Mate, I love the quality of your films - I'm watching a few back to back having started with your NC500 because that's next on my own bucket list. I'd love to have the time and kit to make similar films because it seems such a shame to end up with a few iPhone photos and video clips from big adventures. I did a JOGLE in 2022 and was chuffed to finish it in 8-days, so I've sometimes wondered if I'd have time to do justice to decent videography, but that's why I've really enjoyed your films. Please keep them coming! Is your Facebook page down or closed at the moment? - struggled to find it, but I've followed on instagram.
@driewielКүн бұрын
They should offer a half and 3/4 inner as well. But you can use a small diamond tarp for luggage/vestibule with the full inner. And an A-pole. On the outside probably if the fly has a loop. There are A-pole connectors. First time I see this brand. I got a hex shape one from China with chimney hole. Same size. Same weight. With inner it's not a whole lot cheaper. So yes this one seems really good value for money considering it's from a shop in Europe. And because of the pyramid shape the quality doesn't have to be the best. For example a 1500mm hydrostatic head is plenty.
@svengalilКүн бұрын
How about making a video on the foods that you take along? I'd really like your opinion on this, cheers.
@barkingatthemoon62562 күн бұрын
It was always a battle between the dragonfly and the copper spur for me. I opted for the copper spur. It was awful when i was hit with a freak thunderstorm. The rain got through and everything was soaking in the morning. Got to love scotland! It was interesting that you covered how the dragonfly performed in adverse weather. Might have to trade in the copper spur for the dragonfly 😂.
@Bikepacking2 күн бұрын
I think product reviews are good but not out of the box ..the way i do it is after a year and the gear lasts and i still using it it becomes apart of my gear list videos .. i stop doing reviews as nothing worst than recommending gear and 6 month later it falls apart . So for me 1 year gear list works better ps companies never happy about such long wait but i just tell them it a gear test and happy to long term test there’re gear …9 out of them say yes
@Bikepacking2 күн бұрын
Good video mate.. 2 thing i would change i would removed front roll bag replace it with a large sea to summit bag it would be more stream line than that narrow and long front roll bag .. also as mention before i would get 2 meritgear pop corn bags for stem bags easy and fast access to camera gear
@sizemanshoe2 күн бұрын
Outer shell makes a camera strap. Might be worth looking at
@Paul92 күн бұрын
Evoc do a camera specific capture waist pack which I bought earlier this year, not had much opportunity to test it but seems pretty comfortable and the camera is easily accessible.
Always like to see how other people pick their bags 😊 Have you looked at using TPU inner tubes as your spare, to save space and weight?
@stevemullin11952 күн бұрын
Is your tent a 1 or 2p tent
@Cycling36618 сағат бұрын
1p - review here m.kzfaq.info/get/bejne/pMmmndmiq93FaYk.html
@beechhillco-opcommunity54312 күн бұрын
Two queries: it is the first time I have taken a bike on a train. 1. How do I know where on the train is the cycle area? 2. I am travelling from Exeter to Prestatyn. Three changes, at Birmingham, Crewe and Chester. One is only 7 minutes to change. I am worried about carrying the bike up/down stairways or across barriers with very limited time to find the correct platform. Any advice? Simon
@Cycling36618 сағат бұрын
It’s a difficult one to answer in honesty as it varies so much. Normally you can see a big bike symbol on the door of the train, or if it’s a fancy train you might even be able to see on the boards which carriage it is in. I’d be wary of any change time less than 10 mins as queues for lifts or slow stairs can be a big factor of how quick you can cross platforms! One thing you could try is asking the conductor to see if they’ll call ahead for you to see if the other train can hang on if you’re very short of time
@rhoschapp3 күн бұрын
Inspirational - thanks for sharing
@Cycling36618 сағат бұрын
Thanks! It’s a fond memory of mine now!
@cnut5223 күн бұрын
Really helpful video, thank you!! ❤ When you added the tailfin fork suspension mounts and they are holding up the rack a bit more . . . Are you able to carry closer to that 10kg weight on the front rack??
@Cycling36618 сағат бұрын
You’re welcome. Yeah definitely, I can get over the 10kg limit easily now if I want to!
@GK1976A5 күн бұрын
TBH, I’m sick of seeing all the Trans Cambrian Way video blogs where they fly through the whole route in a day or two, whilst laughing and talking without breathing heavily. It’s utter bull. This is one of the toughest rides you can do in the UK.
@Cycling36618 сағат бұрын
For sure
@malhether13826 күн бұрын
Word of warning the top tube is a lot shorter than the titanium model [approx 20 mm] If you look at their geometry table the ti table says effective top tube length [normal] were as the steel model says estimated top tube length [sneaky!] I've never come across this before, also they won't print the frame weight on the sec sheet.
