bikepacking gear purchases and training rides.

11 Feb:
Visiting my daughter out west of the state and not being able to ride due to heavy rain, was frustrating. I could not wait to get home and at least make progress on setting up for bike packing. 
Yesterday I bought three items:- 
A stove windshelter for the trangia. I took it out west and on several training rides making oats and coffee and two things happened. One the wind carried off the flames causing heat loss/ wasting fuel. And the flames lashing about presented a real fire risk. $14 well spent on a device that is 250g & stows flat.
Bivy Bag: for me a tent seems so not bikepacky due to its bulk, weight & excess comfort. Whereas a good bivy bag can provide weather protection, quick set up, stealthy, light & small pack size. Research reveals that many Silk Road racers used the Outdoor Research type bivy, their particular model is expensive & works in -20°C etc. I discovered the Stargazer model which is cheaper, lighter and smaller, & practical for conditions I will likely experience. Oddly it looks like I changed my mind & bought a Lifesystems Venture Solo Bivy? It looks OK in the writeup. A bit dearer than most, buy I'm going for quality and a quality hiking shop here writes it up very well. Why I plumped for this one over the OR Stargazer, I cannot fathom?!
A Buff. I lost my lady one while hiking the Camino. They're good for warmth &  sun protection

TRAINING RIDES
lately I'm really antivipating then enjoying my rides. I can pop out 30k with little fuss & retain energy throughout. I still get hand numbness, but my butt is good, as are my legs & energy. 
I just need to build up mileage, which according to my hiking training, is a matter of hours spent. I need to devote full days & perhaps do a few overnighters. I'm keen for this, as soon as the weather settles .... & I need to sort out a problem with my home solar which is going in to over voltage mode each few days. The risk is burning something out, not sure about a fire risk. I want to avoid it anyway. OvernightvI had a breakthrough with what needs doing (Controller settings), & I'm mucking about with it today. Hopefully, good news. 
 

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