Its true right?? I keep trying to get government sponsorship but for some reason my letters don't seem to be getting through. I'll keep at it. Bound to work out sooner or later 😉
🤣 "I don't know what I'm talking about don't listen to me!" ...made me laugh out loud! You know a lot more than me & have great experience JJ. Good to see you out again doing what you enjoy! 👍
That warning is partly because I hate it when you see videos like this and the people present their way of doing something as the "right" way or the "best" way. There is not single best ay to do this and if you let someone else tell you how you should be doing it then the chances are you'll end up enjoying it less. I believe it was Voltaire who said "Follow those who seek the truth but mistrust those who claim to have found it"
New sub, great videos and commentary! I have several Mora's too. Great value and utility . When alone in the bush with an axe or hatchet bring along a cat tourniquet, just in case . I would not want to lose ya.
Yeah my first aid kit has definitely grown since I've started whittling ;) Fortunately in a lifetime of playing with knives I've only had one serious cut and that happened in comfort of my kitchen - a valuable lesson learned regarding the use of my new-at-the-time hatchet. after a morning in A&E and 4 stitches I won't be doing that again!
Just a temporary aside - looked up your Ma's website. She is a very creative and talented lady with a sensitive approach. As an amateur artist, i appreciate that. Using primarily recycled materials adds to her depth of skill and vision. All power to her thimble! Paul
Thank you, I'm glad you enjoyed the video and my Mum will be very pleased for the kind words :) If I can escape work on time today I'll be doing an overnighter again this evening. Might even make a video if I can think of anything to say ;)
@@JethroJessop Hope you make it out tonight. I’m just back from a rather hilly afternoon ride - got my second puncture of the year thanks to one of those pesky tractors with giant hedge trimmer on the rear. I’ll be off to Anglesey for a couple of nights of wild camping and riding next month so this video will definitely come in useful. Thanks again!
@@sleepintheheat oh yeah, nothing like riding a country lane after they've been through and flailed the hawthorn hedges! I did get out for the night. It was very nice though my planned dinner failed in spectacular fashion. Live and learn though 😉
My pleasure. I'm really pleased you enjoyed it and thank you so much for the support, I really appreciate that! Always happy to answer questions as well if there was anything I missed in the video
Well done. You’re a bit of a ‘gear hound’ ? Aren’t we all! I stopped carrying my half set of Allen keys, they really are quite heavy. My multi tool does what I want. What I like to carry but probably don’t need is ‘knives’. I don’t really need an Essee 6 Bushcraft knife do I? But I love it. I carry a Swiss Army knife too and a Spyderco knife carried purely for cooking. I could carry more but resist the temptation to do so. I try to travel ‘light’, but my small trips are no hardship as longer trips might be, and would mean ‘essentials’ only. Thank you Jethro.
I have a multi tool as well but I actually prefer the full length Allen keys. There are a few points - eg pad adjusters - that you just can't reach with anything shorter. I have a few knives too but mine are all for whittling 😉
A great vid Jethro. Good fun. I have an Apidura saddle bag and full frame bag, so plenty of room for an overnighter. I do need a bar bag though and the Revelate front bags do look good, I may just stick with Apidura though, the Adventure series is enough ‘bags’ for anyone. Thanks again!
There are loads of good options out there to choose from. I bought all my bags in a flurry and I didn't really know what I was doing at the time. My choices were mostly based on bikepacking.com reviews 😉 I lucked out though and am still using most of it now.
I honestly don't think you'll regret it. I have zero complaints about mine. Did you get the new model with the awning style door? I really like the look of that
Thank you so much! I'm really pleased that you found something useful in there. I haven't changed much in the intervening time to be honest, it's a fairly solid setup for my kind of rides
It definitely is. I ran out on my day ride today - it was unexpectedly warm. Regretted not bringing another bottle and regretted not bringing the filter. Had a bloody great ride though. There'll be a video of it popping up sometime next week hopefully 😉
I’ve enjoyed your content for a couple of years now and have just subbed to ko-fi. I own one of your spoons which I use to make Greek coffee in the woods and it makes me smile each time I use it. As an old git (with two brand new hips) I have a few adventures left in me yet but not as many as I’d like so if my small contribution helps you along the way to becoming a full time cycling minstrel and I can live vicariously through your roaming and rambling I will have done a good thing - no pressure! Keep on whittling.
That's awesome, thank you 😉 It's good to know the spoons are out there making themselves useful in wider world and even better that are being taken on adventures of their own 😉 Here's to many more this coming year. Thank you for the kind words and the ko-fi support, i will try my best to keep doing what I'm doing and to take it all as far as I can
@@simplydebes i expect I'll end up with those too soon. Ironically the hips will probably be cheaper than the mug (assuming the NHS has a few more years of life left in it)
It was inclement indeed. That's character building though right? I've actually been cycling with Alan this weekend in the new forest so he will be gracing your screen once again very soon
Good shout! On longer rides I would carry some antiseptic stuff, gauze, pain killers, that kind of thing but on an overnighter so close to home this rarely gets packed. Since I started whittling in 2019 I've only cut myself once and that was down to me being a fool and using the wrong tool for the wrong job in the wrong way. I put that hatched across the back of left index finger trying to split a log in my kitchen (like I said, a fool). Fortunately I avoided any tendons or bones but I got 4 stitches in there and it bled a lot. If I'd done that in the woods somewhere it would have made for a difficult situation for sure.
I love that all your kit is mud-covered and REAL. And I like your mascot. I have an ugly rag doll with BE YOU on it. Ugly, but charming (I like to think anyway). Super stuff.
Mud covered is something I seem to do well. I wish I could be one of those people who keeps their kit really clean but I've long ago made my peace with the fact that I am destined to always have a bit of mud on at least half of whatever I own ;)
Great video, even if it's more technology than I could ever use or understand (and probably more than they used for the moon landings). But then, I am virtually helpless when faced with most gear failures. My top tips would be some sticking plasters and wound closure strips, a few thick rubber bands, some high breaking strength fishing line and a couple of small karabiners on loops.
All good tips. First aid is definitely something that I don't pack enough of, especially on longer or more remote trips. Fishing line is a good shout. I have a load of nylon thread for stitching tyre slashes but fishing line would do just as well and let me do some poaching along the way 😉
Glad you liked it. I put a link to my mum's website in the description and she would be really pleased to get some extra visitors. She also makes some amazing pieces of art along with the woolen people.
I love your videos! Thank you for sharing your setup. I also have the bike packing tent and really enjoy it. I look forward to more musings and bike trips!
It's a great tent, it really is. More musing and nike trips coming soon I assure you. I've been riding in the New Forest this weekend which will hopefully spawn at least one video so keep your eyes peeled!
A very big THANK to you dear, sir, for this very helpfull and interesting bike packing video! Highly appreciated! Greetings from Sweden! Please stay and healthy!
@@JethroJessop Thank you so very much for your nice answer, with your Swedish addition! Perfectly presented in Swedish! I do like and value your enriching video, giving us listeners so much good variation for your most wonderful use of the English language! I appreciate so much your way of communicating and yes I agree fully with you at the beginning of this video for your humbleness in giving answers of to do and don'ts yes we need to choose our gear according to our true needs that can vary with our destinations and how long we are bike packing! Anyhow, just adding that you now have a new subscriber and you get my thumb up! Wishing you all the best and please stay safe and have more amazing overnighters in lovely places where you live! Best regards from Sweden and Tack så mycket för en helt underbar video och användning av det engelska språket som lär mig mera härlig engelska! Blessings!
@@chrlmlln9018 I'm very pleased to have you as a new subscriber. In the best future I get to come and ride in Sweden again soon - my favourite country for cycling. But we shall see. In the meantime I hope you continue to enjoy the videos and I shall look out for you in the comments 😉
Thanks Jethro, Nice to see a Gear List, The Wolf Tool looks very handy for Future Bikepacking Journeys. Nice to find out the origins of Mr Redman as well :-)
The wolf tooth is handy. When I had a derailleur I could get by with just fingers and the leather man but with the Rohloff there is no slack in the chain and the proper tool really makes life easier.
