You don't need a ground sheet - you will be sleeping on a roll-mat, and your bivi-bag keeps you dry from below as well.

Any good outdoors shop will have bivi-bags - they're not complicated things. For us in Belgium, AS Adventure or Aventura are probably the best places (if perhaps a little pricey). For a basic good bag (must have breathable membrane, 'gore-tex' or equivalent), you will pay around EUR160+. Make sure the seams are heat-sealed with tape, and that there is space (particularly length).

I personally don't use the fancy ones with hoops etc. (if you want a tent, buy a tent!!), but I have colleagues who swear by them.

Sam.

I think (going back to my original question) I'll take a self-inflating type mattress, tarpaulin and sleeping-bag, and also a very small/light (2kg) tent such as this one (on offer @ £200 from £250) http://www.tauntonleisure.plus.com/T...lo/solar_2.jpg to provide some backup in case of sandstorms/mosquitos and also some privacy in the event I end up in a campsite anywhere, although I doubt I would wish to. I feel I'm doubling up a bit with the tarp and the tent, but I think the tarp will be useful for extracting bike from soft sand, covering bike in dodgy areas, as a windbreak against bike if need be, and also as a ground mat for various situations.

Not sure yet though how small the tarp will pack up, and how easily this little lot will stow on my pillion seat together with 10 litres of fuel - we'll see!

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ichapp.users.btopenworld.com

[This message has been edited by IanC (edited 02 February 2003).]

HI!

Ian,about the tarp,
In army we always had with us(combat equipment)a tarp aprox 2x2 meters wich packs in a roll aprox. 30x10cm and hooks up on ones rucksack.
A great pice of equipment add servs for variou things,like a rain coat with hood over head,tent(just roof),for carying varius things,cerying wounded person......great thing!!and strong as carbon fiber!completly indistructible(if you dont cut it with a sharp knife)

cheers

jondoe

Hi!

What to put under sleeping bag as an insulation?

1)foam mat
2)inflatible matrace
3)or a foam matrace

how does precicley foam matrace works anyway?

cheers

jondoe

You need to have something between your body and the ground to prevent heat-loss (the extra comfort is an 'unnecessary' bonus!).

I prefer the fixed cell mats (ie about 10mm thick foam) rather than the inflatable type ('thermarest' etc.) because you can't get a puncture, and then lose 90% of the efficiency. That having been said, at very high altitudes and with very low temperatures (again, not the Sahara!), I use two mats. Fixed cell beneath, then 'thermarest' on top, then sleeping bag, bivi-bag and me. That way, even with a puncture I've enough insulation beneath me.

It's not so important in the desert, take a 'thermarest' and a puncture repair kit!

Sam.

PS Don't forget to sleep on your bache/tarpaulin as well, the more insulation the better - and more comfortable!

Great thread - in fact there seem to be a few sub-threads within it.

I've been using a tent for so long - I guess I'd find it hard to stop using it. Although I think I will also take a tarp - as they are so versatile. And these swags look great!

Re: Thermarest - I've not punctured mine yet - and I've got a puncture kit in case it pops. I've also got the seat adaptor kit- which allows me to fold the Thermarest into a chair with proper back support. I've suffered enough long journeys and have found this back rest to be superb at the end of a long day's ride.

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Fuzzy Duck
(I'm quackers about bikes)

You'll never get a puncture while you take a repair kit! But the first time you don't...

Ortlieb has come out with a thermarest version of themselve.
The say it is quite strong and well protected against punctures. Haven't seen one yet. But knowing some of there other products I am guessing this might be a very sturdy and comy sleeping matt.

Pieter.

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http://users.pandora.be/pieter.maes2/