What Did I Learn - Fat Biking Bikepacking Touring ??

Well, the first thing you learn is not to take too much kit with you.

I reckon for a couple of days during the summer I was about right. My spare clothes did not get used, but if it had been raining then that would of been a possibility.

So I do not think I could of made any adjustments there.

However, a rookie mistake was taking tinned food with me. I had some left over from a previous trip and thought I would use it up, so it did serve a purpose, but from now on, it will be pasta/rice and what ever I can buy locally during the day.

This will not only keep the weight down, but also the space.

My rear panniers are small, and to be honest I am thinking about getting front panniers.

My large sleeping bag which would be a must for winter camping would fill a pannier on it's own. I can cope without many things but my sleeping bag is too good not to have.

So with the addition of two small panniers on the front I would then have probably too much space, but at least I could evenly distribute the weight around the frame of the bike rather than having 80% on the back.

The hunt is now on for a pair of Axiom Lowriders - Not easy to get hold of and am contemplating that I may have to buy them from the USA as everywhere I have looked in the UK appear to be out of stock!

Having said all that a quick search and I've just found a pair at the link above!

The tent fitted in it's handlebar bag perfectly with no adverse steering issues along with the two stuff pouches also fitted to the handlebars.

The one thing I did suffer from was tingling and dead fingers on my left hand.

Even with the new grips I still suffered and it took over a day to recover fully.

To see if it makes any difference I have ordered a set of Butterfly Handlebars - I'm waiting for them to arrive, once they are fitted I will see if that makes any difference.

I'm hoping with the multitude of places I can put my hands that this will make a difference and relieve the pressure from my palm.

These are the bars, looking forward to fitting and trying them out.

All in all the little trip was a good shake down of the bike and the kit, I would like to try and get a week away before Christmas, but not sure if I can make that happen or not.

Till later - ride safe.

Day 3 Fatbiking New Forest - Return Home

I didn't want to come straight home so I thought I would take a long winded way via the sea.

Kiera had stayed the night at a friends in Lymington, so as I was heading that way I decided to call in on them and was kindly made Bacon and Eggs!

Filled with Tea and food I made my way to Lower Pennington and across the marshes towards Keyhaven.

Here I stopped for a bit as it has an amazing view out past the harbour and over towards the Isle of Wight.

From here I headed along the sea towards Hurst Spit and then followed the sea up past Milford on Sea.

I stopped at the top kiosk and had an ice cream as this would be my last stop before getting home.

My bike was fully loaded with all my gear, and I was enjoying riding.

I made it home a short time later having completed a relatively easy 13 miles.

Can't wait to plan my next trip!

Till later - ride safe.

Day 2 New Forest Fat Biking

I wanted to get a reasonably early start and managed to get away just after 0900hrs.

First stop was coffee in the village of Sway, but unfortunately the coffee shop was closed that weekend!

So my next stop was Brockenhurst.

I rode through the forest, picked up the old railway line, then dropped into Brockenhurst where I stopped for a bit and had a brew.

This was taken looking down towards the old railway line.

Half way between Brockenhurst and Lyndhurst I stopped for a break, beautiful place to rest up for a while.

The above shots were taken at Bolton's Bench just on the outskirts of Lyndhurst.

Even though the forest is bone dry in places, there are still pockets of lush vegetation. I don't think this view would of changed in over 100 years.

The top picture was taken on this trip and the one below was taken back in April, you can see the difference in the water height!

Again, you can see the difference between the two photographs, during the winter the ground really does fill with water making much of the forest a no go area.

After a long day on the bike covering around 32 miles there was only one thing for tea - Stagg Dynamite Cili Con Carne!

The bike was brilliant all day, coping with all the terrain, many of the paths were sandy and full of loose stone in others.

My route started from Sway, to Brockenhurst (mixture trail/road) then from Brockenhurst to Lyndhurst (99% all trail) then from Lyndhurst to Burley (99% trails) then out of Burley, back on the trails all the way back via Wooton to Sway. 

It was a great trip around, but not one that could be easily done during the winter. Many of the tracks I rode would be marsh land during the winter.

I had a shower back at camp, relaxed for a bit and got my head down as I was shattered.

Like I said the vast majority of the day was over the trails and it tends to take it out of you a bit!

Till the next time - ride safe.