@Cycling36618 сағат бұрын
Ahh right. I don’t think that’s an intentional hoodwink to be honest. I think Sonder in general is pretty poor at listing specs properly including weights etc!
@socaljoe6 күн бұрын
I have to agree about the weight. I have the 2 person version, as a solo bikebacker on a multi week trip i sent mine home because of the weight and switched to my old Big Agnes Copper Spur. I’m seeing more of the BA 2 person bikepacking tent on trail with the solo bikepackers . It seems much lighter - thinner material
@Cycling36618 сағат бұрын
Nice! Yeah they’re good tents from what I’ve seen. The two person is even heavier and bigger poles so it’s definitely not as easy a sell as this one in my opinion!
@user-hl7rq5lk5y6 күн бұрын
I do "bikepacking"&"touring" or as I say "trail touring" on my 29" hardtail Jamis Durango. It has a thule rack with sea to summit dry bags up front and a surly cro-mo steel rear rack with thule shield panniers 13l each. And 4l sea to summit watercellls straped under the panniers. I have a topeak 15l backloader seat bag on the seat and seat post. And a topeak 5l seat bag wedged between the rack and backloader. I have a salsa exp full frame bag. Topeak versa cages on the forks. A aero spider cage on the handelbars. Also a pair of water bottle cages on the forks and another versa cage on the bottom of the down tube for my 64oz growler. I had a personal trainer (ex navy seal) lift it and he said it weighs about 200lbs. fully loaded 😮.
@Cycling36618 сағат бұрын
Sounds like a nice setup!
@boyandbike7 күн бұрын
Nice to see this reviewed. We have been using an Alpkit Khort 4 person tent for family cycle trips and its ideal although heavier a 3.4kg its still packable and has porches. I don't thing we could cope with the lack of all-round headroom in the Tarpstar
@Cycling36618 сағат бұрын
Cool, the Khort is pretty beasty so this definitely trumps it for packability and lightness but yeah the overall headroom isn’t great outside the centre
@nelsonholditch66337 күн бұрын
To be honest I don’t see much difference in looks between the two. I am looking at gravel bikes only because I like to explore when riding and sometimes it can be off road. I can’t fit much larger tires on my three road bikes. I have two mountain bikes, but I hate riding any distance with flat bars. And yes I have tried converting a mountain bike to road use. Maybe I will try it again seeing what we have learned with the development of gravel bikes.
@Cycling36618 сағат бұрын
Cool 👌
@thebikepackingadventurer7 күн бұрын
I really like my Terranova Pioneer2 for bikepacking. 1.95kgs not by any means light, but then not crazy heavy. The added bonus for me is I know if I can only stop in very exposed terrain, it can cope. Plus I can get all my gear excluding my bike inside the tent with me. So no worries about anything getting wet. This Nemo tent though looks like a cracking tent. Pricey at £240 more than I got my Pioneer for. But then like you said tiny pack size, good weight and very waterproof. Until something is significantly under a kg, as solid and not costing the earth. My pioneer is staying put. I do love videos like this as clearly you’ve tested it properly
@Cycling36618 сағат бұрын
Cool! Yeah at that price it’s not worth swapping it is it?
@thebikepackingadventurer17 сағат бұрын
@@Cycling366 money isn’t a problem, and tbh if we use it, I think get it and enjoy it though
@matt_brk8 күн бұрын
Having bikepacked 34 of the Scottish islands, Mull and Iona were probably my favourites of the lot and so were the first place I went back to, that video (and following the feed of various people riding the Pan Celtic race around there this year) had definitely made me want to head back again.
@Cycling3664 күн бұрын
Nice! You’re ahead of me in this regard! It’s worth a trip up again for sure
@geoffdillon8 күн бұрын
Almost identical to my Big Agnes Fly Creek UL2 bikepack tent, which was about £150 cheaper, but still pricey. My mantra has always been “If you’re going to use it, buy the best for your needs that you can afford”. I’ve long forgotten the few sacrificed coffees, beers and supermarket treats needed to justify the extra 100-150 to buy my one.
@Cycling3664 күн бұрын
Nice! Yeah Big Agnes are decent tents. Always worth buying the best you can for sleeping quality is my view!
@peterknight78808 күн бұрын
For me, the price-weight relationship doesn't make sense at this level. Step down to the £200ish mark and there are some great tents out which weigh not much more. My Alpkit Soloist is great: I don't notice the weight when bikepacking and I could have brought 3 of them for one of these.
@Cycling3664 күн бұрын
Cool, I have an Alpkit soloist, but this is definitely better, it packs down smaller and has more room, and it’s lighter too so in my opinion it’s worth the cost!
@dave300m78 күн бұрын
What a great video, given the conditions fantastic filming.
