Ultralight bikepacking bed & sleeping setup - Indian Pacific Wheel Race

[@paulrudd1063]

I really like your enthusiasm. And it's nice to see an Australian on KZbin! I have to say that you seem to be making a few of the same mistakes that I made when I first started backpacking and hiking and riding. I am a great believer in bivy bags, but I only use one with a breathable membrane. (I hope the bivy is breathable - Kathmandu have a lot of really cheap shite as well as some pretty good gear). Which is why I don't think there is any point putting a vapour barrier like a survival blanket inside a breathable bivy bag. You're effectively cancelling out the benefits of having a goretex bivy. If your bivy is merely waterproof and not breathable, you might as well be sleeping inside a garbage bag, which is what that survival blanket will feel like. That might keep you alive but you'll be soaking wet in the morning. Also. my experience with silk is that it is very fine and doesn't breathe very well. That's why it is excellent for things like parachutes - there's less airflow through the fabric. So that will be another problem. The silk will sponge up your body vapour. You'll have to dry it out somehow before you get back into it. If you get out during the night for a Tom Riddle that liner will be freezing cold when you get back in. And wet. You'll get very smelly too and increase your risk for skin infections such as tinea or jock itch. Which you especially do not want on a bike ride. Furthermore your air mattress will be very cold as it is a bag of air sitting on top of the ground. Your mattress will cool down to the ambient temperature. It will then draw the heat from your body and very efficiently transfer that to the ground. That will chill the moisture enveloping you, which is being wicked around by the silk. You'll be chilled in the kidneys, it'll reduce your stamina and you'll eventually give yourself arthritis. Every bloke I know who used to sleep directly on the ground has arthritis in the hips and back now. I'd really recommend that you get a light down bag, use the silk liner for very cold nights and wrap the space blanket around your air mattress as a thermal barrier. Your body vapour will then be wicked out through the goretex, you'll be warm in the bag and a lot more pleasant on the nose the next day! A good sleeping bag will cost you a couple hundred dollars (don't get it from kathmandu - their bags are notoriously bad). A good bag will pay for itself over and over again. You'll increase your base weight by a kilo. Which is a fucker. But your health and happiness is worth that cost in weight. In fact, you will be so much better rested you will save more than the energy you expend dragging it around. Its all about the energy income and expenditure equation. Oh and you can't beat the professionals because they cheat like mad.

[@willek1335]

This is obviously 3 years ago, but for anyone else, always test your gear. Always. You'll discover so much about your self and your gear.

[@BikeTall]

My favorite sleeping gear is the ENO junglenest hammock. It rolls up the size of a softball. Has a built in bug net. I sleep better in hammocks than on the ground. But if there are no trees, i can always lay the junglenest on a sleeping pad and use sticks or hiking poles to raise the net or tarp.

[@Raveler1]

Fun trick to convert temps from C to F - Double it, add 32. It's not exact, but it'll get you to the ballpark. 10C would be 52F (In truth, it's 50F - but it's close enough for estimation!) I find it works well enough for me, going the other way - so a comfy 72F is 20C (22C when doing the math properly)

[@jimjones9323]

I use the SOL, it's great and very warm and to some extent waterproof. If the temperature drops then I put some extra cloths on like an down jacket etc...

[@JustRideAdelaide]

Oh yeah? I have heard they're good. I just went for a safer option given how unexpectedly cold it can get in parts of Australia. Plus, can keep snakes out of the one I bought.

[@ImpatientTurtle]

One of those shitty emergency blankets saved me once when I grabbed my summer 10c rated sleeping bag instead of the winter -40c one on a cold winters night kayaking trip. I was wearing every available piece of clothing and slowly freezing to death when I remembered the space man blanket. Slept like a baby after that, a baby wrapped in alfoil, but hey it works.

[@JustRideAdelaide]

Good to know, I could really need it

[@davidonformosa]

What sort of temperatures does this set up remain comfortable at? Adding a sleeping bag would mean more weight but also would be a lot more comfortable.

[@friarrodneyburnap4336]

Brother you should move to the USA and do a talk radio show ...Americans would listen to you just to listen to you talk. . .love you voice. ... .

[@jamesglarovidography]

Hey James, love your Indipac series! Would you be able to do a bit more of a detailed review on the XT bivy, no one else on youtube has done one and I'm looking to get into bikepacking!