I stopped using sweet rolls or any front bikepacking roll bag they just to narrow .. i use sea to summit event compression bags there Brillant m for summer l rage for winter
Interesting. I'm pretty happy with the sweertoll i have to say. It is a little restrictive but then, coming from a full pannier past, all bikapacking bags are a little restrictive 😉 I get all my stuff in without too much of a fight though.
@@JethroJessop for me i put my complete sleep system in front event bag .. tent 4 season base camp clothes summer and winter .. sleeping bag-0F . ..pillow …air pad 4.5 R .. lamp and laundary bag which is a washing machine and clothes line lol i just means that bag never get touched until base camp .. and keep the bike steady during the ride ..ps have you used that tent in high winds yet
@@Bikepacking sounds like you have it dialled 😀 I've done a few very windy pitches and it does require a little extra thought. The CS is fine as long as it is pegged out well and doesn't get broadsided. I've not used many other tents to make a fair comparison but I have no complaints so far.
I'm flattered. It's a long one and somewhat lacking in idle philosophy but hopefully it is acceptable. The next one should see me actually out riding again if all goes according to plan
@@ryanchadd3472 I get asked that a lot :) No particular reason to be honest. Bikes I've owned have never come with mudguards and I've never found the lack of them enough of a problem to warrant adding any myself. The rear rack does a partial job at that end as well. Without that I might have looked into it more by now.
"It's only money, can't take it with you" - Actually, converted to titanium mugs and other bits of light high-end kit, It turns out you *can* take it with you. It's just not as fungible as it used to be.
Not something I've ever looked into that much. I'd have to get a split frame and everyone I've met who rides with belt drive carries a spare so the weight saving isn't that much really. It just never seemed like the benefit was that great compared to the sacrifices but as I said, I've not dug deeply into the subject.
@@JethroJessop hi Jethro. Thank you for your reply. I had the thought that you already have rolloff acabon belt drive last 30.000miles or more lot's of people do carry a spare chain on a extra longer ride the chain is heavy of the two ,this year I'm going belt drive and rolloff I'm 75 and going to ride into the sunset with a little help from E bike done Wales and Scotland twice I have all the time ⌚ in the world being retired. Thanks.
@@frankbernard836 I carry a couple of spare links rather than a whole chain and I've never been one to worry overly much about weight. I like the sound of your plans. Adventuring off to the horizon at your own speed and on your own route sounds like my dream lifestyle. I hope it all pans out for you. Happy riding 😁
You did it oldschool! I'd love to see this same video but done about the gear you took on that trip, that would be amazing. Do you still have any of it?
OMG! I’ve just had a very strange thought… your mum knitted Alan for you didn’t she?! Seriously though, always interesting to see what other cyclists carry, good way of discovering new kit and let’s face it we all love a new bit of cycling related paraphernalia. Great video as always.
Sounds like some kind of weird creation myth. The earth mother creating bikepackers from discarded wool. I might start a religion! Glad you enjoyed the video. Hope there was something new in it. As you say, always good to know what others are carrying. Also dangerous though because I really do try not to buy more stuff than I need which is difficult when others keep flashing their new gear online ;)
Great video... wonderful! I have the firebox nano...did you say you're done a video on it? Also, I'm using the tailfin brackets too, very nice... After see your tent I'm thinking to upgrade. Great work...let's have more!
The firebox nano is great, love that little beauty. I'm thinking of getting the larger one as well so I can get into some forest baking but it seems to be hard to come by in the UK at the moment. Glad you liked the video, plenty more to sample if you are in the mood 😉
Nice video, as always. Thanks. Can I be a pedant for a minute - you spoke a couple of times about the star shaped tools like Allen keys as Torque wrenches which are in fact Torx bits/levers. Torque wrenches are the big calibrated bars like in a socket set that let you tighten bolts etc to a specific degree. Don't mean to be a dick, but thought you would like to know. Cheers
Ah yes... well done.... that was errrrr, a deliberate error? Yeah, deliberate. I said that as test to make sure you were all paying attention! Honestly! Did you not catch the "I don't know what I'm talking about disclaimer at the beginning? ;) To be fair I do actually know this but I don't think I've ever said Torx out loud so I fluffed it here. I blame the industry for spawning tow tools that differ in name by only a single sylabel. You are right though and I'll put my hands up to that one. My bad :)
Haha, I would love that 😀 She would freak out (in a good way). She will be very pleased if she gets some extra visitors to the set let alone any extra sales.
Very useful video. Given me some good ideas. I carried a full Trangia set last weekend but think I might get a pan that will fit in the Revelate fork bag like you have. Also, I should ram tent and sleeping bag directly into bags rather than putting into stuff sacks first.
It took me far too long to realise that my tent doesn't need to live in the special bag it came in. I dunno why, it just never occurred to me. I think the full trangia set is probably overkill for one person. That pan is about right for me I find and is nice and packable.
A rather informative, yet informal breakdown here. I aint got a scooby what I'm gonna take on my 1st long distance ride this year? The basics obviously, but I want to be as light as possible so will have to do some pre-adventure, mini test adventures beforehand
Yeah cutting weight generally means cutting comfort or spending a fortune. It's a real balancing act and the best thing to do is get a really good idea of what you actually value when out on the trail so you can invest there and cut back elsewhere. The best way to do that is absolutely to do test rides. Where will your first big ride be taking you? Do you have a route planned yet?
Congrats on achieving 4k subscribers. I saw right at the start. You are a natural. Unleash the salesman inside of you. Great product reviews. And heres's me thinking you would never sell out ................. ;@).
Thanks, onwards to 5k now! Ha, yeah, sorry to ruin the dream but I'm just all about the money these days. As soon as my line of cosmetics launches I'll be able to afford hotels. I'll still pretend I'm camping of course so I can milk the bikepacking dollars 😉
From a balance point of view it's probably actually better to have the weight low down at the back. I'm not certain but that seems to make sense to me. Other considerations are that panniers generally have a larger volume than fork bags and they generally rattle when you ride rough trails. I don't really have a hard preference and usually just pick whatever suits a particular ride
It always astounds me what bikepackers can fit in those bags. It doesn't seem like you have much in there, but you actually do. Great video! Also, you make your mom sound like quite the character. 😂 And another also... Your dream sounds awesome!
I always think that other people seem to pack better than me but I watched this one back and impressed myself 😉 Lots of people would carry far less though but it's all about what level of comfort you want really. I could sleep in a bivvy bag and cold soak all my food but I want my trips to fun and relaxing not some grueling personal challenge. And yeah, my mum is great. Check the link in the description and have a look at her art it is really amazing stuff!
@@JethroJessop Yes, lots of people would carry less, but it's your trip and you can take whatever you want. That's the beauty of bikepacking. I go on tours and take way more and I'm good with that as well. 😂
@@WheelsonaBike Absolutely. Anyone who looks at your rig and says "you are doing it wrong" has really misunderstood the point of bikepacking. If you are doing it at all then you are doing it right!
I have the latest version of that tent. Goes up well in my garden. Plenty of room and well put together, bags of quality. I am looking forward to using it and like you , I’m sure it’s going to be a favourite. I have a Rab Neutrino too, but a warmer one. I’m not surprised we have similar gear. If you do a bit of research and choose wisely, we all should be using very similar gear? Budget dictates, but quality first? Thanks for the vid Jethro
Is yours the newest model with the awning style door? I really like the look of that but I fear mine has many years left in it so I'm a long way off from an upgrade. Unless Big Agnes decide they want to sponsor me (hint hint if you are watching BA 😉)
Yes it is. It’s a lovely thing. The cost of B & B nowadays is scandalous, a good tent is an investment , I feel. Pays for itself in no time at all. Covid permitting ha ha!
