I enjoy the high life and when it comes to food and accommodation, I’m a bit of a snob. To keep the costs down on my cycle jaunts, a colleague in work suggested we try camping, carrying all the kit I needed on the bike. At first I dismissed the idea, but then, maybe, why not? I’ll give it a try, if I don’t like it I could always sell everything.
I coerced my cycling comrade into giving it a try too, but he didn't know all I could borrow for him was a small kids tent. So off we went to camp near the idyllic and beautiful Goodrich castle on the River Wye. As night drew down on us, I exposed his tent, and after a few gamy words, I managed to shoe-horn him into the tent. When morning came it was clear the mythical scenery wasn’t enough to calm his soul. He dismissed the notion of ever sleeping on grass again (in fairness the tent was too small, but it was also hilarious). He threatened me with violence every time I laughed, but every time he moaned about another ache or pain from the uncomfortable nights sleep, I laughed.
I decided to persevere, and originally opted for the most lightweight equipment available (which tended to be the most expensive too). The sleeping bag was duck down and weighed four pounds, it was way too small (for a portly chap), and even in warm summer temperatures, I was bloody freezing. Bit by bit, I discarded the lightweight stuff in favour of comfort; it was cheaper, but heavier. Most camping blogs will categorise and give an account of how to save every ounce on the kit, but honestly, it doesn’t matter, you're not carrying the weight- the bike is! The stuff you take is relative, it’s all in the planning, but you don’t have to compromise if you don't want to. It just equates to a slower ride and with the right gears, you might not even notice a kilo or two more. So here it is; a summary of the kit I use to go cycle camping. Just click any of the of the icons below to go to that subject, or click any of the highlighted words to see a corresponding image or look out for the sign for some little 'tidbits'.
It’s a Trek hybrid ready for adventure and hung off a reliable Reynolds 725 steel frame. With the added weight stopping safely is fundamental and in my opinion disc brakes are the best option, I even upgraded my rear brake to a hydraulic disc brake.
Maintenance of the bike is critical, and the downfall of the disc brake system is they take a lot of fettling, the pads need to be adjusted and replaced on a regular basis. If you’re not comfortable doing this, then maybe 'V-brakes' would be better for you. The bike rolls along on a tough 36 spoke rear wheel and 32 spoke front, contact with the road is supported by 700x35c Schwalbe Marathon puncher-proof tyres lined with puncher-proof tape making the tyre virtually indestructible.
An extremely important part of a touring bike is the saddle, I’ve tried so many over the years, it’s been quite costly. In the end I settled for a Brooks leather saddle and I’d advise anyone to cut out looking for the right sadlle and just get a Brooks. It features delicately hand skived lower sides, where a thin stripe of the leather top surface is cut back, thus exposing the lighter coloured suede beneath which makes for an attractive visual accent and greater comfort when pedalling.
The rear pannier rack is a Madison bought on Ebay, the front rack is an adjustable Ostand Alloy from ‘Practical cycles’. Each bike will have different characteristics so it’s best to ask your local cycle dealer what rack will fit your bike.
Panniers can cost the earth, the expensive ones are Ortlieb and can be hundreds of pounds, but I went for the cheapest ones I could get from Ebay (after all, at first I was just trying it out). They were Pedalpro double panniers, but I believe ‘ETC’ do a similar one, both around £10. Once they’re on, they’re on, but they enable me to strap the tent over the top. I bought some ‘SmartStraps’ (bungee toggles) to replace the Velcro, this offers the fixings a little more give on rough ground.
Are they waterproof? Mine are water resistant, but with some adjustments, they become as waterproof as they're going to be. I bought some cheap rucksack covers to help to repel the water. They were expensive, now you can pick one up for a fiver (Lumopod, Yoko, BTR), there are loads available (click the image to see one). Pack your items inside carrier bags within the panniers- 'belt and braces'. The internal capacity may be a big factor, these are quite small, but big enough for a week’s trip. Remember the larger the capacity, the more stuff you’ll carry and the more weight.
There’s lights to be seen and lights to see where you’re going. To be seen- In a well lit urban environment a front and rear basic flashing light is suitable. You can’t go wrong with ‘Cateye’, though they’re expensive. The only cheap ones I’d buy are 'Smart' or ‘Torch’ front and rear (good back up lamps), they're lightweight and use two AAA batteries.