@Cycling3664 күн бұрын
Thanks Dave! It was a tough trip for sure
@YOLOSWAG420EZ8 күн бұрын
Amazing scenery up there, I'm in the market for a bike for primarily bikepacking, Would you say a gravel bike is the better "everything bike" than a hardtail MTB?
@Cycling3664 күн бұрын
Thanks! It depends on what you’ll be using it for tbh! I did a whole video on it here: m.kzfaq.info/get/bejne/r9KUpbCSm9bGe6M.html&pp=ygUabXRiIHZzIGdyYXZlbCBiaWtlcGFja2luZyA%3D
@gonzalezgonzalez89628 күн бұрын
Thank you 🙏
@Cycling3664 күн бұрын
You’re welcome 😊
@gonzalezgonzalez89628 күн бұрын
Great video
@Cycling3664 күн бұрын
Thanks
@rebastion848 күн бұрын
You're over 6ft and this is sufficient? I struggle to find tents where (including mat and bag) I dont touch the walls with my head and toes....
@Cycling3664 күн бұрын
Yeah plenty of space
@speakout77079 күн бұрын
You released this just 7hrs ago and timed perfectly having spent the past 3 evenings looking at reviews of this vs msr hubba hubba 2p bikepacking. I'd literally just decided on this and price is a put off
@Cycling3664 күн бұрын
Great timing!
@garyboyle6959 күн бұрын
I'd rather have a heavier tent that i know can stand up the the British weather than some lightweight thing that you've got to be careful with.£500 is okay if you get a lot of use out of it.
@Cycling3664 күн бұрын
Absolutely, it’s a good tent for British weather imo
@ΗΑΡΡΥ-ΤΕΝΤ9 күн бұрын
That looks sick!
@Cycling3664 күн бұрын
Cheers!
@tonypaddler9 күн бұрын
I wanted to buy one of these when they came out but noticed that the flysheet only has 3 sides. I assumed that this was the California version, no good for the UK weather that I camp in, spindrift would be all over me ☹️ Alpkit Ultra eh? 🤔 Thanks very much for that heads up, I'd not heard of one, I'll have a look at your review shortly. Cheers ⛺🙂👍
@Cycling3666 күн бұрын
Yeah it’s more geared to warmer climates but I’ve used it in bad storms and it’s been great! The ultra is decent but the headroom isn’t great. Much cheaper than the Dragonfly though!
@tonypaddler5 күн бұрын
@@Cycling366 Assuming the quality of build is up to it, I'm one of those people that will use a 3 season tent in winter. After all, I'll have a sleep mat and bag that is rated for cold weather. When you say "bad storms", I assume that included strong winds? The worrying issue for me was the opportunity for spindrift getting blown into and up the missing section, then melting on the warmed up inner mesh and dripping on me. I'm far from loaded but I'll spend what it takes to get good reliable kit, although at £250 that Alpkit got me excited, then I saw the headroom height 😟 I was actually quite annoyed that I 'couldn't' buy this tent as it did otherwise tick enough boxes. I think I'll try to find a shop with it in stock and have a close up look at it. Thanks again for your information 🙂👍
@dave300m79 күн бұрын
The search for a rock solid, massive when pitched, tiny when packed, tent that costs £199 goes on 😂 Thanks for the review
@Cycling3666 күн бұрын
Haha yeah, I’ve got an Alpkit soloist XL which is a decent tent for the price ?
@ChrisSmith-bi8hs10 күн бұрын
It was good to spot you on the road towards Pennyghael as you were making for Iona, but good God man, sort your socks out. You look like you've got you old school socks on. 🤣 Great video, again. 😊
@Cycling3666 күн бұрын
Ahh sorry i don’t remember seeing you but I was probably in a rush to the ferry 😂 I like the old school look of my socks tbf
@DanielMartinez-bv8fr10 күн бұрын
Thanks once again for this piece of quietness. Absolutely fantastic!
@Cycling3669 күн бұрын
Thank you :) it’s nice to get away from it all sometimes
@markvk4211 күн бұрын
Another con is its not lockable to the rack, or am i missing something?
@Cycling3669 күн бұрын
I suppose. But most of my bags aren’t lockable and that’s never been an issue for me
@markvk428 күн бұрын
@@Cycling366 i was referring to the quick release, a lot easier to steal than the strap on type, but horses for courses i suppose. Thanks for the review though i have bought one and just fitted it.
@ablebanner322211 күн бұрын
Replace velcro with German Stainless Steel Hose clamps.
@Cycling3669 күн бұрын
Wouldn’t you scratch the frame doing that?
@ablebanner32228 күн бұрын
@@Cycling366 Gorilla Crystal Clear Tape will solve that problem.