@@jimbojet8728 Tell me about it. even campsite are really expensive now so a small tent that you can stealth camp in is worth its weight in gold. The one thing I would change about mine is the colour. I wish could have gone green or brown just for the purposes of blending in better
Hey, gimme back my heavy-but-not-too-use-full Leatherman ! Great job, I really like gear lists for some weird reason. Funny you use those Mora knives as I was just looking at them on the interwebs a couple of days ago. Seeing as you have two of them I'll assume you like them and that's good enough for me. Gransfors Bruks is top shelf stuff, I have one of their hatchets and two splitting mauls. So my Super Troll is finally up and rolling ! I put a picture of it on reddit but can't figure out how to properly add pics to a post. When I do I'll let you know so I can show you what your Ogre would have looked like if you had shorter sticks. Probably buying my plane ticket to Dublin this week for my May-June trip to the IOM-TT, might have to look you up and buy you a pint (not a coffee).
The moras are great. I own more than two - I have my camp knife, two of those 106 slojd jobs and a shorter version as well. I also have a hook knife for making spoons but doesn't actually see much use and has been kind of replaced. I once visited the mora outlet store in the town of Mora in sweden and it was truly amazing. I described it at the time as being like Willy Wonka's factory but with knives instead of chocolate and it really was :)
Good honest reviews of the gear you carry. Made me laugh a bit, as you’re a bit of a ‘gadget man’? Like me, you can see a ‘need’ for a tool when you’re in the shop and convincing yourself you should have it, in reality though, you probably already have a good enough tool for the job. If it wasn’t for me and people like me, and you? Wiggle would go bust. Ha ha! Glad you did this vid Jethro, I have enjoyed it. Thank you.
Oh yeah, I definitely like getting new stuff but I do try and curb the desire a bit because I really don't need it most of the time and neither does the planet. I buy quality where I can and try to make it last. But new tools are just so shiny and appealing 😉
I use a little pair of Vaude ones, can't remember the exact model. They used to be my front panniers but now I run them on the back. They are pretty old and a bit threadbare now but they refuse to die so I haven't replaced them yet I'm really pleased you are enjoying the vids. Spring is coming and there is no better time to get into bikepacking. Do it! I'm always happy to answer questions if I can.
If I wasn't humble someone would have long ago called me out for not knowing what I'm talking about 😉 Glad you enjoy the visa though, i can't see the style changing in the near future.
I can just about strum a tune on the guitar but I fancied having an instrument that can fit in a pocket. I love the penny whistle but it is too unforgiving when you are learning. The harmonica you can practice quietly without bothering anyone. I'm not getting very far with it but I'll keep at it for a while and see Look out for harmonica only soundtracks in the future 😉
Nice video. I presume the cable that can be seen going into the frame bag is to charge the powerbank from a hub generator. What rectifier/regulator do you use with them?
I actually meant to mention that. You are right, it is coming up from my SON28 dynamo and would usually connect to a Busch & Muller E-Werk but I haven't actually used it for ages and the cables are just there as legacy really. Generally I find that it is easier to just carry a cache battery. I have an Anker 20000mah one that will do me for the best part of a week and I'm rarely (if ever) off grid for longer than that. If I was to do another big tour I would reinstate the charging system but I dunno if I'd go down the same route. I hear that solar has come a lot since I last looked into it and I've heard some good things about the Pedalcell rim dynamo as well
@@JethroJessop I've invested in a Pedalcell generator but not yet had any opportunity to try it out for real. Just a few laps around the block. But it seems to work very well and feeds enough power to recharge my second Garmin battery even at speeds around 10 km/h. Should be enough to fill the battery in half a day of riding and a full battery lasts about a day of use in the navigator, so there's power to spare for a powerbank to feed my phone and tablet as well. I hope...
@@TorstenLif That is good to know. You are the first person I've spoken to who actually has one so I'd be really keen to hear your thoughts on it as you use it a bit more. Keep me posted if you get out for any longer rides with it!
@@JethroJessop It works well and for its design purpose I think it does a better job than the hub generators. But that design purpose is to recharge batteries or battery-driven gadgets, NOT to feed old-school headlamps directly. Why not? Because it uses some pretty sophisticated version of the USB-C-PD protocol to negotiate with the gadgets you're connecting, to determine what voltage to use. And if it doesn't get an intelligent reply, it doesn't come on at all! This is to protect some phones that actually want a lower voltage. Their recommendation for nighttime riding is that you use a rechargeable headlamp that supports pass-through charging, i.e you can charge it while you're riding with it turned on.
i'll trade ya weather. cold here in Maine USA. a pile of snow is on the way and its just been too cold for anything more than the daily ride to work and home.
I like a bit of snow but unless I'm on a snowboarding trip then I don't want more than a few days of it. People complain about British weather but actually we are really lucky. It rains just enough to keep things green and it's only really cold for a few months of the year (even then it hardly goes below freezing). When does spring kick in for you?
there will be snow in the darkest part of the woods till mid april. summers are short fall is long and winter seems to always be lurking. i may decide to get on my Ogre and just roam state to state making my way to anywhere USA where the winters are less wintery. what i need is my version of your Allen. solo is fine and all but i really would like a pal to come along. might link up with a pal whos putting together a pretty janky vintage rig down in North Carolina, but that is still not yet confirmed and only loosely planned. a lot can happen between now and the next freeze though.
@@lazerblastoid Yeah there is something to be said for a good riding buddy now and then. I find that even if you don't ride with anyone, just having a stop planned is as good. Knowing that you have a mate to visit a week down the road, a comfy bed, a shower, a few beers. That can be as good as having someone riding along with you. I like the sound of setting off to chase down some summer and if you can hook up with buddies for even part of that trip then all the better!
Thanks! I shake my tent to get the dew/rain off before opening it up. Do you weigh your bike for front/rear load balance? Mine was very front heavy because all I have is a seat bag in the rear. I'm still trying to figure that out. I live in the desert so I have to carry a lot of water. And I opted for long Velcro straps vs Voile because they keep the ends really tight... no flapping straps. And for flapping straps, cut old inner tubes into strips and use them like rubber bands...MUCH stronger and last forever. I took a class years ago for carving Santa Claus's and wound up buying a Swiss Made carving kit and some assorted Flexcut. Damn, they are expensive now!
The price of whittling kit went through the roof during lockdown. You couldn't get a new knife for love nor money for a while! I don't worry too much about weight distribution to be honest. If it feels weird to ride then I'll move stuff around but that would probably be more side to side balance than front to rear. Generally I'd rather have things packed in a practical and accessible way than distributed by weight. In this setup it is all on the front but it was only a short an easy ride and I'm pretty used to the handling now. Good shout on the inner tube strips. I know voile sell little strap keeper clips but they are pretty pricey and look like they were designed specifically to be easy to lose so I've never tried them. I also don't have any old tubes though since I went tubeless. Unless there are some legacy ones kicking around in a box somewhere. I shall do some digging :)
@@panchoxbrr301 I used Rok Straps all the time moto-camping, but much prefer the Velcro on bikes because there are no excess straps to get caught in spokes and stuff. And Velcro will rarely fail until it literally wears out. And cheaper. And lighter.
Good shout, I forgot that. Damn. The rack is a Topeak Disc Tourer (the front fork cages are from Tailfin) and the panniers I use are Vaude. I can't remember the exact size but they are pretty small, they used to be the front panniers on my old touring set up so if you check any video from before I had the Ogre you'd see me using them. I'd love to try some of these new rattle-free bikepacking panniers that are appearing but until my current ones fail I doubt I'll upgrade
@@JethroJessop Thanks for that man I appreciate it! That's actually the rack I was looking at lol! How do you feel having the weight where it is? I've seen some ride with only front bags and panniers, and some ride with front and rear bags and panniers too.
