. You can also take bulkier clothing (fleece, quilted, etc)
which in cool places can be very welcome.

I would take
* tent (mine is a little tiny Vaude thing which weighs 2.2lbs)
* sleeping bag
* bedmat
* gas stove and at least one spare cartridge
* change of cycling clothing
* warm clothing for evenings
* camera
* phone

Mind you it's some years since I've been cycle camping.

Hadn't even considered a trailer until you suggested it. The two you
recommended look slick.

The sleeping bag I have (the medicine ball) is big-time overkill and
probably best suited to an arctic expedition - I'm strictly a summer camper.
A small(er) one would definately be fine. I have no idea what to look for in
that area though.

The tent is a problem. It's got to be 8 pounds and packs to a tube 8 inches
across by about 16 inches long. NOT small though it's big enough for two +
two bikes in the vestibules.

I'm still hoping I can find either very large rear panniers or a combination
of front and rear panniers to fit all my gear. I take it biking with a
backpack on is a baaaaad idea.

For the price of a trailer, I may just look at a small tent to keep bulk
down. (I think some folks here had leads on sub-$40 1-person tents?!)

Thanks Simon!

Chris

C.J.Patten said:

1) what's the MINIMUM camping gear you'd bring with you to go bike
camping?

Bivvy bag + Camping-Gaz

Quoted message said:

2) as above but with the added requirement: "to be reasonably
comfortable"

Tent + sleeping bag + Primus + KFS

Quoted message said:

3) what would be considered a "luxury" bike-camping kit
selection without getting stupid about it?

A self-propelled sleeping bag warmer.

NB, It's been a few years since I've slept in a bivvy bag, the old
joints might creak a little nowadays. And there's no room for a
SPSBW :-(

Mike

"Mike Causer" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

C.J.Patten said:

1) what's the MINIMUM camping gear you'd bring with you to go bike
camping?

Bivvy bag + Camping-Gaz

Quoted message said:

2) as above but with the added requirement: "to be reasonably
comfortable"

Tent + sleeping bag + Primus + KFS

Quoted message said:

3) what would be considered a "luxury" bike-camping kit
selection without getting stupid about it?

A self-propelled sleeping bag warmer.

NB, It's been a few years since I've slept in a bivvy bag, the old
joints might creak a little nowadays. And there's no room for a
SPSBW :-(

Whoa! What are KFS and SPSBW's?!?!? 😄

(I got the rest of it... 🙂

C.J.Patten said:

Whoa! What are KFS

Knife, Fork & Spoon (I unforget the aluminium set that clipped together
with a sort of rivet in the middle.)

Quoted message said:

and SPSBW's?!?!? 😄

Self Propelled Sleeping Bag Warmer (If selected right can also be handy
for navigation, cooking, buying rounds, and encouragement on bad hills.
If selected wrong can lead to Bobbiting, but not with a KFS -- the knife
is too blunt.)

Mike

"Mike Causer" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Self Propelled Sleeping Bag Warmer (If selected right can also be handy
for navigation, cooking, buying rounds, and encouragement on bad hills.
If selected wrong can lead to Bobbiting, but not with a KFS -- the knife
is too blunt.)

LMAO! HA!

My last SPSBW was <ahem> returned for a refund due to quality control
issues. <shudder>

Good ones seem few and far between these days. ;p

C.J.Patten said:

Anyone here cycle camp?

I can't afford to credit-card camp so I'm looking at taking it all with me.

I bought a tent last year with car-camping in mind so it's a bit on the
large side... Mountain Hardwear HammerHead 3. (the HammerHead 2 would have
been better for a bike but I wanted something comfortable - I probably won't
outgrow this one...)

I think I'll definately have to replace my "BaseCamp XL" Thermarest with one
of the Pro-Lite variety... it's just way too bulky to carry when rolled up.

Cycling stuff aside (eg: I have a toolkit now, spare tube, patches etc) let
me ask these questions:

1) what's the MINIMUM camping gear you'd bring with you to go bike camping?

For the spring and summer, a lightweight nylon tarp is a nice
alternative to a tent. A sleeping bag is essential, one of those 3/8
inch blue foam pads can substitute for a thermarest. A Pepsi can
stove ( http://www.pcthiker.com/pages/gear/pepsistove.shtml ) works
great for cooking, no need for anything heavier unless you are melting
snow. A one quart aluminum pot, plate, cup, spoon. toothbrush,
washcloth, handtowel, Dr. Bronners peppermint soap ( Don't drink soap!
Dilute! Dilute! ) toilet paper, lighter, swiss army knife.