@silentrabbit24711 күн бұрын
My bike is secure, since it is attached to my tent - a homemade bike tent that is held up by the bike, so no need for tent poles or a heavy lock ! Been using my designed tent for over 15 years, it's also compact and light weight. Tip for others, besides attaching to tent, also tie a thin webbing strap with buckle ( black Arno strap) around back wheel rim & seat tube (frame), so it's anchored and can't be easily moved without making a lot of noise. Another option is to buy a tool box alarm (Sealey make one) which is light weight, very loud and triggered by movement - just be careful of placement on bike or a windy night.
@Cycling3666 күн бұрын
Thanks for the great advice here!
@davidstorm-eu8km11 күн бұрын
Great video. Question - how do you balance the weight on your bike? I’ve had some real issues- probably of over packing but be good for any advice?
@Cycling3669 күн бұрын
Thank you, good question. My general rule is about 65% of the weight goes at the back and 35% at the front. It’s different for everyone depending on riding position and weight distribution. I personally thing you can overdo it at the front sometimes which causes a bit of wobble.
@Jboasman7811 күн бұрын
PG tips, did you run out of Yorkshire tea? 😊
@Cycling3669 күн бұрын
I’m running pretty low actually 😝 but no just nicked these from a premier inn and that’s all they had!
@silentrabbit24711 күн бұрын
Enjoyed watching your adventure, brought back memories. If you want a rough adventure to The Butt of Lewis, try the east coast side from North Tolsta ( over "the bridge to nowhere" ) Best done after a dry period - it's rough going and very boggy, but very quiet and fun. ( includes a ruined church & peat cutting Shielings settlement ) All best to you and the family.
@Cycling3669 күн бұрын
Thanks! I’ll be back someday so I’ll keep that in mind
@sharonmoreton895011 күн бұрын
Thanks for your review. Couple of questions. Could you confirm the internal dimensions of the bag. The dimensions on the Topeak website aren't clear as to whether they are external or internal. Also can the side pockets which expand onto panniers be usefully used as extra storage without expanding them from their standard position. Thinking of using it as part of a bike camping set up and need an accurate assesment of the storage capability. Thanks. Pete
@Cycling3669 күн бұрын
No worries, when you say the bag, which bit specifically? I can try and measure it up for you. The side pockets can be used for very very small things when they’re up, you could probably fit a phone or some toiletries in but not much more!
@hughevans393212 күн бұрын
Wonderful. On my list of trips to do next year.
@Cycling3669 күн бұрын
Thanks Hugh, definitely worth making time for if you can
@Themarspd12 күн бұрын
Another cracking video Tom and you can really see the effort that goes into making your films. The number of different shots that you cram into your films must mean you spend as much time off the bike setting up the shots as riding your bike. I applaud and appreciate your efforts. It's a shame your films don't get more views as the certainly deserve more recognition. I found it quite amusing to see you set up your camp whilst keeping your helmet on for the duration of the setup. When I'm setting up camp the helmet and gloves are the first things to come off usually for me. I'm guessing the Scottish midges might be the reason to keep your helmet on?
@Cycling3669 күн бұрын
Thank you! Yeah hopefully they’ll pick up again after the summer holidays but let’s see. To be honest, I just forget I’m wearing it. Very comfortable and I can normally set up the camp so quickly I don’t notice!
@robskinner12 күн бұрын
Stunning scenery. Love the drone shots.
@Cycling3669 күн бұрын
Thanks Rob!
@paddyotoole205813 күн бұрын
Couple of questions: what width tyres did you use and what was your lowest gear ratio for climbing? And also would you change either if you were doing it again? Thanks
@Cycling36612 күн бұрын
No worries, I think they were Schwalbe Marathons 38s and my lowest gear was a 36/32. I’d maybe get lower gearing as I packed heavy and struggled a bit up the beasty climbs I’d planned, but the tyres were fine! The gears were mostly fine as well tbh
@paddyotoole205811 күн бұрын
@@Cycling366Crikey, that’s a pretty high lowest gear considering you had the bike loaded. Thanks for the info. Great vid.
@mvashton13 күн бұрын
@5:20...never mind at least the dog was pleased to see you 🐾
@Cycling36612 күн бұрын
Absolutely!
@usnchief133913 күн бұрын
Excellent video...thanks! The more videos I watch the greater the cost of my first MTB or Gravel bike gets...lol
@Cycling36612 күн бұрын
Haha, that’s the way!
@christopherhood924113 күн бұрын
great film Mr 366 - nice music too. funny - this years panceltic race went to Mull, brought back so many memories. I (sadly) had to scratch not long after that but the road back on the mainland (Lochaline) to the 'no car' ferry back to F. William was awesome. Loved it so much taking wife there with her bike next week - can't wait. Thanks for sharing.
@Cycling36612 күн бұрын
Thank you! Yeah I saw a lot of the marker signs for that actually. Is it worth signing up for?