@@callumheed5216 The weight on the front - especially that big bar roll - can sometimes make it steer strangely but for the kind of riding I do it is fine. If you were doing lots of technical stuff on tricky descents you might want to rethink I suppose. I've never found the weight distribution to make that much difference really. I've ridden with only massive rear panniers, with front and rear panniers, with everything in bags up front and with bags up front and small rear panniers. Each setup feels different when you set off but after a few miles you are used to it and it is just another load.
'Young and wild'? - you still are! I'm 75 and my Bucket List includes several more adventures under canvas (if she'll let me). Please don't put yourself down ( as at the beginning). I've viewed so much utter 'tosh' from macho experts and 80%+ had little or no bearing on what the majority of us do - including the needless upgrading of ultra-expensive gear every week!. Heaven knows how their partners put up with that. Footprints are good - no-one wants a punctured groundsheet. Hip Flask - basic essential - for me it used to be Bells but in future, with prices rising relentlessly, I've discovered Sainsbury's 'Crag and Glen' - a respectable substitute with a good flavour and more stable lower price. Give it a try. How do you find having the majority of your gear up front rather than on back wheel? 'go big...' What'l holda lot 'l hold a little. What'l holda little won't always holda lot.' Love those handlebar tool kits - Hang on - just seen the review bit - think i'll give them a miss. Only one thing worse than having no tool - having a tool you rely on that'll let you down. Your extra kit is interesting - "I am a lumberjack and I'm OK...." You could down a forest with that lot! (By the way - not taking the wee-wee.) I LIKE the way you can't remember ALL the Brand names of your gear. So many are so intoxicated by the Brand names and I feel sure they recite them every night instead of their prayers - perhaps they ARE their prayers!. "Semi-erotic embroidered art"??? The mind boggles !!!! Good on 'er. Am really warming to your videos. I can relate to them. I'll be seeking out more. Please forgive the long comments. Can't see the point of congratulatory quickies. I prefer conversation. Every good wish to you (and to Mum) and safe riding. Keep 'em coming, bro' Paul in the Mids.
I enjoy the long comments. Apologies if I don't always reply in kind or with any regularity, I tend to do my CZcams admin in bursts ;) I have a weird relationship with gear. I love what it lets me do and I'm not averse to spending money on it as it really is my hobby, my passion and my primary mode of everyday transport. When I'm in a researching frame of mind I do read up a lot and become temporarily quite knowledgable about specs and brands etc but it never sticks because in the greater scheme of things I'm just not that interested in the hardware. This is why I'm always careful to point out that I am not an expert, I am simply a user. I love my tent but its only the third one I've ever owned (and the first that I gave any thought to) so I'm in no position to say it is the best or that it stacks up like this or that against some other model. The same goes for all my gear really. I can only give my opinion based on my limited experience. I suspect this is actually the case for a lot of other online reviewers as well but the trend seems to be to paint yourself as THE expert in the field who has ridden every bike and slept in every tent and knows the details of each like the back of your hand. I can't do that so I trot out my opinions and then talk about trees and hills and waterfalls because those are the things about cycling that are most important to me ;)
Hi Jethro we are thinking of getting a Copper Spur for bikepacking inc Scotland and Penine Way. Some reviewers say the tent is not great in heavy rain,wind etc. we are not planning on pitching it on top of a mountain but do you want it to be robust. What is your experience on this ? Great video and Thankyou
I've read reports of people having water come in through the floor but I've never had any problems with this myself. I do have the additional footprint which may help on this front but I'd recommend it anyway just to add protection on rough surfaces. On my West Kernow Way ride I noticed some water coming through the fly but it was minimal and likely just because it is pushing three years old, has seen a lot of use and has never been re-waterproofed. I've pitched in some pretty strong wind before and if you angle it so you aren't getting broadsided then it's always been fine and stands up well. I'm guessing from your use of "we" that you're looking at the 2p though so the geometry might behave differently. The long and short is that I'd buy another Copper Spur if mine were to give up the ghost. I haven't tried a huge amount of other tents in the past to compare with but I have no complaints based on my experience with this one. Hope that helps. Shout back if you have other questions though
Great stuff, glad you enjoyed it! I hope you find more to entertain you on the channel as well. I've just been cycling in the New Forest so there will be a video (or two) on that coming soon.
I have been really slack on the spoon front recently. Most of my "stock" was given away as christmas presents and I just haven't done much whittling this year. The few I have finished have not come out great and while I'm happy to sell wonky spoons I'm not happy to sell crap wonky spoons. I need to get some proper whittling time in and get the store back open. It will happen but I can't promise when
It's a patch of woodland just north of Reading. Only 10 miles or so from my house so no great adventure but I have permission there so can wild camp without the worry of getting moved on
Not much to say at the moment. I've got a friend who is a an artist/designer who has said he'll do me some stickers but I need to put a bit of a brief together which is on my list for this week. The hope is to get a nice set of stickers to sell and to give away to donors on the ko-fi page. If the stickers prove successful then I might look at other merch too. It is going to happen but I can't say when just yet. Believe me, I will be letting everyone know when it does!
@@jamesmutton6070 that is very kind of you, thanks. I like the idea of having a really wide and eclectic range of merch as well as some better branding for the channel but I don't know if the market is quite there to support it 😉 If the first round of stickers proves successful I'll definitely try to expand on it so any and all offers of help are appreciated!
If there's one thing the world needs more of it's definitely spoon whittling cycle wizard wondering minstrels, good luck to you!
Its true right??
I keep trying to get government sponsorship but for some reason my letters don't seem to be getting through.
I'll keep at it. Bound to work out sooner or later 😉
🤣 "I don't know what I'm talking about don't listen to me!" ...made me laugh out loud! You know a lot more than me & have great experience JJ. Good to see you out again doing what you enjoy! 👍
That warning is partly because I hate it when you see videos like this and the people present their way of doing something as the "right" way or the "best" way.
There is not single best ay to do this and if you let someone else tell you how you should be doing it then the chances are you'll end up enjoying it less.
I believe it was Voltaire who said "Follow those who seek the truth but mistrust those who claim to have found it"
You found my Leatherman. Thanks.
If you can tell me what was written on the handle and in what colour ink then I'll ship it back to you ;)
New sub, great videos and commentary! I have several Mora's too. Great value and utility . When alone in the bush with an axe or hatchet bring along a cat tourniquet, just in case . I would not want to lose ya.
Yeah my first aid kit has definitely grown since I've started whittling ;)
Fortunately in a lifetime of playing with knives I've only had one serious cut and that happened in comfort of my kitchen - a valuable lesson learned regarding the use of my new-at-the-time hatchet.
after a morning in A&E and 4 stitches I won't be doing that again!
Just a temporary aside - looked up your Ma's website. She is a very creative and talented lady with a sensitive approach. As an amateur artist, i appreciate that. Using primarily recycled materials adds to her depth of skill and vision.
All power to her thimble!
Paul
Very kind of you to say so. I love the stuff she makes and wish it got more appreciation
Great informative video thanks. PS. Your Mum’s artwork is awesome!
Thank you, I'm glad you enjoyed the video and my Mum will be very pleased for the kind words :)
If I can escape work on time today I'll be doing an overnighter again this evening.
Might even make a video if I can think of anything to say ;)
@@JethroJessop Hope you make it out tonight. I’m just back from a rather hilly afternoon ride - got my second puncture of the year thanks to one of those pesky tractors with giant hedge trimmer on the rear. I’ll be off to Anglesey for a couple of nights of wild camping and riding next month so this video will definitely come in useful. Thanks again!
@@sleepintheheat oh yeah, nothing like riding a country lane after they've been through and flailed the hawthorn hedges!
I did get out for the night. It was very nice though my planned dinner failed in spectacular fashion. Live and learn though 😉
Thanks!
My pleasure. I'm really pleased you enjoyed it and thank you so much for the support, I really appreciate that!
