Friday 25 September 2015

Trangia 27-8UL/HA

My Chinese multi-fuel stove failed on the first night of a recent trip. The fuel bottle leaked when starting to pressurise, something I'd seen before and it seemed to be just a sticky o-ring. I'd diddled with it three times and got covered in petrol each time I tried it again. I was done with it.

I had already been re-evaluating what I need from a stove considering what I tend to cook. My mate had made a comment about reliability being key and that struck a chord. He'd been using a Trangia for a fair few years but when I'd borrowed one to try, years before, it seemed to use lots of fuel for a very slow cook, so I'd dismissed them as not what I'd wanted.

I managed to survive the weekend by eating only either stuff that didn't need to be cooked or that only needed hot water (begged or borrowed). By my thinking (and from how my mate had talked about his) a Trangia should now be reconsidered but if I'm going to splash out, maybe I should get the hard anodised version as it should last a bit longer being shaken around on the bike.

The HA version should be tough. The Trangia design is inherently stable (no wobbly pots sliding off or the whole thing tipping over). They also don't heat the surface they're sitting on to any significant degree so could be used on groundsheets or tables without fear of scorching. Kettle and pans nest and work together meaning it's compact and almost everything you need is together. They don't need any special lighting requirements, pre-heating etc, just a spark will do it. Fuel supposedly lasts longer (cheaper per meal/less to carry) and they simmer well. Of course non-stick means little or no oil required and easier cleaning too. What's not to like? Maybe they're not the fastest, but I'm not usually in a rush.


Wednesday 16 September 2015

Wales again, by motorcycle

Just me and GB, spending four days riding in Wales. 

The plan
No real plan. We had some GPS routes of some interesting roads we wanted to do, but that was it. No campsites booked either, not even looked at any.

Gear loading
A new set up for me, the possibility of off-roading meant I wanted to leave the topbox behind. Just two panniers and a small pack strapped to the rack. 
GB's smaller bike with tall suspension and tall luggage made getting on and off really difficult for him. I could throw my leg over, no problem. These difference were highlighted later when we got muddy...

Arriving 
We arrived at the campsite and pulled up at our chosen spot. We're chatting as I lean the bike over onto its sidestand only to topple over and fall to the ground. GB has to take a picture, in between wetting himself. Sidestand wasn't down :-P

New tent set-up 
The Hi Gear Soloista, a cheap solo tent (referred to as the coffin) and a cheap tarp was my home for three nights. The idea was it would be quick to put up and down and take up less space on the bike. The tarp would provide a place to cook and shelter from the inevitable Welsh rain. I wanted it to be quick as we weren't planning on staying in the same place each night.
Coffin and tarp, with micro-fiber towel drying on one of the lines.
The set-up worked in as much as it kept me warm and dry but it was more of a faff than my regular tent. The tarp was secured with paracord guy-lines tied with taut-line hitches for easy tensioning. It was small and lightweight but the extra hassle in setting it up and the possibility of having to move it if the wind changed direction means I won't be using it again. I tried it but it's not for me; no real benefits for how I like to camp.
Shouldn't take photos while riding.
Stove expires
After a fair service life, my cheap Chinese multi-fuel stove gave up the ghost, on the first night. I learned a few things over the time and don't regret buying it. I could have still bought a gas canister to get me through the weekend, but I didn't. Not sure why. 

Deep ruts & panniers don't mix
We headed off-road for part of the Strata Florida; through one of a thousand gates and down a fairly steep stony track. At the bottom there was a shallow water crossing, only about 6" deep but had a concrete slab bottom (notoriously slippery). We had to open another gate first and getting the GSA on and off the side-stand on odd slopes and cambers is a challenge in itself. GB went through and straight up the steep, muddy, eroding track on the other side. I had to cross, come back to get the gate and then start from a standstill. I was very impressed with how the GSA handled that hill.

Too many gates and GB couldn't get on or off very easily because of his tall luggage on an already tall bike, so it was up to me to get most of the gates. Too many gates. Being tall and narrow he did have the advantage of not snagging his luggage on tree roots and rocks, like I did, when the track side came up high. Twice I caught my panniers enough to stop me. Once on a tree stump and once on a rock, both times I was in a deep rut with high sided banks so it was impossible to manoeuvre around them or get the stand down. If I'd been narrower (without panniers) I don't think I would have had any issues. GB got through fine with his narrow set-up, as long as he didn't want to get on and off too often he was happy. Snagging my panniers was killing my momentum and I was getting stuck. I could smell my clutch and enough was enough. GB said he would've continued further if he had more fuel, but then he'd have to get his own damn gates. Did I mention there were a lot of gates?



Pannier plate & tool tube

Need extra storage

I know the BMW R1200 GS Adventure can carry a fair amount of crap but sometimes when "travelling light" I could do with some extra storage; mainly for tools and bits I want with me no matter what luggage I choose to leave behind. A mini compressor, Stop & Go puncture kit and a few very basic tools live under the seat but I need space for the more comprehensive kit that usually ends up in my topbox. An upcoming trip with the possibility of some off-road riding (no topbox) meant I should pull my finger out.

I had long toyed with the idea of putting a plate behind the right-hand pannier rack to allow me to bolt stuff to it. I wasn't keen on the styling of most to the available toolboxes, especially given the prices. Most aren't waterproof in anyway either and tend to look like a cheap tin box. I couldn't bring myself to part with my hard-earned for such an item.

A medium sized tooltube (the ones everybody uses) was cheap enough, rugged and suitably sized to fit nicely in the space behind the rack with just enough clearance from the rear wheel and brake caliper when the suspension compresses. That was the theory anyway.
The plate was cut from a ~4mm thick aluminium base plate from an old power supply (hence the holes) and was cut and shaped with a very old electric jigsaw and hand files. Stainless steel M5 button-head Allen bolts hold the plate in place on the rack through holes drilled in the pannier mounting tabs. The tooltube is bolted on with M8 nuts and bolts and best of all; the theory is sound - no collisions! Tested out in Wales on part of the Strata Florida.

Look ma, no damage!
I did plug a small breather hole in the underside of the tool tube with a small plastic snap-in plug which I then fused on the inside with a soldering iron to help keep the water out.



I do quite like the new Touratech toolbox though, it's cheaper than most too.