cycling love, bp preparations

I'm certain that my love of cycling, on what is about week 4 of Krampus ownership, has never been higher. 

I want to ride as often as I can and feel elated for the remainder of the day. 

The highest point in my past cycling life was when I rode to TAFE perhaps three times a week on my red Giant Cypress. That bike had a very relaxed geometry, but with an alloy frame, was quite a good mover. I said to my local bileshop guy that I hoped to rekindle that feeling. And gladly certain this has happened.

Moving towards the Thunderbolt rally, I'm getting my gear sorted. I've organised to return my newly purchased bivy bag and hope to rebuy a OR Stargazer bivy. This one is lighter and hopefully better quality. 

SLEEP SYSTEM

This bivy will become the mainframe of my sleep system. This will be completed by my old Black Wolf 3/4 sized sleeping pad, and the sleeping bag liner I used on my camino walks. In colder months, I will probably pack a sleeping bag. In emergencies, wearing a puffer jacker will do the job.

COOKING SYSTEM & FOOD

Basically this is about heating water, for coffee and oats. I'll use Trangia stove system, with windbreaker (delivered yesterday), to do this and cook any meat I buy on the road. 

Tuna, oats, coffee and cutlery and cook set will go on the tailbag. 

CLOTHES

Wet weather jacket and smalls will go in the tail bag together with the cooking gear.

 

TOOLS

I've narrowed my kit down to a fist sized pocket pouch by the bars. It holds; tube, patches, levers, headlight and Allen keys. The pump hits my water pack. 

SMALLS

Cards, cash, pills and toiletries, charge cable and battery will fit in my pack. 

TESTING

I've tested my cooking system a few times. I have also carried, but not used my (now defunct) camping system and found it quite good weightwise. 

NAVIGATION

This is a little up in the air. I have a few dead GPS devices in my room. Theyre expensive and delicate. 

Its tempting to just throw $500 at a Conos (?) but I'm a bit of a map carrier. Unlike much of Europe and the States, great swathes of Australia have no mobile phone coverage. Its getting better and some subscription devices have crossover use with sailing, so down the line I may go that route. Meanwhile I'll use existing maps.