The Dickson
Registered user
Hi All, this is my first ride report, not so much a big trip but a couple of days in the lakes with an over night, primarily aimed at testing my cold weather kit and getting on the bike!
I'm never one for taking the bare minimum especially camping in what was forecast to be sub zero temperatures, and having a bike to put it on. I am used to cold camping, not on foot but in sea kayaks so know that pack light stay awake at night (a term picked up from a Para on the ferry back from France last year).
There were a few essentials that add volume that I had to take.
Down Sleeping bag
Down sleeping mat
Tent
Down jacket - sitting outside the tent with a book and cooking can make you cold
I also had to take little items for comfort like hats gloves etc. I'd recently bought a Richa all in one which was better quality than I expected, and really made the difference to the cold wind, it also helped when kneeling down putting the tent up.
I packed it all up in a logical order, tent and some other external (to sleeping area) items in the dry bag on the pillion, so i can get the tent up and then take the bits inside.
It was Friday mid afternoon and was heading for Langdale National Trust campsite which looked great from pictured and reviews. I took a pretty direct route from Southport as not to be caught out by diminishing light. I had bought a new tent Vango Omega 350, and although similar in structure and set up as my previous tent the inner wasn't in side as it was the first time setting up and doing this in low light can cause heat, sweat and irritability.
Arrived at the sight around 4pm got everything set up without any drama and had a brew in my chair before the light went.
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After a quick brew and a Look what we found lamb hot pot X2, I popped over to the local pub for a couple of Wainwrights. After a warm nights sleep I woke to a glorious day, -1 degree and a sprinkle of frost on the tent.
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Packed the bits all together and stopped to the reception for a coffee and a bacon baguette
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The temperature had gone up to 1 degree, but fortunately the sun was on the road going out and the gritters had been passed, still not a time for complacency.
The views were amazing, and I was quite happy bimberling along at a steady pace.
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Headed back after a few miles, dry warm and happy with all of the kit, I did take some stuff I didnt use but on a longer trip I would. The packing would be done different, utilising the big dry bag on the pillion to free up more space in the panniers.
All in all a good little trip
I'm never one for taking the bare minimum especially camping in what was forecast to be sub zero temperatures, and having a bike to put it on. I am used to cold camping, not on foot but in sea kayaks so know that pack light stay awake at night (a term picked up from a Para on the ferry back from France last year).
There were a few essentials that add volume that I had to take.
Down Sleeping bag
Down sleeping mat
Tent
Down jacket - sitting outside the tent with a book and cooking can make you cold
I also had to take little items for comfort like hats gloves etc. I'd recently bought a Richa all in one which was better quality than I expected, and really made the difference to the cold wind, it also helped when kneeling down putting the tent up.
I packed it all up in a logical order, tent and some other external (to sleeping area) items in the dry bag on the pillion, so i can get the tent up and then take the bits inside.
It was Friday mid afternoon and was heading for Langdale National Trust campsite which looked great from pictured and reviews. I took a pretty direct route from Southport as not to be caught out by diminishing light. I had bought a new tent Vango Omega 350, and although similar in structure and set up as my previous tent the inner wasn't in side as it was the first time setting up and doing this in low light can cause heat, sweat and irritability.
Arrived at the sight around 4pm got everything set up without any drama and had a brew in my chair before the light went.
After a quick brew and a Look what we found lamb hot pot X2, I popped over to the local pub for a couple of Wainwrights. After a warm nights sleep I woke to a glorious day, -1 degree and a sprinkle of frost on the tent.
[video]
Packed the bits all together and stopped to the reception for a coffee and a bacon baguette
The temperature had gone up to 1 degree, but fortunately the sun was on the road going out and the gritters had been passed, still not a time for complacency.
The views were amazing, and I was quite happy bimberling along at a steady pace.
Headed back after a few miles, dry warm and happy with all of the kit, I did take some stuff I didnt use but on a longer trip I would. The packing would be done different, utilising the big dry bag on the pillion to free up more space in the panniers.
All in all a good little trip
wet and windy on the other hand 