The simple fact of the matter is- you shouldn’t need lights in the daytime, but having them is only going to raise your chances of being seen and not becoming part of the street furniture. Specialist daytime rear lights are incredibly bright and I believe motorists do react favourably to them, it’s like a flashing pelican crossing lamp, they remind drivers there’s a hazard ahead. My rear day light is from 'C&Bseen' and connects to the same rechargeable battery as the front.
To see where I'm going- I have a ‘Cree’ headlight, you can use this in the day, or in town at night (using the dimmer brightness setting), or what they're designed for; off road at night. The Cree front headlamp is bright as a car headlight, so you may have to physically dip these these on country roads to prevent blinding the oncoming motorist. There are so many good ones around these days, it’s worth exploring, but do get a good set of bright lights (in case you come unstuck and have to ride in the dark).
How about lighting the tent. You could use your bike lamps or a head torch to illuminate the tent, but I think this little LED lamp is brilliant, it's only about ½ the size of a small water bottle, retailing around £3; you can't go wrong. It turns down to a very dim light or up to a bright light.
In an age where high tech seems to rule the day, you may be old school and prefer paper maps. I’m sure it’s great fun joining all the bits together using sellotape and a pritt stick, then seeing a long route emerge from a pile of paper. However, I feel paper maps are expensive, heavy, and awkward to use on the bike, but don’t rule them out to plan a trip. You can’t expand a laptop over the dinner table to see the whole weeks routes and highlight them with a marker. Once you’ve decided where you’re going to go, it’s almost impossible to ignore an electronic version of the route. You could use a smart phone map app, but it will use loads of battery on all day. Consider getting a specific cycle sat nav, I have a Garmin Edge 605 as a specific cycle 'sat nav'. Using this, you can actually plot your chosen routes, not just relying on the road and the battery lasts days.
You'll need a lock, there's loads available and some are pricey. You have to come to terms with it; if someone wants your bike they'll have it, but even a cheap lock stops the opportunist thief. I recently bought a Steerer tube GPRS tracker device for the bike, and I just transfer it to whichever bike I'm using. I’m overwhelmed by this gadget, it’s like having a virtual person sat next to your bike 24 hours a day. Have a look at the gadget page to see it. For a little extra peice of mind I bought a Gallob bike alarm. They're no good if you're inside a building and the bike is outside, but if you're inside a tent yards away from your bike; they're great, they go for under a fiver on Ebay. Call me paranoid but I have cameras, back and front. ‘GoPro’ are the market leaders in sports cameras, but I feel they’re too large and bulky. I use a Mini-HDVR, brand new they’re £150, but you can pick them up on Ebay quite cheap, I bought both sets for under £60. Out of sight is out of mind and a Bike parker cover fits the bill, it also makes life easier; I can leave the panniers and the cameras on the bike, kept dry and away from prying eyes.
The tent; I can’t stress enough- do your research and see if you can actually fit in it, decide if you want to sit in it when it’s raining. GoOutdoors usually have every tent set up, or visit a camping show where the tents are all set up and get inside the one you are considering. Even if you have no intention of buying, choose the one you want and buy the tent second hand. Generally, one man tents are for leprechauns, and some two man tents aren’t that much bigger either. I use the 'Vango Banshee 200' two man tent, it’s just about big enough for me. The Banchee has an integral second skin bug net which can be detached if you just want a single skin. Buy the groundsheet to go with it, it gives an extra layer beneath you and expands the footprint to store your stuff. My Vango has survived torrential downpours with not a drop inside, it is a good tent, but I wish I’d bought the Banshee 300.
Most sleeping bags are designed for skinny bearded people (the beard is non-obligatory), but I can’t stand being tied up (they don’t call them 'mummy' sleeping bags for nothing). My sleeping bag is the XL Urban Escape Garda Envelope Sleeping Bag from Halfords, it’s massive and in respect to some others it's heavy, but it’s warm. Filling the space up with your spare clothes prevents cold spots.
