Is PBP still an option for you now @wheezy ?
1 Like
I could still pre-qualify but I’ve decided not to pursue it. Just too risky putting in all the effort of training and the expense of entering to have it all turn to worms.
6 Likes
Hard, but wise decision mate 
1 Like
There are several others but not sure any of them ride bikes in shit weather at Easter! Sorry for ghosting @Poet. My online meanderings must have taken me away from this site for a while. Just got a random email with this notification today.
I also bailed early on, at Austwick. For some reason, based on riding vaguely similar things in Wales in the summer, I just assumed it would be rocky rather than muddy and chose tyres accordingly 
By Austwick I’d gone down 4 or 5 times and it seemed like a choice between a very high level of suffering and possible hospital visit, or a pleasant afternoon ride back to Milnthorpe in the weak (but definitely temporary) sunshine.
3 Likes
Its looking like I maybe getting dragged into a week of bikepacking in Portugal in a couple of weeks and I have zero sleep kit. Any reccomendations for a small sleep system? Think bag, mat, and pillow. Tent I wanted to go Dursten but the one I’d get is sold out again and isn’t restocked in time. Was thinking of going Alpkit, SoloistXL or Ultra 1.
It will never get used in cold weather at all. I run pretty warm as it is so don’t need anything more than a 2 season!
1 Like
Bag - Sea2Summit Spark 13°. Tennis ball x2 size packed down. Insane.
Mat - Sea2Summit ether light XR.
Tent? Nope. A sheet of Tyvek for under your mattress. Its warm in Spain. No tent needed.
1 Like
While @Poet 's recommendations are sound, they may be a bit of overkill for a one off summer trip.
I have found Naturehike to be a solid budget option. The tent I have has been waterproof and hasn’t ripped, I have a sleeping bag very similar to the CW400, it’s not over warm, but it does pack down very small. Don’t know about the sleep pads, but they are generally well reviewed.
2 Likes