[@JustRideAdelaide]

Well thanks for your nice words! As for the bivvy... y'know, it's a solid bivvy. It's just a bivvy though so it's not inherently warm, it's a shell against the elements. If you're bikepacking in a warm climate then you're sweet. If it's cold you might need something warmer.

[@bozzwozz9241]

very interesting vids mate. Keep 'em coming!

[@JustRideAdelaide]

Thanks buddy, will do!

[@haamishmcgarry]

Did you get a chance to try it out on pouring rain?

[@jameskitchell1277]

if it's going to be real cold you might want a hand pump so the moisture from your breath don't cause extra problems

[@kevina6587]

clothed up you should be ok in a dry climate at 10C ( I've been a cycle camper for over 20 years ) with that. I'd still want to carry some sort of ultra light down jacket or synthetic...you can get them that weigh 200g nowadays, just because when you are really tired after numerous exhausting days you can get really cold which isn't good for morale.

[@JustRideAdelaide]

I hate how cold you get when endurance cycling. I'll have waterproof jacket and pants that aren't breathable to wear when I'm really cold at night.

[@karensilva416]

Love your enthusiastic presentation. I know its not related but where did you get your bookshelves?

[@ian2-tone304]

I wonder how the emergency blanket performs over days and weeks. It sort of seems like a non-breathable membrane--like a trash bag lined with aluminum foil. Is it really useful and practical on a regular basis on the road or trail?

[@JustRideAdelaide]

Indeed it is. I'm hoping I don't have to use it because it'll be awful. I'm sure I'll be glad to have it if I do need it.

[@OnzeManInKazakhstan]

Ride Adelaide use you alu blanket as a ground foil. It'll keep you from losing heat through conduction. So it goes in the bivy bag under the mattress. If you wake up at night because of cold, simply rolll the remaining foil over you. Dont expect miracles, but otoh suprising how much difference a bit of foil makes.

[@ian2-tone304]

Seems like a fitting piece of gear to throw in the kit pack--super light and useful. Many thanks.

[@robinmacandrew103]

How small does it pack down as one together?

[@Selendrake74]

The escape bivvy has a new big bro, the escape pro which looks rad... I went into katmydoo and they didn't sell the bivvy, oh sad face. Soo my final solution after many times trying to figure it out is as such..... helium birthday balloons and teflon spray! Aero and lightweight..lol. Yes the light stuff is pricey, I just ended up with a sea to summit pad a army bivvy and tryed a liner in a fleece liner and don't even need a sleeping bag in qld, if I ever get out of qld eg colder weather I'll have to rethink it I think

[@Selendrake74]

oh bugger, my army bivvy leaks, (dont get an army surplus unit) so went down to katmandu and they are having a 50% off sale. have you put it to the test yet (xt bivvy from kathmandu?) any leaks yet?

[@samlewis4283]

Would you be able to add a link to your Strava account. Would be good to follow your ride and see what training you are doing for the event.

[@JustRideAdelaide]

Oh yeah, I've been meaning to do that for a while. Here it is buddy: www.strava.com/athletes/1175027

[@veganinstinct2813]

Will you bring along a lock? I personally would always worry someone would steal the bike.

[@JustRideAdelaide]

For sure, got a little cable lock. It won't put up too much of a fight but it'll at least stop someone walking away with it.

[@andrewdolan6516]

Can you let me know how you found the bivy bag, would be great to have a few responses to tell the people at work, also if you want any tips on how to keep it further off your face hit me up

[@JustRideAdelaide]

Will do buddy!

[@frankkudos7338]

Hi, how did the bivy go?

[@benbogey]

Can you go into what batteries & charging you will be using. Any solar options ?

[@JustRideAdelaide]

Solar is a waste of time. I will likely have a dynamo hub wheel built up that will trickle charge a USB power pack. I could definitely get away with just using USB power packs though. It's fine as long as you stay in accommodation often enough. I have a 16,000mAh pack that will keep all lights, phone, and Garmin going for at least 48 hours no worries. I just gotta plug everything in when I stay in a motel. A smaller backup battery pack will be added to the gear just to be safe.

[@jimjones9323]

Benny JJ it takes about 8 hours of good light to charge a battery. That 8 hours your not cycling. Dynamo is the way to go.

[@jamdiversified9698]

I think Jesse Carlson used the sol emergency bivvy which is even smaller than the sol escape bivvy u had there haha, he's brave!

