VPI

Any of you pros have any opinions on the Nemo line of tents. Maybe a Veda 1P and Galaxy 2P?

What the hell was I doing in that first pic?

Awesome

Until you provide a more viable scenario, I will have to believe the whole Satan thing, sorry.

So I picked up some more supplies today at REI. I could not choose a sleeping bag so I talked to an REI employee, who I am pretty sure sleeps in a tent behind the REI, and he recommended I get a cheap REI convertible bag with Sea to Summit inserts to bring it to the temps I will be looking for. Lighter than any of the bags and packs fairly small so it will be a start until I decide what bag I want. Also got the REI flash sleeping mat. Got a rain cover made of something called Event fabric. and a Thermoball coat that can pack up into its own pocket.

Pictures Please

I think I will primarily be on the Appalachian Trail in Virginia and points south for my early attempts. My plan is to buy all the cool toys that are pretty much trail universal at first and buy specific stuff for specific trips as needed. I am probably around 70% lightweight and 30% comfort at this point. That might change dramatically to 165% lightweight 295% comfort after my first real hike.

I bought the Pocket Rocket to start off with. The JetBoil Flash stove was the one I was most impressed with so I am not sure I will stick with the Pocket Rocket but it is a start.

That is a great tip. It seems like most of the places I have looked at have fire bans going most of the year so I am not sure when I will be able to practice starting a fire with the new toys. I am actually looking at a smaller 50L bag of the UL variety to play with now as well, maybe an Osprey of some sort?

Snow Peak

Dinny, the toys seem to be abundant. I now have a Ti Spork, how have I lived all this time without a Ti Spork?

Colin tells me hiking in his area is the best he has seen, and he is an almost Eagle Scout.

Good info. I was actually looking at Thermarest pads and some lightweight tents/bags to start with. A lot of the videos I am seeing have people using denatured alcohol as a stove source, not sure if that is because they want easier transport or something to do with the cook systems they use.

Yeah I went and looked at the tarp/tent thing. Not sure I will have those walking sticks. I think REI has both of those stoves, plus some Ti cooking pots that I will pick up. No need for coffee so no worries there.

Another possibly limited interested topic, but I know a few here spend time hiking/camping and I am trying to get into it and looking for a repository of the best products, etc. and tips on overnight, multi-day, etc. backpacking trips. So far I only have the backpack Gregory Baltoro 75, a spork, a fire kit, various Busse knives and Vapur collapsible water bottles. What are you guys packing and using on your hiking trips?

Hey Mike, what was that smaller bag you carry of the EDC variety? I remember seeing it on a couple of trips to Florida but never noted the brand. Kind of large book sized insert maybe?

Oh yeah, I do not think there is much difference in top end speed between the bikes, I think it is the response I guess when you punch it seems so much more efficient and faster on the 13lb R5 compared to the 17lb Calfee.

I should be up for a ride next weekend. The ride was good, it is just fun to bitch.

Made it about 5 miles into the ride before I decided I could not put up with the triathletes and shufflers and turned back. I could not count the number of time I was coming up on a group of the 3/4 mph "runners" shuffling about in front of me and I had the triathlete geeks in their aero positions cruising through at 12 MPH in the opposite direction. Of course they won't slow down as they are training for the Aerotwat 100 or some such so I have to practically stop from 20+ mph to let them through so I can pass the runners that have now slowed down to .2 mph so they can drink from one of the 40 tiny bottles strapped to their waists. Shitty ride of about 11 miles but the Craft base layers worked great. First time I have been on the Cervelo since the Spring. Not as comfortable as the Calfee but so much faster.

Hmmm, in the 40s tomorrow morning. Now where did I put all those Craft base layers I bought and never wore. Rode to the gym tonight and it was fucking chilly.

Which handlebar is the throttle again?

I am going to have to get out for a ride this weekend so I am able to remember how for our big ride later this month. How do those shifter things work again?

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday Jim