Now for the bed; Lots of sensible animals make their own soft beds to sleep on, only humans are dumb enough to sleep on a 5mm piece of foam? I’ve tried camp beds and roll mats and honestly, I'd rather sleep on a corrugated roof. I even had a Skandika self inflating mattress, that wasn't bad, but it was too wide for the bike (restricting access through train doors). What I’ve settled on is the Outwell Reel Airbed, it’s around £25 which is excellent value, and it's really good (don’t buy a cheap flock one, they’re heavier and poor quality, often leaking frequently). The horizontal channels of the bed ensure even weight distribution that delivers stability and night-long comfort. They can puncture, but can easily be repaired with the Outwell repair kit, that only costs £3.
I use the 'Runacc' Electric Air Pump. It's about the size of a tea mug and weighs around the same. It’s integral battery lasts a about an hour, easily enough to pump up dozens of camp beds (so it should last a week without recharge). I used to use the NeoAir pump, tiniest on the market, but it’s basicaly over-priced crap. What about a pillow? There are loads out there, mine is the self-inflating type from one of those cheap shops and cost a couple of quid.
I started off with a Ghillie kettle, they’re good, but when you're soaking wet desperately needing a rapid brew. It's likely the fuel's wet too, then, it's a pain in the butt because you will not be able light it. So, I choose a small Vango remote camping stove. You'll need a shield and pots, my pots were £8.58 on Ebay, the little Vango stove conveniently fits inside the pots. It’s a must to have a table to rest that cocktail and the grub. This lightweight stick table is from GoOutdoors at around £6.
You can either sit on the grass or find somewhere to sit, I bought a host of chairs and found them all unsuitable for me except one; the Helinox chair. It's a super-lightweight, compact and the most comfortable backpacking chair that you can carry anywhere. It’s a bit pricey at around £80, but it’s worth it. On the downside the feet can dig into soft ground, but tennis balls placed on each foot will prevent them digging in.
A pump is essential, but believe me, buy a cheap one and you’ll regret it first puncher. I use the Topeak's mini G, the handle turns at ninety degrees and there’s a foot hold, they’re expensive around £28. I'm testing the Tiakia aluminium bike pump and as with other stuff, I'll let you know. Some of the newer ones have the ability to fit the CO2 gas cyclinders. To go with it you’ll need a spare inner tube and levers, Continental put one in a small bag for under a tenner, it fits under the saddle for easy access. For somewhere to store your knick knacks and the Mini-HDVR recorders, I use a small crossbar bag (there’s loads available), mines from Roswheel Last accessory is a little bell, you can pick them up from Ebay for £1.
I like to get close to nature, but I like my creature comforts too. There's a great mp3/ radio that fits snug on the bars, called 'Sport music'. It doubles up as a speaker if you wish to play your smart phone music. The instructions aren’t clear and it's a bit fiddly to use, but persevere, they’re brilliant. I bought a PortaPow solar powered USB charger from Amazon for £36. It’s expensive, but superb and folds up like a small book. I can charge anything that needs a USB charger, I can even charge stuff on the go. If you’re going to get a small solar panel (the same size as a phone), don’t bother, they don’t work (I’ve tried them). This item may be well over the top, but it’s supposed to keep little beasties at bay (rats, mice, spiders); does it work? I’m not sure, but I’ve never had any issues with the battery powered ultrasonic pest repellent. I’ve a few more nick-nacks and hopefully they’re covered in the following list.
When it comes to wild camping, my experience is very limited. So, I’ve researched some great sites that will tell you everything you need to know. From what I can gather; wild camping in England and Wales and Northern Ireland is illegal except in some parts of Dartmoor. And when I say illegal, currently (2020) for one or two people, it’s a civil offence not criminal (except some MOD or Government restricted land). So, if you arrive late and depart early, making sure you're unobtrusive, you’ve not left anything (except burying your biodegradable waste), or damaged anything- what harm have you done? And you're unlikely to to be confronted. If you do get challenged by the landowner, apologise and maybe offer to pay, or complement the person how beautiful the spot is, suggest you will move on, pack your stuff up and go. The ‘get around clause’ is to get the landowners permission, if you can do this, it isn’t illegal, so you could just ask!