[@JustRideAdelaide]

Yeah he does! I actually bought one of those initially because he used it. Once got it and though... "is that it?" It's TINY. So I sold it to a mate and got this one. It's heavier, and a little bigger but sleep is so critical.

[@hoser7706]

10c is 50f. Double the celsius temp snd add 30. Just sayin…😬

[@atomicdonky4791]

what do you use for charging your electronics. could you do a vid please

[@JustRideAdelaide]

Sure thing. Still finalising that part of the setup but will definitely make a vid.

[@jimjones9323]

Atomik DonkycannoN a dynamo with a sinewave inverter. Either charge directly or via a buffer battery pack.

[@CARBDOPING]

Dude! I love that Columbus shirt!!

[@JustRideAdelaide]

Yesssss, I wear it as a nod to other bike nerds!

[@clacclackerson3678]

Call me a snivelling weakling, but if you even sleep one night in that setup you deserve a medal.

[@clacclackerson3678]

What if it's pissing down when you're sleepy?

[@JustRideAdelaide]

I reckon I'll spend some nights in it. I will always try and spend the night in accomodation where possible. If it's pissing down I'll try my best to get to accomodation or try and put it under something.

[@clacclackerson3678]

Best of luck. Have a great adventure. I'm in awe and slightly jealous.

[@jorisjanssen12]

Why don’t you use a micro tent ?

[@JustRideAdelaide]

Price, size, not really necessary for sealed road bikepacking.

[@lautoka63]

Are you going to try it out before you leave?

[@JustRideAdelaide]

Maaaaaybe, Don't wanna though! Probably should...

[@tommartin3459]

i think you should, wouldn't wanna need it at night and have no idea what to do :P

[@JustRideAdelaide]

Hey, I did it in my living room!

[@mohamiltonA5]

Whats with the Columbus shirt? I grew up in columbus, ohio - lol. And thanks for the awesome videos! Cheers!

[@JustRideAdelaide]

Columbus is an Italian company who makes steel tubes for bikes. Bianchi, De Rosa, Pinarello, Colnago all used to be made of Columbus tubes. Quite a lot of custom steel frames are made from it nowadays too.

[@mohamiltonA5]

Oh that would make sense- haha cool!

[@bonniepoker2115]

Will you beat Durianrider?

[@JustRideAdelaide]

Doubtful. He has a lot more endurance experience. Plus he has all day every day to train and prepare. But hey, 5,500km is a long way. Anything can happen.

[@lautoka63]

deg C to deg F; crudely, add 15 & double it. Otherwise, F = 9/5*C + 32. Engineers just have to do this sort of thing.

[@JustRideAdelaide]

Perhaps I'll just cross my fingers that America adopts the metric system :D

[@DeanJohnson67]

in the mid 70's we were taught metrics in Grade School and were told we "THE US" were making a push to convert soon.......That was 40 years ago! I wouldn't hold my breath ;) were apparently pretty damned stubborn!

[@plutoplatters]

now people are taking OCD to new heights !!

[@JS-tb9hu]

Did I see a sleeping bag?

[@JustRideAdelaide]

Nope, just a bivy, silk liner and a space blanket thingy.

[@JS-tb9hu]

I guess it doesn't matter if you are a little cold as you are not sleeping for very long at all.

[@JustRideAdelaide]

Absolutely, this setup is for maaaaybe half the race or less. Ideally I want to sleep in accommodation as much as possible. Especially in cold or crap weather.

[@wayneproud2822]

first...... oh by the way, your not allowed to sleep, only shower! 😂

[@JustRideAdelaide]

Can I sleep under the shower? #efficiency

[@wayneproud2822]

##onlyshowerforthewinIPWR

[@wayneproud2822]

:P

[@SaxnYT]

might be bit chilly haha

[@JustRideAdelaide]

If it's cold I'll dress in very layer I have before getting in. Michelin man style

[@SaxnYT]

Ride Adelaide haha good stuff man, will you being another video of the other items your taking? eg: clothes other random stuff?!

[@JustRideAdelaide]

For sure man, I am lucky to have got some really great support from local a bike apparel store so I've got some sweet year. I'll do more videos about that stuff. I'll also be publishing reviews for some of the gear through www.lavelocita.cc if you want to read some stuff too.

[@dylannewton76]

Ivan Basso doppelgänger