Quoted message said:

2) as above but with the added requirement: "to be reasonably comfortable"
3) what would be considered a "luxury" bike-camping kit selection without
getting stupid about it? (eg: a porta-potty is ridiculous)

For luxury add one of those traditional aluminum espresso makers and a
Zassenhaus Turkish coffee grinder, a 12 inch frying pan and spatula,
small cutting board, a Japanese vegetable knife, some sort of folding
chair, a bath towel, inflatable pillow.

"Jim Smith" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"C.J.Patten" <[email hidden]> writes:

Quoted message said:

For the spring and summer, a lightweight nylon tarp is a nice
alternative to a tent. A sleeping bag is essential, one of those 3/8
inch blue foam pads can substitute for a thermarest. A Pepsi can
stove ( http://www.pcthiker.com/pages/gear/pepsistove.shtml ) works
great for cooking, no need for anything heavier unless you are melting
snow. A one quart aluminum pot, plate, cup, spoon. toothbrush,
washcloth, handtowel, Dr. Bronners peppermint soap ( Don't drink soap!
Dilute! Dilute! ) toilet paper, lighter, swiss army knife.

I LOVE that soda-can stove!!! What a great idea. At first glance on that
site, it says it uses denatured alcohol. Any idea if it'll use standard
automotive gasoline? (or aviation fuel - 100LL or JetA)

Quoted message said:

For luxury add one of those traditional aluminum espresso makers and a
Zassenhaus Turkish coffee grinder, a 12 inch frying pan and spatula,
small cutting board, a Japanese vegetable knife, some sort of folding
chair, a bath towel, inflatable pillow.

HA! Now that IS luxury.

I saw a ThermaRest last year that "converted" into several things - matress,
chair etc.

One thing I'm very fond of is items that serve multiple purposes - if they
do each job well. (the convertarest seemed to...though I've seen so-called
multi-purpose gizmos that were absolute garbage)

Thanks for the info! GREAT stuff!

Chris

C.J.Patten said:

"Jim Smith" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"C.J.Patten" <[email hidden]> writes:

Quoted message said:

For the spring and summer, a lightweight nylon tarp is a nice
alternative to a tent. A sleeping bag is essential, one of those 3/8
inch blue foam pads can substitute for a thermarest. A Pepsi can
stove ( http://www.pcthiker.com/pages/gear/pepsistove.shtml ) works
great for cooking, no need for anything heavier unless you are melting
snow. A one quart aluminum pot, plate, cup, spoon. toothbrush,
washcloth, handtowel, Dr. Bronners peppermint soap ( Don't drink soap!
Dilute! Dilute! ) toilet paper, lighter, swiss army knife.

I LOVE that soda-can stove!!! What a great idea. At first glance on that
site, it says it uses denatured alcohol. Any idea if it'll use standard
automotive gasoline? (or aviation fuel - 100LL or JetA)

Yeah, I think they are great. I have made a bunch of them, my
favorite is made out of the small V8 juice cans. Lots of info at:
http://zenstoves.net/ Everyone says not to try using gasoline, as it
could explode. I am taking their word for it. Around here (midwest)
most convenience and drug stores sell HEET gas tank anti freeze which
works great for fuel ( 12 oz for $1.50 mostly methanol ) or Home Depot
sells quarts and gallons of denatured alcohol.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

For luxury add one of those traditional aluminum espresso makers and a
Zassenhaus Turkish coffee grinder, a 12 inch frying pan and spatula,
small cutting board, a Japanese vegetable knife, some sort of folding
chair, a bath towel, inflatable pillow.

HA! Now that IS luxury.

I have found that by using some of the lightweight stuff (like a tarp
instead of a tent) It ends up being practical to bring some
extravagant stuff.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I LOVE that soda-can stove!!! What a great idea. At first glance on that
site, it says it uses denatured alcohol. Any idea if it'll use standard
automotive gasoline? (or aviation fuel - 100LL or JetA)

Don't even dream of using gasoline if you don't want a confalgration.

Simple burners tend to be fuel specific and the soda can stove will only
work well with denatured alcohol though high strength vodka, gin and the
like will work too :-)