Kit test in the Southwest.

[Brenhden]

2018 Kit test weekend.


Off to the black forest in a few weeks so needed to test all the gear I’ve swapped out since my last adventure:
1. CRF250 Rally.
2. OH Soft Panniers.
3. Ebay tank bag.
4. Crane (Aldi) 60l holdall.
5. Ground sheet.
6. Helonix copy camp bed.
7. Crane down sleeping bag
8. Oxford WP boots.
9. Crane bike jeans.
10. Berghaus WP trousers.
11. Gelert WP Jacket.
12. Mountain LW down jacket.
13. Lomo wetsuit
14. Gul Wet Shoes.

Day 1, 01/06/18


The wet weather warnings had subsided and after a lot of thought and checking forecasts I decided on Exmoor and Dartmoor. I left the house at 1200 in the stiflingly muggy weather and after about 15 minutes had to stop and put my waterproofs on, back on the M5 and the sun came out and I roasted all the way to Taunton. Flaps open I took the A358 and then the B3224 into Exmoor. It’s a good country road but a lot of high hedges hide the view. Somewhere near Wheddon Cross is a beautiful lookout spot on an old iron mine and I stopped for some water and a cereal bar.

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I kept heading the same way until I reached Barnstaple and then headed towards Dartmoor. I failed to take the A337 and ended up off course in the rain, this new satnav had let me down...

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An hour of back lanes got me to past Crediton, over Woodland Head and down to Sweet Meadows camping at around 1730 and after catching up with the owners I pitched and had sardine roll.

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I started reading Catcher in the Rye and returned the book I ‘borrowed’ last time we visited (For Your Eyes Only). There is no phone reception there so I hiked up the hill to speak to Charlotte and then had a Pasta ‘n’ Sauce and a bottle of wine while the overgrown garden they call a campsite buzzed with wildlife. Catcher In the Rye is rubbish IMO so I swapped it for another of their books and settled down with King Solomon’s Mines. Bed time and I realised there are no PJ’s on my camp list. Sleep around 2230.
Riding: 150 miles, 5 hours.

[Brenhden]

Day 2, 02/06/18

Woke with the deafening dawn chorus and dozed till 0500. The bed is firm and comfortable, nothing like a roll mat but similar size and not much heavier. I slept in a fleece which worked really well. I’d put a polycotton sleeping bag liner around the down bag as it holds it closer to you and makes is feel a bit more snug. I may spray glue on the back my Mammut inflatable pillow so it has a bit more traction on the bed. A small slug had suspended itself in my tent on a piece of silk so I’m guessing it must have got lucky right in front of me while I slept… Nice. Breakfast was two teas, double egg roll and a fresh coffee all done on the mini Trangia. For the coffee I use a fine plastic tea strainer Charlotte got me, it works a treat and is less than 5g!
The lack of washing up sink is a real pain on this site, also as I was first in the shower it was scolding hot, plus there was some grumpy dude waiting for the loo and there is only one (tired) bathroom on site attached to the farm house.
Todays plan was to cross Dartmoor and thanks to a tip from the ancient and eccentric site owner head for a natural pool up on Bodmin Moor. As there is zero coms on site I had to take his word for it and just head in that general direction and work it out later. I broke camp, saddled up and was on the road at 0800 and it was already way over 20C. Heading south and up very steep hills through pine forests I was super happy. I popped into the super posh Bovey Castle (where I felt out of place as it’s a poncey golf club with Valet Parking).

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Breaking out onto the sunny moorland and finally having some phone reception stopped to call my other half while sheep and ponies wandered around. Dartmoor is such a rugged, barren and empty place it’s an utter pleasure to ride around.

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However I made a classic mistake. As it was so warm when I left camp I was underdressed and over the next two hours I just got colder and colder as the temp went down on the moor. A stupid mistake that 14 year old Bren would never have made on Dartmoor… By the time I realised and put all my gear on I was bone cold and needed tea. I crossed into Cornwall at Tavistock and was immediately confronted with a line of VW campers, traffic jams and narrow roads!