Always happy to answer questions as well if there was anything I missed in the video
Well done. You’re a bit of a ‘gear hound’ ? Aren’t we all! I stopped carrying my half set of Allen keys, they really are quite heavy. My multi tool does what I want. What I like to carry but probably don’t need is ‘knives’. I don’t really need an Essee 6 Bushcraft knife do I? But I love it. I carry a Swiss Army knife too and a Spyderco knife carried purely for cooking. I could carry more but resist the temptation to do so. I try to travel ‘light’, but my small trips are no hardship as longer trips might be, and would mean ‘essentials’ only. Thank you Jethro.
I have a multi tool as well but I actually prefer the full length Allen keys. There are a few points - eg pad adjusters - that you just can't reach with anything shorter.
I have a few knives too but mine are all for whittling 😉
A great vid Jethro. Good fun. I have an Apidura saddle bag and full frame bag, so plenty of room for an overnighter. I do need a bar bag though and the Revelate front bags do look good, I may just stick with Apidura though, the Adventure series is enough ‘bags’ for anyone. Thanks again!
There are loads of good options out there to choose from. I bought all my bags in a flurry and I didn't really know what I was doing at the time. My choices were mostly based on bikepacking.com reviews 😉
I lucked out though and am still using most of it now.
Top video. Top channel 👍
Thank you! I'm really pleased that you rate it so highly :)
Just bought one of those tents with the footprint sheet, feeling better about my purchase...
I honestly don't think you'll regret it. I have zero complaints about mine.
Did you get the new model with the awning style door? I really like the look of that
@@JethroJessop Yeah, got the latest model, but the footprint came from the USA, not a single supplier in Europe had one in stock..
Thanks for sharing your overnighter gear, Jethro. A couple of items were of particular interest to me! Cheers!
Thank you so much!
I'm really pleased that you found something useful in there. I haven't changed much in the intervening time to be honest, it's a fairly solid setup for my kind of rides
Great list. I came in to look for your water filter thing. It’s all about the water.
It definitely is. I ran out on my day ride today - it was unexpectedly warm. Regretted not bringing another bottle and regretted not bringing the filter.
Had a bloody great ride though. There'll be a video of it popping up sometime next week hopefully 😉
I’ve enjoyed your content for a couple of years now and have just subbed to ko-fi. I own one of your spoons which I use to make Greek coffee in the woods and it makes me smile each time I use it. As an old git (with two brand new hips) I have a few adventures left in me yet but not as many as I’d like so if my small contribution helps you along the way to becoming a full time cycling minstrel and I can live vicariously through your roaming and rambling I will have done a good thing - no pressure!
Keep on whittling.
That's awesome, thank you 😉
It's good to know the spoons are out there making themselves useful in wider world and even better that are being taken on adventures of their own 😉
Here's to many more this coming year. Thank you for the kind words and the ko-fi support, i will try my best to keep doing what I'm doing and to take it all as far as I can
Jethro has a titanium mug but we have titanium hips!
@@simplydebes haha! Robocops
@@simplydebes i expect I'll end up with those too soon. Ironically the hips will probably be cheaper than the mug (assuming the NHS has a few more years of life left in it)
Great video my friend, brave man in this inclement weather. Makes me want to do it.. wheres Alan?! Hope hes well, bless him 😁🙏
It was inclement indeed. That's character building though right?
I've actually been cycling with Alan this weekend in the new forest so he will be gracing your screen once again very soon
@@JethroJessop yippee! 😁praise be!
Always great to see others gear, I enjoy the odd whittle as well and would recommend a little first aid kit as well. Safe travels
Good shout! On longer rides I would carry some antiseptic stuff, gauze, pain killers, that kind of thing but on an overnighter so close to home this rarely gets packed.
Since I started whittling in 2019 I've only cut myself once and that was down to me being a fool and using the wrong tool for the wrong job in the wrong way. I put that hatched across the back of left index finger trying to split a log in my kitchen (like I said, a fool). Fortunately I avoided any tendons or bones but I got 4 stitches in there and it bled a lot. If I'd done that in the woods somewhere it would have made for a difficult situation for sure.
I love that all your kit is mud-covered and REAL. And I like your mascot. I have an ugly rag doll with BE YOU on it. Ugly, but charming (I like to think anyway). Super stuff.
Mud covered is something I seem to do well.
I wish I could be one of those people who keeps their kit really clean but I've long ago made my peace with the fact that I am destined to always have a bit of mud on at least half of whatever I own ;)
Great video, even if it's more technology than I could ever use or understand (and probably more than they used for the moon landings). But then, I am virtually helpless when faced with most gear failures. My top tips would be some sticking plasters and wound closure strips, a few thick rubber bands, some high breaking strength fishing line and a couple of small karabiners on loops.
All good tips. First aid is definitely something that I don't pack enough of, especially on longer or more remote trips.
Fishing line is a good shout. I have a load of nylon thread for stitching tyre slashes but fishing line would do just as well and let me do some poaching along the way 😉
Love this your brilliant so honest and funny but giving all the information we need 😊👍
Thanks, I'm glad you enjoyed it. Can't ask for better feedback than that 😁
Great video! And love Mr. Redman!
Glad you liked it.
I put a link to my mum's website in the description and she would be really pleased to get some extra visitors. She also makes some amazing pieces of art along with the woolen people.
Nice one Jethro,
Thank you, the pleasure was all mine 😉
Nice vlog
Thanks, glad you liked it 😀
Thank you, Jethro, not just for this excellent video, but for all your videos, because they are all excellent. Keep it up, dude!
Ah you are too kind. Thank you very much, I'm really pleased that you enjoy the channel and I will keep trying to churn them out as often as I can!
“It’s better to not need it than not have it” is my Bikepacking moto
Often this is very true. Bikes are so good at carrying a load I don't get why people get so hung up on gram shaving
Fabulous vid! :D
Thank you, glad you enjoyed it.
I love your videos! Thank you for sharing your setup. I also have the bike packing tent and really enjoy it. I look forward to more musings and bike trips!
It's a great tent, it really is.
More musing and nike trips coming soon I assure you. I've been riding in the New Forest this weekend which will hopefully spawn at least one video so keep your eyes peeled!
A very big THANK to you dear, sir, for this very helpfull and interesting bike packing video! Highly appreciated! Greetings from Sweden! Please stay and healthy!
Tack så mycket och hej från England!
My Swedish is minimal I'm afraid but I'm really pleased that the video was helpful to you.
Thanks for watching.
@@JethroJessop Thank you so very much for your nice answer, with your Swedish addition! Perfectly presented in Swedish! I do like and value your enriching video, giving us listeners so much good variation for your most wonderful use of the English language!
I appreciate so much your way of communicating and yes I agree fully with you at the beginning of this video for your humbleness in giving answers of to do and don'ts yes we need to choose our gear according to our true needs that can vary with our destinations and how long we are bike packing! Anyhow, just adding that you now have a new subscriber and you get my thumb up! Wishing you all the best and please stay safe and have more amazing overnighters in lovely places where you live! Best regards from Sweden and Tack så mycket för en helt underbar video och användning av det engelska språket som lär mig mera härlig engelska! Blessings!
@@chrlmlln9018 I'm very pleased to have you as a new subscriber.
In the best future I get to come and ride in Sweden again soon - my favourite country for cycling.
But we shall see. In the meantime I hope you continue to enjoy the videos and I shall look out for you in the comments 😉
Thanks Jethro, Nice to see a Gear List, The Wolf Tool looks very handy for Future Bikepacking Journeys. Nice to find out the origins of Mr Redman as well :-)
The wolf tooth is handy. When I had a derailleur I could get by with just fingers and the leather man but with the Rohloff there is no slack in the chain and the proper tool really makes life easier.
I stopped using sweet rolls or any front bikepacking roll bag they just to narrow .. i use sea to summit event compression bags there Brillant m for summer l rage for winter
Interesting. I'm pretty happy with the sweertoll i have to say. It is a little restrictive but then, coming from a full pannier past, all bikapacking bags are a little restrictive 😉
I get all my stuff in without too much of a fight though.
