Journal

I promised Ash I would guest post on his blog from time to time, something I'm more than happy to do, so here is the first of an irregular series of posts on a variety of topics that hopefully will make you want to ride your bike even more...

We're very much still in the depths of winter but spring comes early to west Cornwall so now is a good time I reckon to start thinking about all the things you can do with your bike when spring does get here. I'm very much a fan of using my bike to have adventures, and contrary to popular belief it isn't necessary to book time off work, leave your family, and fly half-way around the world to have an adventure (although that is fun..)... instead stay in Cornwall and have some weekend, or even midweek micro-adventures... Leave after work, ride somewhere amazing, sleep out, ride back, shower at work (if you can) and get on with your day feeling particularly smug about how good your life is while your colleagues chatter about what was on the telly last night. Cornwall has some cracking spots to spend a discrete night out, just be sure to leave absolutely no trace of your occupancy.

By the way.. that which follows is not intended to be a comprehensive how to.. rather it is intended to perhaps give you some ideas for enjoying your bike in ways that go beyond the Sunday cafe ride or usual post-work loop.

Make the most of your bike in 2017

Minimal kit is required, you don't even need a touring bike, any bike will do.. the best bike is the bike you've got... and it doesn't need to be able to take a rack. With the rise in popularity of bike-packing there is now available an enormous variety of bags specifically designed for carrying stuff on bikes without racks. I know that Ash stocks a decent range of bikepacking bags from  Blackburn Design and Carradice (possibly the original bikepacking bags, and with a touch of traditional British class) and can get Altura stuff too.  Pop in to the store to find out more. The reality is however that while all the different flavours of bags are really useful and well worth the investment you don't absolutely need any specialist stuff at all... a couple of stuffsacs or drybags and some webbing straps can go an awful long way, particularly if the forecast is good and you leave your tent at home and either kip out under the stars or carry a tarp just to keep the dew off.

Bike-specific bags are useful but not essential for a quick overnighter.. a dry bag and couple of webbing straps can go a long way. This has my sleeping bag, liner and mattress. Bike is my Surly Cross Check which is just awesome for this kind of messing about as well as bigger adventures. Ash can get hold of all things Surly for you :-)

Traditional Carradice bags are great and age wonderfully. They do need bag loops on your saddle but if yours doesn't have them accessory ones that attach to the saddle rails are available for a few quid.

By way of keeping the gear required to a minimum you can leave the stove at home too, instead stop for fish and chips on your way out, a couple of muesli bars for the morning to get you to the nearest cafe are pretty much all you need... Having said that a small stove is really great for a leisurely mug of coffee while watching the sun rise. Small gas canister or meths-burning stoves are really cheap - check eBay, alpkit.com for example.. or if you feel a little more 'bushcrafty' pick up a miniature woodburner, you can find examples for around a tenner on eBay, or make your own. There are plenty of 'instructables' on the web for making both meths stoves from a soft drinks can, or wood-gasifer stoves from old tin cans.

Leave the stove at home and instead find a pub or chippy on your outbound ride.

This is my little woodburner. It folds to smaller than a pack of cards... Be careful not to set fire to stuff if the weather is dry.

Another wood (or leaves, heather etc etc) burning alternative.. a few quid from eBay.

So.. what do you really need to carry with you.... if the forecast is good then a sleeping bag, a sleeping mat  - not just for those slightly less 'ard  - it will help keep you warm, some snacks, and a warm layer. A headlamp is useful as is a knife.. and I like my woolly hat, even in summer.  After that if you're taking a stove then some sort of pot is handy... cheap mess tims off eBay are a good place to start on a budget. One other thing before I finish... I don't really want this post to turn into an instructable on how to poop in the wild in an environmentally appropriate way so instead here's an article for your perusal. Or just wait till you get to the cafe :-)

Take your fishing rod and catch your tea... might be a good idea to have an alternative source of nutrition on hand however...

If the forecast is good keep your clobber to a minimum and just kip out under the stars. It's great. If you don't have, or don't want a bivy bag then a synthetic sleeping bag, or down bag with a water-resistant shell is a good idea in the UK because of overnight dew fall on clear nights.

There, hopefully that'll give you some ideas to begin with...

Happy riding, Mike.

Good for spending quality time with your mates