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[Brenhden]

And then was going to visit a Golitha Fall but cold and the fantastic cooking smell drew me to this place:

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Over the next hour I consumed two mugs of tea (pound each) and the best bacon sandwich I have eaten in years. They cure their own bacon, cut it thick as two pound coins and serve piles of it piping hot on sourdough. I sat in a rocking chair and slowly warmed up all the way through. Whilst sitting there I had a revalation about why I was so fatigued… When I took my bag and jackets off I realised they were really heavy when all warn at once even though each was fairly light. On my back I had: Bike Jacket, Waterproof Jacket, Camelpack, swimkit, firstaid kit, down jacket (packed), leatherman, phone, wallet, litre of water and three cereal bars. All together they were about 10kg!
Recharged and unburdened I headed off up to Dozmary Pool. I was alone, the sky was moody and wind was whipping across the moor but, filled with bacon and tea, and in a break in the clouds I went for it. It wasn’t cold but it was slimy and rocky so I was really glad of the Gul surf shoes. After a bit of splashing around I was out dry and warm and back on the bike heading across Bodmin Moor. IMO Bodmin is the nicest of the three moors I crossed, it’s more Lord of the Rings like...
After that I passed Cardinham, Lostwithiel and St Austell before going right through Mevagissey and up the headland.

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I crossed into a gated road, which was really lovely and finally ended up at Treveague Farm Campsite at around 1430. Over this side of the coast the sun was scorchio so once my tent was up I grabbed my new wetsuit and walked down to Hemmick beach to test it out. The beach is lovely and quiet and I got my suit on and got right in the surf bobbing around for about half an hour. Job done and I walked back up to camp and had a 50p shower. I grabbed four bottles of Rattler and two hot pasties and headed back to sit looking at the sea from my tent whilst indulging my love of Cornwall and greed…

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Two and half ciders down I had my nightly call and I’m beat so I head to bed even earlier.
Riding 87 miles, 6 hours.

[Brenhden]

Day 3, 03/06/18
Up at 0530 and quite a bit colder than the night before I’d had to put my down jacket across my legs for warmth. Two teas, a coffee, double fried eggs on fried bread and cereals bars later and I was packed and ready for the ride home in the sunshine. I set off around 0830 and cruised along the coast to Plymouth before joining the M5 and slogging back to Burnham. I was home by 1200.
Riding 143 miles, 3.5 hours.
So how about the kit?
1. CRF250 Rally. Runs great, looks great and is fairly comfortable although on the motorway is a bit tiring. The small fuel tank is pretty annoying. I think I filled up 4 times in this short trip.

2. OH Soft Panniers. A faff to fit but the right size and cheap, not sure how many trips they will last.

3. Ebay tank bag. Works well but is a faff when refuelling.

4. Crane (Aldi) 60l holdall. Excellent but a bit too big, I only took it as I had the wetsuit. It needs side pockets.

5. Ground sheet. Works a treat.

6. Helonix copy camp bed. Very comfortable and packs small. It’s hard work to pitch and I think it will not last long as it’s under so much strain when in use.

7. Crane down sleeping bag. Works but needs a liner.

8. Oxford WP boots. Cheap comfy (I was advised to go up a size). Totally waterproof.

9. Crane bike jeans. These work great but the armour is in the wrong place when I’m sat on the bike. I’m not sure if it’s the jeans or the position I sit in…

10. Berghaus WP trousers. These are the business, they have side zip so are really easy to put on.

11. Gelert WP Jacket. Really good quality and totally waterproof but too heavy.

12. Mountain LW down jacket. Really light, packs down great. Perfect for under the biker jacket or in the evening.

13. Lomo wetsuit. My first ever full length wetsuit. Fits great and kept me warm.

14. Gul Wet Shoes. These are great, can wear them around camp or scrambling up river beds.

[zimtim]

Nice one Bren.

[diggermanbob]

Good write up , you weren't far from my bolt hole in Cornwall , Polruan , glad to see the little bike is doing the job.

[P4ulie]

Thanks for that Bren, just ordered some of the Gel wet shoes as could have used them walking up river beds in Cumbria last week.

I bought the Crane down bag as a *ahem* birthday present for the Mrs (i'm not evil she's getting other stuff) but sounds like if it needs a liner as well it will likely end up packing as big as my 3 season down bag

I will just have to test it for her, wouldn't want her getting cold now

[herman]

Ta muchly for that, Catcher in the Rye is one of the few books I could not be arsed to finish too.

[boboneleg]

Nice one Brenhden, interesting choice of kit.

Cornish Rattler and pastie 10/10

Sardine roll 1/10

[Tramp]

Cheers Brenhden..... Best sleeping bag by far is a snugpak elite..... And a down jacket and summer biker and waterproof over overs all bases.... And a pair of longjohns for them mountain passes... We are british after all...

Enjoy the black forest and dont eat too much gateaux or drink too many pils...the piesporter aint bad.