@@JethroJessop for me i put my complete sleep system in front event bag .. tent 4 season base camp clothes summer and winter .. sleeping bag-0F . ..pillow …air pad 4.5 R .. lamp and laundary bag which is a washing machine and clothes line lol i just means that bag never get touched until base camp .. and keep the bike steady during the ride ..ps have you used that tent in high winds yet
@@Bikepacking sounds like you have it dialled 😀
I've done a few very windy pitches and it does require a little extra thought. The CS is fine as long as it is pegged out well and doesn't get broadsided.
I've not used many other tents to make a fair comparison but I have no complaints so far.
Yabbadabadooo! What a camp. Like the bike.
Yeah, that was a good one if a little chilly.
And the bike is a cracker, bloody love that beast :)
I let out an audible 'oh yes' when I just saw this drop in my subscription feed.
I'm flattered. It's a long one and somewhat lacking in idle philosophy but hopefully it is acceptable.
The next one should see me actually out riding again if all goes according to plan
@@JethroJessop thoroughly enjoyed that! May I ask why you don't use mudguards?
@@ryanchadd3472 I get asked that a lot :)
No particular reason to be honest. Bikes I've owned have never come with mudguards and I've never found the lack of them enough of a problem to warrant adding any myself.
The rear rack does a partial job at that end as well. Without that I might have looked into it more by now.
"It's only money, can't take it with you" - Actually, converted to titanium mugs and other bits of light high-end kit, It turns out you *can* take it with you. It's just not as fungible as it used to be.
Fungibility is overrated. I'll happily keep all my wealth in the form of TI camping kit 😉
Hi.the tools for the chain maintain ads up to extra whit so why not upgrade your Rolfof to a cabon belt 🎉
Not something I've ever looked into that much.
I'd have to get a split frame and everyone I've met who rides with belt drive carries a spare so the weight saving isn't that much really.
It just never seemed like the benefit was that great compared to the sacrifices but as I said, I've not dug deeply into the subject.
@@JethroJessop hi Jethro. Thank you for your reply. I had the thought that you already have rolloff acabon belt drive last 30.000miles or more lot's of people do carry a spare chain on a extra longer ride the chain is heavy of the two ,this year I'm going belt drive and rolloff I'm 75 and going to ride into the sunset with a little help from E bike done Wales and Scotland twice I have all the time ⌚ in the world being retired. Thanks.
@@frankbernard836 I carry a couple of spare links rather than a whole chain and I've never been one to worry overly much about weight.
I like the sound of your plans. Adventuring off to the horizon at your own speed and on your own route sounds like my dream lifestyle. I hope it all pans out for you.
Happy riding 😁
Brilliant Jet! Makes me think I was a right caveman when I was cycling about 40 years ago..
You did it oldschool! I'd love to see this same video but done about the gear you took on that trip, that would be amazing. Do you still have any of it?
OMG! I’ve just had a very strange thought… your mum knitted Alan for you didn’t she?! Seriously though, always interesting to see what other cyclists carry, good way of discovering new kit and let’s face it we all love a new bit of cycling related paraphernalia. Great video as always.
Sounds like some kind of weird creation myth. The earth mother creating bikepackers from discarded wool.
I might start a religion!
Glad you enjoyed the video. Hope there was something new in it. As you say, always good to know what others are carrying.
Also dangerous though because I really do try not to buy more stuff than I need which is difficult when others keep flashing their new gear online ;)
Just discovered you dude. Nice one. Subscribed
Thank you. Really pleased you like the videos.
New ones coming soon so keep eyes peeled
Ace man .
Thank you. Glad you enjoyed it
Great video... wonderful!
I have the firebox nano...did you say you're done a video on it?
Also, I'm using the tailfin brackets too, very nice...
After see your tent I'm thinking to upgrade.
Great work...let's have more!
The firebox nano is great, love that little beauty. I'm thinking of getting the larger one as well so I can get into some forest baking but it seems to be hard to come by in the UK at the moment.
Glad you liked the video, plenty more to sample if you are in the mood 😉
Nice video, as always. Thanks. Can I be a pedant for a minute - you spoke a couple of times about the star shaped tools like Allen keys as Torque wrenches which are in fact Torx bits/levers. Torque wrenches are the big calibrated bars like in a socket set that let you tighten bolts etc to a specific degree. Don't mean to be a dick, but thought you would like to know. Cheers
Ah yes... well done.... that was errrrr, a deliberate error?
Yeah, deliberate. I said that as test to make sure you were all paying attention! Honestly!
Did you not catch the "I don't know what I'm talking about disclaimer at the beginning? ;)
To be fair I do actually know this but I don't think I've ever said Torx out loud so I fluffed it here. I blame the industry for spawning tow tools that differ in name by only a single sylabel.
You are right though and I'll put my hands up to that one. My bad :)
Sweet video, suddenly your mum has 2,000 orders for her handmade doll. :-)
Haha, I would love that 😀
She would freak out (in a good way). She will be very pleased if she gets some extra visitors to the set let alone any extra sales.
Very useful video. Given me some good ideas. I carried a full Trangia set last weekend but think I might get a pan that will fit in the Revelate fork bag like you have. Also, I should ram tent and sleeping bag directly into bags rather than putting into stuff sacks first.
It took me far too long to realise that my tent doesn't need to live in the special bag it came in. I dunno why, it just never occurred to me.
I think the full trangia set is probably overkill for one person. That pan is about right for me I find and is nice and packable.
A rather informative, yet informal breakdown here. I aint got a scooby what I'm gonna take on my 1st long distance ride this year? The basics obviously, but I want to be as light as possible so will have to do some pre-adventure, mini test adventures beforehand
Yeah cutting weight generally means cutting comfort or spending a fortune. It's a real balancing act and the best thing to do is get a really good idea of what you actually value when out on the trail so you can invest there and cut back elsewhere.
The best way to do that is absolutely to do test rides.
Where will your first big ride be taking you? Do you have a route planned yet?
Congrats on achieving 4k subscribers. I saw right at the start.
You are a natural. Unleash the salesman inside of you. Great product reviews.
And heres's me thinking you would never sell out ................. ;@).
Thanks, onwards to 5k now!
Ha, yeah, sorry to ruin the dream but I'm just all about the money these days. As soon as my line of cosmetics launches I'll be able to afford hotels. I'll still pretend I'm camping of course so I can milk the bikepacking dollars 😉
@@JethroJessop Kim Kardashian watch out! The thought of you in a thong or mankini, pouting ...............
@@alexmorgan3435 No one has a higher opinion of me than I do and even I don't want that image in my head
Really surprised at how much you can fit in a Restrap fork bag.
They are pretty spacious and I seem to have got lucky with my kit fitting that space really nicely.
More luck than judgement I will admit 😉
Why do you favour fork bags over rear panniers? Is there any advantage having the weight on the front wheel rather than the rear?
From a balance point of view it's probably actually better to have the weight low down at the back. I'm not certain but that seems to make sense to me.
Other considerations are that panniers generally have a larger volume than fork bags and they generally rattle when you ride rough trails.
I don't really have a hard preference and usually just pick whatever suits a particular ride
It always astounds me what bikepackers can fit in those bags. It doesn't seem like you have much in there, but you actually do. Great video! Also, you make your mom sound like quite the character. 😂 And another also... Your dream sounds awesome!
I always think that other people seem to pack better than me but I watched this one back and impressed myself 😉
Lots of people would carry far less though but it's all about what level of comfort you want really.
I could sleep in a bivvy bag and cold soak all my food but I want my trips to fun and relaxing not some grueling personal challenge.
And yeah, my mum is great. Check the link in the description and have a look at her art it is really amazing stuff!
@@JethroJessop Yes, lots of people would carry less, but it's your trip and you can take whatever you want. That's the beauty of bikepacking. I go on tours and take way more and I'm good with that as well. 😂
@@WheelsonaBike Absolutely. Anyone who looks at your rig and says "you are doing it wrong" has really misunderstood the point of bikepacking.