It’s interesting to point out this doesn’t include bothies, these are basic shelters, usually left unlocked and available for anyone to use free of charge and found in remote areas in the UK. The Mountain Bothies Association website have some some great articles and a comprehensive list of where they are, don’t be put off by the word ‘mountain’, some of the bothies are near the coast. To read about the time when my chum and I stayed in a Welsh bothy, click here. The 'halfway house' to dip your toes into wild camping is on nearly wild sites, this is where the landowner has realised the potential of allowing people to camp on their land, but haven’t commercialised the plot. That means; no toilets, no showers, no shops or pubs, and best of all (if you’re lucky); no people. One website I’ve found that highlights some great nearly wild camp sites is 'coolcamping.com'. It lists 49 sites around the UK that have been tried, tested, and rated, it’s certainly inspired me to give some a go.
Scotland allows wild camping on most unenclosed land. This excludes private residential or public property (such as school grounds or playing fields), golf courses or other visitor attractions, airfields, working sites (such as quarries), military bases or land with crops growing. That said; you’re spoilt for choice in Scotland. On the Western Isles you’re never far from water and the idyllic scenery. Inland, the rolling moorland offers almost unlimited (if rather boggy) choice for those with a more adventurous spirit, as well as miles of woodland and forest to explore. 'Red Bull' sponsor everything from formula one to every cycling subdivision going, they also have great interesting websites. Here is one that explores 'Scotland’s top ten wild camping spots'.
Ireland, France, Spain, Portugal and eastern Europe have similar rules to England and Wales: you cannot camp on private land unless you have the express permission of the local landowner. In Italy and Germany, they don’t have a wild camping culture and it’s not widely tolerated. The ‘Rough guide’ group have always been useful when doing any kind of travel and they have some good information for the top 15 places to wild camp in the world. You may be interested to find out two of the places listed as the best in the world- are in the UK.
It has become something of a compulsion for me to get away from work and home to de-stress at least once a month.
Camping began out of necessity in order reduce the overall cost of the cycling trips, but it really did open up new horizons. It unexpectedly provided a perfect opportunity to clear my mind from everyday clutter. Living in a city, our brains process millions of bits of information, most of it superfluous, and just everyday hassle. Getting away from the ‘rat race’ allows us to ‘put the mental trash out’ resetting to a primal input. An added bonus of camping is it allows you to connect to nature, you can smell nature and touch it, encountering wildlife you’d never see in an urban area. With no pollution, the sky is clearer and the stars are definitely brighter. Under my duvet at home, it’s always too warm and cosy to crawl out of any earlier than I need to. With all the data input reduction, the dawn chorus often wakes me up, then I can just unzip my tent and watch the sunrise from the comfort of my toastie sleeping bag, then fall back into a deep sleep.
It’s too easy to get caught up in doing miles for miles sake. If you aren't careful it’s possible to cycle too far in a day or try and fit too much into the time you have available. The ride will become a slog, an endurance test and you’ll end up staring at the tarmac for most of the day and not enjoying the ride itself! I was guilty of this when I did the ‘Waverley ride’, many times I’ve had to prod myself into believing I was enjoying it. The answer- slow down, immerse yourself in the moment, and lift your head up to see the views around you. Experience now dictates my mileage, if it’s mountainous terrain (on the road) my miles are reduced to around 25 miles for the day, if it’s off road; it’s a maximum of 30 miles for the day. Purely on the road it's 40 miles a day (with a stretch to 50 or 60 miles on an absolutely flat route). The mileages are achievable and are predetermined in the planning, but of course; these distances can be disrupted by bad weather or mechanical problems, but the beauty about camping is, it doesn't matter where you stop.
I can sleep in comfort, warm and dry. I can sit in comfort (if it’s dry) and read my books on my iPad (knowing I won’t run out of battery) or I can listen to the radio or play songs, I can cook or make tea, I can lock the bike up and cover it. Once you've shelled out for the initial outlay, camping works out at a fraction of the cost of staying in a hotel. It doesn’t compete with a night in a hotel, that’s good too, camping is just a different experience. I’ll re-quote a sentence from the N Wales ride- "I opened the outer flap of my tent and saw lightening striking the mountain range in the distance. I lay there for quite some time marvelling at this free show, I’ve never seen anything quite like it, it was fantastic."
Honestly- why wouldn’t you give it a go.