If you are doing it at all then you are doing it right!
@@JethroJessop Yes to that!
I have the latest version of that tent. Goes up well in my garden. Plenty of room and well put together, bags of quality. I am looking forward to using it and like you , I’m sure it’s going to be a favourite. I have a Rab Neutrino too, but a warmer one. I’m not surprised we have similar gear. If you do a bit of research and choose wisely, we all should be using very similar gear? Budget dictates, but quality first? Thanks for the vid Jethro
Is yours the newest model with the awning style door?
I really like the look of that but I fear mine has many years left in it so I'm a long way off from an upgrade.
Unless Big Agnes decide they want to sponsor me (hint hint if you are watching BA 😉)
Yes it is. It’s a lovely thing. The cost of B & B nowadays is scandalous, a good tent is an investment , I feel. Pays for itself in no time at all. Covid permitting ha ha!
£400 ish? Only bucks! You can’t take it with you, as they say
@@jimbojet8728 Tell me about it. even campsite are really expensive now so a small tent that you can stealth camp in is worth its weight in gold.
The one thing I would change about mine is the colour. I wish could have gone green or brown just for the purposes of blending in better
Hey, gimme back my heavy-but-not-too-use-full Leatherman !
Great job, I really like gear lists for some weird reason. Funny you use those Mora knives as I was just looking at them on the interwebs a couple of days ago. Seeing as you have two of them I'll assume you like them and that's good enough for me. Gransfors Bruks is top shelf stuff, I have one of their hatchets and two splitting mauls.
So my Super Troll is finally up and rolling ! I put a picture of it on reddit but can't figure out how to properly add pics to a post. When I do I'll let you know so I can show you what your Ogre would have looked like if you had shorter sticks. Probably buying my plane ticket to Dublin this week for my May-June trip to the IOM-TT, might have to look you up and buy you a pint (not a coffee).
The moras are great. I own more than two - I have my camp knife, two of those 106 slojd jobs and a shorter version as well. I also have a hook knife for making spoons but doesn't actually see much use and has been kind of replaced.
I once visited the mora outlet store in the town of Mora in sweden and it was truly amazing. I described it at the time as being like Willy Wonka's factory but with knives instead of chocolate and it really was :)
Check if Alan has your thermorest.
He did 😉 The mystery has been solved. I leant it to him on our last trip and completely forgot.
Good honest reviews of the gear you carry. Made me laugh a bit, as you’re a bit of a ‘gadget man’? Like me, you can see a ‘need’ for a tool when you’re in the shop and convincing yourself you should have it, in reality though, you probably already have a good enough tool for the job. If it wasn’t for me and people like me, and you? Wiggle would go bust. Ha ha! Glad you did this vid Jethro, I have enjoyed it. Thank you.
Oh yeah, I definitely like getting new stuff but I do try and curb the desire a bit because I really don't need it most of the time and neither does the planet.
I buy quality where I can and try to make it last.
But new tools are just so shiny and appealing 😉
Hello, what pannier bags do you use? Love the videos and massively inspired to take up bike packing and take it easy. Thanks
I use a little pair of Vaude ones, can't remember the exact model. They used to be my front panniers but now I run them on the back.
They are pretty old and a bit threadbare now but they refuse to die so I haven't replaced them yet
I'm really pleased you are enjoying the vids. Spring is coming and there is no better time to get into bikepacking. Do it!
I'm always happy to answer questions if I can.
@@JethroJessop thank you, the videos are so inspiring and brilliant. Top man
@@jonathanmaycock8872 You are too kind :) I hope you find a way to get out on a ride soon!
😂 lightweight then!!! The 🪓… 😂
Yeah. I'll never be ultralight. That is just a truth that I'm embracing ;)
It's always enjoyable to watch your videos. Humbleness, that's rare these days. That does it even more important and beautiful. 👍😀❤🚵♂
If I wasn't humble someone would have long ago called me out for not knowing what I'm talking about 😉
Glad you enjoy the visa though, i can't see the style changing in the near future.
Must pack more whiskey 🥃🥃🥃🥃
It gets you through those cold evenings and definitely helps when putting the world to rights around a campfire
Been trying with the harmonica for ages, crap 💩 guitar ok drums good 👍 thinking saxophone next 👍
I can just about strum a tune on the guitar but I fancied having an instrument that can fit in a pocket.
I love the penny whistle but it is too unforgiving when you are learning.
The harmonica you can practice quietly without bothering anyone.
I'm not getting very far with it but I'll keep at it for a while and see
Look out for harmonica only soundtracks in the future 😉
Nice video. I presume the cable that can be seen going into the frame bag is to charge the powerbank from a hub generator. What rectifier/regulator do you use with them?
I actually meant to mention that. You are right, it is coming up from my SON28 dynamo and would usually connect to a Busch & Muller E-Werk but I haven't actually used it for ages and the cables are just there as legacy really. Generally I find that it is easier to just carry a cache battery. I have an Anker 20000mah one that will do me for the best part of a week and I'm rarely (if ever) off grid for longer than that.
If I was to do another big tour I would reinstate the charging system but I dunno if I'd go down the same route. I hear that solar has come a lot since I last looked into it and I've heard some good things about the Pedalcell rim dynamo as well
@@JethroJessop I've invested in a Pedalcell generator but not yet had any opportunity to try it out for real. Just a few laps around the block. But it seems to work very well and feeds enough power to recharge my second Garmin battery even at speeds around 10 km/h. Should be enough to fill the battery in half a day of riding and a full battery lasts about a day of use in the navigator, so there's power to spare for a powerbank to feed my phone and tablet as well. I hope...
@@TorstenLif That is good to know. You are the first person I've spoken to who actually has one so I'd be really keen to hear your thoughts on it as you use it a bit more.
Keep me posted if you get out for any longer rides with it!
@@JethroJessop It works well and for its design purpose I think it does a better job than the hub generators. But that design purpose is to recharge batteries or battery-driven gadgets, NOT to feed old-school headlamps directly. Why not? Because it uses some pretty sophisticated version of the USB-C-PD protocol to negotiate with the gadgets you're connecting, to determine what voltage to use. And if it doesn't get an intelligent reply, it doesn't come on at all! This is to protect some phones that actually want a lower voltage.
Their recommendation for nighttime riding is that you use a rechargeable headlamp that supports pass-through charging, i.e you can charge it while you're riding with it turned on.
i'll trade ya weather. cold here in Maine USA. a pile of snow is on the way and its just been too cold for anything more than the daily ride to work and home.
I like a bit of snow but unless I'm on a snowboarding trip then I don't want more than a few days of it.
People complain about British weather but actually we are really lucky. It rains just enough to keep things green and it's only really cold for a few months of the year (even then it hardly goes below freezing).
When does spring kick in for you?
there will be snow in the darkest part of the woods till mid april. summers are short fall is long and winter seems to always be lurking.
i may decide to get on my Ogre and just roam state to state making my way to anywhere USA where the winters are less wintery. what i need is my version of your Allen. solo is fine and all but i really would like a pal to come along. might link up with a pal whos putting together a pretty janky vintage rig down in North Carolina, but that is still not yet confirmed and only loosely planned. a lot can happen between now and the next freeze though.
i also carry a small hand axe like yours. Hults Bruk. sisters boyfriend gave it to me. vey handy
@@lazerblastoid Yeah there is something to be said for a good riding buddy now and then.
I find that even if you don't ride with anyone, just having a stop planned is as good. Knowing that you have a mate to visit a week down the road, a comfy bed, a shower, a few beers. That can be as good as having someone riding along with you.
I like the sound of setting off to chase down some summer and if you can hook up with buddies for even part of that trip then all the better!
@@lazerblastoid Yeah, it feels like bit of a frivolous luxury but actually is incredibly handy if you don't mind the weight
Thanks! I shake my tent to get the dew/rain off before opening it up. Do you weigh your bike for front/rear load balance? Mine was very front heavy because all I have is a seat bag in the rear. I'm still trying to figure that out. I live in the desert so I have to carry a lot of water. And I opted for long Velcro straps vs Voile because they keep the ends really tight... no flapping straps. And for flapping straps, cut old inner tubes into strips and use them like rubber bands...MUCH stronger and last forever. I took a class years ago for carving Santa Claus's and wound up buying a Swiss Made carving kit and some assorted Flexcut. Damn, they are expensive now!
The price of whittling kit went through the roof during lockdown. You couldn't get a new knife for love nor money for a while!
I don't worry too much about weight distribution to be honest. If it feels weird to ride then I'll move stuff around but that would probably be more side to side balance than front to rear. Generally I'd rather have things packed in a practical and accessible way than distributed by weight.
In this setup it is all on the front but it was only a short an easy ride and I'm pretty used to the handling now.
Good shout on the inner tube strips. I know voile sell little strap keeper clips but they are pretty pricey and look like they were designed specifically to be easy to lose so I've never tried them.
I also don't have any old tubes though since I went tubeless. Unless there are some legacy ones kicking around in a box somewhere. I shall do some digging :)
@@JethroJessop Rok Straps are awesome, check them out.
@@panchoxbrr301 Never heard of them. I will look them up
@@panchoxbrr301 I used Rok Straps all the time moto-camping, but much prefer the Velcro on bikes because there are no excess straps to get caught in spokes and stuff. And Velcro will rarely fail until it literally wears out. And cheaper. And lighter.
Love the videos! I do have one question not mentioned in this one.... What rear rack and panniers do you use normally? :)
Good shout, I forgot that. Damn.
The rack is a Topeak Disc Tourer (the front fork cages are from Tailfin) and the panniers I use are Vaude. I can't remember the exact size but they are pretty small, they used to be the front panniers on my old touring set up so if you check any video from before I had the Ogre you'd see me using them.
I'd love to try some of these new rattle-free bikepacking panniers that are appearing but until my current ones fail I doubt I'll upgrade
@@JethroJessop Thanks for that man I appreciate it! That's actually the rack I was looking at lol! How do you feel having the weight where it is? I've seen some ride with only front bags and panniers, and some ride with front and rear bags and panniers too.
@@callumheed5216 The weight on the front - especially that big bar roll - can sometimes make it steer strangely but for the kind of riding I do it is fine. If you were doing lots of technical stuff on tricky descents you might want to rethink I suppose.
I've never found the weight distribution to make that much difference really. I've ridden with only massive rear panniers, with front and rear panniers, with everything in bags up front and with bags up front and small rear panniers. Each setup feels different when you set off but after a few miles you are used to it and it is just another load.
'Young and wild'? - you still are!
I'm 75 and my Bucket List includes several more adventures under canvas (if she'll let me).
Please don't put yourself down ( as at the beginning). I've viewed so much utter 'tosh' from macho experts and 80%+ had little or no bearing on what the majority of us do - including the needless upgrading of ultra-expensive gear every week!. Heaven knows how their partners put up with that.
Footprints are good - no-one wants a punctured groundsheet.
Hip Flask - basic essential - for me it used to be Bells but in future, with prices rising relentlessly, I've discovered Sainsbury's 'Crag and Glen' - a respectable substitute with a good flavour and more stable lower price. Give it a try.
How do you find having the majority of your gear up front rather than on back wheel?
'go big...' What'l holda lot 'l hold a little. What'l holda little won't always holda lot.'
Love those handlebar tool kits - Hang on - just seen the review bit - think i'll give them a miss. Only one thing worse than having no tool - having a tool you rely on that'll let you down.
Your extra kit is interesting - "I am a lumberjack and I'm OK...." You could down a forest with that lot! (By the way - not taking the wee-wee.)
I LIKE the way you can't remember ALL the Brand names of your gear. So many are so intoxicated by the Brand names and I feel sure they recite them every night instead of their prayers - perhaps they ARE their prayers!.
"Semi-erotic embroidered art"??? The mind boggles !!!! Good on 'er.
Am really warming to your videos. I can relate to them. I'll be seeking out more.
Please forgive the long comments. Can't see the point of congratulatory quickies. I prefer conversation.
Every good wish to you (and to Mum) and safe riding. Keep 'em coming, bro'
Paul in the Mids.
I enjoy the long comments. Apologies if I don't always reply in kind or with any regularity, I tend to do my CZcams admin in bursts ;)
I have a weird relationship with gear. I love what it lets me do and I'm not averse to spending money on it as it really is my hobby, my passion and my primary mode of everyday transport.
When I'm in a researching frame of mind I do read up a lot and become temporarily quite knowledgable about specs and brands etc but it never sticks because in the greater scheme of things I'm just not that interested in the hardware.
This is why I'm always careful to point out that I am not an expert, I am simply a user. I love my tent but its only the third one I've ever owned (and the first that I gave any thought to) so I'm in no position to say it is the best or that it stacks up like this or that against some other model.
The same goes for all my gear really. I can only give my opinion based on my limited experience.
I suspect this is actually the case for a lot of other online reviewers as well but the trend seems to be to paint yourself as THE expert in the field who has ridden every bike and slept in every tent and knows the details of each like the back of your hand.
I can't do that so I trot out my opinions and then talk about trees and hills and waterfalls because those are the things about cycling that are most important to me ;)
Hi Jethro we are thinking of getting a Copper Spur for bikepacking inc Scotland and Penine Way. Some reviewers say the tent is not great in heavy rain,wind etc. we are not planning on pitching it on top of a mountain but do you want it to be robust. What is your experience on this ? Great video and Thankyou
I've read reports of people having water come in through the floor but I've never had any problems with this myself.
I do have the additional footprint which may help on this front but I'd recommend it anyway just to add protection on rough surfaces.
On my West Kernow Way ride I noticed some water coming through the fly but it was minimal and likely just because it is pushing three years old, has seen a lot of use and has never been re-waterproofed.
I've pitched in some pretty strong wind before and if you angle it so you aren't getting broadsided then it's always been fine and stands up well.
I'm guessing from your use of "we" that you're looking at the 2p though so the geometry might behave differently.
The long and short is that I'd buy another Copper Spur if mine were to give up the ghost. I haven't tried a huge amount of other tents in the past to compare with but I have no complaints based on my experience with this one.
Hope that helps. Shout back if you have other questions though
Cool video, Just subbed.
Great stuff, glad you enjoyed it!
I hope you find more to entertain you on the channel as well. I've just been cycling in the New Forest so there will be a video (or two) on that coming soon.
I'm going to tell that BBB woman of mine about your Mum's shop and the first thing she is going to say is "where is my effin' spoon" .
I have been really slack on the spoon front recently. Most of my "stock" was given away as christmas presents and I just haven't done much whittling this year. The few I have finished have not come out great and while I'm happy to sell wonky spoons I'm not happy to sell crap wonky spoons.
I need to get some proper whittling time in and get the store back open. It will happen but I can't promise when
Where were you camping?
It's a patch of woodland just north of Reading. Only 10 miles or so from my house so no great adventure but I have permission there so can wild camp without the worry of getting moved on
So, talk to me about merch/stickers...
Not much to say at the moment. I've got a friend who is a an artist/designer who has said he'll do me some stickers but I need to put a bit of a brief together which is on my list for this week.
The hope is to get a nice set of stickers to sell and to give away to donors on the ko-fi page.
If the stickers prove successful then I might look at other merch too.
It is going to happen but I can't say when just yet. Believe me, I will be letting everyone know when it does!
@@JethroJessop happy to help as well as and when.
@@jamesmutton6070 that is very kind of you, thanks.
I like the idea of having a really wide and eclectic range of merch as well as some better branding for the channel but I don't know if the market is quite there to support it 😉
If the first round of stickers proves successful I'll definitely try to expand on it so any and all offers of help are appreciated!
1st, what do I win ?
The respect of your peers and that tingling feeling of having trodden the snow unbroken 😉